All posts by George Walters

George Walters is a Canadian columnist and author with more than forty years of writing experience. For over twenty years he has written a weekly column for Postmedia Network — Canada's largest newspaper chain — never missing a single week, publishing fifty-two stories a year. Combined with his work in Reader's Digest Community Voices, World News, Country Living, The Country Register, and farm and rural lifestyle magazines across Canada, he has published well over two thousand stories drawn from everyday life. He writes about farm work, fishing, old trucks, and the kind of people you only find in small towns — but just as likely he'll hand a voice to a weathered telephone pole, or turn his eye on something happening in the world today and tell you exactly what he thinks about it. No subject is off limits. If there's a story in it, George will find it. He has been called a philosopher of everyday life, a description that came up more than once during his television appearances over the years — and it's not hard to see why. His writing has a way of making the ordinary feel worth sitting with. He is the author of eleven books, including yearly short story collections and the Clay Moretti Files mystery series. Clay is a fifty-year-old private investigator who drives a 1967 Ford Galaxie, smokes cigars, and operates by a code the modern world gave up on a long time ago. The cases are present day. The man handling them is not. All titles are available in paperback and eBook on Amazon. Together, George and his wife Ruth have also created Elmer Finds His Way, the first in what he hopes will be a long series of children's books. Ruth did all the illustrations, as she has for every one of George's books — and beyond that she designed and painted the covers as well. Her work is woven into every page of everything he has published. A few words from readers: "I pulled up a kitchen chair and read your story three times." "You have a way of making a person homesick for a place they haven't been to." "Thank you for writing things that make old people and kids feel the same way at the same time." All my titles are available in paperback and eBook on Amazon.ca here.

Daybreak in the North Country on July 7/2024

Good Morning! Hard work never killed anyone, but why take the chance? So knowing that… let’s pace ourselves and enjoy the day.

It’s another cloudy morning, waking up in the north. However, we should see some sunshine around 9:00 AM. But in saying that, the clouds will remain with us off and on throughout the day. We’ve sure had our share of rain this year…a lot more than we really need…so I am hoping it eases off for a few days. Rain is good, but too much saturates the ground to a point that plants can’t handle it. The world is changing, as it always has done, and there isn’t much we can do about it other than adapt and find the silver linings.

On another note, I spent the day fixing up our carport. Got the back wall up, and things are looking good. We should be all set now for when winter hits, and our car will be happy not having to bear the brunt of the snow and ice. It’s something that’s really needed in this part of the country. Who knows, maybe our car will thank me by running a bit smoother this winter!

Today, I’m taking on the task of cleaning out the building where I keep my lumber. With all the other things that have kept me busy, I never quite got around to fixing it up. It’s been a bit of a mess for years now, but as they say, a little at a time gets things done. So, that’s my plan for the day…making some headway on this cluttered space. As always, you never quite know what the day might throw at you.

So with that, I’m off to enjoy the breakfast my lovely wife has prepared for me. You know… they say the early bird gets the worm, but I’d rather have bacon and eggs!

Fishing Times for Sunday
07/07/24

Major Times
1:36 AM-3:36 AM
2:01 PM-4:01 PM

Minor Times
6:26 AM-7:26 AM
10:19 PM-11:19 PM

Day Rating: I give it a 3-Star Rating out of 5 for catching a few. Good Luck!

Advice from an Old Angler: Fish respond to natural movements in the water. Create a subtle ripple or disturbance with your bait to attract their attention. A gentle twitch or jiggle can make your bait look alive and irresistible.

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]

First Light in the Country on July 6/2024

“Mornin’, folks! The best way to start the day is with a smile and a cup of coffee strong enough to float a horseshoe.”

Starting things off, it’s cloudy this morning, but we should see some sunshine later on. We could also see a passing shower here and there throughout the day. And, it’s a bit cooler today, which will make working outside kind of pleasant. Overall, I have no complaints about the weather here in the north so far this year. It’s been pretty nice, though maybe a touch too much rain for some. But hey, for all those folks grumbling about the weather, I’d say it’s been just about perfect!

Highway 522 is still quiet these days, probably due to rising costs, interest rates, and taxes on the paychecks. There’s some traffic, but folks seem to be cutting back on travel to save a few bucks. And honestly, I can’t say I blame them.

Bug Report: Yesterday, while working on my lean-to where we park our car in the winter, those blood-sucking parasites, the mosquitoes, were relentless. They thrive in shady, windless, damp areas. I was happy to go inside at the end of the day.

On another note, I managed to accomplish a lot outside yesterday while my wife worked hard on fulfilling custom orders for her customers. But she did give me a hand later in the day, which was nice. All in all, it turned out to be a productive day. We also had plenty of customers dropping by our gift shop, which was a nice bonus.

With that, I’m off for my breakfast, which my lovely wife is preparing for me. After that, I’ll be heading out to tackle some work for the day. Well, after I have my cup of hot cocoa, can’t forget that, sheesh!

You all have a great day…and as I have always said: “If you’re lucky enough to live in the country, you’re lucky enough!”

Fishing Times for Saturday
07/06/24

Major Times
12:42 AM-2:42 AM
1:09 PM-3:09 PM

Minor Times
5:15 AM-6:15 AM
9:50 PM-10:50 PM

Day Rating: Another great day to be out there with pole in hand. I give it a 5-Star rating out of 5 for catching a few. Good Luck!

Advice from an Old Angler: Cast along the edges, where different types of water meet…where shallow water drops off to deeper water, or where currents converge. Fish like to lurk in these transition zones.

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]

Whooping Cough Alert for Our Area

Hey folks, just a heads-up. Whooping cough is now in our region. Since January, we’ve had 16 cases, which is a big jump from the average of about 4 cases per year.

Whooping cough spreads easily when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Early signs are sneezing, runny nose, low fever, and a mild cough that gets worse over two weeks. The cough often ends in a ‘whooping’ sound and can be so bad it causes gagging or vomiting. This cough can last up to 100 days, making it hard to sleep, work, or do daily activities.

Now, I’m not one to scare folks or spread false rumors, but I think it’s important to get the word out. This is especially for babies under one-year-old, pregnant women, and folks with lung or breathing problems. If you have a new or worsening cough, avoid contact with high-risk folks mentioned above, and especially young babies and pregnant women.

If you have a severe cough and are worried, wear a mask and see your doctor, or go to a walk-in clinic.

To prevent whooping cough, keep up with vaccinations. The vaccine is given at two, four, six, and 18 months old, with boosters at four to six years and 14 to 16 years old. Adults can get a free booster, which is recommended for pregnant women to protect their babies.

If you need to catch up on vaccines, book an appointment with your doctor or contact the Health Unit at 1-800-563-2808 ext. 1301.

Stay safe, everyone.

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]

The Cost of Supporting Wars: A Perspective

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.

As the war between Ukraine and Russia along with Israel and Hezbollah drags on, it’s natural for countries like Canada and the USA to want to help. But with all the billions we’re spending on these wars, we have to ask if it’s really doing any good. It should also be noted that, all that money we put into it is gone forever. I know they say it isn’t, but I don’t believe that for a minute.

Now, don’t get me wrong, every country has the right to protecting their own, and we do need to show our support now and then, but truth told, sending so much money and supplies overseas puts a big strain on our own resources. Here in Canada and the USA, we have our own problems, like not enough houses, doctors, food for the needy, retirement homes that aren’t up to par, people sleeping in the streets and the list goes on and on. Oh, and not to forget that all that money they are sending to other countries comes right out of the working man’s paychecks. Knowing that, shouldn’t we be taking care of those issues first?

Personally, I think it’s time to rethink our approach. Instead of just sending more money and weapons, we should focus on making a real difference for our own people/country first. If we don’t take care of our own country, we won’t be able to help anyone else, it’s simple as that. Now, that doesn’t mean ignoring what’s happening in the world, but we need to be smart about how we use our resources.

It’s a tough choice, but I believe it’s the right thing to do.

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]

New Day, Old Ways on July 5/2024

“Good mornin’! The sun’s up, and so should we be. Let’s see if we can stay awake ’til lunchtime!”

It looks like it’s shaping up to be another nice day here in Cottage country. Though, there’s a chance we might get a light shower later on … nothing to fuss over, though.

Highway 522 is still pretty slow for this time of year, at least around our neck of the woods. There’s a lot of building going on, though. Folks are adding onto their homes, putting up new houses, and even building garages. I can’t figure out where all these people are coming from, but I guess they’re here to stay, or they simply have a lot of money to spend!

Bug Report: Everything is good in this department other than a few pesky mosquitoes irritating folks.

On another note, my wife and I spent the day yesterday beautifying our country home by mowing the lawn and working in our gardens. It’s a lot of work, but when it’s all said and done, we both know it’s worth it. There’s something deeply satisfying about seeing our property looking neat and tidy. It’s a good feeling, knowing that all the effort we put into it really paid off. You could say it, makes our little corner of the world look just right.

My wife and I have also noticed a steady stream of new faces dropping by our gift shop, picking up items of their choice. It’s sure nice to see. While they’re here, we usually end up chatting about all sorts of things. It’s always interesting to hear what’s going on in other parts of the country. Makes us appreciate our piece of the world even more.

Today, I’m tackling a job I’ve been wanting to do for a few years now … adding a new back wall to our carport. It’s not going to be an easy job, but like everything else, slow and steady gets things done. I’ve learned over the years not to get overwhelmed by the big picture. Just get started, and before you know it, the work is done.

And now I am off for some pancakes that my lovely wife is making for me, topped with an egg yolk, a bit of butter, and drizzled with Mike Clapperton’s Maple Syrup. I kind of thing it’s the perfect way to start the morning … something sweet and tasty to enjoy before getting into the day ahead. Oh, we can’t forget our hot cocoa on the front porch by the fishpond … now, can we?

With that you all have a great day, I am going to tackle my chores and enjoy the quiet. They say a day in the country is worth a week in the city … ain’t that the truth! GW

Fishing Times for Friday
07/05/24

Major Times
–:—–:–
12:13 PM-2:13 PM

Minor Times
4:09 AM-5:09 AM
9:11 PM-10:11 PM

Day Rating: Today, I’m giving it a solid 5-star rating for catching a few. It’s turning out to be one of the best fishing days this year. Tight lines!

Advice from an Old Angler: Keep an eye on your lures. If they’re not swimming straight, adjust the eyelet slightly until they run true. A properly tuned lure can significantly improve your chances of a successful catch.

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]