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.

Life’s Happenings in the Country on April 25/2024

Good Morning! “Where the to-do list is long, but the joy of living in the country makes every task/job a pleasure.”

It’s a sunny morning waking up here in cottage country. However, it is a touch cool with the grass covered with frost. The temperature waking up was sitting at -1 C | 30.2 F. It will warm up considerably as the day moves forward, and tomorrow even warmer. Front porch sittin’ weather for sure!

So knowing that my wife and I will get to working outside on our fishpond, that we have in the works. I would like to get the liner installed today if possible. The thing is it has to be warm enough, as the liner is thick and hard to move around. So it needs to be laid out in the sunshine for a bit, to soften things up before we can install it. But once all said and done, it will be a nice-added feature to our property.

Highway 522 is as dry as Granny’s biscuits on a Sunday morning. However, there are a few cars moving around this morning, mostly locals taking in what is happening around town. Just your normal day occurrence, as it is with most small towns. And you can’t forget the gossip, it’s hotter than a skillet on a stove. By the time the rooster crows, everybody knows who’s been stirring the pot. Oh! And Granny’s biscuits weren’t all that dry if you added some fresh churned butter on top of them.

On another note, yesterday I worked the day away in our woodworking shop on a new bench that we will put out by our new fishpond. It’s taking a bit of work, but it will be nice when all finished up. There is always something going on around our home.

Wisdom I have learned: “There’s a story in every sunrise and a lesson in every sunset. Living in the country most of my life, I have learned to read the sky like a book, to know when rain’s a-coming or when a frost is on its way. It’s a kind of wisdom you can’t learn from books or fancy schools—it’s written in the land itself, in the whisper of the wind and the song of the birds. And if you listen close enough, you’ll hear it too!”

With that I am off for my morning breakfast that my lovely wife is making for me, or should say, has made for me, and will then get to doing something, that is after we have our morning chat while enjoying a hot cup of cocoa. It’s the secret to a long marriage, amongst other things.

You all have a great day, and I will leave you with this: “In the country, we are not separate from nature; we are a part of it. To live in harmony with the land is to honor our ancestors and preserve the legacy for future generations.”

Fishing Times For Thursday
04/25/24

Major Times
1:11 AM-3:11 AM
1:35 PM-3:35 PM

Minor Times
6:12 AM-7:12 AM
10:10 PM-11:10 PM

Day Rating: I give it a 4-Star rating out of 5 for catching a few. Good Luck!

Fishing Tip of the Day: “Fish can smell ya coming a mile away. Move slow, talk quiet, and don’t go stomping around like a bull in a china shop. Sneak up on ’em, and you’ll have better luck.”

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]

Waking Up to Country Living on April 24/2024

Good Morning! Where the only rush we know is the wind through the trees and the river flowing over the rocks’

It’s a cold morning here in cottage country with wind coming in from the north and the temperature sitting at -5.8 C | 21.56 F. And on top of that there are a lot of clouds blocking our sunshine. We could see some breaks in the clouds though, as the day progresses, and it will warm up a wee bit. Tomorrow, things will start to warm up even more, to where a fellow feels like doing some work outside. And my wife and I have a lot to do.

Yesterday I worked the day away, writing up a couple stories for my columns in newspapers I write for, and today I might carry on. I will see how that goes after I have my breakfast. I have to be in the right frame of mind it seems for the words to flow as they should.

Highway 522 is still very quiet with the cold, rainy weather, folks are staying home in the cities, not wanting to waste the money going to places they can’t enjoy or afford. And I can’t say I blame them with the price of the gas nowadays, since they added more carbon tax onto it. In all my days, I never saw such a thing till now. It used to be you could fill up the truck without wincing, but now it’s like handing over your hard-earned cash for a slap in the face. Heck, we’re just trying to make a living out here, putting food on the table for our families. But with all these extra taxes, it’s like we’re fighting an uphill battle just to break even. And what’s it all for? You know, they keep saying this carbon tax is all about saving the planet, but there are a lot smarter ways to do it than just taking more money from us regular folks. Those fancy suits making all these decisions, they ain’t the ones feeling the squeeze when they gas up their fancy cars. Not to forget how they keep giving themselves fat pay raises, and for what? It’s been a mystery for years.

Sorry, got a bit off track there. But seriously, it’s frustrating seeing our hard-earned cash disappearing faster than water down a drain, all in the name of some vague environmental cause. We’re just trying to make ends meet here, and it feels like we’re the ones getting the short end of the stick every time.

Wisdom Learned: “I remember one time when Bessie decided she’d had enough of the milking’ stool and took off running like a bat outta hell! Had me chasing her all around the pasture, swearing up a storm. But you know what? It taught me a valuable lesson: sometimes you have to let go and let the cow do the running. Life’s too short to be chasing after things you can’t control!”

With that bit of information, I am off for my morning bowl of porridge that my lovely wife is making for me, which seems to get me ready to take on whatever challenges come my way!

You all have a great day and I will leave you with this: “They say you can take the boy out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the boy… and honestly, why would you want to? There’s no place like home, especially when home is surrounded by fields and forests as far as the eye can see.”

Fishing Times For Wednesday
04/24/24

Major Times
12:25 AM-2:25 AM
12:47 PM-2:47 PM

Minor Times
5:49 AM-6:49 AM
8:59 PM-9:59 PM

Day Rating: I give it a 5-Star Rating out of 5 for catching a few. Great day for fishing, but you might need a warm coat. Good Luck!

Fishing Tip and Lore For The Day. “Back in my day, we’d sit by the fire and tie our own flies, using feathers, fur, and threads. There’s something about them homemade flies that drives the fish wild.” 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]

Tales from the Wide Open Spaces Here in the North on April 23/2024

Good Morning. Where the only deadlines my wife and I have to worry about are the ones set by the seasons, and the only schedules we keep are dictated by the rhythm of nature.

It’s another cloudy day here in cottage country, and by the looks of things the clouds will remain with us for most of the day. And with those clouds we could see some more showers off and on.

Yesterday was a busy day for my wife and I as we headed on into North Bay to pick up some supplies and things. We had a good trip there and back, taking in what nature had to offer. It seems that no matter how many times we have made the trip, there is always something new to see. That’s the nice thing about living where we do. Although years ago I did enjoy our farms, and I have to say I miss them in a round about way. In other words, I miss the farms themselves, but don’t miss the politics that went with the farms. More so today.

Today being a bit cool and such, I am thinking I will write up a couple more stories for my newspaper columns, which should keep me busy for most of the day. Tomorrow however, with the sunshine returning, maybe my lovely wife and I will be able to do some work on our new fishpond we dug a couple of weeks ago. We will see how that turns out. It all depends on what Mother Nature has in store. She is, or has been, a might testing the past few weeks. But I suspect she has her reasons.

Folks always ask me, ‘What’s the secret to a happy life, old timer?’ And I tell them, “Well, it’s like trying to catch a newborn calf that has been let out of the barn on its own, for the first time—you have to be quick on your feet and ready for anything! But seriously, I believe it’s about finding joy in the simple things, taking time to smell the roses, and sharing a good laugh with friends and family. Because at the end of the day, it ain’t the size of your barn/house that matters—it’s the size of your smile.”

With that, I am off for my morning bowl of porridge that my little woman is making for me, and will then see what the day has in store, other than I have planned.

You all have a great day and I will leave you with this: “Here in the country, the only thing that moves faster than the seasons is the gossip – but hey, what’s life without a little chatter now and then?”

Fishing Times For Tuesday
04/23/24

Major Times
–:—–:–
12:03 PM-2:03 PM

Minor Times
5:31 AM-6:31 AM
7:48 PM-8:48 PM

Day Rating: I give it a 4-star rating out of for catching a few. Good Luck!

Fishing Tip of The Day: Fish around natural cover such as fallen trees, submerged vegetation, and rocky outcrops. These areas provide shelter and ambush points for fish, making them prime feeding locations. 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]

Life Beyond the City’s Clamor on April 21/2024

Good Morning! Time to embrace the peace and quiet of country living, where the only sirens we hear are from the distant call of the wild.

We are waking up to some sunshine here in cottage country. And it sure is nice to see, and feel for that matter.

Highway 522 is bare and dry, which will make traveling good today, and truth told it should remain that way now for the rest of the summer. Let’s hope so. How to tell when the tourists are here, well you can tell when someone’s not from around here when they actually use their turn signal.

On another note, I worked the day away yesterday in my woodworking shop on the new waterwheel I am making for our new fishpond. I have to say I made some pretty good headway, and today I should be able to finish it.

I have always said: “When the barn door’s open, the animals roam free. The same goes for opportunities. Keep your eyes open and seize ’em when they come.”

With that, I am off for a bagel this morning with some honey and cream cheese that my lovely wife is making for me, and will then head on out to my shop.

You all have a great day and I will leave you with this: “In the country, time moves a little slower, and the stories run a little deeper – where every wrinkle tells a tale and every creak in the floorboard echoes with the laughter of generations past.”

Fishing Times for Sunday
04/21/24

Major Times
–:—–:–
10:43 AM-12:43 PM

Minor Times
5:01 AM-6:01 AM
5:36 PM-6:36 PM

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

Fishing Tip of the Day: Experiment with different trolling speeds, depths, and lure colors to find the most effective combination. Vary your trolling patterns until you find a setup that consistently produces bites.

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]

Humor, Wisdom and Northern Living on April 20/2024

Good Morning! Where the only rush we know is trying to beat the sunset to get the laundry off the line before the dew sets in – talk about living life in the fast lane!

We are all waking up to some sunshine here in the north. The robins are listening for worms, the crackles, sparrows, nuthatches, finches, morning-doves, cow birds, starlings, and the crows all greeted me as I walked to my woodworking shop. Sure nice to see. Some even sit on my hand occasionally. I even spotted a butterfly looking for some flowers, finally settling for some snowdrops in one of our gardens. Pretty hard to top that, for a warm morning greeting.

Highway 522 is bare and dry this morning for those having to do some shopping in the cities. You know, they say good things come to those who wait, and on Highway 522, we’ve got all the time in the world. So what if it takes a little longer to get from point A to point B? It just gives my lovely wife and I more time to enjoy the ride.

On a different topic, yesterday, I spent the entire day in my woodworking shop making the new water wheel for our fishpond. It’s quite a challenging project, but I made some good progress. If things continue as they did yesterday, I should have it completed by tomorrow. Then, once the weather warms up a bit, my wife and I will install the new pond liner. After that, my wife will apply her landscaping design skills. Over the years, she’s created many beautiful gardens for homes. I’ve lost count of how many she’s done, but the ones we worked on together years ago most still look good today.

Today, I’ll be continuing my work in the shop, while my wife tackles washing day with our new machine. The old Sears washer we had served us faithfully for over 40 years. I doubt these newer models will live that long, but only time will tell. My wife has a habit of chatting with household appliances; perhaps that’s why our old washer lasted so long. I can’t deny I engage in a bit of chatter with my tools too, and they seem to appreciate it, believe it or not!

Garden Chatter: You know, there’s a certain rhythm to gardening. It’s like a dance takes place between me, the soil, and Mother Nature herself. Sometimes we step on each other’s toes, but… most times, we end up working together. After all these years, we have gotten to know each other.

With that, I am off for my morning bowl of porridge and an English muffin, with honey on it, that my lovely wife has prepared for me. After that, we will have our regular morning chat over a cup of hot cocoa, and then I will head on out to the woodworking shop, and see how much more sawdust I can make. I made a pile yesterday. Sheesh!

You all have a great day and I will leave you with this: “They say city life is glamorous and exciting, but for my wife and I, there’s nothing nicer than watching the stars come out one by one on a clear, country night.”

Fishing Times for Saturday
04/20/24

Major Times
10:04 AM-12:04 PM
10:23 PM-12:23 AM

Minor Times
4:46 AM-5:46 AM
4:32 PM-5:32 PM

Day Rating: I give it a 2-star rating out of 5 for catching a few. Good Luck!

Fishing Tip of The Day: When fishing from a boat, gently tap submerged stumps or logs with your lure to mimic the sound of prey hitting the water. This sometimes attract predatory fish hiding nearby and if you’re lucky, you’ll have fish in the frying-pan come supper time! 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]