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.

Weather Like This Ain’t New

Only On The Walters Post

You know folks, I’ve learned over the years to pay close attention when the same kind of weather hangs around too long. Whether it’s cloud, cold, or heat, if it overstays its welcome, something’s bound to shift, and not always in a good way.

Lately, there’s been talk of a big heat ridge stretching across much of the States, and wouldn’t you know it, that stubborn thing is now starting to press up against us here in the north. Right now, it’s sitting mostly to the south and west of us, but the way it’s behaving, and dragging its feet and not in a hurry to move on, it’s likely we’re going to feel more of it as the days roll on.

Over the next week or so, I’d say we’re in for a steady run of warmer-than-usual weather. Highs could creep up to the low 30s C (that’s mid to high 80s F), especially if the clouds stay away. And with very little rain in the forecast, the sun’s going to have full reign across our gardens and fields. That’s great for the tomatoes and beans, not so great if you’ve got wheat in the fields or tender plants that still need a drink now and then.

You could say, it’s the kind of dry, baked heat that builds up when the skies don’t shift, and when you see the haze hanging just a bit lower on the horizon, that’s a sign the atmosphere’s starting to get squeezed out. By midweek, I wouldn’t be surprised if it feels even hotter than what the forecasts are saying. That sun’s not backing off.

Now, some of these specialists are hoping for a backdoor cold front to sneak in from the northeast in a week or so, but I wouldn’t count on it reaching us. Not with that ridge still holding firm over the southern U.S. Unless we get a helping hand from a storm rolling off the Pacific or something brewing in the tropics, chances are we’ll be sweating things out here through the first part of July.

Looking farther out, around the second week of July, there’s a chance the heat ridge could shift a bit to the southwest. If that happens, we might catch a break. But from the looks of the maps and how things have played out in years gone by, I’d say southern Ontario, especially places like ours tucked into the north, could stay in the warm zone. Nights may cool off some, but the days will keep the fans running.

And one more thing, it pays to watch the skies late in the day. With all this warmth and just enough moisture riding the edge of that ridge, we might get some of those pop-up thunderstorms rolling off the Shield and drifting across the lakes. Not long soakers, but the kind that rattle the windows, water the grass for twenty minutes, then head off as quick as they came.

So… in the days ahead, stay cool, check on the folks who might not handle the heat so well, and take your cues from the birds and trees. When the robins are hiding in the shade, and the maples stop fluttering, you know the air’s standing still.

That said, yes, it’s going to get warm — maybe even hot for a stretch. But let’s not lose our heads over it. We’ve seen this kind of heat before, and we got through it just fine. Back then, no one ran off in a panic or made front-page news out of it. Just another summer day, the way they’ve always come and gone.

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

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]

Another Fine Morning Here in the North on June 22/2025

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Good Morning Folks. Well, we are starting things off here this morning with some sunshine, which is always a welcome sight. The kind of morning where the birds seem a bit happier, especially the Robbins, and even our vegetable gardens looks a touch more relaxed.

As for the weather, here’s how things are shaping up for Port Loring, Ontario:

Today: Mainly sunny with just a few passing clouds, high will reach near 75F (24C), with a light breeze from the northwest to keep things comfortable.
Tonight: Clear skies early, then a few clouds drifting in overnight. Low around 54F (12C) — might even be a good night for sleeping with the windows open.
Tomorrow: A mix of sun and cloud, warmer than today, with a high reaching 81F (27C). Slight chance of an afternoon sprinkle, but nothing to fret about.

Looks like we’re in for a stretch of decent weather for a change, good enough to get some outside chores done or just sit back and take it all in. I kinda think my wife and I will do both leaning to the front porch sittin’.

Highway 522 is still pretty quiet, tourist-wise. That said, things should start picking up in another week or so when the kids get out of school for the summer. It usually does — but we’ll see how that works out.

Bug Report:

Well, yesterday morning before the rain moved in, I spent some time working in our vegetable garden, and I have to say I didn’t see a single mosquito, black-fly, or deer-fly. Not one. It’s getting to be that time of year when you can stand, sit, or walk just about anywhere without being pestered too much.

On another note, like I mentioned yesterday, I did manage to work up our vegetable garden — cleared out some of those young weeds that were trying to sneak in without being noticed. I also spread some manure made from grass clippings that’s been rotting down for a few weeks, worked it in nice around our tomato and pepper plants. When I was done, you could almost see those plants smiling.

I have to tell you, folks, when that garden’s all worked up, and the plants are just starting to take hold, it sure is a sight to see. I can never get enough of it.

Matter of fact, now that the sun’s come out, my wife and I are planning to sit under our old basswood tree on the swing I built a while back, just to take it all in.

The thing is, summers are short in our neck of the woods, so when times like this come along, you’ve got to take advantage of them. Least ways, that’s how we see it.

So what are you up to today, GW?

Well, today, with the sun back out and the temperature just right, not too hot and not too cool, I’m thinking I’ll putter around the property a bit along with looking after any customers that happen to drop by our garage sale here at 11588 Highway 522. We’re keeping it going until the end of July, along with our small gift shop. Well, the gift shop will remain open for the whole summer. Just the garage sale will end at the end of July.

And I should mention, everything in the gift shop — all the one-of-a-kind items my wife and I designed and made ourselves — is now half price. So if you’re out and about and feel like browsing, you just might find something special to take home with ya. That is if you drop by.

With that, I’m off to enjoy another breakfast whipped up by my little woman. She sure knows how to start the day right. Once that’s done, I’ll head outside to put up the open signs, then settle into my favorite chair on the front porch with a hot cup of cocoa, and take in our beautiful piece of property — one of the best around, if you ask me. Might not be lakefront, but it’s got everything that matters.

Truth is, not every great place needs a shoreline. Some places just feel right — quiet, peaceful, with room to breathe. Ours is one of them.

You’re always welcome to see for yourselves!

“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]

Hot Enough For Ya?

Only On The Walters Post

These are my own thoughts from what I’ve seen and lived through. I’m sharing them to spark some thinking and honest conversation, not because I have all the answers.

Well, it’s summer. The sun’s doing its job, and the heat’s settling in over Ontario. The news is already full of warnings, like… stay indoors, drink water, check on the elderly, keep pets cool, and so on. You’d think we were walking on the sun the way folks talk. And don’t get me wrong, yes, it’s warm out, and yes, it can be dangerous for some. But here’s the thing.

Back when I was growing up on the farm, we didn’t have air conditioning or special cooling centres. We had shade trees, wide-brimmed hats, and a good sense of when to take a break. Days could hit the high 30s, maybe more, and we were out there working the fields, hauling hay, sweating under the same sun. And if you complained? Maybe you’d hear, “Yep, she’s a warm one today,” and that was about it. No panic. No headlines. Just another summer day.

So what’s changed? The weather? Maybe a bit. But I think what’s really changed is how we look at things, better said, what we focus on. The thing is, we’ve come to expect comfort at every turn. A little heat, and suddenly it’s a crisis, meanwhile, the things that should have us stirred up, things like the cost of living, the state of our healthcare, our farmers struggling to hang on, is barely make a dent in the news cycle.

We’re being steered to worry about the weather, not about where our food’s going to come from if we don’t support the hands that grow it. Not about the folks living out in the country who don’t have access to the care or services city folks take for granted. Not about how disconnected we’ve become from the very land, that once fed our bodies and our spirits.

Now, I’m not saying ignore heat warnings. Be smart, of course. Look out for each other. But maybe, just maybe, instead of wringing our hands about a week of hot weather, we ought to ask ourselves what really matters in this country of ours. And whether we’ve let comfort replace resilience.

Because if we lose that…our grit, our common sense, our ability to weather a little heat, we lose something a lot more important than a few degrees on the thermometer.

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]

Old Habits, New Mornings on June 21/2025

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Our Vegetable Garden Looking Good!

Good Morning! Another Day, Another Quiet Start Here in the Pines

So far this morning things are looking not all that bad outside, but in saying that here is the weather forecast for today tonight and tomorrow.

Today (June 21): High of 77 °F (25 °C), low around 67 °F (19 °C). Expect cloudy skies with showers and thunderstorms, especially in the morning when it’ll feel warm and humid, shifting to breezy later with possible heavy downpours and strong winds.

Tonight: Temperatures should hold steady near 67 °F (19 °C) as the storms wind down.

Tomorrow (June 22): It’s forecast to warm up further, reaching 88 °F (31 °C); lows around 68 °F (20 °C). Expect morning clouds to give way to sunshine, though afternoon thunderstorms are possible in certain areas.

So might pay to have a raincoat handy for today.


Highway 522 did pick up a wee bit yesterday traffic-wise, but here again, it’s mostly the locals that are moving around.
You know how it goes in small towns… half the traffic is folks waving at the other half. And if someone’s brake lights come on, it’s probably just them stopping to chat out the window.

Bug Report:
Not too much to report in that department, other than a few mosquitoes irritating folks. The wet, damp weather’s brought them out, and if it turns warm and muggy, well, they’ll be out in full force.

On another note, yesterday morning I spent some time out in the gardens. Had a bit of thinning to do, as things are really coming on strong now. It’s that time of year when everything seems to grow while your back’s turned.

While out there, I noticed our peonies are in full bloom, and let me tell you, they smell just like those old-time heritage roses. That old saying bet you can’t take one sniff is sure true. My wife and I sure enjoy them. The yellow lilies out by our sign are also putting on a good show this year too, and a few more by the fishpond are just starting to strut their stuff. The white lilac is about done for the season, but while it lasted, you could smell it all over the property, sweet and strong, just the way we like it.

The good news, is the grass has started to slow down a bit now, which makes things a little easier for the two of us. Easier on us and the mowers, too.

I have to say, our place is something special. The way we’ve fixed it up over the years, there’s always something new to catch your eye, a bloom here, a bird house there, or just the way the light hits things in the morning. My wife and I love this property more than words can say. It’s peaceful, it’s full of life, and most of all, it’s home. For now anyway.

So what are you up to today, GW?

Well, today, with my shop being a touch messy again, I’m planning on straightening things up in there. And if the rain holds off, I’ve got some weeds to deal with in our vegetable garden. I like to stay on top of them as they are easy to manage now, but if you let ’em get ahead of you, you’re in for a whole lot more work.

But first, I’ll need to sharpen up my old hoe a bit. It’s gotten a bit dull with all the use it’s had so far this year. A sharp hoe makes the job a whole lot easier, let me tell ya.

On top of that, we’ve still got folks dropping by for our garage sale and a few wandering into our little gift shop too, so that will also keep us hopping.

And I’ll tell you… my little woman’s got her hands full today as well. She’s been cleaning the house, making meals, working on some sign orders she’s got to get done, and keeping everything running smooth around here. Truth be told, it’s wash day too, and that alone is a full day’s work. That woman never stops, I don’t know how she does it sometimes.

So, all in all, between the two of us, I’d say the day’s spoken for.

So with that, I’m off for the breakfast my lovely wife has made for me. After that, I think a cup of hot cocoa on the front porch will be in order. Now that those pesky black flies have finally left us for another year, it’s a touch more comfortable out there.

“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]

Waking Up: What’s On My Mind on June 20/2025

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Good Morning… the air is quiet, and it feels like a good day to get out to the workshop, or maybe even dig around in the garden a bit.

Well, it’s looking like the rain has finally left us, and the sun is starting to break through the clouds. A welcome sight, I’d say.

Forecast for Port Loring, Ontario

Today (Friday, June 20)

  • Daytime: A mix of sun and cloud, with things warming up nicely to around 72 °F (22 °C).
  • Nighttime Temperatures: Dropping down to a cooler 51 °F (11 °C), which should make for a good sleeping night.

Saturday (June 21)

  • Daytime: Cloudy skies, with a few showers and maybe a thunderstorm early on. Breezy through the afternoon, with highs reaching 78 °F (26 °C).
  • Nighttime Temperatures: Holding warmer at around 65 °F (19 °C), still a bit humid and damp in spots.

Sunday (June 22)

Nighttime Temperatures: Staying warm and sticky near 66 °F (19 °C)—a sign summer’s really settling in.

Daytime: A muggy one on the way. Cloudy early, then maybe a break of sun before a few pop-up storms roll through in the afternoon. Highs climbing to 87 °F (31 °C).

So, by the looks of things, the warmer daytime temperatures are here to stay for a while.

Highway 522 was still pretty quiet yesterday, though the weather wasn’t all that great, which likely kept folks at home. Out here in the country, that suits us just fine as it means more peace and quiet, which is what most folks living here enjoy. Least my wife and I do.

Bug Report:
Well, there weren’t any bugs to speak of yesterday. With the rain, everything with wings seemed to take the day off. But this morning? The mosquitoes are back at it, raising a bit of hell. They will likely settle down once the sun gets a little higher in the sky.

Of course, that is usually when the deer flies punch in for their shift.

Actually, I have been pretty lucky over the years, as for the most part, none of them actually bite me. They just buzz around my face like they are trying to tell me something. Not sure why that is, but my wife says it is because I am not as sweet as most folks. Could be true.

On another note, with it being a rainy day yesterday, I spent most of my time right here at the computer. Got a couple of stories written up in the morning, and by afternoon I started working on setting things up so I can share my stories on my blog, YouTube, and a few other spots.

What I’ll be doing is taking one story each week from my collection and turning it into a podcast. I used to do that a while back, but after a time I drifted away from it, tried making videos instead, and then drifted from that too. So now I’m heading back to podcasting, which means I’ll be reading my stories out loud once again.

Keep an eye out for them on my YouTube channel and right here on the blog.

So, what are you up to today, GW?

Well, today I’m planning to work on my bird feeder. I had to take it down the other day since it needed a bit of repair. I’ve been experimenting with different ways to keep the larger birds out while still letting the smaller ones in to feed. It’s been a bit of a challenge, but I think I’ve finally figured it out.

So I’ll get it fixed up and back on the post outside our living room window. That way, my wife and I can sit and watch the show throughout the day. We sure enjoy seeing all the different kinds of birds that come to visit.

So yep, that’s what I’ve got on the go today.

With that I’m off for my morning breakfast once again that my lovely wife has put together for me, and then I’ll see what the day has in store other than what I have planned. Every day is a mystery waiting to be made into something.

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]