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.

Rainy Morning Happenings on February 28/2024

Good morning, where the only rules are the ones nature sets, and we’ve learned to live by them without complaint.

We are all waking up to some rain and wind this morning here in cottage country, and along with that the temperature is sitting at 55F. I didn’t even need a coat on, walking to my woodworking shop this morning to feed my shop stove. Saying that, I won’t be needing to feed it all that much today, being so warm.

We also lost 3/4 of all our snow through the night and looking around I am seeing some green instead of white for a change. However, as I pointed out yesterday the warm weather will be leaving us for a day or so, and we could see some freezing rain or snow later on today, as the temperature will drop considerably. But after tomorrow things will be warming up real fast. So we are in for a mixed bag of weather today and into tonight.

On another note, yesterday I did do some work in my woodworking shop, and in the afternoon I worked away here at my computer. Always feels mighty fine to look back on a day and see it well spent. I can’t abide wasting precious hours just twiddling my thumbs.

Today I will do some more work here at my computer, as I have a story I want to write for my newspaper columns, and a video that needs editing, after that I will mosey on out to the shop for a spell and clean up the mess I made over the past few days. I sure am good at messing things up, let me tell ya. But then again, when I see all them shavings lying around, I know I accomplished a lot.

Politician Humor: Politicians are like old hound dogs – they bark a lot, but when it comes time to hunt, they’re nowhere to be found!

In closing, I will leave you with this: “The older I get, the more I realize that life’s like a good stew. It may take time to simmer, but the flavors just keep getting better.”

Have a great day. 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]

Country Happenings On February 27/2024

Good Morning! Time to get moving, no time for dilly-dallying when there’s work to be done.

We are … in the midst of some rain here in cottage country, and it looks like we’re in for quite a weather mix, starting from this morning straight through tonight. We’ll be seeing some showers, maybe even some thunderstorms and then come Wednesday morning, those showers are going to turn into freezing rain or ice pellets. And as if that ain’t enough, by Wednesday afternoon, we could see some more snow. Now, here’s the kicker, when that rain turns to ice and snow, the temperatures are going to plummet into the minus teens petty quick, which is what they call a flash freeze. South of us should escape the storm’s path, but we will see as Mother nature has a mind of her own, and no human is going to change her mind; Reminds me a bit of some of our women today—full of surprises and never afraid to speak their minds! Anyway we will hope for the best, and keep our raincoats handy.

Highway 522 is clear of ice and snow, and most of the snow we had on the ground yesterday has melted, which is fine with me as I didn’t bother to clean our driveway. But we did get to cleaning our decks along with our neighbor’s, as she is up there in years sitting at 95. But she is still moving around pretty good. Nice lady for sure.

Politician Humor: Why did the farmer say politicians are like a maple tree in spring?
“Because they’re always tapping into something, but you never know if you’ll get syrup or just a sticky mess!”

On another note, yesterday I finished up making an axe handle in my woodworking shop, and I have to tell ya it turned out down right nice, even if I do say so myself. But my wife says it looks mighty fine. I did do a video on how I went about making it, which I will put on my YouTube channel at a later date. I have to say a lot of folks are now subscribing, so they don’t miss any, and my views have reached close to the 109,000 looking at it this morning. And for those that don’t know … it doesn’t cost a cent to subscribe, I was asked that a few times. All subscribing does is let folks know when I make a new video live/public. At any rate, I am very happy with what is taking place, as it tells me a lot of folks today want, or are looking for ways to bring back the simple life. Which I have said many times, is the name of my YouTube Channel, Reviving The Simple Life.

Today I will do some editing here on my computer along with keeping my shop stove fed and … of course I will be bugging my lovely wife. Just Because I Can. Ha ha.

With that I am off for a bowl of porridge that my little woman is making for me and will then see what the day has in store, other than what I have planned. I never really know what will take place. I make plans, but that best of it.

Have a great day, and I will close with this: In the old days, I didn’t have Google to solve my problems. I did however have some common sense, a trusty old hammer, and kinfolk, or a neighbor who knew a thing or two to lend a hand when needed. In saying that … today I still have a few good old boys that drops by for a chat now and then, and if in need of certain things, they seem to show up on my doorstep. Which sure puts a smile on my face. Makes me think the whole world hasn’t run a muck. 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]

Catchin’ Up on Our Small Town’s Happenings on Feb. 26/2024

Good Morning: Where each sunrise is a reminder that yesterday’s troubles are but stepping stones to today’s triumphs. Or in other words, without yesterday, the future would hold no interest.

It’s a beautiful morning here in Cottage country. The sun is shinning, bringing happiness into one’s mind. It seems I always feel better inside when I start the day with sunshine. Maybe it’s the farmer in me, as many a morning while heading back to the orchards years ago, I would have to set down and look up at the sun and take in what she had to offer. I miss my farming days, but I don’t miss the politics that started to surround it. As it is today. These fellows sit in their fancy offices and truth told, most doesn’t know one end of a pitchfork from the other.

So yesterday I did manage to head on out to my woodworking shop and worked away on a new axe handle for an axe I found awhile back, while transplanting some raspberry plants out behind our house. I call them hidden treasures, and I suspect there are millions of items hidden below the earth, waiting for someone to come along and bring them back to their natural glory. You know, I sorta feel bad for ’em. But hey, I’ve always been like that, I treat my tools and stuff like they’re alive. Truth is, they kinda are, in a way. Just like us, as they’re made up of all those tiny molecules and stuff. We’re not so different from them when you think about it.

Today I will carry on as I have a good portion of it finished, but first we are going to have to clean our driveway and our decks of snow, as we did have around 4 inches or so of new stuff, which started around supper time last night for an hour or so. Doesn’t take long to build up where we live here in the north. At any rate, we will be getting some exercise, that’s for certain.

Politician Humor: Politicians are like the weather here in Cottage Country – if you don’t like it, just wait five minutes, and it’ll change! The trouble is, it ain’t always for the better.

With that, I am off for a bit of nourishment that my lovely wife is making for me, and will then mossy on outside and wake up our shovels and snow blower.

Have a great day and remember: Here in the north, we measure distance not by miles, but by the stories shared along the way. Or at least I do. 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]

What’s Happening in Our Neck of The Woods on Feb. 25/2024

Good Morning! “Another day dawns, another chance to see the world with eyes weathered by time and warmed by memories.” Speaking for myself, of course.

Walking to the woodworking shop this morning, I found the air isn’t as cold as it has been for the past two days. Which means spring is in the air, but in saying that we can still see some not so good weather living where we do.

Highway 522 is quiet this morning, which is to be expected, especially this time of year.

Remember When: Years ago, I remember when a handshake was as good as gold and a man’s word was his bond. Nowadays, you need a lawyer just to say hello.

On another note, yesterday I worked away here at my computer along with feeding my shop stove and our furnace here in the house. My wife she kept busy as usual with her housework, which is never ending, along with looking after me, and trying to keep up with her orders for our gift shop. Busy lady for sure.

Today I am thinking of doing some work in my shop, but we will have to see how that works out, my old body hasn’t been up to par for the past couple days.

With that I am off for my breakfast that my lovely wife is preparing for me, and will then see what takes place. One day at a time, sometimes … one hour at a time.

You all have a great day and remember: “Life in the north is like maple syrup – slow to boil, but oh-so-sweet in the end.” 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]

What’s Stirrin’ in Cottage Country on Feb. 24/2024

Good Morning! They say laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face. Well … let’s hope we have plenty of sunshine today.

On February twenty-four, my wife and I have always set down with the books, to see where we’re at financially … and what adjustments we might need to make it through another year. It’s important to glance ahead and consider what the future holds. As just as seeds today promise crops tomorrow, without tomorrow’s planning, there’s no harvest ahead. Taken from a farmer’s perspective.

Highway 522 is slow this morning, but the good news is, it’s clear of snow and ice, which will make traveling good for those that are in need of some supplies, that can’t be had here in town.

I have always said that you know you’re in a small town when the biggest news of the day is who found a four-leaf clover in their backyard, or who’s growin’ the tallest sunflower. Rivetin’ stuff, I tell ya.

On another note, yesterday I got busy in my woodworking shop getting ready for another project, and with that and getting it warmed up a bit, I plumb forgot about doing my blog. But as they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Politician Humor: How does a politician resemble a snowdrift?
They both promise a lot and seem big at first, but when the sun shines like today, they disappear! It seems it’s been like that all my life, and I have been around for a while.

With that I am off for a bowl of porridge and another grapefruit that my lovely wife has put together for me, and will then see what the day has in store. I am thinking I am going to make an axe handle today for an old Walters Axe I found here on our property a year or so ago. Which should be an interesting project! I will also see about setting up my cameras, and make a video of how I go about it. It will be interesting to see how things unfold, like the story revealing itself … one grain at a time.

You all have a great day and remember: “In a small country town, you’re never lost – just temporarily misplaced, waiting for someone to give you directions, and … maybe a slice of pie.” 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]