I wasn't looking for fame and fortune
Or a life filled with material things
I wanted the simple things life had to offer
And the joy that they would bring
To walk through life with my beloved
Facing life's adventures, whatever they might be
To have a cozy home filled with children
And loving family
And then one day it happened
My fondest dream came true
A life filled with love and laughter
Is what I saw when I looked at you.
You told me that you loved me
And want to make my dreams come true
If only I would be patient
And put my trust in you
I gave you everything I had
My love, my soul, my life
I tried to do everything you asked of me
To be your perfect wife
The Lord blessed us with three wonderful sons
And a cozy home to make our life complete
I thought all my prayers were answered
For I was unaware of your deceit
I believed you when you told me
You loved me with all your heart
I was the one you would love and cherish
Until death us do part
Often you would abandoned me
Always leaving on some important quest
You said this would make you happy
"Believe me, it's for the best"
And so I let you have your space
To do what you had to do
I loved you with all my heart
And believed that time would see us through
The road was often rocky
My nights sometimes filled with fear
But I told myself just hang tight
One day he will again call me dear
So patiently I waited
Our babies grew into men
But nothing I did could keep
Our marriage from coming to an end
You took only the best
And left me with the useless clutter
"If you sell it, send me my half"
Is all that you did mutter
With deep sorrow I watched
As strangers picked apart my life
Reducing my dreams to pennies
It cut through me like a knife
The yard sale is over
Our dream house has been sold
Just pitch the rest of the junk
Was the advice I was told
With each useless item
I put into the trash
Went a broken promise
And the sorrow that was attached
I found myself getting stronger
I realized that this was meant to be
I know I will get through this
With God's help and my loving family
Although my journey is far from over
My path somewhat unclear
I know that I will make it
For I have survived my greatest fear
Harmony Hill and the wonderful people who live there are fictional.
Some of the stories they tell have been inspired by real people in my life.
I hope you enjoy my work. Most of the credit should go to my three sons
for the inspiration and spark of insanity I needed to write this entertaining blog.
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Welcome to Harmony Hill
Hello
I’m Isabella Endicotti, but everyone just calls me Bella Nonna.
Let me tell you about Harmony Hill. It’s a little piece of Heaven tucked away from the rest of world. My great grandfather, Lorenzo Auditore, purchased it over one hundred years ago.
He and his two brothers had left Italy and traveled the United States looking for a better life. His two older brothers stay in America for five years before deciding to go back to Italy, but my great grandfather stayed and traveled all over the United States. He would take odd jobs where ever he could get them. One day while working for Northland Orchards he found a slice of Heaven, as he always referred to it. He knew that this was where he was destined to spend the rest of his life. My great grandfather worked night and day until he had earned enough money to purchase it.
While working out in the mid-west he met, fell in love and married my great grandmother, Harmony Lacroix.
My great grandfather took his new bride and her brother and sister-in-law home to live in Harmony Hill. They built a cozy little house and got to work planting fruit trees, nut trees and a huge garden. Soon they had earned enough money to open a general store in the center of town.
Times were tough in the early 1900’s, so my great grandfather came up a great plan. He would contact some of the people he had worked with while trying to earn the money to buy Harmony Hill.
He had worked on a dairy farm in Wisconsin and became great friends with Ingvar Gustafsson, the nephew of the owner. He knew Mr. Gustafsson would not be inheriting any part of the dairy farm, so my great grandfather offer him a piece of land at the bottom of Harmony Hill near the large lake my great grandfather named Serenity Spring. Mr. Gustafsson’s uncle had given him two dairy cows as a wedding present which helped him start his new life in Harmony Hill. In return for the land, Mr. Gustafsson supplied my great grandparents with milk and other dairy products.
While working at a construction site my great grandfather met two master carpenters, Mr. Cleavon Johnson and Mr. James Washington. He offered them the same deal as Mr. Gustafsson.
Mr. and Mrs. Schneider were about to lose their farm and all of their livestock when my great grandfather got in contact with them. They were more than happy to accept the deal.
With a bit of luck, a lot of love and hard work my grandparents were able to buy Northland Orchards. The Gustafsson family was able to buy the land that Gustafsson’s Family Dairy now sits on. Mr. Johnson and Mr. Washington started their own construction company. Most of the homes here were built by Johnson & Washington Construction. Schneider Meat products are sold in most of the grocery store around here.
Over the years my great grandparent had many traveling workers. Most stayed for a short spell, but a few had such a great love for the land that my great grandparents gave them small portions of their land with the understanding that they would share their goods and services with the other residence.
As the families grew, so did Harmony Hill. Nowhere, to my knowledge, will you find a more eclectic loving group of people. Each family has its own unique family customs and traditions, but we all share the same family value.
Hard to believe, well get comfortable and I’ll tell you a little about the goings on around here.
I’m Isabella Endicotti, but everyone just calls me Bella Nonna.
Let me tell you about Harmony Hill. It’s a little piece of Heaven tucked away from the rest of world. My great grandfather, Lorenzo Auditore, purchased it over one hundred years ago.
He and his two brothers had left Italy and traveled the United States looking for a better life. His two older brothers stay in America for five years before deciding to go back to Italy, but my great grandfather stayed and traveled all over the United States. He would take odd jobs where ever he could get them. One day while working for Northland Orchards he found a slice of Heaven, as he always referred to it. He knew that this was where he was destined to spend the rest of his life. My great grandfather worked night and day until he had earned enough money to purchase it.
While working out in the mid-west he met, fell in love and married my great grandmother, Harmony Lacroix.
My great grandfather took his new bride and her brother and sister-in-law home to live in Harmony Hill. They built a cozy little house and got to work planting fruit trees, nut trees and a huge garden. Soon they had earned enough money to open a general store in the center of town.
Times were tough in the early 1900’s, so my great grandfather came up a great plan. He would contact some of the people he had worked with while trying to earn the money to buy Harmony Hill.
He had worked on a dairy farm in Wisconsin and became great friends with Ingvar Gustafsson, the nephew of the owner. He knew Mr. Gustafsson would not be inheriting any part of the dairy farm, so my great grandfather offer him a piece of land at the bottom of Harmony Hill near the large lake my great grandfather named Serenity Spring. Mr. Gustafsson’s uncle had given him two dairy cows as a wedding present which helped him start his new life in Harmony Hill. In return for the land, Mr. Gustafsson supplied my great grandparents with milk and other dairy products.
While working at a construction site my great grandfather met two master carpenters, Mr. Cleavon Johnson and Mr. James Washington. He offered them the same deal as Mr. Gustafsson.
Mr. and Mrs. Schneider were about to lose their farm and all of their livestock when my great grandfather got in contact with them. They were more than happy to accept the deal.
With a bit of luck, a lot of love and hard work my grandparents were able to buy Northland Orchards. The Gustafsson family was able to buy the land that Gustafsson’s Family Dairy now sits on. Mr. Johnson and Mr. Washington started their own construction company. Most of the homes here were built by Johnson & Washington Construction. Schneider Meat products are sold in most of the grocery store around here.
Over the years my great grandparent had many traveling workers. Most stayed for a short spell, but a few had such a great love for the land that my great grandparents gave them small portions of their land with the understanding that they would share their goods and services with the other residence.
As the families grew, so did Harmony Hill. Nowhere, to my knowledge, will you find a more eclectic loving group of people. Each family has its own unique family customs and traditions, but we all share the same family value.
Hard to believe, well get comfortable and I’ll tell you a little about the goings on around here.
Blog Archive
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2010
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January
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- The Path Of Life
- Let Me Sow Love
- Why Am I Thankful To Be A Teenager In Y2K?
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- WHAT IS A MOTHER?
- Popsicle Lady and Mr. Neighbor Man
- Please Help Me Understand
- I’m Sorry
- A Child Shall Lead Them
- Is Someone Listening
- Why Am I So Happy?
- I Thought It Was Forever.
- Never Say Diet
- The Strength of Thousands
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Tell Me What You Think
Harmony Hill is a work in progress. I would like to hear your comments and constructive criticism. Please e-mail all your comments to:
alicek303@Yahoo.com
I appreciate all helpful advice. Thank you.
Also follow me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Alice-Ciprani-Kline
About Me
- Alice
- For years I have written things down… memories too precious to forget, feeling too deep to express and "my two cents" that I was too insecure to voice. I kept them in a folder marked "Ramblings of a Stay-At-Home Mom". My dream was to find the courage to be able to share them with other full time caregivers who felt lost and alone like me. For many years when I was confronted by one of life's big hurtles, I wished I had someone to talk to, laugh with or just reassure me "this too shall pass" because they've been there, done that. I hope this blog will help you or at least give you a giggle or two. If you would like to publish any of my stories please e-mail me at: alicek303@Yahoo.com Follow me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Alice-Ciprani-Kline
