Summer In The Whole30

Having lots of summertime fun and my Whole30 Paleo diet has turned into a Whole90. 

 The weight is still coming off slow but sure and I am shopping in my closet finding smaller sizes to wear. 

The Avocado is my favorite summertime treat.  I think they are perfect in every way possible.

So glad to be getting fit and taking care of the grands this summer. 
We have stayed busy.

modeling Wooden Shoes

Playing in the suds

Visiting the beach

Looking out for Water Spouts over the Gulf

I have been knitting and the kids always have requests.

Susan B. Anderson Itty Bitty Toys

Slither the Snake has returned this time in green.
Now I have a to make a pink one. In between knitting pigs and Hippos.  
What are you up to this summer?
Anne

I Love Etsy Yarn Mail

Top Cat

Wandering Cat Yarns at Etsy has a sale going on.  My gorgeous  Sunnyside Up Top Cat arrived in the mail today. I can't wait to start working with it. I have a 4 day weekend and I know what I will be casting on.
Check out this amazing shop. Support small business and help out a cat.  The sale not only gets you a great deal on homespun and colored fabulous yarns, but will provide the funds for the shop owner's own 'Top Cat '   named Tux to get some urgent surgery.
I am thankful for the cats that grace my life and the wonderful family and friends that fill my life.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Anne

Vintage and New Etsy Fresh Summer Outfit

I love knitting shrugs and ballet wraps. This little green cotton wrap is for my daughter.  The pattern is here: Yogini.  Finishing this wrap got me thinking about what I could easily find on Etsy.com to pair with it. Let's build an outfit around it.

I hope it fits her and wouldn't it look cute with this pin on it?

This pretty pin is available on Etsy at my friend Amy's shop Dottie DigsVintage

This outfit is taking shape with the addition of this vintage dress found at

CT Mercantile another great vintage etsy shop.

How about some shoes and a clutch?
Easily done shopping online Etsy.

This adorable little purse would do the trick the color block in vivid yellow brings out the yellow center of the daisy pin. Found in this shop 
CarolineHanna

Add a classic vintage shoe the espadrille as the finishing touch to this casual classy outfit. 

You can purchase this great wedge espadrille at VintageEdition on Etsy.
How easy was that!
Get shopping on Etsy!
Anne

Knitting and Cats

Mary was happy to see me arrive home from Boston.

She waddled over and sat on my knitting bag as soon as I unpacked.

Then of course she gave my Misti Alpaca and Tahki Cotton Classic Lite a good sniff. I love when yarn comes in the mail. Thank you Webs for the wonderful sale. Webs 

It is good to be home, but I shall miss these two little boys every day.

Gramma Anne

Spring Baby Blooms

It's knit all done...where is that baby?

little stay on booties the pattern is free on Ravelry here I went down needle sizes to  sz 6 and sz 4.  with worsted weight.

The hat is also a free pattern. One that I love and have made many times.  Also on Ravelry here
My adaptation for the hat is to use size 6 needles to make it more of a newborn size.  
I like to add the leaf also instead of just having the perky little top knot.  The leaf...yup you guessed it free on Ravelry here It is the best leaf EVER. It is double sided and you knit it all up at once on 3 dp's.  The booties and the hat are all worsted weight.  The little blankets are bulky knit. I used this pattern free on Ravelry here with bulky yarn and size 15 needles.  Approx 220 yds.
All set baby! You can come out now!
Gramma Anne

Waiting for Baby

There is a new baby arriving soon to my family. Everything about this wee one will be a surprise until the grand entrance into the world is made.  Very exciting, but as a Gramma who knits and loves color it is a challenge.  
Greens and yellows it is!
A little color work for a leaf top hat Berry Baby Hat

The blankets are small and meant to be used as carriage blankets or over the car seat.  Just a little soft squishy cover. Gleeful Baby Blanket

Mom and big brother are waiting too! 

Anne

Thrift Shopping Junkie

Thanks to hubby for driving me all over Venice this am. We caught 3 great thrifts!  One a church tag sale and two Mobil Home Park Sales. Elbow to elbow and dodging rain drops to get in the doors.  These sales are mobbed. I even went a little later in the morning just so the crowds would die down a bit.  I always find something that nobody else saw as the top layers are sold off first leaving some rare beauties for me!
For my self I bought a hand made project bag from the sweetest little lady in a mobile home park.  Perfect for the knitting I am doing for my next grand baby who is due to arrive four weeks from today!

I wish I had gotten more of these cute bags now.  They also had homemade molasses cookies at this sale. I can't show you them. I ate them all up in the car.  Soft chewy and so so good. 

It just makes good sense to buy baskets. Love these two produce baskets and loved filling them up with more things to buy.  The sifter is small and very sweet.  The books will go to Mya's house tonight. 

Gorgeous shabby chic shelf with tons of detail.

I found this very old framed mirror with some kind of floral painting on it.  Can't wait to get a better look at that beauty. 

Wonder if any one wears bed jackets any more.  It would be fun to wear on Mother's Day for breakfast in bed!  All blue frothy chiffon, lace and satin ribbons.  

Oh I really wish I had shopped more at the bake sale table.  
Anne

Elephants

Yesterday we went to a very special place in Sarasota.  The Big Cat Habitat they were having an annual fund raiser for their rescue of big cats, and many other animals that have found themselves in need of a permanent loving home.
I met this elephant there.  He is a very rare Asian cross tusked elephant that lives here in FL and was visiting for the fund raiser.  
It is so important to protect these animals.  Don't buy exotic animals for pets.  What happens is they end up looking for new places to live and their situations can be horrible.  Here in Sarasota the Rosaire family at  The Big Cat Habitat is giving everything they have to provide sanctuary for life to these animals.  They are lovingly cared for.  You can read about it on their site in their words.
I just want to show you the animals we got to see.

Liger

Gunther Gebel-Williams family

Ellian Rosaire Dymek

just like the Ed Sullivan show!

one hilarious dog show
The afternoon was a lot of fun.  It is great living in a circus community. 

Today I finished the cocoon and cloche.

Anne

Finishing Projects

Frequently projects accumulate in their project bags.  When this happens they become part of the overall household decor.  Hanging bags from every peg, doorknob, hook, and often shoulders.  
They produce varied emotions when come across.  Some I see and just groan. Others I actually say, "hurry up and finish this one so you can get back to that one..."
This weekend I am finishing the Pink Poodle yarn baby cocoon and cloche.  I have to get it into the mail on Monday am.  It has a long way to travel to Canada. 
It is a work in progress and an invention in progress.

I have the cocoon and the cloche completed.  I am busy knitting different types of flowers and leaves and stems to adorn it.  

The knit flowers were coming out better than the crochet.  I especially like the one on the hat.  

Arranging the flowers and stems is the next giant problem.  I can already tell I don't want to use those two little flowers.   The button box will eventually come out.  I need to decide on the type of button.  The vintage button box has just about everything. Rhinestones or Mother of Pearl ?  
Will update when it is completed.

My Shabby Chic jewelry box that I was working on a week ago is completed.

I love making these. This one is a music box too and it plays the theme to Love Story.  It is in my shop here

Recent yard sale treasures that followed me home.

I love shabby chic white linens.  These are so pretty. I don't want to part with them, but I must. WeeLambieVintage

Off to get some work done!

 Anne

Car Knitting

Nothing to do?  Take up car knitting.  Makes the traffic less of a problem.  Just don't knit and drive.

Working on the Poodle Pink baby Cocoon 

I bet you had snow to look at today.  We on the other hand.... here in Florida got to go to a great party at this beautiful backyard pool and hang out with the best Shepherd Mix pooch in Sarasota

Isn't that a nice pooch?

Wait I'm not done having fun yet.  First thing this morning we went to the most fabulous tag sale at a mobile home park here in Venice.   I shopped and Skip carried the boxes.  It was spectacular. I hated to leave.

Now that was a fun day.
I do miss snow.
~Anne ~

The Big Brown Delivery Truck

After ten days of anticipation the UPS truck finally arrived with my box of yarn from Lion Brand Yarn

I have a custom order for my Knits By Weelambie  

 

and that Poodle Pink yarn is greatly needed along with Duckie and Sweet Pea.
I would like a job dreaming up color names. 

This yummy green is called Seagrass and there is a little baby arriving in April that will snuggle up in it.

That buttery yellow is called Honey Bee it is so soft and chunky.  I don't know what it is going to become yet, but I can't wait to finish all the pink up and get on to the yellows and greens.
I see spring in a box!
Anne