Atlantic City and GOOD NEWS

 Mike and I went to Atlantic City earlier this month with John and Noreen. It was 5x tier points for 2 days, meaning we are that much closer to being Diamonds in 2024. (Many more benefits.) We hoped to reach it this time around but just didn't hit so lucky. It's the first time in a few visits I didn't come home with money in my little safe that I bring.

I got a lot of free play and just kept pumping it back into the machines to get our points. Mike thinks we might have to go at least 2x more this year. Gee, shucks. I did have a good time, though.

Very foggy on our way across the bridge!

We had a very nice dinner (with our points!) at Gordon Ramsey's. Mike and I both had Fish and Chips that were amazing. I brought the leftovers home (there was a LOT) and reheated them in the air fryer and they were delicious.

We also had lunch at Johnny Rockets the next day, which was also very enjoyable. I have to get things I can cut up small because I am currently missing all but one of my teeth on the lower left side. That is another story.

NOW FOR THE GOOD NEWS:

THE BABY IS HEALTHY!!!!!

Michael and Megan went to the doctor today and got a clean bill of health for my grandbaby. I have been praying so hard for them. They've had so much heartache and they deserve to be parents.  Megan is due in September. Updates will follow.

wrong blog

 For some reason, my last two posts have shown up on my blog "1000 points of creativity," even thought I specifically put them here in "My family news." It happened twice.

Assuming this post doesn't end up elsewhere, go there for those posts.

Winter is weird

 Monday, Jan 31, 2023: This has been a crazy winter so far. There has been no measurable snow and it's been averaging in the 40s every day. Apparently, Long Island (and area) is setting a temperature record that goes back quite a way.

A year ago, we had a blizzard and were under a foot of snow.

There was a light dusting of snow on the ground this morning but it disappeared pretty fast.

I'm no fan of winter but I think there should be some snow and it should be cold! 

Then again, it could be worse. Some parts of the country have really got it bad with snow and ice storms. 

Tuesday: Woke up to snow on the ground again that has pretty much melted. It was 25 degrees this morning. I've been working on a temperature blanket, where a color represents a 5-degree range in temperature. 25 would be purple, today's color. None of the colors below 20 degrees are represented because it hasn't gone that low when I've looked at the thermometer.

SAT, FEB 4th: big drop! It was one degree out when I got up this morning. Went up into the 20s but it's cold again this evening. Supposed to be in the 40s and 50s next week. Nuts.

My birthday (January 25)

 So I am 67 now. I'm a Wednesday's Child and my birthday did fall on Wednesday this year.

On Sunday, Michael made me Western Hospitality Casserole, a family favorite I requested. I was supposed to get an ice cream cake but...

...on the way home from shopping, Katherine and Andrew had a car accident. A 17-year-old kid ran a stop sign and totaled Andrew's car. Katherine and Andrew were okay but badly bruised. I just thank God they were not seriously hurt.

On my actual birthday, Katherine brought me flowers and a gift card. Jamie gave me a gift card, too, and Nicky gave me a boatload of various M&Ms. 

Mike has a card for me but he misplaced it, lol.

I have opted to have my ice cream cake this coming Sunday. 

On another note, Megan is pregnant again. We will not feel safe until she passed the first trimester but I pray for her all the time. She is sick and tired, which to me are good signs. 

Weird Winter

 Monday, Jan 31, 2023: This has been a crazy winter so far. There has been no measurable snow and it's been averaging in the 40s every day. Apparently, Long Island (and area) is setting a temperature record that goes back quite a way.

A year ago, we had a blizzard and were under a foot of snow.

There was a light dusting of snow on the ground this morning but it disappeared pretty fast.

I'm no fan of winter but I think there should be some snow and it should be cold! 

Then again, it could be worse. Some parts of the country have really got it bad with snow and ice storms. 

Tuesday: Woke up to snow on the ground again that has pretty much melted. It was 25 degrees this morning. I've been working on a temperature blanket, where a color represents a 5-degree range in temperature. 25 would be purple, today's color. None of the colors below 20 degrees are represented because it hasn't gone that low when I've looked at the thermometer.

SAT, FEB 4th: big drop! It was one degree out when I got up this morning. Went up into the 20s but it's cold again this evening. Supposed to be in the 40s and 50s next week. Nuts.

My Birthday

 So I am 67 now. I'm a Wednesday's Child and my birthday did fall on Wednesday this year.

On Sunday, Michael made me Western Hospitality Casserole, a family favorite I requested. I was supposed to get an ice cream cake but...

...on the way home from shopping, Katherine and Andrew had a car accident. A 17-year-old kid ran a stop sign and totaled Andrew's car. Katherine and Andrew were okay but badly bruised. I just thank God they were not seriously hurt.

On my actual birthday, Katherine brought me flowers and a gift card. Jamie gave me a gift card, too, and Nicky gave me a boatload of various M&Ms. 

Mike has a card for me but he misplaced it, lol.

I have opted to have my ice cream cake this coming Sunday. 

On another note, Megan is pregnant again. We will not feel safe until she passed the first trimester but I pray for her all the time. She is sick and tired, which to me are good signs. 

Some Yo Yo Turkeys I made. Body is one size yo-yo, tail is a slightly bigger yo-yo. Heads and beaks are felt. I'd give them waddles but keep forgetting to buy red dimensional paint.

Embroidery Hoop Mail Center

Big hoop, pretty fabric for background, coordinating fabric folded in half for pocket. One of the big yo-yos is only glued halfway up to create a pocket for stamps. A good place to keep all the address labels every charity in America seems to need to send me.

Cross Stitch Pumpkin

A little cross-stitched pumpkin I made. The hoop becomes the frame and I'll hide the screw part with a bow. I don't remember what magazine this came from, but that doesn't matter because no one ever reads this blog, anyway.

Except maybe my friend Maryann L.

Something to do with protein container

I've seen similar items that I'm sure cost a bit. They're probably made of ceramic or metal, but I think my free version is just fine:

It's made from one of those big jugs you get with protein powder inside. We go through a lot since both my son Jamie and my husband use the stuff. I just printed out a rooster outline and carefully cut it out from the inside, making a stencil. It helped to have small, sharp scissors.

I just used a dabber to sponge on the black paint. I think it would be fun to have something like this done in chalkboard paint!

Minion

I made this little Minion for my grand-nephew Liam, to celebrate the arrival of his new baby brother, Patrick. I started with these instructions:

http://kristenscrochet.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/minion-inspired-crochet-softie.html

Then I adapted the pattern by adding crocheted eyes and a bib for the overalls. I hope to get him in the mail this week!

Afghan

Easiest Chicken Ever

A simple little snowman. Make his hat in the color you want, then change to white. No need to make a separate hat!

Knit Chicken

I made this chicken in just two sittings, which is pretty good for me. It's done on regular needles. I wouldn't have attempted her with double-pointed needles. It's cool to see something 'flat' take shape!

The variegated yarn just happened to make a different colored head than body!

Improved Santa

Here he is with a little fluff around his hat. It's just glued on--I didn't feel like crocheting it in!

Recent Crochet Projects

Here are a couple of projects I've just finished. The angel is actually from a bookmark pattern, which can be found here:

http://suzies-yarnie-stuff.blogspot.com/2009/12/suzies-little-angel-bookmark.html

I used a larger hook and size 4 yarn and left off the 'tail.' She could be a package topper or, if I stiffen her up a bit, an ornament.

Santa comes from "Simply Crochet" magazine, which is a UK publication. He's about 8 inches tall. I used a larger hook and size 4 yarn here. Looking at the picture, I can see I have to put some kind of trim around the hat! The pattern provides that but I wasn't liking the way it looked. I think some extra bulky yarn would do the trick.

Using up scraps

I have been sewing together pieces of fabric, and sometimes making them into things. I had made this bag with no real idea what I'd do with it. It isn't big enough to be a tote bag. Then I got an idea and stitched a little pocket along one side to hold knitting needles. Now it can be used to hold the needles and yarn for a small project like a scarf! I might even add a button to the top to keep the yarn/work from falling out.

Sneaker Slippers

Made to look like a famous brand. These are for a friend's granddaughter:

Crochet in Ohio

Mike and I are visiting my mother (age 91) in Ohio for about 10 days. We usually stay a week but will be here a few extra days to take her to a doctor's appointment. Meantime, I brought some projects with me with the intent of finishing a few things that have been 'wip' for too long. (That's works in progress.)

Here is a  little bear I made:

He goes along with the Monkey I finished a while back. There is also a puppy (Pic to come) and an elephant, who isn't finished yet. I'll also post these on Pinterest as soon as I can figure out how to get into my account there.