Here is a picture of a Heritage Lily that grows in our garden in front of our home. It comes back every year, sometimes with only one flower, this year it has around seven. It sure is pretty.

Click on image to enlarge!

Good Morning!

Once again, it looks like another great day is upon us here in Cottage Country. The sun is shinning, and the temperatures are about perfect with it sitting at 16.4 C | 61.52 F. Along with that, the wind is coming in from the SS West. Perfect weather for fishing. Which is something I haven’t been doing lately, reason being getting our boat in the water and set up is just too much for me. But not complaining as I am moving around and able to do things around the house. I guess I am going to have to seek out a secluded place where I can fish offshore. Which is hard to find these days. If any of you happen to know of a spot, I would appreciate hearing from you.

Bug Report: The deer flies are annoying these days, but other than that things are good.

On another note, after the rain ended in the afternoon yesterday, my wife and I managed to get the mowing done up around our property. I have to say once mowed and the weed eating is finished it sure looks nice. Everyone that comes for a visit or drops by our gift shop always comments on how nice things look. You know, in our world, there are two types of people. The first kind owns many tools and gadgets but lacks the skill to use them effectively. The second kind possesses a few tools, but has the ability to create and construct things of great beauty. It’s not about the tools themselves, but rather the person who wields them.

Today being such a nice day, I have some work to do in our vegetable gardens along with cleaning up my old woodworking shop. After that I think a drink will be in order sitting on our front porch. Maybe a game or two of checkers.
With that I am off for a couple pieces of toast and will then see what the day has in store.
Have a great day … make it a great day! GW

Good Morning!

It’s a cloudy, rainy morning here in cottage country waking up, and by the looks of things it will continue like this for most of the day. However, we do need the rain, or more so the earth needs the rain along with everything on it. The good news is I don’t have to water my vegetable garden today. The not so good news is we were going to cut our grass this morning, but it will have to wait. Probably tomorrow.

Highway 522 is very quiet for this time of year due to the cost of things. Simply put, most folks can’t afford to go anywhere or do things they want to do, being taxed to death. There isn’t much that isn’t taxed these days, hell, even when you die they are taxing folks on everything you worked all your life for. And it shouldn’t be that way. A day of reckoning is coming, let me tell ya. My old Dad always said, what goes around, comes around. And I believe that to be true. I just wished it would happen sooner than later to certain folks. I guess that is how we humans learn patience. Ha ha.

But Report: All is well these days in that department.

On another note, being Market Day here in town, my wife and I decided to head on into North Bay to pick up some supplies and things. The local market here doesn’t carry the specific things we require. I have to admit it was busy in North Bay with most of the parking lots were full of cars. While there we picked up what we needed, had our lunch in our car while people watching, chatted to a couple that was from our town doing the same as we were doing and then headed on home. All in all, it was a great day, other than the cost of things.

Today my wife and I will take it a bit easy being that it is raining outside, I might head on out to my old woodworking shop as I do have some projects on the go and my shop does need a bit of cleaning. Then later I will pick some fresh beans and garlic for supper. They sure are tasty this time of year.

Have a great day. GW

Good Morning!

Well, it’s a bit cloudy this morning, but the sun is trying her hardest to break through, and it will as the day moves forward. There is a slight chance of a sprinkle of rain later on. The thunderstorm that went past us yesterday didn’t amount to anything. And by the looks of things, there isn’t hardly any rain now for the next week. But the good news is the temperatures are going to be perfect for doing about anything outside.

Highway 522 is quiet these days, not many people moving around, other than the locals. There is also a lot of building going on, as I noticed a lot of truck loads of lumber moving up and down the highway. Not sure if that is a good thing or not. Time will tell.

Bug Report: Other than a few deer flies, things are good these days.

On another note, my wife and I worked outside most of the day yesterday. We had to fix our eve trough on our cottage which took most of the morning, after that we did some trimming of our bushes around the place. It sure is nice being able to get outside and do a few things. Today I will clean up my shop a bit and my lovely wife will look after customers that come into our gift shop along with other things. Lots to do this time of year, but in saying that, we are getting things done and doing things we enjoy. I also put my Hoe to work yesterday, working up around our plants in our vegetable gardens. I enjoy doing that, takes my mind off the not so good things and puts it on the straight and narrow. Which is what is needed in this old world of ours these days.

With that I am off for another bowl of oatmeal and will then see what the day has in store.

Have a great day. GW

Good Morning!

It looks like we are in for another really nice day here in Cottage Country. The sun is shinning and the temperatures you could say are … just perfect. However, there is a slight chance of a thunderstorm later on this morning.

Highway 522 has actually been slow for the past few days. I suspect with the price of things along with the forest fires, people are staying home. And I can’t say I blame them. And on top of that, a lot of people are losing their homes with the increase in interest on their mortgages. We here in Canada are being taxed to death, some say it’s the price we pay for what we have today. And I would be okay with that if … the tax money was going to the right places here in Canada. Which it isn’t. You know, I have come to the conclusion this war or wars that are being fought isn’t really about wanting to take over another country, I believe it’s about depleting the rich countries of their resources, which they are doing quite rapidly. I could be wrong, but I don’t think so.

Bug Report: All is well these days, no complaints other than a few pesky deer flies.

On another note, I finished sprucing up our swing I made awhile back. A feller has to keep on top of these things. Either that or lose them. Actually, it’s that way with a lot of things if you own your own home. Seems there is always something to take your hard-earned money, be if food, gas, lumber, appliances, new roofs, or what ever.

With that I am off for a bowl of oatmeal my lovely wife made for me and will then see what the day has in store, other than what I have planned. You never know.
Have a good day. GW

Good Morning!

It’s a bit cloudy this morning waking up, and we did have a few showers through the night. Which is fine with me, as now I don’t have to water our vegetable gardens. Not that I mind, mind ya. But I will say this, things are sure growing lately. My tomatoes, garlic, zucchini, onions, squash, peppers, cucumbers, corn and beans have sure grown. It won’t belong before we are enjoying more from our gardens. It will be nice not having to by from the grocery stores.

Bug Report: Everything is good these days in that department. No complaints.

The good news is the real hot weather has moved out of our area, which will make things a lot nicer for doing things outdoors, and it looks like we are in for some really nice weather now for the next couple of weeks. Yesterday was a busy day for my wife and I with a lot of new customers dropping by our gift shop. Along with that, I had some plumbing to do in the basement. It seems plumbing and me doesn’t get along, but with Steve’s help at the Home Hardware along with my wife I managed to get it looked after. I still have one thing to fix, but it can wait for now. My wife and I have had so many things going on this year so far, we now are going to take a break as I am still not back to my old self health wise. At any rate I am not complaining by no means as it sure feels good to be able to do some things. A person doesn’t really realize just how lucky we are being able to do the simplest of things like walking to the front porch or getting out of a chair.

With that I am off for some waffles my lovely wife is making for me topped off with some of Mike Clappertons Maple Syrup. And then I will see what the day has in store other than what I have planned.

Have a great day. The sun just got out of bed. I sure enjoy the mornings here in Cottage country with everything being fresh and new.

Good Morning!

It’s a cloudy morning here, waking up in Cottage Country. But we did have a nice rain starting in the afternoon yesterday and through the night. Today we should see a wee bit of sunshine with a possible thunderstorm. The good news is the rain of course, but the temperature has cooled down a lot, to where it is more comfortable. Which puts a smile on my face.

Highway 522 is still very busy these days with lots of folks moving around, coming into our area from all over. If there is one thing that never changes all that much is people take their holidays no matter what. And I can’t say I blame them. The only drawback is the cost of things these days. I have also noticed that the produce in the stores today are mostly from other countries and what they are selling shouldn’t be allowed on the shelves, as most as much as I hate to say this … is rotten, and I am not kidding. One Isle we went down smelled so bad with bad vegetables it brought tears to my eyes. Another store we went to the cherries were all moldy and rotten, they couldn’t be eaten. Another store we went to the Brussels sprouts we bought as ours weren’t ready yet, they were so stringy and hard that no matter how much you cooked them they would never soften up. Had to throw most away. And that is another thing. We are paying all these high prices, and a lot of things we are getting for our hard-earned dollars isn’t good at all. Hell, even the meat in most of the stores today is cut all wrong and so tough that you can’t chew it even if you cut it in tiny pieces. You know when my wife and I were farming our fruit and vegetables had to pass a lot of restrictions before being allowed on the store shelves. Today it isn’t that way as truth be told most everything we see in the stores are grown in other countries other than right here in Canada and what a shame that is. Now in saying that there are still some very good family farmers out there, but there are also a lot that thinks they are farmers when they aren’t. Today our powers to be, think, that farming can be taught in schools, when in reality good farms are passed down from generation to generation. And it should also be noted that without productive farms eventually a country will fail, as simply put if you can’t support your own you soon parish. And it is happening here in Canada now, but it is being hidden and covered up. And what a shame that is. Anyway, that is my rant for the day, not sure how I got onto that.

Bug Report: Everything is good in that department.

On another note, my wife and I did get our mowing done yesterday before the rain hit, and we also had some folks here in town help us put in a new washer and dryer. It was a challenge for sure as I had to widen our stairway leading into the basement beforehand. But it had to be done eventually, and now we can get pretty well anything up and down the stairs. Today I will put things back together. Which should keep us busy for most of the day. With owning a home, there is always something that needs to be done. But it’s still better than renting, which only makes other folks rich. Not saying renting is a bad thing, but here again the rent they are charging today for apartments and houses is outrageous. And the worst part is we keep on bringing more people into our country when we have no place to keep them or jobs, so they can support themselves. They say we need more people to fill the jobs we have now, but I don’t believe that for a minute. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see what is really happening.
Anyway, you all have a good day. GW

Good Morning!

It’s a cloudy morning here, waking up in Cottage Country. We are going to see some rain off and on throughout the day, and maybe a touch of sunshine thrown in for good measure. The rain will or could start around 9 or 10 AM

Bug Report: Just a few horse flies irritating folks these days. The heat we had slowed them down a lot.

Highway 522 is getting busier every day with tourists, day trippers and campers moving in and around our area. No slowing them down, they are wanting to get to where they are going and not stopping for anyone. I had to take my wife to Sundridge yesterday for an appointment, and I was going the speed limit, and they were passing me like I was standing still.

Today is mowing day here for us, but with the rain, I am not sure how much we will get done. We will have to see how that turns out. And I am still not feeling all that well. I can move around, but not for too long before having to sit down.

With that, you all have a great day. GW

Good Morning!

It’s another sunny morning here in Cottage country and by the looks of things we will be having another hot day. But after today things will get back to normal with some rain in the forecast for Thursday. Which will be nice.

Highway 522 has been busy for the past few days with lots of campers heading towards the government parks.

Lately, our area has witnessed a surge in new home constructions, attracting people from various locations. Many individuals are selling their homes, desiring to leave the bustling city environment. Similarly, some are parting with their cottages in Muskoka due to high taxes and seeking more affordable places to settle down, and our area is on the list of places to move to. This phenomenon is often referred to as progress.

The future holds the outcome of these developments, which will become apparent in the coming months and years.

Bug Report; Nothing much to report in that department other than a few deer flies. This heat has slowed things down a lot this year.

On another note, being so hot yesterday, I was unable to do much outside. However, today I will do some work in my old woodworking shop as I have a few projects that I need to get done up. After that, I will seek out some shade and put my feet up.

With that, I am off for a bowl of cereal and a piece of toast that my lovely wife is making for me.

Have a great day! GW

Good Morning!

It’s a hazy morning here, waking up in cottage country, but the sunshine will burn it off as the morning progresses. We will also be seeing a lot of hot weather for the next few days, cooling off nearing the end of the week. So … close up those window curtains throughout the day and find a shade tree to sit under.

Bug Report: All is good other than a few deer flies annoying folks. Once they find you, they won’t leave you alone. They are like an itch you can’t scratch. Damn things.

Highway 522 was real busy yesterday with lots of camper trailers moving into our area. We also saw a lot of day trippers dropping by our gift shop, which was nice to see. It kept us busy chatting to folks.

On another note, I did do a bit of work outside yesterday in our gardens and things until it got too warm. My wife was busy doing housework along with looking after our store. Later on we sat outside in the shade relaxing. Today we will do the same.

With that I am off for a bagel that my lovely wife made for me and will then see what the day has in store, other than what we have planned.

Have a great day! GW

Good Morning!

Well … here it is July 1st. Boy, time sure fly’s by. One minute we are in the midst of winter, the next we are in the middle of summer, heading towards fall. Although, winter isn’t something I am looking forward to at the moment. Looking outside, there is a bit of haze, but that is all it is. There isn’t any smoke in the air … as yet, but that could change in the coming days as we are going to be in for some really hot weather for the next four or five days. Let’s hope it stays clear of our area.

Highway 522 is still quiet, but I suspect it will get busier every day now. But in saying that, we have had a steady stream of folks dropping by our small gift shop picking up a few of our unique items. It’s nice to see folks out and about enjoying themselves.

Bug Report: There are a few deer flies around, but for most parts things are good.

On another note, my wife and I did take it a bit easy yesterday, and today I will see about working up my vegetable garden a wee bit. Our tomatoes and potatoes need to be hilled, along with removing some suckers from the tomatoes. In doing so, we will have some better tasting produce along with them being a touch larger. It’s also time for us to start doing up things for winter. Out with the old and in with the new is our way of thinking. In doing so, we eat healthier along with saving us a lot of money come winter. And I am thinking food is going to get a lot more expensive. And I also believe we are going to lose a lot of the quality as we here in Canada relies too much on other countries for food. We should be growing it here in our own country.

With that, I am off for a bowl of cereal and will then see what the day has in store.

Have a great day! GW

Good Morning!

We are starting the day off with some rain, which will make the plants and things happy. It will also help with the forest fires that are out of control all through the north. We should also see some sunshine throughout the day along with a possible thunderstorm. We will have to see what develops as the day moves forward. The good news is, we don’t have to water our veggie garden for a few days. But in saying that, we are in for some more really hot weather starting on Saturday and lasting until next Thursday. So you might have to follow the shade for a few days, along with wearing a hat.

Highway 522 was quiet yesterday, not many folks moving around. But that will change now that the kids are out of school, along with a lot of people starting their summer holidays.

Bug Report: Things are pretty good in that department these days, other than some small ones that are attracted by the exhaust fumes from your car or equipment. They don’t usually bite, but they are annoying as there are so many of them.

On another note, my wife and I did get all our grass cut and trimmed up yesterday. It took us most of the morning. The grounds around our home looks like a manicured park. Actually better, as over the years my wife and I have developed a knack in making things look pretty. Today I will clean up my shop as it is a mess with all the work we have been doing on the house. After that we will see, if it isn’t too hot in the coming days I might extend one of our decks making it a touch larger. I need room for the new outdoor checkerboard I made awhile back. Ha ha. We will see how that goes.

With that, I am off for some pancakes that my lovely wife is preparing, and will then see what the day has in store other than what I have planned. I never know, really.

Have a great day!

Good Morning Folks!

It’s a sunny morning here, waking up, and the skies are clear of smoke and clouds. How long that will last is another question, that I don’t really have and answer for. The one thing in our favor is that there is hardly no wind at all, and what we do have is coming in from the SS East. Let’s hope the trend continues. On the downside of things, the next rain we get, that is, if we do get any, will be on Friday afternoon. After that we are back into some hot dry weather again for a week.

Bug Report: Actually they aren’t bad at all in our area at the moment, which makes it nice for working outdoors, or just sitting enjoying nature. Which is what my wife and I need to do.

Highway 522 is picking up and as I said yesterday with the kids getting out of school and people starting their holidays for the year, I suspect things will pick up a lot and even more if they lift the fire-ban for nighttime burning. Reason being that people that comes into cottage country like to sit around the campfires at night roasting marshmallows, have a few beers, along with swapping some lies. Or at least that is what I used to do growing up.

On another note, my wife and I finished up installing new eves on the one side and front of our home yesterday. It took a lot out of us having to do everything ourselves from a ladder, but we managed. My wife doing most of the ladder work. Today is mowing day, which takes the morning to accomplish. After that, I suspect we will both be ready for a shower and wanting to put our feet up. We will see how that goes. I still can’t stand or walk too far without having to sit down and rest for a while. But I am moving and doing some things, so not complaining. As I keep on saying, it’s nice to be able to walk to the front porch or chat to folks that drops by. Actually, Barry, my fishing buddy, dropped by yesterday, and we had a good old chat for an hour or so while sitting in the shade. It was sure nice to see him.

With that I am off for a bagel with a sweet topping as my wife says I need sweetening up a bit. Ha ha. Could be she is right. After that, I will head on outdoors.

Oh, and yesterday we had some folks drop by from Beamsville my hometown saying hello. They were telling me one of the owners of Stad’s Lumber reads my Blog every morning, he is in his 90’s. I remember he gave me a great deal on lumber many years ago for our deck when we had our farm on Aberdeen Road. They were great folks to deal with. I wish you all the best, my friend.

Have a great day. GW

Good Morning!

It’s a cloudy morning here in Cottage Country, but the good news is the smoke that has been in our area is all but gone, at least for now. And on top of all that, we had some rain. Looking out at my vegetable garden, it looks as if things have grown a foot. Of course the weeds have also grown which is saying that I need to sharpen my hoe. It also has cooled down a lot, but once the sun makes its appearance it will warm up a lot.

Highway 522 was quiet with all the smoke in our area, but it will pick up now, being that we are nearing July. And it is the long weekend coming up, and the kids are out of school. Summer is here, be it what it is. With the price of gas and things, I am thinking a lot of people will be watching their spending, which is a good thing.

Bug Report: All is well in that department other than a few mosquitoes.

On another note, yesterday my wife and I took it a bit easy as being so busy for the past week or so we decided to give our bodies a rest. Today I have some outside work that needs attending, so I will see how that works out. I never know these days it all boils down to what my body is capable of doing.

With that, I am off for a bite to eat that my lovely wife is making for me.

Have a great day, enjoy the sunshine. GW

Good Morning!

Well, we finally got some much-needed rain in our area, which in turn got rid of most of the smoke that was in our midst. The rain did help, but the winds switching from the east to the west helped even more. And it should be noted, that forest fires have been taking place for as long as our earth has been around. And on top of that, the fires are a valuable asset in how the trees and plants reproduce and stay healthy. Now with us humans it is a different story, but if our earth is to survive we have to learn to live with these things as much as we don’t like it. And truth be told, there isn’t much we can do about it. Nature has her own way of taking care of business, and we humans aren’t going to change her way of doing things. Being a farmer for a good number of years, I have learned that.

Highway 522 is getting busier every day. I say that as more folks are dropping by our small store seeking out that special treasure, and we have lots of them. It is nice to see and chat to folks.

Bug Report: Everything is good in that department these days, other than some mosquitoes. And once the sun comes back out, they will be less noticed.

On another note, my wife and I went to North Bay yesterday, picking up some supplies and groceries. I have to tell you, things are sure expensive these days, makes me shake my head at what some are charging for items. And the thing is, most of the high prices aren’t warranted. As I always say, once they have the price up there, they don’t bring it back down. It seems it’s all about making the all mighty dollar these days, not what is good for the people.

After we picked up what we needed we had our lunch in our car and headed on home taking in what nature had to offer which was quite a lot really. It seems that no matter how many times we go to town, we always see something new.

Have a great day! GW

Good Morning!

Well, starting things off, we are in the midst of a lot of smoke this morning, which is caused by the forest fires in Quebec and North East of us. You can really smell and see it this morning. A blue haze covering our whole area. So care will have to be taken if out and about for any length of time. But in saying that we have been lucky, as for most of the year so far it has stayed clear of us. It all depends on which way the wind is coming from. So until the wind changes direction, or we get some rain, we will have to put up with it. Other than that it is a nice day with the temperature sitting at 17.1 C | 62.78 F. We should be getting some rain later on this afternoon and through the night. I hope so, as we sure need it, as do the plants and things. A lot of humans only think of their own kind, when in reality there are a lot of other things, and critters that are effected. Even the soil for that matter.

Bug Report: Every thing is good in that department other than a few Mosquitoes and Deer Flies, which aren’t all that bad.

Highway 522 is or was busy with lots of people roaming around our area from other parts of the world, along with a lot of motorcycles. There is also a lot of new homes and buildings being built these days, as there is a never-end amount of trucks with building materials going up and down our highway. Sign of the time, I suppose. Is it a good thing? Well … I can tell you what I think, but it wouldn’t do any good. It’s kind of like when folks say the more business in the area, the better, when in reality if there are too many, all selling the same thing, the end results are that the business community dies. Being the age my wife and I are, we have seen it all. At any rate, folks do what they do, that’s how they learn. Right?

On another note, my wife and I worked most of the day installing our new eve troughs along the one side of our home yesterday, as the fellow we had working on it had some issues. So, wanting it done, we decided to finish it ourselves. It was a job for sure, and we still aren’t finished, but will finish it this morning if things goes to plan. My wife is doing the ladder end of things. She is a worker for sure. It isn’t getting done as fast, but it’s getting done. And if it doesn’t rain, we will have to water our veggie gardens. I am hoping it rains, Ha ha.

We also have been steadily eating this year’s garlic, digging one every day and adding it to our daily in-take of food. I like it now as it is so tasty and not as hot. You should try it sometime. We also are using the Scapes, a top part of the garlic in our salads that we are getting from our gardens now I have to tell you it sure tastes good. If you have never had fresh lettuce or spinach you’re sure missing out as there is no comparison to what they are selling in the grocery stores these days.

With that, I am off for some pancakes this morning and my lovely wife just opened another jug of Mike Clappertons Maple Syrup. I don’t think there is any better out there these days.

Have a great day. GW

Good Morning!

Looking outside, things are shaping up to be a real nice day. The sun is slowly rising in the east, which makes me happy I am able to get out of bed. My wife and I enjoy the morning sunrise every bit as much as the sunsets. It will warm up a lot as the day moves forward. This is the kind of weather that you need to get up early and get your outside chores all done up before 10 when the heat arrives. It’s nothing new for my wife and I, being farmers in the beginning we were always out of bed by 5, sometimes earlier. We had a whole day’s work done before most folks even thought about rollin’ outta bed. Ha ha! Them days, sure do bring a smile to my face, though I have to admit, I’m mighty glad for the things we’re able to do nowadays. It’s a different kind of satisfaction.

Highway 522 is getting busier every day with a lot of new folks, tourists and cottage folks roaming around. It is nice to see folks out and about enjoying life.

Bug Report: All is good these days other than a few mosquitoes and deer flies. Other than eating a bit of garlic or wearing some green clothing, there isn’t much you can do. For me, they don’t bother me all that much and the ones that do … well my old hat takes care of them.

On another note, being so dry, my wife and I watered my veggie garden. With the sunny, warm weather and the water we have been giving our plants, they are growing leaps and bounds. I will take a few pictures later on to show you how they are making out.

Today we will finish up our eaves, all that is left is to put our eve troughs back up, and we should be good for the summer.

With that I am off for a bagel that my lovely wife is preparing for me and will then see what the day has in store other than what I have planned. Who knows what kind of shenanigans and adventures await me?

Enjoy your day, and remember, the power to make it truly good rests solely in your hands. GW

Good Morning!

It’s another hazy morning, waking up in cottage country. Once the sun is out of bed, it will burn it off. It is also a bit cloudy, which will make the heat a bit more bearable. The good news is, we should be seeing some rain over the next three or four days. Which would be nice as things are very dry out there.

Bug Report: Other than some Deer Flies and a few Mosquitoes, things are pretty nice these days.

Yesterday, my wife and I got up early and got our mowing out of the way before the heat hit. Sure looks pretty now. I enjoy nothing more than looking around our property when things are all done up right. The good news is my old riding mower is working okay after I fixed it a bit. But with that, my weed eater is not running that good. So I am going to have to see if I can fix it. If not, I will drop it off at a repair shop in North Bay the next time we are in town. I can’t complain though, as most of my equipment is on the older side, something like myself. Ha ha.

Today I am going to work a bit in my shop on some projects I have on the go. After that, I will pick a spot in the shade and relax. Maybe a game of horse shoes or two with my wife.

With that I am off for a Bagel that my lovely wife is putting together for me and will then see what the day has in store, other than what I have planned.

Have a good day! GW