A Start on the Photos

I finally began loading photos from our new camera onto the Mac. I don't really use the main computer the rest of the pictures are on, so I think this could be a good solution in the future, especially as I'm the one who typically enjoys taking photos.

So, here are a few photos:

These are the (now outdated) pumpkin sugar cookies I made.

With a close-up of the ones Jeff took to work (he did the piping for most of the 7s, for his presentation on Windows 7)

I used the last bit of dough to make this (we're just that cool...)

There's my summary of recent baking. I like sugar cookies because I get to make different shapes, and color the frosting however I choose. I did miss my nephew (he likes to cut out and frost the cookies), which led me to miss family a bit. I'm hoping Christmas plane tickets go down a tad so I can go home for a few days.

Cookies and Caps

I've been fairly productive this week (and yet, feel like I have lots left undone). I finished the first part of a knitting project. I'll post a photo of that when the rest is finished. It's a surprise gift, so I'm hoping it works out well. It sure is cool to finish projects, though, instead of my typical MO (i.e. stopping halfway through the scarf, yet again). I feel accomplished when it actually turns out. Unfortunately I finished something earlier tonight that probably won't work and I'll have to redo. Oh well, I guess it's part of the learning process.

I made sugar cookies today. I mixed the dough last night and cut and baked them tonight. They're pumpkins, for Halloween (Reformation Day? or would those be cutouts of theses tablets?). Let me tell you, I sure had a difficult time locating a pumpkin cutter. So stores had ginormous cutters, and others had nice-sized cutters that came in a pack of 20 other cookie cutters (and as much as I like sugar cookies, I don't need cookie cutters in the shape of coffins. I did locate a nice, metal cookie cutter that's on the smaller size at Michael's, though. They're frosted in orange, of course. Jeff is taking some in to work with him tomorrow. He is giving a presentation on the new Windows 7 operating system. So we piped '7' on those cookies in blue frosting. Jeff was pretty good with the ziplock pastry bag. I took a few pictures, but can't load them yet (I'm on the Mac currently).

I missed my nephew, though. We like to cut, bake, and frost sugar cookies together.

Tomorrow is Friday! Are you excited? I am. I'm ready to finish the week and I'm looking forward to some time spent with friends.

It's late, so I'm out for now. Have a good night!

Monday, Monday

Well, as usual, the weekend went by too quickly. Monday went okay, just back at work again. I stopped at the gym on my way home from the office. And I remembered to take off my rings while running (sweat seems to strip the rhodium). My reward? I misplaced my key. It's the key for our mailbox. I'm not sure how that will work out. I think I need to go to the post office to figure it out.

I made some pretty decent cheeseburgers with steak fries. Then I got ambitious and make some no-bake fudge thingys. I've seen them called haystacks before - they've got oats and coconut and look a little bit like this:

I'm not sure how they'll turn out. I'm not great at making candy, and this involved boiling a chocolate mixture, so...we'll see if they set up. They'll be tasty, though, I think. I do enjoy baking. I need a bigger audience, though, or I end up eating too much myself.

Happy Monday!

Computers and Cookies

I've been back at work for a week and a half now. Things are going alright. I've had a frustrating time at work with changing my name, though. Honestly, it was easier to change my name with the social security administration and the DMV (a 2-hour process...ugh) than to become Allison Miller in the computer system at work. There were a number of mishaps and I could write quite a bit, but the basics are that the IT department encountered some difficulties when changing my profile. After those issues were (mostly) resolved, I was asked to bring my laptop back for some updates. When I brought it to them, they went to reboot it and it crashed...completely. They worked on it over the weekend, but ended up completely reimaging it. Unfortunately, I didn't have everything backed up, and lost quite a few professional and personal files. The major personal file was the slideshow I created for my wedding, which I've been trying to recreate for out reception in Wisconsin this weekend. Also, a few days after the work laptop issues began, I was working on my home laptop. This is my slow-running, old, but tried-and-true Compaq. It, too, seemed to want a permanent rest. Jeff is going to do a few more things tomorrow to try to recover it, and the files. I really am praying that it can be saved. I don't want to think about losing all my pictures...and other files I had there. I have certainly learned my lesson about backing up documents, though.

Moving on, I've gotten back into my running mode, or I'm trying to get back to enjoying it. Jeff and I went downtown to see the marathon on Sunday, and to cheer on Kirstie, in her under 5 hour, rookie marathon run. Go Kirstie!

We also tried out Western Springs CRC this weekend and were, again, welcomed with open arms. It was the first time we were approached by the pastor on such an early visit. Other members also took the time to talk to us (and not just to play Dutch bingo, a big plus in Jeff's, and my, book!). I think the difference we've noticed is that the Western suburbs don't see Trinity students all the time, like on the South side, and seem to view us as potential visitors rather than simply students who will come for the Sunday service during the year and then leave. Either way, we were pleased.

I'm currently making chocolate chip cookies and the apartment is smelling delish...mmm.

I was just viewing my sister-in-law's blog and looking at their pictures of a trip to Europe. It sure looked nice. I'm a big fan of vacation!

That's all for now. My title tonight doesn't have a quote, it's just a bit of alliteration involving the start and finish of this post.

Cheers!