May is always the start of Charlie’s garden and other warm weather tasks.

Here’s my to do list for this month:

1.  Celebrate Memorial Day.
   

   This flag has been flown over the US Capitol and waved at the 1976 Olympic Games.

2.  Read a book.
3.  Attend a concert.
   

   Columbia Orchestra is featuring a cellist in the concert “Confessions of the Soul”. As a former cellist I look forward to it.

4.  See a movie.
5.  Plan a Summer Book Club and send out invitations.
   

   Camels, pyramids and the Sahara Desert were included in our Egypt experience, much like Santiago in The Alchemist.

6.  Plan a summer yard sale.  We haven’t had one since 2011.
7.  Pull together documents for buying a house.
8.  Spruce up metal lawn chairs and/or bistro set.
   

   I need to touch up the frames of the chairs I changed from white to gunmetal.

9. Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: APPRECIATE.
10.  Write a goal list for June, 2024.

Jo

What fun we had in April!

• We went to afternoon tea with our alumni group.
  

  Charlie is trying to decide but we all got one of each kind at tea.

• I visited Sherwood Gardens in Baltimore just past peak tulip time. Still gorgeous!
  

  10 days ago may have been better but this isn’t bad.

• We attended an outdoor concert by the Navy Commodores.  We had a wonderful time at Merriweather’s Chrysalis stage.
  

  Navy Commodores checking mics for a wonderful outdoor concert on a gloomy, chilly day.

• I attended an excellent free concert by the Celtic Music Club. They’ve been nominated for a Maryland Music Award as best folk group.
  

  This is about half of the musicians who performed a concert at our local library.

• I took Dashie to a groomer to have his nails clipped and teeth cleaned. He was a champ.
  

  I promised Dash a pup cup at Starbucks for being such a good boy.

I had a challenging to-do list but finished it nonetheless:

1. Take a trip to the Midwest to see a solar eclipse.  The totality of this eclipse lasted over 4 minutes. Once again we were mesmerized by the whole event.
   

   An eclipse causes a 360 degree sunset in the middle of the day during totality.

2.  Repair back porch, clean, and paint. I played encourager and sidewalk supervisor while Charlie replaced the rotted handrail, cleaned the porch and walls, and stained the deck.
   

   Before

   

   After

3.  Read a book.  I’m reading Edith Hamilton’s Mythology in preparation for our trip to Greece in the Fall.  Trying to keep the various gods, goddesses, and heroes straight is challenging.  Since we’ll be visiting Troy in Turkey I’d like to, at least, have a clear understanding of the Trojan War.
   

   The Nashville Parthenon in Centennial Park was built in 1897 (original structure) 1925–1931 (permanent version).

   While we were in Nashville we visited a true-to-size reproduction of The Parthenon to prepare us for the real thing in Athens, Greece.

4.  See a movie.  I saw Arthur the King which was based on a true story (about a dog); there seems to be a lot of movies recently with that claim.  I also saw Wicked Little Letters with  a cast of top drawer British actors.  (Careful if foul language annoys or upsets you.) I also saw Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare which I especially loved.  The latter 2  were quirky but entertaining.
5.  Work on a trip to a warm place for next winter.  I’ve contacted a spot in the Dominican Republic and am awaiting an answer.  Otherwise we might visit family in Florida.
   

   We enjoyed our last trip to the west coast of Florida.

6.  Clear one box from the attic.  I brought down a big box of wires, toys, books, and other junk. I ruthlessly got rid of it all.
7.  Put away last year’s tax papers and bills.  I had them all put away then realized I might need some to prove our stability when we buy a new house. At least they’re cleared up for now.
8.  Wash at least 4 windows. I washed all the kitchen windows — 6 in all, inside and out.
   

   The view from the French doors in our master suite is stunning in spring.

   As a bonus I washed the master bedroom French doors.

9. Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: COURAGE.
10.  Write a goal list for May, 2024.

Jo

Charlie and I traveled to the Midwest so we could see another solar eclipse.

We began in downtown Saint Louis and ended our route in Nashville at an AirBnB east of the city.  Our first evening (the Monday of the eclipse) we arrived in Nashville so late we let ourselves into the AirBnB and went straight to bed.

The next morning we had great coffee and breakfast at Dose near our accommodations.  We stopped off at a resale shop where I bought a vintage Nashville T-shirt for my souvenir.

We drove to Opryland, very near to where we were staying on the east side of Nashville.

We walked through the Mall and scoped out the front of the new Opryhouse venue.

Then we drove down to Broadway where we spent the afternoon and listened to a country band at Tootsies.  Tootsies Orchid Lounge is open from 9:30 a.m. until 3 a.m. with multiple floors of live music playing at all times.

We parked at a lot around the corner next to Ryman Auditorium –  the former Grand Ole Opry venue.

On our final morning in Nashville we were looking for something easy to do before catching our late afternoon plane.

Much to our surprise we found a full-size version of the Greek Parthenon.  Charlie bought his souvenir T-shirt and hat here.

Our flight from Nashville to Baltimore was held up coming in from Phoenix — it was an Honor Flight filled with American veterans — quite an honor indeed for all of us.

• Travel: Saint Louis, MO
• Solar Eclipse of 2024

Jo

In 2017 Charlie and I drove to South Carolina from Maryland to see our first solar eclipse from an area of totality (the moment of total obscuration of the sun during an eclipse).

Since we knew back then there would be another one crossing the US in 2024 we made plans to find an interesting place to see it.

We chose the spot where the 2017 and 2024 eclipses intersected– Marion, Illinois.

We flew to Saint Louis, Missouri and spent 2 days there.

Then we hopped in our rental car and headed to an overnight accommodation in Kentucky Dam State Park on the way to Nashville from where we would return home.

On the morning of the eclipse we had a lovely breakfast in Kentucky Dam Lodge.  We drove about an hour and 15 minutes to Marion Stadium in southern Illinois where we settled to watch the solar eclipse which began at 12:42 Central Daylight Time.

Partial Begins	Totality Begins	Maximum	Totality Ends	Partial Ends

12:42 p.m. CDT

1:59 p.m. CDT

2:01 p.m. CDT

2:03 p.m. CDT

3:18 p.m. CDT

We arrived at the stadium just before 11 a.m. when it opened and passed the time:

having a snack,

learning from astronomy students,

mixing with the crowd,

and taking in the show.

The eclipse totality lasted 4 minutes and 26 seconds — a long time for an eclipse.

Awed for a second time.  (Here’s the first time.)

The birds stopped singing — the only sound came from humans.  For a moment we had total silence. Silence and darkness.  Eerie and thrilling.

When the day began to turn light again we drove to Nashville, about 3 hours away on a good day but took us over 6 hours due to traffic. We checked into our AirBnB where we would spend the next two days.

Travel: Saint Louis, MO

Jo

As part of our search for another solar eclipse we headed to Saint Louis, Missouri (from BWI) midday on Friday.

At Saint Louis Lambert International Airport we rented a car which I had pre-booked using my college alumni discount.  They gave us a Chevy Impala that Charlie drove from the airport to our AirBnB in downtown St. Louis where we stayed for 2 nights.

We checked into the penthouse suite which was about 10 blocks from Gateway Arch and the Mississippi River.

We had dinner  at Anthoninos on the Hill — the Italian restaurant area of Saint Louis which had been recommended to us by travelers we met en route.

On Saturday morning Charlie moved the car from on-street parking to a parking lot then we walked to a local eatery, Roosters, for breakfast.

Again we walked downtown toward the river because we had combination tickets to take the tram up to the top of Gateway Arch — 630 feet tall.

After going through security and waiting until our ticketed time to take the tram to the observation area of the Arch, we spent about ten minutes looking out the small windows over the City of Saint Louis to the west and the Mississippi River to the east.

We had a late lunch at Salt and Smoke near Cardinal Stadium — walking distance from the Arch.

We walked down toward the river to the riverboat dock and boarded a riverboat on the Mississippi.  We were ahead of our ticketed time of 4:30 but they let us on the 2 o’clock sailing since the boat was not full.

We walked back to the condo and moved the car out of the parking lot since street parking is free after 7 pm and all day Sunday.

In the morning we drove down to Saint Louis Basilica (not the Cathedral) and parked for an 8 a.m. service.  By 10 we were in our rental car and on the way to our next destination:  Kentucky Dam Lodge.

• Solar Eclipse of 2024

Jo

April is another busy month for us with more birthdays and a 5-day airplane/road trip.  I’m packed; Charlie will wait until the last minute.

Here’s my springtime to-do list:

1. Take a trip to the Midwest to see a solar eclipse.
   

   The eclipse gives us the opportunity to explore some places in the US where we haven’t been.

2.  Repair back porch, clean, and paint.
   

   The steps from the conservatory to the yard need some minor repairs and a fresh coat of stain.

3.  Read a book.
4.  See a movie.
5.  Work on a trip to a warm place for next winter.  So many choices, so little time.
6.  Clear one box from the attic.
   

   Boxes of old statements need to be shredded to make room for recent bills and tax returns.

7.  Put away last year’s tax papers and bills.
8.  Wash at least 4 windows.
   

   The kitchen windows seem to be likely candidates.

9. Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: COURAGE.
10.  Write a goal list for May, 2024.

Jo

March came in like a windy, rainy lion.  Our Vernal Equinox came a little early on the 19th and we were really ready for Spring.

Charlie has spent a good effort cleaning up the yard and getting rid of miscellaneous tools and clutter.

In addition to my numbered list I:

• altered an oversized Penn State fleece rugby shirt into a jacket.
  

  Before (left) and After

• emptied another shelf in the bedroom.
• replaced a smoke detector.  No longer a simple choice and installation now that it hooks into an app.
• decorated the mantel with Irish vases and a rainbow.
  

  Vases from Ireland, vintage shamrock hankies, and a bowl of colorful glass balls adorn the mantel in the living room.

Here’s my list to try and get done:

1.  Celebrate Charlie’s birthday.  He wanted a boot scraper and that’s what he received among a few other Charliesque items.
   

   Heavy iron bootscraper for a birthday gift.

2.  Read a book. I read In His Steps which was a spiritually challenging story.
3.  See a movie.  I saw Ordinary Angels — I loved it.  Even better — it’s a true story.  Then I saw Cabrini, another touching story about the difference one person can make. And yet a third movie about an inspirational person who saved many lives, One Life starring Anthony Hopkins.  My takeaway from these movies, all based on true stories,  is “Don’t give in, don’t give up”. By the way if you can only see one, I recommend One Life.
4.  Attend a concert.  Guest conductor, Nancia D’Alimonte, lead the Columbia Orchestra  in a varied and wonderful concert!  My favorite was Irish Tune from County Derry which was an orchestral presentation of Danny Boy.
5.  Wash some windows.
   

   Charlie and I cooperated to clean the upstairs windows — me on the inside and him on the ladder.

6.  Finalize plans for April’s trip to the Midwest.  I bought Gateway Arch and riverboat tickets for Saint Louis. Then I rechecked all the reservations which were paid in advance.
   

   We’ll be cruising the Mississippi again.

   Can’t wait to travel.

7.  Celebrate Easter.
   

   The bunnies showed up at the end of the month to brighten the living room.

   The very last day of the month is the big day. We celebrated with multiple Holy Week services (Maundy Thursday is my favorite) and JOY!

8.  Plan a quick party.  We had an Affogato Afternoon party on the Ides of March. Take that, Brutus!
   

   Affogato bar ready for guests.

9. Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word:  DEVOTION.
10. Write a goal list for April, 2024.

Jo

On our final full day on Le Fayan, our Nile cruiser we were extremely busy touring sites around Luxor.

After breakfast we met our tour guide, who had been traveling on the ship with us, in the lobby of the boat.

We three met our local driver on the corniche in Luxor and headed to the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut,  who reigned for two-decades in the mid-15th century BCE.

The Temple of Hatshepsut in Deir el-Bahari, called the “Temple of a Million Years”, is a mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut, a pharaoh of the 18th dynasty.

A processional alley flanked by sphinxes with heads of Hatshepsut leads to the entrance from the east.

The temple is dedicated to Amun, god of wind, who came to be identified with the solar god Ra and the god of fertility and creation Min, so that Amun-Ra had the main characteristic of a solar god, creator god, and fertility god.

Built in the 15th century BC following the plans of architect Senenmut, it was mostly hewn in the rock.

The walls of the temple are decorated with scenes from the queen’s life.

We met our driver in the parking lot and drove to the Valley of the Kings where pharaohs were buried in hidden caves to protect their bodies and possessions.

At one time this major necropolis just looked like a rocky hillside.

We visited the Tomb of Ramses IX (1126– 1108 BC), with a wide entrance, a long sloping corridor, a large antechamber decorated with the animals, serpents and demons from the Book of the Dead – then a pillared hall and short hallway before the burial chamber. Graffiti indicates that the tomb has been open since antiquity. In the chamber just before the staircase to the burial chamber are the cartouche symbols of Ramses IX.

Although unfinished it was the last tomb in the valley to have so much of its decoration completed, and the paintings are relatively well preserved. A number of wooden statues of the pharaoh and the gods were salvaged and taken to the British Museum in the 19th century, although the pharaoh’s mummy had already been removed in antiquity and reburied as part of the Deir al-Bahri cache.

Once under a pile of rocks and undiscovered for centuries Tut’s tomb is now open to tourists.  Charlie and I decided not to enter this one because of the extra entry fee and similarity to other included caves in the area.  We had seen the looted treasures when we were in Cairo.

Every historic venue in Egypt has a café where food, souvenirs, and a bathroom can be had — for a price.  The seats in this one in the Valley of the Kings were covered with traditional textiles.

Back to the ship for lunch.  The day is only half over and we’ve done quite a bit.

• Egypt – Preliminary Itinerary
• Egypt – Firming Up the Details
• Egypt — Getting There
• Egypt — Cairo 
• Egypt — Giza
• Egypt — A Camel Ride
• Egypt — Aswan
• Egypt — Abu Simbel
• Egypt — Cruising the Nile
• Egypt — Felucca at Sunset
• Egypt — High Dam and Philae Temple
• Egypt — Kom Ombo
• Egypt — Edfu Temple

Jo

Charlie gave me a fleece rugby shirt for my birthday which was oversized yet short.

I decided to make it into something I would actually wear.

First I sliced it right down the center front.

Then I cut 2 long strips of navy knit from an old sweatshirt.

I sewed them onto the raw edges below the rugby’s button placket. First I stitched one seam then folded the piece and pressed it with an iron.  Repeat on the other side.

I stitched the other raw edge into the seam.  I pressed the binding flat.

I might add a few Velcro dots if I decide I want to close the front.

I added 2 darts to the back to give the jacket a little shape.

Et voila! Finished.

Jo