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Good Morning: You know I have found that a real northerner knows the sound of ice cracking, is either good news or bad news, it depends on where you’re standing.

Weather For Today (Tuesday, March 4):
Spring is slowly making an appearance, but it is taking its time. Although we are starting the day with some light rain, which is helping to get rid of some of the snow. The sky will remain cloudy throughout the day, with temperatures reaching 38°F (3°C).

Tonight:
The clouds will stick around, bringing occasional drizzle and the temperatures will hold steady at 34°F (1°C).

Tomorrow (Wednesday, March 5):
A mix of rain and snow will move in throughout the day, making things a bit messy, and believe it or not there is even a chance of a thunderstorm later on. The high will reach 44°F (7°C), before dropping to 24°F (-4°C) overnight.

Special Weather Statement:
With the combination of rain and melting snow, some areas could see flooding, especially in low-lying areas. Rainfall amounts could reach about an 1 inch 15-25 mm, with heavier showers and possible thunderstorms by Wednesday afternoon and evening. It might be a good idea to keep an eye on roads and driveways.

It looks like a wet couple of days ahead.

On another note, I once again worked the day away in my old woodworking shop. The good news is, I managed to finish tuning all the flutes I have been working on, and I have to say, that put a smile on my face. Out of twenty, I lost only one, not the best outcome, but that is how it goes sometimes.

Woodworking life has a way of keeping a fellow humble. You measure twice, cut once, and still, every so often, the wood has a mind of its own. Sometimes a flaw in the grain shows up where you least expect it, or a small mistake sneaks in when you are not looking. But that is just part of the trade. You learn to roll with it, take what you can from the lesson, and move on to the next piece.

One thing is for certain—there is no better feeling than bringing something to life with your own two hands. Seeing those flutes lined up, each one unique in its own way, makes all the effort worthwhile.

Now, if only the weather would cooperate as nicely as most of my flutes did today!

So what are you up to today, GW?

Well, now that I have the flutes all tuned up and sounding the way they should, my next task is making the totems for the tops of them. That will likely take up the better part of my day. But before I get to carving, I have to dig through my woodpile and see if I can find some unique pieces. The totems need to be made from hardwood—something with a bit of character to match the flute it will sit on.

That is always an interesting part of the process. Every piece of wood has a story, and the trick is finding the right one to bring that story to life. Some pieces look plain on the outside but have hidden beauty beneath the surface. Others, well, they let you know right away they are meant for something special . Either way, it will be a day of sawdust, carving, and a bit of trial and error—but that is half the fun.

So yes, that is what my day will entail. A bit of searching, a bit of shaping, and hopefully, by day’s end, a handful of totems ready to bring these flutes to life.

With that, I am off to enjoy the breakfast my lovely wife has made for me. There is no doubt in my mind that I would not have made it this far without her—that is for certain.

They say a good meal keeps a man going, but the truth is, it is the person behind it that makes all the difference. For over fifty-some years, she has been there, day in and day out, taking care of things in ways that often go unnoticed but are never unappreciated. Whether it is a hot meal on a cold morning, a few wise words when I need them most, or simply the steady presence of someone who knows me better than I know myself—she has been the heart of it all.

A man can build a lot in his lifetime, but the best thing he can ever have is a partner who stands by him through it all. And I was lucky enough to find one of the best.

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

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Good Morning: One thing I have learned over the years is living where do here in the north… you must accept that “Spring” is just a rumor until at least June.

So starting things off, we are all waking up here in the north under cloudy skies, but the silver lining’ is it’s a mite warmer than yesterday morning’, and that’s just dandy by me.

Here’s a look at the weather forecast for Port Loring, Ontario:

Today: Monday, March 3

• Daytime: Mostly cloudy with a 30% chance of flurries. High around 28°F (-2°C).
• Night: Partly cloudy. Low near 26°F (-3°C).

Tomorrow: Tuesday, March 4

• Daytime: Snow in the morning, possibly changing’ to rain or flurries by noon. Risk of a touch of freezing’ drizzle early on. Snowfall could tally up to about 0.8 inches (2 cm). High near 36°F (2°C).
• Night: Periods of snow. Low around 32°F (0°C).

Wednesday, March 5

• Daytime: Expect periods of rain or snow. High around 39°F (4°C).
• Night: Continued periods of rain or snow. Low dropping’ to 16°F (-9°C).

So, keep that umbrella or snow shovel handy, depending’ on how Mother Nature decides to roll the dice.

Now, as for the roads: Well Highway 522 has a few snow-covered spots, but for the most part, traveling’ should be fair today. Of course, living out here in the sticks, that can change quicker than a blink of an eye. One minute it’s clear, the next you’re wondering’ if you should’ve packed a lunch before heading to town.

That’s small-town livin’ for ya. Ain’t no fancy city crews rushing’ out to salt and plow at the first sign of snow. We just take it as it comes, same way folks have done for generations. And honestly, that’s just fine by most of us… we like our peace and quiet, even if it means putting up with a few extra inches of snow and a bumpy back road or two.

So, wherever you’re headin’ today, take ‘er slow, keep your wits about ya, and maybe wave to a neighbor or two… chances are, you’ll know ’em.

Yesterday was one of those bitter cold days that made a fellow think twice about stepping outside. So, I did the sensible thing—stayed in where it was warm and put in some time at the computer. Turned out to be a productive day, too. The words came easy, and I managed to get a good number of stories written for my newspaper columns. Always makes my day when things flow the way they should. Some days, writing feels like work, but then there are days like yesterday when everything just falls into place. Those are the ones that remind me why I’ve been at it for so long.

So what are you up to today GW? Well, today I plan on getting back to tuning those Native American flutes I’ve had on the go for the past few weeks. Be nice to get them finished up. If all goes as planned, they should be looking good and singing even better in another week. That’ll put a smile on my face, as with spring just around the corner, I’ve got plenty of other things in mind that need doing.

With that, it’s time for my morning bowl of porridge, made by my lovely wife, along with a hot cup of cocoa. After that, I’ll be heading out to the shop… well, once we finish our regular morning chat. Can’t forget that.

Until next time—keep your minds open and your stories alive! GW

Oh… and Happy Birthday Dad! This would have been his birthday, March 3. I miss the old feller!!!

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Good Morning! The snow’s knee-deep, the shovel’s worn thin, and the only thing keeping my wife and I going is the thought of spring, that is, whenever it decides to show up.

Well folks, she’s a downright cold morning here in good old Northern Ontario, Canada. Waking up, the temperature was sitting at -21°F (-29.6°C)—the kind of cold that makes you question why you got out of bed in the first place.

Port Loring, Ontario Weather Forecast

Today (Sunday, March 2):
Mostly sunny, but don’t let that fool you, it’s still cold. High of 16°F (-9°C) with a light breeze that makes it feel a touch cooler. I would think its probably not the best day for standing around outside unless you enjoy frost forming on your mustache, if you had one.

Tonight:
Clear skies, which means it’s going to get even colder. You can expect a low of -3°F (-19°C), so if you were thinking of sitting out on the porch looking at the stars, you might want to rethink that.

Tomorrow (Monday, March 3):
Clouds moving in, bringing a 30% chance of flurries. High of 27°F (-3°C), so at least it’s trying to warm up.

Tomorrow Night:
Still cloudy, still a 30% chance of flurries, and a low of 23°F (-5°C). Not tropical, but better than tonight.

Looks like a good day to keep the wood-stove going and maybe work on a project indoors.

Highway 522 is quiet this morning, with a light covering of snow, just enough to remind us it’s still winter. Might be why folks are staying put, that and the fact that it’s a lot more enjoyable to admire winter from inside with a hot coffee in hand. I went out earlier and plugged in my old car to warm it up a bit, not that I’m planning on going anywhere. Just figured I’d give it a fighting chance against the cold. The only problem is, with hydro prices these days, every time I plug it in, I feel like I should be taking out a loan. So, I don’t leave it on long—just enough to keep the old girl from freezing up solid.

You know, after all these years, I’ve found that living in a small town up here in Northern Ontario has its charms, that is if you don’t mind everyone knowing your business before you do. News travels faster than the internet, and by the time you finish your morning coffee, half the town already knows what you had for breakfast. Saves time on visiting, though, no need to update anyone, when they already have the full report!

On another note, yesterday my wife and I managed to get our decks and driveway cleared of snow, but I have to tell ya, it sure was a struggle, to say the least. I kind of think that the snow doubled in weight overnight! Anyway, by the time we finished, we were more than happy to head indoors and enjoy a cup of hot coffee, let me tell ya. This aging thing sure takes a toll on a feller, or gal, I’ll tell ya that much.

So, what are you up to today, GW? Well, with it being so downright cold, I’m thinkin’ I’ll just hang around inside the house and maybe write up a story or two for my columns. Them flutes can wait for a warmer day. Now, I’ve got the shop stove going, so if the urge hits, I might head out there later on in the day. We’ll see how it goes, one never really knows what a day’s gonna bring.

With that I am off once again for my bowl of porridge my lovely wife has made for me along with a piece of toast. Should hold me over till lunch time.

Until the next time: Keep Your Minds Open And Your Stories Alive! GW

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Good Morning! The plow just went by, which means I have two choices—grab the shovel or pretend I didn’t see it.

March 1st – A Lion of a Start!

Well folks, March has rolled in, and as the old-timers used to say… if it comes in like a lion, it’ll go out like a lamb. And let me tell you, this morning that lion ain’t just growling, he’s got his claws dug in deep.

As of 7:59 AM, my own weather station recorded a chilling 4.82°F (-15.1°C) with a north-northwest wind gusting up to 5 mph, some higher at times, but seems to be easing up a touch now. Still, it’s enough of a bite to make you pull that coat a little tighter.

Here’s what the weather’s looking like for Port Loring:

Today (Saturday, March 1st)

• A few flurries drifting in and out.
• Cloudy and staying downright cold.
• High: 12°F (-11°C)
• Low: -12°F (-24°C)

Tonight

• Clear and bitterly cold. A night to keep that fire stoked.

Tomorrow (Sunday, March 2nd)

• Mostly sunny, but don’t let that fool you… it’s still winter’s grip.
• High: 17°F (-8°C)
• Low: -2°F (-19°C)

So if you’re heading outside, dress warm… layers are your friend, and if you’ve got the chance, today’s a good day to hunker down with a hot coffee and wait for that lamb to show up later in the month.

Highway 522 is snow-covered this morning, which isn’t much of a surprise after the snow we got yesterday and through the night. I’d say we had close to a good foot, maybe more in the drifts. The snow itself is light, but with this much of it… well, let’s just say it’s going to take some good old-fashioned elbow grease to clear it all. If you’re planning on heading out, best give yourself some extra time and be ready to do a bit of shoveling first!

On another note, I spent the day yesterday out in the old woodworking shop, getting back into the swing of things. I managed to tune up a few of the Native Flutes I’ve been working on. So far, only one has given me trouble, not bad, considering I’m making twenty of them and haven’t made any in over five years. But that’s the way it goes with woodworking; sometimes the wood has a mind of its own. I’ll tinker with it over the next few days and see if I can bring it back to life. If not, well, every piece of wood has its purpose, some just take a different path than planned.

So, what’s on the agenda today, GW?

Well, the plan was for my wife and me to tackle some of this snow, but I think we’ll hold off until the wind settles down a bit. It’s bad enough out there without the wind whipping things around. Then again, we’ll see how much energy I can muster up after a good breakfast.

Which, by the way, is calling my name right now… my lovely wife has it all ready and waiting. One thing’s for sure, though, before we head outside, we’ll be enjoying a good cup of hot cocoa. A little warmth before the storm, you might say.

Until next time—keep your minds open and your stories alive! GW