Brrr!

It finally turned cooler this week. We had a freeze, though just barely, and even some snow (no accumulation). We've cranked up the radiators a bit in the apartment and have our winter wear clothes more or less in order. Walking Bailey is still a two or three time per day necessity, but some of them are shorter walks now, especially since it gets dark so much earlier. 

We had a very frosty walk Friday morning but she found a willing playmate in the big field and did a lot of off leash running. The other dog's owner remarked how happy she looked and that made me happy. 

The Lille Beer Festival was this weekend. Clay and I went on Saturday to drink and sample and he went back to volunteer at the event all day on Sunday. He will be very tired tomorrow. I did some cooking today and then I went out for a late afternoon walk through the Christmas market again to see the lights and other sights. Bailey and I did a short walk after dark just to take care of business. 

She was determined to play with this dog. He was willing, but she did most of the running.

This was her "catch me if you can" run. He couldn't. 

The beer festival was held in an old train station. It was a great, but chilly, space for it.

One of the beers. 

More pictures of the Christmas lights in Lille. 

Delerium Tremens has just opened a place in Lille.

Tis the season

The Christmas season officially got underway in Lille on Wednesday with the opening of the Noel Marketplace, the street lights, and the big Ferris wheel. 

It is feeling like Christmas here now too. Although we haven't yet had a real freeze in the city, it has turned colder this week and today's rain was actually snow for a while this morning. No accumulation, thankfully, although what do I care? I don't have to shovel anything and I don't have to drive anywhere. We got a raincoat for Bailey, but I got one a size too small and we'll have to send it back and try again. She didn't mind wearing it and it kept at least part of her dry on this morning's walk.

A heavy infestation of mistletoe on come trees at the Citadel. 

I don't know what this shrub is called, but it's very pretty. 

Bailey, off leash in the field near the dog park.

Proving why she's the most fun dog.

A bit of accumulated snow Thursday morning.

Bailey's new raincoat. We sent it back today and ordered a larger size.

I couldn't believe she needed an XL.

The Ferris wheel on a sunny day.

A few pics from the market on Thursday evening.

The past week in Lille

We got back from Rennes on Tuesday, got Bailey back home from boarding Wednesday morning, and we went for a good long walk that afternoon. Wednesday evening we went to the Lille opera to see "Ecume des Jours." It's a new opera and if it had been a straight play I would place in the genre known as theater of the absurd. I can't say that I cared for it, but that wasn't really the reason for going anyway, I mostly wanted to see the place and see the performance. I could have left at intermission, but the second part was mercifully shorter at least. We'll go again, I think they are doing a more traditional opera next.

Thursday we were back at the opera house for a concert in the grand foyer. It was much better musically, just a piano and clarinet. Both musicians were extraordinary and we enjoyed it very much. 

The Christmas markets are being set up in three locations around town. I don't really care much about Christmas but I am looking forward to the lights and the markets. We are planning another trip in early December to Cologne, Germany to see the markets there as well. 

Bailey did well with the boarding experience and we've had some good walks this week and some fun play experiences in the dog park. I ran into an English speaking dog owner there the other day and I told him that I wasn't prepared to let Bailey off leash any place other than inside the dog park. He pointed out that the entire park area was surrounded by water. With that in mind, and seeing how well she behaves with every dog she meets, and how she avoids any people, I decided to try some off-leash walking the next day. There's one stretch of the park along the canal where there's no roads nearby, fewer people, and lots of woods and open fields. I let her off leash there and she had a great time but stuck close to me and came running back whenever I called. In the big field near the dog park there's always a lot of off-leash dogs playing and she found someone to run with there as well, but she frequently came running back to check in with me. 

Today we repeated the off-leash experience. I brought a bag of treats along with me and gave her one every time she came when I called or came back to check in on her own. The only time she was more than 20 feet away was when we got to the big open field when she ran ahead to meet some other dogs. I will never have her off-leash in busy areas, but she really enjoyed the freedom and proved that she has no intention of running off, which I already pretty much knew.

The interior of the opera house.

In the opera house, the main theater is on the left, the grand foyer where the concert was held is on the right.

A very large Ferris wheel is being set up in the Grand Place. 

There is a carousel in front of the opera building and there will be some market chalets there as well.

I believe this opens next Wednesday or Thursday. 

A grey heron on one of the canals around the Citadel. I see these frequently.

My phone identified this as bayberry.

Bailey rolling in the grass, enjoying some off-leash time.

This is back in the dog park.

The vast majority of our walk, even in the park, is still on-leash.