This morning I woke up to sunshine and opened my window to hear the birds chirping and chattering away.  Now after looking at Geninne’s blog and her recent paintings, I’m definitely feeling like I’m in spring state of mind today!

{images shown belong to Geninne Zlatkis}

I keep hearing about all these amazing dinner experiences where it’s a several course meal served outside, and this one from Terrain is making me really, really want to go to one.  Someday!

{image shown belongs to Terrain}

The last two weeks have been filled with so much rain, I am desperate to stay outdoors this weekend and get as much sunshine as possible!  I’m also hoping to bake and maybe visit a farm, besides spending some time with family to celebrate my sister’s birthday (happy birthday, Cathy!).

What are your plans for the weekend?

{image shown via my Instagram @letterandlark}

I’m really loving these Fog Prints from Fieldguided.  Would love to hang a series of them on my walls!

{images shown belong to Fieldguided}

These photos from Swedish photographer Hilda Grahnat are making me really excited for our family trip to the White Mountains this weekend!  Hoping for some good hot, summer days to go for swims (& and picnics to accompany them!).

{images shown belong to Hilda Grahnat}

We got back from camping last night and it was an interesting trip to say the least!  Unfortunately the weather wasn’t the best and we dealt with down pouring rain, a tornado warning, hot and humid nights (the hottest, muggiest weather to try to sleep in), and even more rain.  However, most of Saturday was just partly cloudy with glimpses of the sun and we were able to enjoy the outdoors while we could.  Sunday was my 30th birthday (it still sounds so weird to say that!) and we met up with friends for afternoon tea, trying a new place I’ve never been to.  I was a memorable weekend and above all, so incredibly wonderful to spend 3 whole days with my love (we’re like two ships in the night lately with our schedules).

Unfortunately for my workload, I’m going away again this Saturday to spend a week up in the White Mountains with my entire family – it should be interesting with 10 adults, 3 kids and a baby all in one house!  So I’ll be blogging this week when I can (I have a lot of 2013 calendar printing to do!) but will be absent from this space all of next week.

{images shown are from my Instagram @letterandlark}

If you’ve been following Chelsea from frolic, you’ll know that she visited Sweden this summer and now she’s in Germany!  She recently visited a beautiful area called Spreewald and I’m with her on imagining yourself living a more simple life.

I wonder where she’ll turn up next?  It’s been nice to follow her travels on the blog & on her Instagram.

{images shown belong to frolic!}

I got a late start this summer, but am finally making an effort to get down to the pond that’s not too far from my house.  Some of my favorite things to do during my favorite time of year are having picnics, going for a swim, and relaxing on a beach (the sandy beach at the pond will do, just fine!)… luckily I got to do those very things this past weekend with some close friends.

With July ending next week, I realized how quickly summer is flying by and how much more I always want to do.  Top things on my list are: making to the real beach a few more times, going camping, getting to the Cape, making homemade jam & pickles, making more grilled pizzas, and getting out more for early morning runs (which although I’m not a morning person, I discovered this past weekend that they can be magical).

What do you want to do with the last month of summer approaching?

{images shown via my Instagram @letterandlark}

Love these images from a stunning series of photos of Iceland landscapes from the french blog Griottes.  Sometimes the simplicity of white and black is just so beautiful.

{images shown belong to Griottes}

I. am. so. excited!  I just made reservations for my husband and I to go camping for my birthday next month (shh, don’t tell anyone, but it’s the big 3-0).  If I was going to do something really special – I honestly just wanted a few days to be alone with my best friend, relax, cook good food, and be outside.  I’m really looking forward to this trip too because it’s going to be down the Cape, a place that I’ve always wanted to camp but we’ve always chosen the mountains over the beach.

Are you doing any fun trips or excursions this summer?  Where to?

{image shown via my Flickr}