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.
Gardening, George's Writers Corner, Health

Onions: Health Benefits and How to Store Them the Right Way

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Only On The Walters Post

Onions have always been a must-have in the home, and there’s a lot more to them than just adding flavor to your meals. Personally, I like Honey Sweet onions, which have a much milder taste compared to stronger varieties like Spanish onions. I find these sweet onions nicer to eat raw. A slice of homemade bread with grass-fed butter and a hunk of aged cheese—now we’re talking.

How to Store Onions Properly

Once you’ve picked the right onion, storing it properly is key to keeping it fresh. After cutting an onion, wrap the leftover pieces in wax paper and place them in an airtight glass container in the fridge. This will preserve freshness without using plastic, which can trap moisture and cause onions to spoil faster. Avoid plastic wrap and plastic containers, as they aren’t the best for keeping food fresh.

When storing whole onions, you want to keep them in a cool, dry place like a pantry. They need ventilation, so make sure they’re not in a sealed plastic bag or the fridge, as this can cause them to turn soft quicker. A basket or open container works well for keeping onions fresh.

An Old-School Health Remedy: Onions to Combat Sickness

Here’s something I’ve used for years and swear by: if sickness strikes in the house, cut an onion in half and place it around different rooms. The idea is that the onion will draw in bacteria and viruses from the air, helping to clear the germs out of your space. Change the onion every couple of days and keep doing it until everyone’s feeling better. This old-school remedy might sound a bit odd, but it’s something that’s worked for me, especially during flu season.

Why Eating Onions Daily Is Good for Your Health

In addition to their immune-boosting effects when used around the house, onions are rich in nutrients like vitamin C and antioxidants, both of which help support a healthy immune system. Eating them regularly—whether raw or cooked—can keep your body strong and ready to fight off common colds and the flu. Combine them with Vitamin D3, and you’ve got a powerful combination to stay healthy through flu season and beyond.

Onions are simple, but they’re a mighty tool in the kitchen and for health. Whether you’re using them for storage, remedying sickness, or adding them to your meals for a boost in nutrition, they’re worth incorporating into your daily routine.

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]

George's Writers Corner, Weather, What's Happening

Country Has a Way of Teaching You on April 17/2025

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Good Morning, Folks! I’ve found that positive thoughts are a lot like planting seeds—give ’em time, tend ’em right, and they’ll bloom when you least expect it.

She’s one fine-lookin’ morning here in Cottage Country. The sun’s finally got some heat to it, not just sittin’ up there for show. Feels good on the face. That kind of warmth makes a body think—energy’s not just in wires, it’s in the land, the trees, and us folks too.

Weather Forecast For Port Loring, Ontario, Canada:

Thursday, April 17
It’s a fine-lookin’ spring day out there. High around 51°F (10°C) and dropping to 35°F (2°C) tonight. A bit of cloud now and then, but the sun’s still showin’ up for work. No rain in sight, so it’s a good one for standin’ by a fence post, taking in what Nature has to offer.

Friday, April 18
Well, Friday’s bringin’ the rain with it. High around 57°F (14°C), low near 45°F (7°C). Looks like we’ll get about half an inch (13 mm) of rain through the day. Might be a good excuse to stay indoors, catch up on things other than outside work, and let the rain do the talking for a while.

Highway 522 is bare and dry this morning, making travelling mighty fine.

Yesterday, my lovely wife and I made the trip to the big city of North Bay to pick up some supplies. It turned out to be a great day—one of those that leaves you feelin’ good all over. We got what we needed, had lunch in the car, and spent some time watchin’ folks go by. Now, I’ll admit it—people-watching’ in the city can sometimes be a bit nosy, but who are we kiddin’? In small towns, it’s practically a pastime. We all do it, even if we won’t admit it out loud.

After that, we took the scenic route home—well, the only route we’ve got, since where we live, there’s just one way in and one way out. But it’s always a surprise, seeing something new every time we make the trip. Funny how the same road can offer up a new view each time.

So what are you up to today, GW?

Well… first thing this morning, my wife and I are going to re-pile some firewood that fell over yesterday. It was under our lean-to, but the frost heaved it up over winter and, with the ground settling, it made a mess of the first row. We’ll get that fixed up here this morning, while the ground’s still a bit hard—saves us from walking in the mud. After that, we’ll get back to fixing up one of our side sheds and start putting things in it for our big spring sale in a few weeks. We’ve got a few other things planned too, but we’ll see how we feel after all that. Might need a bit of a rest.

With that I am off once again for my breakfast that my little woman has made for me, and will then head on outdoors, after our hot cocoa of course.

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]

George's Writers Corner, My Opinion Only

Tariffs and Tough Talk – Let’s Get Real

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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.

Now, some folks are hollering that Canada slapping tariffs on U.S. goods is going to hurt them. Well, that’s just not how the world works. Let’s face facts—Canada’s population isn’t even as big as California’s. So if we think putting a few extra charges on American imports is going to shake things up down there, we’ve got another thing coming.

Then there’s all this noise about pulling U.S. booze off our shelves like it’s going to make them think twice. That’s laughable. As if the U.S. is going to blink because Canada stopped stocking a few bottles of whiskey. All that’ll do is help out their own producers. They’ll just sell more of their own, and likely at a better margin.

Oil and gas? Same story. What we send them is a drop in the bucket compared to what they already have going on. We may think we’re holding a strong hand, but in the big picture, it’s not enough to make a dent.

Now, sure, there’s talk going around that the U.S. could see some bumps—things like higher prices and slower growth. Their own experts are saying that their tariffs on China are bigger than expected, and that’s making waves in their markets and raising the cost of borrowing. But here’s the thing—that’s their problem, not ours.

What we need to do in Canada is stop rattling the cage and start focusing on looking after our own. That’s what the U.S. is doing. They’re tightening up, watching their industries, and thinking about their future. Meanwhile, we’ve got folks stirring the pot and waving tariffs around like we’ve got all the leverage. Truth is, we don’t—not really.

And let’s be honest—politics is the same old song. One side runs the other down, then they switch places, and nothing really changes. At the end of the day, it’s just noise, and most of them are probably having drinks together after the cameras are off. Always been that way, always will.

So while people get all fired up over booze and border taxes, the real issues are slipping by. We’d be better off-putting our energy into fixing things at home and building something solid for the long run.

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]

George's Writers Corner, My Opinion Only

Why Canadians Aren’t Travelling to the U.S.

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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.

I came across an article talking about how fewer Canadians are heading down to the U.S. these days. Some folks are blaming tariffs, tighter border rules, or what the U.S. government is doing. But I think the real reason isn’t being talked about enough.

It’s not the Americans keeping us out—it’s our own economy here in Canada. Things are tight for a lot of people, and they’ve been tight for a while. The folks in charge haven’t done the job they were supposed to, and now we’re all paying the price. You can’t blame Americans for that.

Now, if you’re going to the States for more than 30 days, they want to know what you’re doing and who you’re going with. I see no problem with that. Makes sense, and if anything, Canada should be doing the same. I suspect we’ve got people in this country who shouldn’t be here, and maybe that’s part of the reason the U.S. is tightening things up.

And let’s be honest—if someone’s upset about being asked a few questions at the border, maybe they’ve got something to hide. Me? I’ve got nothing to worry about. If I travel down south, I’ll be glad it’s a bit quieter. Maybe prices in the sunny spots will drop enough that folks like me can afford a visit again. I say let the people who want to boycott stay home—more elbow room for the rest of us.

One thing I don’t like is seeing people in Canada take down the American flag in some towns. That’s just wrong in my books. A lot of communities, especially in places like Ontario, rely on American visitors. I’ve got good American friends, and we look forward to seeing them every summer. There’s no way I’m taking down the Stars and Stripes from flying next to our Maple Leaf—not now, not ever.

It’s not about politics. It’s about common sense, respect, and friendship. And if fewer folks are crossing the border these days, I think we’d better look at what’s happening in our own backyard before pointing fingers across the line.

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]

George's Writers Corner, Weather, What's Happening

A Small Note from the North on April 20/2025

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Good Morning! A slow start in the country still beats a fast pace in the city.

It’s a bit on the cool side this morning here in cottage country, and I have to admit, I’m not entirely thrilled with what I’m seeing outside my window. I won’t say exactly what it is—but let’s just say I’m not putting my snow shovel away anytime soon.

Weather Forecast Port Loring Ontario Canada:

Today – Tuesday, April 15th
Woke up to a cool one, sitting around 37°F (3°C), and it hasn’t warmed up much since. The kind of morning where the coffee needs to be extra strong. Rain’s been falling off and on, but now it’s got that look—y’know, where the flakes start to sneak in like they’re testing the waters. We might see somewhere between half an inch to just over an inch (1 to 3 cm) of the white stuff before day’s end. Winds are starting to pick up too, so keep the wood stove going if you’ve got one. I lit our wood furnace back up this morning. High of 40°F (5°C), low dropping to 25°F (-4°C) tonight.

Tomorrow – Wednesday, April 16th
Might be waking up to a dusting—just enough to make you second-guess putting those boots away. But the skies should clear up some, maybe even a peek of sunshine if we’re lucky. Still on the chilly side though, with a high around 42°F (5°C) and dropping to 22°F (-5°C) once the sun tucks in for the night.

Highway 522 is still pretty quiet these days, which isn’t all that surprising—and it’s carrying a bit of a wet shine to it this morning. So far, the snow isn’t sticking, but that could change as the day rolls on. Let’s hope it doesn’t. I think we’ve all had just about enough of Old Man Winter for one year.

On a different note, I spent the better part of yesterday right here at my desk, working away on the ol’ keyboard. Got five stories written, which made for a mighty fine writing day. The words just poured out, smooth and steady—like sap running on a warm spring morning. I sure love when that happens. I like to get ahead while the weather’s still dreary, ’cause once it warms up, I’d rather be out soaking up the sunshine than cooped up inside staring at a screen.

So, what am I up to today?

Well, seeing as the weather isn’t exactly inviting, I figure I’ll spend a bit more time writing up some stories. I’ve got to send in my weekly pieces to the folks I write for, which I’ll get to here in a minute. After that, I’ll sit down and enjoy the breakfast my lovely wife has made for me. Then… well, I think a hot cup of cocoa is in order, followed by a nice chat with her.

She’s been busy as all get out for these past few months, sorting through household items for the big sale we’ve got coming up in a few weeks. That woman of mine never slows down, lucky to have her.

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]