Sense of Place #2
My home and the property it is on was where I spent my Thanksgiving break. This sense of place I have of my home has been shaped over many years of living here and experiencing the different elements on and around my home. It has also shaped me as a person and has influenced what I view as other good places.
I see my home as a small farm in rural Vermont. Living in a rural place my entire life has made me love this type of landscape and feel most at home when the landscape is natural. My home is surrounded by open fields and thick forests. In the properties’ past, it would have been completely clear cut and used for sheep farming. In the woods at my house, the old stonewalls used for sheep are still there, looking out of place in the now grown in forests. The fields that are still open are still hayed every year and grazed by different animals like they have been for hundreds of years.
I see my home as a reminder of history. It was built in 1799 and was used as a tavern, then a farm, which it still is today. Many things that happen at my home also happened here hundreds of years ago. It still bears the name “Willow Brook Farm” like it has for many years past.
Over my lifetime, my home has not changed a lot. This is mainly because my family has tried to preserve and maintain what was already there. We keep the forest grown in, keep the fields open, and try to keep preserve the historic house and barn rather than modernize them.
My home has shaped who I am. I feel most comfortable in rural areas and on farms. I like to be surrounded by rolling fields and forests. I also have an appreciation for history and historic architecture. Growing up in this particular area has given me healthy experiences and appreciation for certain things.
Below are two photos from my home. The first one is the view of some of our fields, a potting shed, chicken coop, and duck house. Behind the pines in the background are mountains that are across the Connecticut River in New Hampshire. The second was taken when I was on a walk in the woods with my dogs. After growing up here, I’ve become accustomed to being able to step outside and go for a hike. That is one of the many things I’m thankful for about living here.
