July in Maryland is always HOT and HUMID! Thankfully we have air conditioning in the house and there’s usually a nice breeze coming off the water.

Captain Mustafa and Jo — sailing buddies in Egypt. This is my attire for hot and sunny days.

I stay out of the midday sun when I can and otherwise I wear sunscreen, long pants, long sleeves, a hat, and dark sunglasses.  I have been burnt too many times as a young person to risk that aggravation and pain anymore.

We can count on Dash to dress up for a holiday celebration — Independence Day this July 4th.

Here’s what I’m hoping to accomplish in July:

1.  Attend pony penning in Chincoteague.
   

   Assateague Island ponies will swim to Chincoteague and be auctioned.

2.  Work on and finalize new 101 in 1001 list — number 7.
3.  Hang some art on walls.
   

   I loved the gallery wall in our previous home.

4.  Work on a paint project.
5. Arrange kitchen items — pots and pans, coffee grinder, broken espresso machine, etc. — in garage.
6.  Pay real estate taxes.
   

   There’s an annual price to pay for this idyllic property.

7.  Work on light weight training routine. Doctor’s orders.
8.  Arrange shoes and clothes in closets.
   

   My shoes are boxed I just have to decide which pairs to keep where.

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

Jo

June was a lovely and really hot month.  We kept busy and finally saw progress in projects we had been planning.

The downstairs bathroom is now ready for use.

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

• pulled out the deck furniture which was in disrepair since our move.  I cleaned it as best I could and will upgrade the paint in the near future.
  

  We need to brighten this dark decking with cushions and an outdoor rug.

• put an outdoor rug on the back deck.
  

  The bright rug will keep the dark deck cooler underfoot.

• bought stain so Charlie could zhuzh up the outside of his shed.  Nothing makes a magical difference for a reasonable price like paint (or stain).
  

  Charlie is eager to get the shed fully stained.

• hung shelves in the garage.
  

  I’m sure the shelves will fill up quickly.

• installed a light in the downstairs bedroom.
  

  The new light looks good from the adjacent bathroom.

• had an outdoor shower installed.  I’ve been using it every hot day after working outside.  Aaahh.
  

  I’m hoping this shower saves a lot of dirt from entering the house.

• put bluestone slabs (that we brought from our former residence) under the outdoor shower.
  

  We made sure the pitch was diagonally away from the house.

• had the water hydrant in the marsh put into working order. 
• installed new lights in the primary bathroom.
  

  The original lighting the primary bathroom.

  

  The first improvement to the primary bathroom.

• put stair carpet treads (for less than $50) on the only staircase in the house which has alleviated a lot of the dust and dog hair that had been falling on the piano.
  

  Growling Linen Stair Treads for Wooden Steps  30×8 inch, 15pcs Upgraded Self Adhesive Backing Non Slip Stair Step Treads(Beige)

• welcomed Charlie’s mother for an extended stay.  (Now you know why I got busy on the downstairs ensuite.)
  

  Ready for guests.

Here’s what I had hoped to accomplish in June:

1.  Clean the siding on the house to get ready for stain.  Early in the month I began using sprayed on cleaner to prepare the walls for stain.
   

   Here’s where I started.

2.  Arrange all paint supplies in garage.  After putting in new shelves I had the chance to rearrange things on the floor.  The paint is now piled up in front of the water pump in the garage.
   

   All paint supplies are now in one place.

   My paint supplies — rollers, brushes, sprayers, etc. –are also newly organized and stored near the paint.

3.  Take Dashie to the vet for annual shots and check-up.  He was a trooper so Charlie took him out for a kayak exploration.
   

   Captain Dash and Charlie, his designated Paddler, 1st Class.

4.  Get rid of 3 boxes of old papers.  I told Charlie my old bank records needed to be shredded or burned.
   

   One banker box of old statements creates a wheelbarrow full of ashes.

   He fired up the fire pit and burned them all. Yippee!!

5.  Do something fun.  Charlie and I headed to Cambridge (Maryland) city center especially to visit the Choptank River Lighthouse.
   

   The Choptank River Lighthouse is a replica of a six-sided screw-pile lighthouse that guided mariners along the Choptank River for generations.

6.  Begin purchasing items for kitchen renovation.  I am seriously thinking about replacing the kitchen in late fall or early next year.  While I haven’t actually purchased anything yet I am arranging the details both in my mind and on paper.
   

   This stove is not up to much cooking.

   I’m also researching installers and appliances.

7.  Make hanging areas for chairs in garage. Finished early in the month.
   

   The chairs are hanging to the right of the fire extinguisher.

8.  Clear kitchen counters.
   

   Only necessary and decorative items remain — however any clean horizontal surface is a target for more clutter. (See here for before photo.)

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

Jo