Monthly Archives: June 2025

George's Writers Corner, Health, My Opinion Only

A Little Here, A Little There and We’re Full of Poison

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Only On The Walters Post

“I’m not here to tell folks what to think — just sharing what life has shown me. Take from it what makes sense, leave the rest, but maybe let it sit with you a while.”

It’s funny, in a way, how folks think the world got this sick all of a sudden. Like disease just showed up one morning and knocked on the door. Truth is, it’s been creeping in for years. Not from one big thing, but from all the little things piling up when no one’s paying attention.

They added fluoride to the water and called it progress. Sprayed chemicals on the food and said not to worry, it’s only a trace. Pumped hormones into the meat, sealed it in plastic, then stacked it on a shelf under bright lights and clever words. We eat it all every day without a second thought. The body takes it in, tries to keep up, tries to clean house, but it can’t keep pace. Not when the toxins keep coming.

Now we’ve got PFAS, the so-called forever chemicals. They don’t leave, they don’t break down, and they’ve worked their way into our blood, our soil, our water, and our homes. And the folks who made them? They knew. The reports were buried. The warnings softened. The damage was already done before most people even heard the name.

It’s not a conspiracy. It’s just business. Quiet, legal, and slow-burning.

The trouble is, it’s never just one thing. It’s the mix of it all, a trace here, a trace there, and before you know it, there’s a full cocktail running through your veins. You don’t feel it right away, it builds, and one day, you wake up feeling off. Something isn’t right. Maybe it’s your energy, maybe it’s your sleep, maybe the doctor finds something and can’t explain why.

And what do they do? They hand you a prescription, one pill to treat the symptom, then another to fix what the first one caused. Before long, you’re on a list of medications, not getting better, just managing side effects. They call them side effects, but truth be told, they’re more like hazards. Dizziness, liver damage, depression, heart trouble — it’s all right there in the fine print, that is, if anyone bothers to read it. And most folks don’t. They just trust, because what else can they do?

The signs are right in front of us, we just don’t want to see them. It’s easier to pretend everything’s fine than to admit our food, water, and air have been slowly poisoned over time. Not by accident, but by design. Not through some shadowy plot, but by decisions made for profit, not health.

And still, somehow, we keep going. Maybe it’s grit. Maybe it’s stubbornness. Maybe we haven’t quite hit the wall yet.

I won’t pretend to have all the answers, but I do know this, we need to pay attention. We need to ask questions. We need to look at what we’re eating, drinking, and breathing, because no one else is watching out for us. Not the government, not the corporations, and for that matter, not even the labels dressed up to look like truth.

The good news is, we’re not powerless. We can start small. Read the labels, grow a bit of food ourselves, filter the water, and more importantly we need to learn what’s in the things we use every day. Because if a little here and a little there got us into this mess, then maybe a little more care, a little more awareness, can help us find our way back out.

“Until the next time: Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive.” GW

All my books are available on my Amazon Author Page.

If you purchase a book, a brief Amazon review really helps new readers discover my work—it means a lot.

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In Closing, I Would Like to Wish You Well!

George Walters | [email protected]

George's Writers Corner, My Opinion Only

A Country Full of Oil, and Still Paying Through the Nose?

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Only On The Walters Post

“I’m not here to tell folks what to think — just sharing what life has shown me. Take from it what makes sense, leave the rest, but maybe let it sit with you a while.”

So here’s the thing.

Every time there’s a skirmish in the Middle East, like the recent U.S. strike on Iran, the headlines jump to say oil prices will rise. And sure enough, they do. Before the dust even settles, gas prices here in Canada start climbing. It’s as if our own supply dried up overnight.

But let’s stop and think about that.

Canada isn’t short on oil. Not even close. We’re one of the top oil-producing countries in the world. Alberta alone is sitting on more reserves than some countries can dream of. We’ve got refineries, pipelines, and an entire industry built around getting that oil out of the ground. So why are we, the ones who live on top of it, paying inflated prices as if we’re importing it from halfway around the globe?

Truth is, it’s not about shortage. It’s about profit. Every time something happens overseas, oil companies see a chance to raise prices. They slap on what they call a “risk premium.” That’s just a fancy way of saying, “We think things might get worse, so we’re going to charge more—just in case.”

And guess who ends up paying for that? You and me. The everyday folks trying to fill our tanks, keep warm in the winter, or get to town.

They’ll tell you oil is traded on the global market, priced in U.S. dollars, and that’s just the way it is. And sure, technically, that part’s true. But that doesn’t explain why we, in a country full of oil, have to pay world prices like we’ve got none of our own.

We should be getting a break. We should be using our own resources to help our own people. But somewhere along the line, that stopped being the goal. Now, no matter how much oil we produce, the prices still climb every time there’s trouble somewhere else in the world.

This isn’t about politics or blame. It’s about plain old common sense.

If we’ve got the oil, and we’ve got the means to process and deliver it, then why aren’t we looking after our own first? Why are we letting big companies rake in billions while the rest of us dig deeper just to keep moving?

Until the next time: Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive. GW

All my books are available on my Amazon Author Page.

If you purchase a book, a brief Amazon review really helps new readers discover my work—it means a lot.

Support my writing: Support My Writing

In Closing, I Would Like to Wish You Well!

George Walters | [email protected]

George's Writers Corner, Old Days, Old Ways, Weather

Weather Like This Ain’t New

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Only On The Walters Post

You know folks, I’ve learned over the years to pay close attention when the same kind of weather hangs around too long. Whether it’s cloud, cold, or heat, if it overstays its welcome, something’s bound to shift, and not always in a good way.

Lately, there’s been talk of a big heat ridge stretching across much of the States, and wouldn’t you know it, that stubborn thing is now starting to press up against us here in the north. Right now, it’s sitting mostly to the south and west of us, but the way it’s behaving, and dragging its feet and not in a hurry to move on, it’s likely we’re going to feel more of it as the days roll on.

Over the next week or so, I’d say we’re in for a steady run of warmer-than-usual weather. Highs could creep up to the low 30s C (that’s mid to high 80s F), especially if the clouds stay away. And with very little rain in the forecast, the sun’s going to have full reign across our gardens and fields. That’s great for the tomatoes and beans, not so great if you’ve got wheat in the fields or tender plants that still need a drink now and then.

You could say, it’s the kind of dry, baked heat that builds up when the skies don’t shift, and when you see the haze hanging just a bit lower on the horizon, that’s a sign the atmosphere’s starting to get squeezed out. By midweek, I wouldn’t be surprised if it feels even hotter than what the forecasts are saying. That sun’s not backing off.

Now, some of these specialists are hoping for a backdoor cold front to sneak in from the northeast in a week or so, but I wouldn’t count on it reaching us. Not with that ridge still holding firm over the southern U.S. Unless we get a helping hand from a storm rolling off the Pacific or something brewing in the tropics, chances are we’ll be sweating things out here through the first part of July.

Looking farther out, around the second week of July, there’s a chance the heat ridge could shift a bit to the southwest. If that happens, we might catch a break. But from the looks of the maps and how things have played out in years gone by, I’d say southern Ontario, especially places like ours tucked into the north, could stay in the warm zone. Nights may cool off some, but the days will keep the fans running.

And one more thing, it pays to watch the skies late in the day. With all this warmth and just enough moisture riding the edge of that ridge, we might get some of those pop-up thunderstorms rolling off the Shield and drifting across the lakes. Not long soakers, but the kind that rattle the windows, water the grass for twenty minutes, then head off as quick as they came.

So… in the days ahead, stay cool, check on the folks who might not handle the heat so well, and take your cues from the birds and trees. When the robins are hiding in the shade, and the maples stop fluttering, you know the air’s standing still.

That said, yes, it’s going to get warm — maybe even hot for a stretch. But let’s not lose our heads over it. We’ve seen this kind of heat before, and we got through it just fine. Back then, no one ran off in a panic or made front-page news out of it. Just another summer day, the way they’ve always come and gone.

Until the next time: Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive. George Walters

All my books are available on my Amazon Author Page.

If you purchase a book, a brief Amazon review really helps new readers discover my work—it means a lot.

Support my writing: Support My Writing

In Closing, I Would Like to Wish You Well!

George Walters | [email protected]

George's Writers Corner, Weather, What's Happening

Another Fine Morning Here in the North on June 22/2025

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Good Morning Folks. Well, we are starting things off here this morning with some sunshine, which is always a welcome sight. The kind of morning where the birds seem a bit happier, especially the Robbins, and even our vegetable gardens looks a touch more relaxed.

As for the weather, here’s how things are shaping up for Port Loring, Ontario:

Today: Mainly sunny with just a few passing clouds, high will reach near 75F (24C), with a light breeze from the northwest to keep things comfortable.
Tonight: Clear skies early, then a few clouds drifting in overnight. Low around 54F (12C) — might even be a good night for sleeping with the windows open.
Tomorrow: A mix of sun and cloud, warmer than today, with a high reaching 81F (27C). Slight chance of an afternoon sprinkle, but nothing to fret about.

Looks like we’re in for a stretch of decent weather for a change, good enough to get some outside chores done or just sit back and take it all in. I kinda think my wife and I will do both leaning to the front porch sittin’.

Highway 522 is still pretty quiet, tourist-wise. That said, things should start picking up in another week or so when the kids get out of school for the summer. It usually does — but we’ll see how that works out.

Bug Report:

Well, yesterday morning before the rain moved in, I spent some time working in our vegetable garden, and I have to say I didn’t see a single mosquito, black-fly, or deer-fly. Not one. It’s getting to be that time of year when you can stand, sit, or walk just about anywhere without being pestered too much.

On another note, like I mentioned yesterday, I did manage to work up our vegetable garden — cleared out some of those young weeds that were trying to sneak in without being noticed. I also spread some manure made from grass clippings that’s been rotting down for a few weeks, worked it in nice around our tomato and pepper plants. When I was done, you could almost see those plants smiling.

I have to tell you, folks, when that garden’s all worked up, and the plants are just starting to take hold, it sure is a sight to see. I can never get enough of it.

Matter of fact, now that the sun’s come out, my wife and I are planning to sit under our old basswood tree on the swing I built a while back, just to take it all in.

The thing is, summers are short in our neck of the woods, so when times like this come along, you’ve got to take advantage of them. Least ways, that’s how we see it.

So what are you up to today, GW?

Well, today, with the sun back out and the temperature just right, not too hot and not too cool, I’m thinking I’ll putter around the property a bit along with looking after any customers that happen to drop by our garage sale here at 11588 Highway 522. We’re keeping it going until the end of July, along with our small gift shop. Well, the gift shop will remain open for the whole summer. Just the garage sale will end at the end of July.

And I should mention, everything in the gift shop — all the one-of-a-kind items my wife and I designed and made ourselves — is now half price. So if you’re out and about and feel like browsing, you just might find something special to take home with ya. That is if you drop by.

With that, I’m off to enjoy another breakfast whipped up by my little woman. She sure knows how to start the day right. Once that’s done, I’ll head outside to put up the open signs, then settle into my favorite chair on the front porch with a hot cup of cocoa, and take in our beautiful piece of property — one of the best around, if you ask me. Might not be lakefront, but it’s got everything that matters.

Truth is, not every great place needs a shoreline. Some places just feel right — quiet, peaceful, with room to breathe. Ours is one of them.

You’re always welcome to see for yourselves!

“Until the next time: Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive.” GW

All my books are available on my Amazon Author Page.

If you purchase a book, a brief Amazon review really helps new readers discover my work—it means a lot.

Support my writing: Support My Writing

In Closing, I Would Like to Wish You Well!

George Walters | [email protected]

George's Writers Corner, My Opinion Only, Weather

Hot Enough For Ya?

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Only On The Walters Post

These are my own thoughts from what I’ve seen and lived through. I’m sharing them to spark some thinking and honest conversation, not because I have all the answers.

Well, it’s summer. The sun’s doing its job, and the heat’s settling in over Ontario. The news is already full of warnings, like… stay indoors, drink water, check on the elderly, keep pets cool, and so on. You’d think we were walking on the sun the way folks talk. And don’t get me wrong, yes, it’s warm out, and yes, it can be dangerous for some. But here’s the thing.

Back when I was growing up on the farm, we didn’t have air conditioning or special cooling centres. We had shade trees, wide-brimmed hats, and a good sense of when to take a break. Days could hit the high 30s, maybe more, and we were out there working the fields, hauling hay, sweating under the same sun. And if you complained? Maybe you’d hear, “Yep, she’s a warm one today,” and that was about it. No panic. No headlines. Just another summer day.

So what’s changed? The weather? Maybe a bit. But I think what’s really changed is how we look at things, better said, what we focus on. The thing is, we’ve come to expect comfort at every turn. A little heat, and suddenly it’s a crisis, meanwhile, the things that should have us stirred up, things like the cost of living, the state of our healthcare, our farmers struggling to hang on, is barely make a dent in the news cycle.

We’re being steered to worry about the weather, not about where our food’s going to come from if we don’t support the hands that grow it. Not about the folks living out in the country who don’t have access to the care or services city folks take for granted. Not about how disconnected we’ve become from the very land, that once fed our bodies and our spirits.

Now, I’m not saying ignore heat warnings. Be smart, of course. Look out for each other. But maybe, just maybe, instead of wringing our hands about a week of hot weather, we ought to ask ourselves what really matters in this country of ours. And whether we’ve let comfort replace resilience.

Because if we lose that…our grit, our common sense, our ability to weather a little heat, we lose something a lot more important than a few degrees on the thermometer.

Until the next time: Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive. GW

All my books are available on my Amazon Author Page.

If you purchase a book, a brief Amazon review really helps new readers discover my work—it means a lot.

Support my writing: Support My Writing

In Closing, I Would Like to Wish You Well!

George Walters | [email protected]