April has been beautiful but still rather chilly after a wet, snowy, frigid winter.

The camellias bloomed beautifully until the first windy rain knocked all the petals to the grounds.

Unfortunately we both caught some debilitating bug that laid us flat for almost a week.

I started painting trim for the closet in the downstairs bathroom.

But ever a slave to progress, I looked at my 10-item list and focused on individual items I could work on.

Charlie moved my olive trees to a sunny spot in the backyard but I fear they succumbed to the harsh winter and are dead.

We worked on projects both on and off the numbered list below.

• I cleared out the area next to the water heater for new well pump.
  

  The pump is supposed to go next to the water heater.

• Dash tried out his personal flotation device on kayak trips with Charlie.  He loves exploring off-shore islands.
  

  Dash can float in his PFD if necessary.

Here’s the list for April that I worked on:

1.  Update Dash’s rabies vaccine.  I got in touch with the county health department who usually runs a spring rabies clinic.
   

   Dash is very needy these days.

   They will notify me when it is available otherwise Dash will be vaccinated by the vet on his visit next month.

2.  Pick a color for the downstairs bathroom walls.  I chose Natural Tan by Sherwin Williams.
   

   Natural Tan HGSW7567 Eggshell

   It goes with the marble insets on the tile floor.

3.  Make a plan for the front entryway outdoor planting.  Charlie removed the weeds but saved the liriope which he will separate and plant along the edge.
   

   Our Sidewalk Supervisor surveys the work that has been completed thus far.

4.   Empty 3 boxes and organize or get rid of contents.  I got busy early in the month and have emptied and put away at least a dozen boxes of household items.
   

   I tried to empty 3 boxes each day for at least the first week.

5.   Hang at least 3 mirrors.  I have hung a full length on the back of the bedroom door, a medium size mirror in the living room that reflects the bay, and a small mirror near the entrance to the house for a final check before leaving.
   

   I use this newly installed mirror everyday.

   Our largest mirror is slated for the downstairs bathroom when complete and 2 others await with a question mark as to final placement.

6.   Get a library card in the new county.  I popped into the library on a Saturday morning and was issued a library card after filling out some personal information.
   

   Ready for action in any of the counties on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

7.   Celebrate our first Easter at the new house.  We stayed after church for the Easter breakfast and spent the day at home watching the changes on the bay.
8.   Work on a paint or stain project.
   

   The darker tan is the new color.

   I started painting the walls in the downstairs bathroom and the trim that will become part of the closet.

9.   Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: HORIZON.
10.   Write a goal list for May, 2025.

Jo

Now that we’re fully into spring I’m interested to see what plants and flowers might be coming up through the ground at the new property.

The olive trees took a bit of a beating in the move.

My olive trees have made it through winter and I’ll give them a little trim to help maintain their topiaried shape.

Our camellias are starting to bloom.

Here’s the hopeful list for April:

1.  Update Dash’s rabies vaccine.
2.  Pick a color for the downstairs bathroom walls.
   

   The wall color should be light and go with the floor tile.

3.  Make a plan for the front entryway outdoor planting.
   

   Neaten and refresh this area.

4.   Empty 3 boxes and organize or get rid of contents.
5.   Hang at least 3 mirrors.
   

   I have a nice collection of both large and small antique mirrors.

6.   Get a library card in the new county.
7.   Celebrate our first Easter at the new house.
   

   I need to find my bunnies.

8.   Work on a paint or stain project.  So much from which to choose.
9.   Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: HORIZON.
10.   Write a goal list for May, 2025.

Jo

O March — what a glorious month.  The weather was wet but warmer.  We finally got around to tasks we had started 6 months ago.

Constantly changing view.

I am loving looking out on our waterview even when the weather is cloudy — it’s always beautiful.

A bird’s eye view of the living room.

Not on the numbered list we accomplished a few fun items:

• We closed on the sale of The Glade!
  

  Ready for the new owner.

  Charlie worked hard to get all of our stuff out of there and clean up the house, the cottage, the shed, the greenhouse, and the yard since I was about useless after my fall from the ladder in late February.

• We had some small and large repairs made.
  

  The whole heat pump contraption looks complicated to me.

• We rearranged small furniture to better, more useful positions.
  

  Out of the way but handy.

• I hung a bit of oriole art over the piano.
  

  Metal oriole sculpture (left) and vintage sheet music (right)

• I started creating my studio in the back bedroom.
  

  Eventually this room will be painted a beautiful color.

• Charlie and son hung a large painting over the fireplace.
  

  The strategy was to get it hung on 2 screws that not exactly on center.

• I got rid of my handmade baby clothes and children’s costumes to a family with children just the right age.
  

  Hand-smocked clothes for a little boy.

Now for the items I really meant to get done:

1. Take a road trip. Charlie and I headed south to Asheville, North Carolina for 5 days of touring, just the two of us.
   

   Biltmore House in Asheville, North Carolina.

   We celebrated both of our birthdays with plenty of barbecue and unique accommodations.

2.  Set up the primary bedroom.
   

   Coastal vibe and my favorite color

   This room is mostly finished — painted, papered, furnished — I’m sure it will improve as time goes on.

3. Have contractor begin work on downstairs bathroom.
   

   The vanity has been delivered.

   I’ve contacted a local contractor who has put us on his calendar to start the work very soon.

4. Research local theatre, activities, dance, and tai chi.
   

   Cast of The Wizard of Oz.

   The options are not great but I did see a fun musical at the high school especially enjoyed by the youngest audience members.

5.  Start attending Bible study.  On Tuesday evenings about a dozen of us get together for a co-ed study of Genesis.
   

   A special coat/robe has significant meaning in the Joseph story.

   We are moving slowly to cover every nuance.

6.  Begin Lenten devotions and fasting. Our church gave out a 40-day lenten devotion which I have been studying.
   

   I’m sure to be inspired by the time I finish.

   Also I fast from food on Fridays in Lent.  It throws Charlie off his game a bit.

7.  Work on fireplace tiles. Finished!
   

   Harder than it looks.

   Most of the month was too cold or wet to get started on cutting the tiles but near the end we finally got started.

8. Put shelves in back bedroom small closet.  Charlie accomplished this task in one day with some supervisory comments from me.
   

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

9. Choose a word to focus on for the month. My word: BREATHE
10.   Write a goal list for April, 2025.

Jo

February was brutal! Bad weather, bad injury, and lots of waiting.  I’m looking forward to March’s milder weather to begin some of the tasks I put on the back burner now that we have fully moved into the house on the Chesapeake Bay.

In February we had a wet snow in the middle of the month on both sides of the bay.

Here are some tasks that must be attended to in March when the weather may finally be warm enough to work on projects that must take place, at least partially, outdoors.

1. Take a road trip.
   

   The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC.

2.  Set up the primary bedroom.
   

   We are a little further along than this.

3. Have contractor begin work on downstairs bathroom.
   

   Need to get started.

4. Research local theatre, activities, dance, and tai chi.
   

   We live in a remote spot with fewer nearby services than we’re accustomed to.

5.  Start attending Bible study.
   

   Lots of small churches in our new neighborhood.

6.  Begin Lenten devotions and fasting.
7.  Work on fireplace tiles.
   

   This project has been hanging over my head all winter.

8. Put shelves in back bedroom small closet.
   

   Shelves would improve the function of this closet.

9.  Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: BREATHE
10.   Write a goal list for April, 2025.

Jo

February began with a lot of snowy/sleety frigid days which continued throughout the month.  The Glade was covered with mud most of the month while prospective buyers examined the house and the yard.

This original ceramic mug was one of my inspiration pieces for the colors at the Bay House — sand, sea, and sky.

Sadly I broke my favorite morning coffee mug on the first day of the month.

We had a wet snow in the middle of the month on both sides of the bay.

We made some progress on non-list items in February.

• I visited my new dentist.  I went to my former dentist for 40 years.  Since we moved I knew I’d need a new one — he’s young enough to treat me until I no longer need a dentist.  Woo hoo!
• I got a radical haircut.
  

  I was tired of fooling with hair below my shoulders.

• I got a dog license for Dash in our new county.
• We celebrated Dash’s 7th birthday with his buddy Rory.
  

  Rory was basking in the sun when I shot this photo of the boys.

• I made arrangements for a springtime visit to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville.
  

  We’ll travel by car.

• We celebrated my birthday.
• I updated files at the cemetery where my family has been buried since the 1930s.
  

  My family’s graves are in a historic cemetery.

  I wanted to make sure nothing went away after 100 years — good news, everything remains status quo by Maryland law.

I got started on these tasks early in the short month and happily completed them all:

1.  Upgrade the outdoor flood lights at the bay house.  I bought new fixtures and fell from the ladder while wiring them.
   

   Charlie was careful to chock the ladder.

   Charlie had to finish the job.

2. Get 2024 tax information to our accountant.  I filled out the annual questionnaire and collected all pertinent paperwork for our tax return — 2024 was a busy year.
3. Contact contractor for bathroom reno.
   

   Need to get started.

   We contacted a well-recommended contractor who took measurements and started putting our design in his computer.

4.  Order bathroom fixtures.  I started from the bottom up with tile first, then furniture, then fixtures.
   

   Angora Geometric 12″ x 12″ Polished Marble Mosaic Floor and Wall Tile has been ordered for the bathroom floor. It will help determine the wall color.

5.  Get a mani/pedi with a Christmas gift certificate from Charlie.
   

   2 and a half hours of nails.

6.  Have furniture delivered to the new house.  Scheduled with Von Paris Moving and Storage who were efficient and reliable.
   

   Still lots to arrange but we have furniture.

   Not the cheapest but I would use them again.

7.  Work on choosing exterior color for Bay House so we can start painting/staining in early spring.
   

   Something like this.

   I have decided on a dark blue stain.

8.  Clear off kitchen counter.
   

   Before

   

   After

   This was the true challenge of the month but I have freed much of the kitchen counter that had been housing all sorts of disparate items.

9.  Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: APPRECIATE
10.   Write a goal list for March, 2025.

Jo

February has a wonderful “love” potential.  I’m not the kind who sets aside special days just for certain activities — holidays, birthdays, special days — I celebrate my love for many things on an ongoing basis.  It’s never too soon and it’s never too late with me.

I don’t need cake — just a little fun.

I appreciate someone emptying the compost and taking out the trash as much as a bouquet on Valentine’s Day.

We’ll celebrate Dashie’s 7th birthday this month.

Here are some tasks that must be attended to in February no matter how much I would prefer to put them off:

1.  Upgrade the outdoor flood lights at the bay house.
   

   We can’t figure out exactly how the outdoor lights work.

2. Get 2024 tax information to our accountant.
   

   Never know the outcome so I try to submit early.

3. Contact contractor for bathroom reno.
   

   Need to get started.

4.  Order bathroom fixtures.
   

   Delta’s Saylor Champagne bronze wide spaced faucet has matching shower fixtures.

5.  Get a mani/pedi with a Christmas gift certificate from Charlie.
   

   I usually get French tips but am going to try an American this time.

6.  Have furniture delivered to the new house.
   

   Just need furniture.

7.  Work on choosing exterior color for Bay House so we can start painting/staining in early spring.
   

   The brown roof will stay but the camel siding must change.

8.  Clear off kitchen counter.
   

   I’ve been piling up mail, candlesticks, bits of art, etc. in this corner of the kitchen.

9.  Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: APPRECIATE
10.   Write a goal list for March, 2025.

Jo