We have owned The Landing for a full year in July.  In that time we have made some improvements but mostly enjoyed a totally new living experience.

Backyard at The Glade

Backyard at The Landing

For the preceding 27 years I had lived in a clearing in the woods.  Now we live on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay.

Choptank River near Suicide Bridge (uh huh!).

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

• fashioned a backsplash over the sink in the downstairs bathroom.
  

  The acrylic covers wallpaper to form a protective backsplash.

• added a few conveniences to the outdoor shower.
  

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

• put a battery operated light in the primary bathroom to light up the dark shower stall.
  

  The shower stall is still sub-par but the illumination is very much improved.

• caught 2 7 marsh rice rats that had made their way into the house.  Apparently they really like dog food.
  

  This fellow did a lot of damage including a 5-inch hole in the pantry wall.

•  hung 3 ladders on the side of the shed.
  

  I have more ladders so I’ll probably hang another pair of hooks.

• hung a small cabinet in the laundry room to hold my irons near the ironing board.
  

  This cabinet used to hang in the coffee bar of our previous residence.

• hung a charging station for a new vacuum cleaner.  The old one conked out.
  

  I hope this is convenient but out of the way.

• went on a riverboat cruise on the Choptank River.
  

  An hour and a half on the Dorothy-Megan sailing the Choptank River.

Here’s what I did in July:

1.  Attend pony penning in Chincoteague.
   

   Wild ponies after their swim from Assateague to Chincoteague.

2.  Work on and finalize new 101 in 1001 list — number 7.  I have prepared the new 101 in 1001 list and will post it on Day 1 — August 2, 2025.
3.  Hang some art on walls.
   

   Horse training at the track in the misty morning — in the laundry.

4.  Work on a paint project.  The paint project which we began in June and hope to finish before the end of the year is staining the exterior walls of the house.
   

   Our new house color is Federal Blue stain by Cabot.

5. Arrange kitchen items — pots and pans, coffee grinder, broken espresso machine, etc. — in garage.  I have arranged all excess kitchen items in the same area in the garage so when we’re ready to gut the kitchen we’ll have a place to cook.
6.  Pay real estate taxes.  I paid the taxes in person in the downtown office where I was also supposed to get a dog license.  They’re not in yet for this year.
7.  Work on light weight training routine. Doctor’s orders. I started using this workout 3 times per week because it’s osteoporosis friendly with no moves that involve twisting the spine or rounding the spine.
8.  Arrange shoes and clothes in closets.  I arranged the seasonal shoes toward the front and cleaned and folded my sweaters along with moth deterrent scents.
   

   My seaters are cleaned, folded, and laced with lavender.

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

Jo

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