Impatiens, Poems and Secret Gardens on the path least traveled…

Dear Diary from the path least traveled…

Hello Diary,

Bringing the week to an end, thought I would pop in and leave a few thoughts…it has been very dry and hot weather wise as of late and having that sinking feeling it may stay that way…took advantage of the cool morning yesterday and quickly prepared supper for Thurs., Fri., Sat. and Sun… wrapped them in plastic wrap and back in the fridge, now all I have to do is pop into the microwave..

So far the yard and garden has been doing ok though watering that which is in containers and the veggie bins…with containers and bins, can just water the plants so no waste of water that way…my friend Wendy of putting containers with holes in the bottom next to the plants and can put water and fertilizer in the container to seep into the ground next to the plant… neat idea!!..

Anyway, been talking about other plants and veggies, have ignored my little impatiens..a hardy low light plant and they are doing just fine so far..

Because of the plant being low light, have some indoors also..

Have the indoor plants in a plastic storage container about the size of a shoe box, using the lid underneath to catch water…if you remember in last weeks blog about setting up a container for my onions indoors??…

Well, here it is today…what a difference a week makes… 🙂

I seen a couple of hummingbirds flying about, so thought I would set up a feeder for them also…

I sprayed the hanger, NOT the feeder itself, with non-stick cooking spray..

Basically harmless to the environment but the ants don’t like it and it keeps them out of the feeder.. I have been asked on occasion if I will get another companion after the loss of little Bree…while we taught Miss Daisy..

and little Bree..

…that it is not proper to bite the UPS driver or the neighbor, we let them be what their spirit wanted to be, not what society necessarily wanted them to be…. to be intelligent, exploring free spirits, to be themselves..and by doing so they had their own precious personalities, to be different and like family became near and dear to us (there are people in the neighborhood and elsewhere ask about them and miss them to this day.. 🙂 )..if I were to get another it would be under the same circumstances and at this time do not have time to do that properly…I would never find another Bree or Daisy and thinking ahead, I do not want to get another companion and then pass on leaving the children to have to deal with it..I would not want the companion to end up in a shelter!..that being said, the answer at this time is “No”… but I still have the memories and the spirits of Bree and Daisy with me everywhere I go, especially the gardens… 🙂

And speaking of gardens, I have a poem about a not so secret garden that I will close with along with some music by Secret Garden… will leave now but shall return again one day, Fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise..

A Not So Secret Garden

I live in a not so secret garden
Along the path least traveled,
Quite unlike the other world
A world that has become unraveled.

A garden of peace and harmony
Being different does not matter here,
All creatures, big and small, living together
Unlike the other world, they do not live in fear.

Together we live the hand that Fate has dealt us
Not sure, or dwell, on our final destiny,
But live to enjoy the moment, the hour, the day
That is what life is about, don’t you see.

So into the not so secret garden I will venture
Along the path least traveled,
To find love, understanding, to follow one’s dreams
Unlike the other world unraveled.

(Larry “Dutch” Woller 6-23-2017)

Everything is beautiful on the path least traveled…

Dear Diary from the path least traveled…

Hello Diary,

It has been a hot and humid week with some occasional storms (may witness more later today)… other than some outdoor work early in the week, mainly indoors…did see the rat-tail radish doing well in the weather conditions..

Decided to pick a few and have a couple here with a standard #2 wood pencil to give you an idea of the size…

As I have said, they look like a green bean with a tail but have the flavor of a radish…the plant does well in hot, dry and humid conditions.. the regular radish would be difficult, if not impossible, to grow in the same conditions..will move the rat-tail indoors in the future..with the change in climate, etc have been experimenting with growing indoors (a number of places in the world already do that)…not going to be able feed the world 🙂 but hopefully will have some veggies for me and it will give me something to do also…

Check the Roma tomatoes this morning (indoors) and they are doing well..

Also started some Fuchsia seeds in hanging pots..will see how they do…

And decided that the pots that I had onion plants in were not well suited for growing onions, so decided on trying a small Rubbermaid tub..

And thought I would make an attempt to grow button mushrooms.. after doing a bit of research, purchased some mushroom culture (in the syringe) and volunteered my old lunch bucket for a bed…

Ventured out where they ground up the tree stump and gathered some mulch, had a lot of sawdust stored and used some of that and added some coffee grounds…

Then I added a thermometer so I can watch the temperature..in the summer controlling the temperature will be my biggest problem…

Have been glancing at the news briefly every morning and nothing has changed…greed, power hunger, suffering, anger, hate, etc… a world in chaos with the idea that only violence and force will change and fix things when in reality all it creates is more violence and hate..unfortunately the side effect of technology helping to fuel extremism… 😦 I wrote a poem and have posted before but think it is well to post it again..

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)

One can only look at the stars on a quiet night and wonder how wonderful this world would be without hate, anger and conflict and that ideology which fuels hate, anger and conflict… maybe one day a generation will witness that, likely I will not… although there are no hate, anger and conflict on the path least traveled… 🙂

Well, Diary, thought I would take a break in the activities and share a few thoughts, but now I must leave and get on with the day..have a few things to do to prepare for next week and the possibility of maybe some storms later…but I shall return again one day, Fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise…

While, as the world knows, I am not into religion, I do agree with Ray Stevens that everything is beautiful in its own way!!

Dear Diary from the path least traveled…

Hello Diary,

Thought I’d pop in briefly and share some thoughts before getting on with the day… got a heat wave coming so spent last week preparing for that, have a few minor projects today and tomorrow but for the most part will be listening to relaxing music and searching for rainbows on the path least traveled… 🙂 not much rain forecasted with the heat wave so watered the veggie garden (being in pots and bins, will not be over watering and wasting water).. Green beans, zucchini, cucumbers etc are doing fine..

Had to cage them to keep the squirrels and rabbits out, don’t use chemicals… the rat tail radish is doing quite well also, does well in heat unlike the regular radish..

Already pulled the onions so will start growing them indoors rather than in the heat… walked by the water gardens and it was coming into its own (also had a few tadpoles)…

So managed to get outside work done, ready for the heat wave… 🙂 while moving about, heard the distinct sound of a little house wren (slightly bigger than a humming bird).. So I stopped briefly and looked about and saw the little bird setting on a telephone line…

Decided to take a break and wait around for awhile and see what the little bird will do next…appears it has decided to set up housekeeping in one of my weather instruments…. 🙂

No harm to the bird or instrument but not sure how well it will like being woke up in the mornings when I check the instruments.. 🙂 and speaking of dealing with the heat, came up with a idea combining learning Spanish with working a puzzle…

Can relax, stay cool and learn Spanish while working the puzzle in the evenings… 🙂 also prepared all my evening meals..

Those which I will eat right away in the fridge, the rest in the freezer (meals prepared till Friday of next week.. 🙂 ), when I am ready just pop them in the microwave, no need to cook in the heat… 🙂

While getting ready to upload this blog, I briefly checked the news, here and around the world and with great sadness I may add.. all the conflicts, anger and hate in the world and America, most (if not all) fueled by two things, religion and guns (kind of like giving a drunk the keys to the car).. one can only dream of how wonderful this world could be without religion and guns… what they need are rainbows like here on the path least traveled.. 🙂

Well, Diary, I have taken enough of your time and I need to venture on down the path and smell the flowers and search for rainbows..but I shall return one day, share some memories and thoughts, Fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise..

Will leave some rainbow thoughts..

“Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.” Maya Angelou

“Walk on a rainbow trail; walk on a trail of song, and all about you will be beauty. There is a way out of every dark mist, over a rainbow trail. “ Robert Motherwell

“If I traveled to the end of the rainbow as Dame Fortune did intend, Murphy would be there to tell me the pot’s at the other end.” Ed Koch

“Diversity has been written into the DNA of American life; any institution that lacks a rainbow array has come to seem diminished, if not diseased.” Joe Klein

And some thoughts from Kermit and Louis Armstrong…

Sunshine, relaxing music and puttering around the path least traveled

Dear Diary from the path least traveled…

Hello Diary,

Appears to be a lovely day today, sun shining and birds singing…finished the laundry, made a “to do” list for next week and a few other chores, decided to take a break and while listening to some relaxing music, share some thoughts before getting on with the day on the path least traveled…

With the pleasant, summer like weather decided to get the outdoor deck ready for use… to keep debris, bird poop, etc away while setting there, put up the screen..

Being summer, there is very little on TV so can venture out and enjoy.. and besides just relaxing and enjoying the moment, have my painting, coloring, etc of course, but I also have my Spanish learning…

Why learn Spanish, you ask?..why jump out of planes, climb mountains, sail the seven seas?.. The answer; “because I can” .. :).. And I have my little Kindle at hand also…

Have numerous books downloaded, mainly suspense and mystery.. I also downloaded the collection “50 Books You Must Read Before You Die”.. Has Edgar Allen Poe, Agatha Christie and a number of other well known authors.. A total of near 10,000 pages for that download alone..that should do for awhile…:) ….also got the old phone (not in use with new provider) set up for use to take out…

Cannot use the phone part but got AVG virus downloaded..

So while I mainly use it for a camera, it also makes a good mini computer to take out on the deck from time to time… decided I could not be out on the deck without some music so set up the old laptop ( too old to be used on the internet)…

Setting inside near the window to the deck, can put the speakers in the open window and while it the laptop is not online (have the radio card disabled), it will play music using CD’s and flash drives with music on them… with everything at the ready, decided to give it a try… thought I would take a selfie of me sitting on the deck, never could get what I would classify as a “good” one.. 🙂 but thought I would share a couple with you, Diary, anyway… one with my “working” glasses..

And one with my “good” glasses…

So, with everything passing the test, with relaxing music playing, out came the food..

All went well so believe we’re going to stay with it, as long as the sun is shining anyway… 🙂 and speaking of sun, doing some work with the living room window, setting up some real flowers…

Have some impatiens, flowering, and the vines in the center are sweet potatoes (yams will not work very well).. also experimenting with growing Roma tomatoes in the window..

We will see how that goes… 🙂 have artificial flowers throughout the rest of the house with low light… well, Diary, I had better scoot…have taken up enough of your time and need to get on with the day.. other than some minor projects, will just “putter” around the house the weekend…will leave some quotes before I go..

“No, this is not the beginning of a new chapter in my life; this is the beginning of a new book! That first book is already closed, ended, and tossed into the seas; this new book is newly opened, has just begun! Look, it is the first page! And it is a beautiful one!” C. JoyBell C. (unlike JoyBell I did not toss the first book into the seas, it is on the shelf for future reference… 🙂 )…

“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language
And next year’s words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.” T.S. Eliot

“I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.” Maya Angelou

That being said, it is bye for now as I venture on down the path least traveled, but I shall return again one day, Fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise..

Secret Garden is playing my song… 🙂

A flag, roses, ham and beans and memories on the path least traveled..

Dear Diary from the path least traveled…

Hello Diary,

Thought I would pop in briefly before bringing the day to a close and share a few thoughts and words… kind of a gloomy day today, perhaps some storms later this evening…it is Memorial Day weekend and a holiday..difficult to do much celebrating with the weather and the state of the world…. 🙂
A pleasant day yesterday, putting world affairs off to the side, and ventured around the yard after doing mowing, etc… got the flag up yesterday for the weekend, though had to take it down for threat of storms yesterday and possibly today….

Will put the flag back up once the weather clears and the threat is gone….life is going on and the path least traveled is starting to come to life after the winter doldrums… have some clematis and roses here (doing better since they removed the tree)…

Roses at the corner growing full steam thanks to the weather…it were my late wife’s, Kathy, favorite and she planted it, wanted to hide the downspout… 🙂

Ventured over to the weather instruments and the roses there were going strong also…

Then I swung by the fish pond and the goldfish were active so I gave them some food…

Decided to bring the outdoors to a close for the day, ventured indoors and decided on doing some special nails for the holiday, so gave them a coat and did other tasks while they dried….

And speaking of other tasks, in history’s past would go camping on Memorial Day weekend being a three day weekend (holiday)..one of the traditions for camping were I would slow cook some ham and beans in a cast iron pot over a wood fire, would take a better part of the day.. Well, no wood fire but do have the cast iron pot (the only way to cook ham and beans) and I cooked some last year..found some left over in the deep freeze so having the traditional ham and beans, hot dogs (covered with sauce and parmesan cheese) and fries, have them in the fridge and ready to go for Monday, Memorial Day… 🙂

In keeping with the meaning of Memorial Day, will finish with a poem I wrote for the occasion and a song, Il Silenzio (after Peter, Paul and Mary) to read the poem by..

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…)

So, for a time it is remembering those that have passed on while venturing on down the path least traveled and it is back to living and exploring life, chasing rainbows while occasionally stopping to enjoy the flowers along the way..but I shall return one day, Diary, and share more thoughts, Fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise…

And on this, as every Memorial Day, I share the same question as Peter, Paul and Mary…

Il Silenio

Feast or famine, life (and the heart) still goes on on the path least traveled

Dear Diary from the path least traveled…

Hello Diary,

Blue skies, white clouds and some sun, a lovely day after a active, feast or famine week with Mother Nature last week…. If you remember Diary, I posted pictures in the previous blog of the neighboring farmers flooded fields..well, had some drying thanks to warm sun and strong winds..how strong were the winds?, for beginners it is not fall, wind taking leaves off trees..

So strong were the winds that with the topsoil drying , had a dust storm of sorts…

It were bad enough in some areas that they had to shut roads down due to visibility..

The farmer used the dry period to replant some seeds that were destroyed with the flooding… unfortunately the dry period didn’t last very long, the rains returned and the farmer’s new seed is flooded once more with more rain forecasted for the future…

There are a lot of places in the area that have a great deal of water..how much one would ask?..believe that Johnny Cash has the answer… 🙂

Thankfully on high ground here so garden is doing quite well so far… beans and cucumbers coming up (along with some weeds, some gardening to be done next week!!… 🙂 )

Zucchini was looking ok also, can see them in the pots (covered with wire to keep the squirrels out!.. 🙂 )

The feeder looks empty but for a couple of doves…most migratory birds have since moved on, those that had stayed are starting their trip back to the south…may have another influx of birds when the migration starts back south… do not see the birds ( and butterflies) like one did in history’s past…climate change and mankind having a impact, creating change in the habit and number of birds…. So sad 😦 did catch a adult grackle trying to teach a pair of young ones to fend for themselves but they were having none of it… 🙂

So, as in all things, there is change and one has to prepare and adapt or go the way of the dinosaur…..we are doing quite well with dealing with change here on the path least traveled, just pack up the memories and venture on down the path, making new memories and exploring and living life… will leave some thoughts before I go…

“It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.” David Attenborough

“I used to have all these plans and think ‘Ah, I have my whole life figured out’, but then I realized no matter how much I plan: life happens! So I find myself living day to day trying to do my best, embracing every moment as a learning opportunity and chance to get to know myself a little more.” Q’orianka Kilcher

“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

Well, better go now.. leisurely day planned while preparing for next week…. enjoying the day and the sunshine in that daily search for the rainbow.. but will return again one day with more thoughts and memories to share, Fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise…

And what does one do sometimes when it rains?…listen to Secret Garden, of course.. 🙂

Tomatoes, beans and poetry on the path least traveled…

Dear Diary from the path least traveled…

Hello Diary,

Stopping in briefly to share a part of my universe along with a few thoughts today.. Has been a busy week but a pleasant one for the most part…nature, both creatures and plants, getting ready for summer full swing and I am also… 🙂 … while there are a number of buds on several plants, saw the first rose of summer yesterday..

Also one of the clematis blooming..

Made the decision to plant the vegetables with warm weather in the forecast…so out went the tomato plants…

And starting from seed, green beans, cucumber and zucchini…

And also keeping in tradition, ventured to the store the other day and they had plants on sale, purchased three hanging plants and set them out front…

And finally took the plants back out on the deck that I have been taking care of over the winter…

So, but with a little more tweaking later, have the outdoors ready for summer….with all the rains and temperatures starting to warm up, the new grass is growing also!!… 🙂 had entertained the idea of penning a few thoughts about the other world but with the sad state of affairs it is in, it would cast a dark cloud on a otherwise warm sunny day, so will refrain from doing so and will wait for a damp rainy day.. 🙂

I am having a wonderful adventure while venturing down the path least traveled, living and exploring life being me, a free spirit in a mortal body, having all those wonderful memories of history’s past to help me along the way…. so I am not really alone, this ole mortal body is rather crowded with spirits actually… 🙂 I shall add a poem I wrote years back to go along with my thoughts..

I Love YOU So, my dear one
Forever and ever and ever,
A love that’s true and always will be
Beyond the 12th of Never!

A marriage of spirit, mind and body
That is born inside the heart,
WE are ONE on this and every day
Never shall WE part!

WE are ONE in thought and word
ONE… when OUR music does play,
OUR passion ever present
Lingering both night and day!

US, in OUR little world , dear one
That only WE will know,
A precious world that is right
And only love will flow!!!

YOU love me and I Love YOU
A bond of YOU and ME,
A love so strong and true
To last through all eternity!
(Penned by Larry “Dutch” Woller, 4-20-09)

And that being said, will leave a couple of quotes for the day..

“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

“I think a spiritual journey is not so much a journey of discovery. It’s a journey of recovery. It’s a journey of uncovering your own inner nature. It’s already there.” Billy Corgan

And now, with the sun shining and birds singing, shall take my leave, Diary, and venture on down the path least traveled, more to see and more to discover..but I shall return one day, Fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise…

Will let Secret Garden at their thoughts on spring…:)