I finally got around to trying that new recipe you sent me last week. It turned out pretty well, though I had to substitute a few ingredients since I couldn't find exactly what you used. The kids actually enjoyed it, which is always a win in my book. Let me know if you have any other good ones tucked away. We're thinking of doing a small get-together this weekend, so I'm on the hunt for something impressive but not too complicated. Hope you guys are doing well over there. We should catch up properly soon. Maybe we can plan a video call this weekend or something. Let me know what works for you. I've also been reading a lot lately, trying to get through my stack of books before the year ends. It has been a nice escape in the evenings.

Oh, I almost forgot to ask about your gardening project. Did you ever decide on what to plant along the fence line? We ended up going with a mix of hydrangeas and some native shrubs. They took a while to establish, but they look fantastic now. It's nice to just sit on the porch and see everything coming together. Let me know if you need any cuttings or want to swap some plants soon. I should have plenty of extras once I thin things out this spring. It's been a relaxing hobby, honestly. Gets me outside and away from screens for a bit. You should come by and see it once everything fully blooms. I think you'd really like how the colors turned out. It has become my favorite spot in the yard.