Well got up to more snow here this morning, I guess we got about six to eight inches of the white stuff. We just love it the wife and I, as we don’t got to go anywhere. Thing about being self efficient, we put enough away to last us all winter if need be and then some. If one really thinks about it you save all way round. The folks in the city could also do what we do and it would save them a bundle, as they wouldn’t be running to the corner store for this and that every day. Just the savings on gas in todays world, is something not to take lightly. But to each their own I guess. Sure looks pretty out there with all the snow hanging from the hug pines. I put out two big bags of suet for the birds and they are just lovin it. Get a lot of Woodpeckers of all kinds and Nuthatches around here and they drop by for a morning meal. Nice to sit here with a tea and look out every day> I don’t know why any one wouldn’t sooner have a life like this, than all the hustle and bustle. Do what you want, when you want and not being told to do this, or do that. It’s possible, one just has to take the right road in life. Well, guess I will go and put a log on the fire, got the shop stove going earlier, so it’s nice and warm in there and ready for me to do some work, if the urge hits. Talk Soon.
Monthly Archives: November 2007
Eating Last Summers Preserves, We Are.
Well about now I suspect most folks are into their preserves and things, that they have made from their gardens last summer. I know we are and got to say they are pretty tasty. I know a lot of folks today say, well, I just don’t have time any more to do them up. I can buy them cheaper in the grocery store and things like that. That’s not the point in reality though, if you grow your own and do up your own preserves and things you are getting pesticide free produce. Also you know what goes into your garden so you get the full benefit of all the minerals and things. Like your own well water, the water that you get in the country from your own well is full of minerals and things that your body loves. Same as growing your own vegetables. It doesn’t take much space either. So for a good healthy way of living why not get your own garden going this coming spring. I will guarantee you will feel a lot better for it and hey as I keep on saying, you also become a little more self efficient, in other words you stop relying on other folks and powers to be for help. Can’t beat that huh and how much is your health worth. With out your health all the money in the world isn’t worth a plug nickel. My old Dad used to say, being wealthy isn’t determined by how many dollars you have in your pocket. Talk Soon.
Note Of Appreciation From Bart
Good day sir:
I’ve been reading your stories since they first appeared in Community Voices. Am I ever glad that you joined this team of story tellers. Now I see that we have the good fortune to have your stories appear in the Sat. edition of the Nugget. You’ve had some very interesting things happen to you throughout your life. Thank you for sharing them with us. You fill the shoes of Mr. Hakala very well as I had read his stories for a few years but never took the opportunity to thank him. I just read your story about Grey Wolf and his bear friend, “awesome”, to say the least. Please keep up the good work. Bart
Brisk Morning Here In Port Loring
Well I got to tell ya a feller might have to put on an extra tea-shirt this morning going outside, I know I had to getting the shop stove going. Got down to around 1 Degree old scale last night or I guess I will say it -17 C. Hmm Now doesn’t 1 degree sound a lot better. That’s what I keep saying all this metric does is fool people into believing things that aren’t true. Oh well their choice or should say the Powers to be choice as we didn’t have any say in it. Got to go to town this morning so guess get things in order for the trip. Talk soon and keep warm.
Cold But Nice
Well compared to yesterday we got a cold day. Picked up an old light which I put out back by my bird feeder. A friend of ours have one out by theirs and it gave us the idea. As every night they get flying squirrels that come for a meal. I didn’t even know they lived in this neck of the woods and we live in the woods. This way we will be able to have a look see. It also gets pretty dark on the one side of the house that faces the bush so this will light up things a wee bit. Also might be able to get a glimpse of the deer as they come through during the night. Things like this that don’t cost anything other than an hour of hydro each night makes for an interesting life. Got the light hooked up and brought in some firewood for the shop so pretty well set for the day. Home made chicken noodle soup is on the old cook stove so one can’t ask for anything more than that. Pretty rough life huh? Talk Soon.
Taxes
You know this is the only country in the world that I know of that if one cuts taxes folks get to complaining. I guess them folks has got so much money that it doesn’t matter to them. If you look at Alberta there is no PST at all and hey guess what, they do pretty well. It would be ok if the money that they got from taxes went to the places that needed it but it doesn’t and never will. It’s like most all these charity things or sending money to poorer countries. I bet if one could see the bottom figure of what really ends up getting to the poor countries you would find out about five cents out of ever dollar if that. This Province is paying so much for tax that it’s getting hard for any one to make ends meat. I could go on here for an hour but for what good it will ever do, well it’s just a waste of time. The Powers to be of the world today has got folks so paranoid that they can’t look after them selves, that if it wasn’t for the Powers to be folks would not exist. That is wrong, people have look after themselves and one day, remember this one day, it will not be money that rules this old world it will be brains and being self efficient. Talk Soon.
Almost A Full Moon
Well we almost have a Full Moon out there, will be here tomorrow. Walking back from the shop tonight I spotted it up above and with that showing itself it will sure make for a cold night. Usually one can tell what the months weather will be if he or she takes notes on what the weather is on a full moon. As what ever it is then that’s what you will pretty well have for the coming month. So that’s a pretty good estimate in my eyes. I have used that way of telling the weather for over 50 years now and well, most the time it’s right, but you know, Mother Nature has a way of sending us what ever she wants. This morning the smoke from the chimney was just hanging in the air and heading towards the ground. One can sure tell when the smoke does that, that it’s going to be a cold day. Also good way to tell us to put on an extra shirt. The next full moon is two days before Christmas, the 23rd. Talk Soon.
Column Update For The Nugget
This Saturday in the North Bay Nugget my story is about my younger days on Go Home Lake which is located just off HWY 69 south of Perry Sound. The folks that raised me along with myself put in a road back to the lake years ago a real job for sure. The lake actually was named after me, well sort of. The way it came to being was one day Reg and Laura was sitting chatting on what to call the lake now that it was open for folks to see. “Well said Reg after giving it a lot of thought, one of these days George here will be going back home with his real Dad, so lets call it…. Go Home Lake. And well, that’s what they did and today if you happen by the lake along HWY 69 and you see the sign, you will have a heads up on how it all came about. So don’t forget pick up a copy of the Saturdays North Bay Nugget. Talk soon.
Community Voice Column Update
This week in the Community Voice my column is about Woodworking I have a few of them that I will share with you in the coming weeks. So if you see a copy pick it up, as there is a lot of good wisdom there and not only my story there is others also, along with Dawn Clark the Editor, a real nice lady, she sets up the paper and in my books does a real fine job. Talk Soon.
Planer Gave Up The Ghost
Well worked in the shop most the day today. Had a bit of a problem with the old Planer. I bought it a few years ago a Ridgid> The bearings are shot in the old girl and I guess it isn’t worth fixing. So guess it’s time to go shopping. Didn’t expect that this time of year but we used it a lot so what can one do. Now I wish I didn’t sell my heavy duty one I had back at my old shop. Oh well what can you do can’t cry over spilled milk. Other than that had a pretty good day. Got a few Flutes made and made a mess in the shop. Talk Soon
Warm Day Here Today
Well not much going on here today. Had a bit of rain last night and early this morning, a few accidents I hear up near HWY 11 next to HWY 522. Guess that rain must have froze a wee bit. Nothing worse than freezing rain for driving I have found. Did some shop work today and that was pretty much my day. Maybe tomorrow I will come upon some things to write about. Talk Soon.
WX200 ff: localhost:9753 20/11 20:44:41
1.3 Display: Clock/0/0 Power: AC Battery: ok
---------- Outdoor ----------- ----------- Indoor -----------
Temperature: 35.1 F Hi 61.5 F 31/10 14:24 73.4 F Hi 77.2 F 9/11 19:10
Lo 13.5 F 18/11 7:13 Lo 61.0 F 2/11 8:25
Humidity: 77 % Hi 98 % 20/11 6:11 33 % Hi 46 % 31/10 13:12
Lo 34 % 17/11 15:28 Lo 32 % 17/11 19:42
Dew Point: 32 F Hi 46 F 31/10 19:35 43 F Hi 52 F 2/11 17:46
Lo 32 F 31/10 14:50 Lo 34 F 19/11 5:36
Wind Gust:036NE @ 0.0 mph Wind Gust Hi:288WNW@ 26.2 mph 31/10 19:54
Avg:036NE @ 0.0 mph Wind Chill: 36 F Lo: 1 F 6/11 23:17
Rain Rate: 0.00 in/h Yesterday: 0.08 in Total:32.56 in since 1/ 1 0:00
Barometer: Steady at 29.18 in 30.06 in sea; 12-24hr forecast: Sunny
Wet Night
Well had a cool morning but then temperatures rose all day up to around 36 now. Also windy with rain. Talk Soon.
WX200 ff: localhost:9753 19/11 20:59:41
1.3 Display: Clock/0/0 Power: AC Battery: ok
---------- Outdoor ----------- ----------- Indoor -----------
Temperature: 36.7 F Hi 61.5 F 31/10 14:24 72.7 F Hi 77.2 F 9/11 19:10
Lo 13.5 F 18/11 7:13 Lo 61.0 F 2/11 8:25
Humidity: 86 % Hi 97 % 12/11 18:41 34 % Hi 46 % 31/10 13:12
Lo 34 % 17/11 15:28 Lo 32 % 17/11 19:42
Dew Point: 34 F Hi 46 F 31/10 19:35 43 F Hi 52 F 2/11 17:46
Lo 32 F 31/10 14:50 Lo 34 F 19/11 5:36
Wind Gust:181 S @ 7.6 mph Wind Gust Hi:288WNW@ 26.2 mph 31/10 19:54
Avg:181 S @ 6.3 mph Wind Chill: 28 F Lo: 1 F 6/11 23:17
Rain Rate: 0.00 in/h Yesterday: 0.00 in Total:32.48 in since 1/ 1 0:00
Barometer: Falling at 29.03 in 29.91 in sea; 12-24hr forecast: Rain
Pumkin Pie Fresh Out Of The Garden
Well I had a pumpkin this year that grew in spite of all the damage that I did to it. I wrote a story of this pumpkin and it will be in the North Bay Nugget come next week, I think. This pumpkin though deserved to become pies so this Fall after Halloween I put it in the cold room. Today the wife took it out and it is about to become a Pumpkin Pie. Sounds good to me. Also the seeds are lucky ones, so kept all them for next years plantings. The neighbor, Bee next door, gave us a recipe for home grown pumpkin pie and a thank you goes out to her, so will let you know what it tastes like when all said and done maybe a picture of the finished product. Talk soon.
Notes Of Appreciation, Betty
Just to let you know how much we enjoy reading your articles in the North Bay Nugget.
We are a couple in our 70’s and it takes us back in time as we can relate to many of these incidents.
Thank you.
Betty
Notes Of Appreciation, Wayne
Enough broken promises George, today is the day to finally tell you how much I enjoy your writing. Every time I read your column, I always promise myself faithfully, “One one of these days, I am going to send him a short note to say thanks”. That day is today.
Your words are always interesting, well-written, well-placed and very thoughtful. Observers of humankind are usually good writers – judging from most of the stories you tell, I don’t think much goes by you. Keep em coming.
Coincidentally, I also wrote a column for our local weekly paper for many years and enjoyed it very much . . . reading your stuff nearly gives me the bug to start writing a column all over again realizing the heavy duty commitment to meet 52 deadlines a year. Have spent the last four decades as reporter-photographer, author, historian, researcher, communications specialist, yada, yada, yada. I am now a full-time historian with a very heavy work load.
Think I’m going to lay down now till the feeling about writing a column goes away.
Keep it up.
Wayne
Healthy Eating
As I got older I found different things were starting to happen to the old body. The one thing that bothered me a wee bit was high cholesterol. I don’t really know why I let it bug me as years ago no one even knew there was such a thing. But new things come to be in todays world. I also have found a lot of the doctors today send folks in for tests that aren’t even necessary, or at least that is my way of looking at things. If one sneezes today with a cold, off to to the doctors they go when all they have to do is keep warm, eat right and rest. Old Doctor a good friend of mine told me one time when I went in for a visit. “George I can give you an antibiotic and the cold and it will last one week or so. Or I can send you home tell you to eat a bowl of chicken soup a day, rest and keep warm and the cold will last one week or so. In other words he was telling me the cold will run it’s course and an antibiotic isn’t necessary unless you have an infection. So over the years I have done what he has said and never had a problem. Just imagine the gas I save now a days not having to run to the doctors all the time. Thing I do today is I eat right and get my rest. On the cholesterol part though I did find a way of naturally lowering mine and it was by eating crushed garlic with one or two meals a day. Not imported garlic though, one that is grown locally or in my own garden. I know one would say what about your breath. I say well it’s either that or not being healthy. One way is just get your wife as in my case to have a piece of garlic too through out the day, that will fix that problem, also good for her too. Others, well that’s their problem. I like to crush a clove or two and then let it set for fifteen minutes or so then eat it with my sandwich or what ever is on the menu at that time. In six months my cholesterol was back to normal. Amazing huh? Talk Soon
Getting Colder
Well started off with a nice day but ended up getting a bit cold. But we live in the north so it’s expected. Even got a bit of snow starting to fall out there now. Worked in the shop most the day on some Flutes and that will be the case I suspect for the next month or so. Old wood stove in the shop is doing its job along with the one in the house. Nothing to complain about here tonight. Talk Soon
Warm Day Here In Port Loring
Well a pretty nice day here again. Sunshine and temperatures got up to around 50 or so. Can’t beat that for this time of the year. Worked in the shop today on some Flutes and things. Darn old cedar still bugging me though. Oh well if that is all I have to complain about I am no to bad off. Tomorrow colder weather heading out way. Talk Soon.
WX200 ff: localhost:9753 14/11 21:44:42
1.3 Display: Clock/0/0 Power: AC Battery: ok
---------- Outdoor ----------- ----------- Indoor -----------
Temperature: 38.3 F Hi 61.5 F 31/10 14:24 73.0 F Hi 77.2 F 9/11 19:10
Lo 23.2 F 7/11 19:35 Lo 61.0 F 2/11 8:25
Humidity: 68 % Hi 97 % 12/11 18:41 42 % Hi 46 % 31/10 13:12
Lo 35 % 31/10 14:31 Lo 34 % 6/11 21:27
Dew Point: 32 F Hi 46 F 31/10 19:35 48 F Hi 52 F 2/11 17:46
Lo 32 F 31/10 14:50 Lo 36 F 2/11 6:39
Wind Gust:237WSW@ 0.0 mph Wind Gust Hi:288WNW@ 26.2 mph 31/10 19:54
Avg:237WSW@ 0.0 mph Wind Chill: 39 F Lo: 1 F 6/11 23:17
Rain Rate: 0.00 in/h Yesterday: 0.00 in Total:32.48 in since 1/ 1 0:00
Barometer: Steady at 28.67 in 29.55 in sea; 12-24hr forecast: Sunny
Tea Time Problem Solved
Well not a bad day here. Decided on cleaning the shop a bit along with my shop vac. Then since it’s such a nice day would leave the door open to air out the place, the shop that is. You know I have been giving this tea a bit of thought. One thing us folks in the country have to deal with is scum on our tea. It’s nothing to do with anything being wrong with it, it’s the hard water we have. The minerals and things tend to cause this scum. Over the years folks have tried all kinds of things to eliminate it with out to much success. The folks that raised me years ago had a simple remedy and thought I would share it with you. Simple and one doesn’t need a diploma hanging on the wall to figure it out. Lemon, yep that’s it. The acid in the lemon counter reacts with the scum and prevents it. Simple huh? Well I got to be honest here as I didn’t remember what the solution was till one night while I was sleeping. I dreamed that Laura the lady of the house was putting a touch of lemon in her tea pot. Then it all came back to me. So in the morning I got up and tried it. Took a bit to get it right as I don’t much like the lemon taste in tea. But after four or five mornings of making tea we finally got it right. About a 1/4 tea spoon per tea pot. Works slick and no more scum. Talk Soon
Nice Day
Well had a nice day here temperatures got up there a bit today and well, it was just a nice day to be outside. I kept busy in the shop working on a few Flutes and things. Got to say this year I sort of took an allergic reaction to white cedar for some reason. Kind of makes one feel like he is catching a cold but in reality he isn’t. Guess I might have to switch to another type of wood. Thinking Basswood once I get these done that I have on the go. Such is life, as it is never with out something to stew over. Talk soon.
WX200 ff: localhost:9753 13/11 20:14:42
1.3 Display: Clock/0/0 Power: AC Battery: ok
---------- Outdoor ----------- ----------- Indoor -----------
Temperature: 42.1 F Hi 61.5 F 31/10 14:24 75.7 F Hi 77.2 F 9/11 19:10
Lo 23.2 F 7/11 19:35 Lo 61.0 F 2/11 8:25
Humidity: 81 % Hi 97 % 12/11 18:41 38 % Hi 46 % 31/10 13:12
Lo 35 % 31/10 14:31 Lo 34 % 6/11 21:27
Dew Point: 37 F Hi 46 F 31/10 19:35 48 F Hi 52 F 2/11 17:46
Lo 32 F 31/10 14:50 Lo 36 F 2/11 6:39
Wind Gust:218SW @ 0.0 mph Wind Gust Hi:288WNW@ 26.2 mph 31/10 19:54
Avg:218SW @ 2.2 mph Wind Chill: 43 F Lo: 1 F 6/11 23:17
Rain Rate: 0.00 in/h Yesterday: 0.04 in Total:32.48 in since 1/ 1 0:00
Barometer: Steady at 28.85 in 29.73 in sea; 12-24hr forecast: Rain