We had the good fortune of being invited to our neighbors for a dinner of steamed crabs last night. Not just any crabs, but Maryland Blue Crabs that were in our cove yesterday morning.

I love crab and Maryland is a great place to get it. There’s wonderful crab all across the country, whether the North Carolina coast, Gulf crab in Louisiana, or Dungeness crab out in California. But there’s something special about crab that comes out of the Chesapeake. It’s a little sweeter, I think.

We’ve been on the Eastern Shore for the past week celebrating our anniversary. During this time, I’ve made crab cakes at home twice, and had a soft shell sandwich at lunch one day. I suppose I may be a little obsessive about it, but when the crab is so fresh and local, it’s hard not to be.

Our neighbor had a trot line out in the cove yesterday morning and he and another friend gathered a bushel of crabs in about three hours. Later that day, they invited Cathy and I over for steamed crabs last night.

Steamed crabs, are wonderful in a restaurant, but having them in your neighbors backyard with friends is something else. I think the best part is the communal nature of picking and eating fresh crabs. It’s a time commitment. You don’t work your way through a bushel very quickly. I think most people get a little tired of the work involved, before they actually get full of crab.

Last night, we gathered at our friend’s home and had a couple of beers while the crabs were steaming. The butcher paper was already on the picnic table. As he finished cooking the crabs, Jim dumped the first load from the pot straight onto the table. While he reloaded the steamer with the back half of the bushel, the rest of us started eating. They were oh so good. The conversation fell off a bit, but it didn’t stop as we were picking. A while later, the second load was also dumped on the table and we soldiered on, although perhaps slowing a bit. Finally, as it neared dusk, we finished up. The tables were cleaned and we adjourned to the porch for another drink or two and more conversation.

Cath and I finally left and walked home in the dark. It was a great evening of food and friendship. Jim gave me a small going away present as we left – six or seven leftover crabs. I’ll pick them later today, and with a bit of luck we will have enough crab meat for a couple more cakes. Life on the Chesapeake is pretty good.

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** The title of this blog was borrowed from Mary Chapin Carpenter’s song “Down in Mary’s Land” .  Give it a listen if you haven’t heard it before – I think you will like it.