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Seasonal Customs

What’s the most interesting local custom you’ve encountered?

There are many interesting local customs in parts of the Mid-Atlantic, and in my community the “porch culture” really comes to life during spring and summer. Neighbors gather on front porches, curbs and sidewalks or in front gardens to sip iced tea or wine, then casually catch up with friends as the sun sets. We’re in an older neighborhood, which creates an informality where everyone knows the names of pets, what’s taking place with gardening projects, and the local news without needing a formal event.

Another uniquely local tradition within the DMV [DC, Maryland and Virginia] is our obsession with blue crabs and crab feast. I cannot wait to spread newspapers across the deck tables, where everyone will spend hours cracking open steamed crabs coated in Old Bay seasoning. It’s slow, messy, loud and very social …… it’s possibly more about conversation and the ritual of pounding crabs with a mallet than the meal itself.

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Carving Out Time!

Jot down the first thing that comes to your mind.

I was just reviewing my date book for the upcoming week, and noticed how busy I’ve been over the past month, especially my Sundays which have all been booked since March 29th. There’s something quietly powerful about slowing down in a world that constantly ask us to speed up each and every day. But Sundays are the one day of the week for me to slow down and if I’m lucky enough. ……. stop!

I do my best to not fill every hour with unnerving tasks. It’s important choosing what actually matters, then letting go of what doesn’t workout.

It’s paramount that I take time for walking or hiking without my phone, cook a simple meal, work in the garden or just sit with my thoughts for a few minutes, these little rituals have started to feel like anchors in my week.

A balanced lifestyle doesn’t look perfect—and it’s not supposed to …… it’s fluid, personal, and constantly evolving. And maybe that’s the beauty of it, we get to redefine what “living well” means on our own terms, one day at a time.

Relax and stay stylish,
Kathleen