Notes Collected Between Work and Rest

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Backwoods Weather Report – Port Loring, Ontario
Sunday, November 9, 2025

Good Morning: Cold one out there this morning, 21°F (–5.9°C), and it feels every bit of it. The humidity’s sitting at 85%, so the cold’s got that damp bite. Barometer’s sitting at 29.19 inHg … low and holding steady, maybe easing up by evening. Wind’s are calm coming in from the east-southeast, which usually keeps the sky gray and the woods still.

Today: Mostly cloudy, with a few light flurries drifting around late morning into the afternoon. Air’s heavy, no real wind to move it. High near 28°F (–2°C).

Tonight: Overcast continues, maybe a dusting of snow or a little freezing mist toward dawn. Temperature dropping near 18°F (–8°C). Roads could get slick in the shaded spots and bush trails will crust over.

Tomorrow (Monday): Cooler but brighter, especially toward midday. Pressure should rise a bit, meaning steadier weather. High near 27°F (–3°C) with a light northwest breeze , good tracking day if we get a touch of snow and it firms up some.

Best Deer Hunting Times:
Right now, deer are moving slow in the cold mornings, bedding down early when the wind’s calm. Your best windows today are around 7:00–9:00 AM and again from about 4:00–5:30 PM, just before dusk. Tomorrow looks better for mid-morning movement once the sky clears and they start browsing again. The thing is… with that east wind and damp air, scent’s hanging low, so watch your approach … they’ll catch you easier today than you’ll catch them.

Nature’s Signs:

I noticed this morning that the chickadees were calling for me to fill the bird feeder at dawn—that soft, steady chatter they make when I forget to give them their breakfast. The crows, too, caught my eye, sticking to the open fields, flying low and lazy, not wasting any energy. And yesterday, I was looking at the birch bark—still tight against the trunk. That usually means this damp spell we’re in isn’t ready to lift anytime soon.

It’s something, really—what nature can tell a person if they take the time to notice. The chickadees, the crows, even the bark on a tree. All of it’s saying something, if you’re listening and paying attention.

On another note, it’s a cold morning here in cottage country… the kind of cold that settles into your bones before you even get your boots on. My old woodworking shop was more than just “kinda cool” this morning… truth is, it was damn cold. So I lit the shop stove earlier. Should be warming up by the time I finish this post and get through breakfast. One of those little rituals, you know… fire first, then food, then work.

Yesterday I managed to get a bit done on my flutes, which made me happy. But most of the day was spent helping my wife out in the gift shop… the one we’re opening come spring. That took up most of the day, really. I’m the muscle, moving things, lifting, holding stuff in place. Then she gets in there and works her magic.

And she really is magic at this. She’s a fantastic designer when it comes to making stores and storefronts look just right. She’s been at it a long while now… here, and back down south, where we had three shops with those big windows facing the street. Not to mention all the other stores we’ve had over the years. Each one different, but somehow always exactly what it needed to be.

One thing’s for sure… come spring, that gift shop is going to look mighty fine.

Oh, and on top of all that, she’s also getting her art studio set up at one end of the house. Busy gal, for sure.

Pretty one, too.

So what are you up to today, GW?

Well, today now that I have my wife looked after, I’m planning on getting back to working on them flutes. I have a long way to go before they’re singing nicely… the thing is, there are a lot of steps in making them and each one takes time. And one hell of a lot of patience.

For the most part, I’ve managed to find that patience in my woodworking shop. Something about the work itself, I suppose… the wood doesn’t rush you, and you can’t rush it. But other things… well, let’s just say being the age I am now and seeing how the world is going, sometimes patience takes a back seat in that department.

Funny how that works, isn’t it… you can sit there for hours getting a flute just right, sanding and tuning and listening, but then you turn on the news or hear about some foolishness going on out there and that patience just walks right out the door.

So with that, I’m off for my breakfast that my lovely wife has made for me… which consists of some pancakes this morning. Should give me the energy to make it through the morning till coffee time.

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]

Paying More for Less

Only On The Walters Post

You know, I’ve been thinking about grocery stores lately. Don’t know exactly why, but I was standing there the other day in front of the milk cooler and it just hit me. You know that feeling when something you’ve walked past a hundred times suddenly strikes you a bit different?

There it was, a whole lineup of milk, 1%, 2%, skim, lactose-free, and then a couple jugs of plain whole milk hiding at the end, like some guilty pleasure. Funny how the regular thing became the odd one out.

At any rate, I picked up the skim milk, looked at the price and found it cost more than the whole milk. To me that seemed a bit backwards. The thing is… skim milk is whole milk with the fat taken out, then they add things back in… stabilizers, sometimes sugar to make up for the flavor that left with the fat. What most don’t know is that the fat carries vitamins and balances what nature put there for a reason. Strip it out and somehow that’s supposed to be healthier.

Once you start noticing it, you see it everywhere. I also picked up bread that stays fresh for three weeks. My grandmother’s bread went stale within two or three days because it was just flour, water, salt, and yeast. Somewhere along the way, we got convinced that natural isn’t enough.

Our grandparents drank whole milk, cooked with butter, and ate what was local. They worked hard and didn’t need labels to tell them what was good.

Anyways, maybe it’s time we stop letting marketing tell us what’s better. Makes you wonder what we’ve gained from all this improvement… and what we’ve already lost without noticing.


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]

Backwoods Weather Report – Port Loring, Ontario Evening of Saturday, November 8th, 2025

Only On The Walters Post

Well, it feels like winter’s easing in for good now. The temperature’s sitting around 30.6°F (-0.8°C) and the air’s a bit damp at 64 percent humidity. The barometer’s reading 29.06 inches of mercury, which is on the low side, so the air’s unsettled and we might see a change overnight.

Winds are calm from the east, hardly moving. When it gets that still and the pressure’s low, it usually means clouds are thickening up and maybe a little snow or mist before morning.

Tonight: Calm and cold, staying near the freezing mark. Expect a heavy frost on anything left outside, especially metal and grass.

Tomorrow (Sunday): Starts off gray, maybe a few flurries or a light drizzle. Should climb to about 36°F (2°C) through the day, but it’ll feel colder if that east wind picks up. Could see a touch of clearing by late afternoon.

Nature’s Signs: The chickadees have been darting in and out of the feeder like they know something’s coming. Deer went quiet early, hiding away somewhere warm. When the woods go still like that, it’s a fair bet winter’s slowly closing in on us.

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

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]

Backwoods Weather Report – Port Loring, Ontario Friday, November 7, 2025

Only On The Walters Post

Backwoods Weather Report – Port Loring, Ontario
Friday, November 7, 2025

It’s a damp, chilly afternoon here in Port Loring. Last check around 12:45 PM had the temperature at 3.8°C (38°F), humidity high at 87%, and the wind drifting from the south-southwest at 11 km/h (7 mph). The barometer’s down at 966.9 mbar (28.56 inHg), so we’re looking at some unsettled weather moving through — clouds and moisture hanging around the bush.

Today: Expect clouds and drizzle through the rest of the afternoon, with the air feeling raw and damp. Temperature will hold in the 3–4°C (38–39°F) range. Not much sun in sight today, so it’s a good one to keep the coat on if you’re heading out.

Tonight into Saturday: Chilly, near 1–2°C (34–36°F), with clouds sticking around and a fair chance of light rain. The SSW wind will continue, keeping the air moist and the forest quiet but soggy.

Tomorrow (Saturday): Clouds will start to break a bit as the low moves off. Expect highs around 5–7°C (41–45°F). Some lingering drizzle in the morning is possible, but by midday things should start to brighten. Winds may shift a little west or northwest, bringing a fresher, cooler feel by evening.

Nature’s Signs: With the damp air and low clouds, birds and squirrels are keeping closer to the ground, moving cautiously, and deer will likely stick to the thicker cover until mid-morning. Mushrooms might be popping up in the wet spots — perfect little reminders that the woods are still alive even in this gray weather.

Deer Hunting Outlook: This afternoon and evening, the damp, cloudy conditions can actually be good for movement. Deer tend to move cautiously in the moist air, often using thick cover near feed areas. Best chances will be late morning into mid-afternoon and again just before dark — stay alert near the trails leading to the edges of the bush.

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]

Thoughts From the Far Edge of the Noise

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Good morning. You know: I’ve always had a knack for plain truth: “If you can’t be good, at least be useful.” It’s never failed me yet.

Backwoods Weather Report – Port Loring, Ontario
Thursday, November 6, 2025

It’s a bright, cold morning here in Port Loring with the sun shining strong around 8:30 AM. The barometer sits at 990.2 mbar (29.24 inHg), holding steady for now. Temperature’s at 28°F (-2°C), and humidity is 85%, so the air still carries that November bite. Winds are calm from the NNW, leaving the bush quiet and still — good morning for a walk or a watch from the stand.

Today: Expect sunshine through most of the morning and early afternoon, with clouds starting to build later in the day as a weak front approaches. The temperature should stay near freezing, around 30°F (-1°C), and dip to 24°F (-4°C) tonight.

Tonight into Friday: Clouds will thicken overnight, and there’s a fair chance of light rain or wet snow by tomorrow afternoon, depending on how mild the air turns. Winds will shift slightly southwest, picking up a little warmth but also more moisture.

Tomorrow (Friday): Expect a cloudy, damp day, highs near 36°F (2°C). Could see on-and-off drizzle or a bit of sleet, especially toward evening.

Nature’s Signs: The sunshine after a still, frosty night often gets the chickadees and nuthatches busy early, and you might see deer moving along the shaded edges before the sun climbs higher. The quiet morning with no wind means the woods are listening, so move slow and soft.

Deer Hunting Outlook:
This morning’s calm and clear makes for excellent huntingbest times are sunrise to mid-morning (7:00–10:00 AM). Deer will likely move again late afternoon (4:00–6:00 PM) as that next weather change edges closer. When the sun gives way to clouds, movement tends to pick up again, so keep an eye on the sky and stay ready near the trails leading to open feed areas.

Yesterday I spent a good part of the day in my woodworking shop. Dug up some of the old shelves we used to have in our gift shop before we turned the place into a cottage during COVID. Brushed them off and now I’m revamping them so they’ll be ready for use when we reopen as a gift shop come spring.

I’ve also got a few other things to make for my wife — pieces she needs for the store — and I’ll be working on those through the winter months. I have to tell you, now that we’ve settled on what we’re doing with our lives, things sure seem a lot easier.

Come spring, if you’ve never stopped by to see our one-of-a-kind items, try to find the time. You won’t be disappointed. Between our designs and my wife’s know-how when it comes to running and setting up a gift shop, well, you’ll just have to see it to believe it. And even if you’ve been in before, we’d sure like to see you again. This time around, we’ve got a few surprises that I think will keep you coming back.

So, with all that in mind, I’m off once again for the breakfast my lovely wife has made for me. After that, we’ll enjoy our regular morning chat, topped off with a cup of hot cocoa and a couple of marshmallows. Then I’ll head out to the woodworking shop—I already lit the wood stove earlier.

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]