Simple Outdoor Shower Privacy

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I watched Lead Farmer 73 put up an inexpensive shower curtain for his outdoor shower.

Our shower is attached to our deck and is truly open air.

Until I design and build a more permanent shower surround I decided to give his plan a try since I want a little privacy when I take an outdoor shower.

The flag holders are aluminum and under $20 for 2 at Amazon.

I ordered 2 flag pole holders and screwed them to the railing.

The conduit (PVC might also work) makes a semicircle around the shower.

Then I bent about a 7 foot piece of 1″ conduit into the flag holders.

The curtains may wave in the breeze but keep the shower relatively private.

Using zip ties I attached 2 shower curtains (non-matching) that I was no longer using in the house.

I attached an inconspicuous soap dish and holders for toiletry items to the railing.

Ha HA!  Ready to shower.

Jo

July, 2025: Aims

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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, 2025: Score

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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

Staining the Shed: Last Half

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We started staining the shed here.

Both sides were covered with English ivy and Virginia creeper both of which are invasive weeds in Maryland.

Then we looked at the other two sides. In addition to not being convenient to access (propane tanks and more weeds) there were loads of poison ivy.

This was my view of the side yard when I first opened the gate. YIKES!

Both Charlie and I worked on the weeds behind the fence.

After we got rid of the pile from the previous photo there was still more to clear.

The job was more difficult because we had to clear out “stuff” that had been stashed there — dozens of planting pots, barbell weights, an old bed frame, etc. — all heavy.

Before

Coming to the end!

Even on days in the upper 90s Charlie kept staining.

Before

After — Hard to believe this is the same wall.

By the end the ivy crawling up the wall was tamed and the old boards renewed.

Before

After

Just before then end of the month the painting was finished.

Before

Happy (Blue) Gray Day!

Next on the list:  Stain the exterior of the house!!!

Jo

Correcting a Poor Job

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When we had the ensuite bathroom in the downstairs bedroom renovated there were some items that weren’t finished to a high quality.

After the closet was removed the wall was closed.

The variation of color shows the ups and downs of the mudder’s lack of skill.

One of the spots that really bothered me was the new wall that enclosed the shower from the bedroom side.  I decided to paper the wall.  My only dilemma was what to choose.

These were my choices.

I really liked this fish design.  I had a choice of multiple colorways so I ordered a sample of 2 of them.

Koi on the bedroom wall.

I hung them on the bedroom wall (gray).

The one on the right looked great with the rug.

I put them on the rug (ochre and gray).

The top sample looked great in the bathroom — same as the bedroom rug choice.

I hung them in the bathroom (tan wall).

I could swipe back and forth to compare the effect of the 2 colors.

I even did a digital mockup.

I was pretty much set on choosing the more golden of the 2 koi samples.

While I really liked the fish I wasn’t sure it went with the feminine nature of the suite.

The wallpaper is subtly colored and more delicate than the fish.

Without searching I saw another sample with flowers and birds —SEABROOK DESIGNS “Marsh Cranes” in the color Daylight.  The real beauty of it is that both the bedroom and the bathroom wall colors are represented.

I was surprised how substantial the paper was when it arrived.

Next step is to paper the wall.

Jo

Basic Outdoor Shower

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We live by the water.

The backyard of our property is adjacent to the Chesapeake Bay.

An outdoor shower is great for a quick cleanup after a kayak ride, working in the yard, or just cooling off on a hot day.

The shower was $139 from Amazon.

I ordered from Amazon a gotonovo Outdoor High Pressure Wall Mount Rain Shower (SUS304) with a Dual Function 8 Inch Showerhead and Handheld Spray Combo, Single Handle in Brushed Nickel Stainless Steel.

I thought the railing post would make a sturdy base.

After choosing the shower we had to decide on a place to put it.  We wanted it on the bay side of the house.  It also had to be in a spot where running both hot and cold water to it would be reasonably easy.

Hot on the left and cold on the right with multiple spigots. (Gas meter in between.)

While the plumbers were finishing the downstairs bathroom they also installed a hot water hose bibb on the side of the house near the cold water spigot.

The shower height is adjustable and it can turn to be used on the grass or on the deck.

The shower is mounted on the railing post.

Hot on the left and cold on the right.

The hot and cold hoses are run to the added faucets on the shower.  In Maryland this outdoor faucet would surely freeze so we will drain it and unhook all hoses when the weather turns cold.

A soft rain shower falls from the showerhead.

The water pressure and temperature are regulated by one lever.

The handheld wand will be great for cleaning the dog.

The handheld wand is activated by a flip of a lever near the temperature control.

Our view of the bay is part of the allure of the outdoor shower.

Eventually I might like a shower with more privacy but for now this will do.

Jo

Downstairs Bathroom Renovation: Towel Bars, Hooks, Etc.

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My part of the bathroom renovation aside from finishing the closet was to hang towel bars and hooks.

The sink has a Champagne Bronze Delta Saylor faucet.

The metal color for the house is brass for a nautical effect.  The faucets and fixtures are brass, actually champagne bronze, so the towel bars are also champagne bronze.

Kayra profile

I ordered Delta’s Kayra toilet paper holder, double hook, two 18″ towel bars, and one 24″ towel bar from Ferguson Home.  They arrived the next day.

Saylor profile

The Kayra style is similar to Delta’s Saylor faucet.  The Saylor towel bars were more industrial looking which was not the look I wanted.

The toilet paper is easily reached while indisposed.

I hung the toilet paper holder first.

The robe/towel hook is near the shower.

Next I hung the easiest installation — the double hook.  It only uses one bracket so leveling and measurements are not critical.

The green squiggles hanging on the door are actually hooks.

I also hung 2 squiggly Ikea brackets on the back of the door to the bedroom which can accomodate hangers as well as robes or towels.

A good spot for a damp towel that is headed for the laundry.

I cut down the two 18″ towel bars so they would fit — one above the sink and the other on the side of the vanity.

I used a pipe cutter but a hacksaw would also work. The key is patience.

Using my pipe cutter I carefully cut the bar that is held between 2 brackets.

The bar stays on the brackets with rubber washer friction.

After cutting I used a file to ream out the inside of the cut to taper it so it would slide back onto the bracket.

Both of the towel bars in the photo have been cut down a few inches.

The towel bars are hung out of the way but close enough to be convenient.

These towels hang inside the shower and stay dry while the shower is in use.

Finally I hung the 24″ bar on the tile in the shower.  This was more challenging than the last time I did something similar.  I had to buy a new set of glass/tile drill bits since I couldn’t find the ones I previously used.

Ready for action.

When I finally got it hung I was done for the day.

No natural light but still light and bright.

Whew!!

Jo

Jo

Downstairs Bathroom Renovation: Shower Enclosure

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I have a 55 inch opening from wall to wall in the new shower.

Glass Warehouse Astro Satin Brass 52-in to 56-in W x 78-in H Frameless Sliding Shower Door 5/16-in Thick Clear Glass purchased from Lowe’s.

Since the bathroom is relatively small I decided to use a sliding glass shower door.  It is trimmed in brass like the other fixtures in the bathroom.

The hardware was applied separately. One side of the handle on the sliding door has been attached.

The door was shipped in 2 large glass panels and 2 additional boxes of hardware.  While the glass is very substantial it is glass afterall.

I chose white (instead of brass) grab bars to limit the visual busyness in an already double patterned space.

The installer was careful to level everything so the door would run smoothly.  It stops on a rubber stopper before hitting the wall.

The only thing left to be installed is a towel rod in the shower.

The overall size of the shower is 36″ by 55″.  There’s room enough for a bench at the back to hold shampoo, conditioner, body wash, etc.  The double hook just outside the shower door is convenient for a robe and/or towel.

Opposite the shower is the vanity.

The bathroom is finally finished.

Former tiny full bath.

The former half bathroom.

The former closet.

We transformed 3 separate rooms — full bath, half bath, closet — into a comfortable, useable bathroom adjacent to the downstairs bedroom and also accessible from the living room hall.

Photoed from the hall entrance.

After a little more cleaning I’ll hang some towels, supply toiletries, etc. then we’ll be ready for guests.

Jo

Staining the Shed: First Half

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On the street side of our bayfront property is an unattached shed.

The shed was brown and covered with dirt and moss.

It’s roof is brown just like the house so if the new color I pick works on the shed then we’ll use it on the house.

I was eager to start now that the shed was much cleaner.

I began this project by washing down 2 of the walls with Mold Armor house wash.  It looked a lot better and was ready for stain.

The back and gated sides of the shed are going to take more effort to prepare for staining.

The other 2 walls needed more extensive prep as English ivy was growing up the sides.

Cabot Solid Stain for Fence and Siding in Spruce Blue.

However, the sides that are finished look great with the brown roof.

This stain color definitely changes with the weather.

Sometimes the same color looks gray so I plan to go with a slightly bluer shade on the house.

Jo

New Hydrant

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I’ve never before had a house that had a hydrant.

When we lived in the woods there was a fire hydrant very close to our property.

The only hydrants I knew about were fire hydrants maintained by the fire department.

The hydrant is circled in turquoise.

When we came to The Landing we had a hydrant about halfway down the dock but it didn’t work.

Simmons 802LF hydrant meets Federal Safe Drinking Water Acts and requirements — we could drink water from it if we were really thirsty.

Turns out that it needed to be replaced.  Of course it did.

The crew dug out the old pipe which had totally disintegrated and replaced it with a new system that comes in one piece..

While the plumber was here for the bathroom remodel he got a new one and had his crew replace the broken one.

The water is fed by a hose under the dock that comes from the house.

It’s possible to lock it an an on or off position as well as hook a hose to the threaded faucet.

I suppose I’ll have to find a dedicated hose that reaches at least to the end of the dock.

We’ll be using it to clean the dock, our boats, our feet, and our little dog when he gets back from his island visits full of sandy debris.

Jo