Good Morning. You know, if you’re anything at all like me, the best part of gettin’ up early? You get to see the sunrise before anyone else.

Ah, it’s another fine morning here in Northern Ontario. The sun’s up, doing what she’s supposed to, warming things up just right. The birds that haven’t packed their bags yet are having a feast at the feeder, and the night air has just the right nip to make sleeping a real pleasure. I’ve got to say, with the leaves showing off their fall colors, it’s hard to beat this spot where my lovely wife and I live—it’s one of the nicest places in Ontario, no doubt about that.

But, I’ll be honest with you—living here isn’t for everyone. You’ve got to love the cold and snow because we get plenty of both. Over the years, I’ve seen folks move up here thinking they’d found paradise, only to pack up and sell their place a few winters later. It’s not for the faint-hearted, that’s for sure.

You also need to have the right tools and equipment on hand because when things go wrong—and trust me, they will—you’ll need to fix them yourself. And you’d better be ready to work. Unless you’ve got a deep wallet to hire help, you’re going to be doing the heavy lifting yourself. Not to mention, finding help out here is about as easy as finding a sunbather in January.

A warm house and a good stockpile of food are essential, too. Living this far off the beaten track, it’s not like you can just run to town whenever you need something—especially in winter. So, if you’re thinking about moving up here, give it some serious thought. If you can handle the work, the cold, and the isolation, there’s no better place to be. But if you’re not cut out for it, well, that “for sale” sign will be back up before you know it.

Highway 522—well, it’s still quiet these days, but that’s to be expected with winter right around the corner. The calm gives folks around town the chance to focus on getting ready for the cold months ahead. You’ll see them chopping wood, getting their snowblowers in working order, and stocking up on supplies.

But when they’re not busy with that, they seem to enjoy taking a drive around, keeping an eye on what everyone else is up to. It’s almost become a local pastime—seeing if the neighbor down the road has finished up his last-minute repairs, or if the garden’s been put to bed for the season. Seems like people around here get just as much out of checking on others as they do from getting their own winter preparations done!

And hey, no harm in a little neighborly curiosity, right? Just part of the charm around these parts—after all, if you’re living here, you probably enjoy a bit of friendly checking up now and then. It’s all in good fun, or at least we like to think so! Ha!

On another note, yesterday, my wife and I got the lawn mowed for the week. It’s surprising how quickly the grass keeps growing, even with these warm, dry days. Those cool nights really help by bringing in dew and keeping everything green. I also managed to apply some wood preservative to the side deck. Now it should be protected for a couple of years. It’s one of those tasks you need to stay on top of. If you let it go, you could end up facing some costly repairs. So—it’s better to take care of it now, than deal with the consequences later.

Today, I’m planning to take it somewhat easy. I might tidy up my woodworking shop this morning, but later on, I think some time on the front porch will be just what my wife and I need. We ought to enjoy this nice weather while we can, as the leaves are changing, and everything looks great right now. It’s the perfect opportunity to relax, take in the view, and appreciate the moment.

With that, once again I am off for my breakfast that my lovely wife has made for me, and will then retire to the front porch with a hot cup of cocoa. Where some good old-fashioned chatting will be in order. And you know what? My wife and I are darn good at it, too.

You all have a great day, and let me remind you: A day without laughter is like a tractor without fuel—just not going anywhere. So why not fill up on smiles today? GW

Good Morning! Today’s a blank page—make sure you write a story worth telling.

Looks like we’re in for another gorgeous day here in cottage country, which means I’ll be able to tackle some more outdoor chores before winter settles in. This morning, I’m planning to give my front deck a fresh coat of wood preservative. It’s starting to show a bit of wear, and I like to reapply the preservative every two years or whenever it starts looking like it needs a little extra TLC.

You might wonder why I don’t use a sealer. Well, here’s the scoop: sealing wood, as some experts suggest, traps moisture inside, making it harder for the wood to dry out. This can lead to rot from the inside out. No matter how much sealer you use, it won’t stop rain and snow from getting in. On the other hand, wood preservative lets the wood breathe and dry out while protecting it. Think of it like this: just as we need to breathe to stay healthy, wood also needs to breathe to stay strong and last longer. “But, as they say, to each their own.”

Highway 522 is quiet these days, with mostly locals going about their usual business. Our gift shop, though, has been seeing a lot of traffic lately. Folks are coming by to pick up my wife’s paintings, my books, flutes, and other unique items we make ourselves.

It’s nice to hear people appreciate finding things that aren’t mass-produced or imported. With so many gift shops filled with stuff from overseas, it’s clear that supporting local craftsmanship is more important than ever.

The truth of the matter is-–we need to focus more on boosting what’s made and grown right here at home. It’s high time we put “Make Canada Great Again” at the top of our list—starting with the things we create and grow ourselves. We should at the very least be able to feed ourselves and not rely on others.

With that, I’m off to have breakfast and enjoy a cup of hot cocoa on the front porch with my lovely wife. Then it’s time to get to work. You never really know what a day has in store. My motto? Go with the flow and take things as they come. After all, sometimes the best parts of the day are the ones you didn’t see coming!

You all have a great day and keep in mind: while the city runs on coffee and deadlines, we run on sunshine and fresh air. Although, coffee is tasty occasionally—because who doesn’t enjoy a good cup? GW