Bailey and buttercups

It's interesting to me to see plants and animals in France that are the same or similar to those in the U.S. My favorite wildflower from Virginia were the yellow buttercups that dotted our yard and pasture at this time of year so I was happy to see them on a recent walk at the Citadel this week. Bailey and I were in the same area this morning and there were even more of them. Here are a few pictures from recent walks and a few others as well.

Bluebells are similar to those back in Virginia.

The chestnut trees are in bloom. They seem to be the most common tree around here.

Mallards are the same, here's a momma and 10 ducklings.

Hobbits, elves, or other wee folk also inhabit the forest. The sign on this door, in Dutch, reads "The beauty you see in me is a reflection of you." Google tells me it's a quote from the 13th century Sufi poet Rumi. 

This is a common coot sitting on a nest in one of the small canals around the Citadel. 

A couple days later I returned to find her with her babies, still in the nest.

I see common pigeons like those in the states, but also have seen this, a wood pigeon. 

This photo was taken outside our window, resting on the front gate house, but I've also seen these in the woods as we walk.

This is another female mallard, this one with 12 ducklings. I shall call her Della. 

Henceforth, I will refer to all female ducks as Della the duck.  

Della with her 12 pack. 

Recently turned soil is apparently very fun to run and play in.

This is a symbol I've seen a few places around Lille and also in Paris. It's similar to the anarchist symbol, but not quite the same and it's always in a heart rather than a circle. It's been identified as A2 street art, amour and anarchie, love and anarchy. There's one on a building across the street from us. Not bad as graffiti goes. 

I made my first boeuf bourguignon this week. Turned out very good.

My houseplants are doing well. This African violet came into bloom recently.

The sheep are back, grazing the grassy areas around the Citadel. They use sheep to cut the grass in lieu of mowing. There are also those ponies plus a couple of horses and a cow or two.