December, 2025: Aims

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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:

  1. Celebrate Christmas.

    The polar bears are protecting the scaled-down Christmas tree.

  2. 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.
  3.  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.

  4. Get rid of a pile of clutter from the master bedroom.

    Most of the stuff on the left has got to GOOOOO.

  5. Choose new appliances: Stove and exhaust fan.

    This dinosaur has outlived its era.

  6. Make a dermatologist appointment.
  7.  Read a book.
  8.  Get a COVID booster.

    Glad we no longer are required to mask up.

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

Jo

November, 2025: Score

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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:

  1.  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.

  2.   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.

  3.   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.

  4.   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.

  5.   Wrap, pack up, and mail Christmas gifts.

    All wrapped up — no peeking.

  6.   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.
  7.  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.

  8.  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.

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

Jo

Rearranging

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When we moved into The Landing last March I had the moving men put each piece of furniture in what I hoped would be its final home.

The dresser is just visible in the far corner by the kitchen.

Most items fulfil that wish.  However, once the downstairs bedroom/bathroom suite was remodeled I thought it needed a larger, more useful piece of furniture.

The dresser holds the TV, a lamp, and all the drawers are empty for guest use.

The dresser that was dividing the dining room from the kitchen is now in the downstairs bedroom.

The green dressing table looked good but wasn’t very useful.

Then I had to move the green dressing table that had been in the downstairs bedroom someplace else.

The dressing table fits well under the corner windows.

Happily it fit in a windowed corner in the primary bedroom.

This pantry was loaded with stuff that we rarely use.

In the meantime we cleaned out the pantry so we could take down the walls for the kitchen renovation.

The pantry is empty and ready to be torn out.

In addition to boxing up everything we also removed the built-in shelves.  Charlie will probably use some of this wood in his shed.

Everything gets carefully packed up.

We are also packing up the dishes and glasses that were in the upper kitchen cabinets.

We started taking down cabinets from right to left — heavier and more difficult than expected.

One by one we are taking down those cabinets.

I might have to remove the wall hooks in the garage to make space for old kitchen cabinets.

While Charlie might use some of them in his shed I’m hoping to use the lower cabinets in the back of the garage so I can unpack even more cardboard boxes and store the contents NEATLY.

My eye is on the new kitchen which will inevitably take longer than planned.

Progress is slow and the goal is very distant.

Jo

A Walk Across the Bridge

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For a long time I have been contemplating walking across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge (4.3 miles) which is allowed once a year in November as part of a 10K (6.2 miles) race.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge is 4.3 miles across from shore to shore. (Our view from a cruise ship.)

Then this past February I fell about 14 feet from a ladder directly on my back.  I didn’t think I’d ever be able to walk any distances again. Finally at the end of August I began easy walking everyday and building up stamina until I believed I could at least cross the bridge under my own power.

My goal was to get to the high point of the bridge.

Just before we left for our cruise to Canada I signed us both up to join the estimated 18,000 participants who would run or walk that day.

I was going to walk not RUN!

The night before the event I received this notice:

Hi Jo,

We regret to inform you due to the forecast and a higher than acceptable chance of inclement weather, the Bay Bridge Run has been canceled and will not take place as scheduled on Sunday, November 9, 2025. THE EVENT WILL NOT BE RESCHEDULED. During inclement weather, the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) does not implement two-way traffic operations (one lane in each direction) on the Bay Bridge’s westbound span. As such, the eastbound span cannot be closed for the event. Please be assured that this decision was not taken lightly; however, the safety of the bridge’s customers, employees, and runners are the MDTA’s priority.

This is my official shirt and race bib.

I was not very happy.  I’m not sure I have it in me to train for the walk next year.

I was the oldest member of the Chesapeake Cars and Coffee Team.

However I did meet some really nice people.

Jo

November, 2025: Aims

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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:

  1.  Continue to take apart kitchen.

    Here’s a preliminary plan for the renovated kitchen.

  2.   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.

  3.   Work on new appliances for kitchen renovation.
  4.   Order backsplash tile.

    Multi-toned blue fish scales in my first choice for the backsplash.

  5.   Wrap, pack up, and mail Christmas gifts.
  6.   Read a book.  I’m working on the Thursday Murder Club Mystery series.

    Just finished this one.

  7.  Work on contractor possibilities for kitchen remodel.
  8.  Work on a paint/stain project.
  9.   Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: ENJOY.
  10.   Write a goal list for December, 2025.

Jo

 

October, 2025: Score

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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:

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3.  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.

  4.  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.

  5.  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.

  6.  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.

  7.  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.

  8.  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.

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

Jo

Cruising to Canada: Nova Scotia

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From Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada we sailed north to Sydney, then south to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

My breakfast of choice: Market Vegetable Bowl sans eggs.

Charlie and I ate most breakfasts and dinners in the dining room. Everyday for breakfast I ordered Royal Caribbean’s Market Vegetable Breakfast Bowl which typically includes a base of seasoned potatoes with zucchini, spinach, mushrooms, and red peppers, along with two eggs and melted goat and mozzarella cheese.  I preferred it without the eggs.  I wish someone would make this every morning for me at home.

Stringing along in Sydney Harbor.

After a day of cruising we stopped in Sydney.  We walked along Sydney’s Esplanade and purchased a few souvenirs then returned to the ship via the Waterfront Boardwalk.

The Town Clock on Citadel Hill in Halifax.

Our final port before returning home was Halifax, Nova Scotia.  In Halifax we walked along Lower Water Street until we came to a crowded coffee shop.

Tim Horton’s is Canada’s largest food chain.

We had heard about Tim Horton’s on our whale tour (something like Dunkin’ Donuts here in the States) and came upon one at the corner of St George and Lower Water Street in Halifax. The coffee and donuts are about half the price of Starbucks.  We each had a Boston Cream Donut which was the best  vanilla custard filled chocolate glazed donut we’ve ever had.

On the boardwalk in Halifax the atmosphere is pooch friendly.

The open air boardwalk in Halifax is very dog friendly but since we didn’t have a pooch with us we ate inside where I ordered my second lobster roll of the trip.

Back on board

We walked back toward the ship by way of Halifax’s broad waterfront boardwalk  — lots of eateries, souvenir shops, and museums.  We bought a few more well-priced souvenirs.

The US flag rendered in cupcakes.

Veterans lined the central staircase.

Finally back on the Vision of the Sea we joined the crew and other cruisers to honor our veterans.  This has been a continuing event on each of our Royal Caribbean cruises.

Our own little pet seal.

When we returned to our stateroom we caught this little fellow lounging on our bed and watching television.  Thankfully our days were so full of activity he was welcome to it.

The beautiful Atlantic Ocean from on board ship.

Our final two days were spent cruising back to our starting port in Baltimore.

Jo

October, 2025: Aims

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October is a beautiful time to be in Maryland — fall colors, temperate days, cozy 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:

  1. Purchase a major appliance for the kitchen.
  2. Choose excursions for Norway trip.

    I’m hoping to get my first choice of excursions.

  3.  Drink a glass of water every morning for an entire month.
  4.  Clear everything out of pantry.

    This is just the beginning of clearing the kitchen.

  5.  Unpack 3 boxes.
  6.  Bird tour at Blackwater Federal Wildlife Preserve.
  7.  Finish shopping for Christmas.

    I hope Charlie can find another sprig of fresh mistletoe this year.

  8.  Donate or throw away something we don’t need anymore.
  9.   Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: FOCUS.
  10.  Write a goal list for November, 2025.

Jo

September, 2025: Score

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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:

  1.  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.

  2.   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.

  3.   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

  4.   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.

  5.   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.

  6.   Take boxes out of pantry.  I put some in the garage and some in the downstairs bedroom.

    From the pantry heading to the garage.

  7.    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.

  8.    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.

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

Jo

Cruising to Canada: Whale Cruise Excursion

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After Boston our next port was Saint John in New Brunswick, Canada.  We met our tour guide and bus just outside the terminal building for a 7+-hour whale watching tour.  We would not return to the ship until minutes before she sailed.

Our whale watching cruiser.

After traveling an hour by bus to St. Andrew, NB just north of the US border we boarded an excursion boat that was about 55 feet long.

As soon as everyone was on board we headed to open water in the Bay of Fundy.

The weather was cool but Charlie and I were both dressed in total waterproof clothing and boots with multiple sweaters underneath.  We traveled about an hour from the dock into open water in the Bay of Fundy where the folks who had worn shorts, t-shirt, and flip flops were hunkered down in the enclosed part of the ship after being soaked by spray coming over the bow.

Chevro’s flutes can just be seen in the middle of Charlie’s photo.

Charlie and I stayed on the open top deck where one of the marine biologists pointed out a mist in the distance that was actually a spout (or blow) from whales. The captain raced to get us closer so we could see more details of the whales frolicking in the water.  We saw a familiar (to our guides) humpback whale named Chevron with his longtime friend, Cork. They both were active, tail breaching and flipper slapping.

We sailed on a small boat from St. Andrew’s harbor into the Bay of Fundy for an opportunity to see whales. Success.

In addition to whales we saw lots of harbor porpoises frolicking in twosomes and seals sunning themselves on the rocks.  I don’t have many good photos because I just wanted to enjoy the experience. (I have fulfilled #59 of my previous 101 in 1001 list.)

Jo