Category Archives: George’s Writers Corner

Great Spot to hear about anything and everything concerning writing. Also information on my books, book signings, speaking engagements and events that might be happening in and around our town.

George's Writers Corner, My Opinion Only, Weather, What's Happening

Another Day, Another Page on July 28, 2025

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Snowball Bush in Full Bloom!

Good morning, folks. Nothing fancy today, just a simple start to what I hope’s a good one.

Well, opening the door to the outside this morning, it feels as if it’s going to be another hot one. The air already has that heavy feel to it, like it’s been sitting in the sun before sunrise. Not much breeze to speak of either, which usually means we’re in for a scorcher.

Today: We’re looking at mostly sunny skies with temperatures climbing up to around 86°F (that’s about 30°C). It might be a little hotter in the direct sun or out in the fields, so take it easy if you’re working outdoors. Humidity’s hanging around too, which makes it feel even warmer than it really is. It’s best to get your heavy work done early while there’s still a bit of morning cool hanging on.

Tonight: It’s not going to cool off much, with lows only dipping to about 66°F (19°C). It’ll be partly cloudy through the night, and the air might feel a bit thick come bedtime. One of those nights where a fan in the window is your best friend.

Tomorrow: It looks like the heat’s sticking with us. We’ll be back up near 88°F (31°C) and feeling every bit of it. Could see some clouds rolling in through the afternoon, and there’s a slight chance of a thunderstorm late in the day, but nothing’s certain yet. Just enough of a chance that you might want to keep an eye on the sky if you’re out on the tractor or heading back in from the bush.

Highway 522’s still quiet, and there’s good reason for that. A lot of folks are hurting these days, and I don’t blame them. Between the rising cost of living and all the taxes, there’s not much left in a working man’s pocket.

Truth is, I believe paycheck taxes should be stopped completely, plain and simple. The government’s already taking more than their share through everything else. It’s getting to where a man/woman can’t get ahead no matter how hard he or she works, and that just isn’t right. Do that, and you will see this country flourish.

On another note, we had a good day yesterday with folks dropping by the gift shop and picking up some of our one-of-a-kind items. Always nice to see folks appreciating the work we put into things.

I also managed, even with the heat, to get out and thin the tomato plants for the second time this year. They’ve been growing by leaps and bounds, and now that they’ve got a bit more space and air, the sun can get in where it needs to. That’ll help the fruit ripen up just right. I can’t wait till they’re ready.

So what are you up to today, GW?

Well, this morning while it’s still a bit cool, I’m planning on planting some more lettuce. The ones we put in early this spring have just about had it, so with this next batch, we should have some fresh greens in a couple of weeks. Then, about a week after that, I’ll put in another row to carry us through till winter.

I have to tell ya, there’s nothing quite like fresh lettuce on the plate all summer long, especially when it’s not coated in pesticides or who-knows-what else. A man’s better off growing his own these days…since you never really know what’s in store-bought food, and the Powers That Be ain’t saying much.

Fishing Times – Port Loring, Ontario – Today:

  • Best mid-day bite: Around 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM
  • Evening bite: About 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
  • Pickerel (walleye): They’re starting to move again during those key feeding times above. The best bet is near the weed edges or deeper pockets being so warm. A shiny spoon or spinnerbait will catch their eye, and tipping it with a minnow or worm helps seal the deal.
  • Largemouth and smallmouth bass: They’re hanging close to structure—rocks, logs, and shaded shoreline. Soft plastics or topwater baits can stir things up, especially during that late-morning window or just before sunset.
  • Northern pike: Still cruising the shallows and weed lines. Toss something flashy and keep your hands clear when landing, as they sure don’t mess around.

So if you’re heading out, work the water slow and steady. The fish are there; you just have to think like one.

So, with all that under your hat, and you’ll be needing one today, I’m off to enjoy the breakfast my lovely wife has made for me. After that, I’ll see what the day has in store aside from what I’ve already planned.

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

And remember: a paycheck isn’t government property; it’s a man’s lifeblood. Let him keep it. GW

All my books are available on my Amazon Author Page.

If you purchase a book, a brief Amazon review really helps new readers discover my work—it means a lot.

Support my writing: Support My Writing

In Closing, I Would Like to Wish You Well!

George Walters | [email protected]

George's Writers Corner, My Opinion Only

The Truth About Taxes, Jobs, and Who’s Really Paying the Price

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Only On The Walters Post

Now, I’m not here to tell folks what to think, I’m just sharing what life has shown me. Take from it what makes sense, leave the rest, but maybe let it sit with you a while.

You know, there’s talk now that the federal government could be cutting back almost 60,000 public service jobs. And to be honest, if that turns out to be true, I’d say it’s about time.

We’ve been paying through the nose for years now, supporting layers upon layers of government workers. Most of them don’t produce a thing, don’t build anything, and sure as heck don’t grow food or fix roads. They’re paper pushers, and the thing is, the government doesn’t have money of its own. It comes from us, the working folks. Every dollar they hand out, they first have to take from someone who earned it.

And here’s something that’ll make you shake your head: the Canada Revenue Agency, the very people in charge of squeezing every nickel out of your pay cheque, has more people working there than our entire military. Think about that. More folks sitting in cubicles auditing small business owners and farmers than we have protecting our country. That says a lot about where the government’s priorities lie, it’s not about service anymore, it’s about revenue and control.

Now let’s talk taxes. The average working man today loses almost half his paycheck before it even hits the bank. Income tax, CPP, EI, provincial tax, and then after that, sales tax, fuel tax, carbon tax, property tax, hell, they even tax the taxes in some cases. You work all day, every day, and by the time you’re done, the government’s taken more than your boss ever paid you.

And what do they do with it? Prop up bloated bureaucracies, hand out contracts to their friends, fund studies about studies, or send it out the door to other countries while folks here are lining up at food banks without a doctor. Meanwhile, we’ve got potholes swallowing cars and seniors choosing between heat and groceries. Doesn’t sound like good management to me.

Now here’s the real truth no one wants to say out loud:
If they stopped taxing the working man’s paychecks, they’d actually make more money.

Let the working man/woman keep their money and they will spend it. They’ll buy a house, upgrade their truck, invest in their land, build something new. And with every purchase, the government still gets its cut. How? Through sales tax, fuel tax, building permits, property tax, you name it. That’s the money that keeps a real economy moving, not these endless deductions on your paycheck and clawbacks.

So instead of bleeding us dry with payroll taxes, why not step back, let folks breathe, and let the economy do what it’s meant to do… move. When the working folks are doing well, everyone does well. Simple as that.

Until the next time, keep your minds open and your stories alive. GW

All my books are available on my Amazon Author Page.

If you purchase a book, a brief Amazon review really helps new readers discover my work—it means a lot.

Support my writing: Support My Writing

In Closing, I Would Like to Wish You Well!

George Walters | [email protected]

George's Writers Corner, My Opinion Only

The Working Man’s Guide to Beating the Bank and Growing Your Own Money

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Only On The Walters Post

Now, I’m not here to tell folks what to think, I’m just sharing what life has shown me. Take from it what makes sense, leave the rest, but maybe let it sit with you a while.

You ever notice how the banks make it sound like they’re doing you a favour holding onto your money? They flash around interest rates like you’re lucky to be there, but the truth is, you’re probably getting less than 1% — and that’s if they’re feeling generous.

Once in a while, you might see them offer 2 or 3%, which sounds good at first. But look close. That little bump only lasts a month or two, and only if you move all your money into their bank. It’s a trick to pull you in, get you settled, and then quietly drop that rate back to nothing when you’re not looking. That’s no favour — that’s just marketing dressed up as opportunity.

All the while, they’re taking your money and using it to make more for themselves. They invest it, they lend it, and they profit. You? You get crumbs. That’s the part they don’t tell folks like us.

But here’s the good news. You don’t need to be rich to invest. You don’t need a financial advisor in a shiny office. And you sure don’t need to let your hard-earned money sit around doing nothing.

Start Small, Build Steady

Even with just a little money, you can start growing something worthwhile. There are a handful of investment funds that pay you every month, and you can hold them right inside a TFSA so that money’s tax-free.

Here’s a few I keep an eye on:

  • BTCC.B – a Bitcoin fund for those wanting a taste of the digital world.
  • EIT.UN – a long-standing income fund.
  • HDIV, HHIS, MSTE, USCL – all solid income-focused ETFs that pay monthly.

With these, you’re not waiting for the end of the year to see results. Every month, you’ll see income show up in your TFSA. You can let it sit, reinvest it into the ones that are doing well, or move it around depending on where you want to build next. That’s the power of seeing steady progress.

No Need to Panic

Now, don’t let the ups and downs scare you. Some of these might dip here and there. That’s normal. The trick is not to go running the second things turn red. Markets have always had their swings, but they’ve also always come back. Selling too early is where folks trip themselves up.

If the fundamentals are solid and the dividends are still coming in, just hold steady. Patience has always been one of a working man’s best tools.

It’s Easier Than You Think

Open a self-directed TFSA through a place like Questrade or Wealthsimple. It’s no harder than setting up online banking. From there, you can buy shares of the funds I mentioned, or others like them. No middleman. No one trying to steer you into something that benefits them more than it does you.

And once those monthly deposits start rolling in, you’ll see exactly what your money can do. It’s a far cry better than the banks giving you a fraction of a percent while they grow rich on the rest.

You work hard for your money — it’s time your money started working for you.

Until the next time, keep your minds open and your stories alive. GW

All my books are available on my Amazon Author Page.

If you purchase a book, a brief Amazon review really helps new readers discover my work—it means a lot.

Support my writing: Support My Writing

In Closing, I Would Like to Wish You Well!

George Walters | [email protected]

George's Writers Corner, Weather, What's Happening

Here in the North We Tell it Plain

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Good morning, folks. I’m here, the day’s here, and we’ll just take it from there.

Starting things off, it’s a bit hazy here in the north this morning, just that soft summer haze hanging in the air.

Weather for today!

Today (Saturday):

High around 85 °F (29 °C)

Current temps are near 69 °F (21 °C

Tonight – Saturday night:

Low about 62 °F (17 °C) – still feels a bit warm.

Tomorrow (Sunday):

Expect the heat to climb to 88 °F (31 °C)

Overnight low of 64 °F (18 °C), muggy conditions likely stick around

Highway 522… well, truth be told, for us here in cottage country, things have been pretty quiet so far this year compared to others.
And I think I know why. Folks are hurting, as the way things are going here in Canada, a lot of people are just getting by—and some aren’t even doing that. More and more, I hear about folks packing up and heading to other countries where their dollar stretches further.

Then there’s the working man’s paycheck. You put in your time, work your week, and before it even hits your hand, the fancy suits sitting in their air-conditioned offices have already taken a big chunk. They spend their days coming up with new ways to take more from the people doing the real work—then tell us it’s needed. Well, I say leave the paycheck alone. Let folks keep what they earn, and you’d be amazed at how fast this country would turn itself around. Why so many put up with it is beyond me. Well I do…fear!!!

The same goes for the grocery stores. More than half the stuff on the shelves isn’t even fit to eat—loaded with junk that’s no good for you. And yet, people just keep on buying it like it’s normal.

Then there’s the taxes—on gas, roads, schools—you name it. Every time you turn around, they’ve figured out another way to squeeze more out of the average family.

And don’t get me going on health care. Near as I can tell, half the folks in this country can’t even get in to see a doctor anymore. That’s not just frustrating—it’s flat-out wrong.

So no, I don’t blame the ones who are leaving what some still call the “great” country of Canada. I say that as an old feller who was born and raised right here—same as my father and grandfather before me. We built this country with our hands and our backs, and now we’re watching it slip away in the name of so-called progress. But I’ll tell you, it sure doesn’t look like progress to me.

Not sure how I got rolling on all this… but I guess it was supposed to be said.

Bug Report: Well, with all this damp weather and humidity, those pesky mosquitoes are out in full force along with the no-see-UMS and a few deer flies thrown in for good measure. But that’s just how it is living up here in the north. You get used to it and learn to expect it when you live where we do.

Fishing Times: Well, if you’re heading out on the water today here in Port Loring, your best fishing times are coming up later this morning around 9 to 11 and then again this afternoon between 4 and 6. Those are the windows when the fish tend to be most active.

There’s also a minor bite just before dark, so don’t give up too early. As when the weather’s steady like this, fish like to move around a bit more during those times, so it’s worth sticking it out.

For pickerel, try jigging with a small jig and a minnow near deeper spots like river mouths or drop-offs. Slow trolling with orange crank baits can work too. For bass, head for weed beds or submerged structures and use top water lures like poppers or buzz baits early or late in the day. Dragging a soft plastic worm through the weeds is always a solid choice.

And most importantly, you need to be quiet when you get to your spot so you don’t scare the fish off. Use medium test line, around 12 to 17 pounds for pickerel and a bit lighter for bass. And don’t forget your life jacket and plenty of water as she is going to be hot.

Good Luck!

So with that, I’m off to enjoy the breakfast my lovely wife has made for me. And after that, well, we’ll just see what the day has in store. I do need to thin my tomato plants a bit. With all this hot, wet weather, they’ve been growing tall and leafy instead of putting on tomatoes. They sure look nice, but that won’t fill anyone’s belly or make for much on the dinner plate.

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

All my books are available on my Amazon Author Page.

If you purchase a book, a brief Amazon review really helps new readers discover my work—it means a lot.

Support my writing: Support My Writing

In Closing, I Would Like to Wish You Well!

George Walters | [email protected]

George's Writers Corner, Weather, What's Happening

The View from This Old Chair on July 23/2025

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Good morning, folks. Not sure what kind of day it’ll be, but I figure we’ll find out soon enough.

Looking outside this morning, we’re having some clouds, and the temperature did drop through the night, which made sleeping mighty nice. I sure do enjoy it when we can have the windows open, letting in that fresh air.

Today: It’s shaping up to be a warm one, with the temperature climbing to around 82°F (28°C). We might see a shower pass through early on, but after that, it’ll be a mix of sun and cloud. Later in the day, it’ll turn mostly cloudy, but nothing too worrisome.

Tonight: It’ll settle down to a comfortable 64°F (18°C). A mild, peaceful night ahead, just right for sleeping with the window open a crack and letting the night air drift in.

Tomorrow: Now tomorrow’s the real summer deal, expect it to hit around 86°F (30°C). It’ll be humid, with a mix of sunshine and clouds, and by the afternoon there’s a good chance of a gusty thunderstorm rolling through. It will be one of those days when you’ll be glad for a bit of breeze and maybe a shady spot to sit a spell.

Bug Report: All is well in that department other than a few mosquitoes irritating ya now and then and… the occasional deer fly.

Fishing Times:

If you’re thinkin’ about wetting a line today here in Port Loring, I’d say you’re in luck. The weather’s sittin’ just right, with a mix of cloud and sun, and a bit of warmth creeping in as the day goes on. We had some cooler air roll in overnight, which made for good sleeping, and it’s the kind of morning that makes a fella want to load the boat and drift out before breakfast’s even had time to settle.

Best fishing times today look to be around 11:30 this morning right on through till about 1:30 this afternoon. That’s when the fish will be movin’, and if you’re in the right spot with the right bait, you might just pull in something worth bragging about.

Then, as the day starts to cool and the sun dips down, there’s another good window around 8:00 till just after 9:00 tonight. That evening bite can be mighty good if the wind settles and the mosquitoes don’t carry you off first.

A bit of cloud cover never hurts either, as it keeps the sun off your neck and gives the fish a little more nerve to come up from the deeper water. Might be a good day to try just off the weeds, or along the edges where it drops off. Bass and pickerel like to sit there, waiting for supper to come to them.

So, if you’re itchin’ to get out there, I’d say grab your gear, throw together a sandwich, and head for the lake. You don’t get too many days like this, and the fish won’t wait forever.

On another note, my wife and I, along with our one son, took a trip to Niagara over the weekend to visit our other son. We hadn’t seen him in quite a while, so we figured it was time.

We had ourselves a great visit. Picked up a few things, went out for supper every night, and enjoyed a couple of good milkshakes along the way. The trip down and back was smooth as can be, and the weather held up just fine. All in all, it was one of those getaways that leaves you feeling thankful. We sure had a good time.

With that, I’m off to enjoy the breakfast my little woman has ready for me, and then I’ll be opening up our gift shop for the day.

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

All my books are available on my Amazon Author Page.

If you purchase a book, a brief Amazon review really helps new readers discover my work—it means a lot.

Support my writing: Support My Writing

In Closing, I Would Like to Wish You Well!

George Walters | [email protected]