Here is what some Torontonian’s think Social Distancing is all about, on the weekend.
Kind of makes you think or it should
Morning Humour
For all those that are thinking of cutting down your trees around your property. If you cut to many this is what could happen.
Morning Report May 25/2020
Good Morning! We are in the midst of a lot of clouds this morning here in Port Loring, Ontario, Canada. We had a good rain yesterday afternoon and through the night off and on. Which was needed as things were pretty dry. My gardens are liking it a lot. It seems no matter how much you water Mother Nature does it better. Amazing. Highway 522 is starting to get busy but it is still early. Yesterday before the rain I manged to half mow my grass around the house. Not an easy chore with them Black Flies. This year they are really bad in certain areas, the worse I have seen it in fifteen years. But the good thing is other than cutting the grass once a week We don’t have to be among them. The rain sure made the leaves come out and green up which makes things nice. More privacy. Today I will do some work in the basement cleaning and things I headed that way yesterday but didn’t make it. That’s the joy of being retired you do what you want when you want. I am liking it a lot. With that I am off for my morning cup of coffee with my lovely wife and will then see how things go. Just never know. Take care and stay safe. GW
Working Up Your Garden Idea
An elderly Italian man lived alone in New Jersey . He wanted to plant his annual tomato garden, but it was very difficult work, since the ground was hard. His only son, Vincent, who used to help him, was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament:
Dear Vincent,
I am feeling pretty sad, because it looks like I won’t be able to plant my tomato garden this year. I’m just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. I know if you were here my troubles would be over.. I know you would be happy to dig the plot for me, like in the old days.
Love, Papa
A few days later he received a letter from his son.
Dear Pop,
Don’t dig up that garden. That’s where the bodies are buried.
Love,
Vinnie
At 4 a.m. the next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man and left. That same day the old man received another letter from his son.
Dear Pop,
Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now. That’s the best I could do under the circumstances.
Love you,
Vinnie
Morning Report May 24/2020
Good Morning! This morning we are all waking up to some rain here in Port Loring, Ontario, Canada. Temperatures were sitting at 17.8 C | 64.04 F. It will warm up later on, but it won’t be as warm as it was yesterday. The rain should remain with us for most of the day an then tomorrow we should see the return of some sunshine. But we do need the rain as things are really dry. I also need my rain barrel filled Ha ha. Highway 522 is quiet this morning but it will pick up as the day progresses. Yesterday it was really busy pretty well non stop with cars. Not a good thing in my eyes, but it’s what some folks want to do, not caring if they get the virus or spread it. Or so it seems. The new cases in Ontario are slowly rising every day as I suspected and will continue I am sure. On another note I did take advantage of the hot sunny day yesterday and painted two of my decks. I got tired of staining them every year as with the cheap stain they are making these days it wears off in one year or less. I should say it isn’t cheap buying it but the quality is not good. Today being that is raining I will stay inside and do some work in my basement. Clean things up and get it ready for next winters wood. Always something to do when owning a home. The Black Flies are out in full force these days. Kind of hard to stay away from them. I am not getting bit as much this year but they are still annoying let me tell you. The folks from Toronto and places of such, that aren’t used to them, well … they are in for a shock. LOL I see lots walking up and down the Highway in shorts with their arms just a waving trying to shoo them away. Ha ha. With that I am off for my morning cup of tea with my lovely wife and will then see what I can get myself into. Have a great day and stay safe. GW
Morning Report May 23/2020
Good Morning!. Once again we are in the midst of a great looking day. The sun is shinning with hardly a cloud in the sky. Temperatures at the time of this post were sitting at 16.2 C | 61.16 F. It will warm up a lot as the day moves forward. Actually it will become quite hot today so it might pay to close your curtains or pull down your blinds on the west side of your house this afternoon. That’s what my lovely wife and I do every day throughout the summer. Windows are open in the west in the mornings, then closed in the afternoon. Anyways … Highway 522 is quiet this morning but it did pick up as the day moved forward yesterday, and I suspect more of the same for today. But in saying that, traffic and tourists aren’t as they were last year. Which is a good thing as home is the place to be. As I keep saying, I believe opening the stores and places is the wrong thing to do. There is nothing different with this virus now from when it started, it’s still there waiting, and I believe it will get worse when people start to mingle, like in churches, stores and places like that. Actually we were doing quite well with what we were doing, ordering on line, phoning the store of choice and then picking it up. We were just getting used to it and it was becoming the thing to do. Now opening things I believe will start things all over again. It is actually rising now within the past few days. Crazy thinking in my mind. But hey, it seems money is the main ingredient these days. On the good side of things they are getting closer to a vaccine, we just have to outlast what is happening. With that I am off for my morning cup of coffee and will then see what I can get myself into today. Take care, stay safe, and do what is right …. not what others think is right. GW
The Mullein Plant
Episode 24: The Mullein Plant. Here is a bit of information that I gained over the years, regarding the Mullein Plant. It’s a great plant with a lot of health benefits. Everyone should have a few leaves drying for winter, especially with what is going on in the world today. Stay Safe.
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Morning Report May 22/2020
Good Morning! Well it’s another great looking day here in Port Loring, Ontario, Canada. The sun is shinning and it should stay with us for most of the day. Temperatures were sitting at 8.3 C | 46.94 F. It will warm up quite a bit as the day moves forward. Actually it will feel more like summer weather than spring. Highway 522 is quiet so far this morning but it is early. Things I suspect will pick up as the day progresses. On another note my lovely wife and I did get to North Bay yesterday and picked up our groceries that we ordered. We don’t linger as we used to anymore or stop for something to eat. Actually … we bring our lunch and thermos of coffee with us. Then we pick a nice spot away from folks and enjoy our lunch. We can then watch what is going around without getting near anyone. It’s all on how you make it work. Today I will work on my front deck finishing what I started a couple days ago. Then maybe I will get into some painting. With that I am off for my morning cup of coffee and then will get to work. Take care and stay safe. GW
Morning Report May 21/2020
Good Morning! Well it’s another great looking day here in Port Loring, Ontario, Canada. The sun is shinning and temperatures are … or were sitting at 10.9 C | 51.62 F at the time of this post. It will warm up a lot as the day progresses. Great day to do just about anything outside. The only issues would be the Black Flies, as they are out feasting on us humans and critters these days. Not much we can do about that, other than stay inside or some place they don’t bug ya too much. Ha ha. They don’t seem to bother me as much anymore, my lovely wife says it because I am not as sweet as I used to be. Hmm. Highway 522 is getting a bit busier every day with new folks travelling into our area. Not as many as last year, that’s for sure, but there are still a few that thinks they are invincible. The trouble with that is, they also put others at risk. But … as I keep on telling my boys. As long as we keep on doing what is right, we should be okay. Time will tell. On another note, I did get into tearing my front deck apart yesterday of all the board that were getting a wee bit weak. Now I will replace them, as Steve across the street at Home Hardware dropped me off some new ones. Great fellow for sure. Not much he doesn’t know when it comes to purchasing things or helping out with some advice on things now and then that I am not sure of. Once that is done I am thinking I will do some painting. Get a new look for out front. With that … I am off for my morning cup of coffee and an English Muffin, and then will let the day unfold around me. Have a great day, stay safe … and do what is right, when out an about. GW
Morning Report May 20/2020
Good Morning! Well it’s another beautiful day here in Port Loring, Ontario, Canada. The sun is shinning with nothing but blue skies. Temperatures aren’t too bad starting things off sitting at 10.9 C | 51.62 F. It will warm up as the day moves forward. Which will make things quite nice. Highway 522 is quiet this morning, but it is early. Yesterday I managed to get the rest of my gardens planted with a few things and even planted my tomatoes which we started from seed. So we will see how they make out. I have to say they look good this morning, after planting them, but time will tell. I also manged to cut the grass out by the highway which is another thing of the list of things to do. I don’t see how anyone that owns a home can say they don’t have anything to do these days. LOL Today I will be working on my decks fixing a few boards that are getting a touch weak. That should keep me busy for most the day. It kind of depends on how these Black Flies are today. With that I am off for my morning cup of coffee with my lovely wife and will then let the day unfold around me. Take care and stay safe. GW
Good Information Dealing with This Virus
7 Ways You’re Sanitizing Your Groceries All Wrong
Next time you go out to buy food, avoid these mistakes at all costs.
Now that you’ve taken all the right safety precautions at the grocery store during the corona virus pandemic, the last thing you want to do is waste all of your efforts by not properly sanitizing your groceries at home. Don’t worry, there aren’t a ton of steps you need to take in order to keep your food (and yourself) safe and healthy, just a few that you should keep in mind.
So the next time you come home from your grocery store excursion, here are things you don’t want to do when sanitizing your groceries.
1
No matter what, the first thing you should do after getting home from the grocery store is wash your hands. You don’t want to go around touching your groceries—or any other items in your kitchen—before washing your hands first. If you don’t, then you won’t really be properly sanitizing your groceries, and all the effort you take to creating a clean kitchen environment will go to waste. The best thing to do is to remove your mask first before washing your hands.
2
You’re not sanitizing surfaces.
Even if you’re clean in the kitchen and wash your hands, it’s important to wipe down all surfaces just in case. This way you are not only furthering the spread of germs, but you’re avoiding any food cross-contamination that could happen if your kitchen isn’t properly sanitized. So before you empty out those groceries on the counter, wipe it down with an antibacterial wipe or spray first.
3
You’re washing your produce with soap.
While it may seem like you need to wash everything down with soap, trust us, you don’t have to—and it’s going to make your produce taste really strange. To properly wash your produce when you get home, simply rinse them down with cool water. Even if your produce needs to be peeled—like potatoes or carrots—still rinse them down so you aren’t getting any possible food contamination on your peeler and the inside of whatever produce you are peeling.
4
You’re not regularly cleaning your fridge.
You’re probably cooking a lot more than usual lately, so it’s important to keep account of what’s in your fridge and how often you are cleaning it. Take some time to evaluate what’s inside your fridge every weekend and wipe down all the surfaces, while simultaneously tossing any cooked food that’s been in there more than a week, or any other foods that have gone bad. Why is this an important step for sanitizing your groceries? Because if you don’t, your groceries will then mix in with any rotting food and crease possible food contamination because of it.
5
You’re not storing items properly in the fridge.
Speaking of your fridge, it’s also important where you store your groceries. Food safety experts say the best way to organize a fridge is to start with your leftovers and pr-cooked foods on the top shelf. Middle shelves should contain dairy products (milk, cheese) as well as eggs and juices. The lower shelves should contain any raw meats and fish that you plan on cooking soon. The bottom crisper should contain your fresh fruits and vegetables, and the doors should have all of your condiments and beverages. Storing your foods this way helps to keep your groceries sanitized after going through all of these safety precautions beforehand.
6
You’re not washing your reusable bags.
While some stores aren’t allowing the use of reusable bags right now, if you are going to a store that does allow it, you need to make sure you’re running those bags through the laundry before your next trip. This will help to prevent all kinds of germs to spread and food-borne illnesses to arise. So keep them clean.
7
Now here’s something you probably weren’t expecting, but it’s true. You do not need to wipe down every single item that you buy! According to the FDA, there is no evidence of COVID-19 spreading through packaged pantry goods, so you don’t have to wipe them down. However, if it would make you feel better to do so, make sure to leave them out on the counter after wiping them down so they can air dry. But trust us when we say, you don’t have to worry about it. It’s the refrigerated items you want to make sure are being stored in a clean fridge and your produce that needs rinsing before you cook. Take care folks and look after yourselves. GW
Plant of the day
I have found that the Snake Plant cleans air better than most other indoor plants as it has the ability to absorb excessive amounts of carbon monoxide. Additionally, it releases more oxygen than most other plants, and one of the best snake plant health benefits is … it can help a lot in getting rid of toxic air pollutants. Other than CO2, it can also absorb benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene. These cancer-causing pollutants are harmful to our health, a well-known proven fact.
Out of so many houseplants to have in the home, the snake plant is one that every home should have. They also grow quite well in areas that there isn’t much sunlight, but you should know they do like lots of water. A couple great places for them would be in the bedroom and living room. They like company. LOL
Morning report May 19/2020
Good Morning!! It looks like a really nice day is shaping up for us here in Port Loring, Ontario, Canada. There are a few clouds at the moment but they should clear out of our area later on this morning making way for lots of sunshine. Tomorrow will be even better. Temperatures were sitting at 9.7 C | 49.46 F and will warm up a lot more as the day progresses. Highway 522 is quiet with a few cars moving East To West these days. But I am thinking most folks are staying home. The hype you hear on the news these days and on social media usually comes from the 20% that likes to stir up things. They are the ones that try their hardest to change folks opinion on things. To me groups separate people. Which in turn causes a lot of issues. But in saying that most folks are doing what is right, staying home taking precautions and looking after themselves and family. Kind of makes me feel good knowing that. The thing we have to do is listen to our own instincts and not what others think or do. But you all know that right? LOL On another note yesterday I did manage to get my lawn cut and I also rototilled up my vegetable garden in the areas that were too wet. Worked up great. I then got busy and planted most of my veggies. I still have to plant my tomatoes which I will do in a day or so. I also cut my lawn for the first time yesterday which makes things look pretty nice around our home. The Black flies though are starting which will make things not so nice for the next few weeks. But I do have a lot of things to do in my shop and store that I want to do, which will keep me away from them blood sucking parasites. The nice thing these days is that we can now open all our windows in the house, that is if you have screens lol, and I don’t have to burn anymore wood. With that I am off for my morning cup of coffee with my lovely wife and will then see what mischief I can get myself into. At least that is what my wife says. LOL Have a great day, stay safe and take the preventative measures needed to stay healthy. GW
Morning report May 18/2020
Good Morning!. It’s kind of a cloudy morning here in Port Loring, Ontario, Canada. Temperatures were sitting at 11C/51F. It will warm up some and we should see some sunshine as the day progresses. Tomorrow will be a great day sunshine and temperature wise, and actually for the next week we will be seeing and feeling summer temperatures. Which will be nice. But there is always a down side for certain things, which is that the Black Flies will be making their appearance. And they can be quite annoying to say the least. For us that lives in the area it’s a normal thing and find other things to do away from them. Yesterday I did manage to rototiller up my vegetable gardens one more time, but it is still somewhat wet in certain areas, so I will have to do it one more time in a day or so. But I did manage to plant a bunch of things in the half that was dry, so happy about that. Today I will work around outside maybe do some mowing and a bit of weed-eating around the house. Then after that will take it easy. Highway 522 is quiet so far this morning, but it is early. Once the liquor store opens up things pick up. I have to say it is the busiest store in town. LOL so with that I am off for my morning cup of tea with my lovely wife and will let the day unfold around me. Take care, stay safe and most of all do what is right. GW
Virus Information
How can you avoid spreading germs while food shopping?
We understand—it’s a bit unrealistic that you’re sanitizing your hands after touching every single item while you’re shopping. But you can easily practice the “shop with your eyes” logic when you’re picking out fruits and vegetables. Instead of touching the food, simply take a good look at them (from a safe distance, while you’re wearing a mask) and choose your foods that way. The same thing goes for every item you’re shopping for, really. You don’t have to touch three boxes of cereal to see which one you actually want to buy.
In other words use common sense.
Morning Report May 17/2020
Good Morning! It is a nice morning here in Port Loring, Ontario, Canada. The sun is trying to show itself and temperatures aren’t all that bad sitting at 11.1 C | 51.98 F. It will warm up even more as the day moves forward. Today and tomorrow we will have a lot of cloud cover, but it should still feel pretty nice out there. Highway 522 is quiet this morning but then again it is Sunday. To me every day is the same. I actually have to check to see what day it is from time to time. On another note, yesterday I did manage to rototiller up my vegetable gardens. Half of my large one was great the other half was still too wet to break things up. So maybe today I will run it through again. Once that is done I can get to planting things that my wife and I have started here in the house. I also have been taking the new plants out of the house and kind of climatizing them every day now. Which will make it so they don’t have too much of a shock when transplanting them. I should also mention so far the black flies are holding off, but I suspect it won’t be long before they are annoying some folks. So with that I am off for my morning cup of tea and will let the day do as it wants. If it warms up a touch, we might even get some front porch sitting in. Stay Safe.
Morning Report May 16/2020
Good Morning. Well it’s not to bad of a day temperature wise, with them sitting at 9 C | 48.2 F. It will warm up as the day moves forward. We should see some sunshine off and on for most of the day and into tomorrow. Highway 522 is bare and dry this morning with minimal travel. But it is early. Yesterday there were lots of folks out and about and a lot not from our area. Is it a good thing. Well …. time will tell. Talking about the long weekend and folks travelling, I am not sure what the big deal is. Simply put … everyone has been on a holiday now for the past two months, and along with that, a lot are even getting paid to stay home. Some I even overheard wants this to keep up, not wanting to go back to work saying this is much easier to get a pay check. Amazing how some folks minds think. Well …. what can you do? Not much other than look after yourself and do what is right. For my wife and I we are staying put working around our home where it is safe for now. Today I will be working in the vegetable gardens, rototiller them up so I can get to planting a few things. I am hoping to plant all my underground things later on today. I was hoping I could beat the Black Flies, but when out yesterday they are starting to swarm which is going to make things unpleasant for the next few weeks. Looking at that in another way the Black Flies will keep people inside you can bet on that. And after that the mosquitoes will be out in full force. Joys of summer. LOL. With that I am off for my morning cup of tea, and will take the day as it comes. Stay safe and keep your distance from others. As I keep on saying just because the powers that be say it is okay to do certain things … doesn’t make it right. Common sense is what is needed. GW
Morning Report May 15/2020
It’s a cloudy morning here in Port Loring, Ontario, Canada. We did have some rain through the night and we could see some showers throughout the day today. Tonight things should clear up and tomorrow is looking like a fantastic day with some sunshine. And on top of that things will warm up. Then all next week we will be into some summer weather. Highway 522 is slow this morning traffic wise which is a good thing. It isn’t as cold this morning so I don’t have to light the wood furnace and hoping I won’t need to be doing that anymore until winter. Today I will be working on some orders in my shop and after that we will see. With that take care and stay safe. GW
Poor Kids
Episode 23: This is a story about a young boy learning some values in life, in the late 50s and early 60s. It’s a true story.
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Morning Report May 14/2020
Good Morning. This morning we are among clouds here in Port Loring, Ontario, Canada. Today and tomorrow we can expect some showers. But on the good side of things the rain will usher in some warmer temperatures. Which is okay with me as I am ready for some warm weather. Highway 522 is bare and dry this morning so far and not to much traffic is going east or west. Yesterday it picked up some with cars I haven’t seen before. So a few are venturing away from home. But then again some have cottages in our area which is where they are going I suspect. And I don’t really see anything wrong with that as long as they stay in their cottage for a couple weeks and bring in what they will be needing for food and things. But in saying that I still don’t think it is a good idea of us opening up things this soon. But such is that. With that I am off for my morning cup of tea and a bite to eat and will let the day unfold around me. Take care and stay safe. GW
Health Canada Virus Info
A test that can detect whether a person was exposed to COVID-19 and whether or not they still have virus-fighting antibodies in their system has been approved by Health Canada after a “priority scientific review.”
Called DiaSorin LIAISON, the test was approved for use in the U.S. in April. It is the first of its kind to be approved in Canada and is a significant step in efforts to understand immunity against the virus. Another 18 tests have been approved by the agency, but those tests simply identify infection.
The new test identifies antibodies, which are developed to fight disease and can linger after infection, likely providing some form of immunity, though it’s uncertain for how long.
This is good news for sure, as it will help immensely, as now we can tell who has had it or who hasn’t. Slowly we are working through things.
Morning Report May 13/2020
Hi Folks. Well … to start things off we are seeing lots of sunshine this morning here in Port Loring Ontario Canada, and the good news is it will remain with us for most the day. Tonight however we will see a few clouds entering into the picture, along with some showers tomorrow. But as much as I don’t like the rain, it will bring in the warm weather that we are all looking for. And next week will be the best yet this year for warm temperatures. I have to tell you … I am looking forward to it. Saturday might be a nice day too if things goes to plan. We will see. The good thing is the snow has left us and hopefully we won’t see anymore until winter. I hate to even mention that word winter. On another note our air quality here in Port Loring is Excellent today and will remain that way for most of the week. With so many business’s not open and cars off the highways the pollution is down to almost nil in certain areas. Which will help immensely with this virus that is going around today. Highway 522 is bare and dry this morning and traffic is slow. Which it should be. The grass is greening up nicely and won’t be long before it has to be cut. The dandelions our out, so fresh dandelion tea is on the menu for later on today for my lovely wife and me. There is nothing that can spur your immune system more than Dandelions. Which again is needed with what is going on in the world today. Amazes me most folks don’t take advantage of what is right outside the front door in a lot of cases. It is still quite cool this morning with temperatures sitting at 1.8 C | 35.24 F. It will warm up as the day moves forward. I did start the wood furnace once again, but thinking I might have to let it burn out once things warm up a bit. I should mention that we did have a touch of frost this morning and there was ice on the bird bath. So that shows how cold it is outside. So with that I am off for my morning cup of tea and will let the day unfold around me. I have to finish up a new Podcast for Friday, which I will post as I always do. Take care, do what is right to keep yourself safe and others. GW
Morning Report May 12/2020
Good morning!. Not too bad of a morning here in Port Loring, Ontario, Canada. The sun is shinning and should remain with us for most the day. But it will also be on the cool side. Temperatures waking up were sitting at 0 C | 32 F. It will warm up somewhat as the day progresses. It will however remain cool until the weekend and then after that things should warm up to where we can get outside and work in the gardens and things. That will be nice for sure. With the Ozone being fixed (Temporarily) we will have more protection this year. I am betting that the sunshine will help us all immensely. That is until things goes back to normal and we humans mess things up again. But such is life. Today I will be working on another Podcast I have in mind … which should keep me busy for most of the day. On another note it is green outside now and the trees are all starting to show some buds which will turn to leaves within a week or so. Nice to see. With that I am off for my morning cup of tea and will let the day unfold around me. Stay safe and keep your distance from others. As I say … just because they say it is safe to open things up once again is only the views of certain people. It doesn’t make it right. I am thinking we will pay dearly for it. But … live and learn is what it seems to be all about. There is an easy way, and a hard way. Again take care of yourselves. GW
Morning report May 11/2020
Good Morning. It’s a cloudy morning here in Port Loring, Ontario, Canada. It’s not too warm neither with temperatures sitting at -0.7 C | 30.74 F. I have been lighting my wood furnace now every morning for the past week to take the dampness and coolness out of the house. Have to say it feels good too. We will see some sunshine off and on throughout the day. Temperatures though will remain cool until we near the weekend and that is when it will feel more like spring. Most of our snow has left us now which is okay by me. The grass is greening up a lot, and if this keeps up we will have to mow it near the weekend. I enjoy the smells it gives off after the first cut. That tells me spring is here. Highway 522 is bare and dry so there should be no problem with travelling for those in need. Myself I am going to take it easy, I didn’t sleep to good last night. Might work on another Podcast to take my mind off things. With that I am off for a bite to eat and will let the day unfold around me. Take care and stay safe. GW
Morning Report May 10/2020
Good Morning. Well we are having some sunshine here in Port Loring, Ontario, Canada at the moment. It is a touch cool though with temperatures sitting at 0.2 C | 32.36 F. It will warm up some as the day moves forward. But we do still have some snow laying around yet which I suspect will pretty well be all gone by tonight. That is … if the sun stays with us. Highway 522 is bare and dry which is nice. Not to much traffic which is good. But then again it is Sunday. The grass is greening up nicely though and in some areas close to the house I might have to cut it a bit. We have a little cove on one side of our house out of the wind and things. Great place to sit as it is always warm there and that is where the grass grows this time of year. It’s nice sitting out there in the early morning hours with a hot cup of fresh perked coffee. Today I will work away on another Podcast for Friday, which should take most of the day. Keeps my mind busy and makes me feel like I did something productive. With that I am off for my morning cup of coffee with my lovely wife and will let the day unfold around me. Take care, stay home and be safe. GW