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.

The View from This Old Chair on July 23/2025

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Good morning, folks. Not sure what kind of day it’ll be, but I figure we’ll find out soon enough.

Looking outside this morning, we’re having some clouds, and the temperature did drop through the night, which made sleeping mighty nice. I sure do enjoy it when we can have the windows open, letting in that fresh air.

Today: It’s shaping up to be a warm one, with the temperature climbing to around 82°F (28°C). We might see a shower pass through early on, but after that, it’ll be a mix of sun and cloud. Later in the day, it’ll turn mostly cloudy, but nothing too worrisome.

Tonight: It’ll settle down to a comfortable 64°F (18°C). A mild, peaceful night ahead, just right for sleeping with the window open a crack and letting the night air drift in.

Tomorrow: Now tomorrow’s the real summer deal, expect it to hit around 86°F (30°C). It’ll be humid, with a mix of sunshine and clouds, and by the afternoon there’s a good chance of a gusty thunderstorm rolling through. It will be one of those days when you’ll be glad for a bit of breeze and maybe a shady spot to sit a spell.

Bug Report: All is well in that department other than a few mosquitoes irritating ya now and then and… the occasional deer fly.

Fishing Times:

If you’re thinkin’ about wetting a line today here in Port Loring, I’d say you’re in luck. The weather’s sittin’ just right, with a mix of cloud and sun, and a bit of warmth creeping in as the day goes on. We had some cooler air roll in overnight, which made for good sleeping, and it’s the kind of morning that makes a fella want to load the boat and drift out before breakfast’s even had time to settle.

Best fishing times today look to be around 11:30 this morning right on through till about 1:30 this afternoon. That’s when the fish will be movin’, and if you’re in the right spot with the right bait, you might just pull in something worth bragging about.

Then, as the day starts to cool and the sun dips down, there’s another good window around 8:00 till just after 9:00 tonight. That evening bite can be mighty good if the wind settles and the mosquitoes don’t carry you off first.

A bit of cloud cover never hurts either, as it keeps the sun off your neck and gives the fish a little more nerve to come up from the deeper water. Might be a good day to try just off the weeds, or along the edges where it drops off. Bass and pickerel like to sit there, waiting for supper to come to them.

So, if you’re itchin’ to get out there, I’d say grab your gear, throw together a sandwich, and head for the lake. You don’t get too many days like this, and the fish won’t wait forever.

On another note, my wife and I, along with our one son, took a trip to Niagara over the weekend to visit our other son. We hadn’t seen him in quite a while, so we figured it was time.

We had ourselves a great visit. Picked up a few things, went out for supper every night, and enjoyed a couple of good milkshakes along the way. The trip down and back was smooth as can be, and the weather held up just fine. All in all, it was one of those getaways that leaves you feeling thankful. We sure had a good time.

With that, I’m off to enjoy the breakfast my little woman has ready for me, and then I’ll be opening up our gift shop for the day.

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

Garage Sale Winding Down

Alright Folks, Here’s the Deal…

We’ve been at this garage sale now for going on two months. Sold a fair bit early on, but lately, not much has moved. Truth is, we’ve still got a lot of good stuff sitting out in the carport, and with colder weather coming on, we need that space back for the car.

So here’s what we’re doing…

Instead of hauling it all off somewhere where they’ll just turn around and charge folks an arm and a leg, we’d rather it go to someone in town who can really use it.

If you’re struggling right now and don’t have any extra money, please don’t worry — just come by and take what you need. No charge, no judgment. That’s what this is really about.

For others who can spare a little, we’ll have a donation box sitting out. Take what you like and toss in whatever you feel is fair, if you can. That part’s up to you.

We’re located at 11588 Highway 522, Port Loring, Ontario.

We’ll keep things out for a few more days, then we’ll wrap it up.

Thanks again to everyone who came by over the past while. It’s been good meeting folks and seeing things go to new homes. 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]

Before the Day Gets Away on Me On July 17/2025

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Good morning, folks. I stepped outside, and the air felt like it remembered something I’d forgotten.

Meaning we’re getting some much-needed rain, which the trees, plants, and just about everything else—including the animals and birds—were all in need of. And it’s a good soaking rain too, not coming down so hard that it runs off the soil before it can sink in.

That said, depending on where you’re standing, it might just be a gentle, steady drizzle, or it could turn into a real soaker. There is a Rainfall Warning in effect for our area, which means some spots might see upwards of 2 inches or 50 millimetres of rain, possibly even more if the heavier showers or a thunderstorm drifts through. So far, though, it has been coming down just right for us here in Port Loring.

Today, except a few light showers this morning, sticking around off and on through the day. It will be mostly cloudy and cooler, but nothing wild, just a good day to let nature do her thing. The high will reach 67 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 19 degrees Celsius.

Tonight will stay mostly cloudy with a few breaks here and there. It will be cool overnight, so if you have a window cracked open, you might want to pull that extra blanket up. The low will hover around 48 degrees Fahrenheit or 9 degrees Celsius. From one extreme to another.

Tomorrow, well tomorrow looks to be a real gem, with lots of sunshine and a light breeze. It will be just the right kind of summer day to dry things out a bit, and a good one for doing some outdoor work. The high will reach 76 degrees Fahrenheit, or 24 degrees Celsius, with a low tomorrow night near 53 degrees Fahrenheit or 12 degrees Celsius.

All in all, this is the kind of weather that reminds you the land still knows what it is doing if we just give it a little room and patience.

Bug Report: Well, other than a few deer flies buzzing around, things are pretty good these days. The mosquitoes have eased off some too, thanks to the sun turning up the heat. That’s fine with me because for a while there, it felt like we were living in the tropics instead of here in the north. I half expected to see a palm tree or two start growing in the backyard.

On another note, yesterday, my wife and I managed to get all the mowing done. It wasn’t the nicest day for it, being so hot, and I have to tell you, by the time we finished, we were both more than ready for a shower and to flop into our lazy boy chairs. At any rate, it’s all taken care of for another week, and the place is looking mighty fine.

So, what are you up to today, GW?

Well, with today being a wet one and still feeling a bit tired from yesterday’s workout, I’m thinking I’ll take it easy and maybe write up a story or two here at my desk. No heavy lifting today, just words for now.

But first, I’m off to enjoy the breakfast my little woman’s made for me. Then I’ll settle in with a cup of Barry’s Tea, a touch of cream, no sugar—just the way I like it. After that, I’ll take a look at that story that’s been bugging me for a few days and see if it comes together as well on paper as it does in my mind.

Oh, almost forgot:

Port Loring Fishing Times – Thursday, July 17, 2025

Morning: 5:37 AM to 7:37 AM
Midday: 1:07 PM to 2:07 PM
Evening: 7:13 PM to 9:13 PM

And if you’re heading out, you might want to grab a raincoat or something waterproof—those clouds aren’t playing around today. If it were me, I’d be staying home and letting the rain do its thing.

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

From the Desk That’s Seen It All on July 16/2025

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Good Morning Folks. Some might ask why I like to write here on my blog. Well, the truth is, it’s easier to keep track of my thoughts here on my computer than in my head.

Weather for Port Loring, Ontario

Well, I don’t have to tell you it’s been a stretch of hot ones around here lately. The kind of heat that clings to your shirt and makes the air feel heavy before breakfast. Today’s shaping up to be no different, with temperatures pushing up around 88°F (31°C) and not much of a breeze to speak of. If you’re planning on being outside, best get your work done early or wait till the sun starts its slow dip behind the trees.

Tonight, it’ll cool some, dropping to around 66°F (19°C), which will help a bit. You might even be able to sleep with the windows open if you’re lucky enough to catch a bit of a breeze coming off the lake.

Now, tomorrow’s looking better. The forecast says we’ll finally be getting some much-needed rain, and not just a spit or two either. The kind of rain that soaks in deep and gives the trees, critters, and everything below our feet a bit of relief. Highs will settle around 75°F (24°C), which’ll feel downright pleasant after what we’ve been through.

And just a thought...when that rain starts falling, take a minute to listen. Not just to the drops on the roof, but to the way the ground soaks it up. There’s a whole world down there most folks don’t give a second thought to. But it matters, just as much as the birds and bees above.

Highway 522 has quieted down a lot these days, yesterday there was hardly a car moving around other than locals taking in what the rest of the town is up to. A normal thing for small towns.

Fishing Times for Wednesday, July 16, 2025

If you’re thinkin’ about headin’ out to the lake today with rod in hand, here’s what you might want to know.

The best times to be out there fishin’ today was early this morning from around 4:50 AM till 6:50 AM, and then again this evening between 5:15 PM and 7:15 PM. Those are what they call the “major feeding times,” and from my own experience, they’re usually right about that.

There’s also a couple of minor windows—around noon from 11:45 AM to 12:45 PM, and late tonight from about 11:25 PM to 12:25 AM—but I wouldn’t go changin’ your plans over those unless you’re already out on the water or can’t sleep.

The weather’s lookin’ decent enough this morning, but we’ve got some rain on the way tomorrow, so today might be your best shot at gettin’ out there before things get soggy. Sometimes before a rain can help the bite, so if it was me today later on is the time I would be out there as if you’re lucky, you might catch yourself a nice pickerel or bass as the sun starts to set. That’s usually when they come out of hiding lookin’ for supper.

On another note, yesterday I took things a little easier, what with the heat and all. Other than lookin’ after the folks who dropped by our gift shop, I didn’t push myself too hard. I did manage to spend some time in the woodworking shop, though. It usually stays a fair bit cooler in there, which makes it a good place to get a few things done without feelin’ like you’re bakin’ in the sun. Got a couple small projects moving along, and it felt good to be puttering away in the quiet, with just the sound of the tools and the smell of sawdust for company.

So what are you up to today, GW?

Well, bein’ that we’re supposed to get some rain tomorrow, the wife and I figured we’d best get the mowing out of the way while we can. We’re hopin’ to get at it early, before the heat really settles in. Truth be told, this kind of weather isn’t something you want to be workin’ in too long—especially not at our age. But we’ll give it a go, and if it gets too hot, we’ll pack it in and finish up later. No sense pushin’ it.

So with that, I’m off to enjoy the breakfast my lovely wife is cookin’ up for me, then I’ll be headin’ on outdoors to see what the day brings.

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

Two Fellas at The Farm Auction

Only On The Walters Post

Now, I’m not here to tell folks what to think, I’m just sharing what life has shown me. Take from it what makes sense, leave the rest, but maybe let it sit with you a while.


So there’s this old farm auction out on the edge of town, dusty lane, row of pickups, folks in ball caps and boots looking over used tractors and a pile of split cedar posts.

Up pulls Pierre Poilievre, hops out of a half-ton that’s seen a gravel road or two. He strides in quick, starts shaking hands, asking what the last diesel bill was, and nodding along when someone grumbles about interest rates. He’s got a bit of a sharp tongue, pokes at the auctioneer for charging too much commission, and tells a joke about how the government’s taxes are like raccoons — always finding a way into your bin. Folks laugh, some clap him on the back.

Then along comes Mark Carney. Now, he doesn’t exactly drive in — he arrives with a shiny hired car from the city. He’s polite, soft-spoken, and when someone asks what he thinks about land prices, he talks about “leveraged debt positions” and “macroprudential tools.” A couple of local farmers scratch their heads, wonder what the hell that means, and drift off to check the plows. Carney stands there smiling, checking his watch, thinking maybe he’s got to be on a call with some London banker in an hour.

When the auction starts, Pierre’s bidding on a used stock trailer, saying it’ll help a rancher keep costs down. Carney’s mostly just observing, probably figuring out how farmland fits into global climate asset models.

By the end of the day, both shake hands and head off. Pierre goes off to grab a burger with the locals, Carney back to his next big finance meeting.


Moral of the story?
They’re both smart men in their own way. But if you’re looking for someone who talks like your neighbor about feed bills and mortgage payments, it sure isn’t Carney. He’s thinking more about how Canada fits into the world’s banking puzzle, often with a soft spot for how they do things across the pond in the UK.

Poilievre’s aiming to be the loud voice for the average fellow at the farm gate — though time’ll tell if he truly walks that walk.

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