October, 2026 — Wrapped

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I have been busy, busy, busy.

Red sunrise foretold 24 hours of rain.

There’s always the to-do list in addition to maintaining health issues.  Here’s what happened in October:

  • I worked on possible trips for 2028 — thinking about a transAtlantic cruise or a visit to Naples, Italy and western US tour including Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone.

    Seems like we will be able to connect Mount Rushmore with some National Parks.

  • Toured the beautiful Pride of Baltimore II.

    The Pride of Baltimore II

  • I attended a multiple meeting prayer seminar then watched other attendees get commissioned as intercessors.
  • We attended a gala for a local mission that provides food, counseling, and resources in its community programs.

    Fresh oysters are a part of most celebrations on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

  • I read Mexican Gothic for the Halloween edition of my book club.  Weird, eerie, and difficult to follow at times, however the characters were interesting and easy to find one with whom to identify.

    Mexican Gothic

I worked on the following tasks and was successful in preparing for big projects in the near future:

  1. Set up the downstairs bedroom.

    We had been hosting a special guest who needed a hospital bed .Back to normal.

  2.   Walk all month in anticipation of 10K in early November.  I walked and walked and walked some more most mornings just after I awoke.

    My goal is to get to the high point of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

    Hoping I’m ready for the 10K which has an incline at the beginning of the race.

  3.  Clean up the marsh. (#46 of 101 in 1001 days)

    The marsh between the lawn and the bay collects all sorts of things that float in.

    In about half an hour at low tide I collected 2 bags of plastic trash from our small (quarter acre?) marsh — shotgun shells, water and soda bottles, 7-11 drink cups, snack wrappers, etc.  C’mon people, it’s your earth.

  4.  Autumnize the mantel.

    Warm colors and land animals inhabit the mantel this fall.

    On the first day of the month I removed the dolphins, fishing boats, and other sea related items from the mantel.  I replaced them with warmer colored candles, animals (deer and owl), and a pretty Asian vase featuring a peacock.

  5.  Hang some art. This was difficult because I didn’t want to hang art on walls that still need painting.

    The oval mirror may soon share a space with a vintage console.

    However I found a few spots to embellish.  I moved the mirror from the downstairs bedroom into the front hall.

    “We are the music makers and we are the dreamers of dreams.” Ode by Arthur O’Shaughnessy

    Then the chalkboard moved to the freshly painted laundry hall so I’ll see it everytime I enter the house from the garage.

  6.  Continue to dismantle the primary bathroom.  I have taken out everything that I am able to remove.

    There’s always more stuff in the bathroom (any room for that matter) than I expect.

  7.  Paint primary bathroom. Fully painted the room Alabaster by Sherwin Williams except for the walls I anticipate will be removed or fully tiled.

    A clean slate for the renovation.

  8.  Have my eyes checked.  I was prescribed a pair of glasses for driving which are meant to diminish the light flair in the dark.  They do help.

    Ray-Ban Elliott in yellow and blue Havana — they make me look smart.

  9. Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: PREPARE.
  10.  Write a goal list for November, 2026.

Jo

Pride II

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The clipper ship Pride of Baltimore II visited Cambridge Harbor.

The Pride of Baltimore II sailing down the Chesapeake Bay.

She sailed from Baltimore down the Chesapeake Bay then up the Choptank River to Cambridge in 2 days — about 16 hours total sailing time.

A motorized crabbing boat rushes past the Pride.

I was available for a free deck tour on a bright and sunny afternoon.  A crew member welcomed me aboard.

The Pride is beautifully accented with brass details which need regular upkeep.

As I boarded modern sailors dressed in polo shirts and khaki shorts were polishing brass the old fashioned way — lots of hand action.

Loads of stays and shrouds, halyards and sheets on this multiple sail ship.

The rigging is a square-topsail schooner.

Looking forward from the helm.

The Pride is fashioned after privateers (a privately owned ship or sailor given official government permission to attack and capture enemy ships during wartime) in the War of 1812. During the War of 1812, Baltimore Clippers and privateers defended independence, safeguarded sailors’ rights, and helped secure our country’s place among the nations of the world.

While there are larger, more traditional cannons onboard, I loved this little swivel gun mounted on the gunwale.

Currently there is a crew of 12 — in 1812 as many as 100 sailors might be on a ship like this. I found that curious and almost unbelievable since the ship is not really very large.  The explanation is that when a privateer would overtake an enemy ship they would inevitably leave a crew on board the captured ship which would diminish their number.

The lifeboat on board, Chasseur,  named after the inspiration boat for the Pride of Baltimore, is also a sailboat.

I was assured by multiple crew members that below deck is comfortable with  beds, modern galley, GPS, and other up-to-date navigational equipment.

She sails under the flags of the United States of America, the State of Maryland, and the City of Baltimore .  The national ensign is flown at the stern staff or the peak of the aftermost gaff thus not always the highest flag on a ship.

The Pride of Baltimore II regularly displays the following flags or pennants:

  • Star-Inspired U.S. Flag: A replica of the 15-star, 15-stripe War of 1812 U.S. flag (the same design that flew over Fort McHenry) — the “Star Spangled Banner”.
  • Baltimore City Flag: Features the historic Battle Monument against alternating black and yellow vertical stripes.
  • Maryland State Flag: Combines the black-and-gold Calvert family crest with the red-and-white Crossland banner.
  • Ship’s Pennant: A distinct yellow triangular pennant featuring the name “Pride of Baltimore II”.

A true American beauty.

Jo

October, 2026 — Gonna

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This October I look forward to moderate weather and fewer bugs so I can work outside.

The dock from the house to the water needs some repair.

In addition to finishing some outdoor projects I would like to:

  1. Set up the downstairs bedroom.

    We had been hosting a special guest who needed a hospital bed — now we’ll get back to the original set up.

  2.   Walk all month in anticipation of 10K in early November.
  3.  Clean up the marsh. (#46 of 101 in 1001 days)

    Our marsh between the lawn and the bay gets full of plastic debris and trash from passing boats.

  4.  Autumnize the mantel.

    The mantel wants some warmth to carry us into fall.

  5.  Hang some art.

    I have some art from our travels for which I should find a place.

  6.  Continue to dismantle the primary bathroom.

    The shoe molding has been removed, the mirror is down, and the towel bars are gone — next remove and paint the open shelves.

  7.  Paint primary bathroom.

    Because the ceiling is high there’s more to paint than it seems.

  8.  Have my eyes checked.
  9. Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: PREPARE.
  10.  Write a goal list for November, 2026.

September, 2026 — Wrapped

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Thirty days hath September and I tried to be fruitful each and every day.

Looking north over the marsh just after dawn.

Here are some of the things I worked on:

  • Hung the new shade (ordered last month) in the kitchen.

    The window treatment when we moved in was an orangish Venetian blinds.

    I abandoned this window valance because it looked odd from outside the house and gave no privacy.

    This shade looks nice from both inside and outside the house.

  • Saw a new dentist a little closer to home.
  • Started a new Bible study  —  Walking with God.
  • Survived the biting black flies. Barely.
  • Changed the filter in my Blueair room air cleaner.

    Definitely time to change the filter — old on left and new on right.

  • Even though I didn’t want to poke a hole in the kitchen panel that faces the living room, I decided to hang a hook for a heavy antique mirror to reflect the bay water outside.

    Before

    After

  • Watched The Devil Wears Prada 2. Fabulous costumes.
  • Went to Touch-a-Truck Community event.  Every kind of first response vehicle was there. My 2 favorites are pictured below.

    A bomb disposal robot is a remotely controlled vehicle used by police and military bomb squads to inspect, handle, and neutralize dangerous explosives from a safe distance. Here pictured with its handler, a bomb squad technician, who can do everything the robot can.

    The Blackwater Fire Management team uses these heavy, tank-like buggies because they  travel easily across deep muck, soft mud, and open water where standard brush trucks or bulldozers would sink.

  • With Charlie’s help, hung the large mirror (formerly in the primary bathroom) on the side of the shed.

    Mirror added.

Now to the numbered list that I planned to complete before the end of the month.

  1.  Celebrate our wedding anniversary. I bought Bluetooth headsets for both of us and a fancy little cake to share.

    A black set for Charlie and a blue set for me.

  2.  Transplant columbine and lavender.

    We planted new parsley and columbine among the other plants since the basil will die off in the winter.  Lavender is in pots.

    I also planted some creeping thyme and replanted parsley which had been decimated by Black Swallowtail butterfly caterpillars.

    These caterpillars are 3-4 inches long and really very beautiful but highly destructive.

  3.  Work on 2027 travel plans.  I planned our trip to Seattle next spring — airline tickets, hotels, rental car.

    Planning to see the Skagit Tulip fields.

    I also reviewed the already-scheduled cruise from Helsinki to Copenhagen which is about a year from now.

  4.  Hire a contractor for bathroom renovation.  Rehired the crew that installed our kitchen with which we are very satisfied.  Work slated to start at the beginning of 2027.

    The renovated kitchen is working well.

  5.  Arrange annual trip insurance.   I bought Allianz annual insurance (All Trips Premier) to cover the maximum number of planned trips. An annual coverage policy can be purchased no more than 90 days in advance.
  6.   Read a book.  I read The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides that we discussed in our book club.  It was a psychological thriller which I didn’t care for — too dark.  As I was reading I was hoping for a happy ending — No.

    The Silent Patient

  7.  Remove large mirror from primary bathroom.  Charlie and I removed this 3′ by 4′ monster with great care.  I have plans to mount it on the side of the shed.

    Before

    Very strange with no mirror but much easier to fill holes and paint.

  8.  Redesign primary bathroom. (#32 101 in 1001).  I have redesigned the bathroom and added some new details.  Our contractor might also have some input.  Everything has been ordered and is being stashed in the primary bedroom which is a tight fit for now.

    The direction I’m going for the primary ensuite bathroom.

  9. Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word  : CREATIVITY.
  10.  Write a goal list for October, 2026.

Jo

Primary Bath: Getting Ready to Renovate

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Two years ago we moved into our home on the Chesapeake Bay.  Since then we have replaced the floor on the ground level, renovated 2 downstairs bathrooms to become one better-functioning one, and redesigned and replaced the kitchen.

This is how the bathroom looked when we moved in.

The next room on my redo list is the primary ensuite bathroom which is upstairs (#32 on my 101 in 1001 days).

I have already changed the vanity light and the one over the toilet.

So far I have added a battery operated light over the shower and changed the vanity light fixture.

The finishes I’ve decided on so far.

While I am deciding on finishes and layouts and fixtures I want to get started removing baseboards, filling holes, and painting walls that will remain.

The new shower configuration might be something like this without the step up.

The plan is to remove the wall at the end of the vanity which is the shower water wall and replace it with a glass enclosure.

The floor should look something like this.

I would love to have a zero-threshold shower and have purchased mosaic tile to go throughout the room.

I’d like to retain the towel storage with a slight upgrade.

The dark corner at the back of the room is shelving for towels which must be preserved because it opens to the furnace vent underneath.

A configuration something like this may be possible for the towel storage area.

Although I have purchased most of the fixtures, tile, and supplies to renovate the primary bathroom I’m still working on the feasibility of details like the above closet.

The new vanity is blue.

I’ll keep working on it.

Jo

September, 2026 — Gonna

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September has crept up very quickly this year.  The weather will stay warm but I’ll try to get some outdoor tasks completed.

I was all set to walk across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge last year but the bridge was closed due to high winds.

I also plan to start walking to get ready for a 10K in November.

Now to the numbered list that I hope to complete before the end of the month.

  1.  Celebrate our wedding anniversary. Furniture anniversary?? Hmm.

    I’m working on this project.

  2.  Transplant columbine and lavender.
  3.  Work on 2027 travel plans.

    Seattle, Washington.

  4.  Hire a contractor for bathroom renovation.
  5.  Arrange annual trip insurance.

    We usually buy annual trip insurance.

  6.   Read a book.
  7.  Remove large mirror from primary bathroom.

    This is a huge mirror — I’ll need help.

  8.  Redesign primary bathroom. (#32 101 in 1001)

    The primary bathroom needs a total makeover.

  9. Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word:  CREATIVITY.
  10.  Write a goal list for October, 2026.

Jo

August, 2026: Wrapped

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In August it’s really too hot to do anything in Maryland but to soak up the air conditioning. Sea nettles fill the warm water of the Chesapeake Bay so even taking a quick dip to cool off is not very likely.

We have nice sunsets over the marsh.

In addition to the plans below I (we):

  • started renovating the top of the breakfront which I had detached from the bottom to use as the kitchen island in our former home.

    Only the top remains to be transformed.

  • ordered floor tile for primary bathroom.

    Natural Blue 12.01 in. x 12.01 in. Geometric Polished Marble Mosaic Tile

  • made meringues to add to the cookie table at my high school reunion.

    My go-to recipe when I need cookies or dessert that must travel.

  • ordered a blind for the big kitchen window overlooking the street.

    The big window over the sink in the kitchen needs some privacy.

  • attended a 4-week Bible study.

    Follow the Healer

  • changed the hardware on an old cabinet from silver to gold.

    A subtle change.

  • hung a light-blocking curtain in the bedroom on the south-facing window behind the television.

    Before (left) and after (right):  Watching TV looking into the bright sky was always difficult.

  • welcomed Charlie’s mother for an extended visit.
  • read The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store and discussed it at the book club.  I enjoyed this book.

    The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store

In August I planned to:

  1. Take a road trip. We drove to Bentleyville, PA, to stay at a midpoint between Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater and my high school reunion at Nevillewood Country Club.

    Fallingwater was built over a waterfall to encourage the inhabitants to explore nature.

    This sojourn completes both #31 and #57 on my 101 in 1001 days list.

  2.  Work on rental car, plane, hotel reservations, and travel insurance for Panama Canal cruise. Once I received the flight information I updated the flights to be more convenient, finalized pre-trip hotel, and made a rental car reservation for post-cruise travel. I have to wait another month to purchase annual trip insurance to start later in the year so that it will cover a maximum of trips.  Then we’ll be ready to cruise.

    We’ll be traveling through the Panama Canal on the Viking Mars.

  3.  Attend a concert or 2. We binged on service bands:  USNA Band Electric Brigade, US Army Field Band, US Navy Band Cruisers.
    What a treat!

    A small contingent of the US Army Field Band (in fatigues) played a nice concert.

    Especially enjoyed the evening we sat on the terrace of the Tidewater Inn and had dinner at Hunters’ Tavern during the concert.

  4.  Work on a house project.  I painted the laundry hall Light Sandhill Crane (walls) and Sherwin WIlliams’ Lakeside (ceiling).

    The blue color helps a low ceiling recede.

    Then I mixed Lakeside with some old yellowish paints to coordinate with the dining room mural in order to paint the adjacent knee wall.

    The knee wall in the dining room was painted Alabaster which didn’t seem to work.

    Now the wall is custom blue to match the sky of the mural.

  5.  Set up old VHS video player. I sat the TV on top of the video player.  The tricky part was finding some old RCA cables to channel it into the television.

    This TV has a built-in DVD player so I’m all set for a little offline viewing.

    Now it works and I plan to watch some of our old home movies.

  6. Work on Christmas gifts.  I have come up with some useful and unusual items.  Can’t share the details until after Christmas.

    Last Christmas we had a lit tree at the end of our dock.

  7.  Plan something fun.  I went on a boat tour of 6 lighthouses – Part 1 and Part 2.  (#87 on 101 in 1001 list) .

    Thomas Point Shoal screw pile lighthouse on the Chesapeake Bay.

  8.  Get rid of 3 boxes of clutter in the garage. I also got rid of a few more vases when a shelf in the garage pulled away from the wall and the contents crashed to the floor.

    It seems the more I get rid of the more I have.

  9.   Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: WELCOME.
  10.   Write a goal list for September, 2026.

Jo

Lighthouse Cruise: Part 2 of the 6 Hour Tour

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My cruise to view Chesapeake Bay lighthouses began here.

As we approached Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse the weather started to turn cloudy and stormy.

Continuing north heading toward the Chesapeake Bay Bridge we next encountered Thomas Point Shoal Light.

Upon close inspection coyotes can be spotted on the dock on the left.

Since January, 2024, a faux coyote named Drew has been stationed on the dock of the historic 1875 screw-pile lighthouse to solve a persistent bird-dropping problem.  The decoy family has now expanded to include a companion named Debby (with painted red toenails) and a young pup named Nugget.

As we left Thomas Point behind we could see rain squalls surrounding us.

Public tours of the interior of Thomas Point Lighthouse leave from Annapolis and must be arranged in advance for about $103 per person.  These charges help to maintain the lighthouse.

The first lighthouse at Sandy Point Shoal was erected in 1858.

As we watched the sky get darker and the rain begin to fall on us, we came upon Sandy Point Shoal Lighthouse on the western side of the Chesapeake Bay.

Many of us on the cruise brought raingear to protect us from stormy weather. (Chesapeake Bay Bridge in the distance.)

Since 2005 the lighthouse has been in private ownership who is required to allow Coast Guard access to the structure for periodic maintenance of the light.

Sandy Point Shoal Lighthouse is out of commission but doesn’t look as dilapidated as some of the others.

In 2019, the Coast Guard notified mariners that Sandy Point Shoal Lighthouse was being discontinued: “Due to the deteriorating condition of the Sandy Point Shoal Light structure, which has become a severe health hazard and a hazard to access for maintenance crews, the Coast Guard discontinued the light. The structure is privately owned and maintained, the Coast Guard is continuing to work with the owner concerning maintenance.”

Baltimore Harbor Lighthouse was finally commissioned in 1902 after 4 years of wind, water, and weather problems.

Our final lighthouse, Baltimore Harbor Lighthouse, marks the entrance to the Baltimore Channel at the mouth of the Magothy River.

Baltimore Harbor Lighthouse north of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

Baltimore Harbor Lighthouse is now privately owned and available for tours and events.

Heading southward toward the Chesapeake Bay Bridge the seas became rougher.

As the storm and rough waters increased we headed back to Cambridge Harbor (approximately 3 hours away) at top speed.

Yee ha! Love an adventure.

I was soaked through to the skin even with my rain gear. However the water and air were warm so getting wet was not much of an issue for me except I dared not take out my phone for any more photos.

Jo

Lighthouse Cruise: Part 1 of the 6 Hour Tour

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I was up bright and early on a Sunday morning to meet Captain Phil, his first mate, and a group of 14 other lighthouse enthusiasts.

Captain Phil welcomed us aboard Fish Magnet out of Church Creek, Maryland.

The plan was to cruise up the Chesapeake Bay to see 6 lighthouses in various states of disrepair as many have been taken out of service.

Cambridge Creek Drawbridge on Maryland Avenue.

We sailed from Cambridge harbor through the drawbridge down the Choptank River.

Choptank River Lighthouse is located on the end of Pier A at Long Wharf Park (Water and High Streets) in Cambridge.

Our first lighthouse was the Choptank River Lighthouse which is open for self-tours from the land side.  This is a replica screw-pile lighthouse.

Sharps Island Lighthouse at the mouth of Choptank Bay.

After about an hour’s cruise to get out of the Choptank River onto the open Chesapeake Bay we saw Sharps Island Lighthouse. Once upon a time Sharps Island was over 600 acres, by the 1830s it was about half that size.

While unable to actually climb aboard the lighthouses we got nice and close.

By 1960, Sharps Island had been reduced to an underwater shoal, completely lost from view.

Sharps Lighthouse

Now all that remains is the third lighthouse on that spot, currently featuring a 15-degree list after it was damaged by ice in 1977.

Bloody Point Lighthouse has solar panels to power the modern lens, which is still an active aid to navigation.

Bloody Point, built in 1882, is named for the nearby point which has been the scene of a number of violent events throughout history. In the early days of the US, a group of Indians was reportedly enticed to the area by English colonists, who then butchered them. It is also rumored that a villainous French pirate was hung at Bloody Point.

Bloody Point Lighthouse has had a tilt almost from the beginning.

Bloody Point Lighthouse is now charred and rusted as a result of a tragic fire in 1960 that very nearly killed two lighthouse crewmen. Finally, in 2006 the lighthouse was auctioned to the private sector.

The clouds rolled in and the bay water became dark.

Check back for Part 2 of the tour when the weather turned ugly and the water became rough.

Jo

Silver to Gold

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We have a little blue cabinet under the steps next to the piano that holds tuners, music, and router among other things.

The blue cabinet with silver hardware.

Years ago I painted it blue and painted the hardware silver to match the brushed nickel details in our former home.

The blue cabinet (behind the chair) is not a key feature.

Ever since I painted the wall behind the piano orange the silver was not working for me. Also all the fixtures in this house are slowly being changed to champagne bronze/gold.

A small tube of Rub ‘n Buff next to a still-silver hinge.

I transformed the silver to gold by applying Grecian Gold Rub ‘n Buff on the metal drawer pulls, hinges, and door knobs with a gloved finger.

Silver (left) became gold (right).

This was an easy transformation since I already had all the components on hand.

The little cabinet back in place.

Not much of a change but I do like it better now that the hardware is gold.

Jo