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Morning, friends! My old Dad had a way of putting it: “‘George—the best days start with work and end with a story.”

We here in the north are waking up to some snow flurries along with cooler temperatures this morning. By the looks of things, it will get a lot colder.

Here is the weather forecast for Port Loring, Ontario, Canada:

Today: Light snow at times, with accumulations of about 1 cm. High of -3°C (26°F).
Tonight: Mostly cloudy and much colder, with a low of -12°C (10°F).
Tomorrow: Cloudy with some breezy conditions in the afternoon. High of 0°C (32°F) and a low of -2°C (28°F).

A weather advisory is currently in effect for us here in Port Loring, Ontario, until 4:00 PM EST. Hazards include reduced visibility in heavy snow and blowing snow, with additional accumulations of up to 5 cm. Travelers should exercise caution as conditions on the roads may change suddenly.

Highway 522, at the time of this post, is snow-covered with some icy sections throughout. It might pay to stay home today instead of venturing too far—unless you’re one of our old locals who claim they’ve “seen worse back in ’68” and figure their rusty pickup will make it through anything.

But even the toughest among us might think twice when the snow starts flying sideways and the ice on the roads gets slicker than a greased frying pan. Not that it’ll stop old Joe from heading out in his snowmobile to check his traps or Mrs. Miller from walking to the post office, insisting she “needs to see if that catalog arrived.”

As the saying goes, when the snow gets deep and the wind howls, we don’t stay home because we have to—we stay home because we’re smart enough to know better! So, grab another cup of coffee, sit by the fire, and let the storm have its way. There’s always tomorrow, or at least we sure hope so!

On another note, knowing what was coming for today and the weekend, my wife and I headed to North Bay yesterday to stock up on some groceries and other odds and ends. The roads weren’t bad—just a few snow-covered spots here and there, but nothing to slow us down too much. Well, that’s not entirely true—we did slow down quite a bit, but not because of the roads. It’s pretty hard to pass up all that Mother Nature has to offer along the way.

On the way, later in the day, we spotted a few deer taking their time moseying across a field. Then, a little farther along, we saw some wild turkeys scratching around under a stand of pine trees. And just when we thought we were done with critter sightings, we had to stop as more deer crossed the road. One even stood still long enough for me to snap a picture or two. Nice of him—or her—to cooperate.

Once we got back into town, I couldn’t help but notice the price of gas. It was sky-high when we filled up—$1.69.9 a litre—thanks to the new carbon tax and all the extras they’ve added on. Wouldn’t you know it, this morning it’s dropped to $1.48.9. Figures, doesn’t it? We filled up at the Sunoco on Algonquin Ave, as we always do. Simple reason, really—they still come out to the car and pump the gas for you. Hard to find that kind of service these days.

After that, we picked up what we needed and stopped for lunch at East Side Mario’s. We ordered a large Canadian pizza with some extra Parmesan cheese freshly cut and sprinkled on top. And to go with it, we each had a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon from Barone Montalto in Italy. It’s one of the best wines out there these days—not too sweet, not too bitter, and no aftertaste. And it pairs perfectly with an Italian pizza. We always order a large one so we can take half home for supper. A win-win, as they say.

To finish off the trip, we grabbed a couple of coffees at a local shop and headed home, enjoying the sunshine and each other’s company. All in all, it was a great day. And with what I’ve been going through lately, it was just what we both needed.

Today? Well, today I’m planning to clean up our woodworking shop first thing. Then, I’ll get busy staining the new Yellow Pine Harvest Table I’ve been working on for my lovely wife. If all goes to plan, tomorrow I’ll add a couple of coats of urethane to really bring out the beauty of the wood.

I was up early this morning and got the old wood stove fired up, so it should be nice and toasty out there by the time I get started—right after breakfast, that is. Speaking of which, my little woman has it all ready for me now, so I’d best not keep her waiting!

And as my Dad used to say. “A warm stove and a full belly make for a good day’s work.” There’s a lot of truth in that, if you ask me.

With that bit of info, you all have a great day!

Until next time—keep your minds open and your stories alive! GW

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Good Morning! If my old Dad were here, he’d tell you, “‘”Sun’s up—don’t let it outwork you!”

It’s a cloudy, cool morning here in the north. The temperature waking up was sitting at -13.6°C | 7.52°F. Here’s what to expect for the weather:

Today: Mainly cloudy with a chance of light flurries. High around -7°C (19°F).
Tonight: Remaining cloudy with a low of -11°C (12°F).
Tomorrow: A mix of sun and cloud, with the possibility of light snow later in the day. High near -4°C (25°F).

Looks like winter’s holding its grip! Stay warm.

Highway 522 is partially covered with snow and ice, making traveling a bit tricky for the time being. With temperatures well below freezing, there’s no chance of it melting anytime soon. So, if you’re planning to venture out, a good dose of caution will be your best travel companion.

And, of course, for our local folks—don’t be surprised if you see someone tackling the icy roads in a beat-up pickup, claiming their snow tires are “good enough for another winter.” Around here, it’s not just the snow that’s unpredictable!

On another note, I finished up the handcrafted yellow pine harvest table I’ve been working on for my lovely wife yesterday. It was a satisfying project from start to finish, and I even made a video showing the entire process, which I’ll share on my YouTube Channel once I’ve had a chance to edit it. The table turned out great—sturdy, good-looking, and built to last a lifetime. But then again, that’s what you’d expect from an old craftsman with over 40 years of woodworking experience under his belt, wouldn’t you?

I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed working on it, so much so that I’m almost a little sad it’s finished. Well, not completely finished—I still need to stain it and slap on a few coats of finish, which I’ll get to in the next day or so. Once that’s done, we’ll find it a home right here under our roof, and then it’ll be time to put it to good use. I think a game of cribbage and a steaming cup of coffee will be the perfect way to break it in. What do you think?

Today? Well, I’m not exactly sure what I’ll be doing just yet. But one thing I do know is that our old wood furnace will be keeping me busy. With it being so cold outside, it’s going to need feeding throughout the day. I don’t mind, though—it’s one of those chores I actually enjoy.

There’s just something about wood heat that no other kind of heat can match. No matter how cold it is outside, the moment you step back in, that warmth wraps around you like an old, familiar blanket. It’s a feeling you can’t quite explain unless you’ve experienced it yourself. And let’s not forget—it’s a lot easier on the wallet compared to oil, gas, or propane. For my wife and me, well, we wouldn’t trade it for anything. There’s nothing quite like the cozy, comforting heat of a wood fire to make a house feel like home. Which is what a home should feel like. Right?

With that, I’m off to enjoy a hearty breakfast my little woman has prepared. And then a steaming cup of hot cocoa will be the perfect companion, for the both of us, especially for a cold winter morning like this, along with our regular chat to start the day off right.

You all have a great day.

Until next time—keep your minds open and your stories alive! GW