Author: Jo

Travel Plans: 2027

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Our travel plans for 2026 are pretty much etched in stone.  We have made a few changes including adding a cruise to the Panama Canal in the winter in lieu of visiting the Atlantic shore of the US in the fall.

Seattle, Washington.

Moving forward to next year, I asked Charlie if he’d prefer Broadway in NYC or Seattle, Washington in the spring of 2027.  He overwhelmingly chose Seattle.

Since those plans are over a year in the future I’ll have to wait to make firm reservations but I have a list of things we’d like to see:

  • Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum,

    We saw some of Chihuly’s work at the Bellagio Hotel.

  • Skagit Valley Tulip Fields,

    Skagit Tulip fields in April.

  • Starbucks Roastery,

    Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle

  • Ferry across Puget Sound,

    Puget Sound Ferry

  • Whale watching from the shore at Alki Beach in West Seattle.

    Alki Beach

We have been warned that Seattle is rainy so we’ll be sure to take our rain gear.

A cruise on a skipjack is very specific to the Chesapeake region.

When the weather warms up here on the east coast we plan to take some day trips nearer to home like a cruise on the Chesapeake Bay.

We are booked on the Norwegian Jewel.

In Fall, 2027 we have already booked an oceanview cabin on Norwegian Cruise Line for a 9-day cruise from Helsinki, Finland to  Copenhagen, Denmark via Latvia, Sweden, Poland, and Germany.

Finland is known for its saunas.

The plan is to start a few days early in Helsinki so we can visit the “best sauna in the world”, Löyly.  Sauna culture is a cornerstone of Finnish life, with over 3 million saunas for 5.5 million people.

We’ll fly home from Copenhagen.

This is a part of the world neither Charlie nor I have ever visited.  Should be fun.

I must say we’ve been making a nice dent in my bucket list over the past few years and we’re not finished yet.

Jo

Jo Studio Clear Up

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Our back bedroom is a huge room that I use for a studio/office.

Each fixture in the back bedroom has two bulbs.

One of the first things I did was to change out the overhead lights.

Shoe boxes, sewing supplies, and off-season bedding among other things will be stored in this closet.

Then, with Charlie’s help, we added shelves to a small closet on the window side of the room.  I keep my overflow shoes and sewing supplies in there.

The closet behind the bifolds is unfinished but fully insulated and furnished with electric ceiling lights.

The bifolds on the back wall access a 4-foot wide closet that runs the length of the room.  The 2-door closet houses our Christmas decorations, wallpaper supplies, and extra music equipment.

The carpets have been recently shampooed.

When I shampooed the upstairs carpets I included this room.

The lumber (on the floor) has been there for over a year.

In order to thoroughly clean the rug I removed the wood that had been piled on the floor since removing the built-in bed in the primary bedroom in December of 2024.  We keep our printers in here on my cedar chest where I store old rolls of wallpaper just in case I need some inspiration.

The twin bed is for napping and dreaming.

On the side of the room opposite the window is a sliding glass door that has its own balcony.  (All bedrooms on the second floor have their own balconies that overlook the Chesapeake Bay.)

Even after a good cleaning the trivet looked grimy until I painted it.

One quick project I painted was a trivet wall sconce that belonged to my mother.  It hangs on the wall near the bed.  I’m still looking for an appropriate shade.

You can see the lamp on the desk in the 4th photo.

I’m using this lamp on the desk.

The trivet lighting fixture goes with an old fashioned lamp I previously painted. This lamp has a pretty silhouette but wasn’t my style so instead of getting rid of it, I painted it.

The color will probably be a pale, barely there true blue.

Without actually having painted the walls (yet) it seems the color of the room will need to be something that blends with the green in the area rug and bedding.

These lined drapes used to be in the main bedroom at our former house. They are meant to frame the window, not fully close.

Next project:  Hemming the curtains.

I’m hoping to make this a true studio with reminiscences of our travels.

Then: Paint and hang more artwork.

Jo

February, 2026: Gonna

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February is here at last.  Spring cannot be far away.

The hopeful start of spring daffodils.

We planted some daffodil bulbs last fall.  I can’t wait to see if they’ll grow.

Don’t let that innocent look fool you — he’s plotting.

Dash will be 8 years old on the 6th of the month. He’s grown into a darling yet bossy member of the family.

In February I plan to:

  1.  Try new dermatologist.
  2.  Go to the dentist.
  3.  Look at 2027 travel plans.

    We’re hoping to visit an authentic sauna in Finland in 2027.

  4.  Decide on and begin 2026 Lenten practice.
  5.  Eat vegetarian for a week. (#62)

    I’m ready for a week of roasted vegetables.

  6.  Attend US Sailing Basic Race Management Seminar.
  7.  Celebrate my birthday.
  8.  Get clothes together for Norway/London trip.

    I’m hoping our Iceland wardrobe will suffice in Norway.

  9.  Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: PREPARE.
  10.  Write a Do-it list for March, 2026.

Jo

January, 2026: Wrapped

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January seemed to pass much too quickly.  However our plans for a kitchen renovation are coming together at long last.  The designer and potential contractor met to confirm measurements and supplies.

The white water birds are swans that migrate during January and rest in our shoal.

Here’s what I was (we were) up to in addition to my preplanned numbered list:

  • I purchased a 2nd remote control for our ancient garage door opener.  It arrived in 3 days for less than $20 and it works.

    This old remote still works (most of the time) so I gave it to Charlie.

  • I started practicing tai chi with my old group via Zoom.
  • Son upgraded front of Grace Cottage (shore house) with stone.

    The stones should keep weeds and tall grass away from the foundation.

  • Son also installed new ceiling fan in back bedroom of Grace Cottage. Oddly it is a plug-in situation.

    A modern ceiling fan is a good start.

  • Charlie and I resealed and weatherized our double garage door.

    We glued garage door threshold to the floor to keep water and dirt outside.

  • Son blew leaves from the gutter over our garage.

    Our son has his own equipment.

  • We visited the local yacht club to hear about the regatta schedule.

    The clubhouse was designed by Victorine du Pont Homsey who was  inspired by the bridge of Alfred I. duPont‘s yacht, Alicia.

  • Son finished insulating the ceiling in the back room of Grace Cottage (shore house).

    Next task: Apply drywall.

In January I accomplished the following items:

  1.   Make travel plans for London. I arranged our UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) in about 20 minutes via www.gov.uk. I chose 7 possible theatre productions in the West End to consider attending. I’m hoping to get in 4 of them.  Finally, the most daunting of the tasks was to determine the best (for us) transportation from the cruise ship (in Tilbury Port) to the hotel (near Charing Cross in London).  I hope my plan is both practical and cost effective.

    We’ll be boarding the Neptune, launched in 2022.

  2. Organize a few items in my studio/office in back bedroom (#63).  Get rid of old paint which I was going to use on the walls but have decided to go in a different direction.  The paint is history and the clear up has started.

    Before

    Thus far

  3.  Work on tax return and required minimum distributions including the charitable variety (#2).  Now that we’ve moved 100 miles east of where we used to live I have found a new tax accountant and have given him all my paperwork for our 2025 tax return. I have also chosen appropriate assets to divest.
  4.  Shampoo upstairs carpet (#28).  I began in the primary bedroom and finished all the 2nd floor wall-to-wall carpet which I had cleaned about a year ago before we moved furniture into the house. Even after vacuuming the area very well, the PetPro Bissell shampooer picked up a ton of dog hair.

    The gray rug on the 2nd floor landing was especially full of hidden dog hair.

  5.  Put away all Christmas decorations.  With Charlie’s help everything was stashed for another year.

    The enclosed storage space at the back of the studio is perfect for seldom used items like Christmas decorations.

  6.  Empty at least 3 boxes in the garage to make room for new kitchen items. I stashed CDs, tapes, and records in a safer place until we can set up a music system. I also reviewed the old (heavy) Martha Stewart magazines I had been saving from 1999-2002.  That was a box in itself of which I am now free.

    Before there were 3 piles of bins and boxes.

    I whittled down more than 3 broken boxes and emptied 2 plastic bins to create only 2 piles.

  7.  Remove trim from kitchen pantries and save for future use.

    Before

    The doors are off.

  8.  Read a book.  Finished V is for Vengeance and read Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night which, according to Samuel Pepys, is “not related to the name or the day” of 12th night which is on January 5th. .
  9. Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: STRATEGY.
  10.  Write a goal list for February, 2026.

Jo

Garage Door Upgrade-ish

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We have a vintage wooden double garage door on the northeast side of the house.

The garage door was scruffy brown.

It gets very little sun but lots of wind and weather.

The garage door is now navy blue.

The first thing I did was to stain the dark brown door navy blue (actually Cabot Newburyport Blue Solid Exterior Wood Stain and Sealer in One ).

Charlie muscled the old weatherstrip off the bottom of the garage door.

This sealer was nailed along the bottom edge of the door.

Then we ripped off the old bottom weatherstrip and replaced it with the Frost King product in the above picture.

We used the nails that came with the rubber strip and applied them in a zigzag pattern.

Next we replaced the stationary garage door seal on the top and sides of the opening with 40 feet of  Elvone Universal TPE Weather Stripping.

We attached the sides before attempting the top span.

Of course we pulled the old stuff off first then cleaned the area very well.  We had planned to stick on the weatherstripping which has an adhesive backing but it would NOT stick to the wood.

Charlie drove in the screws that came with attached black caps (matching the weatherstip) which we did not close until we were certain the garage door would ride up and down.

Instead I started holes about a foot apart with roofing nails which we then pulled out and replaced with the provided screws.

I laid out the floor strip and marked both sides on the floor with pencil.

Finally (and my favorite) we added VEVOR Garage Door Threshold Seal Strip.

Two tubes of adhesive were included in the kit.

Charlie ran adhesive inside the lines according to the instructions in the package.

I held the unglued end of the strip so it wouldn’t get stuck down prematurely.

Then he carefully laid the threshold strip between the marked lines onto the adhesive.

I waited 24 hours before driving over the strip.

We’re hoping these new measures with help keep water, wind, and weather out of our attached garage.

In spring I plan to touch-up parts of the door that are now unpainted.

When everything is closed up the new installments are unnoticeable.

Jo

January, 2026: Gonna

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2026! WOW!  Happy New Year to everyone.

Sky graffiti.

While I don’t make resolutions, in 2026 I do plan to:

  •  have a new kitchen installed.

    Can hardly wait for a new kitchen.

  •  finish staining the outside of the house.

    This east wall remains unstained.

  •  paint the front hall which is 2 stories tall.

    I think this will be a tricky job.

  •  travel to far off lands.

    We’ve seen the Northern Lights but might have the opportunity to view them from a dog sled.

  •  incorporate a weight lifting routine as a health boost.

    I’ll start with light weights.

  •  lose 10 pounds.

    I keep an accurate scale in my bathroom.

Charlie and I haven’t got any special plans for January in terms of parties or travel.  I’m still trying to round up a contractor for the kitchen project.

We’ll be doing small projects around the house.

In January I plan to:

  1.   Make travel plans for London including transportation from the port to the hotel, UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), and potential theatre shows/tickets.

    We hope to see a few shows in the West End.

  2. Organize a few items in my studio/office in back bedroom (#63).  Get rid of old paint which I was going to use on the walls but have decided to go in a different direction.

    Christmas decorations and Charlie’s clothes are messing up my studio. That will change.

    I am calling this room JoStudio.

  3.  Work on tax return and required minimum distributions including the charitable variety (#2).
  4.  Shampoo upstairs carpet (#28).

    The upstairs wall-to-wall carpet gets a lot of foot action.

  5.  Put away all Christmas decorations.

    I like to carefully pack away Christmas decor so it will be ready for next year’s holidays.

  6.  Empty at least 3 boxes in the garage to make room for new kitchen items.

    Records, papers, and books were unboxed to dry out after a heavy rain wet their containers. This month I’ll sift through and limit what I keep.

  7.  Remove trim from kitchen pantries and save for future use.

    We might need some of this trim in the new kitchen. (The bifold doors are leaving.)

  8.  Read a book.

    Love a Sue Grafton mystery.

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

Jo

December, 2025: Score

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December has been a cold and windy month on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

We have been experiencing some fiery sunsets.

In the meantime we’re still trying to enjoy the season and get to know new people. By the way, I met and remembered 10 new people.

In addition to the pre-planned numbered list I also:

  • Contacted 4 contractors to come to see the project and give me a proposal.  Only 1 has visited the house so far.
  • Made meringue kisses for a potluck supper.

    I enhanced my contribution of meringues with some colored sugar and seasonal gummy candies.

  • Attended a choral concert with a 60 voice choir.  Lots of music including a sing-along Hallelujah Chorus.
  • Got a new battery for my car.  The old one lasted more than 6 years.
  •  Weatherstipped the bottom of the garage door.
  •  Purchased a bistro set for my balcony.

In December I wanted to:

  1. Celebrate Christmas.  We really celebrate the holiday the entire month of December and let it drift into the New Year by taking a special class, decorating a little bit, getting in touch with family and friends, meeting new friends, and remembering the highlights of the past year.

  2. Work on an inside project from my 101 in 1001 list.  I wrote at least 7 notes to friends (#4) — not just Christmas cards because I’m not really a card person.  I wrote actual notes.  I also piled up Christmas decorations that no longer suit us and gave them to my son’s wife who is welcome to toss them.  I just couldn’t. (#27).
  3.  Continue packing up kitchen items, removing cabinets, patching holes, and maybe even painting.  The first potential contractor came for a look early in the month so I got busy right away packing up items we seldom use.

    Everything gets carefully packed up.

    I used multiple size and shape boxes since kitchen items are both fragile and oddly shaped.

  4. Get rid of a pile of clutter from the master bedroom. Part of the clutter was Christmas gifts which have now been fully distributed.  I also moved a box of bank statements to my studio where I expect to work on our tax return for next year.
  5. Choose new appliances: Stove and exhaust fan.  I’ve chosen a Frigidaire 30-in 5 burner 5.1-cu ft Freestanding Natural Gas Range (Stainless Steel) and a Hauslane range hood.

    What an improvement this will be!

  6. Make a dermatologist appointment.  I called in the middle of December and made the first available appointment which is not until February.
  7.  Read a book.  I read the final (5th) book in the Thursday Murder Mystery series, The Impossible Fortune.  I was on the waiting list for quite a while but finally nabbed a hardback at the local library.
  8.  Get a COVID booster.  I tried to get one at the local health department but they have some kind of computer glitch that won’t allow them to take information. ?????

    Vaccinated!

    So I went to a local pharmacy and received the newest vaccine since we’ll be traveling in 2026.

  9.  Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: MARVEL.
  10.  Write a Do-it list for January, 2026.

Jo

Merry Christmas 2025

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I am so happy to wish the readers of LFTM a very sincere merry Christmas.

My sister has sent gifts wrapped in whale paper — my Christmas theme of wildlife.

While we do have some decorations up this year the house is a bit unsettled as we are gutting the kitchen little by little and hope to begin remantling in spring.

The future kitchen will have color and storage.

Once again Charlie was the musician for 2 church services on Christmas eve at a church we’ve recently begun to attend.

If Charlie shows up there will be music.

The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. John 1:5

Look for the light.

Merry Christmas from Charlie, Jo, and Dash!

Jo

New Kitchen Appliances

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Some of the first decisions I have to make for the newly designed kitchen  are the appliances.  The exact model selection is necessary before ordering the cabinets so everything fits together.

A bird’s eye view of the new layout.

We are gutting the old kitchen so everything will be new. The only thing staying in approximately the same spot is the sink.

We’ve been storing the appliances while waiting for the demolition to begin.

I have been purchasing the units from Lowes as they offer me a 10% discount.
My appliances are as follows:
Refrigerator   Whirlpool 28.7-cu ft Side-by-Side Refrigerator with Ice Maker, Water and Ice Dispenser

    Item #6841589 |Model #WRSF6536RZ

I like a side-by-side due to the ice maker, water on the door, and freezer placement.

Dishwasher Whirlpool 24-in Top Control Built-in Dishwasher
Item #6817039 Model #WDTS8024SZ

Our dishwasher will be in approximately this placement except in blue cabinetry.

Sink  Kraus Turino Farmhouse apron front 33-in x 18.25-in  Fireclay Single bowl Kitchen Sink  Item #3625572 Model #KFR1-33GWH

The new sink is deep and wide.

Faucet  Kraus Oletto Spot Free Antique Champagne Bronze Single Handle Deck-mount Pull-down Kitchen Faucet with Sprayer   Item #1245682 Model #KPF-2820SFACB

I’m sticking with a champagne bronze finish for the fixtures like others in the house.

Stove Frigidaire 30-in 5 burners 5.1-cu ft Freestanding Natural Gas Range (Stainless Steel )Item #5760671 Model #FCRG3052BS

What an improvement this will be!

Range Hood Hauslane 30 inch Ducted 525-CFM Stainless steel Under Cabinet
Item #2524116 Model #UC-PS38SS-30

Our new range hood will vent outside the wall instead of under the floor.

While each unit is attractive I hope I have selected function over form for the kitchen appliances.
Jo

Plans for the Kitchen

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At the end of September I met with a kitchen designer — the same one that designed our previous kitchen at The Glade.

The kitchen at The Landing is fully open to the downstairs area.

She took measurements and we talked about design options, color, and lay out.

The finishes are pale blue (Upward), cream (Sandhill Crane), and a nameless deeper blue with accents of champagne bronze.

Here’s what we came up with:

Before — These pantries will be totally removed to increase the size of the kitchen.

After — The new pantry wall will house the refrigerator and deep floor to ceiling cabinets.

The pantries are being dismantled and replaced by a side-by-side refrigerator and pantry cupboards.

Before — The sink wall is behind the stove island.

After — The island will be totally removed in the new scheme.

The sink countertop is now much longer with an integrated trash cabinet.

Before — The cabinets on the microwave wall will come out and be replaced by new cabinets, a stove, and range hood.

After — The new stove will be gas, not electric.

The future stove wall will vent outside through the wall leaving the current island obsolete so it will disappear.

Before — The island (which will be removed) looks directly into the dining room.

After — The kitchen will still be open to the dining room, just not as much and we’ll gain cabinet storage.

Currently there is no division between the kitchen and dining room.  Once the island has been removed it will be replaced with a 4-foot tall knee wall and counter.

Before — No division between kitchen and dining room.

After — The inevitable clutter in the kitchen will be hidden by a 4-foot tall wall.

The purpose of the knee wall is to hide the goings-on in the kitchen while enjoying a nice meal or sitting in the living room.

A view from the refrigerator wall.

And that is as far as we have progressed in the kitchen design.  Although I have chosen some appliances I will need to decide on all of them before the cabinets can be ordered.

A bird’s eye view of the new layout.

The cabinets take 6-10 weeks to fabricate.  I still must select a countertop and there are lots of options.

Whew!  Whose idea was this anyway?

Jo