SEASONAL LIVING AT ARCADIAN REVIVAL

Few things are more comforting than the sentiment that home also feels like a retreat and a place to celebrate without having to leave. For as long as I can remember, establishing strong roots with a warm feeling of home surrounded by community has been an aspiration of mine.

In July especially, I love the idea of our home as a hub of activity. We’ve enjoyed having family and friends over this time of year, in particular inviting our friends from the city up for a long weekend that includes not just patriotic celebration, but a visit to the historic Saratoga Springs racetrack as well. As far back as 2014 my husband and I have been making whatever home we lived in one that felt like a gathering place. We even transformed the backyard of our Boerum Hill studio apartment into one filled with flower beds, string lights, peach pie made from scratch, and benefitted from the neighbors climbing hydrangeas as we were fortunately situated on the southern facing side of the fence. 

Even when working, July seems to announce itself as a month to vacation. In our case, July often means staycation, and adopting a mantra that where we are should feel like an oasis is one that we strive to live fully. For me, one of my favorite times of day is returning to the garden once we finish bedtime with the kids. I grab my gloves, a tool, and sometimes a glass of wine and let my mind create while I mindlessly spend a bit of time catching up on weeding and clearly examine the state of our gardens without distraction. A true gift of time. 

There is also something to be said about water. Growing up, the Great Lakes were a stone’s throw from my hometown. And now that we’re Upstate, the Atlantic seashore is only a few hours away and the lakes of the Adirondacks are at our doorstep. Though it wouldn’t feel like summer without visiting one of these places, playing around in the yard with the garden hose on a hot summer day seems to fit the bill just fine.