Winter In Port Loring

Took a few more pictures of around our home here. Kind of looks like winter. GW

Our Home February 2019
Our Home February 2019
Work Shop February 2019
Cleaning Driveway February 2019

Last Fridays Storm Pictures

I took a couple pictures of the storm we just had a couple days ago. Makes me yearn for spring. But on the other side of the coin the snowmobiles are happy. I was talking to a few at the gas station yesterday and they were all smiles. I have to admit they have come a long way with new machines these days. Some I wouldn’t hesitate to say would cost in the thousands. Not to forget the clothes and helmets they have today too. It’s not like it was years ago when you went out and were half froze when you got back home. Anyways they are having fun and that is all that really matters in life. Have a great day. GW

Our Home February 15/2019
Blue Jays Enjoying Lunch at our feeder. 2019
Looking our our front door. February 2019
Weather Station tower out back and old ice hut in background. February 2019
Our driveway and parking lot. February 2019
Looking out our back door at our ice hut. February 2019

Good Morning Port Loring

Hmm. I see it is a might cool waking up this morning. Temperatures getting out from under the sheets were sitting at -26.8 C | -16.24 F I had to push myself a wee bit to give up them nice warm covers. But the wood furnace needed another log so what’s to be is to be. The windows are ice covered which is another sign it is a touch cool. But on the bright side the sun is shinning this morning. With the sun shinning on the trees making the ice crystals glisten, and the mist in the air over the lakes, it sure is a pretty sight to see. Highway 522 is pretty well bare in town here. I would think it would be a fair day in a bit for traveling, if your in need of a few things in North Bay. My lovely wife and I did manage to get our driveway and decks cleaned up yesterday. I have to admit there was a lot of snow. In some places it was over 12 inches deep. But the snowblower made things easier. It’s a good blower one of the last ones Sears made I guess before their retreat from Canada. I had an older one which lasted me over thirty years. I don’t suspect this one will last that long, as they sure don’t make them like they used to. Some things are better like throwing the snow further, which is a plus, but for heavy duty cables and things the new ones aren’t as good. Not much you can do about it. With that I guess I will go and bug my lovely wife a bit and see what she has on the menu for breakfast. Have a great day and stay warm.

Nice Place to Eat

So my lovely wife, my son Karl and I decided to go out for lunch the other day for my sons Birthday. Had a great night truth be told, and a great meal. We decided to try Lot 88 Steakhouse & Bar in North Bay. Which turned out to be quite good. I would recommend it to anyone that likes a great steak. The nice thing about it is that they serve it on a Laval rock so you can take your time and cook it to your perfection. That is what my son and my wife had, I had one of their famous Burgers and a tossed salad. It was fantastic also. We finished our meal with a nice bottle of Beringer White Zinfandel Wine slightly chilled. Then for desert we had a piece of Cheese cake with a drizzle of Chocolate. Life can’t get much better than that! GW





Good Morning Port Loring

So my lovely wife and I woke up to sunshine here this morning for a change. The snow has ended for now. We had another good six inches or so yesterday and through the night. Temperatures were a touch cool sitting at -13.7 C | 7.34 F We will see a few clouds throughout the day, but the sunshine should be with us now for the next four days. Which in turn should make things much nicer. Now folks can get out and about , maybe head off to town for some groceries and enjoy life as it should be. Highway 522 is still mostly snow covered, but the plow an sander have been through. If they did their job and put down some salt things should begin to improve. For me today I will once again start up the snow blower and get to cleaning the driveway. I have to say it sure has earned its keep this winter. It’s nice to have though, and makes short work of a hard job. It also gets me outside for some much needed exercise, and fresh air. On another note, there are a lot of snowmobiles going by this morning, so it looks like folks are out having fun. Good to see. With that I am heading off for my morning coffee. Have a great day! GW

Good Morning Port Loring

Well I thought we might get away without more snow, by the way it was looking last night before retiring for the evening, but waking up that wasn’t the case. This morning snow is really coming down and I would guess we had another four inches or so already. Temperatures waking up was -0.9 C | 30.38 F The good part is it isn’t as cold. I talked to my friend in Michigan and he was telling me it was 43 F / 6 C. He said it was warm enough to wash his old truck. Which is something that I need to do also, but it will have to warm up a touch more yet before I do mine. Highway 522 is snow covered. The plow has been through but the Highway isn’t great for traveling. I would recommend staying home. My lovely wife and I did manage to clean out our driveway yesterday. There was a good foot or more throughout, and by the looks of things this morning we will have to do it again. But not until it is all finished snowing. My wife made some muffins yesterday, so I am thinking a nice perked cup of coffee will taste good with one or two for breakfast. Have a great day! GW

Last Fishing Trip of 2018

This post is a bit late in coming but I thought it might cheer folks up of what is on the horizon once things warm up a touch. I took these pictures of our last fishing trip last summer when I was out with my fishing buddy Barry. It was a great day for fishing. What you see is just a bit of what we caught the rest we threw back. GW

Good Morning Port Loring

Well sun is shinning this morning which makes the day that much nicer. Temperatures cooled down some, it was sitting at -17.8 C | -0.04 F waking up. Highway 522 is partially bare, but lots of snow and ice covered areas. The plow has been through, but it will take awhile to melt things to where you can call it good. But there is more snow on the way they say. Snow will begin this afternoon and intensify this evening. Total snowfall amounts of 10 to 20 cm are possible before snow tapers off during the day Friday. Just what we need. Well I guess considering we are going to get some more I had better clean out the driveway of what we got yesterday. With that you have a great day, and I am heading off for my morning coffee with my lovely wife. GW

Good Morning

So the snow that they said we were going to get, didn’t occur in amounts. I would say in drifts we maybe have a foot or so, but otherwise around 6 inches. But more is in the forecast for this morning as we might get an additional 5 cm today. Easterly winds gusting up to 60 km/h may cause near zero visibility. It was quite windy at the time of this post. Temperatures waking up weren’t too cold sitting at -4.4 C | 24.08 F I think I will wait till tomorrow to clean the driveway, as we are suppose to see some sunshine then. That will make things more tolerable than trying to clean it out in all this wind an blowing snow. Highway 522 is snow covered, but the plows are going through every so often, keeping things opened up. All kinds of pick up trucks with plows on the front are also out this morning in full force, seeing if they can make a dollar. So I guess some good can come from a snow storm. With that I guess I will go feed my furnace with a couple logs, and then I will have a bite to eat that my lovely wife has prepared for me. Have a great day and stay warm. GW

Hmm, Hot Biscuits , Two-poached eggs and a simmering cup of fresh Perked coffee. Great way to start the day.

Good Morning Port Loring

To start things off it looks and feels like we might be going to get a bit of a storm. I was taking out my ashes from the wood furnace and felt the wind coming from the East. So that isn’t a good sign. Winds from the east isn’t fit for man or beast is the old saying of years ago. Meaning a storm of some kind isn’t too far off. At the moment Highway 522 is bare and dry but I suspect that will change shortly.

There are warnings up all over saying : Snow at times heavy beginning this afternoon and continue into Wednesday. Easterly winds gusting up to 60 km/h may cause near zero visibility.
Total snowfall amounts of 30 to 40 cm are likely before the snow tapers off Wednesday afternoon.
Localized power outages are also possible.

So I suspect my snowblower will be getting a work out after things ease off a touch. We have had a lot of ice this year also. I see in North Bay they have a shortage of salt as everyone is buying it up for their sidewalks and things. Myself I use the ashes from my wood furnace. They work quite well other than being a bit messy for a day or so. But it is better than slipping and falling. So with that I am heading off for a bite to eat. Have a great day.

Good Morning Port Loring

Looks like a pretty fair day waking up here this morning. Sun is shinning and Highway 522 is almost bare an dry. Temperatures were sitting at -13.4 C | 7.88 F But things are suppose to change starting tomorrow, with another storm moving in. Snow will begin Tuesday morning. Strong easterly winds gusting up to 70 km/h will cause some problems with blowing snow. You can expect around 25 to 35 cm (13 Inches) of snow before it eases off Wednesday. So I would think if you are in need of a few things, they should be gotten today. I am the kind of guy that doesn’t mind the storms, as long as I am sitting inside looking out. So with that, I am heading off for a nice cup of coffee freshly made by my lovely wife, and then I will enjoy the day as it unfolds. Have a great day!

Here is one for you. I don’t like to drink alone.

1928 Ford Pick-UP On The Road Again

I was down visiting my son Craig awhile back, and being a lover of old vehicles, especially Fords I had the good luck of seeing an old 1928 Ford Pick-up It was in great shape for its year, so I took a few pictures, which I thought I would share with you that like older vehicles as I do. Enjoy!

Good Morning Port Loring

Well another cold day. Waking up temperatures were hovering around -15.1 C | 4.82 F. The forecast for today is calling for a stray morning flurry; otherwise, cloudy. Which is what is happening now. Highway 522 is mostly covered with light snow, along with some icy sections throughout. I haven’t seen the snowplow as of yet this morning, but I am sure it will be along. The good thing about living right on Highway 522 is that they keep the highway in pretty fair shape. Which makes it nice in case you have to go somewhere. Like North Bay for groceries. I have to admit I sure miss our General Store. With it you could always pick up what was needed at any given time. It was a great asset to our community. But as with anything you get used to doing things differently. Now we head on off to town once every two weeks and pick up what we need, along with taking in a meal at our favorite restaurants. Actually in one way, you could say it gets you out of the house and into a different frame of mind, which we all need at this time of year. Also while in town you can visit the new stores that are opening, which is a treat in itself. With that, have a great day and stay warm. GW

Good Morning Port Loring

Well, what can I say? It’s cold outside once again. Temperatures waking up was sitting at -17.2 C | 1.04 F. But there is solutions for days like today. How about a touch of Italian Brandy mixed with a cup of fresh perked coffee, a pair of fuzzy socks and a warm blanket. The only thing missing would be a good book, and I am writing such a book, it should be out this spring. My lovely wife and I have been working on it now for over two months. The name of the book will be, “Keep Turning Pages.”  It is chocked full of short stories. Close to a 100 if my mind holds true. There’s no better place to escape to after a long, cold and stressful day, than inside a good book. On another note, Highway 522 is partially bare, but there are some icy sections throughout. On the good side of things the sun is shinning this morning, which does make the day more inviting. Finally remember this. “Paradise doesn’t have to be tropical.” Have a great day! GW

Good Morning Port Loring

Well, it was quite a hectic night wind wise. I was surprised the hydro stayed on as it did. The wind was so strong and noisy it woke me up a few times through the night. Temperatures waking up was sitting at -7.3 C | 18.86 F Today’s forecast is calling for snow at times, accumulating 1-3 inches and breezy . Roads are partially covered with some icy sections throughout. The snowplow has been through sanding and salting where needed. So all an all not so bad of a day thus far. On the bright side of things, our temperatures aren’t as bad as Saskatchewan. In SASKATOON they shattered a 112-year-old cold mark when the temperature plummeted to -42.5 C. The previous record for Feb. 6 was set in 1907 at -41.7 C. When you look at them temperatures, ours looks not so bad. With that you all have a great day! GW

Good Morning Port Loring

Well waking up this morning we actually seen a wee bit of sunshine, shinning through our bedroom window. Temperatures were sitting at -11.2 C | 11.84 F  which is actually not to bad, considering what we been having. Today Freezing rain is expected late this afternoon through this evening. It wasn’t a great day yesterday neither, as we had freezing rain then too. We had to make a trip to Sundridge, and at times it was quite challenging. Especially on the way home when the freezing rain started. But we came upon the snowplow, so we sat in behind him all the way home. Other than that we had a successful trip. So with that I will head on off to put some wood in our furnace, have a cup of coffee with my lovely wife and then maybe work a bit on a new book we are putting out this spring. Going to be a great book. This time it will hold a hundred short stories. I have had so many folks asking when I will be putting out a new one, so I am bowing to your wishes, so to speak. The book is called “Keep Turning Pages” Suitable wouldn’t you say? Have a great day and stay safe. GW

Good Morning Port Loring

Well a gloomy day waking up but it isn’t that cold outside. At the time of getting out of bed temperatures were sitting at -3.8 C | 25.16 F There is a warning up stating that: Freezing rain will begin early this afternoon. Several hours of freezing rain are expected before it ends later this afternoon or this evening. Then expect cooler weather for tomorrow. We should see some sunshine tomorrow. Highway 522 is partially bare but you can expect some icy sections throughout. The highway could get quite bad later on so it might be a good idea to stay home today. On another note I did manage to get our driveway cleaned out yesterday and raked the roof a bit. Might help some with the melting today. Other than that I don’t have anything else to report at this time. Have a great day and be careful if your out and about. GW

Good Morning Port Loring

Well temperature wise it’s not to bad a day. Waking up it was sitting at -9.1 C | 15.62 F. There are some warnings up for Freezing rain and snow Monday into Monday night. We did have around three of four inches of the white stuff yesterday. So I guess that means I will be needing to take a few swipes down my driveway with the snowblower. The only good part is this weather makes it so a person that is able gets a lot of exercise. On another note it is time to plan your vegetable garden for the upcoming growing season. Myself I like to mix up my plants which in turn discourages the unwanted pests. The exception to this is where plants require special protection, like cabbages, broccoli and cauliflower, they may be grown together if they are all going to be protected with netting. I like to cover mine early which discourages the caterpillars, taking it off as they get larger. So will leave you with that. Have a great day and if you are driving today watch for the ice later on. GW

White Christmas Cactus

Well this Christmas Past we had our old Cactus produce some flowers. Just in time for Christmas too. So I thought I would share a picture or two with you. If you are a high tech person, another name for it is Schlumbergera. Myself I prefer Cactus, as I have always always said, if you can’t pronounce a word, don’t use it. GW

White Christmas Cactus Bloomed December 25/2018
Christmas Cactus,

Good Morning Port Loring

Well it is nice to report that it isn’t as cold this morning with temperatures hovering around -8 C | 17.6 F But on the down side it is snowing with wind making things quite miserable. I am happy that my lovely wife and I went to North Bay yesterday as today the roads don’t look good at all. Yesterday the roads were great,, bare and dry. Actually the sun was shinning for most the day which made our day out quite enjoyable. I have to say though North Bay was a zoo. You could hardly move for people and cars. I have to admit North Bay is growing up. Lots of stores and new ones opening all the time. If they get the Casino built it will make it just that much nicer. Oh I know some say it isn’t such a good idea building it, as it will take money away from those that have a hard time controlling their urges. Well truth be known, folks have to deal with these problems, if it is a problem, and move on. Least that is my opinion on the subject. Snowplow just went by heading East on Highway 522. So roads should be clear for a few minutes. It is snowing pretty good at the moment, but things are suppose to warm up. We will see. Have a good day! GW