Yes one can, the pipes and following dreams on the path least traveled…

Diary of the journey on the path least traveled..

(No nominations please, just sharing thoughts while exploring life 🙂 ).

“Why is it we don’t always recognize the moment when love begins, but we always know when love ends ‘..

“Remember this, a kiss may not be the truth, but it is what we wish were true”…

“The moment you have in your heart this extraordinary thing called love and feel the depth, the delight, the ecstasy of it, you will discover that for you the world is transformed.”. Jiddu Krishnamurti

“Love is the expansion of two natures in such fashion that each include the other, each is enriched by the other.” Felix Adler

Hello Diary,

Well, it is the end of a busy week, putting the finishing touches on tasks and chores while preparing for another hot and humid days ahead… thought I would take a break in the activity and share a few thoughts… while it feels more like summertime in the Amazon, the built in time clock of most creatures is ticking on and the first sign if fall were this Katydid I saw this morning…

I’ll wager that insect was wondering if it was in the right state… 🙂 the weekend coming and for some it is a holiday weekend… as for me, I treat every day the same!…

“Yesterday is a memory, tomorrow remains a mystery, today is a new adventure. Greet it with open arms, a open heart, a open mind and a smile. Enjoy it because it won’t come again.” (Larry “Dutch“ Woller )

So I get up every morning (hopefully on the green side of the grass, not underneath 🙂 ) and prepare to chase my dreams and follow my heart… and yes, it can be done!… 🙂

“If you think you can, you can. And if you think you can’t, you’re right”. Henry Ford

In history’s past (in the early 1960’s) while in the USMC I manage to spend some time with the legendary Black Watch of Great Britain and I fell in love with the bagpipes, so my dream was to one day play the pipes… well, the years passed, and apparently Santa had heard my dreams for on one Christmas morning, under the tree were the Great Highland Bagpipe (you should have seen me trying to get ready for the picture, not ever had held the pipes before 🙂 )….

Made by pipe maker Iain Mcleod, Edinburgh, Scotland… and the quest were on…most had to be done by mail… had to get a “practice chanter” similar to this one….

Contacted the College of Piping, Glasgow, Scotland to get the lessons and other material…

And, of course, the kilt that were given to me as a present…

So I were ready to learn to play, were self taught and over time finally realized my dream, I learned to play the Great Highland Bagpipes.. I wouldn’t have impressed a Scotsman, but play the pipes I did!… 🙂 wasn’t concerned what others thought, did not try to live up to anyone’s expectations but my own… I started the race with a dream, the pipes and some books and I made it to the finish line… 🙂

“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause, the man who at best knows achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” – Theodore Roosevelt

Not to worry about others expectations or beliefs… put ones fears aside, enter the race of life, follow your heart and dreams and irregardless of where you finished, if you ran the race and you finished, you won!… 🙂

“Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow them.” Louisa May Alcott

Don’t ever let others ideologies pevent you from finding yourself and happiness…

“Never be bullied into silence, never allow yourself to be made a victim, accept no one’s definition of your life, define yourself”… Robert Frost

Penned a few words about piping….

Taroluths, Lemlouths and grace notes
A double B, double D and ending in C,
All part of the great music
Of the Great Highland Pipes, don’t you see.

Highland Laddie, Scotland the Brave
Flower of Scotland and many more,
Piped many a brave lad
Into the jaws of war.

Heard my first highland pipes in ‘63
As Her Majesty’s Black Watch came ashore,
Marching in dress ranks
Like they were going to war.

My highland pipes, were given birth
By Scotland’s highland clan Mcleod,
A pretty sight to behold
And.. Yes… they were loud.

Through shear determination
I finally learned to play,
Didn’t have a teacher
To help me along the way.

Played for myself for the most part
Played in a march or two,
But, alas, my time would come
When my playing days would be through.

My highland pipes are still now
The silence is so forlorn,
My hands no longer nimble
Time scared and worn.

The pipes are quiet now
But I am waiting for the day,
When I once again hear
The Great Highland pipes play.

Perhaps to be the last sound I hear
Echoing over rock and loam,
As the Great Highland pipes
Pipe this dreamer home.

(Penned by Larry “Dutch” Woller )

Well, I had better close, no pipe playing but have dreams to chase and adventures to look forward to here on the path least traveled… but I shall return again one day, Fate be willin” and the creeks don’t rise…

Well let Lawrence Welk and the gang bring this to a close… Soooooooooooo until we meet again.. 🙂

Goodnight, goodnight, until we meet again
Adios, Au Revoir, Auf Wiedersehn ’til then
And though, it’s always, sweet sorrow to part
You know, you’ll always, remain in my heart
Goodnight, sleep tight, and pleasant dreams to you
Here’s a wish, and a prayer, that every dream comes true
And now ’til we meet again
Adios, Au Revoir, Auf Wiedersehn
GOOD NIGHT!

Life’s a puzzle on the path least traveled…

Diary of the journey on the path least traveled..

(No nominations please, just sharing thoughts while exploring life 🙂 ).

“I have a greater peace of mind by being straightforward and truthful about myself, knowing the outcome being uncertain, rather than to wake up tomorrow morning and have to deal with a falsehood I told yesterday.” (Larry “Dutch” Woller )

A house that is built with patience, understanding and love will withstand the strongest winds of difficulties and conflict , a house built with haste and insincerity will collapse in a mere breeze of discontent. (Larry “Dutch” Woller )

“Life is complicated and not contained to a few ideologies or beliefs, therefore in order to better understand the universe, and me, I need to explore all of the universe, not just the parts I like..…” (Larry “Dutch” Woller)

Hello Diary,

Here it is near middle of the week, time moves along when one is on an adventure… 🙂 thought I would stop the world, get off for a few moments and share some thoughts… has been rainy, hot and humid here past few days, like living in a rain forest in the Amazon…. while not necessarily the best for prairie folk, good for some…. wild mushrooms are not that common here but with the climate, appear these days…. saw these in the back yard..

There are some in the sun on the left also… also saw this strange looking one nearby…

Be interesting to see what it becomes…again not necessarily edible for humans, but the backyard creatures love them… after a morning in the backyard, before the heat, I thought I would relax and work on the puzzle for a bit…

But instead I got a bit philosophical while looking at the puzzle… it is a great deal like life and the world… when I first saw it, it were mysterious and full of adventure, each piece different in its own way yet a necessary and important part of the puzzle in spite of the differences… just like the world… each creature is a important individual piece of the puzzle of life, each has their own special spot in the puzzle…

“The greatest challenge in life is to be our own person and accept that being different is a blessing and not a curse”.. Kilroy Oldster

However, it seems there is a element of the human race that is determined to put the pieces of the puzzle where they do not belong (more often than not against their will) thereby creating conflict, hate and needless suffering…

“When we begin to build walls of prejudice, hatred, pride, and self-indulgence around ourselves, we are more surely imprisoned than any prisoner behind concrete walls and iron bars.” Mother Angelica

But I do believe that thanks to technology, the multitudes are able to gather more knowledge about themselves and the world they live in and in time will create a better world for all… it may be slow in coming, but believe change is in the winds… 🙂

Winds of Change…

I watched that heavy door begin to close,
all the while the winds above me rose.
The years whisper and whistle back into my ear,
the memories haunted by sorrows and fear.

With a new day it finally dawned on me,
the past needed locking and I had the key.
Leave it behind, leap and fly away free,
let the winds of change blow and carry me.

Feel them lifting my wings now able to soar,
up to an open sky and caged no more.
Flying so fast to where no hurt can find,
a place of peace now inhabits my mind.

This heart full of courage never ceases to beat,
knowing my history is not destined to repeat.
Clear paths now lead me to a new destination,
for my life, my future and the next generation.
(Kelly Deschler 3/26/2016)

Before I leave, I believe by now that the universe is aware I am not into religious beliefs…however, there are a multitude of folks in the universe that do have beliefs of one kind or the other…that is as it should be, everyone has a right to their beliefs and should not be ridiculed for it and I hope all their dreams come true… now, they will have some days that are a little darker than normal, perhaps a bad hair day, things not going quite right, things looking a little bleak at the moment..
Well, it is to my understanding, that “God promised you a safe landing, however, he did not say the journey would be a smooth one”… 🙂 “Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.” Pope John XXIII

As a chaplain once said “it is what is in the heart that is important”, so follow your heart…“Confidence is knowing who you are and not changing it a bit because of someone’s version of reality is not your reality.” Shannon L. Alder

That being said, I had better close and get on with the day, venture on down the path and see what adventure lies ahead.. but I shall return again one day, Fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise…

I suspect the Seekers have some better advice (than this ole heathen has 🙂 ) for those with personal beliefs, or for anyone perhaps… 🙂

Speak to the sky whenever things go wrong
And you’ll know you’re not talking to the air, to the air
And the world will look better from up there

Speak to the sky ’cause things can get you down
And you’ll know when you’re talking to the Lord, to the Lord
The world will look better then before

And if I stumble and it seems that I am blind
Or if the road I’m on seems awful hard to find
And though my conversation doesn’t always rhyme
I always try to find some time

To speak to the sky and tell you how I feel
And you know sometimes what I say ain’t right, it’s all right (it’s alright)
‘Cause I speak to the sky every night

And if I stumble and it seems that I am blind
Or if the road I’m on seems awful hard to find
And though my conversation doesn’t always rhyme
I always try to find some time

To speak to the sky and tell you how I feel
And you know sometimes what I say ain’t right, it’s all right (it’s alright)
‘Cause I speak to the sky every night
Yeah, speak to the sky whenever things go wrong
And you’ll know you’re not talking to the air, to the air
And the world will look better from up there
And the world will look better from up there
And the world will look better from up there

Destiny and you gotta love someone on the path least traveled

Diary of the journey on the path least traveled..

(No nominations please, just sharing thoughts while exploring life 🙂 ).

“Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone’s face? Did I say words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love? These are the real questions… I must trust that the little bit of love that I sow now will bear many fruits, here in this world and the life to come.” Henri Nouwen

“No one can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending” Maria Robinson

“You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading your last chapter.”

Hello Diary,

It is a Sunday, nearing the beginning of another week… weather suppose to be a lot like the Amazon, without the gators and big snakes… 🙂 had some cooler weather earlier and took some time to get the compost bin ready….

I don’t burn leaves so my neighbors and the rest of the universe don’t have to deal with the smoke and I don’t pollute the atmosphere… if I take care of Nature, Nature will take care of me… 🙂

I usually spend Sunday morning sipping on a spot of tea (green) and contemplating my tomorrows and what may lie ahead… now, I know my mortal clock is ticking down (don’t dwell on the hereafter much, there is too much in front of me I wish to do and see) as I remember some of the adventures in my past…. I grew up and spent near a quarter century on the farm (that is me standing)….

I left the farm and joined the USMC for 4 years to see the world (that is me sitting on the ground, Vietnam circa 1966)…

Returned from the service relatively unscathed and ventured into construction.. one of the projects I were on was the I.M.P.E. building..

I were layout engineer on the particular project… after near a quarter a century of construction, left construction for different challenges, one being a observer for the National Weather Service…

I still do that along with a number of other adventures… and in history’s past, while doing all this contemplating and going through memories, curiosity got the best of me and decided to ask Fate what else Fate had instore for me.. well, I penned my side of the conversation and it went something like this;

What Is My Destiny Fate…

So tell me , fate
You hold the key,
What is my destiny
Suppose to be?

I was not a king or president,
No powers did I hold,
I wasn’t a preacher or a pope,
No sermon for the fold.

Can no longer build cities
The back is tired and sore,
I was a soldier once
No longer have the heart for war.

I’ve tilled the soil as a farmer
Fed the world is what they say,
But I see the faces of hunger
Still this very day.

I’ve donated time and money
Ask for nothing in return,
I see nothing has changed
Will they ever learn?

I’ve tilled the fields and went to war
Built cities and bridges and much more,
Has my destiny run it’s course
So Fate, is there any more?

So tell me, fate
You hold the key,
What is my destiny
Suppose to be?
( Larry “Dutch” Woller 5-6-2007)

Well, needless to say, Fate was not very forthcoming with any information so I am still in the dark as to what lies ahead and how it will end… and I believe that is a good thing because if I knew my Fate, than the adventure and wonder of life would not exist, there would not be any reason to venture on down the path, eagerly awaiting the next adventure and chasing rainbows… 🙂 “The great beauty of life is its mystery, the inability to know what course our life will take, and diligently work to transmute into our final form based upon a lifetime of constant discovery and enterprising effort. Accepting the unknown and unknowable eliminates regret.” Kilroy J. Oldster

The ole life clock is clicking down, not sure how or when it will end, but one thing certain, I will get to the finish line doing it my way… “We all have our own life to pursue, our own kind of dream to be weaving. And we all have some power to make wishes come true, as long as we keep believing.” Louisa May Alcott

And speaking of the path, I had better close for now and venture on down the path “Every morning your have two choices: continue to sleep with your dreams, or wake up and chase them.”…. but I shall return again one day, Fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise…

Back to the lighter side of life (is that cheering I hear?????), they say love makes the world go round, sooooooooooo you gotta love someone, right Seekers?? 🙂

You can hear them singing on the street
You’ve gotta love someone
If you want to dance with happy feet
You’ve gotta love someone

Don’t need anyone to tell you how
There never was a better time than now
Cause we all know what makes the world go round
You’ve gotta love someone

I am in heaven
All of the seven
Days of the week
With you having fun
My heart’s on fire
I am inspired
Love takes you higher
When you truly love someone

If you want to steal his heart away
You’ve gotta love someone
If you can t live without her one more day
You know you love someone

I’ve got a secret to reveal
It s got me spinning like a spinning wheel
So if you want to know just how it feels
You’ve gotta love someone

Life without the internet on the path least traveled….

Diary of the journey on the path least traveled..

(No nominations please, just sharing thoughts while exploring life 🙂 ).

“You have been my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing. After all, what’s a life, anyway? We’re born, we live a little while, we die. By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle. Goodness knows anyone’s life can stand a little of that.” E.B. White

“I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again”.. William Penn..

Hello Diary,

Well, Diary, internet is fixed and I have returned (is that moaning and groaning I hear????.. )… life, and the heart, continued on without technology…… 🙂 it is the end of the week again, time is moving on, especially if one is like me and “over the hill and picking up speed”… 🙂

Over the week, ventured out into the gardens for a bit… observed a swallow tail butterfly had stopped for a snack before continuing on its journey…

Saw some activity nearby with some bees and other insects… a hosta was in full bloom and had the attention of the backyard insects…

Also observed some mushrooms growing near a stump…

I am reasonably certain that these mushrooms are not for human consumption but there are backyard creatures that do consume them… I do not use chemicals on the yard, plants, etc so they are safe for all my friends in the gardens and yard… I also use a electric mower…

I use it to decrease the dependency on fossil fuel and to decrease releasing chemicals, etc into the atmosphere.. There are plenty of folks that talk about it but I make every attempt to do it… may not make much of an impact but I will go to my grave knowing I tried… 🙂

Also talked a bit about pets and nostalgia … we had two, both Jack Russell terriers.. they were like family.. My late wife and Miss Daisy….

They were joined at the hip… 🙂 Miss Daisy passed away in 2014 (20 years)…. My shadow were little Bree…

You see her with me at the Walmart with her favorite meal, popcorn chicken… I got her when she were 6 months old and I was her fourth owner… like me, she were different… 🙂 she passed away in 2017 (17 years)…

Well, I had better quit rambling on and close, life is calling and I had better see what it has in store for me…. 🙂

Life Is Now….

Time flies, and memories fade.
People change and new friendships are made.
Only the true remain forever at our side.
Eventually the disappointment and pain will subside.

It is all about the journey and what has yet to come.
Life is what you make of it; you are what you’ve become.
Life is too short to hold onto regrets.
Forgiveness is key even though you may never forget.

Cherish the good and remove the bad.
Some people don’t realize till it’s gone what they’ve had.
Moving on is a way of life.
There will always be obstacles, pain, and strife.

You must believe that you are strong enough to fight.
You have to believe in yourself to do what is right.
Always do for YOU no matter what you do,
Because in the end the only one who has your back is you.

Never be afraid to take a stand,
And always be willing to lend a helping hand.
A little bit goes a long way.
All it takes is a smile to brighten someone’s day.

Your chance to live is now, so what are you waiting for?
The world is yours for the taking and so much more.
Endless possibilities are forever at your disposal.
The chance to live another day is life’s golden proposal.

Never let anyone tear you down,
And never let anyone steal your shine and make you frown.
So will you sit in the shadows and let darkness win again?
Or will you rise up and make the light your friend?
(Hollianne Boucher)

But I shall return again one day, fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise…. 🙂

One final thought… “When a friend is in trouble, don’t annoy the friend by asking if there is anything you can do. Think up something appropriate and do it.” and my friends can count on me… why one would ask? because that is what friends are for… 🙂

Just being me on the path least traveled

Hello Diary,
It is a Saturday morning, a fine day but unfortunately no internet… however, as Jean de La Bruyere would say; “no road is too long for him who advances slowly and does not hurry, and no attainment is beyond his reach who equips himself with patience to achieve it.”

So using my phone, will not be the usual, but will share a few brief thoughts… Sundays I usually contemplate my tomorrow’s…in history’s past I penned some thoughts…

Just Color Me A Free Spirit

I’m just a free spirit
Open mind and heart is all I’ll be,
Don’t need much money
Being rich is not for me.

I have a pocket full of dreams
My fate, has yet to be told,
As I said from safe harbor
While watching my destiny unfold

I am not in a “box”
No social chains, you’ll see,
As down the path least traveled
Adventure waits for me.

Not interested in a “image”
Reality is my forte,
I am who I am, leaving no stone unturned
Exploring life each and every day.

Waking up to a world born free
With creatures in their daily rush,
Pursuing their own destiny’s
Before sunset brings the evening hush.

The morning air smells clean and freshman
As I awake, it always brings a smile,
Can hear the sound of a distant train
That will travel many a mile.

Yes, just color me a free spirit
For most social grace’s I won’t fit,
Society wouldn’t approve anyway
And frankly, I won’t lose sleep over it.

(Larry “Dutch” Woller)

“I am free born and free bred, where I acknowledge no man as my superior, except for his own worth, or as my inferior, except for his own demerit” Theodore Roosevelt

Sad to say I have to close now, but I shall return again one day, Fate (and the internet) willin’ and the creeks don’t rise….

May be midweek before internet returns, but we will meet again 🙂

Https://.be/Hsm_Vm6ytk

A pocket full of dreams and being a free spirit on the path least traveled…

Diary of the journey on the path least traveled..

(No nominations please, just sharing thoughts while exploring life 🙂 ).

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming; “Wow! What a ride!” Hunter S. Thompson

Hello Diary,

A foggy, rainy day to be had, staying indoors for the most part working on projects and chores… have laundry in the washer so thought I would pop in and leave a few thoughts… near the end of the week and my “to do” list is getting larger… 🙂 I did manage to clean and blanche the beans and got them ready for the freezer…

Put them on a cookie sheet and put in the freezer so they would not stick together, got them out this morning and put in a bag…

Put in the freezer and ready for when I need green beans… ventured out this morning (around 4 AM, still dark) to collect data from my weather instruments when I saw a spider had his “ambush” set up….

It is a good thing I had a flashlight and were watching for spiders or I would have walked into the web… 🙂 after it became daylight I went back out and seen that the spider had taken the web down….

I will have to be alert tomorrow morning for who knows where the spider will set up the next “ambush”… 🙂

I believe the last time I popped in I chatted a bit about Hope… well, today will pen some thoughts about being oneself and happiness… “It is not easy to find happiness in ourselves, and it is not possible to find it elsewhere.” (Agnes Repplier )

One day in history’s past, I sat down with a spot of tea (green tea with a bit of honey) and contemplated the path I should take to be myself and know happiness (which is why I took the path least traveled)… and I agreed with John Rohn; “Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present.” (Jim Rohn)

Of course, the ever present social and religious ideologies sometimes will put pressure on oneself while one tries to live the life they wish to… I had thought about that when the words from two people came to mind Robert Frost; “Never be bullied into silence, never allow yourself to be made a victim, accept no one’s definition of your life, define yourself”… (Robert Frost)…

And, of course, Eleanor Roosevelt; “You wouldn’t worry so much about what others think of you if you realize how seldom they do”.. (Eleanor Roosevelt)…. Well, armed with resolve I ventured forth making subtle changes, tweaking this and that, experimenting, etc… soon people were looking at me somewhat confused and perplexed… 🙂 “When someone tells you “you’ve changed”, it might be because you have stopped living your life their way”.. (John Pence)

Knowing who I am and wish to be “Confidence is knowing who you are and not changing it a bit because of someone’s version of reality is not your reality.” (Shannon L. Alder ) and armed with dreams in my pocket, a open mind and heart, own down the path I ventured… some years back I penned some thoughts about it actually… 🙂

Just Color Me A Free Spirit….

I’m just a free spirit
Independent is all I’ll ever be,
Don’t need much money
Being rich is not for me.

I have a pocket full of dreams
My fate, has yet to be told,
As I sail from safe harbor
While watching my destiny unfold.

I am not in a “box”
No social chains, you’ll see,
As down the path least traveled
Adventure waits for me.

Not interested in a “image”
Reality is my forte,
I am who I am, leaving no stone unturned
Exploring life each and every day.

Waking up to a world born free
With creatures in their daily rush,
Pursuing their own destinies
Before sunset brings, the evening hush.

The morning air smells clean and fresh
As I awake, it always brings a smile,
Can hear the sound of a distant train
That will travel many a mile.

Yes…just color me a free spirit
For most social graces I do not fit,
Society wouldn’t approve anyway
And frankly, I won’t lose any sleep over it.

(penned by Larry “Dutch” Woller, )

Well, better take my dreams and attitude on down the path least traveled, that life I have been sharing thoughts about is calling, but I shall return again one day, Fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise… 🙂

The Seekers have some thoughts about keeping ones dream in their pocket also… 🙂

Working on a new ending and high hopes on the path least traveled…

Diary of the journey on the path least traveled..

(No nominations please, just sharing thoughts while exploring life 🙂 ).

“Bad things do happen, how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have– life itself. “ Walter Anderson

“No one can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending” Maria Robinson

“You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading your last chapter.”

“When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.” Jimi Hendrix

Hello Diary,

It is the beginning of the week again, time keeps moving along, with or without me… 🙂 the weather will be a bit iffy, but still have projects, chores and errands to deal with, the mundane side of life… 🙂 have a photo of another sunset…

And speaking of photos, heard a loud chirping sound and saw a little House Wren in the neighborhood..

Not doubt giving me some pointers about taking care of the backyard… 🙂 and speaking of the backyard, one of the project/tasks to do is dealing with the first batch of green beans…

Will have to blanche them and get them ready for the freezer… they will taste pretty good when Ole Man Winter comes calling… 🙂

As I venture through the universe, I notice there a some who have to deal with the adversity of illness, of different types and degrees… it can be challenging at times, but the best medicine is a positive attitude and high hope… I am no stranger to the adversity of illness either…

My late wife was dealing with a back pain in her lower back for near a year, going to doctor, chiropractor, taking medication, etc x-ray showing little… in the fall of 2012 it kept getting worse and they finally decided on a MRI and a small tumor was found near the base of her spine and eating away at the spine… well, surgery were required and they had to put pins in the back to support the spine… the tumor was sent to the Mayo Clinic for evaluation… the tumor was determined to be malignant and after 2-3 weeks of tests, scans, etc it was determined that she had an aggressive form of Stage 4 Lung Cancer… a positive attitude, reinforced with hope, were put in place and the battle was on..

To keep a long story (and journey) short, she lost the battle but won the war when she passed away in March of 2015 (we would have been married 51 years in July 2015)… I remember the Chaplain coming into her room and he ask her if she had a religion, she said “No”, he then ask her if she believed in the hereafter and she said “Yes”, he said “good, it’s what is in the heart that is important, not a name above the door”… positive attitude and hope were there to the last heartbeat even when we said our “byes” (I never say goodbye because it sounds too much like forever)… 🙂

After battling a number of illnesses herself but refusing to give up, my Mom (at the age of 95) passed away in December 2015…

So to all (and everyone in your life), stay positive and even though some days will be diamonds and other days stone, put your trust in your heart and hope and they guide you through it all… 🙂

Hope is the light that keeps darkness at bay
Hope is the breeze on a hot summer day.
Hope is ever present and free of cost
Hope is the last thing ever lost.

Hope is staying positive when the going gets tough
Hope is seeking help when you feel you’ve had enough.
Hope is recovery from simmering sorrow
Hope is believing in a brighter tomorrow.
(Linda Hotger)

As for me, well, I have some arthritis of the spine and other minor growing old issues… I no longer are a young lad with a life ahead of him, my clock is ticking down and I could say my life is behind me and I am just hanging around to see how it all ends, but that is not true, one can do a lot of living in a seconds time… “If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn’t brood. I’d type a little faster.” Isaac Asimov… 🙂

Oh, yesterdays over my shoulder
So I can’t look back for too long
There’s just too much to see, waiting in front of me
And I know that I just can’t go wrong. (Jimmy Buffet)

So it is in down the path I go, challenging thunderstorms and overcoming adversity.. why one would ask?.. Because I can… 🙂

It Is Down The Path Least Traveled I Shall Go..

It is down the path least traveled I shall go
To a rainbow filled horizon I venture,
To seek, to learn, know peace, to enjoy life
A path filled with wonderful adventure.

A place where one is accepted as who they are
A spirit kindled to life, when mortal born,
A being coming from the depths within
And not subject to ridicule and scorn.

A place where I know freedom of thought and being
I am what I am, don’t you see,
Neither this one, neither that one, but all the above
In a mortal world, a free spirit, that’s me.

I do not travel the path alone, you see
There are memories and spirits to behold,
Those that share… the joy and sadness
As I gather more memories, down that least traveled road.

So how long will my journey be, one would ask
Will I see the end of the path…ever?
The answer, I believe, lies on the horizon
Somewhere past… the 12th of Never….

So I shall bring my ramblings to an end
For there is one fact that I do know,
To reach the horizon, the 12th of Never
It’s down the path least traveled I must go!
(penned by Larry “Dutch” Woller )

Well, I had better close for now, I woke up on the green side of the grass, have approximately 2,793,000 seconds before it is time to go to bed, a lot of living yet to do so I had better get on with it… but I shall return again one day, Fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise..

I believe that Frank and the gang have some more thoughts about High Hopes… 🙂

I had a dream on the path least traveled..

Diary of the journey on the path least traveled..

(No nominations please, just sharing thoughts while exploring life 🙂 ).

I don’t post to see how many “likes” I can get, I just share my thoughts and adventures with the universe and anyone who wishes to share… 🙂 “The life I touch for good or ill will touch another life, and that in turn another, until who knows where the trembling stops or in what far place my touch will be felt. “ Friedrich Buechner

I don’t post to see how many “follows” I can get, I just share chasing dreams on the path least traveled with anyone who may be interested… 🙂 “You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.” Dale Carnegie

Hello Diary,

It’s the weekend, taking the day to contemplate adventures and dreams, sharing thoughts with friends and counting my wealth, though I do have a project I need to do later…. taking a break now and sharing a few thoughts and perhaps a bit more of my little part of the universe… have been posting pictures of the sunrise, this time will post one of sunset on the prairie…

It were all quiet and a good evening to sit and ponder ones destiny…. another quiet place to go and enjoy life and contemplate ones fate is a nearby small, secluded lake…

Another place I would venture to gather my thoughts and perhaps write a poem or two was a nearby preserve called Eagles Nest….

It is a sanctuary for the bald eagle but many other creatures call it home also… can set in quiet comfort and watch the universe at play as I look on with wonder.. “I would rather have a mind opened by wonder than one closed by belief” Gerry Spence

And speaking of poetry, had finished the week Friday, were browsing the world and seen the talk were about riches and wealth.. “The only wealth which you will keep forever is the wealth you have given away.” Marcus Aurelius

So with a spot of tea I then penned a few thoughts about my wealth…. 🙂

A Wealthy Dreamer Am I…

I’m far richer than the rich
Wealthier than the wealthy by far,
I have gold in the sun
I have silver in the star.

I have dreams that I follow
That are more precious than gold,
As I venture through life
Eagerly watching, the dreams unfold.

I have diamonds, too many to count
With each new fallen snow,
As I see each one sparkle
While basking in the suns glow.

Mornings bring nature’s painting
Priceless, a portrait of the sky,
Impossible to duplicate
Even though many did try.

Each bloom of the red rose
A ruby, one of a kind,
With the bloom of the white rose
A pearl comes to mind.

Money have I little
But wealth I have got,
But I don’t fit in with
The wealthy and rich lot.

But I’m not going to change
A wealthy dreamer I’ll stay,
Until the rivers, they all run dry
Until the four winds, they all blow away.

(Larry “Dutch” Woller 8-10-2018)

With that being said, I had better close for now…I need to ponder the difference between want and need, music to listen to, books to read, but I shall return again one day, Fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise…

And as I count my wealth I had a dream… 🙂

I have a dream, a song to sing
To help me cope with anything
If you see the wonder of a fairy tale
You can take the future even if you fail
When I know the time is right for me
I’ll cross the stream – I have a dream “ (ABBA)

A little more about me and true love on the path least traveled

Diary of the journey on the path least traveled..

(No nominations please, just sharing thoughts while exploring life 🙂 ).

“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”
― Dr. Seuss

“Confidence is knowing who you are and not changing it a bit because of someone’s version of reality is not your reality.” Shannon L. Alder

“I was going to post something on Facebook until I asked myself why.” David E. Love

“If you don’t know where you’re going, you may miss it when you get there”
― Kathleen Long, Chasing Rainbows

Hello Diary,

Near the end of the week again, not sure if time is speeding up or I am slowing down…. 🙂 may see some storms over the next couple days so thought I would pop in for bit and share some thoughts before venturing on down the path…..woke up to a quiet but foggy morning….

But it quickly disappeared with sunshine… had the same weather yesterday, it cleared off and saw a hummingbird getting a drink…

IM000332.JPG

A hummingbird’s food staple is small insects, they use the nectar/sugar for energy and the liquid for water…. Thought I would do something a bit different today, got the idea from another person who brightens our lives with her posts; hiddenzzzzz

Have some mundane things about me in About and decided to share a bit more of the lighter side… 🙂

1. If you could learn a new skill, what would it be?
-type faster with less errors

2. Do you drink tea or coffee with sugar?
-green tea with a spot of honey

3. Do you prefer reading paper or electronic books?
-which ever method of reading enables me to relax and enjoy what I am reading

4. Do you like your name? Would you ever change it?
-I’ve gotten attached to my name so I think I’ll keep it, besides I have been called a lot of names over the years without the need to change it… 🙂

5. Would you ever want to be famous? If so, what for?
“I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any creature, let me do it now, for I shall not pass this way again.” W. Penn

6. Who do you want to be closer to?
-the free spirit within me

7. Do you miss someone at the moment?
-no, they are all in my heart

8. What can you see outside your bedroom window?
-the universe

9. What are you most thankful for?
-waking up on the green side of the grass

10. Do you keep a diary or journal?
-all of the above

11. What is your star sign?
-depends on the mood I’m in 🙂

12. Do you like reading? What was the last thing you read?
-Yes…. About a young girl coming out in a closed minded community

13. What are you afraid of?
-overlooking something while living and exploring life

14. If money was not a factor, how would you live your life?
-doing what I have been always doing, following my dreams and doing it my way

15. What is the one thing you would want to teach you children?
-never be ashamed of who they are and always follow their dreams

17. What can you hear right now?
-life calling so I had better type a little faster… 🙂

18. Where do you feel the safest?
“Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” Helen Keller

19. What is your favorite season? Why?
-They all have a purpose, so I do not deny change but adjust to change….

20. How would you spend your ideal day?
-dancing among the stars

21. Describe yourself in one word
-too complicated for one word…best I could do would be “free”

22. Why do you regret the most?
-Not enough time to do all that I wish to do

23. Do you like ice in your drinks?
-depends on the drink

24. Are you a restless sleeper?
-I do not tell falsehoods nor do I portray a false image so I have no problem with sleeping… 🙂

25. How would you show someone you love them?
-accept them as who and what they are and trust them with my heart…

Well, I had better close for now, venture on down the path and see what adventures life has instore for me today…. But I shall return again one day, Fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise….
And speaking of loving someone…

Friendship, love and only the heart and time knows on the path least traveled…

Diary of the journey on the path least traveled..

(No nominations please, just sharing thoughts while exploring life 🙂 ).

For Friendship Day..

“Portrait of a Friend”

I can’t give solutions to all of life’s problems, doubts,
or fears. But I can listen to you, and together we will
search for answers.

I can’t change your past with all it’s heartache and pain,
nor the future with its untold stories.
But I can be there now when you need me to care.

I can’t keep your feet from stumbling.
I can only offer my hand that you may grasp it and not fall.

Your joys, triumphs, successes, and happiness are not mine;
Yet I can share in your laughter.

Your decisions in life are not mine to make, nor to judge;
I can only support you, encourage you,
and help you when you ask.

I can’t prevent you from falling away from friendship,
from your values, from me.
I can only think of you, talk to you and wait for you.

I can’t give you boundaries which I have determined for you,
But I can give you the room to change, room to grow,
room to be yourself.

I can’t keep your heart from breaking and hurting,
But I can cry with you and help you pick up the pieces
and put them back in place.

I can’t tell you who you are or who you will be
I can only love you and be your friend
(Author Adam Clarke)

“Just because you feel someone does not love you as much as they should, does not mean they don’t give you all the love they have”..

Hello Diary,

Were going to wait till tomorrow to post but with it being Friendship Day, thought I would pop in and share some thoughts today… it is getting near the beginning of the week again, time moves on when one is busy chasing dreams and rainbows… 🙂 … the morning started out with one of those old horror movie type fogs….

But it soon cleared off for a bit…. spent most of the weekend contemplating the word “love” and all the word contains…. Love is that special feeling that comes from the heart, knows no time, distance or bounds and is felt by all creatures in their own way…

“Just because you feel someone does not love you as much as they should, does not mean they don’t give you all the love they have”..

Saw this pair of doves cuddling (near center if picture)…

Ewwwwwwwwwww, get a room… 🙂 they paid me no heed, had more important matters on mind… 🙂 I quickly took the picture and quietly left them to their own dreams… another product of love were these two young birds known as Grackles (second bird is in the shade)…

Grackles are normally looked down on but they have feelings also… the momma bird were very close and ready to sound the alarm in case of danger..

“ The love a mother has for her children is legendary, it is said a child is the mother’s heart outside her body.”

In history’s past I came across some baby rabbits (two near the bottom of the photo) snuggled in the grass…

Actually, there were three and they were about the size of a tennis ball… they were unattended, out in the open and near a street, so fearing their safety I put the three of them in the brushpile (used by the backyard creatures for protection against predators and weather)…

As time passed, they grew up and able to fend for themselves… here is one of them (on the left) with another adult (don’t know if it is the parent)…

All three of them have moved on, living life and chasing their dreams, looking for love also… 🙂 so there are a few examples of love on the path least traveled… love is known by the heart and usually by invitation without words…

A Invitation..

I received a invitation one day
Oh, not your regular kind,
The words not spoken or written
But were in the heart and mind.

To share a love and happiness
A love, that is precious and true,
A happiness that is eternal
That only lovers and dreamers knew.

The invite did not come the regular way
No cards, no letters, no phone.. you see,
It just appeared one day
In the depths, the spirit and heart of me.

The invite came from an unknown
A unknown too great for me to behold,
But it was to be a precious beginning,
Of a story, one day to be told.

(penned by Larry “Dutch” Woller 2-4-2001)

“The moment you have in your heart this extraordinary thing called love and feel the depth, the delight, the ecstasy of it, you will discover that for you the world is transformed.”. Jiddu Krishnamurti

Well, I had better close, not only have dreams and rainbows to follow, but some mundane tasks also… work for us dreamers are never done, but it is all and adventure.. 🙂 but I shall return again one day, Fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise…

When will you feel love you ask, Diary??… Well, only the heart and time know… 🙂