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Good morning, folks. You know… I’ve been writing so long, my first drafts used to come in on horseback. And that is the honest truth.

Well, as you know, I’ve missed a few mornings here on the blog, and there’s a good reason for it. This past week, I’ve been working on a novel I started years ago, the one that’s been sitting in the back of my mind for far too long. I finally decided it was time to get the first half done.

The rest of the story is already clear in my head. I thought about making it a series, but decided to tell it all in one book instead, which means it’ll be a bit longer. I’m happy to say what I’ve written so far turned out just the way I wanted.

Now I can get back to my regular routine, and when winter comes, I’ll be ready to finish the whole thing.

As for today, my wife and I are going to get the mowing out of the way, which will take most of the morning. With all this dry weather we’ve been having, we were able to skip a week of cutting, but now the yard is starting to look a bit shabby — and that bothers us to no end. The fix? Wake up the old mowers, which we’ll do as soon as we finish our breakfast.

On another note, the vegetable gardens have been looking much better since we had that rain a couple of days ago. No matter how much you water, it’s never as good as what a good rain can do. Especially our tomatoes, which are just starting to turn red.

Actually had a couple of tomato sandwiches for supper last night, and they tasted real good. Nothing like home-grown tomatoes – those store-bought ones have no taste at all. And here’s the thing: if there’s no taste, there’s nothing good in them health-wise either. But today, well, most everything in the stores is the same. Kind of a shame where we’ve gotten to over the years.

So, with all that said, I’ve got a lot to do today, so I’m off to have the breakfast my little woman is making for me. She’s already rattling pans in the kitchen, which is my cue to get moving. Once the work’s out of the way, I’ll swing back by the blog and chat a bit more. There’s usually something worth talking about.

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

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Good morning, folks. You know, I’ve been writing since before the internet was even a rumor.

Weather Forecast for Port Loring Ontario Canada.

Today: Mostly cloudy, heat climbing into the upper 80s °F (31 °C). Feels like the kind of day when even the pine trees look tired. Heat warnings are also in place, so I don’t think I will be doing any real hard work outside today.

Tonight: Warm and muggy, mid-70s °F (24 °C). The air will hang on you like an old wool coat, even after dark.

I’ve seen plenty of hot days up here in the north, but this one’s the sort where you take your time, enjoy a cool drink occasionally, and let the world turn without you for a spell.

Fishing Times For Port Loring:

Hot as it is, the fish will be layin’ low. Best chance is from 12:48 to 2:48 this afternoon, keep your bait down where it’s cool. Then again from 8:34 to 9:34 tonight, when the heat backs off and they start movin’. Fish slow, stay cool, and don’t work harder than the fish are.

Highway 522: Well, I have to say, traffic in our neck of the woods has been slower than a Sunday drive this summer. Folks are feeling the pinch these days, what with our so-called powers taking more than half their paychecks. Add to that the heat and dry spell we’ve been getting—no rain worth talking about in weeks—and it’s no wonder people are staying home, hiding in the shade or enjoying their air conditioners. Truth be told, I can’t say I blame them. Out on the highway, you can go for miles without meeting a soul, and the fields and ditches are starting to look as tired as the folks who tend them.

On another note: My wife and I managed to get all of next year’s firewood stacked nicely under our lean-to, which will now dry till next year. Truth is, we enjoy that kind of work—or pretty much anything—as long as we’re doing it together. There’s a comforting feeling knowing that when winter finally shows up, no matter how bitter the cold gets, we’ll have a warm, toasty fire waiting for us.

Add to that some preserves from our garden and a good supply of grass-fed beef in the freezer, along with some home-grown potatoes, and well, what more can I say? We’re all set for whatever the season throws our way.

So what are you up to today, GW?

Well, with another hot one on the way, I’m thinking I’ll kick back in the cool of the house—maybe write a story or two, or finally get back to editing that novel I’ve been working on for the past few years. But before the heat really settles in, I’m going to give the tomatoes, corn, squash, and zucchini a good long drink. The ground’s dry as can be, and the worst part is, there’s not much rain expected around here for a few days yet.

So, with that, I’m off for breakfast that my lovely wife’s fixing for me, which consists of some Bob’s Red Mill Organic Steel Cut Oats she soaked overnight. One of the healthiest foods you can eat, and none of the chemicals you get in the other stuff. It’s a real shame how most of our food these days is loaded with pesticides, PFAS, and a whole mess of other junk. Makes me shake my head, wondering what those powers that be and big companies are thinking. No wonder so many folks are sick these days.

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

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Good morning, folks. My old Dad used to say: “George, you don’t get wisdom all at once. You earn it, one job, one mistake, one morning at a time.”

Forecast for today and tonight in Port Loring, Ontario:

Today – Wednesday, August 6th
It’ll be a warm one today, with a good mix of sun and cloud. Nothing too wild in the sky, just decent working weather. High around 85°F (30°C) and it might feel a little muggy if you’re out fencing or hauling feed, but nothing unbearable. However, we should have a light breeze here and there, which will help keep the sweat off your brow.

Tonight
Clear to partly cloudy skies, it’ll cool off a bit, but not by much… low around 62°F (17°C). It will be a good night to leave the windows cracked or sit out on the porch after your chores are done. It should be quiet, peaceful, and not too buggy.

Port Loring fishing report, country-style, plain and simple:

Wednesday, August 6th

Best times to fish:

• Late morning: 10 AM to noon
• Evening: 7 PM to just after 8

For Largemouth Bass:
Stick close to the lily pads, weed beds, or sunken logs. Toss a topwater frog early or a soft plastic worm mid-day near shaded cover. Real worm is even better.

For Northern Pike:
They’ll be lurking near drop-offs or weed edges. Use spoons or spinnerbaits. Don’t forget your steel leader, as they’ll cut your line off quicker than you can blink an eye.

For Pickerel (Walleye):
Try some jigs tipped with minnows or worms dropping your line to around 10 to 20 feet, especially near rocky points or underwater humps, They’ll be a bit more active just before dark.

Quiet water, decent weather, and a good chance of catching some today, that is if you’re patient. Take your time and keep your hook sharp. Good Luck!

On another note, yesterday was a busy one. I spent most of it fixing a few things around the house and shop. There is always something that needs doing. We have one more load of firewood coming, either today or tomorrow, the last of three, which adds up to ten face cords. That will be set aside for next winter, not this one. My wife and I like to let it dry out a full year before burning. Around here, thinking ahead is not just smart, it is necessary. It takes a special kind of person to live in a place like this for any length of time.

So what are you up to today, GW?

Well, like I said, we’ve got one more load of firewood coming. If it gets here today, that’ll take care of things. If not, I guess I’ll clean up my shop again. With all the work I’ve been doing around the house, it’s gotten a bit messy. My wife calls me a Messy Marvin, says I’m always leaving trails wherever I go.

So with that I am off for my breakfast that my lovely wife is making for me, which will consist of two medium boiled eggs and a couple of breakfast sausages from grass fed critters. That should hold me over till lunchtime.

And a note to the Powers that Be: a paycheck isn’t government property; it’s a man’s lifeblood. Let him keep it. All taxes should be removed from paychecks.

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