Every year... around this time....

I find myself talking about my love for this season.

Autumn is my favorite time in Germany (and elsewhere).

In most places it's where routine is restored thanks to the children returning to school... the summer heat has subsided and that nice fall breeze-the same one that brings the leaves from the branches- blows.

In Germany, it's the calm before the literal storm- snow, frigid temperatures and shoveling of the sidewalks.

I never look forward to that.

This Summer wasn't really one in my book.

We were plagued with mediocre weather and lack of sunshine.

I got more vitamin D in 2 days in Russia than I did all Summer long in Stuttgart.

However, we've finally been blessed with almost 2 weeks of glorious weather and we've been doing our very best to take advantage.

We're going walking, festing, getting out. You know. All the nice weather type of activities.

I love it.

I also love when Yankee Candle releases their fall collection. Autumn Wreath is my new favorite.

Now if only the commissary would stock canned pumpkin... I would be in total Autumn bliss.

Besides the autumn poets sing,
A few prosaic days
A little this side of the snow
And that side of the haze.
-Emily Dickinson

A couple weeks ago we visited the Umbrian/Provence Market in Tubingen, Germany. I've wanted to go to this market for about 2 years and I'm so glad we finally made it. It was great. It was the perfect merge of two of my favorite places... France & Italy.

The End.