Click on Image to Enlarge

Good morning, You know, The older I get, the more I see that time is not a fire we feed, but a fire that consumes us.

Well it’s looking like another really nice day for us here in cottage country. The sun is up and the sky... well… the sky is as blue as Robbins Egg. It’s the kind of day that seems to say: “Best enjoy that front porch while you can.” And that is just what my wife and I plan on doing.

Highway 522 has really quieted down lately, with most folks heading back to the cities. In the summer, we’re a welcome treat, but come early spring, late fall and winter, well, let’s just say this place is best appreciated by those who truly know the lifestyle. I’ve also noticed many people are putting their boats away for the season, and some of our summer birds have already left us for another year. On top of that, the trees are starting to show their colors, getting ready for a display that only Mother Nature can create. She’s quite the artist when she wants to be, much like my lovely wife, whose paintings are every bit as beautiful. I can’t begin to tell ya how many she has painted for folks over the years.

On another note: Yesterday, I spent most of the day at my computer working on a couple of stories for my newspaper columns. My wife, as usual, was busy as ever—doing the laundry for another week, cleaning the house, cooking a nice roast of beef, and somehow still managing to bake a batch of chocolate brownies. I have to say, just smelling them while they were baking made my mouth water. But despite all that we had to do, we both managed to find some time to enjoy our front porch, soaking up some much-needed sunshine and taking in everything our property has to offer.

So, what are you up to today, GW?

Well, today I’m going to do something special that I’d like to share with you. About 20 years ago or so, when we first moved here, the former owner, George Lee, made an old wooden rocking horse for his Grand-kids to ride. Ever since we’ve been here, it’s been sitting out back on the rocks that surround our property. Over the years, it’s really started to deteriorate. Seeing that, and thinking of all the memories it holds—and being a woodworker for many years myself—I figured I’d try to bring some of its original glory back to life.

It’ll be quite a job, as it’s in rough shape, which isn’t surprising for something that’s probably over 80 years old, maybe more. In any case, I’ll see what I can do. When all is said and done, I’ll take some before-and-after pictures so you can have a look. So, that’s what’s on my plate for today.

So with that, I’m off to have my morning bowl of porridge—steel-cut oats soaked overnight—and then I’ll head out to our front porch to enjoy a cup of hot cocoa. You can’t beat that for starting off the day.

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

Click on Image to Enlarge!

Good morning, the funny thing about wisdom, it usually shows up late and figures that’s just the way it is.

So here we are, settling into the beginning of September. It’s been a week or so since my last morning post. Reason being my wife and I decided to take a little trip south, if for nothing else than to see what the other half has been up to. Truth be told, not much has changed from the last time we visited well, except there’s a lot more folks roaming around.

I’ve never seen such a mix of people from all over the world. Streets, shops, counters, sidewalks, you name it, they’re there. Makes you realize Canada isn’t the same country I grew up in. Back then, it was mostly one kind of people, and that was that. Now, it feels like the land’s been plowed under and reseeded with something else entirely. Some folks roll with it, some grumble like a tractor with a stone caught in the blades.

And me? Well, I figure that’s just the way it is. Seasons turn, fields turn, and countries turn too. Can’t stop it. Can’t fight it. Might as well watch, learn a little, and see what comes of it.

On another note, we’re getting some sunshine here in Cottage Country this morning. Still, the air’s cooler than it’s been the last few days. The good news is, we’ve been getting the rain we needed after a long dry spell. Makes the land feel alive again. You learn over the years that you can’t hurry these things. The sun will shine, the rain will fall, and the seasons will turn whether you like it or not. All you can do is watch, tend what you can, and let the rest take care of itself.

On another note, now that we’re back home, there’s a lot of outside work that needs to be done before winter arrives. We did get our firewood in before we left, so at least we won’t have to worry about being cold, which is always nice.

My wife has also done up a lot of our tomatoes for winter. We don’t put them in jars anymore, we freeze them instead. This year we grew some Early Girls, nice and red for eating, some Roma for the pasta sauce my wife makes a lot of, and some yellow low-acid ones. I have to say, those yellow ones are sweet and tasty this year, and easy on the old stomach, not that the Early Girls aren’t as good; they sure are.

I have to admit, we had a really good crop, one of the better ones, despite the dry, hot weather we had. Actually, we ended up with so many that we’ve been selling them out front on our trailer.

It makes you think, after all these years, that the land has its own way of looking after us. You plant, you tend, you sweat, and then it gives back in its own time. Some years it’s easy, some years it’s hard, but it keeps going… and somehow, we do too.

So with that, I’m off to have the breakfast my lovely wife made for me—a bowl of organic oatmeal, simple and good. After that, I’ll head outdoors and get to work. Well, maybe I’ll have a hot cocoa first, just because I can. No harm in starting the day off right.

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

Click on Image to Enlarge

Coffee Talk: Good Morning, Nothing Works Right Till After Coffee

Well, we are in the midst of another nice-looking day here in Cottage Country. The sun is up and shining, there’s hardly any wind, and barely a cloud in the sky. However, it has cooled down enough that we had to turn on our oil furnace for the first time. You might say it’s a reminder of what’s to come.

Weather today in Port Loring, Ontario, expect mostly cloudy skies with temperatures reaching a high of 71°F (22°C) this afternoon. This evening, conditions will remain cloudy, with temperatures gradually cooling to a low of 54°F (12°C) by late tonight

Highway 522 has picked up over the past few days, with lots of campers, trucks, and cars coming through. I guess, being the last big weekend before the kids go back to school, people figure they’d best make the most of our country up here in the north.

On another note, yesterday, my wife and I got the grass cut for another week. I have to say, when it’s all cleaned up, it sure looks nice. You know, in our home, there isn’t a window that hasn’t something interesting to see. That’s probably because we’re surrounded by nature. It’s so nice, it almost pulls you outside just to take it all in.

So, what are you up to today, GW?

Well, since my wife and I worked so hard yesterday, and it’s such a nice day—and with colder days not too far off—I’m thinking we’ll be doing some front porch sitting, putting our feet up, maybe enjoying a coffee or hot cocoa, and taking in our beautiful piece of property.

With that, I’m off to enjoy the breakfast my lovely wife has made for me—bacon and eggs. After that, who knows what the day has in store? Life is a mystery sometimes.

Until the next time, keep your minds open and your stories alive. GW