BOTTICELLO FARMS

“WE GROW OUR OWN”

209 HILLSTOWN RD

MANCHESTER, CT 06040

(860) 649-2462

It must have been cold there in my shadow to never have sunlight on your face. Always content to let me shine, You've always walked one step behind. I was the one with all the glory, while you were the one with all the strength. Only a face without a name, and I never once heard you complain. Did you ever know that you're my hero and everything that I'd like to be.
I can fly higher than an eagle, 'cause you are the Wind beneath my Wings. You might have thought it went unnoticed but I've got it all here in my heart. I want you to know I know the truth -That I would be nothing without you. Did you ever know that you're my hero and everything that I'd like to be. I can fly higher than an eagle, 'cause you are the Wind beneath my Wings.

Memories, moments in time, forever captured in our hearts and minds... I close my eyes and am transported back in time:

I can envision my dad coming in tired at the end of a long workday, listening with patience to the house full of rambunctious kids. Since there were five of us and we each always had a friend over the house was always full of children of various ages. With these adult eyes I realize my dad is ageless....

I see us at our grandma's house-dad there with his father and brothers in the kitchen, gramma cooking, mom and our aunts setting tables, all us kids and cousins coming in and out of the house visiting, playing and arguing. With these adult eyes I understand dad was teaching us about the importance of family ties and the depth of love of family and respect for our parents.

I see dad bringing home our first horse and teaching us how to care for such a majestic animal. He taught about having patience while teaching us to ride-about falling off and getting back up, and that even though eventually we would probably all get kicked at some point he showed us how to avoid being kicked, again.  With these adult eyes I see dad was teaching us about growing up and making mistakes. He was showing us that even though we may fail at a task we need to get up and try again, and when life kicked us how we would learn from that experience to avoid being kicked, again.

I see dad bringing home a baby piglet, a baby so small she fit into his coat pocket. A baby he tenderly saved from a winter freeze that took the lives of her family. We named her petunia and she lived with us until she was too big to keep in the house anymore.  With these adult eyes I see dad was teaching us all living things are important and that showing tenderness does not take away your strength.

I see dad after working a long hard day himself going out again to help a friend. I see him "cooking up a storm", while preparing for the parties he has always thrown to honor friends and family. With these adult eyes I see that dad is showing us the importance of working hard, but that taking the time to enjoy life is important too.

I see the love and pride on dads face when we all descend on his house for different gatherings, all of us with our partners and  children, his grandchildren and great grandchildren. We are like an army laying siege and taking over the place.  We revert to that group of rambunctious kids.  And with these adult eyes I realize dad is timeless.

I see the sacrifices dad has made for each of us, he has done this willingly and without complaint simply to ensure our happiness. Fathers seldom say "I love you" but dad has always shown us his love by unselfishly giving us everything of himself that he possibly could. With these adult eyes I am awed by the depth of this love, I see that dad was showing us how to love and what love and being a parent means. We want dad to know that that the love he gives us is returned to him, a thousand fold, not just on Fathers Day  but everyday.

HAPPY FATHERS DAY...
 

"Walk a little slower, Daddy", said a little child so small. "I'm following in your footsteps, and I don't want to fall.  Sometimes your steps are very fast, sometimes they're hard to see; so walk a little slower, Dad, for you are leading me. Someday when I'm all grown up, you're what I want to be; then I will have a little child who'll want to follow me. And I would want to lead just right, and know that I was true; so, walk a little slower, Dad, for I must follow you." (Author Unknown)

A Man's children and his garden both reflect the amount of weeding done during the growing season." - Anonymous