Updates of "stuff".

I now have the case for my phone.  It has gone from a deep blue super slippery panic inducing phone, to a black non slippery now just confusing phone.  I am still working on remembering basic things like not MAKING IT SCREAM AT ME because I hit the volume, not the off button.  Also have discovered that they have changed the way I take pictures, both of things on the phone, and with the phone.  I have taken several "floor and random blur" pictures.  But I am getting to the point that I am understanding some of the features, which are indeed nice.  Most of them, anyway... I am not so fond of the 4 zillion notifications for "oh, you need this app, don't you want to update/upgrade/up... stuff?" 

I worked very hard one afternoon getting basically all the notifications I could find either turned off completely, or changed to silent.  It was like living with a rabid video game at first.  But now, I have mostly the occasional buzz.  Buzzing, not so bad, but with all the dings and tweeting and noises, that crazy phone was perilously close to being returned, if I couldn't tone it down!

We had the party without my cookies.  I brought a gift for the toy drive, and a gift to trade for the group.  I did bring a big plate of cookies for my friend, thinking that she probably would not be doing much baking at this point. 

It was a... unique situation, I tried my best to help her, so that she didn't have to worry about where and what.  We lucked out that someone brought a gift in a BIG cloth bag, (which was really odd, as the two presents in it were combined, maybe a foot square... ???), so when she wanted to pick up the toys, we had a 'Santa sack' to put them in.  She had been holding it together fairly well, but when we loaded the stuff in her rig, Husband got the cookie tray, I gave it to her, with my usual admonition, if you like it, enjoy, if you don't, you now have something to put out for guests. 

She lost it, then. 

Turns out, her kids were coming over to help her the next day, and she didn't have anything for them.  So it was happy tears, for a change...

As for the group gifts, it was High Awkward... We didn't have gifts for everyone, and when I told anyone to come up and take a gift if they wanted...

Not one person moved. 

I encouraged table by table to come up and look.  FINALLY, a few wandered up.  I had my eye on a radio, but held back for a bit.  I had donated an M&M dispenser, and several folks said it was broken, as it didn't dispense M's at all.  I then repeatedly explained that yes, it does dispense, there is clear tape over the hole, so it doesn't throw M's everywhere.  ZOOOM as it goes right past.  I think my Dad eventually took it... These are smart people (mostly), it sure surprised me that a simple bit of tape would buffalo them so!

I finally figured that I would grab a gift.  It is a lovely AM radio, bright yellow.  Going to get with my Dad for some internal body and fender, and with a wash and wax on the outside (the body of the radio is metal, painted with canary yellow), it should be really nice for the kitchen or craft room.  One of those oddball things I like... :)

And all the extra cookies?  Let's see, the neighbors have had cookie trays, Mom and Dad, the poor starving deputies, and last but not least, Husband, who has said the variety is really nice...  So they are most definitely NOT going to waste...

So.  On to Christmas, and New Yearing! 

Best laid plans of Christmas and cookies...

I have been baking.  Lots of baking.  I have a friend,  her husband is terminal.  We both belong to a group, and she wanted a Christmas exchange.  I told her I'd help, and so I was going to make cookie plates, and some gifts, so there would be extras, in case anyone didn't bring something.

And then a note, from another member. She was not going to be at the event, and could everyone bring toys, which will be donated to a charity?

I write back to the gent that sent out the note.  He said he'd ask, so right now, I am not sure which way it will go.

I will give her a cookie plate, either way, she will probably have people over.  I will get a toy for the donation... 

But, man, oh, man, do I have a lot of cookies!  To wit: I have 5 or so gallon jars full of cookies in the freezer...

That being said, since I had one of the deputies come up and hopefully ask if I had brought any when I came in... (I hadn't, because I have been concentrating on getting the ones for the group finished...  Oops.)  And my Husband has been enjoying being the Test Eater, as I can't have chocolate anymore, snif... 

But, they are all approved by the various Cookie Monsters in my life, so...

They shouldn't go to waste.  Waist, perhaps, but not waste...

Cooo-kieeees!

(With acknowledgement to Cookie Monster...)

Husband loves cookies.  So, I try to make them fairly often.  I also try to make ones HE likes, that I don't care for all that well, so I stay out of them. 

For the most part...

Well, he would go through a standard batch of cookies in, oh, less than a week.  I started getting tired of making a batch every three days, so I doubled the batch.  That has worked well.  He enjoys the cookies, I enjoy baking them, so it works out well. (Except for one type, the Snickerdoodle.  It's the glitter bomb of cookies in my house! I make them, and I am cleaning sugar and cinnamon off the table and floor for at least a day or two. ARGH!!) 

But as time has passed, Husband isn't quite as ravenous.  I still make the same amount, however.  I just split it, and take some to the Substation.  I have found out that the various folks, volunteers, deputies, people who come in for other reasons, all seem to gravitate to the cookie box I bring.  I know one of the guys that works here, he manages to have a reason to go by and grab a cookie at least two or three times, when he knows I've just brought it in, and usually right after he has fresh coffee.  One of the volunteers told me he goes to the cookie box (actually, a Tupper-Rubber-Brand type bowl with a seal-able lid), before he sits down to work. 

So I have definitely started something!

One of the deputies always quizzes me if there is cookies when he walks in, I made the mistake of saying yes once, he was SO disappointed when it was 'boughten' cookies, rather than homemade.  (I happen to like the particular brand, but I guess he really likes homemade.) I make a point of putting what cookies are, on the white board we have for notes.  I suppose I should date it as well, but I try not to have it there more than a week or so.  Although, it usually doesn't last that long.  Maybe one or two half cookies, or a box with crumbs, but I don't think any have been left sitting for long...

I think the hands down favorite is chocolate chip, plain.  A lot like the ones I make with oatmeal, too, but some don't care for oatmeal.  Snickerdoodles, when fresh, do well, but don't seem to have the 'staying power' of some of the other cookies.  I also make peanut butter.  'Junk Cookies', which is whatever bits and pieces of cookie making material goes into one, like coconut, M&M's, flavored chips, what have you. One we call Conser Cookies, because of a friend of mine who adored them, which are peanut butter cookies with chocolate cake mix in, and sometimes chocolate chips.

I have decided though, I might make some different ones, just because I haven't made them, and for something different.  Husband isn't wild about Gingersnaps, but on occasion, I would like some.  Well, if I make a batch, I can freeze some, and the rest can be vacuumed eaten by the group, where I won't have them around to nibble on.  I have some others I'd like to try as well.

Do you think they'd mind?  ; D

Snow, confusion, cookies, my work is done...

We had some snow a bit ago.  Not like back east, but about... 5-6 inches, maybe.  I ended up not going into the sub, for two Tuesdays.  Now, I am a volunteer, so this is not exactly the end of the world.

However, the first week, I just called my supervisor, or more accurately, the person I thought was supposed to be the supervisor, and told them I wasn't able to come in.  My little electric car is not built for snow and ice.  Not really all that comfortable with my little truck, either, so I passed on going in.  (If you don't need to be out, don't go.  Good advice.)  So, I cleaned house, made cookies, watched a little TV, felt weird because I wasn't working on reports...

And the next day, I receive a phone call from one of the OTHER volunteers, who could get in, (lives in town, and the snow wasn't as bad there), she was asking if I was okay.

Yeessss... Why?  I called in.

Oh, the guys in the sub, they were worried when you didn't come in, that you were sick...

???  I called in, to Mr. X, wasn't that the one I was supposed to call?

Huh? Oh, now it's Mr. Z, the one that works here, not the one at the main office.

Oh...  Well, let all and sundry know I am okay, just enough snow and no plowing here, so I can't safely get out.

The next week I emailed Mr. Z, and asked him to leave a note on the volunteer desk that I was fine, just still snowed in.

I built a snow cougar that day, about scared the mail lady to death, she obviously hadn't seen me, while putting the mail in the box, I called out a hello, and she nearly hit the top of her car, she jumped so.

When I came back, there was much happy with the crew. Mr. Z had indeed left a note, and there was much discussion on how I could have made it in, with the fire truck we had.  But, among other things, we've sold it, so...

It's nice to know I am liked and appreciated here.

The fresh batch of cookies didn't hurt 'em, either...  :)

Cup #2

Well, it's about 3 in the morning.  I tried all day yesterday, and our internet was just about totally unusable.  So, since I got up for... early morning potty break, thought I would see if it works NOW.  Gee, when everyone else has gone to bed, and aren't streaming everything, it works pretty good!

Sorry about the glare, This cup was not great to photograph...

This is the the first cup that I couldn’t put up.  Better late than never, I guess…

A large cup, I think it holds about 16 oz., or so...

Today’s cup is my most recent.  Mom picked it up, I think, at a thrift store.  I thought it was the same as some other snowmen cups I have, but it’s not.  It is similar.  Sort of a cousin to the others.  Husband says it is an “honest snowman” because it has such a short nose!

Quiet day today.  I made cookies.  Husband had noticed a big bag of chocolate chips, (I am getting ready to make Christmas gifts), and he hopefully asked if that was going to be cookies.  Er, no, it was going to be fudge, do you want chocolate chip cookies?

YES, PLEASE!

Well, I made much and many cookies.  Some will probably be gifted, but most will be kept for Husband’s noshing…  

I made our rooster, Mon Ami, happy, too.  He is the only one we allow to roam out from the chicken yard.  He doesn’t make a mess, stays off the concrete, and off the porch railings.  He just wants to get away from Mulan Rouge…  So, I had made some terrible corn bread. (Note: if you forget an ingredient, don’t try to mix it in while it’s in the pan, just… Don’t.)  It was edible.  Barely.  So Mon Ami was outside, and I walked out with the remaining dreck bread, and he came running!  I crumbled it up, and he ate, and ate, until I thought for sure he’d get sick.  I haven’t Googled “do chickens barf”, but I was beginning to wonder if I would find out graphically.  But, he finished it up, flapped his wings a bit, then strolled off under our Sequoia tree, and took a nap.  

I think he has his priorities straight…

Cookies and bears.

Had not made cookies for the deputies for a while.  Made up some chocolate chip ones, and set them in the back area where the desks are.

One of the deputies came in, who is known to be a card.  I mentioned there were cookies available.  In true drama king form, he moaned, "I just lost the weight from Christmas, you are horrible..." and other things implying that I was trying to raise the BMI of all county law enforcement.

On and on...

So, I piped up, and said, "Geez, should I have brought in rice cakes, instead?"

He replied, loudly, "Haven't you ever heard, 'DON'T FEED THE BEARS'?"  However, the effect was somewhat spoiled by his mouth being full of cookie...

I laughed, as I noticed that the poor new person kept looking at the two of us like we had lost our respective minds...