Simply Florida

I've been a little preoccupied lately.
Rather than ignore the blog completely, I thought I'd at least give you the flavor of Florida.

Hang on... I'm reaching into the archives...

Here we go:




We took an airboat ride in the Everglades when Finnish family came to visit. Found this guy sunning himself.




Blazing sunset at Sanibel (just a quick drive from our home). And that absolutely was the color of the sky... no photoshop tweaking here!




Some of the homes on Fort Myers Beach.




Had lunch at Fisherman's Village in Punta Gorda. This seagull came to see if we'd offer anything.

A little boy playing in the sand at Jupiter Beach. I have no idea who this little guy is, but couldn't resist capturing his fun from our ... Penthouse Suite ... at an exclusive Jupiter Beach Resort.

(okay, that never happens, but this time ... IT DID! and we loved it!)

It was long before anyone should be up (at least before the coffee was done), and I zoomed in on what was probably his last day of vacation, which I would guess is why he was out there so early.

Brown pelicans at Jupiter Beach.

My darling girl taking a walk on the beach, Jupiter Beach.

This same "Jupiter Beach... Girls' Weekend" has a couple of more pictures in this post... :-)

A look down one of our many canals and a view of the midpoint bridge, Cape Coral.

The riverbank at Jaycee Park, Cape Coral.




The sunset in my own backyard.


Be back soon!

One Funny Lady

So... I've been really busy. Sorry Blogger-land fans.

I have something that will make you smile, though:





You've probably seen it before, like I have, but it still makes me chuckle! What a nut, huh?!

I saw Anita do this at Women of Faith in Fort Lauderdale a year or two ago. She received a standing ovation then, too. The funny thing is... my daughter was standing to my left... she stood and cheered, too! She's not a mom, yet, but she's an adult... that must make the difference! I totally appreciated sharing that moment with her. It was kind of a ... "see? that's what I'm saying..." moment. :-)


Anita has come up with a dad's list, too.

That one isn't available to post yet from Godtube (and I always have such a hard time with Youtube).
Basically, the list has this on it: "Go ask your mom. Go ask your mom. Ta-da!"


But here's another funny one about our memory (or lack thereof):



Till tomorrow (and hopefully then I'll have blog-time!)...

Praise in My Heart and on My Lips

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him. ~Psalm 28:7


Today my cousin, Alana (you met her below in the Old Man Cory post), has to deliver a eulogy. Her dear friend, sister in the Lord, and long-time bible study buddy, Teresa, passed away on Tuesday after a long battle with ovarian cancer.

While we were wringing our hands anticipating the outcome of the election, T (as she was affectionately known) was reveling in the presence of her King. It leaves me awe struck. Many that I love have gone ahead of me, but every time I imagine them entering that place, it boggles my mind. They have seen Him face to face and I just can't imagine what it must be like.

I never had the opportunity to meet T, but Alana loved her dearly; saw her through her illness like a sister would, and offered encouragement to T's husband and children like they were her own family. Alana has shared with me the kind of woman T was, and I wish I had known her; she was remarkable.

Here's just a little of what Alana has to say about T:
"...T was so loving, kind, compassionate and tender, yet she could and would hold me accountable. She brought Jesus to people. Her character and actions shined of Jesus right to the end. She especially had a heart for children. She often talked about her job as a nurse in pediatric ICU and I can just see her holding those babies, loving them to good health. She was a second Mom to a lot of our children and a genuine Mom to those kids who didn't have one..."

...and Alana will go on to describe what an incredible mother T was to her own children, the kind of wife she was to her husband and what he meant to her, and about the kind of friend T was to so many. T didn't just impact her immediate circle of family and friends, she touched a whole community, as she was instrumental in organizing an annual cancer walk in her area to raise funds for the fight against ovarian cancer. She left her mark... a legacy.

Legacy by Nichole Nordeman was one of T's favorite songs.

(turn off the blog music)

T, from what I've been told, you did choose to love, and loved well. You pointed to your Savior over and over. You left a mark that glorifies Him. And you were a child of mercy and grace.

I Am Audrey...

So... I took this silly little quiz; only 2 questions. Somehow, they derived that "I am an Audrey."

Here's what HelloQuizzy has to say about that:

You are an Audrey -- "I am at peace"

Audreys are receptive, good-natured, and supportive. They seek union with others and the world around them.

How to Get Along with Me
* If you want me to do something, how you ask is important. I especially don't like expectations or pressure
* I like to listen and to be of service, but don't take advantage of this
* Listen until I finish speaking, even though I meander a bit
* Give me time to finish things and make decisions. It's OK to nudge me gently and nonjudgmentally
* Ask me questions to help me get clear
* Tell me when you like how I look. I'm not averse to flattery
* Hug me, show physical affection. It opens me up to my feelings
* I like a good discussion but not a confrontation
* Let me know you like what I've done or said
* Laugh with me and share in my enjoyment of life

What I Like About Being an Audrey
* being nonjudgmental and accepting
* caring for and being concerned about others
* being able to relax and have a good time
* knowing that most people enjoy my company; I'm easy to be around
* my ability to see many different sides of an issue and to be a good mediator and facilitator
* my heightened awareness of sensations, aesthetics, and the here and now
* being able to go with the flow and feel one with the universe

What's Hard About Being an Audrey
* being judged and misunderstood for being placid and/or indecisive
* being critical of myself for lacking initiative and discipline
* being too sensitive to criticism; taking every raised eyebrow and twitch of the mouth personally
* being confused about what I really want
* caring too much about what others will think of me
* not being listened to or taken seriously

Audreys as Children Often
* feel ignored and that their wants, opinions, and feelings are unimportant (definitely not true, Mom... don't worry about that one.)
* tune out a lot, especially when others argue
* are "good" children: deny anger or keep it to themselves

Audreys as Parents
* are supportive, kind, and warm
* are sometimes overly permissive or nondirective

Hmmm... only 2 questions; but the results reveal surprisingly large bits of accuracy!

Lord of the Future

Sharing what Dr. David Jeremiah had to say today...


Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious. 1 Peter 2:7

Yesterday was Election Day in the United States, and perhaps today you're feeling troubled if one of your candidates lost or if some ballot initiative that you supported failed. Sometimes we worry even when our candidates win. The political consultant, Robert Strauss, was a Washington insider who advised presidents from Lyndon Johnson to the first George Bush. He once said: "Everybody in government is like a bunch of ants on a log, floating down a river. Each one thinks he is guiding the log, but it's really just going with the flow."

The truth is—the Lord holds sovereign sway over the currents of history. These are troubling times, but we have a powerful and precious Savior. It's enough for us to leave the future in His hands, being fully persuaded that He has the power to keep what we have committed unto Him against that day.Let's pray for our leaders, intercede for our nation and world, and trust the Jesus Christ as Lord of the future.


Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.
~Corrie ten Boom

Old Man Cory

This is Cory. (He's not old... he's 11.) He's pictured here with my cousin, Alana... his mother (she's not old either, but that's irrelevant. However, I might point out that she'll soon become a great-aunt!! Yes, she's my Aunt Mega's daughter... see below {grin}) (Alright, she just pointed out - yes, she's sitting over my shoulder - that I'll become a grandmother first since her oldest is only 14. Whatever!!)

Cory is a national baseball champion! Betcha didn't know that (that's why I thought I'd share...) He's an awesome pitcher, center-fielder, and first-baseman. Seriously good!

He calls me Aunt Pam. I really like that. I'm not actually his aunt... since his mom is my cousin. But that's okay. Keep calling me Aunt Pam, Cory. It makes me feel good.

Cory had a blast last night on Halloween. Got all dressed up and went to his friend's house (mom and dad went too... it was a party). It was his teammate's (and coach's) house!

Check it out:





Is that a riot, or what?! You'd never know that sweet boy is under there. :-)

Hope you're enjoying the kids' candy {wink} while maintaining some restraint!!

Only God Knows

Remember the quote from grandma posted a few weeks ago? "I don't know if we'll meet again, only God knows."

Well, we'll meet again this weekend. Oh, I'm delighted!! It has worked out that I've been able to join mom for a weekend trip up to Crystal River for a baby shower. My Aunt Mega's grandson, Ryon, is going to be a daddy come December. That means my Aunt Mega is going to be a great-grandma! (You're thrilled I pointed that out, right Aunt Mega?)

Actually, I think it's awesome. Who cares about titles, you're only as old as you feel. And as far as looks go... well, this doesn't look like the stereo-typical "great-grandma" by any stretch of the imagination!

This also means that my grandma is going to be a great-great-grandma! Yowsa! But again, titles... who cares about them?


Truthfully, I'm looking forward to the day I can claim the title of grandma. It will be an honor.

(grandma and me, taken this summer)

Anyway, I'm here and I'm glad that I'll be able to hug my grandma, again!

Unfortunately, it also means I'll have to say goodbye to her, again; grandpa, too. Oh well, the good with the bad... totally worth it.

Grandmas hold our hands for just a little while... but our hearts forever.

~Unknown

Halloween, Through the Years

So... my little one is not so little anymore. As a matter of fact, she's all grown up, married, and moved away... far, far away... where it snows in October!

Therefore... I'm not worried about Halloween costumes this year, nor have I been for about the last 10 or 12 or 15 years!


I thought it would be fun, though, to take a peek at what once was...



The Bunny Rabbit ~

At almost 6 mos... she was a bunny for her first Halloween.


The Clown ~

At two years old... she dressed as a clown. This is post-trick-or-treating, and the reason for the smeared make-up and giddy smile.



The Football Player ~

Not really... we didn't make her traipse around the neighborhood in this heavy get-up. She was just being silly one evening.



The Ballerina ~

At three years old, she was a ballerina... only, not for Halloween. She really did take some dance classes and was dressed to participate in a parade. (I might have cheated and had her wear this trick-or-treating... I don't remember. Do you remember if I cheated with this one, Kristiina?)


The Gymnast ~

Not for Halloween... she really was one. Seems I didn't have many Halloween pics available (scanned).


The Cheerleader ~

Sike... this is a uniform, not a costume. She really was a cheerleader in 8th grade.

The Volleyball Player ~

Okay, I'm getting desperate. Here's another uniform. Senior year, varsity volleyball.

The Engagement ~

I'm kidding!! (About it being a costume... not about the engagement. {wink})

Well, I sure wish that I had scanned pictures of her the year she was a broadway dancer, and the year she was Scarlet O'Hara, and the year she dressed like the 50's in an adorable poodle skirt, and the year she was a medieval princess.

Hmmm... too bad. I know I have those pics somewhere, but my scanner is not hooked up. You'll just have to trust me... she was very cute!

Have a safe, fun Halloween!

A Little of This

... a little of that.

I decided to carve a pumpkin last night; I haven't done it in years and years. It did what I had hoped... satisfied the urge to be a little creative.

I used to be really artsy-craftsy, but haven't done much of anything that would fit that category for a long time (not that carving a pumpkin exactly fits that category, but close enough).

This little masterpiece (oozing sarcasm) took about two hours to create. I used to do a really cool 3D lion's face, but I didn't have the tenacity for that this year so, I opted for this simpler one (though, it came out pretty cool). I have no idea where the lion's face template is, anyway.


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Thought I'd also share a few of pictures that Joe took while he was in North Carolina. All of the three pics are from our friends' property. Not where they live, but property they own and are developing into a gated mountain community.



This one is similar to the one I posted a few days ago... but this one is Joe's.




Sky was hazy - hard to see the mountains in the distance. It wasn't as "leaf season" as I thought it would be.



Taken the same day, and this one doesn't even look like Autumn! It's still a pretty view.


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And just because I can't resist taking pictures of my dogs...

Here's one of the puppies eating. Someone got crumbs all over Riley's head. We have offered them each their own bowl, but they prefer to share. Sometimes, their noses are all in one dish, like this.



But sometimes, they're willing to use 2 bowls, like this. They truly are pals... buds... compadres... they love each other!
Brothers, Riley and Blaze on the left... sisters, Emma and Sara on the right.



Maybe it stems from this... my little munchkins' first attempt at dry food. They learned to share early on.


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One can never speak enough of the virtues... the power of shared laughter.

~Francoise Sagan

We're Breaking Records

So, evidently, since our temperatures dipped to the low 40's this morning, we broke a 106-year-old record for cold weather in October.

I, very comfortably, slept under two blankets last night, and didn't want to get out from under them this morning!


Meanwhile, Nic and Kristiina had another snowfall last night. This one stuck! Check out this picture Nic sent me from his phone! He said it was 30 degrees this morning. Burrr.



It's the pavilion and pond at The Project property. Isn't it beautiful?!


Compared to when we were there in June:

Beautiful in summer, too!! This is the opposite angle, obviously.

I'm completely captivated with the notion that my flip-flop wearin', tank-top clad, born-and-bred Florida girl now lives in a region that gets snow in October! But... she says she loves wearing layers. That's a good thing - since she has to wear about six!


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Joe caught up on his blog-reading last night. He was surprised, though happy, that I wrote so much about Pinehurst. What really thrills him, though, is when I write about the dogs. Man, he loves those dogs! As a matter of fact, when he read what I wrote about him missing me and the dogs, he said I could have transposed those words... that he missed the dogs and me!



... he was kidding!


(I think he was kidding.)


Anyway, I think my next Blog Star will be Blaze. Stay tuned.

He Brought the Cold

I'm happy to have hubby home. He made record time (seriously...if you saw a red blur headed south on I-75 yesterday, that was him - I'm glad HP didn't notice); and you should have seen the dogs go berserk when they saw him. They're happy he's home, too!

He told me about his North Carolina adventures (including the hog-hole incident!) and showed me the pictures he took. His ankle is very swollen and his foot is beginning to turn deep purple from bruising, but he said the swelling is way down compared to what it was. It doesn't hurt as much and he's actually a bit mobile (able to gimp around).

He said it was really cold up there, but as soon as he hit Florida he started roasting, so he was able to peel off his heavy jacket. I swear, though, he brought the cold back with him. We had to sleep under a blanket last night (and I was still cold), and I actually turned the heat on in my car on my way to work today. If I'd had them, I would have worn gloves; my hands were chilly! I think it was 50 degrees (I'm just a thin-blooded Floridian)!

I just went to the bank, and it's still a little nippy to me (at 61 degrees).

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I'm uninspired today...

...I finished the quiche. Twice I had it for dinner. Once I had it for breakfast. Today I had it for lunch.

I love that about quiche. It's versatile! Au revoir, quiche, till the next time hubby is away!

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I'll leave you with this:

Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap,
but by the seeds you plant.

~Robert Louis Stevenson

Have a good seed-planting Tuesday!

"I Think I Inhaled Her"

Oh my. Check out this video. (The title is a quote from it.) After watching for 60 seconds I thought, "Cool... but Why?!" Then, he goes on to explain...why.

Needle Sized Art "Very incredible story! Not only is this mans art cool but he got a ton of cash for it!"

Thanks for sending the link, Alana.

The Infamous Quiche

I've had some requests for the quiche recipe. Well, two requests... well, actually, one certain request, and one, "I might want that."

So, here it is, for anyone who might want it...


Crustless Spinach and Mushroom Quiche

6 eggs
3/4 cup milk (however much fat you want, I used 1% - I've seen recipes that call for heavy cream!)
5 or 6 green onions, slice them tip to tip, using both white and green parts (I like specifics when reading a recipe)
8-12 oz. swiss cheese, shredded
1 pkg of sliced, fresh mushrooms, sauteed
2/3 of a bag (about 2 big handfuls) fresh spinach leaves, ripped and sauteed (just wilted)
salt and pepper to taste

1. Heat oven to 350. Grease (I used Pam cooking spray) a 10-inch tart pan or 9-inch, deep, pie pan, or be like me, I used a 9 by 9 inch glass baking dish.
2. In a large skillet, sautee the mushrooms in butter. Then, add the ripped (so it mixes well in the eggs) spinach until it's wilted. Set aside to cool.
3. In a large bowl, mix the eggs, milk, cheese and onion. Add the cooled mushrooms and spinach, and salt and pepper to taste.
4. Pour mixture into prepared pan. Bake 1 hour and 15 minutes (tenting with foil, if necessary, to prevent over-browning - I didn't need to) or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes before cutting.

Voila... delicious!


You can substitute broccoli or other vegetables for the spinach/mushrooms. Add diced ham or crumbled bacon, if you want... pretty much anything goes!

Hugs All Around! (No, not hogs)

Last night, while my husband visited a NC emergency room and had half a dozen x-rays taken of his ankle, I was readying myself for an evening out.

But first, the ankle. He was helping our friends with a controlled burn. They had been at it for hours and were getting much accomplished. Joe attempted to throw another log on the fire, when he stepped in a hog hole. That's what he called it, anyway. I have no idea what a hog hole is ...how deep? ...how wide? ...visible or camouflaged? ...truly dug by a ...hog?!

(Ohhhh, later learned it was a groundhog hole. That, I can make sense of.)

Anyway... he landed in it, heard a pop, and felt shearing pain. It was ridiculously swollen in a matter of seconds. The pop is what made him suspect he had broken it... that, and the odd looking bulge on one side that he thought looked suspiciously like a bone.

Thankfully, he did not break it and the bulge was not an errant bone. He severely sprained it. They put him in a boot and sent him off, doped up on pain meds.

Meanwhile, mom and I were headed to my daughter's in-laws' home. My son-in-law was in town for a whirlwind, ultra-brief visit. We gathered together for Gary's homemade pizza... Mmm...One of them was pepperoni (the only one with red sauce), one of them was potato and caramelized onion, and one of them was gorgonzola cheese and rosemary. Oh... good! With our pizza, we enjoyed wine, laughter and conversation.

Then, we capped off the evening with Diane's homemade apple pie and yummy french-pressed coffee. Auntie Ev and Uncle Mike came, too. It was such a great evening. We wished Joe were with us instead of in the ER; and we wished Kristiina were with us instead of in Vermont! Nic promised to take our hugs and kisses home to her. Likewise, I have many warm wishes to relay to Joe.

Time to go, we hugged and were off. Family is such a special blessing.

{{No pics cuz I sent the camera to NC with hubby.}}

Everywhere But Here

Pictures, that is... of everywhere but here. Okay, not everywhere... just three other places.


Yesterday Joe waved goodbye to Southern Pines, NC. . .

He loved it there.



This is downtown. He thinks it's extremely charming; not just downtown... all of it, and he thinks that the people couldn't be friendlier.
"Let's move here." He said. {{grin}}


Ah, but it was time to go, so he headed west... for Murphy, NC,



where he'll hang out for a couple of days with our friends and Florida neighbors (the ones whose turtles we're watching). This is our friends' property. Rough, huh?! The guys will probably mess around on the 4-wheelers. Fun, fun!


Then, he's bound for home... where the leaves don't turn - and we're still wearing short sleeved shirts and flipflops - and we don't have Pinehurst - and the closest thing we have to a 4-wheeler is a riding lawnmower!


Still, he says he misses me and the dogs.



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Kristiina sent me snowy pics, afterall.



First, there's this one. It's at The Project, 2nd floor. Windows are not installed yet (but they're ready and waiting!), so it snowed all over the floor. This is where the snow was gathered for snowballs!

Then there's this one. You should be well acquainted with this view by now; except you can't see Mt. Ascutney! Overcast sky and falling snow made for limited visibility. It flurried steadily, but not enough for snow to rest in the branches.

Pinehurst Finale

So, here's your Final Pinehurst Update:

Joe called... pleased. He said they did very well yesterday. Shot 5 under, collectively, which put them at about 11th or 12th place. Out of 41 teams compiled by 164 men across the nation... that's not a bad spot to be. I don't recall if he told me what his personal score was... but if he was pleased, then he must have shot under par again. He said Course #2, that they played yesterday, was incredibly beautiful. It's one of the most historic courses at Pinehurst, as far as major PGA tournaments go. His favorite, though, was Course #4.

When he called he said, "So, I don't suppose you've been watching the Golf Channel." Uh no... Darn! They were on about 5 times yesterday. For some reason, the videographers/reporters kept spotting, recording and airing the Arrowhead Team! They had several friends call them and say, "Hey! You're famous!!" I DVR'd about 3 1/2 hours yesterday evening... hopefully I'll catch a glimpse. Meanwhile, I've been searching the internet for a clip, to no avail.

He got to spend some time chatting with Chris DiMarco and Zach Johnson. He's always liked them... and still does after getting the opportunity to meet them personally and getting to know them a little bit.

So...that's a wrap!!


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Well, Kristiina did indeed get to see snow yesterday! However, it wasn't picture worthy. That'll be a few more weeks. So, instead, here's a pretty wild flower she took a couple of months ago.


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And a few quotable quotes...

The unselfish effort to bring cheer to others will be the beginning of a happier life for ourselves.
~Helen Keller


Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks.
~Phillips Brooks


I expect to pass through life but once. If, therefore, there can be any kindness I can show, or any good things I can do to any fellow human being, let me do it now and not defer it or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.
~William Penn



That's all for now... enjoy your Thursday!

Vermont's Ablaze!

You gotta see this! Kristiina emailed me three photos that she took on October 15th...



Just look at what has happened to that view from the cabin (The Project)!
That's take-my-breath-away beautiful.



And this one... such a serene setting, isn't it? This is the pond at the bomb shelter. The owner of The Project has a another home on the same mountain. It used to be a bomb shelter that he converted. I guess once he moves into the new place, that's going to be his guest house.



This one whispers to me of days gone by...

... giggly children (me among them) playing in raked leaves ...delighting in the sound of the leaves crunching beneath my feet ...my dad having a game of football with his buddies in the field beside our house ...bursting in the door with a cold, red nose after playing hard outside, still able to see my breath from the rush of cold air that came in with me, and asking mom if we can have some hot chocolate.

{Wistful sigh} Autumn is lovely.


Kristiina said there's a rumor going around... they may get snow today!

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8:50 AM - Breaking news: Kristiina just called and said she's getting ready to head up to Nic's jobsite... it's snowing on the mountain! He told her it looks like winter up there; the guys have even had a snowball fight already!! She promises pictures soon.

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The Pinehurst update:

Yesterday was a good day! Joe was happy. Team Arrowhead jumped from 28th to 12th place, and Joe shot under par...Yeah! They did as a team, too... 11 under, collectively. Since he doesn't have a handicap, his was a true score... played on Course 8. Today is the final round and they're playing it on Course 2... it's a tough one! Realistically, Joe's not expecting it to be as good a round as yesterday.

My Profile Pic

A peek at what my profile picture may have looked like through the ages:

Suppose I was blogging in 1952. This could have been me!


Or if I had a blog in 1960.


This may have been me in 1968.


Or, me in 1972.


Me in 1982. Yikes, seriously?! I remember 1982. Thankfully, it wasn't that!


In 1990, I might have looked something like this.


Or, like this in 1996.

This is what I looked like in 2006, and what I use as my current profile pic. Guess I need to update it since it's 2 years old. I'll see what I can find.

It's the same picture I used for all of the eras, above. Isn't that funny?!
Thanks for the link, Ree. That was fun.

- - - - - - -

A Pinehurst update:

It was warmer up there yesterday. Joe said it was a beautiful day. Personally, he had a better round. He still shot a couple over par, which isn't like him, but taking into consideration everything I mentioned yesterday... plus, he has to play more conservatively since it's team-play. I'll bet if it was every man for himself, he'd be killing it by now!!

- - - - - - -

DWTS last night... Warren can hustle! I remember being in 7th grade and choreographing hustle moves with my girlfriends. We danced for hours in my living room after school!

The jitterbug was fun to watch. Both couples did it well, I thought.

Have a good Tuesday!