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Good morning, the funny thing about wisdom, it usually shows up late and figures that’s just the way it is.

So here we are, settling into the beginning of September. It’s been a week or so since my last morning post. Reason being my wife and I decided to take a little trip south, if for nothing else than to see what the other half has been up to. Truth be told, not much has changed from the last time we visited well, except there’s a lot more folks roaming around.

I’ve never seen such a mix of people from all over the world. Streets, shops, counters, sidewalks, you name it, they’re there. Makes you realize Canada isn’t the same country I grew up in. Back then, it was mostly one kind of people, and that was that. Now, it feels like the land’s been plowed under and reseeded with something else entirely. Some folks roll with it, some grumble like a tractor with a stone caught in the blades.

And me? Well, I figure that’s just the way it is. Seasons turn, fields turn, and countries turn too. Can’t stop it. Can’t fight it. Might as well watch, learn a little, and see what comes of it.

On another note, we’re getting some sunshine here in Cottage Country this morning. Still, the air’s cooler than it’s been the last few days. The good news is, we’ve been getting the rain we needed after a long dry spell. Makes the land feel alive again. You learn over the years that you can’t hurry these things. The sun will shine, the rain will fall, and the seasons will turn whether you like it or not. All you can do is watch, tend what you can, and let the rest take care of itself.

On another note, now that we’re back home, there’s a lot of outside work that needs to be done before winter arrives. We did get our firewood in before we left, so at least we won’t have to worry about being cold, which is always nice.

My wife has also done up a lot of our tomatoes for winter. We don’t put them in jars anymore, we freeze them instead. This year we grew some Early Girls, nice and red for eating, some Roma for the pasta sauce my wife makes a lot of, and some yellow low-acid ones. I have to say, those yellow ones are sweet and tasty this year, and easy on the old stomach, not that the Early Girls aren’t as good; they sure are.

I have to admit, we had a really good crop, one of the better ones, despite the dry, hot weather we had. Actually, we ended up with so many that we’ve been selling them out front on our trailer.

It makes you think, after all these years, that the land has its own way of looking after us. You plant, you tend, you sweat, and then it gives back in its own time. Some years it’s easy, some years it’s hard, but it keeps going… and somehow, we do too.

So with that, I’m off to have the breakfast my lovely wife made for me—a bowl of organic oatmeal, simple and good. After that, I’ll head outdoors and get to work. Well, maybe I’ll have a hot cocoa first, just because I can. No harm in starting the day off right.

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

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Coffee Talk: Good Morning, Nothing Works Right Till After Coffee

Well, we are in the midst of another nice-looking day here in Cottage Country. The sun is up and shining, there’s hardly any wind, and barely a cloud in the sky. However, it has cooled down enough that we had to turn on our oil furnace for the first time. You might say it’s a reminder of what’s to come.

Weather today in Port Loring, Ontario, expect mostly cloudy skies with temperatures reaching a high of 71°F (22°C) this afternoon. This evening, conditions will remain cloudy, with temperatures gradually cooling to a low of 54°F (12°C) by late tonight

Highway 522 has picked up over the past few days, with lots of campers, trucks, and cars coming through. I guess, being the last big weekend before the kids go back to school, people figure they’d best make the most of our country up here in the north.

On another note, yesterday, my wife and I got the grass cut for another week. I have to say, when it’s all cleaned up, it sure looks nice. You know, in our home, there isn’t a window that hasn’t something interesting to see. That’s probably because we’re surrounded by nature. It’s so nice, it almost pulls you outside just to take it all in.

So, what are you up to today, GW?

Well, since my wife and I worked so hard yesterday, and it’s such a nice day—and with colder days not too far off—I’m thinking we’ll be doing some front porch sitting, putting our feet up, maybe enjoying a coffee or hot cocoa, and taking in our beautiful piece of property.

With that, I’m off to enjoy the breakfast my lovely wife has made for me—bacon and eggs. After that, who knows what the day has in store? Life is a mystery sometimes.

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

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Good morning. You know, if there is one thing I have found over the years, it’s that the day starts whether I’m ready or not.

We’re starting this Saturday morning under mostly cloudy skies, sitting at about 69 °F (20 °C). A few showers may sneak through early, and by the afternoon there’s a chance of a thunderstorm in some spots. It’ll warm up to around 77 °F (25 °C) before cooling off to a fresh 52 °F (11 °C) tonight.

Sunday kicks off with a couple of showers in the morning, but things should clear to partly sunny skies later on. The high will reach near 72 °F (22 °C), and we’ll settle into a low around 53 °F (12 °C) by night.

So, today is a mixed bag with the storm threat, tonight is cooler and calm, and tomorrow looks like a decent rebound once those morning showers pass.

Highway 522: Well here we are in late August, and I have to say, it’s been a quiet summer. Living up here along Highway 522, you get to know the rhythm of things, and this year feels different, like the world just slowed itself down.

Usually by now the highway would be busy with travelers heading north, RVs hauling boats, families on their way to the lakes, and the steady hum of motorcycles rolling through on weekends. This summer though, it’s been peaceful.

It’s not a bad thing. The quiet has given those of us who live here year-round a summer that feels like our own. You notice things you’d normally miss, like how the light hangs on a little longer in the evenings, the loons calling across the water, and neighbors actually stopping to talk.

Maybe next summer the crowds will return, but for now this slower pace feels pretty good.

Fishing Times For Port Loring Ontario

We’re past the early morning bite, but the best fishing is still ahead. Today’s major window runs from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM, stretching a bit longer until 3:00 PM. Another minor chance comes tonight from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

A quick heads-up: a thunderstorm could roll through this afternoon, so take care if you’re out on the water and don’t forget your raincoat, life jacket, and maybe a plan to head for shore if the wind picks up.

For large mouth bass, stick to shaded weed edges around noon. Work a jig or soft plastic slow and steady through the Lilly pads. Pickerel like deeper water and rocky drop-offs, a jig tipped with a minnow or worm, kept near the bottom, works best.

So with that I am off for my breakfast that my lovely wife is making for me, and will then head on outdoors and pick some more tomatoes, that my wife has been putting in our freezer for the past week now. Nothing like fresh tomatoes come winter.

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