Along New York’s Mohawk River between Rochester and Albany, lies once thriving Montgomery county. Yet the town George and Judy found in 2004 was a dying town. Like many small towns, manufacturing disappeared and jobs went overseas.

Small towns with historic houses needed some money and a lot of TLC to restore. George and Judy bought such a house, circa 1890. The surrounding countryside is rolling hills and pastures.

Last October, on a day so clear the distant hills defined the horizon, George and Judy took a stroll. They relished the fresh smell of grass and the sound of crickets.

Then, Judy heard mewing.

Between a huge pasture edged with bushes and the road, was a narrow trench.

Lying in the trench was a tiny black kitten.

They took her home, discussing who could adopt her.

Within days they named her Lily.

The next week George and Judy took her to the vet. Turns out, Lily was only five weeks old when they found her. The vet said she was too young to survive on her own and if they hadn’t brought her home she would have died.

A few weeks later, old friends of theirs agreed to adopt her. But it was too late. Lily is now a part of George and Judy’s family.