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....

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

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

With the warm sun casting a glow though the trees, the leaves awaken and

seemingly open right before your eyes.

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.

My own garden full of colour and contrast.

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

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.

Bright tulips, caught the petals in a friendly embrace.

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!