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Good Morning, Folks. The coffee’s hot, the world is quiet, and the words are waking up slow, just like me.

Well, taking a close look at nature this morning, it seems we are in for a pretty nice day. The sun is breaking through the haze, and the robins are enjoying their morning breakfast of fresh worms from our front yard, and there’s hardly a breeze blowing through the pines.

Here’s your weather forecast for Port Loring, Ontario:

Today (Wednesday, June 11):
Expect a hazy and warm day, with highs reaching around 71 °F (22 °C). Breezy conditions will pick up this afternoon. Tonight, temperatures dip to about 50 °F (10 °C) under clear to partly cloudy skies.

Tomorrow (Thursday, June 12):
The day will turn mostly cloudy, with highs near 67 °F (20 °C). Overnight, it’ll be cooler again, dropping to around 44 °F (7 °C).

Highway 522 is still quiet these days, with folks not quite sure if they want to venture into our area. And with the weather acting up the way it has been, and the Black Flies out doing what they do best, I’d say staying put isn’t the worst idea. Can’t blame anyone for not wanting to be a buffet.

Now, in saying all that, the weather is about to turn for the better, and the Black Flies are just about ready to pack it in. That’ll leave us with only the blood-sucking joy of mosquitoes. But at least when the sun’s out, they disappear, at least till nightfall, that is. Which suits me just fine, since I’m in the house by then anyway.

On another note, yesterday I worked the day away fixing up a few things around the yard, between showers, that is. I also managed to get the frames for some windows all fixed up nicely. A few weren’t worth the trouble, so I just made new ones. Sometimes it’s easier to start fresh than fight with something that’s already given up.

So what are you up to today, GW?

Well, today I suspect, being that it isn’t raining, I’m going to work up around my tomato plants along with the other vegetables, as I’ve noticed some weeds starting to show themselves. I like to just cut them off with my old hoe and let them lay, as they add more natural fertilizer back into the soil, and the best part is, it’s free. Why pay out of your pocket for that chemical fertilizer when it doesn’t really do your plants any good? Truth told, I never use it. It’s got no real comparison to what nature already gives us. Those chemical mixes might green things up quick, but they don’t feed the soil, and without good soil, you’ve got nothing.

So with that, I’m off for my morning breakfast that my lovely wife has made for me. Afterward, I’ll settle in with a nice cup of hot cocoa and enjoy our morning chat. Then I’ll 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, I’ve made enough mistakes to know which ones not to make again, at least for most days.

For a change, we’re all waking up to a sunny sky here in Cottage Country. Not a cloud in sight, which is a welcome relief after all the rain and cool temperatures we’ve had this spring.

Here’s the weather forecast for Port Loring, Ontario:

Today – Monday, May 26, 2025
Mostly sunny skies, with a high around 73°F (23°C). A light breeze from the north at 5 to 10 mph will help keep things comfortable.

Tonight – Monday, May 26, 2025
Clear skies, with temperatures dipping to about 46°F (8°C). Winds will stay light and variable.

Tomorrow – Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Sunshine continues, with a high near 75°F (24°C). Winds will remain light. Overnight, look for partly cloudy skies and lows around 49°F (10°C).

Let’s hope that sunshine sticks around a while.

Highway 522 was quiet yesterday, with it being Sunday and all. Most locals around here treat Sunday like it’s made for sleeping in, and coffee comes second to a good long snooze. Now, the tourists? That’s a whole different ball game. They’re up at the crack of dawn, maps in hand, charging off to see every rock, tree, and chipmunk north of the French River. Meanwhile, the locals are still in their housecoats, wondering who let all these early birds loose in our backyard.

Bug Report:
Well, the black flies are out in full force now that the cool weather has let up. And just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, the mosquitoes have decided to join the party, and they didn’t come for the conversation. They don’t bother me all that much, but for some folks, they sure do. Between the two of them, stepping outside feels more like offering yourself up as the daily special.

On another note, yesterday, my wife and I finally got our vegetable garden planted. We got up early, tilled it a couple of times, had a coffee, and then got to work. It took us all morning. I have to admit, there’s nothing like getting out there and working in the soil. Once everything was planted and settled, it felt pretty satisfying to see those rows all lined up, ready to grow.

We put in three different kinds of tomatoes, one being yellow low acid, along with three different kinds of lettuce and some spinach we started earlier. We also planted beets, Brussels sprouts, Broccoli, Orange Peppers, Zucchini, Acorn Squash, and to finish it all off, a row of Sweet Corn (Peaches & Cream). There should be no reason this summer not to have fresh things to eat right from our own garden.

All it takes now is putting my old hoe to work once a week and giving them a drink occasionally. Not much effort considering what you get in return.

So what are you up to today, GW?

Well, today I figure I’ll get back to sorting and setting more things out for our summer garage sale. We’ve sold a lot so far, but there’s still plenty to go, especially the stuff in my woodworking shop. You know, I even found things I didn’t know I had tucked away in there.

So with that, I’m off for my morning breakfast that my lovely wife has made for me, and then I’ll head outdoors. It sure is nice to be working outside instead of being cooped up in the house. Winters are long here in the north, and when that warm weather finally hits, there’s no holding us back, not even the black flies or mosquitoes. They might be a bit irritating, but for the most part, we just swat them away like uninvited guests and carry on like nothing’s wrong.

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

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Good Morning. You know, over the years I have come to realize, that school taught me to read, but the fields taught me what really matters.

It’s a cloudy morning waking up here in the north. The sun showed herself briefly earlier, just enough to tease us before ducking back behind the clouds. The air feels thick, like it’s holding its breath, waiting to see what the day will bring. However, it will get to a high of 78°F (26°C) today and there is a chance of showers. Truth told, it’s shaping up to be one of those warm, muggy days when the weather can’t make up its mind.

Looking Ahead:

• Tonight: The skies are expected to clear up, giving us a low of 61°F (16°C). A good night to sit out and enjoy the calm after the day’s humidity.
• Friday, May 16: Warm temperatures continue, with a high of 74°F (23°C). However, be prepared for periods of rain, a possible thunderstorm and possibly some sunshine later on in the day. The evening will cool down to 57°F (14°C).
• Saturday, May 17: The day starts breezy with a couple of showers, but we can expect intervals of clouds and sun as it progresses. Temperatures will reach a high of 65°F (18°C) and drop to a low of 45°F (7°C) at night.

Highway 522 is picking up more every day now, with folks opening up their cottages and getting their boats ready for the season. Well, I should say some are. That used to be the trend—fishing, that is—but with all the new kinds of folks coming in, it seems like that part has slowly faded. Sad to see, really. These days, it’s all about speed boats, jet skis, and big pontoon boats where people can sit and party out on the water.

I have to say, things sure have changed over the years.

I remember heading out with my old dad many years ago, just the two of us and a wooden fishing pole. We’d dig for worms earlier that morning and toss ’em in an old tin can. No fancy tackle or gear. Maybe a baloney sandwich tucked into a paper bag, and a cool drink of spring water from the dipper in the pail to wash it down.

Simple days, but I’ll tell you, those were the ones I really enjoyed. Just being with my dad, quiet moments shared between bites, both from the fish and our sandwiches. No engines roaring, no music blasting across the lake. Just the sound of water lapping at the boat and the occasional splash of a fish jumping. You know, it wasn’t just about catching fish, it was about being there with my Dad enjoying the peace and quietness of what nature had to offer. Miss them days.

Bug Report:

Well, them blackflies are out in full force now, buzzing around and annoying folks left and right. Not much a person can do about it other than make the best of things. One bit of advice—don’t go slathering yourself in smelly perfumes or soaps. All that does is make things worse.

Me, I stick to good old unscented Dove or Ivory—and not much of that either. My wife’s the same way. She washes all our clothes with unscented soap, which helps more than folks might think.

I’ve been seeing a lot of people using that DEET stuff, thinking it’s the magic answer. But I swear, soon as those little pests catch a whiff of it, they start ringing the dinner bell—”Hey boys, we got some ripe ones over here!”

On another note, yesterday, my wife and I spent most of the day getting our first mowing done for the year. Took a bit of doing, seeing as it was the first cut and the grass had been growing by leaps and bounds. But once it was all said and done, it sure looked nice.

I’ll say this, though—we were both more than ready to sit back and relax after all that.

So what are you up to today, GW?

Well, today—if the rain holds off—I’m planning on working up our vegetable gardens. I’m really looking forward to the smell of the freshly turned soil. There’s just something about it, I’ve always liked. I guess that’s the farmer in me.

Anyway, that’s the plan for today, that is if my old rotivator behaves. She’s from way back in the sixties, and being that old, she can get a bit temperamental from time to time. Which, to be fair, I can understand—being a touch older myself.

With that, I’m off to enjoy the breakfast my lovely wife has made for me. After that, I’ll sip on a hot cup of cocoa while we have our morning chat—and then, well, we’ll just see what the day really has in store for me.

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