In the quaint little farmhouse nestled on the rolling hills, an old farmer named Henry sat on the front porch, his weathered hands resting on the creaky wooden armrest. Beside him, his wife Margaret, her once chestnut hair now silver, gazed out at the sprawling fields that stretched as far as the eye could see. They had been married for over fifty years, a lifetime of shared memories and hard work.

“Margaret,” Henry began with a twinkle in his eye, “remember when we first started farming these lands? No fancy machines, just our hands and a stubborn mule named Bessie.”

Margaret chuckled softly, her eyes creasing at the corners. “Oh, I do, Henry. And those were the days, weren’t they? We worked from dawn till dusk, but there was a kind of freedom in it, a connection to the land.”

“Aye,” Henry nodded, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. “Nowadays, you can’t plow a field without filling out a dozen forms and waiting for some government inspector to give you the green light.”

Margaret sighed, her gaze turning wistful. “I miss the simplicity, the smell of the earth in the morning. Now it’s all about pesticides, regulations, and market prices.”

Henry’s brows furrowed. “And don’t even get me started on those crop quotas. We used to plant what we wanted, when we wanted. Now it’s like they’re telling us how many potatoes we’re allowed to grow!”

They shared a knowing look, a mixture of sadness and amusement passing between them.

“But you know, Margaret,” Henry continued, a mischievous glint in his eye, “I heard they’re thinking of regulating the number of chickens a farmer can have next. Can you imagine? ‘Sorry, Mr. Farmer, you’ve exceeded your cluck limit for the year!'”

Margaret burst into laughter, her melodious chuckles filling the air. “Oh, Henry, you always know how to make me smile. Even in the face of all these changes.”

Henry leaned back in his chair, a contented sigh escaping his lips. “Well, my dear, we may not have as much freedom as we used to, but we’ve still got each other and a lifetime of stories to share.”

As the sun began to set, casting a warm golden glow over the fields, Henry and Margaret sat side by side, their fingers entwined. The world around them may have changed, but their love and shared memories remained steadfast.

“Remember that time the cows got loose and ended up in the mayor’s garden?” Margaret reminisced, a playful glint in her eye.

“Oh, how could I forget?” Henry chuckled. “That was a sight to behold! The mayor chasing after those cows with his hat in hand.”

They laughed heartily, the sound carrying across the fields, a testament to the enduring bond they shared. And as the stars began to twinkle in the evening sky, Henry and Margaret continued to swap stories, finding solace and joy in each other’s company, even amidst the ever-changing landscape of farming.

For, as they both knew, the rules and regulations may come and go, but the love they had cultivated over fifty years was a harvest that would never wither.

Good Morning!

It’s a cloudy, rainy day here in Cottage Country. The rain started early this morning and by the looks of things it will remain with us till … tomorrow. But I am not complaining, as we sure need it with things being so dry. We can talk about global warming, but I think nature has its own way. No matter what we do, nature will follow its own path. This can be good, because some people who claim to know what’s best for the Earth might actually be causing more harm. I don’t mean they’re making the weather worse, but their efforts to help the planet might be hurting the people who live on it.

Highway 522 has picked up a wee bit as yesterday our gift shop was really busy with a steady stream of folks dropping by checking things out. We had a real good day to say the least.

But Report: Everything is good in that department, working outside for the past few days I haven’t seen hardly a one.

On another note. Yesterday I worked all day in the old woodworking shop on a new fly through bird feeding station. It turned out nice. I took a couple pictures which I will share with you at the bottom of this post. I have made a lot of them over the years, all sizes shapes and forms, but the one I just made I found to be the best of the lot. And I have to tell ya, it will entertain a lot of birds. Actually, I had a couple that dropped by yesterday while I was doing the final touches and asked if I would make them one. Of course, I said yes and will get to that in a day or so. The only thing is with the price of lumber these days it costs a bit for material to make them. At the moment, figuring everything in, it comes to $225.00 each which for its size isn’t all that bad and yes I can make them smaller if need be for a bit less.

Today, being that it is raining, I kind of figure it will be a good day to clean up the mess I made yesterday in my shop and after that I will bug my lovely wife while she is making our preserves for winter, along with getting together some stories for a new book, which when finished will mean I have 8 published books for sale. A lot of people have been asking when I am going to write another. But back on the subject of doing up preservers for winter/freezing.

You know, I have found, over the years, that eating fruits and vegetables that you grow at home or bought from a real farmer, not a fellow that sells fruits and vegetables that they don’t grow themselves, is really important for your health. They are packed with vitamins and nutrients that help your body stay strong and keep you feeling good.

Why? Well, when you grow your own fruits and veggies, you know exactly what goes into them. No mysterious chemicals or strange stuff – just pure, fresh goodness. Plus, they taste so much better than store-bought ones. Especially that imported stuff that they are forcing upon us these days. Not a good thing, my friends.

With that, I am off for a boiled egg and a piece of toast with brown molasses sugar. Can’t beat a breakfast like that to get the old body wanting to get out there and do some work. Okay, the brown sugar is questionable, but hey … the molasses is sure good for ya!

Wishing you all the best! GW

In the past, I used to relish eating homemade butter that Laura, the lady that raised me, would prepare for our meals.

However, to truly understand how good it tasted, you’d have to taste it for yourself. Simply put, it was incredibly satisfying and addictive.

Although creating it required some effort, the end result was definitely worth it, especially since purchasing store-bought butter was beyond our financial means.

We would begin by milking the cows, and once that was complete, we would take the milk and place it in the separator, a device that separated the milk’s cream from the rest of the liquid. Not a motorized one either, because at the time, hand power was all we had.

After gathering the cream, we would take it indoors and place it inside an old wooden churn. A churn is a device that farmers used back in the day to turn cream into butter.

The churn itself is usually made of wood, and it has a tall, cylindrical shape with a handle on top. Inside the churn, there’s a paddle or dasher that’s attached to the handle. When you turn the handle, the paddle moves up and down, agitating the cream and causing it to thicken, forming solid butter. The liquid that’s left over is called buttermilk. Which is very tasty in itself, especially when chilled and drunk on a hot day.

Once the butter is formed, it’s removed from the churn and then washed and worked to remove any remaining liquid. After that, it’s ready to be salted or flavoured to taste.

I remember one time when Laura and I were making butter together, and something caught my attention. The butter we churned during the winter didn’t have the typical yellow color that I was used to, so I asked her about it. She explained to me that it was because the house was cold, and the butter tends to lose its color in such conditions.

To fix the issue with the butter’s color, she revealed that she had a trick up her sleeve: and halfway through churning, she took a hot poker from the stove and dipped it into the butter. This surprised me as I saw that simply heating up the cream caused the butter to regain some of its color. 

She then mentioned that she could add some carrot juice to the butter if the colour still wasn’t quite right, but emphasized the importance of adding the right amount. Nonetheless, she reassured me … that even if the butter didn’t look perfect, it would still taste fantastic.

You know, as I look back on those days, I realize that the wisdom and guidance of those fine old folks were the foundation of the happiness and contentment I enjoyed. 

Their teachings still are firmly placed in my mind and guide me through life’s ups and downs. I am forever grateful for their presence in my life, and I am happy to  pass on their wisdom to others, just as they did for me.

Listening to old timers talking many years ago.

Sitting on the porch of the quaint old farmhouse, Harold and Frank sipped their cold beers, the checkers board set up between them. The sun was starting to set, casting a warm glow over the fields they had toiled in for fifty long years.

Harold, with a twinkle in his eye, looked at Frank and said, “You know, Frank, back in our younger days, we were as spry as those rabbits over yonder. We could work from dawn ’til dusk without breaking a sweat!”

Frank chuckled and replied, “Ah, those were the days, Harold! I remember when we could carry those bales of hay like they were feathers. Now, a sack of potatoes feels like a ton!”

They both took a moment to laugh heartily, reminiscing about their youthful vigor. Then Harold’s face turned serious as he looked out over the horizon. “But you know, Frank, it’s not just our backs that have changed. It’s this whole world around us.”

Frank nodded in agreement, his weathered hands slowly moving a checker piece across the board. “You’re right, Harold. Technology has come a long way. Remember how we used to plow the fields with those stubborn mules? Now, they have machines that do it faster than we ever could!”

Harold smirked, “Aye, and let’s not forget about those confounded cell phones! Back in our day, if you wanted to talk to someone, you hollered from the porch, and they could hear you all the way across the farm!”

They both chuckled at the thought of their old communication methods. “And remember when the cows would escape, and we’d have to chase ’em all over the place?” Frank added. “Nowadays, they got electric fences that keep ’em in line.”

Harold leaned back in his chair, taking a sip of his beer. “You know, Frank, with all these gadgets and gizmos, sometimes I feel like we’re becoming obsolete!”

Frank raised an eyebrow, “Oh, don’t you go thinking that way, Harold. There’s wisdom in our years that no machine can replace. We know how to read the signs of the weather by the way the wind blows, and we can mend a fence that’s been in the family for generations.”

“You’re right, my friend,” Harold nodded. “There’s a lifetime of experience in these hands. It’s not just about knowing how to work the land, but understanding its rhythms and respecting its ways.”

They fell into a moment of thoughtful silence before Frank let out a hearty laugh, slapping the checkers board. “Enough of these serious talks! It’s time for you to make your move, old man!”

Harold grinned mischievously, “Oh, you’re in for it now, Frank. You know, all those years of farming have given me a strategic mind!”

And so, the two old timers continued their checkers game, sharing stories of their farming adventures and swapping jokes as the sun dipped below the horizon. In their laughter and camaraderie, they found solace in knowing that despite all the changes, some things remained constant – the bond of friendship, the joy of shared memories, and the wisdom of a life well-lived.

Over the years I have indulged in different drinks. And truth be told, I have enjoyed most of them.

In my younger days, there wasn’t anything that quenched my thirst better than a soda.

However, thing’s has changed a lot over the years, especially when it comes to the container that holds the Liquid Candy. 

That’s what some called it back when.

Most containers back when were made from glass, and thinking about that they had some pretty fancy ones too. 

From tall to short, fancy lettering, to just plain, they had them all.

I can remember going into what they used to call a Soda Fountain. There you could get a sandwich, hot dog, ice-cream, and sodas of all kinds.

My favorite was a Cherry Coke Float mixed with ice-cream, and blended to a set texture that would be hard to copy today.

I have to tell you they were definitely tasty.

I also enjoyed the environment that I got when walking into the place. Right away you would see a bar, something like in the old Hotels they had at the time.

Actually, they made me feel like a grown up. As I could walk in and sit myself down at the bar on a stool, swirling myself around in a circle, while chatting away to the Soda Jerk. 

Most had a nice personality, and it seemed it didn’t matter what you wanted to talk about, that Soda Jerk had an answer for everything. 

I honestly don’t know how he did it.

His job consisted of working at the soda fountain, swinging the soda fountain handle back and forth when adding soda water to a fountain beverage. 

They prepared some of the best milkshakes I have ever tasted, along with other treats, using mixers, that featured spindles and agitators, that forced air into the drinks.

When them machines finished doing what they were made to do, the drinks came out smooth and fluffy. 

The next thing I enjoyed was watching how they took the steel container, pouring the milkshake, or whatever into tall glasses.

It sure was a sight to see, let me tell ya. My mouth still waters thinking about it.

You know! I could sit and watch the feller make them drinks for hours.

And the best part was, that most of the time, they didn’t mind how long I sat there, either.

Yes … things have changed over the years, I grant you that. But to this date I have never found a place that could make a Cherry Coke Float like they used to many years ago.

Anyway now that I have all your taste buds flowing, there is one last thing that I would like to talk about today.

It’s about a feller I got to know while visiting our Cottage in Sarasota, Florida many years ago.

This fellow owned a gas station, and at the back of his store, he had over the years saved, literally, hundreds of different kinds of Coca-Cola Bottles.

When he first showed me, I would have never believed that there were so many kinds.

Quite a sight to see.

Anyway, I thought I would share that with you, if for nothing else than it might make you think twice before throwing certain things away.

He told me, today his collection is worth thousands of dollars.

Until the next time. You can reach George Walters at: [email protected]