My First Projects

In the last month or so, I've been getting into my crafty side. This was partly due to wanting to fill the evening with a hobby, and the fact that there are two nephews are on the way that I wanted to create something for.

I learned how to knit when I was younger, but never really got into it, and would typically start a (really simple) scarf and never finish it. For Baby Boy Addink, I decided to create a hat and booties set. My sister had a few showers scheduled this month, so I thought I'd make something in time to send it. And...I did it! I can definitely say that these were simple and took longer for me to create than someone more experienced, but I was happy with the results.

Here's some photos:

Here's the hat

And the first booties I made. I struggled with these (there's a smaller one that didn't make it on here - it was too small and tight)

The second set of booties. A friend suggested these (she had made them recently for a friend). There were a few new techniques I had to learn, but the overall design was fairly simple. I made these after I finished the first set and really didn't like the result much. I was happier with these (my sister also noted she thought the set with buttons would stay on better, which was good to hear).

I was quite uncertain about creating these, and while I had fun, there was some uncertainty during the process. I didn't have much of an idea about how big any of the pieces should be, so I erred on the large side to be cautious (and this baby's older brother had large feet as an infant, so that was in the back of my mind as well).

I learned a few things during the process. Making the pompom was a new experience, but a fun one - snipping the end and 'fuzzing' it up. Creating the straps for the second set of booties, as well as adding the buttons and holes (they're weaved in, which is easier than actually creating holes). I also experimented with using more than one color in a piece for the first time.

It was fun to shop for the yarn - baby yarn comes in such soft textures, even if most of the colors are pastel.

One last picture - I included this in the package - it's small enough that it probably won't be worn often before being outgrown, but it's warm and cozy (the overalls are a soft courderoy), with long sleeves, which I think will be nice for a January baby.

Chipotle...mmm

I had a pretty great Halloween. I met up with some old roommates downtown for breakfast and it was really nice to catch up. I hadn't seen a few of them in upwards of a year. I don't have a picture of that, though...

Later, Jeff and I met up with a few different friends at Chipotle. I'm not really the right age for Halloween right now - too old to trick-or-treat, and too young to have my own - but a good solution the last couple years has been to take Chipotle up on their offer of a free burrito for anyone who dresses like a burrito. We donned some tinfoil in the parking lot and were set.

Afterwards, we hung out at our apartment. It was a good time and a nice chance to see some friends.

(Jeff's hat looks like a yarmulka to me)

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!

Autumn

I was going to include the word 'fall' in the title of this post somehow, but I must say that autumn sounds prettier right now, and since the changing of colors during this season is quite pretty, I decided to go with 'autumn.'

Work's continued on. My computer did die (sad). My new one has some weird features. I'll be back around the office this week, so maybe I'll ask for some help. I'll back up my files first. Jeff did come through and was able to get all my files from my home laptop, so that's good. I think it's finished though. I've been using the M

ac for personal use. It doesn't have pictures on it, though, so for now, words only will have to suffice for the blog.

I'm looking forward to the 31st. I think I may be getting together with some friends for breakfast. Later, a different group will (hopefully) meet up at Chipotle, then back to Jeff's and my apartment for some fun. Chipotle has a promotion where if you dress up like a burrito, they give you a free meal (dressing up like a burrito is loosely interpreted). A group of friends went last year and it was fun. Oh, wait, I do have a picture I can share.

Halloween 2008 at Chipotle

Other than that, things are good. I'm trying to keep up with running. I was working late this week, with a long commute, so I got a tad sidetracked, but I hope to stay on top of it this week. Have a good week, all, and I'll talk to you later.

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!