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Good Morning. My old Dad used to say, “Some days you drive the tractor, some days it drives you.” Life’s about knowing which kind of day you’re having.

Backwoods Weather Report – Port Loring, Ontario
Monday, November 17, 2025

Well, I stepped out earlier than I meant to—just one of those mornings where you wake up and the house feels a bit cooler than usual. The yard had that stiff, frozen look, and the quiet was thick enough you almost didn’t want to break it. Our weather station’s saying 26.8°F (–2.9°C). Humidity’s up at 79%, and the barometer’s sitting low at 28.93 inHg. You can tell by that number alone the air’s thinking about something. Wind’s pointing north but not even a whisper out there.

So for today:
Looks like the cold plans on sticking around. The still air makes it a bit easier than a windy day, but it’ll numb your fingers quick if you’re out there fiddling with anything metal. With the pressure sitting where it is, clouds might build through the day, maybe a touch of unsettled weather later on—though nothing wild. It’s just that kind of low, quiet November mood.

Tonight will probably dip a little colder once the sun gives up.
Wouldn’t surprise me if the frost thickens right up.

Tomorrow might turn a shade brighter if the barometer decides to climb.
Hard to trust it yet; mornings like this hold back more than they give.

For deer hunters, the best times look to be just at first light and again late afternoon.
Cold mornings like this make the woods slow right down. Deer will move—just not in a hurry. You’ve got to sit still longer than you want to.

As for nature’s signs—not much sound out there. Trees locked still, not a shake out of them. The sky had that dull edge along the treeline, like it can’t decide if it wants to lighten or darken. Didn’t hear the chickadees much, which usually tells me the weather’s gearing up to shift, even if it hasn’t shown itself yet.

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On another note, this morning before first light I fired up the shop stove, which should take some of the chill off. Yesterday slipped by in the old woodworking shop, working on those flutes I’ve been shaping. Got a couple far enough along that they’re starting to look like real flutes, so today I’ll keep at it and see where it goes.

Later, some friends stopped by. We had one of those long, easy chats you only get out here, where nobody’s rushing. After they left, I stoked up the wood furnace, here in the house as we got it going now, and after that settled down with my feet up for a bit. All in all, not a bad day. Even my old body cooperated.

You know... living out here away from the cities, there’s a kind of satisfaction in the simple routines—warming the shop, working with your hands, sitting with friends. Kinda, makes you appreciate the slow, steady rhythm of country life. Oh… and appreciate what you have.

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So, what am I up to today? GW

Well, today I’m planning to spend some time out in the woodworking shop—something I always look forward to, especially when it’s cold and the skies are grey. Truth is, there’s really no better place to be… unless it’s sitting with my lovely wife, sharing a good chat over a cup of fresh-perked coffee.

You know… at my age, you really learn to appreciate these simple comforts. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned along the way, it’s that you have to be honest with yourself and your thoughts. It’s the little pleasures that truly matter.

With that, I’m off once again for the breakfast my lovely wife has made for me. Afterward, we’ll sit down together for our regular cup of tea and morning chat, a daily ritual I wouldn’t trade for anything. A day just wouldn’t be a day without that bit of time together to start things off right. Then, I’ll head out to the shop and see what the day brings.

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

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Morning. Dad liked to remind me, “The world don’t wait for your boots to be tied.” I’ve tested that theory. He was right.

Backwoods Weather Report – Port Loring, Ontario
Sunday, November 16, 2025

Well… the morning didn’t stay quiet for long. When I first looked out, the yard felt kind of paused, like everything was holding its breath. Then that north wind started nudging through, not hard, just enough to move the tops of the pines and let you know the day had changed its mind.

The numbers are the same on our weather station, 31°F (-0.4°C), humidity sitting at 87%, and that barometer low at 28.57 inHg, which, around here, usually hints that the weather might wander a bit.

Wind’s up now, steady enough you notice it walking from the house to my woodworking shop.

Today:
Mostly clouds, maybe a weak bit of light pushing through once in a while. With that breeze, you could see a few flurries drifting in, nothing serious. Temperature will hang right near freezing, just cold enough to bite a little if you stand in the open.

Tonight:
Slips back below freezing. The wind should start to settle down. Could be some patchy snow sliding through after dark, more of a dusting mood than a storm.

Tomorrow:
Looks like another gray day, still close to freezing. Low pressure hanging around without much energy behind it… just that dull November feel we all know too well.

Best Deer Hunting Times:
With the morning wind, they’ll stay tucked in for a bit. Your better window is late morning — around 10:30 to noon. Evening should be decent too, 3:30–5:00 PM, if the wind backs off like it usually does.

Nature’s Signs:
You can see the change out there… the spruce needles shaking loose the frost they held at dawn, the birch tops leaning a touch. A couple crows riding the wind low across the back field, calling like they’re arguing about something. The clouds have stretched thin and long, sliding quicker now… carrying just enough weight to think about snow but not enough to promise it.

On another note, well, the past few days I’ve been working inside the house here. Our electric stove, one of the burners isn’t working, so I took it apart and found where the coil plugs into the porcelain part. It was about shot. So I went online to Amazon and found a part I’m hoping will do the trick. $20.00 is a lot better than coughing up around $700 for a new stove.

Before that, though, since it’s been a touch cool, I decided to light the wood furnace for the first time this season. Once it got going nicely, I have to admit, it felt really good. Got it burning away this morning too. Nothing out there today that can match wood heat, well, hot water heat is nice too.

Highway 522’s been pretty quiet the past couple weeks. Most of the tribe has been back in the bush, trying to scare up a deer or two. Some get lucky, some… well, not so much. You can tell the difference between the old hands around here and the city folks who come up for a weekend. The city folks, bless ’em, show up in brand-new camo and boots that haven’t even smelled dirt yet, wandering around like they’re on a nature walk instead of hunting. The old timers, they know which ridge holds a deer at first light, which maple hides a trail, and they move like it’s second nature, like they’ve been doing it since they were knee-high to a sapling.

So what are you up to today, GW?

Well, today, now that I have this other stuff looked after, I’m planning on getting back to making those flutes I’ve been working on for the past couple months. Got them right where I want them, all set to shape them into looking like a flute. So yeah, that’s what I’m up to today… or should I say, that’s the plan. Have to see how it works out in the hours ahead.

With that, I’m off for a bowl of organic oatmeal, which we used to call porridge, that my lovely wife is making for me. After that, I’ll enjoy a cup of tea for a change, and then I’ll head out to the woodworking shop. Should be warm out there by then, since I started the shop stove earlier this morning before daylight.

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

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Backwoods Weather Report – Port Loring, Ontario
Monday, November 10, 2025

Good Morning:
It’s a cold start today with temperatures sitting at 20°F (–6.6°C) and the air feeling heavy, thanks to 83% humidity. The barometer remains low at 29.17 in-Hg indicating little change in the weather. Winds are calm from the north-northeast, barely a whisper, leaving the woods still and quiet, as if they are holding their breath. The first snow of the season has arrived, about half an inch settled overnight. It’s just enough to dust the trails and branches, making everything look refreshed and ready for winter.

Today’s Forecast:
Expect mostly cloudy skies and heavy, with not much wind. The high will reach around 28°F (–2°C), keeping a cold bite throughout the day. A stray flurry or two may pass, but nothing significant is expected beyond the morning’s light snowfall.

Tonight:
The sky stays overcast with temperatures dropping to about 14°F (–10°C). Fog may settle in low areas, and frost will coat the morning snow, making the trails crisp underfoot. Winds remain calm from the north-northeast, and the quiet makes the woods feel larger and even more peaceful.

Tomorrow (Tuesday):
The morning begins near 19°F (–7°C), rising to about 28°F (–2°C) by afternoon. Clouds may break slightly, allowing for glimpses of weak sunlight. Light winds from the north could ruffle the frosted branches, and if the snow firms up overnight, conditions will be ideal for tracking.

Best Deer Hunting Times:
Deer are moving slowly in this cold. The best windows today are early from 7:00 to 9:00 AM and again late in the afternoon from 4:00 to 5:30 PM before dusk. With calm winds, your scent will linger, so move slowly and carefully. Tomorrow, mid-morning could be more promising as the light strengthens and deer resume browsing.

Signs from Nature:
Gray clouds hang low over the hills, frost sparkles in the pale sunlight, and the first snow crunches beneath your boots. Branches remain still in the calm air, and every so often, you can see a bird or squirrel moving about, but mostly, it’s the snow, the frost, and the stillness that tell the story. Winter has arrived folks, leaving its first quiet mark of the year, and you can feel its presence if you pause and take it all in.

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With that I am off for my breakfast my lovely wife has made for me and will then head on out to the old woodworking shop and get to working on them flutes I have on the go. Should be warm enough out there by then… as i lit the shop stove earlier.

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

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Backwoods Weather Report – Port Loring, Ontario
Sunday, November 9, 2025

Good Morning: Cold one out there this morning, 21°F (–5.9°C), and it feels every bit of it. The humidity’s sitting at 85%, so the cold’s got that damp bite. Barometer’s sitting at 29.19 inHg … low and holding steady, maybe easing up by evening. Wind’s are calm coming in from the east-southeast, which usually keeps the sky gray and the woods still.

Today: Mostly cloudy, with a few light flurries drifting around late morning into the afternoon. Air’s heavy, no real wind to move it. High near 28°F (–2°C).

Tonight: Overcast continues, maybe a dusting of snow or a little freezing mist toward dawn. Temperature dropping near 18°F (–8°C). Roads could get slick in the shaded spots and bush trails will crust over.

Tomorrow (Monday): Cooler but brighter, especially toward midday. Pressure should rise a bit, meaning steadier weather. High near 27°F (–3°C) with a light northwest breeze , good tracking day if we get a touch of snow and it firms up some.

Best Deer Hunting Times:
Right now, deer are moving slow in the cold mornings, bedding down early when the wind’s calm. Your best windows today are around 7:00–9:00 AM and again from about 4:00–5:30 PM, just before dusk. Tomorrow looks better for mid-morning movement once the sky clears and they start browsing again. The thing is… with that east wind and damp air, scent’s hanging low, so watch your approach … they’ll catch you easier today than you’ll catch them.

Nature’s Signs:

I noticed this morning that the chickadees were calling for me to fill the bird feeder at dawn—that soft, steady chatter they make when I forget to give them their breakfast. The crows, too, caught my eye, sticking to the open fields, flying low and lazy, not wasting any energy. And yesterday, I was looking at the birch bark—still tight against the trunk. That usually means this damp spell we’re in isn’t ready to lift anytime soon.

It’s something, really—what nature can tell a person if they take the time to notice. The chickadees, the crows, even the bark on a tree. All of it’s saying something, if you’re listening and paying attention.

On another note, it’s a cold morning here in cottage country… the kind of cold that settles into your bones before you even get your boots on. My old woodworking shop was more than just “kinda cool” this morning… truth is, it was damn cold. So I lit the shop stove earlier. Should be warming up by the time I finish this post and get through breakfast. One of those little rituals, you know… fire first, then food, then work.

Yesterday I managed to get a bit done on my flutes, which made me happy. But most of the day was spent helping my wife out in the gift shop… the one we’re opening come spring. That took up most of the day, really. I’m the muscle, moving things, lifting, holding stuff in place. Then she gets in there and works her magic.

And she really is magic at this. She’s a fantastic designer when it comes to making stores and storefronts look just right. She’s been at it a long while now… here, and back down south, where we had three shops with those big windows facing the street. Not to mention all the other stores we’ve had over the years. Each one different, but somehow always exactly what it needed to be.

One thing’s for sure… come spring, that gift shop is going to look mighty fine.

Oh, and on top of all that, she’s also getting her art studio set up at one end of the house. Busy gal, for sure.

Pretty one, too.

So what are you up to today, GW?

Well, today now that I have my wife looked after, I’m planning on getting back to working on them flutes. I have a long way to go before they’re singing nicely… the thing is, there are a lot of steps in making them and each one takes time. And one hell of a lot of patience.

For the most part, I’ve managed to find that patience in my woodworking shop. Something about the work itself, I suppose… the wood doesn’t rush you, and you can’t rush it. But other things… well, let’s just say being the age I am now and seeing how the world is going, sometimes patience takes a back seat in that department.

Funny how that works, isn’t it… you can sit there for hours getting a flute just right, sanding and tuning and listening, but then you turn on the news or hear about some foolishness going on out there and that patience just walks right out the door.

So with that, I’m off for my breakfast that my lovely wife has made for me… which consists of some pancakes this morning. Should give me the energy to make it through the morning till coffee time.

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

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Good morning. You know: I’ve always had a knack for plain truth: “If you can’t be good, at least be useful.” It’s never failed me yet.

Backwoods Weather Report – Port Loring, Ontario
Thursday, November 6, 2025

It’s a bright, cold morning here in Port Loring with the sun shining strong around 8:30 AM. The barometer sits at 990.2 mbar (29.24 inHg), holding steady for now. Temperature’s at 28°F (-2°C), and humidity is 85%, so the air still carries that November bite. Winds are calm from the NNW, leaving the bush quiet and still — good morning for a walk or a watch from the stand.

Today: Expect sunshine through most of the morning and early afternoon, with clouds starting to build later in the day as a weak front approaches. The temperature should stay near freezing, around 30°F (-1°C), and dip to 24°F (-4°C) tonight.

Tonight into Friday: Clouds will thicken overnight, and there’s a fair chance of light rain or wet snow by tomorrow afternoon, depending on how mild the air turns. Winds will shift slightly southwest, picking up a little warmth but also more moisture.

Tomorrow (Friday): Expect a cloudy, damp day, highs near 36°F (2°C). Could see on-and-off drizzle or a bit of sleet, especially toward evening.

Nature’s Signs: The sunshine after a still, frosty night often gets the chickadees and nuthatches busy early, and you might see deer moving along the shaded edges before the sun climbs higher. The quiet morning with no wind means the woods are listening, so move slow and soft.

Deer Hunting Outlook:
This morning’s calm and clear makes for excellent hunting — best times are sunrise to mid-morning (7:00–10:00 AM). Deer will likely move again late afternoon (4:00–6:00 PM) as that next weather change edges closer. When the sun gives way to clouds, movement tends to pick up again, so keep an eye on the sky and stay ready near the trails leading to open feed areas.

Yesterday I spent a good part of the day in my woodworking shop. Dug up some of the old shelves we used to have in our gift shop before we turned the place into a cottage during COVID. Brushed them off and now I’m revamping them so they’ll be ready for use when we reopen as a gift shop come spring.

I’ve also got a few other things to make for my wife — pieces she needs for the store — and I’ll be working on those through the winter months. I have to tell you, now that we’ve settled on what we’re doing with our lives, things sure seem a lot easier.

Come spring, if you’ve never stopped by to see our one-of-a-kind items, try to find the time. You won’t be disappointed. Between our designs and my wife’s know-how when it comes to running and setting up a gift shop, well, you’ll just have to see it to believe it. And even if you’ve been in before, we’d sure like to see you again. This time around, we’ve got a few surprises that I think will keep you coming back.

So, with all that in mind, I’m off once again for the breakfast my lovely wife has made for me. After that, we’ll enjoy our regular morning chat, topped off with a cup of hot cocoa and a couple of marshmallows. Then I’ll head out to the woodworking shop—I already lit the wood stove earlier.

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