Partial Mash noob question

So I did my first partial mash, and felt it turned out well even given a slight mishap. When my water hit temp (160~165 on my thermometer) I went to put my grains in and noticed the water barely went past half way up the grain. I rushed in and discovered that the quart container I used to get my water was actually a half quart.... So in doing quick thinking, I grabbed my sparge water that I was preparing (at about 170 thanks to the propane stove) and poured some of this in slowly to my mash. I kept going back an forth between this and a gallon of water I put in the fridge, to try and keep a 150~160 degree temp, but noticed that my thermometer read 165 ish when the grains were covered and the muslin bag was slightly floating. I added a little more cold water and called it good, added the cover and let it sit for about an hour, checking the temp regularly. After about 20 minutes the temp was closer to 150, so I figured it would work out still.

Question 1: When I checked the OG, it was about .008 low after correction for temp. Would this be because of the higher temperature early on? I did sparge, I had to reheat water which I know know wouldn't take too long. The pre boil taste was definitely different then I expected, I expected it to be sweeter then it was.

Question 2: So in the end I had about 3 plus a little water in with my grains, By the end of my boil I had just under 2 gallons. If that much lose normal? I mean I know boiling will cause some to go, and the grains will take some with them, but I didn't expect to be over a gallon lower.

 

http://brewgr.com/recipe/29589/one-fall-day-american-amber-ale-recipe?public=true
That is the recipe, I found this free site and used it. It doesn't seem to let you pick partial mash as choice, but I ran with it. Also picked things based on experience and what not. Learned the water to grain ratio after making it, and never went to look and see if I can edit that side of things yet. As much as I am getting more into brewing, I am not going to spend money on software just yet. And still being new to partial mashing and not having a firm grasp on everything.

My experience has only been with extract brewing. So I have never had to add much after putting the 2.5 gallons of cold water in my bucket, like less then a gallon or so. So seeing the wort so low in the pot and then having to add more water after then I was used to, just threw me for a loop.

 

I just used 1.5 qt/lb of grain, but found out my quart was actually 1/2 quart due to user error (AKA I assumed), which is why I was adding water. I measured my OG when it was in my fermentation bucket, at 5 gallons. So even according to brewcipher there, I am low. I guess does the software know when a partial mash is being done? I put the LME in but it doesn't seem to change much, that I notice. I will say I like brewcipher, seems like a more complex version on the site I used. Not that I will use everything on it yet, but it will let me save my recipes I make.

I think I will chalk this up to being my first Partial mash and see how it turns out.

 

I was referring to water needed and things along that line. IBUs and expected OG all change, but water stayed the same. I not sure if I did something wrong or not.