Author: Jo

Cruise Norway: Getting There

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We started heading to Norway 2 days before we were to board the ship.  After dropping our dear doggie with our good friend, Sug, we also parked our car at her place.

We had a lovely 2-room suite at Homewood Suites by Hilton near BWI airport.

She drove us to a hotel near BWI airport where we stayed overnight.  After the included breakfast the next morning we took the hotel shuttle to our plane.

The question mark on the Bergen sign at the airport is meant to represent the feeling of being new to a place, the absurdity of travel, and the anticipation of new experiences.

The flights from Baltimore to Norway, took us first to Detroit (I know?), then to Amsterdam, and finally to Bergen.

Bergen is a small yet busy harbor.

We were met in Bergen by the Viking Cruise staff who took us to the ship via bus.

Bergen is a traditional town once full of wooden structures until many burned and were replaced with concrete buildings.

We boarded the ship on the morning of our 3rd day of travel.  We stayed onboard until our walking tour the next day since we were tired from our 24ish hours of travel.

The Viking Neptune was docked close to city center in the gateway town of Bergen, Norway.

Norway, we can’t wait to meet you.

Jo

March, 2026: Gonna

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March is definitely the month when we start to see emerging plants that will soon blossom into lovely flowers.

We planted daffodil Green Eyes last fall.

The weather (finally) starts to warm up.

We’ll be sailing into the Arctic Circle (noted on the map with a dotted line).

However, we’re heading to the Arctic Circle where the weather is severe even in March.

In March I plan to:

  1.  Take a cruise.

    We’ll be traveling on Viking’s Neptune.

  2.  Celebrate Charlie’s birthday.  I’ve planned a special organ concert in Norway since Charlie loves organ music.

    I’m sure we’ll have plenty of desserts from which to choose.

  3.   Dog sled in Norway. (#19)

    If we make it to northern Norway we plan to take a nighttime dogsled ride.

  4.   Have afternoon tea.

    We can have tea everyday on the cruise.

  5.   Catch some theatre in London. (#17)

    Covent Garden is in the heart of the theatre district.

  6.   Celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day in an Irish pub.

    We’re hoping to get some blessed shamrocks like these 2 in the watercolour “St. Patrick’s Day in the Morning” by Henry Parsons Riviere.

  7.   Clean the back deck.

    The deck at night is inviting except for the bugs.

  8.   Powerwash primary bedroom deck.

    The deck off the primary bedroom needs an upgrade starting with a good cleaning.

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

Jo

February, 2026: Wrapped

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February was cold, cold, cold!

Frozen brackish water beyond the marsh.

I kept busy packing up the pot, pans, and dishes in the kitchen since we’re hoping to start the renovation next month.

Boxes and bins of odd-shaped, difficult-to-pack kitchen supplies

I have even put away my mixer and espresso machine.

Although not on my planned list, I

  • discovered a weekly fitness group.
  • started a new Lenten Bible study even though I was only able to attend 2 of 5 classes.
  • had the oil in my car changed.  Used my AAA birthday discount to get a good deal.
  • chose a tentative countertop material for the new kitchen.

    These are the 3 I’m considering.

  • got all my tax information to our accountant.

In February I had planned to:

  1.  Try new dermatologist which I did for an annual skin cancer check exam.  I had other issues in mind that I discussed with the physician’s assistant who addressed some of those items immediately. Fulfilled #43 of my 101 in 1001 days list.
  2.  Go to the dentist.  I went, as I do every 6 months, for a cleaning and check-up.  No issues here.
  3.  Look at 2027 travel plans.  I have decided on major voyages and side trips.

    Seattle, Washington.

    We are often presented with last minute jaunts so we keep our options open.

  4.  Decide on and begin 2026 Lenten practice.  Because we will be traveling during Lent this year I decided against a weekly fast so as not to impact Charlie’s enjoyment of the trip.  Instead I have been fasting twice a week since the beginning of the year which will end when our travel begins.  I also decided not to eat meat (land animals) on Fridays during Lent which is not really much of a challenge since we have access to great seafood. Finally I opted into “One week of no negative comments challenge”.
  5.  Eat vegetarian for a week.  I ate loads of Brussels sprouts, carrots, avocados, and French green beans. (#62 on 101 in 1001)

    My homemade avocado toast is not quite this elegant but still good.

  6.  Attend US Sailing Basic Race Management Seminar.  I took the final test and passed.  I am now qualified to pursue becoming a US Sailing Club Race Officer except I don’t belong to a club and I really have no desire to take on more responsibility.

    There are loads of boats ready to race in our backyard.

    My goal was to understand what I’m seeing when I watch a sailing race.  It’s really very technical.

  7.  Celebrate my birthday.  Getting older (grrr) but, hopefully, wiser.

    I bought myself a new quilt.

    Normally I have a plain white quilt and a down comforter covered with an orange fish pattern.

    I’m using the new quilt on the light side until I can find my plain tan duvet cover.

  8.  Get clothes together for Norway/London trip.  This was a challenge because I needed super warm clothing for Norway and more refined clothes for London.  I hope I hit the right combo. I’ll be wearing my Sorel boots on the plane so I won’t need to pack them.

    Waterproof and comfortable.

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

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