Attitudes, Breakfast and being different on the path least traveled…

Diary from the path least traveled..

Quietly sharing thoughts while exploring the world and the universe (no nominations please)….

From the poem Journey of Self Discovery.;

I my setting on a journey of my own,
The mistakes I make shall be mine,
The regrets shall be my defined,
Its fall or rise,
Time will play a key role,
As Frost said,
I have an option of two paths ahead of me,
One pre decided by my ancestors,
less risky and challenging,
Other of my own,
I decide to take the less travelled one,
To mark on journey of my own.
(Illahi Bedi)

“The one who follows the crowd will usually get no further than the crowd. The one who walks alone, is likely to find himself in places no one has ever been.” Albert Einstein

Hello Diary,

Got my chores and projects taken care of, it is a lovely spring day, so thought I would pop in (while listening to Andre Reiu) and leave some thoughts… have had some occasional rain but still pleasant weather and earlier this week thought I would plant my tomatoes that I had started inside some time back, if you remember… well, I decided to check on the plants yesterday and “HORRORS”, they looked like a cruise missile struck them!…

I glanced around to see if I could find the culprit responsible and spotted it trying to make a get-away on the high wire…

I thought I had the plants protected but apparently not good enough for a determined squirrel… now, I am a member of the human race, have a reasonable I.Q. so I should be able to outsmart a bushy tailed rodent with an attitude, right??

RIGHT???… 🙂 (the picture above has the rodent lying on the limb, knowing that I am watching him and daring me to step outside 🙂 ).. well, I may end up getting my tomatoes from the grocery but until then, it is replant the tomatoes and “game on”… 🙂 through helping my late wife, and others, deal with cancer, I found that tomatoes aid (not a cure) in dealing with cancer…also having a good breakfast, whether dealing with cancer or not… and I have had the good fortune of meeting someone here on WordPress that has written a book about breakfast.. Her name is Grace Okezie and the name of her book is; Breakfast Tour….

Not only does the book have some good advice but also some interesting examples of breakfast from other countries, which thanks to the internet I may try in the future…. Thank you Ms. Okezie for penning your thoughts so we may be able to read…. 🙂

Diary, I posted a picture of the book and myself to show you the book is real, I am real, I did purchase the book and plan to use it…far too many in cyberspace “talk the talk but don’t walk the walk”… in other words, they say the will or have done in order to promote a image but in actuality, they haven’t… that is not me so I guess that means I am different… 🙂

Being “different” in this world of closed minds is difficult and can be trying at times, but different I shall stay and enjoying every minute of it!!… it helps to be a free spirit with an open mind and heart in a mortal body… 🙂

I Am Different…

We may have the same eye’s
but I use mine differently

We may have the same heart
but I use mine differently

I’m Different cause I do things differently
I’m different cause I wear things differently

I may stand out differently in many ways
but I love it
and I love begin different

I Am Different
(Iesha Scales)

Different…..

How are we so “different”?
If “different” is just a thing.
If we all have certain features,
What does “different” bring?

People filled with hatred,
Can’t possibly see,
That there’s not really “differences”
Between you and me.

Looks can’t show “difference”,
If they’re just there to be seen.
If you don’t look like someone else,
Why are they so mean?

If being “different” is what is wrong,
I’d rather not be right.
And I’d want to finish living,
Doing the “different” fight.
(Vincen Tabatha)

Well, I had better close for now, Diary, exploring the world, the universe, turning over stones, smelling the roses and chasing rainbows are a never ending quest… 🙂 but I shall return again one day, Fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise…

There is a place for us “different” people, right Ms. Streisand??.. 🙂

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Lilacs, pet rock, poetry and “IZ” on the path least traveled…

Diary from the path least traveled..

Quietly sharing thoughts while exploring the world and the universe (no nominations please)….

From the poem Journey of Self Discovery.;

I my setting on a journey of my own,
The mistakes I make shall be mine,
The regrets shall be my defined,
Its fall or rise,
Time will play a key role,
As Frost said,
I have an option of two paths ahead of me,
One pre decided by my ancestors,
less risky and challenging,
Other of my own,
I decide to take the less travelled one,
To mark on journey of my own.
(Illahi Bedi)

“The one who follows the crowd will usually get no further than the crowd. The one who walks alone, is likely to find himself in places no one has ever been.” Albert Einstein

Hello Diary,

It is a Friday morning and the end of a busy week, bringing the outdoors out of its winter doldrums and preparing for summer…with the warmer temperatures and an occasional rain or two, there has been changes… if you remember the last blog I made mention of the lilac bush….

Well, here is that lilac bush today…what a difference a week makes…

And as I said, according to the saying “when lilacs bloom, it is time to go mushroom hunting” and I did, I ventured to the local grocery and they had a good selection and on sale…. 🙂 … I also have two areas that I refer to a wildflower areas where (while making sure the areas don’t become a nuisance) I let grow naturally, much to the delight of the backyard creatures… the first area is just coming to life and will soon be all green with flowers..

And a second area growing nicely….

Also decided to take a picture of my pet rock, Theodosopoulos…

Theo is the strong silent type and, unlike certain members of the human race, prefer to remain silent and appear stupid, rather than say something and remove all doubt… 🙂 …

With spring comes the blooms of not only flowers but of love on the path least traveled…by all creatures in their own way… a love that knows no bounds, distance or time… a love that knows no gender, race or ideology.. A love that is a special bond of the hearts of two creatures that, using the words of Felix Adler;

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

Far too often in today’s society, the word “love” is use too loosely and without sincerity and meaning… a world without love is a cold and dark world and as I view today’s world that cold and dark world is more and more becoming a possibility… I wrote a poem about love a few years back;

It’s evening here all is serene
Waiting for the sandman, my love,
Thoughts of you fill my mind and heart
While gazing at stars above.

Trying to find the elusive words
That will allow this mortal to say,
In a thousand ways, that I Love You
And will always do so, each and every day.

Thoughts of you are in my mind
My spirit, yea my very heart,
Can’t find all the words I’m looking for
Don’t even know where to start.

So this will have to do, my love
For now it’s the best I can do,
To tell you from the bottom of my heart
How much that I love you!

Our love without end
Through an eternity it will endure,
A love so wonderfully right
Beautiful and pure.

And know this, my beloved
As I did from the very start,
Your love will be locked forever
Inside this country boys heart!

(Penned by the hand guided by the heart of Larry “ Dutch” Woller, 5-24-08)

Well, better close for now and venture on down the path least traveled… me and “IZ” have some blue skies, flowers and rainbows to check out…but I shall return again one day, Fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise…

Tulips, love and rainbows on the path least traveled…

Diary from the path least traveled..

From the poem Journey of Self Discovery.;

I my setting on a journey of my own,
The mistakes I make shall be mine,
The regrets shall be my defined,
Its fall or rise,
Time will play a key role,
As Frost said,
I have an option of two paths ahead of me,
One pre decided by my ancestors,
less risky and challenging,
Other of my own,
I decide to take the less travelled one,
To mark on journey of my own.
(Illahi Bedi)

“The one who follows the crowd will usually get no further than the crowd. The one who walks alone, is likely to find himself in places no one has ever been.” Albert Einstein

Hello Diary,

It’s another Friday morning…. winter has passed on for the most part and with the pleasant weather the first part of the week, the yard and gardens are starting to grow… the lilac bush has just started to bud leaves being late this year…

Usually blooming first part of April and indicating the start of mushroom hunting season… while not quite as enjoyable, it is easier to go to the store to purchase them… the tulips were late this year also..

And discussing gardens brought to mind a poem I had penned…

Garden Flowers…

A bouquet of flowers from my garden,
Their beauty need not be told,
Their fragrance is soothing and lovely
A pleasant scent for one to behold.

They remind me of you, my love
Whose beauty from within you do share,
Sharing sunshine, understanding and laughter
Sowing the seeds of love and happiness in the air.

This bouquet was picked for you, my love
For coming into my world, my dear friend,
For giving sunshine, laughter, love and happiness
For which I know… will never end.
(Penned by Larry “Dutch” Woller May 5, 2008)

With the pleasant weather the backyard, activity by the creatures accelerated also, so much so that this particular squirrel had to take a break…. 🙂

Returning to trivia/memories briefly, I were ask how I acquired the nickname of Dutch…well, trying to keep this brief (is that cheering I hear??? ), I am of German ancestry, my roots going back to far Western Germany that was once known as Prussia… I was born and raised here in the prairies in an area predominately settled by people of German ancestry and the area became affectionately known as “Dutch Flats”…
When I was in Vietnam, the USO had a program known as “PenPals” (this was before emails and texting) and I got connected with a family from Northern Illinois ( I and my late wife did meet them after I returned from Vietnam and continued to communicate with them)…..we shared information about ourselves and the children decided I needed a nickname so they started calling me Dutch… they would start sending letters with Dutch in the address and soon everyone in the unit were calling me Dutch, though I have rarely used the nickname that much personally… and that is how I got the nickname Dutch…. 🙂

Because it is spring, love is in full bloom and as you can tell love is laced in this blog… 🙂 thought I would share a poem that were penned by a friend of mine who had lived in Skendleby, England.. in her early years she was a writer for the paper and a poet (she was a distant cousin to Elizabeth Barrett Browning)… over the years we shared thoughts, poetry, etc….her pen name was Chris E. Clark and she passed away in 2014 at the age of 89…

The Man I Love!
He knows me
Better than I know myself!
And yet – in the World view of us –
We do not know each other!
.
He loves me!
(More than I love myself!)
And yet – as the World knows Love –
We’ve never touched each other!
.
He moves me!
As no other man has done;
Because – could the World’s eyes see –
Each of us IS the other!
.(penned by Chris E. Clark 10-8-2011)

Remember, Diary… just because you feel someone doesn’t love you as much as they should, doesn’t mean they do not love you with all that they have!!…

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

Better go now, finish the day and prepare for possible storms… venture on down the path Least traveled, every day an adventure, following the rainbow…but I shall return one day, Fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise…

Yes, Kermie and I are following the rainbow, getting to the end does not matter as much as all the life we witnessed while in search for the end of the rainbow…

Spring is here and change is coming on the path least traveled…

Diary from the path least traveled..

From the poem Journey of Self Discovery.;

I my setting on a journey of my own,
The mistakes I make shall be mine,
The regrets shall be my defined,
Its fall or rise,
Time will play a key role,
As Frost said,
I have an option of two paths ahead of me,
One pre decided by my ancestors,
less risky and challenging,
Other of my own,
I decide to take the less travelled one,
To mark on journey of my own.
(Illahi Bedi)

“The one who follows the crowd will usually get no further than the crowd. The one who walks alone, is likely to find himself in places no one has ever been.” Albert Einstein

Hello Diary,

Another Wednesday morning, possible thunderstorms next few days, may not get online, thought I would pop in and share a few thoughts before finishing the day… spring is here and with it the time for mowing, taking care of the garden and other outdoor activities… thought I would share a handful of ways I do so, and while doing so, try to make the world, at least this part, a better world for those who may follow me in life…

First the mowing… there are many ways one can mow and at the same time protect the environment… my way is the use of a electric mower..

The mower is energy efficient and it does not use fossil fuel so there is no harmful chemicals released into the atmosphere and it reduces the dependency on fossil fuels… the same goes for my trusty weed eater…

It is battery power, energy efficient, light weight…again, no chemicals released into the atmosphere… when it comes to the leaves, I do not burn the leaves but use as mulch….

Again, I do not release harmful chemicals into the atmosphere, my neighbors do not have to deal with the smoke… it helps deal with the weeds and furnishes protection, food for creatures and when composted, returns nutrients to the soil…

When it comes to the sticks, branches, etc I do not burn them either… I stack them in a loose but neat fashion and birds and other creatures use the brush pile for protection from predators and the weather… here is a young rabbit who calls the brush pile home…

These are a few ways I attempt to help with the environment and the planet Earth, so future generations will have a pleasant world to live in… cannot depend on the leaders to accomplish anything because they are shackled by ideology, it is up to the people… what I do may not make a great deal of impact on things but I can go to my grave knowing that I tried… 🙂

“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

Well, had better close and get on with the day, venture on down the path, living the adventure while eagerly exploring to see what is on the other side of the next curve… but I shall return one day, Fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise…

In spite of the denial of others, change is coming… 🙂

Memories, poetry and Mary Hopkin on the path least traveled..

Diary from the path least traveled..

“My will shall shape the future. Whether I fail or succeed shall be no man’s doing but my own. I am the force; I can clear any obstacle before me or I can be lost in the maze.. My choice; my responsibility; win or lose, only I hold the key to my destiny”. Elaine Maxwell

“If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn’t brood. I’d type a little faster.” Isaac Asimov

“The one who follows the crowd will usually get no further than the crowd. The one who walks alone, is likely to find himself in places no one has ever been.”
Albert Einstein

Hello Diary,

Back again….it is Saturday morning and I believe that Ole Man Winter has finally moved on for now… Popping in to share some thoughts and memories before getting on with the day… have been busy working outdoors, slowly bringing the yard and gardens out of the winter doldrums.. Uncovered the fish pond and saw that the fish had made it through the winter… I used “feeder” goldfish to stock the pond….

Got to chatting about memories last week and the important role they play in peoples lives…thought I share a few about the “good ole days”, back when we thought we were nine foot tall and bullet proof, indestructible, always looking for adventure….had a pocket full of dreams…and then one day Father Time, with old age, made its presence known and we found out we were not immortal… 🙂

One memory began with my son being born on Sept. 28, 1965…I were in the USMC then in North Carolina..on Sept. 30, 1965 I got orders to go to Vietnam…had three weeks to pack all our worldly belongings, get back to Illinois and find a home for family, then off to war…when I left for war, my son was less than a month old, unable to totally recognize me and for the most part I was a stranger… I was shot at and missed, sh** on and hit, 🙂 , but fortunately I manage to leave, the enemy were shelling the runway as I were boarding the plane to take me to Okinawa… I made it home Christmas Eve, 1966, my son were walking and talking some and I was still a stranger… 🙂

I wrote a poem about Vietnam that I usually post on Memorial Day, May 30, but thought I would share at this time…

In Remembrance……

We were volunteers, one and all
So Noble.. Proud.. and Brave,
Did not know the reasons for war
Just a people from tyranny to save!

Glasses held high, we made an toast
Surely that Victory would rule the day!
While back at home, the voices of unrest
Not a kind word for us did they say.

Some could not vote, children were we
Some could not drink, but still our battle cry,
Even with all that we could not do
For us children, it was to do or die!

Vietnam was a hostile, violent land
The dangers, the horrors of war abound,
Whether the paddies of Vietnam or the fields of home,
Seemed for us, not a friend could be found.

But we proudly gave it our all, lads
Faced our destiny, with a hint of fear of tomorrow
Some to return to a mother’s joy
Some to return to a mother’s sorrow.

So should you be looking on today, lads
One more toast, hold your glasses high,
To PEACE, HOPE and LOVE, may they long endure
CHEERS, LADDIES!!!.. And SEMPER FI

(penned on May 30, 2009 by; Sgt, Larry “Dutch” Woller
12th Marine Regiment
Vietnam, 1965–1966..)

War and conflict breeds more war, conflict, hate, anger suffering…never solves anything..

Through effort, love, understanding we come together as a family…remember one memory, when he was a teenager my son and his friend had one of those three wheelers that were the rage at that time.. They would ride it, taking daring chances… I came home one day after work, and were going to the bathroom and as I approached the door, which were closed, I heard some moaning… I opened the door and saw my son taking pieces of asphalt out of his skin with a tweezers…apparently got thrown with no helmet.. 🙂 wasn’t so funny then but it is now…. 🙂

My daughter was born in 1970 and she was always on an adventure and were fond of saying “it is what it is”… 🙂 after getting her drivers license she and another friend took her car and went to a neighboring village to a Saturday evening party on Easter Weekend…I am not sure what totally transpired, but got a late night phone call from her saying someone had let the air out of all four tires… I told her not to worry, I would come up and get them and get the tires taken care of Sunday morning before starting Easter festivities..got everyone home that night and early Sunday morning went to the neighboring village to put air in the tires… when I got there, all four tires had air in them!.. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm… never did find out who let the air out of the tires and who put the air back in the tires… 🙂

So, there are a few memories of many that were made over time as I ventured through life, seeking to find what Fate had waiting for me… and having left safe harbor, sometimes sailing against the wind, rowing against the current, much to the dismay of some… 🙂

Yes, memories of all kinds, saved in a part of the heart…then, when I get too old to dream, those memories will live in my heart… 🙂 … I had better close now, venture on down the path least traveled, search for rainbows and gather more memories…but I shall return again one day, Fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise…

Yes, those were the days, were they not Mary Hopkin?… 🙂

Friends, Fate and Dreams on the path least traveled…

Diary from the path least traveled..

“Yesterday is a memory, tomorrow remains a mystery, today is a gift. Greet it with open arms, a open heart, a open mind and a smile. Enjoy it because it won’t come again. I do not dwell in the past very often, too much in the future waiting for me…” (Larry “Dutch“ Woller penned 6-7-2008) …

Hello Diary,
Surprise!.. blogging in the middle of the week… The sun is shining, winds a calm and sitting here reminiscing about the yesterdays and contemplating the tomorrows (waiting for a load of laundry to finish actually… 🙂 ) and wondering what Fate has instore for me… wrote a poem about it actually…

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.

Never learned to speak fine words
A country bumkin’ was I.
Were taught never to tell a falsehood
Learned never to tell a lie.

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

Can no longer build cities
The back is tired and sore,
Turned the green earth into a parking lot once
A forest….. into a general store,

I was a soldier once
No longer have the heart for war, I say
Children’s cry of suffering, I did hear
A memory still here today.

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

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 love, time and money
Ask for nothing in return,
But I see nothing has changed today
Will they ever learn?

I’ve tilled the fields and went to war
Helped build cities, towns and much more,
Sowed fields of flowers with tenderness an love
Has my destiny run it’s course, is there any more?

So tell me, Fate
You hold the key,
What is my destiny suppose to be?
(Penned by the hand of Larry “Dutch” Woller (8-18-2008))

Born with dreams in my pocket, some have come true, others still on hold, will have to see how the future unfolds… 🙂 … gained some friends along the way, lost a few also…

“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)..

““A friend is a hand that is always holding yours, no matter how close or far apart you may be. A friend is someone who is always there and will always, always care. A friend is a feeling of forever in the heart.” (Henri Nouwen)..

But, I venture on down the path least traveled, dreams in my pocket, chasing rainbows (as lovers and dreamers do) and exploring the universe a free spirit with a open mind and heart..having left safe harbors and occasionally having to sail against the wind (much to the dismay of others 🙂 ).. As one goes through life, one can chose either the “dark side” (shackled to ideologies) or the light side (free spirit and open mind and heart)…I chose the light side for there is more to see and more warmth in the light…. 🙂 …

Well, I had better close..venture on down the path, believe laundry is waiting for me also… 🙂 but I shall return this weekend, Fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise…

And still keeping a dream in the pocket, right Seekers?..

Snow, starting seeds, rib stew and Ray Stevens on the path least traveled…

Diary from the path least traveled..

“Everyday on the path least traveled brings adventure and change, that change presents a challenge, mentally and physically, as to how to accept it and deal with it, generates an excitement about being me while exploring the universe, living a second of time and looking forward to what the next second of time brings, looking forward to living life and doing it my way.” (Larry “Dutch” Woller 6/9/2016)

Hello Diary,

It is a Saturday morning, Diary, and though a bit cloudy, way better than last weekend…here is what last Monday morning, the 16th of April, looked like…

But it too shall pass and it did…apparently two Eurasian Collard Doves decided that with the weather, a tree would not do anymore, so set up housekeeping at the neighbors house… 🙂 ….

Anyway, thought I would pop in and leave a few thoughts before taking in and enjoying the weekend…had a busy week so will have a relaxing weekend enjoying whatever life puts in my least traveled path… I did start the tomato seeds earlier last week… I were asked how I put the seeds in the soil… I do not use tweezers but a wooden stick made for Shish Kabobs… I gathered the materials (shish kabob stick, wax paper and seeds)…

I fill the potting cup with potting soil, then take the blunt end of the stick and make a hole to put the seed in…

I then take the pointed end of the stick and put the end in water for a few seconds and then gently touch the seed..

The seed sticks to the stick, I then gently place the seed in the hole…

Cover up and done…can do that with any small seed…. I also did some grocery shopping last week, purchased some meat to cook and put in the freezer, cooked on Thursday…purchased some materials for stew and decided to have rib stew for Sunday, tomorrow (normally Sunday is declared Italian cuisine day)…

Leaving the pleasantries for a moment, I have been briefly browsing the internet for news, here and around the world…unfortunately nothing has change..as percentage of mankind using force and conflict to impose their ideology on others…being closed minded and extreme, they refuse to accept others because others look, feel and think differently…unfortunately a good deal of the issues has to do with religion (which is why I am not into religion)… here on the path one is allowed to believe what one wishes, so long as one does not try to impose their belief on another…

Conflict and force is not the answer… I have witnessed conflict in the past.. The following picture is of me (sitting on the ground with my gear and rifle) as a member of a forward observer team attached to the 12th Marine Regt. while participating in Operation Liberty, June 1966, in South Vietnam…

All conflict accomplishes is more conflict, hate, anger, suffering, death… will they ever learn, one wonders?! I wrote a poem about it and will share;

Maybe No More Children Will Die

I set here looking at the news
The powers wanted peace they say,
And while they spoke, bombs were dropped
60 children died that day!

What’s wrong with this idea?
Why not give PEACE a try,
Let’s give it a go, everyone
Maybe no more children will die

Smiles on their faces, while shaking hands
Arms deals for defense would come into play,
A bomb went off in a crowded market
10 children died that day.

What’s wrong with this idea?
Why not give a world without bombs a try,
Let’s give it a go, everyone
Maybe no more children will die

A war to end all wars, they said
Yet to war they always return,
Death, destruction, suffering and pain
Won’t they every learn?

What’s wrong with this idea?
Let’s give LEARNING a try,
Let’s give it a go, everyone
Maybe no more children will die.

Anger versus anger, hate versus hate
Seeds sown by war at home and away,
Starvation , sickness, a mother in tears
A 100 children died that day.

What’s wrong with this idea?
Why not give LOVE a try,
Let’s give it a go, everyone
Maybe no more children will die.
(copyright, Larry “Dutch” Woller, 9-17-08)

Well, enough of the unpleasant news and I had better close for now…everything is beautiful on the path least traveled, life, and the day, is calling and had better see what they want… 🙂 but, Diary, I shall return again one day, Fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise…

Again, while I am not into religion, Ray Stevens has some good thoughts…