Half of 2026 is DONE so I’m going to focus on finishing out the year really STRONG.

The house when we moved in.

Now the house is fully stained.

We’ll also be starting our third year in this house.  We’ve certainly put our stamp on it.

The primary bathroom needs a total makeover.

I originally decided to work on the house for our first 5 years in residence then enjoy living here.  I know issues will crop up but the liveability of the house will hopefully have been addressed.  The next big project will be the primary bedroom’s ensuite bathroom.

The entrance hall is narrow and 2 stories tall.

In addition we’ll continue to paint the interior.  The challenge of the unpainted walls is that they’re 2 stories tall.  Much of the painting we originally did was before the furniture was moved in.

In July I plan to:

1.  Celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary.
   

   We usually don’t visit a fireworks display but we’ll make an exception this year the 250th anniversary of our independence.

2.   Work on excursions for Panama Canal cruise.
   

   We’re hoping to take a jungle overhead tram in the jungle of Panama.

3.   Pay real estate taxes.
4.   Sort through cassette tapes and music CDs.
   

   One of 3 boxes full of music CDs and tapes.

5.   Work on a paint project.
   

   Maybe I’ll start easy and paint the piano wall.

6.   Work on window treatments in kitchen.  Perhaps I’ll reuse something from our other house if I can find them.
   

   I always liked this valance and the colors are right.

7.  Clear the top of the bedroom dresser.
   

   How does it accumulate?

8.  Plan something fun.
9.   Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word:  ADAPTABILITY.
10.   Write a goal list for August, 2026.

Jo

June has been a beautiful month weatherwise so I started attending weekly sailboat races.

These dingheys are rigged before being put in the water.

In addition to the numbered list below I:

• built a greenhouse for the yard.
  

  A nice little building which will have multiple uses.

  

  Just before it was fully finished a windy storm blew through and knocked it down. Now I have to start over.

• started walking on a regular basis.  Working up to a 10K in November. Forcing Dash to walk with me.
• joined the local Center for the Arts at the request of an acquaintance.  Charlie and I attended an exhibit opening.
  

  Some very unique local art was on display.

• heard the U.S. Navy Sea Chanters in an inspiring outdoor concert.
  

  Sound check.

  

  Performance

• joined in a Book Club discussion on Theo of Golden, a book I enjoyed and read very quickly.
  

  Theo of Golden

• visited the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park and Visitor Center in Church Creek, Maryland — very welcoming and beautifully presented in this month when we celebrate Juneteenth.
  

  Tubman reaches out to save people in the water.

• renewed my driver’s license in person at the Motor Vehicles Administration because I needed an eye test which I passed.  Good for another 9 years.

In June I tried to seriously participate in local establishments and non-profits.  To that end here’s how my numbered list from the beginning of the month fared.

1.  Learn more about Maryland’s natural resources and the protection and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay.
   

   Phytoplankton and tiny bits of algae suspended in water is nourishment for oysters, voracious filter feeders that help clean the Chesapeake Bay.

   I took a 90-minute tour of Horn Point Lab where the faculty, staff, and students engage in research on the biology, chemistry, physics, and ecology of organisms and ecosystems from the wetlands and estuaries of the Chesapeake Bay to the continental shelf and the world’s oceans.

   

   As one of the largest oyster hatcheries on the East Coast, the Horn Point Oyster Hatchery produces a variety of oyster larvae for use in oyster research, oyster restoration, and educational projects

2.  Take Dashie to the vet for annual shots and check-up. I have started using a vet van that comes to Tractor Supply once a month for shots, nail clippings, and diagnostics.
   

   A vet tech 10 times Dashie’s weight holds him securely while his blood is drawn.

   Dashie was a real pro: barking at big dogs who were misbehaving and cooperating with the vet techs.

3.  Pay for property insurance which includes a separate policy for flood insurance.
   

   This high tide. Hoping never to experience an actual flood.

   Glad that’s taken care of for another year.

4.  Wash the kitchen windows inside and out.  I washed the screens and windows in the newly remodeled kitchen.
   

   We have many unusual windows that connect us to outside.

5.  Rearrange items in garage including organizing tools.
   

   After a few projects the tools end up in cardboard boxes.

   

   The tools are back in the tool area in the garage.

6.  Try to remove house stain that has marked the back deck.  I tried multiple formulas and techniques and was only semi-successful.
   

   Before

   

   Improved but not much.

7.  Plan something fun.  I went to a Flower Show: Celebrating Maryland’s Eastern Shore by showcasing local horticulture.
   

   I just threw away an Old Bay tin — if I only knew.

8.   Visit some local event or museum.  I visited Richardson’s Maritime Museum in Cambridge, Maryland.  I got the full tour of boat building projects and the beautiful scale models in the museum.
   

   A vintage wooden boat being rehabbed by hand by experts.

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

Jo

At the end of June we will have been in this new house for 2 full years.

The downstairs bathroom.

In that time we have renovated both the downstairs bathroom and the kitchen —  a capital project each year in addition to painting both the interior and exterior.

This bathroom needs to somehow be opened up.

Next big project is the primary upstairs ensuite bathroom.  I have ideas but have not yet nailed down a design.

In June I plan to:

1.  Learn more about Maryland’s natural resources and the protection and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay.
   

   We want to protect and improve the Chesapeake Bay in addition we’d like to know to know how to keep our own bayfront property from eroding away.

2.  Take Dashie to the vet for annual shots and check-up.
3.  Pay for property insurance which includes a separate policy for flood insurance.
   

   Sometimes high tide comes right up into the yard.

4.  Wash the kitchen windows inside and out.
5.  Rearrange items in garage including organizing tools.
   

   I had most of the tools organized until I had to make way for storing the new kitchen in the garage before it was installed.

6.  Try to remove house stain that has marked the back deck.
7.  Plan something fun.
8.   Visit some local event or museum.
   

   Maybe I’ll visit our nearby Underground Railroad Federal/State park in honor of Juneteenth.

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

Jo

May has been a very satisfying month.

First steamed blue crabs of the 2026 season.

We’re really starting to feel connected to the region.  We found a permanent church, a social club, and the crabs are running.

In addition to the numbered list below I:

• watched the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, and the DaVinci  Code (which I had already seen) focusing on the music that was featured in #1 below.
• planted herbs in the front garden strip : parsley, thyme, and rosemary.
  

  The catmint I planted last year has given some early color and is attracting hummingbirds.

• have secured tickets, hotel, and plans for last month’s goal of arranging accomodations for my high school reunion later this summer.
• washed windows in the primary bedroom that overlook the bay.
  

  The windows needed a good scrape and scrub.

In May I planned to work on the below list.  I didn’t notice until the end of the month that I had 11 items instead of the usual 10 on the list. Here’s how I did.

1.  Go to Anna Lapwood organ concert in Atlantic City, NJ.  On the first day of the month we traveled by car to New Jersey for a very special concert which we enjoyed with 6,000 other people.
   

   Although the organ is the largest in the World, it is dwarfed by Boardwalk Hall arena. (It’s circled to the right of the stage.)

2.   Arrange the new kitchen. I was so happy to start putting our pots and pans, dishes, etc. back into the newly installed kitchen.
   

   Hoping we now have plenty of room to store all out kitchen stuff.

3.   Add weatherstrip to garage door.
   

   Purchased at WalMart.

   I added about 2-feet of weather seal to the outside edges of the garage door bottom seal.

   

   Look closely: one 2′ piece of foam (black), then 1 piece of foam on the outer edge (left) about half of that, then the original piece hanging below. Once renailed the layers were enclosed.

   I pried off the bottom seal and stuck on the additional foam, then renailed all layers together.  I can no longer see light under the door when it is closed.  Seems like a win so far.

4.   Wash cashmere sweaters and put away until fall.
   

   Just of portion of my sweaters ready to be folded away until autumn.

5.   Work on exterior painting.  I finished staining the balcony off the primary bedroom a color to match the downstairs deck and filled in all the detail siding stain in the same area.
   

   The primary bedroom balcony is more inviting now that it has been stained.

6.   Decide where to plant flowering quince and bearded iris.  I planted the quince between our yard and a neighbor to sort of “block the view” and the iris should work nicely on either side of the back deck stairs.
   

   This was one pot of bearded iris.

7.   Clear the “office” portion of the primary bedroom.  Not perfect but much, much better.  The items leaning against the wall are artwork that need to be hung  somewhere. I’ll be working on that in the near future.
   

   I west from this . . .

   

   . . . to this.

8.   Plan something fun.  We attended a Bluegrass festival, a social at the local yacht club, and a pasta dinner to raise funds for our church’s African mission.  Fun, fun, fun.
   

   Billy Harrison and the Haywire Band complete with dobro, banjo, mandolin, and guitars.

9.   Hang a US flag on Memorial Day.
   

   We honor those who serve.

10.   Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: TRADITION.
11.   Write a goal list for June, 2026.

Jo

A year ago in May I began designing the new kitchen.

A bird’s eye view of the new layout.

This May it is finally underway. Woo hoo!!

This bathroom needs to somehow be opened up.

Next big project is the primary upstairs ensuite bathroom.

In May I plan to:

1.  Go to Anna Lapwood organ concert in Atlantic City, NJ.
   

   Anna Lapwood sells out all over the world.

2.   Arrange the new kitchen.
3.   Add weatherstrip to garage door.
   

   We did this before but it need tweaking.

4.   Wash cashmere sweaters and put away until fall.
5.   Work on exterior painting.
   

   The east façade is yet unfinished.

6.   Decide where to plant flowering quince and bearded iris.
   

   I brought offshoots of this flowering quince from our former home.

7.   Clear the “office” portion of the primary bedroom.
   

   This area needs to be addressed.

8.   Plan something fun.
9.   Hang a US flag on Memorial Day.
   

   I hope to improve last year’s display with a bigger flag.

10.   Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: TRADITION.
11.   Write a goal list for June, 2026.

Jo

At the back of the house we have a marsh that separates the yard from the Chesapeake Bay.

Mid-April and the marsh is beginning to green up.

The weather has been warm, then cold, then warm, etc.  Everytime I planned for an outside chore I was forced back inside by winds or even frost.

Finally by the end of the month I was able to get busy outside.

In addition to the numbered list below I:

• walked through our marsh and picked up trash brought in by storms and tides.
  

  In addition to 2 bags of trash which I threw away, some stuff from the marsh.

• with Charlie’s help got the pressure washer working.
  

  We rejuvenated the hand-me-down pressure washer with a new hose and spray tips.

• made space for our kitchen cabinet delivery.
  

  Our cabinets were delivered early in the month.

• emptied at least 5 more boxes in the garage which had been damaged by water and were molding.
• put some of the old kitchen cabinets on Facebook for free — just haul away.  A very nice young man came and got them.  Better than in a dumpster, I think.
  

  My trash another man’s treasure.

• got a haircut.
• transplanted hosta, columbine, and geranium (cranesbill) in the front garden.
  

  Found these in the yard: hosta, cranesbill, columbine (L to R)

• signed up for the 2026 Bay Bridge 10K which takes place in the beginning of November.  Don’t let the word “run” fool you; I walk.
  

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

I challenged myself this month to get a lot of tasks started.  Here’s how I did:

1.  Celebrate Easter.  We had a splendid and meaningful Easter week.
   

   Charlie’s answer to Easter is to stock up on custom-made cream-filled chocolate eggs.

2.   Put away last year’s tax papers and bills. In addition I started dedicated folders for all our capital projects. My advice to anyone starting a capital project is to keep all orders and receipts together — it’s difficult to assemble later.
3.   Decide on a kitchen countertop.  I chose Calacatta Safyra after getting a third estimate and saving over $1200.
   

   Calacatta Safyra

4.   Set up temporary kitchen in laundry room.
   

   I super-scrubbed the laundry room sink so I could use it for food.

5.   Stain primary bedroom outside deck. Last month I cleaned this deck with exterior house cleaner and a directional spigot on the hose. It must have been a pretty thorough job because I also cleaned it this month once we got the pressure washer working and it didn’t look much better.
   

   A nice shady spot to have morning coffee overlooking the Chesapeake Bay.

   After letting the deck dry very well I stained it with Cabot Semi-solid Exterior Wood Stain and Sealer in One in the color Foothill.

6.    Power wash front pavers.  Actually Charlie did most of the work; I supervised.

   

   No detergents, only water pressure cleaning the front pavers.

7.    Begin reading The Path Between the Seas by David McCullough.  This book is the very detailed story of the Panama Canal.   I’m making my way through it in prep for a visit to Panama in the fall.
   

   The Panama Canal is well over 100 years old.

8.    Make reservations for high school reunion.  The committee has not yet sent the information but I have at least narrowed down the choices of accomodations. I’m on it as soon as the info hits my inbox.
9.   Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: DELIGHT.
10.   Write a goal list for May, 2026.

Jo

We have no trips planned in April so my focus will be on finishing some old projects, starting some new ones, and spending time on curb appeal features.

The loblolly pines fill the front yard with long, brown needles which need to be cleared up.

At the back of the house we have a marsh that separates the yard from the Chesapeake Bay.

When the tide comes in it often deposits driftwood and other treasures in the marsh.

Lots of odd bits of trash and wood collect in the marsh which also needs to be cleared up.

I’m hoping the peonies I planted last fall begin to emerge.

In April I plan to:

1.  Celebrate Easter.
   

   I’m hoping the camellias will be blooming.

2.   Put away last year’s tax papers and bills.
3.   Decide on a kitchen countertop.
   

   These are the 3 I’m considering.

4.   Set up temporary kitchen in laundry room.
   

   I have limited space to rearrange but there is a sink nearby.

5.   Stain primary bedroom outside deck.
6.    Power wash front pavers.
   

   The pavers need a little brightening up.

7.    Begin reading The Path Between the Seas by David McCullough.
   

   The definitive book on the Panama Canal.

8.    Make reservations for  high school reunion.
   

   Chartiers Valley HS in 1971.

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

Jo