Good Morning, where the snow’s saying, ‘I’m baaack!’ and the cold’s saying, ‘I never left!’

We are waking up to some more snow here in Cottage country, and by the looks of the sky and what my old weather station is saying … we could get up to 8 inches or so. It will depend on which way the snow tracks. One thing is for sure, someone is going to get it. And from what I have seen over the years, if anyone gets snow, we do. But as I said, we will see what happens in the coming hours.

Highway 522 does have some snow covered areas, and a few icy sections throughout, which is to be expected with the snow we did get the other day, along with the colder temperatures.

Small Town Humor: You know, they say in small towns, everyone knows your business. Hell, I found that sometimes they know it before I do!

On another note once again I worked here at my computer writing up a couple stories for my newspaper columns, and today being that it is snowing, I think I will carry on with another couple. I will also head on out to my woodworking shop in a bit to put some more wood in the stove, as I like to keep it warm through the winter months, just in case I have an urge to make a few things.

I can’t forget a bit on Politicians: Why did the old farmer say politicians are like weeds?
‘Cause no matter how much you try to get rid of ’em, they keep popping up!

With that I am off for my breakfast that my lovely wife has prepared for me.

And remember, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink – unless you’ve got a salt lick handy, or …. a carrot or two.”

You all have a great day! GW

Good Morning, where the sun’s greeting us with open arms like a long-lost friend, but the cold’s giving us the cold shoulder!

Yes it is a cold one waking up here in Cottage country, but as I said, the sun is shinning which makes it feel a lot nicer. The temperature at the time of this post was sitting at … -17.4 C | 0.68 F

Highway 522 does have some icy sections throughout, especially going towards Highway 69, but it’s always that way, or so it seems. I find that time slows down driving on Highway 522 chocked up to all the neat things you see along the way. It’s not just about getting from point A to point B; it’s about enjoyin’ the journey, one mile at a time.

Politician Humor: “Back in my day, politicians were like hens in a hen house, always clucking, never laying any eggs! They haven’t changed all that much over the years.”

On another note, yesterday, my wife and I managed to get our driveway cleaned out and the snow off our decks. Took us a bit, but we enjoyed the fresh air and the exercise was nice too. In part.

Today, well, I never really know what I will be doing, I reckon you could say I’m like a prospector with a rusty shovel, digging for nuggets of wisdom, occasionally striking it rich, and always discovering little treasures along the way! Life is sure interesting to say the least.

With that, I am off for a bowl of porridge that my lovely wife is making for me.

Have a great day, and remember: A fence that’s built to last is built one post at a time. Take each day as it comes, GW

Good morning! Where last night’s snowfall turned the town into a picture-perfect scene straight out of a holiday card! Actually better.

So we all woke up to some snow here in cottage country. I would say so far we had 6 or so inches. Which means I will have to wake up our snowblower a bit later on today or … wait until tomorrow. It’s still snowing, so I will wait till it has it out of its system. The good news is, the snow is real light, which will make shoveling a lot easier.

Highway 522 is snow covered throughout, and so far this morning I have only seen one truck roll by our home. But If you are planning on going somewhere today, remember: Fresh snow is as slippery as a politician in election season! Keep a grip and stay safe!

Dad would sometimes tell me tales of winters past, about when the snow was piled so high that it covered the fences and turned the world into a sparkling wonderland. “Why, you couldn’t tell where the yard ended, and the sky began!” he’d say, his eyes twinkling with the memories of what it was like when he was growing up. I would smile, knowing … that, in the north, winter isn’t just a season, it’s a way of life. As it is here in Cottage country today.

On another note, I worked once again here at my computer, writing up a couple more stories for my newspaper columns. I like to get a few ahead so I won’t have to be sitting in the house when the warm weather arrives. I do enjoy writing, though, and look forward to bringing words to life. But I must say that this winter so far, I have been doing more things outside than I was doing. Which is a good thing, as it keeps the mind spry and body moving, and I sure need it. And with the snow we had overnight, my wife and I will be getting some more exercise a bit later on in the day, or tomorrow.

With that, I am off for a bowl of porridge and a piece of toast that my lovely wife has put together for me, and then will see what the day has in store.

I hope you all have a great day, and remember: “You can’t milk a cow by whispering sweet nothing’s. Sometimes you have to roll up your sleeves, grab a bucket, and get your hands dirty – just watch out for the kickback.”

You might have had to milked cows by hand to understand that statement. GW

Good morning! Where the sun rises late, and the town-folk rise even later.

It’s a bit cloudy and cool here in Cottage Country, however the sun is trying hard to sneak through, which sure will be nice. I like these mornings as the air is fresh, and the ground is hard. Walking out to my woodworking shop to lite the stove every morning seems to clear out the cobwebs.

Nothing much to report on Highway 522 this morning, so I will share A Chat Between Two Old Codgers On Their Farm:

Jed: “Earl, reckon you heard about them city fellas trying to save the world with their fancy carbon tax?”
Earl: “You bet I did, Jed! They think slapping a tax on our air is going to fix everything?”
Jed: “Seems that way! Next thing you know, they’ll be charging us for the dust we kick up while working the fields!”
Earl: “Ha! They’ll tax anything that moves, won’t they? I half expect ’em to tax the crows for cawing too loud!”
Jed: “Well, I tell ya, Earl, it’s us working folk who end up feeling the pinch. Can’t afford to breathe easy no more!”
Earl: “You got that right, Jed! Soon they’ll be charging us for the sunshine we use to dry our laundry!”
Jed: “Ain’t that the truth! But you know what they say, Earl, laughing keeps us warm when the taxman’s blowing cold.”
Earl: “You betcha, Jed! Let’s just hope they don’t start taxing us for our laughs too!”
Jed: “Well, if they do, Earl, we’ll just laugh louder! Can’t tax a man’s sense of humor, now can they?”
Earl: “That’s right, Jed! Here’s to us, the last of the laughing farmers in a world gone tax-crazy!”
Jed: “Cheers to that, Earl! Now let’s go see if we can’t outwit them taxes while we milk the cows!”

On another note, yesterday I once again worked here at my desk doing up some editing on another YouTube video, which I have to say turned out pretty good.

With that I am off for another bowl of porridge that my lovely wife has prepared for me, and will then get to writing up a couple of stories for my newspaper columns. Always something to keep this old mind of mine a thinking.

In closing, remember:” Life’s like a jug of moonshine – it’s best when shared with good company, but … a sip alone ain’t half bad either!” GW

Good morning, where the early birds get the gossip, and the latecomers get the cold coffee!

We are in the midst of a lot of clouds here in cottage country this morning, and it has cooled down some, with it sitting at -2 C | 28.4 F.

By the looks of things, the colder weather will remain with us for the next week or so. Which we shouldn’t complain about, as our winter, so far this year, hasn’t amounted to anything like it has been for the past few years.

Taking a look at our town, not much is happening other than the wind whistling through the pines, and for Highway 522 well … it’s as clear as a moonlit night.

On another note, yesterday once again I traded my woodworking shop for my computer and today will do the same, as I have a few projects on the go that needs finishing up.

Reg and Laura, the folks that raised me, rocked back and forth on their creaky porch chairs, Reg puffing on his pipe as he shared his latest discovery. “You know, Laura” he said with a twinkle in his eye, “I swear them trees out yonder got a language of their own. Heard ’em whisperin’ secrets when I was out huntin’ last week!” She chuckled, taking a sip of her coffee. “Well, all I can say, Reg, is the next time you hear ’em, tell ’em to keep it down! Nothing worse than a bunch of idle chatter keeping folks awake in the early morning hours.”

I have a lot of good memories from way back when while living with them.

With that I am off for my morning breakfast that my lovely wife has ready for me, and will then see what the day has in store. And remember: “Life’s like a jar of pickles – sometimes sour, sometimes sweet, but always packed with flavour, just make sure you can handle the crunch!” GW

Good morning, where the day starts with a stretch, a yawn, and the comforting routine of small-town living. Let’s hope it stays that way.

We are waking up to some clouds here in Cottage country. However, it is still quite mild, which is sure something for this time of year. I kind of think, that nature is telling us that she is in need of a change. As an old feller who’s seen his share of life’s ups and downs, one thing stands out clear: no matter what we do, the world keeps turning just the same. We might fancy ourselves masters of the universe, but truth be told, our thinking has often missed the mark over the years. I know for some, it’s a hard pill to swallow, but there it is.

I also believe that a lot of minds, have often gone astray, misunderstanding the way things truly unfold. You know … we’re just specks in the grand scheme of things, strutting about like we own the place. But the truth is, we’re just along for the ride.

Personally, I think it’s about time we sat ourselves down and took a good, hard look at the wisdom we’ve been missing out on for far too long. It’s been there all along, waiting patiently for us to wise up and take notice. The truth of the matter is, or at least my thoughts are, that we need to quit dilly-dallying and start paying attention. And hey! Who knows what we might find … when we finally open our eyes and minds?

Well, that’s the way I see it this morning. Take what you like and leave the rest, like pickin’ your favourite apples from the orchard.

On another note, once again my computer overtook my woodworking shop yesterday, which held me here at bay in the house. I did however get a lot done and if things goes to plan I should finish up things today which in turn means I can get back to my woodworking shop, as I do have a few things in mind that I want to do.

Highway 522 is still quiet, but weather wise for travelling things are good. Who needs to go to Florida or where it is warm when we have weather like this?

With that, I am off for a bowl of porridge that my lovely wife is making, and then, it’s off to see what adventures await me today. Have a great day and remember: “Even a broken clock is right twice a day!” GW

Click on Image to Enlarge!

Good morning, where the front porch is the best seat in the house for watching the world go by, and catching up with the local gossip.

And we might be able to do just that later on in the day, with it being so nice outside temperature wise.

It is a touch cloudy this morning, but as I said it is mild. The good news is we aren’t burning as much wood/oil/propane/electricity these days to keep us warm, which is a good thing, as with the price of things, people are having a hard time as it is.

Highway 522 is very quiet, as is everything else in town these days.

I’ve always said: “You know it’s winter in our town when even the cool wind whispers. Not today, I’m on break!”

On another note, my lovely wife and I took a trip to North Bay yesterday, picking up a few things along with dropping off a few things. After we had things looked after, we decided for a change to go to East Side Mario’s for lunch, which we did and had a 10 Slice Pizza and a cool one. Which I shared with you above with a picture. I have to say, other than the price, it was delicious. We don’t have it very often, but when we do, it’s a real treat.

After that, we stopped off for a Tim Hortons Decaf coffee and headed on home, taking in what nature had to offer, which is always nice, as no mater how many times we have made the trip to town, it seems there is always something new to see.

Today I am thinking … being that it is not too cold, that I will wash our car, as it sure gets dirty driving to North Bay and back home. Which will keep me busy for most of the morning.

With that, I am off for a cup of hot cocoa with my little woman, and remember. In the barn of life, every cow finds its stall. So take your time, enjoy the hay, and milk the good moments! GW

Good Morning! I woke up today with a smile on my face, and I can’t wait to see all the shenanigans it’s got in store for us.

We are starting things off with a wee bit of freezing rain here in cottage country. But it isn’t all that cold, with the temperature sitting at -0.6 C | 30.92 F, and if luck is upon us, we could see a bit of sunshine later on in the day. Which is what we all need in staying healthy. It also brightens up the spirit in folks minds.

Highway 522 is wet this morning and I suspect there are some icy sections throughout, which means care should be taken if out and about. It also is very quiet with traffic these days, with only the locals moving around. I’ve always said that you know you live in a small town when you wave at every passing car, whether you know them or not.

I remember a time many years ago taking the horses out to the field for my Dad to do some plowing. The one Clyde that day for some reason refused to plow the field, Dad he scratched his head and sighed. “Seems like Jessy’s got a mind of her own today,” he’d chuckle, shaking his head at the horses’ stubbornness. But instead of getting angry, Dad simply leaned against the fence and waited. “Sometimes, George,” he said with a wink, “you gotta let things unfold in their own time.” And sure enough, after a few minutes of coaxing and fusing, Jessy would finally relent, and the plowing would begin, and the field got plowed.

Dad always said. “Wisdom, now that’s a different breed altogether. It comes from years of trial and error, learning from the land and them critters themselves. Knowing when to push and when to back off, when to mend fences and when to let them be. That’s the wisdom that comes with time, like the slow turning of the seasons.” And I found later on in life that what he said was true.

On another note I did do a bit of work in the woodworking shop yesterday but for most parts I worked away here at my computer. Got lots done and will finish things up today, I hope.

With that I am off for my breakfast that my lovely wife is preparing for me and will then get to it.

Have a great day and remember, “life’s too short to take seriously, so laugh when you can, apologize when you should, and let go of what you can’t change!” GW

Good Morning Folks! “Like a sunbeam through the barn window, may your day be bright, warm, and filled with the sweet scent of hay.”

Those were the days, getting up at 4:00 AM to milk the cows, feed them along with the others. Not to forget cleaning their stalls. You know, them critters were always happy to see me, and I can’t say I blame ’em, I was the one bringing breakfast. I was always happy to get back to the farm house after milking for mine.

Highway 522 is pretty well clear but being so cold along with a frost through the night I suspect there are some slippery sections one might have to keep an eye out for.

Old Grey Wolf, my friend of years ago, loved to tell the story of the talking trees deep in the heart of the forest where he lived. “They whisper secrets to those who listen,” he’d say with a grin, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “But you have to have patience and an open heart to hear ’em.” I would laugh and shake my head, but deep down, I knew there was truth in his words. For in the stillness of the woods, the trees spoke volumes, sharing tales of ages past and dreams yet to come.

I sure miss our chats, but as much as I miss him, his words have never left me.

I remember listening to another old feller, years ago while enjoying a soda as he went on to say that a friend of his, got caught in a blizzard and ended up spending the night in the abandoned barn on the edge of town. Now, depending on who you ask, he said, that barn is either haunted by ghosts or home to a secret stash of grandma’s moonshine. And I am leaning towards grandma’s…. but you never know. I have to tell you, being young at the time, the tale held my interest.

On another note other than stories, yesterday I traded in my woodworking shop for my desk and worked away on editing another video I took awhile ago. It took me most of the day and will finish it up this morning. After that, I am back to my woodworking shop to make a new axe handle. I am thinking of making a video on how I go about making it. I will see how that goes.

With that you all have a great day and remember, the wind knows no boundaries, and neither should you. GW

Good Morning! As the day unfolds, let’s remember that the best things in life ain’t found in the bright lights of the city but in the quiet moments and simple pleasures of the countryside. Or so it’s been said by a few of us old timers.

It’s a cool morning here in cottage country, but not as cold as it used to be years ago. Actually, yesterday, my lovely wife and I sat out on our front porch and had our lunch. Hard to believe we didn’t need a coat, but we sure enjoyed soaking up that sunshine and feeling like the world slowed down for a spell. And by the looks of things, the warm weather will remain with us for the next few days or so. Which is fine with me. We love our front porch! Especially this time of year.

Highway 522 is clear of snow and ice, which has made travelling quite good for the past couple weeks.

Stories of the past: Every morning, as the first rays of sunlight peeked over the horizon, Dad would step outside our farmhouse and breathe in the crisp country air. With a mug of steaming coffee in hand, he’d watch as the world woke up around him—the cows grazing lazily in the pasture, the roosters crowing their morning song, and the dew glistening like diamonds on the leaves of the trees. “Ain’t nothing quite like the start of a new day in the country,” he’d mumble to himself, a contented smile on his weathered face. I sure miss his stories/humour and smiles.

On another note, once again I worked away in my woodworking shop on a project I have on the go, and made a video of how I went about making it. Which I will show folks on my YouTube channel at a later date. So far it’s been a hit with thousands of people tuning in to watch them. Quite amazing really. I never ever suspected that, so many were wanting to revive the simple life. Nice to see, that’s for sure.

With that I am off for another bowl of porridge that my lovely wife has prepared for me and will then see what the day has in store.

“And remember, you can’t have a rainbow without a little rain, but you also can’t have a rainbow without sunshine. Keep shining!” GW

Good Morning! Like a fine wine, may your day be smooth, full of laughter, and leave a pleasant aftertaste.

It’s a touch cool waking up here in cottage country. But in saying that after today we will be in for some warmer temperatures which should get rid of any snow we have left on the ground. We might even get in some front porch sitting, soaking in some much-needed sunshine.

Highway 522 is still quiet these days, hardly a car moving east or west. Which is fine with me as that is why I moved here many years ago as where our farm was things were growing leaps and bounds. No room to move without someone watching you. That kind of life isn’t for me. But don’t let the tranquility fool you; life in the countryside isn’t all sunsets and sweet tea. We’ve got our share of peculiarities too, which I won’t get into. Yet, in the midst of occasional absurdities, there’s a certain magic in country living that is in my bones so to speak which can never be removed.

Reminds me of my lovely wife and I one time as we sat on the porch watching the sunset paint the sky, She would pat my hand and say, “Ain’t life grand, dear? Just look at that view! No city lights can hold a candle to this.” I would nod, a wistful smile, while listening to her gentle reassurance. “You’re right, hon,” I’d agree with a sigh. “Nothing beats the quiet of country living.”

On another note, I worked most of the day yesterday in my woodworking shop once again. Today I will do the same, I am in the midst of a project that I have always wanted to do, which I hope turns out okay. We will see later on today how that turns out. You never know what can take place when you’re working with wood.

So with that I am off for another bowl of porridge, for some reason I always enjoy it, especially on them cool days of winter. My dad would say it sticks to your ribs like glue and keeps hunger at bay. Truth told, you could probably patch up a leaky roof if you gave it half a chance

Have a great day and remember, never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear, or a fool from any direction! GW

Good morning, from this corner of the world, where the coffee/cocoa is hot, the gossip’s hotter, and the wisdom flows like molasses.

So how you all doing on this fine February morning. Yes, I got the month right this morning, as yesterday I said it was January 2 instead of February. Slipping up a wee bit in my old age.

Highway 522 is bare and dry this morning, but it is a touch cool out there, which I noticed going to my old woodworking shop earlier, to put some wood in the stove. Getting out of bed, it was sitting at -10.5 C | 13.1 F. However it will warm up a lot as the day moves forward, and on the bright side of things, we are seeing lots of sunshine this morning, which is what we need to stay healthy. I wouldn’t hesitate to bet that if folks were to get more sunshine every day, they’d be healthier overall and wouldn’t need to see the doctor as often. It’s a simple truth, really. You know, most medicines out there these days, they just treat the symptoms. They don’t really get to the root of the problem. But sunshine, now that’s different. It’s like nature’s way of fixing things from the inside out. So, next time you’re not feeling your best, why not head outside and enjoy some sunshine? It’s nature’s way of keeping us in good shape, addressing the root cause, not just covering it up. You’ll feel the difference, You can take that to the bank!

On another note, once again I worked the day away in my woodworking shop on some projects I have on the go, I did do up a new video on one project and today will do another regarding another project. Which should keep this old feller busy for most of the day.

Old Time Wisdom on What Really Matters in Life. My old Dad loved to reminisce about his cottage in Sarasota, Florida by the inland waterways where he spent his winters when he was able. “Those were the days,” he’d sigh, recalling the laughter echoing through the woods and the smell of pine in the air. I would listen, transported back in time to a simpler era, when the only thing that mattered, was the sound of the loons calling across the water. I sure miss them days!

With that I am off for a bowl of Porridge that my lovely wife is making for me and will then head on out to my woodworking shop, but before I leave you for the day remember this: It’s better to be a has-been than a never-was, but it’s best to be a never-was at all! With that floating around in your mind, Have a great day. GW

Good Morning! The birds are chirpin’, the snow is meltin’, and January feels downright neighbourly today.

It is a bit cooler this morning, waking up in cottage country. It will warm up a wee bit as the day moves forward, but not all that much. Tomorrow, however, it will warm up to above the freezing mark once again. So far, this warm weather we have been having has got rid of a lot of our snow. Which is good in some ways, but not so good in other ways. As warmer weather throws nature out of whack up here in the north. Critters start moving at odd times, plants growing all out of sync, which messes up the whole rhythm of life. It’s like nature’s getting mixed signals. And when that happens, a variety of life takes a hit, and things just ain’t the same.

Highway 522 is still quiet, which is to be expected this time of year. It is also clear of snow and ice, which will make travelling good for those that live in our area, which is a lot, as the closest city is about an hour and a half away. Which my wife and I don’t really mind, as it gets us out of the house for the day. Well, other than the price of gas.

Remember When’s: Reg with Laura looking on, the folks that raised me in the early days, said one time. “George, I can remember when the snow was piled so high that folks had to shovel their roofs before they could open their doors. He would go on to say. “Why, I remember a blizzard so fierce, he’d chuckle, “that we had to dig tunnels just to reach the outhouse!” I would shake my head in disbelief, but I knew that in the north, winter wasn’t just a season—it was a way of life. I sure miss them, folks.

On another note, my lovely wife and I did get to go to North Bay yesterday to pick up some supplies and things. Other than a few showers off and on, it was a great day. We got what we needed, had lunch in our car and headed on home, taking in what nature had to offer. Great day all in all.

With that I am off for a bowl of cereal that my lovely wife has made for me and will then see what the day has in store. I do have a few things in mind. Have a great day and remember, “don’t count your chickens before they hatch, but make sure you count your eggs before breakfast!” GW

Good morning from this balmy corner of the North, where January feels more like June. And here it is, the last day of January!

It’s a cloudy morning here in Cottage country, and once again it isn’t all that cold. The temperature waking up was sitting at 0.4 C | 32.72 F. And for the rest of the week the temperature will stay well above the freezing mark, and on top of all that it looks as if we aren’t going to get too many real cold days for the remainder of the winter. And looking even further ahead with nature in mind, it looks as if by the end of March we could do some front porch sitting. But as with anything in nature, to truly find out what’s on her mind … we will have to play the waiting game.

Highway 522 is very quiet these days, quieter than a fishing hole on a frosty morning. But the good news is that the highway has been clear of snow for most parts this winter, which makes travelling pretty good. And for our neck of the woods, that’s something.

On another note, I worked once again in my woodworking shop yesterday for the morning, and in the afternoon I worked on editing some of my YouTube videos, along with writing up a story for my newspaper columns. So all in all a good day, but a busy day mind wise and physically, which is what is needed to stay healthy.

Today I am planning on working away here at my computer. I did however light my shop stove, or should say put some more wood in it, as I have been keeping it going for the past month, which makes it nice for working out there. Once all the equipment gets warm, it hardly takes any heat to keep it warm. You know, when it comes to your house, some folks believe turning down the heat at night is the right thing to do. But let me share a little secret: it’s not. What you want to do is bring the temperature up to a cozy level and keep it there, it’s like having a good friend around. It makes a big difference, let me tell you. So, my advice is simple: keep the warmth flowing, keep it steady, and just enjoy feeling comfortable all the time. Once your furniture, walls and things gets warm, they hold the heat. Let them cool down, it takes a lot of heat to warm them back up.

Fact or Fiction: Every winter, old Gus and his pals would embark on their annual ice fishing expedition, armed with their trusty augers and thermoses of hot cocoa/?. But one year, they returned home with a grand total of zero fish, claiming they were simply “practising their patience” for the next outing.

Kind of reminds me of Barry, my fishing buddy and me.

With that I am off for a bowl of oatmeal that my lovely wife has prepared for me and will then get to work. And remember, a rolling stone gathers no moss, but it sure sees a lot of sights along the way. Keep rolling and stay moss-free! GW

Good Morning! Another day on this side of the sod, another chance to make it count.

It’s a cloudy morning waking up in cottage country, but the good news is it isn’t all that cold. Actually, we have been having spring weather now for the past week. And this warm weather will continue for another four days or so, and we could see some sunshine thrown in for good measure. I’m likin’ it!

Highway 522 is still very quiet traffic wise, but with no snow or ice it has made travelling nice. Which is good for our area, as we have a long way to go to pick up most of our supplies. But we do have a few places to buy things right here in town, which makes it nice. And with the price of gas, travelling any distance makes it hard on the pocket book.

For that matter, even the locals have slowed down on their chatting. Our version of small talk lately, involves a subtle nod and a knowing glance. It’s like a secret code: one nod for “hello,” two for “how’s the weather,” and three for “Did you hear about ??? up the road away?”

On another note I worked once again in my woodworking shop installing shelves, so far I got two in place which are looking good, and today will finish things up. My woodworking shop has never looked so good. Hell, it looks so good I don’t want to do any work in there in case I mess things up.

Today I will continue on.

With that I am off for a bowl of porridge that my lovely wife has prepared for me and will then see what the day has in store.

Have a great day. GW