time to embrace.

The fair. A sweet reminder that there's still a bit of Summer left to enjoy.

Working at my church's Rwandan coffee booth. Admiring my little town from above, via a late-night ferris wheel ride. Discovering new and delicious fruits {hello, pluot}. Doodling on my chalkboard wall.  These are just a few things that prolong this Summer bliss.

But the fair, it's also somewhat of a painful reminder. A reminder that the end of Summer is near, and I'll soon be back in school. School and I? We are not good friends -- at all. We never really have been, and we probably never will be.

That's not to say I'm not excited for autumn, the season itself. I'm ecstatic, to say the least. Chunky knits, cozy scarves, and pumpkin lattes are calling my name. You could say that Carlotta explains my exact thoughts in this post. Which doesn't surprise me, quite honestly. After all, we have come to the conclusion that we're twin sisters separated at birth. ;)

autumn lovelies via pinterest

So, I guess what I'm trying to say is -- as much as I'm going to miss the carefree aura of Summer, I'm really going to try and embrace Autumn, and all that it brings. 

But at this very moment, the sun is shining, it's twenty-three degrees celsius, and there's a fresh jar of sun-tea on the table. I'm off to go make the most of it.

xo,

Abbey

the lake // two

"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time."

While reading in the hammock one late afternoon, I came across this quote. To say that it 'seemed fitting' would be a vast understatement. It absolutely epitomized this last trip to the lake. 

Tucked amid this beauty that is the lake, are some of my very favourite spots. Some recently discovered, others that bring back sweet childhood memories. The ice cream parlour, for example. I can still imagine tiny Abbey & Chloe with their noses pressed up against the glass, drooling over the abundance of flavours. 

And then there are the shoppes. This time around, I had such fun picking out little no-reason gifts for sweet people. Our two favourites shoppes may have only been here a few years, but you could say we've become Summer 'regulars'. The antique book/gift/coffee shop? I would like to live there, please. And, the indie-inspired clothing shoppe makes my handmade-loving heart flutter. 

And then there's the lake itself. We've spent countless hours in that frigid, yet refreshing water - whether it be a kayaking adventure, or just a good read on the dock.

I can't even begin to tell you how much I'll miss the lake. But knowing that I'll return next Summer puts a smile on my face. 

Are you visiting some place special before the end of Summer? 

xo,

Abbey

ps. thank-you to Carlotta, for the incredibly lovely guest post. :)

a recipe for a good day. [a guest post by carlotta]

Hey there, I'm Carlotta and while I wish I could be at the lake (doesn't that sound so lovely at the moment?), I'm so happy to be posting for Abbey.

Good days are my favorite -- but aren't they everyone's? I mean, who loves a bad day? Not me, that's for sure. Here's a recipe that will guarantee a lovely day.

Start off by going to the farmer's market in the early hours of the morning, when it's still cool. Load up on vegetables and fruit -- and maybe snack on some fresh pastries, still warm from the oven.

When you get home, why not pin a little? Virtual pinning is lovely, yes, but I'm talking about real pinning. The ripping pages out of magazines and putting them on the wall kind. There's something so satisfying about having a physical wall of inspiration.

Next it's off to the outdoor shopping mall with some friends -- you have to take some photos in the old telephone booth, of course, no matter how badly it smells. It's worth it, promise.

And now a refreshing dip in the cool water of the pool; splashing, laughing, and sunshine is always a good idea.

Sundaes piled high with whipped cream, strawberries, and ice cream are perfect as a late afternoon treat.

And then it's off to walk along the river during the golden hour, the time where sunlight glistens and shimmers on the gently rippling water. 

Finish off the day gazing at the sunset. A good day, served.

What's your idea of a perfect day?

xoxo

i'm carlotta -- writer, photographer, artist, and christian. 
i blog at pastor's girl's ponderings. fashion enthusiast and lover of stripes and scarves. i listen mumford & sons obsessively and believe that life is beautiful. i call the windy plains of oklahoma home. i adore simplicity, early mornings, fresh flowers, and the farmer's market. 
it's a pleasure to meet you.

to the lake.

I'm off to my favourite summer haunt for a few days. I promise to return with an abundance of stories & photos. ;) Also, a super-lovely friend of mine will be guest posting while I'm away. Talk to you soon!

Abbey

ps. a few instagrams. just because.

the farmer's market // antler love // hello, hammock // chevron afghan

good morning // a farmer's market breakfast // prairie skies // a lazy afternoon

this is life.

These last few weeks of Summer are going to be all over the place, and quite frankly, I wouldn't have it any other way.

A little impromptu "vacation'' to my grandparent's house was the perfect way to spend this past weekend.

Museums and library basements were explored, while sweet vintage shoppes were swooned over. Sleepovers were had with my two favourite girls {sister & best friend}, in which accents were attempted and laughter was stifled {as we did not want to wake our poor grandparents, who already had to put up with our craziness during the day. ;)}

'Watch a film at the drive-in, while sitting in the back of a truck.' It's something I've been wanting to check off my bucket list for ages. I know, it's not the most glamorous way to watch a movie, but that just makes it all the more exciting. Nestled in a mound of quilts and pillows on the night of a meteor shower {shooting star count: seven}, I couldn't have asked for anything better.

Of course, we had to have one last Summer playdate with 'the littles'.

They were just as sweet as ever. I seriously cannot get enough of them.

When their little hands aren't filled with cherry tomatoes or tiny toads, they're usually interlocked with mine, or grasped tightly on my shoulders for a piggyback ride.

I already miss them a ton, but I'm happy to be home for the week. It's going to be a week of swimming, room-painting/decorating, and relaxing on granny square afghans {like i am, this very moment}.

What's your week looking like so far?

xo,

Abbey

a wordless wednesday.

xo,

Abbey