I don’t know about where you are in the world but here in Italy it has been one of the greyest and rainiest springs I’ve ever experienced. Usually by the end of May the weather around here is already scorching hot and the kids are in the lake swimming every day. Not this year. This past week we’ve actually had temperatures under 10 degrees and rain and hail storms that made me want to hide under the table. But I have hope for better weather soon. At least all this rain means we won’t have to water our gardens in secret past midnight due to water bans this summer. 
In a few days I head to Berlin to attend The Hive European Blogging Conference. I attended the first one last year and had a great time, learned lots of new bloggy-things and, most importantly, met some fantastic people whom I can’t wait to see again this year. My week-end is already packed full of lunch dates, museum dates, dinner dates and lots of talks and workshops. Oh and a hotel room to myself where I can watch mindless TV and order roomservice. Nice.
I don’t know if any of you know but I am a HUGE fan of Instagram (follow me here). So you can imagine how excited I was last week when I received these Instagram prints in the mail from Origrami. I absolutely love this small Sydney (Australia) based husband and wife run business. The photos are great quality, it’s very reasonably priced and they arrived in record time (considering Posta Italiana was involved).
The photos come in a super stylish cardboard box and have Instagram information on the back (if desired). On my photos I can see a map with the location where it was taken, the date and number of likes it got. Now I’m trying to figure out what the best way is to display all these great shots.
I can’t wait for the weather to improve so we can enjoy our Wednesday evening picnics with a group of our closest friends here. This photo was shot on our first (and only due to bad weather) picnic this year. Us parents kick back on blankets beside the lake while the kids run and play in the fields around us. Photo is of the sweet little Patagnoma.
I received this lovely painting above from one of my daughter’s for Mother’s Day. This girl knows me well. I love everything about it (and her).
I have been passing this little church at least four times a day for the last decade and I finally stopped the car and got out to take some photos. There are so many of these lovely little spots that I get to see on a daily basis. Lucky me.
That’s enough random thoughts and photos for today. Happy Wednesday everyone!
Jillian In Italy 
I love the pink carnations … they made this rainy day a little brighter!
And Chloe’s painting, well, there are no words …
xxx
Coco’s painting really is amazing. I love love love it.
Ridiculously wet spring here on the east coast of Canada – and SOOOO depressing. I just want to get out and garden but too wet to even plant. I agree with Julie, no words to say about Chloe’s stunning painting.
Whew, and I thought only the Netherlands was stuck with crappy weather.
This weekend, I will switch on all my social media channels and slowly die of envy. You are going to have so much fun!
Well, I see that you went to Berlin this year too…. How nice!!! I couldn’t make it this year, we’re going for vacation next week, so it was too much, on top of other thingssss. I hope you had a wonderful time there, hope you’ll share with us your experiences.
Elena.
Hi Elena! I really missed you at The Hive this year. It was a great week-end but would have been even more fun if you’d been there as well. There will be another Hive in Copenhagen in October so maybe you can make that one. Great to hear from you. Jill xx
Ooh, that little church *is* quite eye-catching! What I wouldn’t give to be in Italy right now…
Just to make you feel better…it has been cold and rainy in Italy for months. I don’t know where the gorgeous Italian weather has disappeared to!