Thursday 14 April 2016

This time last year..I was walking in my forest in Germany, soaking up Spring!

We have been home in Australia for three months today. 
The girls are settled at school, we have whittled the pile of boxes to a more manageable level 
and are planning a few necessary renovations on our "renovators delight" home. 
The Perth lifestyle is great, a warm autumn has arrived...not to be confused with fall 
as no leaves really fall in Perth, let alone change colour. 
It is wonderful to be around family and friends again, to be able to go to 21st birthday
celebrations, see new babies and just hang out. 
Though we still feel we are on a trip home, that we will be heading back to our 
house in the German forest soon. 
We have to remind ourselves "We live here now" we don't have to do everything 
all at once, catch up with everyone in a rush. 
Though we still feel a little like a square peg in a round hole, we don't quite fit. 
Friends waiting for us to settle before catching up and
we are not sure if we will ever feel settled here again. 

I am a little, well, more than a little, homesick for the European Spring.
After a long cold winter, our forest literally explodes with colour and life. 
Gardens show a wave of spring blooms, snowdrops, daffodils, tulips and bluebells.

Exactly a year ago today, I went for a walk in my forest....

Spring in the forest, Hofheim, Germany

The branches, silhouetted against the sky show a green tinge as the forest wakes after Winter.

Spring in the forest, Hofheim, Germany

The forest is immersed in a cast of near fluorescent green.

Spring in the forest, Hofheim, Germany

With the warm sun casting a glow though the trees, the leaves awaken and
seemingly open right before your eyes.

Spring in the forest, Hofheim, Germany

Spring in the forest, Hofheim, Germany

Cherry Blossoms, Spring,  Hofheim, Germany

Our neighbours cherry tree was a riot of colour, wish I could see it now.
Stand under it taking photos of the blooms, after our walk in the forest, 
 much to my neighbours' amusement.
I am sure they miss the quirky Aussies next door and hope that nice people are in our old home.

Spring,  Hofheim, Germany

My own garden full of colour and contrast.

Cherry Blossoms, Spring,  Hofheim, Germany

A trip to do some shopping in the village revealed cherry blossoms galore.

Cherry Blossoms, Spring,  Hofheim, Germany

The car park awash with pink petals, I spent a few minutes soaking it up, 
letting the fragrance engulf me as petals rained down. 
I was joined by an elderly German lady and we stood together, laughing, delighting in the moment.

Cherry Blossoms, Spring,  Hofheim, Germany

Tulip and Cherry Blossoms, Spring,  Hofheim, Germany

Bright tulips, caught the petals in a friendly embrace.

Spring,  Hofheim, Germany

365 days on, I am sure my little village in the forest is again a riot of colour and new life. 
I hope the little old lady is there to let the petals rain down on her, 
that my old neighbours look at the cherry blossoms and remember the crazy Aussie taking
photos in their garden, getting the angle just right 
and that my forest is once again exploding with spring colour and life. 
Wonderful memories of our life in Germany!

2 comments:

  1. Glad to hear you're all settling in well, sounds like things are going great. The forest in Spring is certainly beautiful, it looks a lot like that in England too. Sorry you miss it, but hopefully you can go back for a visit one day :)

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    1. Thanks, it is starting to feel like home again!I so loved the Spring in England too...the wave of Snow Bells, Daffodils, Blue Bells and Tulips! I will be back one day...so hard to choose which season!

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