December, 2025: Aims

December 1, 2025November 25, 2025 / Jo / Leave a comment

December is a wonderful month to look back and dream forward. We’re working diligently this December on dismantling the kitchen. We haven’t had to live without a kitchen at Christmas since 2013.

The kitchen is in the far corner behind the post.

In the meantime we’re still trying to enjoy the season and get to know new people.

In December I’d like to:

Celebrate Christmas.
The polar bears are protecting the scaled-down Christmas tree.
Work on an inside project from my 101 in 1001 list. Could be writing notes to friends (#4), scanning the Mommie photos (#11), old Christmas decorations that no longer suit us (#27), and/or work on studio/office in back bedroom (#63) — so many choices, so little time.
Continue packing up kitchen items, removing cabinets, patching holes, and maybe even painting. The painting will depend on how far we get with the tearing apart. Much of the wall will not show when the kitchen is finished but I would like it to be fresh and clean before the cabinets are installed.
The living room in Sherwin Williams’ Alabaster.

I’ve chosen the color Alabaster like the living room.
Get rid of a pile of clutter from the master bedroom.
Most of the stuff on the left has got to GOOOOO.
Choose new appliances: Stove and exhaust fan.
This dinosaur has outlived its era.
Make a dermatologist appointment.
Read a book.
Get a COVID booster.
Glad we no longer are required to mask up.
Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: MARVEL.
Write a Do-it list for January, 2026.

November, 2025: Score

November 28, 2025November 28, 2025 / Jo / Leave a comment

By November the setting sun has moved from the west to the southwest so we get really stunning sunsets over the water.

The sun goes down in an orange ball then fires up the sky when it sinks below the horizon.

In addition to the numbered list below I (we):

went birding at Blackwater Wildlife Refuge with 3 experts. Apparently we saw over 48 different species of birds. I learned a thing or two but (unfortunately) not much more than that. Happily I will have more opportunities in the future.
We saw many bald eagles — one of our companions with a real camera took fabulous photos.
watched the 1957 film Funny Face starring Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn.
had our outdoor TV antenna upgraded.
There’s a man at the top of our antenna tower pulling up the antenna on a seriously windy day.
witnessed the Northern Lights across the marsh — an unusual sight in Maryland.
Not only is the Aurora visible but I can also see Orion’s Belt, Taurus, and the Pleiades. I’m learning!
donated the first 4 Thursday Murder Club books to my local library since they do not own them.
I’ve donated 1-4 and am still waiting for #5.
saw bright shooting star during the Leonid Meteor Shower.
bought 2 cords of seasoned oak for the wood stove.
2 cords — some need stacking; other need splitting and stacking.
began an Advent study at a local church.
had Thanksgiving dinner on Tilghman Island at a local crab shack.
Thanksgiving buffet was loaded with seafood specialties. I enjoyed short rib Wellington after baked oysters.

In November I had planned to:

Continue to take apart kitchen.
We started taking down cabinets from right to left — one by one.

The upper cabinets are mostly down and removed from the kitchen. Charlie is planning to use them in the shed.
Bring down Christmas decorations to go with this year’s theme — Wildlife: whales, ponies, polar bears, birds. The theme highlights this year’s travels.
I inherited this little bird sculpture.
Work on new appliances for kitchen renovation. I ordered a new dishwasher, sink, and faucet.
I’m sticking with a champagne bronze finish for the fixtures.
Order backsplash tile.
Enough fish scale tile for the backsplash.

I came up against a little issue where I had to visit more than one Lowe’s store to get the full amount we’ll need. Done and done.
Wrap, pack up, and mail Christmas gifts.
All wrapped up — no peeking.
Read a book. I’m working on the Thursday Murder Club Mystery series. Just read the 4th in the series: The Last Devil to Die. I’m waiting for The Impossible Fortune (5th installment) to become available digitally through my library card.
Work on contractor possibilities for kitchen remodel. I have contacted 4 possibilities by email with photos of the project.
I’ve decided on a 2-tone kitchen — blue (Upwards) on bottom, cream (Sandhill Crane) on top.
Work on a paint/stain project. Charlie continues to stain the exterior of the house while I spray painted dead olive trees for some outdoor Christmas decoration.
Spray painted silver/bronze.
Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: ENJOY.
Write a goal list for December, 2025.

November, 2025: Aims

November 2, 2025October 24, 2025 / Jo / Leave a comment

Wow! This year has flown by! Already November and we still haven’t finished staining the entire exterior of the house which we started in June.

A lone great white egret studies his reflection in the marsh.

More recently I have been exploring the local area with some experts in birding.

In November I plan to:

Continue to take apart kitchen.
Here’s a preliminary plan for the renovated kitchen.
Bring down Christmas decorations to go with this year’s theme — Wildlife: whales, ponies, polar bears.
My polar bears made the trip to our new house unscathed.
Work on new appliances for kitchen renovation.
Order backsplash tile.
Multi-toned blue fish scales in my first choice for the backsplash.
Wrap, pack up, and mail Christmas gifts.
Read a book. I’m working on the Thursday Murder Club Mystery series.
Just finished this one.
Work on contractor possibilities for kitchen remodel.
Work on a paint/stain project.
Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: ENJOY.
Write a goal list for December, 2025.

October, 2025: Score

October 31, 2025October 31, 2025 / Jo / Leave a comment

Often Charlie and I travel in October but this year we are staying home and enjoying our beautiful surroundings while also planning and scheming some future events.

Even at high tide the bay and marsh are beautiful.

The longer we live here the more interesting activities we’re discovering.

In addition to my planned list I (we):

received 3 dozen fresh from the henhouse eggs from our neighbor so we made a pound cake. Yummy!
We found a great pound cake recipe that calls for a dozen eggs.
attended a revival at a local church. Charlie was the musician.
trained for a walking 10K.
Some days I started slightly before sunrise while the fog lingered.
began an online study focusing on history, literature, and a general understanding of the Bible.
Fought hordes of swarming gnats in the house most of the month.
Attended a local production of Hot ‘n’ Cole: A Cole Porter Celebration! Cole Porter is one of my all time favorite composers who also writes his own lyrics.
The onstage band is getting ready.
Planted some daffodil bulbs and a peony root.
Not much to look at now but hopefully pink Shirley Temple peonies will bloom in spring.
After a long hiatus from reading, I read The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman.
The next one on the list.

I plan to continue reading the series.

We also focused on finishing some of the major projects we’ve already started:

staining the exterior of the house,
The front of the house is totally stained.
planning a new kitchen,
We’re moving the stove from the center of an island to an outside wall.
starting with the demolition of the current kitchen,
lost the “e” key on my computer which ended up costing about $20 to replace. It would have been half of that but I was unwilling to try and replace it myself.
The new key works just fine.
clearing out the garage,
One of the streamlined areas in the garage.
making a heartfelt effort to minimize clutter in the primary bedroom. I started by washing the windows which were very murky due to spray from the gnat infestation.

The numbered list for October has some time-sensitive, must-do items:

Purchase a major appliance for the kitchen. The first major appliance I bought for the newly designed kitchen is a side-by-side refrigerator.
I can’t wait to start using this BIG BOY.
Choose excursions for Norway trip.
After the sled ride we’re being treated to dinner by a famous Norwegian chef.

Among other things we have an evening dogsled ride for me and an organ concert for Charlie on his birthday. Of course we’ll attend everything together — that’s part of the fun.
Drink a glass of water every morning for an entire month. I drank a glass of water every morning for the past month while brewing my coffee. I’m planning to continue the habit.
At least one tall glass every morning.
Clear everything out of pantry. This was a BIG project — basically I packed up everything I had unpacked when we moved in a year and a half ago.
From this . . .

. . . to this.

Then I had to find a place for it which turned out to be any empty spot on the first floor.
Unpack 3 boxes. I got rid of 3 boxfuls of old stuff when they fell over in the garage and spilled all over the floor. GONE!
I’ll used these newly emptied boxes to pack up more of the kitchen.
Bird tour at Blackwater Federal Wildlife Preserve. I planned to go on a second birding tour since this is the season when migrating birds are prevalent in our area. The weather didn’t cooperate so I’ve rescheduled for early in November.
There’s an eagle in those trees.
Finish shopping for Christmas. I ordered all my gifts and have received all of them including a few souvenirs from our trip to Canada to mail and distribute closer to Christmas.
I’m planning on a calm and unhurried holiday.
Donate or throw away something we don’t need anymore. I got rid of an old refrigerator, a wooden bench, and a pair of box springs thanks to my darling son who hauled them away.
Among other items this working refrigerator is gone — hoping someone else can use it.
Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: FOCUS.
Write a goal list for November, 2025.

October, 2025: Aims

October 1, 2025September 29, 2025 / Jo / Leave a comment

October is a beautiful time to be in Maryland — fall colors, temperate days, cosy nights.

Soon the color of the trees will echo the evening sky.

Before I jump into any new activities I want to focus on finishing some of the major projects we’ve already started:

staining the exterior of the house,
planning a new kitchen,
starting with the demolition of the current kitchen,
clearing out the garage,
making a heartfelt effort to minimize clutter in the primary bedroom.

I wish it always looked like this.

The numbered list for October has some time-sensitive, must-do items:

Purchase a major appliance for the kitchen.
Choose excursions for Norway trip.
I’m hoping to get my first choice of excursions.
Drink a glass of water every morning for an entire month.
Clear everything out of pantry.
This is just the beginning of clearing the kitchen.
Unpack 3 boxes.
Bird tour at Blackwater Federal Wildlife Preserve.
Finish shopping for Christmas.
I hope Charlie can find another sprig of fresh mistletoe this year..
Donate or throw away something we don’t need anymore.
Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: FOCUS.
Write a goal list for November, 2025.

September, 2025: Score

September 28, 2025September 28, 2025 / Jo / Leave a comment

Charlie and I took 10 days out of the middle of the month to celebrate our wedding anniversary while traveling so I had to really get busy with the rest of my to-do list in the remaining 20 days.

We left Baltimore on our cruise to Canada which took us under the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

Here’s what I (we) did in addition to the numbered list:

Had the oil changed in my car.
I even sprang for a new license plate from a local charity.
Had the piano professionally tuned for the first time since we moved.
A pleasure to listen to — even the low notes.
Started talking to a kitchen designer.
I’m planning to use the same person who designed our last kitchen.
Attended a bluegrass concert while it poured down rain.
Hammer Creek Bluegrass Band from Lancaster, PA
Went birding with an expert ornithologist at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. (#12 of 101 in 1001 list)
Our guide carried equipment to help us “see” better.
Continued staining the outside of the house. We’re onto the detailed work now. This side made the front seem easy.
From this.

To this.

My ambitious numbered list for September follows:

Cruise to Canada to watch whales. (#59 on previous 101 in 1001 list and #68 on my current list) We saw whales, porpoises, and seals in the Bay of Fundy from the port of St. Andrew in New Brunswick, Canada. I have no photos of the animals; I just enjoyed the experience.
We sailed on a small boat from St. Andrew’s harbor into the Bay of Fundy for an opportunity to see whales.
Work on 2026 travel. (#19 on 101 in 1001 list) Here are our plans with an added adventure that I’ll blog about later.
We may have been bitten by the cruise bug.
Shampoo rugs. (#28 on 101 in 1001 list) I shampooed all the rugs on the first floor. Whew, more of a project than I thought.
All 5 of the first floor rugs have been shampooed
Research slipcover makers. Since my chairs will have to go to the workroom of whomever I select I started close to home with local upholsterers. I plan to continue looking by talking to friends and neighbors who might know a seamstress or tailor that will take on the job. Last resort — I’ll do it myself.
These chairs were always slipcovered when I was growing up.
Unpack 3 boxes. I needed to make room for the things I took from the pantry so we can gut the kitchen. I actually emptied a bunch of boxes and added storage on the garage wall.
I hung a cabinet near the garage door and emptied a box of lubricants and cleaners into it.
Take boxes out of pantry. I put some in the garage and some in the downstairs bedroom.
From the pantry heading to the garage.
No sugar or sweets for 7 days. I started strong in the very beginning of the month so I could have a rich dessert everyday on our cruise to Canada.
So many choices – so little time. I never chose the healthy option from the bottom row!

Both actions were successful.
Move DR chest of drawers to first floor bedroom. I cleared out this chest of drawers, installed drawer liners, fixed the doors (which were falling off), and moved it to the downstairs bedroom. Not as pretty but more functional.
From this.

To this.
Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: POISE.
Write a goal list for October, 2025.

September, 2025: Aims

August 31, 2025August 31, 2025 / Jo / Leave a comment

Charlie and I plan to be really busy in September. We’ll continue with the large tasks we’ve started (staining the house) and with enjoying our Maryland seafood while the warm weather keeps the supply going.

I’m working on a better layout for the kitchen floor plan.

Then we’re going to start gutting the kitchen which will be totally redesigned.

We added a few new perennials in August some of which are already blooming.

My ambitious numbered list for September follows:

Cruise to Canada to watch whales. (#59 on previous 101 in 1001 list and #68 on new 101 in 1001)
The humpback whale is the most prevalent species in eastern Canada at that time of year.
Work on 2026 travel plans. (#19 on 101 in 1001 list)
We’re already scheduled to cruise to Norway to go dogsledding.
Shampoo rugs. (#28 on 101 in 1001 list)
The living room rug has had a lot of traffic since we moved in last March.
Research local slipcover makers.
I would like to have this chair and its twin slipcovered.
Unpack 3 boxes.
I still have boxes in the garage that need to be unpacked.
Take boxes out of pantry.
We’ll be emptying and removing these pantries for the kitchen makeover.
No sugar or sweets for 7 days.
I’ve been indulging in way too many sugary foods this summer.
Move DR chest of drawers to first floor bedroom.
The oak dresser I bought in Greenwich Village (NYC) in 1977 is moving from the dining room to the downstairs bedroom.
Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: POISE.
Write a goal list for October, 2025.

Staining the House: The Tricky Parts

August 28, 2025August 28, 2025 / Jo / Leave a comment

When we began staining the house in June I was hoping we’d finish the job before the end of the year. I still hope so.

The front is finished except for a few touch-ups to thoroughly hide the previous color.

By the end of August we have stained the front of the formerly peach (apricot, salmon?) exterior walls of the house.

Charlie on the extension ladder.

The western wall is finished.

We began on the western facing wall — the part you can see from the street — which is finished.

The house color is Cabot’s Federal Blue and the shed is Spruce Blue.

Then we moved around to the north side — the garage and front entrance — 2 stories of fun.

I can climb an extension ladder but I can’t move it.

I stain the lower areas and Charlie works from an extension ladder and hits the highest parts of the walls.

The southwestern corner of the house is difficult to access.

We plan to start working on the tricky spaces.

I have a special technique for behind the air conditioners.

Lots of ins and outs.

Behind the air conditioners, on the bedroom decks and niches.

We may only be half finished but now we have some experience staining this wood siding.

Finally, we have to stain the tallest part of the house. The front walls are actually the lowest.

Now the neighbors see an all blue house — they have admired it.

Thus far I am happy with the project.

August, 2025: Score

August 27, 2025August 27, 2025 / Jo / Leave a comment

August was a month of getting things done. The hot weather decreased and the biting flies showed up.

Charlie catches them, steams them, and serves them up.

The crabs were running and so were the stinging sea nettles.

My photo of a sea nettle under the surface of the water. (The darker area is a shadow from my camera.)

In addition to the preplanned numbered list below I (we):

finally got Dash his new license at the city office.
Dashie proudly wears his tags — I think he likes the jingle jangle.
worked on the foundation planting at the front of the house with new perennial plants.
We added a few new perennials in August which I’m hoping will take hold in September.
hung new house numbers.
I used 3-D posts and a modern font for the new numbers.
went to some free outdoor concerts including the U.S. Navy Sea Chanters — always good.
The Sea Chanters — one of my favorite service music groups.
attended a Night Sky Tour at Blackwater Wildlife Refuge. (#13 on my 101 in 1001 list)
replaced rotten wood under the front door.
Rotten wood replaced.

I started working on the numbered list early in the month. Mostly the chores were both fun and satisfying. Staining the house was very satisfying however not so much fun.

Organize house papers. Now if there is an issue everything is in one box. Such a bore but it’s done!
Get Canada cruise documents together. I have a completed folder of everything we need to travel. At the same time I purged the papers from Turkey and Greece.
We’ll be traveling on Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas.
Transplant orchids. I got busy at the beginning of the month and transplanted my large old orchids. (#100 of 101 in 1001 list)
I kept only the best roots.
Work on a paint project. We made a lot of progress on the house stain in August.
Before

After
Picnic on the sandbar. While I made it out to the sandbar in our kayak the only picnicking was done by birds — blue heron, egret, geese, gulls.
Honestly, I love being on the water.

I’ll need a better boat (with a sail or motor) if I want to actually stop for lunch.
Write handwritten notes to friends. I wrote letters on my personalized paper to connect and encourage and congratulate. (#4 of 101 in 1001 list)
Clean car headlights. The headlight clarity, while not perfect, is greatly improved. (#88 of 101 in 1001 list)
Before and after
Work on Christmas gifts. I have some good ideas which I have listed in my Christmas document — I’ll start buying soon.
Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: SELF-DISCIPLINE.
Write a goal list for September, 2025.

Rotten

August 23, 2025 / Jo / Leave a comment

While we were staining the house we discovered that the wood siding under the front door was mostly rotten.

The wood under the doorstep was dark and mushy.

My first inclination was to stain it and fix it later.

The stained area under the step needed to come out.

But when we finished staining most of the front of the house Charlie decided we should replace the wood.

We were happy to discover that the deck board next to the house had not been screwed nor nailed into place — it just popped out with the encouragement of a crow bar.

Charlie removed the old rotted wood. I found some long pieces of replacement siding in the garage which I stained the house color. Pre-staining meant I would only need to touch up under the door after the application.