mount tabor

My mom tells me that my grandmother always used to say if she hadn’t chose to live in Missouri, she would have lived in Pennsylvania.

The first time I experienced PA was about 6 years ago when I was still working with the architectural photographer. We had a shoot in Scranton, afterward we explored the outlying area. The beauty of the countryside really hit me – but thanks to my 20-something attention span, I didn’t dwell on it.

A few years later I visited the Poconos Mountains. – Again, I was struck by the beauty of the state.

Last year we traveled for the first time to meet Chad’s family… This time, thanks to a little more maturity, my feelings really made me sit up and take notice.

There’s more at play here than simply being moved by a region

‘s beauty. For example, I love the Pacific Northwest – I think the area is breathtaking and it’s on our regular vacation hit-list… But the feelings that surface when I’m in PA are different… More base… Almost like an instinctual “ping” of HOME.

Chad’s family live about an hour outside of Pittsburgh in the mountains. The closest town, at the bottom of the mountain on which they reside, is called Connelsville. It’s a tiny community – but still unfortunately not immune to the American Mono-Culture. A Pizza-Hut and McDonnald’s scar the town’s main street, and there’s a Wal-Mart on the outskirts of town. Despite this, there’s still tiny mom and pop shops and restaurants.

You can see where the term “Pennsylvania Dutch” came from. The folks here are a sturdy people. The wear and tear of hard honest work can be seen on their friendly faces.

Chad’s family home was built by hand by his parents. It’s a story and a half frame home with wood thatching and wrap around porch. Inside every wall is paneled in knotty pine and historic farm implements adorn the walls. It’s cozy and comforting.

Don’t let the rustic veneer fool you though. The family room is outfitted with a state of the art home entertainment center, the kitchen has new stainless appliances and there’s always a phone jack nearby… Convenient for me to hook up the laptop and not blog.