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Good Morning… I’ve always said: “Don’t waste a good day worrying about what might never happen.”

Well, here it is, the 24th of May, and the weather looks like it’s finally about to turn for the better—which is just what we need to get those tomato plants in the ground.

Today – Saturday, May 24:
Cloudy skies with scattered showers rolling through off and on. High around 59°F (15°C), with a low dropping to about 47°F (8°C) tonight. Light northwest breeze around 5 to 10 miles an hour. Chance of rain sits around 60 percent.

Tonight:
A few lingering showers early on, then mostly cloudy through the night. Low around 47°F (8°C), with the breeze holding steady from the northwest. About a 40 percent chance of more rain.

Tomorrow – Sunday, May 25:
Partly sunny with just a slight chance of a passing shower. High near 63°F (17°C), and cooling off to about 44°F (7°C) overnight. Should be decent planting weather if things hold.

If it keeps tracking this way, you might be digging in the dirt by tomorrow afternoon. Just don’t forget where you set your coffee down while you’re out there.

Highway 522 is or has been slow for the past few days. But things are about to pick up with the warmer temperatures entering into the picture.

Bug Report: Well, with this cooler weather, it’s been holding back the blackflies quite a bit, but like I keep saying, once it warms up, they’ll be back—hungrier than ever.

On another note, yesterday—despite the cool and rainy weather—I spent the day working around our home and out in the woodworking shop. I managed to get just about everything I own tagged and priced, since, eventually, it all has to go. Doing that now will make things a whole lot easier for folks when they come by to have a look-see.

And just so there’s no confusion, that means everything—including what’s in our gift shop—is up for grabs. So if you happen to stop in and spot something you like, but the price doesn’t quite sit right with you, don’t be shy. Make me an offer. Who knows, my wife and I might just take you up on it.

We had another good day yesterday too, with a nice couple dropping by. They liked what they saw and ended up buying several of my wife’s paintings along with a few other things. Still, there’s plenty left, so don’t go thinking we’ve been all picked over—that couldn’t be further from the truth.

So what are you up to today, GW?

Well, today I plan on finishing up a few things in our old woodworking shop. I’ve got a couple more items to price and tag, and then I’ll start setting things out so they’re easy to see. After that, I’m thinking a bit of front porch sittin’ might be in order—if the weather decides to cooperate. That’ll give this old body a bit of a break, too, since tomorrow I’m hoping to till up the vegetable garden again, and finally get our veggies in the ground. Far as I can tell, the weather’s looking good for it now.

With that bit of information planted firmly in your minds, I’m off to enjoy some breakfast my lovely wife’s put together for me—she’s got a way of making even the simplest meal feel like something special. After that, we’ll just see what the day has in store.

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

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Good Morning… You know, thinking on things, I have found that time has been a better teacher than any I had in school.

It is another cloudy, wet morning here in cottage country. The kind of morning that makes a fellow want to have a second cup of coffee before heading outdoors, maybe even a third if the wood stove is burning just right.

Now, if you are wondering what kind of sky you will be looking at today, and into the next couple, here is the scoop for Port Loring, Ontario:

Today – Friday, May 23:
We are sitting around 50°F (10°C), with a steady drizzle lingering like a stubborn guest who does not know when to head home. Winds will be light, maybe 5 to 10 mph, coming out of the northeast, so it is a damp, bone-soaking kind of day. Not cold, but not exactly the kind of day you want to be out mowing the lawn.

Tonight:
It will dip down to about 44°F (7°C). The rain might ease off a bit, maybe even pause for a while, but the clouds are staying put.

Saturday, May 24:
Looks like a mixed bag. Morning could surprise us with a few breaks in the clouds, but do not get your hopes up, as by afternoon, we are back into the low 60s°F (around 17°C) with a good chance of showers moving in again. Not a total washout, but I would not plan on drying laundry on the line.

Sunday, May 25:
Partly sunny with a shower in the area, high around 63°F (17°C), low near 44°F (7°C).

Traffic on Highway 522 has been pretty quiet lately. With all this rain, most folks are staying put.

Bug Report: With the weather being the way it is, the black flies are not all that bad right now. Best to take advantage of the outdoors while you can, because they will be back once things start to warm up.

On another note: Yesterday, with it being such a wet day, my wife and I took a trip into North Bay to pick up some supplies and groceries. Aside from a few showers here and there, everything went smooth. We got what we came for, had a pizza at East Side Mario’s, and grabbed a cup of coffee for the ride home. All in all, it turned out to be a pretty enjoyable outing.

So what are you up to today, GW?

Well, seeing as today is shaping up to be another wet one, I figured it is a good time to start tagging all the equipment and tools in my woodworking shop. In the coming days, everything I have out there will be going up for sale—it will be another big one. Not exactly something I am jumping for joy about, but… let’s just say the time feels right.

I have also done my homework, taken the time to see what things are actually worth, and every piece will be priced to sell. Fair is fair. I am not giving anything away, but I am not trying to hang onto it, either. So that is what I am up to today—getting things ready, one tag at a time.

With that, I am off for my breakfast—the one my lovely wife is making for me. A couple of breakfast sausages with a few pancakes laid out beside them. Should give me the energy I need to tackle everything out in the shop today, don’t you think?

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

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Good Morning… You know, most of what stuck with me wasn’t written on a chalkboard.

Well… she’s a cloud-wet morning here in Cottage Country.

The kind of sky that hangs low and slow, like it hasn’t quite made up its mind about the day ahead. The trees are still dripping from the night’s leftover mist, and the birds, well, they’re singing anyway—making the best of it like they always do.

Today
Expect scattered showers right through mid-afternoon, with a good chance of heavier pockets around lunchtime. Not much sunshine poking through, but it might brighten just a little toward supper. High of 52°F (11°C), and it’ll feel damper than it reads, so a light jacket wouldn’t hurt.

Tonight
Clouds will linger like uninvited guests, with a steady breeze from the northwest. Temperatures dipping to about 43°F (6°C) overnight. Could be a bit of fog forming in the lower spots after midnight, so if you’re out late, keep your low beams handy.

Tomorrow
Now here’s the shift—mostly cloudy still, but we might catch a bit of sun peeking through mid-morning. Less chance of rain, though not completely dry. Winds settling a bit, and it’ll warm up slightly to around 55°F (13°C) by early afternoon. Not perfect, but better than today, and worth getting something done outside if you’ve been waiting for a break in the damp.

Highway 522’s been quiet lately.
Could be the weather—cool, cold, and wet for days now. The kind that keeps folks indoors and the coffee pot full.

But that’s spring in these parts. One day you’re digging out your short sleeves, the next you’re hauling wood back to the porch.
It’s that in-between season. Some folks call it a transition stage.
In other words: “Don’t count on anything just yet.”

Bug Report:
Well, them pesky black flies were out a bit yesterday, but not as bad as they have been.
Reason being, the cold weather has held them back a touch.
But don’t let that fool ya, as once things warms up, they’ll be back, lookin’ for a meal.

On another note, yesterday we managed to get all our grass cut for the second time this year.
I usually do it on Thursdays, but knowing rain was going to move into our area, we figured we’d better get it done.
When the grass is wet, it’s harder to cut—and on top of that, it just doesn’t look as nice as when it’s dry.
My wife and I are fussy that way.

So what are you up to today, GW?

Well, today—being that it’s cool and wet outside—I suspect I’ll be spending some time here at the computer.
We’ll see.
We still have a few more things to move out to the carport, where we hold our garage sale.
Still a lot we want to get rid of.

From now on, we’re planning to keep our gift shop open all summer.
And by the way, everything in there is half price.
As for the garage sale, we’re only going to have it on Fridays and Saturdays from here on out.

Oh, and the gift shop will be open every day except Thursday mornings—that’s when we do our mowing now.
That said, if folks happen to drop by and want to take a look at the garage sale items, we won’t hold them back. We’re easy that way.

So with that, I’m off to enjoy the breakfast my little woman’s put together for me.
After that, we’ll see what the day has in store—outside what I’ve already planned, of course.

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

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Good Morning… You know, I didn’t learn much from sitting still, but I picked up plenty while moving.

Weather-wise, things are looking pretty nice out there this morning. We had a few clouds earlier on, but while I’ve been writing this post, the sun is trying hard to show herself. She’s not quite winning yet, but she’s putting up a good fight.

As for today, the folks who claim to know these things are saying we’ll reach a high of around 56°F (14°C). Might be a few showers poking around later this afternoon, so it wouldn’t hurt to keep your boots by the door and maybe hang the laundry inside, just in case.

Tonight, it’ll cool down to about 48°F (9°C), which should make for some good sleeping. Just enough chill in the air to pull the blanket up over your shoulder.

Tomorrow looks like it’ll be a wet one. They’re calling for rain on and off throughout the day, with the temperature topping out at around 53°F (11°C). A little lower overnight, too—about 44°F (7°C). Could be a good day to catch up on some things indoors, or just sit by the window with a warm drink and watch it all unfold.

All in all, it’s one of those stretches of weather you can expect just about anything.

Highway 522 actually has slowed down after the long weekend. But it has been down right cool, which makes folks tend to stay closer to home.

Bug Report:
Well, the cooler weather has slowed down the black flies somewhat, which I’m sure is just fine with most folks. But they’ll be back once things start to warm up a bit, so we’re not out of the woods just yet in that department.

On another note, yesterday was a full one around our place, with the garage sale bringing folks by and a few other jobs keeping me busy from sunup to sundown. The kind of day that moves quick, even if your boots don’t.

So what are you up to today, GW?

Well, today we’ll carry on with the garage sale, and later my wife and I are planning to get the mowing done a day early—got to beat the rain rolling in tomorrow and Friday. Doing it today will make things a whole lot nicer.

With that, I’m off to enjoy the breakfast my lovely wife has made for me, followed by a good cup of hot cocoa before I head outdoors.

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