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Good Morning. You know, years ago, life was shaped by hard work, family, and the weather. I used to say, “If the stove’s warm and your boots are dry, the rest of the day can find its own way,” and that was enough.

Meaning: A warm stove meant the house was livable. Dry boots meant you could step outside ready for the day. If you had those two things, you knew you could handle whatever came next.

Back-Woods Weather Report, Port Loring, Ontario, Canada; December 21, 2025 – 8:03 AM EST

Current Conditions from Our Weather Station Temperature: -7.9°C (18°F) Feels like about -14°C (7°F) with the light breeze. Humidity: 81% Barometer: 983.9 mbar (29.06 in-Hg) – holding steady Wind: Light from the WNW at 7.6 km/h (4.7 mph)

Today (Sunday, December 21) A mix of sun and cloud with a 40 percent chance of morning flurries. Northwest winds building to 30 km/h gusting to 50 km/h before easing late afternoon. Temperature dropping through the day to -11°C (12°F). Wind chill: -14°C (7°F) this morning, falling to -19°C (-2°F) this afternoon.

Tonight Clouds thickening overnight. A few flurries beginning late evening, adding about 2 cm of new snow. Winds light up to 15 km/h. Low starting at -15°C (5°F), then rising toward -8°C (18°F) by morning.

Tomorrow (Monday, December 22) Daytime: A few flurries continuing into early afternoon (another 2 cm possible) before tapering off to mostly cloudy skies. Winds staying light up to 15 km/h. High reaching -3°C (27°F).

Tomorrow Night: Cloudy with a 60 percent chance of snow. Low near -5°C (23°F).

Stay warm and watch those gusts today, folks; it’s a sharp, wintry one here in the backwoods.

Highway 522 has some snowy and icy sections throughout. So care should be taken if out and about and if the wind picks up later on it could cause some drifting.

Yesterday was a day when nothing went to plan. I drove over to the hardware store, picked up the mail, and came back home, only to find that a piece of steel or something sharp had cut the sidewall of my snow tire. Now I’m going to have to get another tire.

Getting the damaged tire off and the spare back on was a real chore. I have to admit, I’m starting to think I’m getting a bit too old for this kind of thing—lying in the snow with the wind blowing around your ears and the cold sinking in. At any rate, the spare is on, but it has issues too. So for the moment, I’m just thinking about what to do next.

So what are you up to today, GW?

Well, today being Sunday, and with everything closed around here, I am going to spend the day working away in my old woodworking shop. I am getting back to making picture frames for my wife, which will keep me busy most of the day.

So with that I am off once again for my morning breakfast and will then enjoy a cup of tea (just because I can) and then head on out to the shop. Have a great day.

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

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Good morning. If the barn’s warmer than the house, you know you’ve planned wrong… or lived right.

Simple explanation:
It means, years ago the work came first. The animals were cared for, the chores were done, and comfort was secondary. Maybe you forgot to tend the house fire, or maybe you were raised to believe that responsibility matters more than ease. Either way, it speaks to a life where duty comes before comfort, and that is not always a mistake.

Back Woods Weather Report

Port Loring, Ontario, Canada Friday, December 19, 2025

Our weather station logged these numbers at 7:24 AM EST:

• Temperature: 0.3 °C / 32.5 °F — parked right on the freezing mark.
• Humidity: 81 % — air’s thick and damp.
• Barometer: 28.3 in Hg (958.2 mbar) — still falling, so the weather’s shifting.
• Wind: Calm for now, blowing lightly from the SSW (203°).

Today’s Outlook Rain turns to periods of snow this morning, bringing 2 to 4 cm (1 to 2 inches) of fresh cover locally. Winds freshen out of the southwest at 30 km/h (19 mph) gusting to 50 km/h (31 mph), then swing northwest early this afternoon with the same punch. That kind of gust is strong enough to rattle the house windows, sway the taller pines, and whip up drifting on open stretches of road, so take it easy if you’re heading out. Temperature will drop all day to minus 7 °C (19 °F) by evening. You know… wind chill was something we never bothered naming years ago but for those that are interested it will be around minus 17 °C (1 °F). Back then, cold was just cold, and you dressed for it, so if your out today… bundle up good and drive careful.

Tonight light snow ends late evening, then skies clear. Northwest winds stay brisk at 30 km/h (19 mph) gusting to 50 km/h (31 mph) before calming after midnight. Low near minus 15 °C (5 °F). Wind chill dips to about minus 21 °C (-6 °F).

Saturday, December 20 Clouds roll in during the morning, then snow starts up again with 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4 inches) possible. Winds turn south and build to 20 km/h (12 mph) late in the afternoon. High near minus 4 °C (25 °F).

Stay warm out there, keep the stove fed, and watch your step on the ice.

On another note:
Lately, I’ve been busy making picture frames for my wife’s new paintings. 🎨 She’s fixed up her art studio just the way she likes it, and I’m glad she finally has a space set up for what she loves.
It means a lot to see her happy, working on her art with everything she needs right there. 😊 She’s a wonderful artist, and I’m proud of what she does.

So what are you up to today GW?

Well, I’ll be heading out to the old woodworking shop again to work on some more picture frames.
🛠️ Took me about four days to really get things figured out.
That’s woodworking for you:
🔄 A lot of trial and error, and maybe a few choice words here and there.
But I enjoy it,
🌧️ Especially on a day like this when the weather’s not so great. Makes the shop feel even cozier.

So that’s what’s on my plate today!

With that I am off once again for my breakfast that my lovely wife has made for me. Have a great day.

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