Super Special September

The theme of this month's Daring Baker's Challenge is Decorated Sugar Cookies with themes that are special  to us about September. The September 2010 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Mandy of “What the Fruitcake?!” Mandy challenged everyone to make Decorated Sugar Cookies based on recipes from Peggy Porschen and The Joy of Baking. Shankar and I have a very long list of events to look forward to this month, including our 7 years of happiness being together! Hence, my cookies reflected that and also his love for the Green Bay Packers :) 

I am not a big fan of icing and this is my first attempt at decorating cookies ~ using royal icing I made in a ziploc bag. The recipe for the cookies can be found here.

Our next biggest day in September is today, when we celebrate the Adoption Day of Amy and Nikko. I can't  believe its been 4 (long) years since these two babies walked into our lives - they are testimony to love at first sight and not a day has gone by where they haven't filled our house and hearts with loads of love.

Amy enjoying a very special frozen custard and a swim

And here is a very special video of Nikko...

Waiting for Friday

Its only Tuesday and I am already waiting for Friday, when Shankar is coming back home with my two birdies. The house is way too quiet without them - I know we like them even when they are screaming. I miss being greeted by Nikko even before I open the door, Pepper calling for me to come near her and wanting to get on my fingers. I even catch myself looking out for Nikko ready to jump on me when I come through the hallway :) And it is no fun having Shankar all to myself without the crazy competition for attention from Nikko!!!

Cozy Corner

Here is one of my favorite picture of Nikko taken in Owen, a couple of years back. He was hiding in Shankar's sweatshirt pocket and was curious what I was up to.

Pepper & Crocheting

After a long break, I went back to work on my Afghan a little bit yesterday afternoon. This is a project in the making for a while, since I learned how to Crochet. One of my friend's mom taught me the skill during 2002 Christmas break. I have however failed to produce much albeit starting on a few projects, including this Afghan. Anyways, yesterday Pepper decided that I was having way too much fun with all the yarn and the pretty Afghan (yes, it is a rippled 3-color Afghan being made with really good yarn and is pretty). Hence she climbed down from her cage, on to the sofa, took a closer look at what I had and jumped right in. She was not very happy when I chased her back on the cage. She would go back, tear up some paper and in a couple of minutes be right back to play with the yarn. And I would have totally let her have some fun, if not for her sharp beak that cuts the yarn. I am sure she had shredding on her mind too!

The low quality pics are from my iphone :(

Nikko hiding in the towel

We haven't had one of these days - Nikko being very playful in a while, but when he was, it was a lot of fun :) These days, he thinks being with Pepper & Shankar are about all the fun in the world (and may be trying to bite mommy!)

The Complaints Continue...

And this week, Pepper also joined in with Nikko on his weekly rants when dad gets back home. And he didnt care what time it was and continued his weekly news at 11.55 PM!!!

New Toy for the Birdies

I picked up this small wooden pallet from the Goodwill for the birdies. Given their previous record with cardboard boxes and a few wooden toys (including a birdhouse), I am curious as to how long this will last. So far, Pepper, our Nanday Conure, is not interested in it, and Nikko wants to check it out for the tiny bit of peanut butter I rubbed on the edge. Once Pepper decides to go after it, I will giver her a week or two. She recently worked her way through a huge shoe box in about 3 days! My cute shredding machines :)

Someone's gotta do it!

Someone has to fill daddy in on all the things that happened since he left on Tuesday! Here is Nikko (our Jenday Conure) with his list of rants and complaints (including mom being stingy with seeds) to Shankar as soon as he stepped inside the house. Nikko doesn't even give him time to take off his jacket :)