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Good morning, folks. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the work doesn’t get done unless you roll up your sleeves and actually do it.

Well, it looks as if we’re in for another great day here in Cottage Country. Woke up to a bit of cloud hanging low, with the air just cool enough to make that first coffee taste like another. The temperature is sitting at about 60 °F this morning, and we might catch a few light showers early on, but nothing to spoil the day. By late morning, the sun should start poking through, warming things up to a comfortable 75 °F or so this afternoon. Light breeze, easy on the skin. All in all, a fine day to be out on the dock, in the garden, or just taking it easy.

🎣 Port Loring Fishing Times – Today

Major bite: 8:22 AM – 10:22 AM, 8:48 PM – 10:48 PM
Minor bite: 12:23 AM – 1:23 AM, 5:25 PM – 6:25 PM

Old timer says: “Fish don’t punch a clock, but they sure do like breakfast and supper. Be there when the table’s set and you won’t go home hungry.”

Yesterday, I spent the day giving our car a good cleaning. Out here in the country, given enough time, it can sure get to looking rough. With that out of the way, I headed down to the basement and cleaned out our chimney so it’s ready for this winter’s burning. Always a smart job to do once a year.

We burn good, seasoned hard maple, most of it is two years old, so it burns hot and clean. Truth be told, done this way, it doesn’t hurt the environment one bit.

The reason being, wood is considered carbon-neutral over its life cycle, since the tree absorbed the same amount of CO₂ while growing as it releases when burned. The big issues with wood heat come from burning wet or green wood, softwoods heavy in sap, or from poorly maintained chimneys and inefficient stoves.

So what are you up to today, GW?

Well, today my wife and I will be piling firewood, with our second load set to arrive later this morning. We like to get our wood a year ahead, stack it under the lean-to I built years back, and let it dry good and proper before burning. Gives it time to season up nice.

I have to tell you, there’s no better heat than wood. It’s the kind that warms you more than once — when you cut it, split it, stack it to dry, haul it into the wood box in winter, and then finally when you sit back and enjoy the heat from the stove. That’s a kind of warmth oil, gas, propane, or hydro just can’t match.

So, with that, I’m off for my breakfast that my lovely wife’s making for me. After I’ve eaten, I’ll head out to the front porch with a hot cup of cocoa in hand, just taking a minute to enjoy the morning quiet before piling up that firewood. It’s the kind of slow start that makes the hard work feel good when it comes.

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