My family’s century-old farmhouse in the rust belt of Western Pennsylvania had been transformed into my residence and ceramics studio in less than a year. The estate previously owned by my late great-grandmother is now cared for by my grandparents. This 12-acre piece of property makes you feel right at home within the city limits of New Castle. In the 1920’s the house was in addition to the expansive cattle farm stretching across the road into the fields beyond. Our surname was quite literally Cowmeadow if you can believe it. Gram has fond memories of the barn kittens and can tell you where each swimming hole was along their road. Great Gram loved taking care of her flowers, even bringing inside the dandelions.

The willow that watches over our home hasn’t been alive for a few years now, but it’s still standing and the roots are deep.