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, Health, Weather, What's Happening

Writing Ain’t Therapy, but It’s Close on July 13/2025

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Good morning, folks. I sat down to write and the words sat down with me. Not bad for a Sunday.

And a warm Sunday at that.

Weather Forecast for Port Loring, Ontario
Sunday, July 13, 2025

Today:
Expect a humid day with periods of morning rain and possibly a thunderstorm. As the day moves on, the skies will gradually clear, giving way to hazy sunshine by afternoon. Smoke from distant wildfires may roll into our area, depends on which way the winds are heading.
High: 82°F (28°C)

Tonight:
Mainly clear skies through the night, although some haze will likely linger due to wildfire smoke. It’ll cool off nicely, making for a decent night to sleep with the windows cracked if the air quality allows.
Low: 57°F (14°C)

Tomorrow – Monday, July 14:
Warm and dry with hazy sunshine continuing. Smoke may still be noticeable in the air, and it’s shaping up to be another hot one, especially by the afternoon.
High: 85°F (30°C)
Low: 60°F (16°C)

Highway 522 was pretty busy yesterday, with mostly the locals and cottagers moving around. We had a few tourists rolling through from other towns and cities, what some folks call day trippers, and a lot of them dropped by our gift shop picking up items of choice. It was nice to see, and it’s always good to hear what the rest of the world is up to these days.

Living where we do, way back in the country, we’re kind of kept in the dark when it comes to what’s taking place in the big cities.

Why do I enjoy listening to these folks? Well, I’ll tell ya, it makes my wife and me appreciate where we live and just how lucky we are.

Fishing Report for Sunday, July 13 – Port Loring, Ontario

Well, folks, if you’re planning on casting a line today, things are shaping up to be pretty fair. The morning started off muggy with some thunder rumbling around, but that’s eased off some now, leaving us with a mix of cloud and hazy sunshine.

The best times to be out on the water today are early this morning—around 2:30 to 4:30 AM for the real early risers—and again this afternoon from about 2:45 to 4:45 PM. There’s also a minor bite window around 8:00 to 9:00 AM if you’re just getting your boots on now. Later tonight, from about 10:30 to 11:30 PM, there’s another short feeding spell if you’re one to enjoy the stillness of the evening lake.

With the haze in the air and just enough cloud cover, it should keep the fish feeling a little more comfortable and maybe more willing to come up from the deeper water. Might be a good idea to work the edges of the weed beds or along the drop-offs this afternoon when the sun tries to push through.

All in all, it’s a good day for fishing. Just keep an eye on the sky in case those storms want to circle back. And as always, a bit of patience and the right lure for the day will go a long way.

Lure of the Day: From my years fishing the North, I’ve learned pickerel can’t resist a bright spinnerbait or a shiny silver spoon. Or… a simple hook tipped with a fresh minnow or a natural-colored crankbait usually does the trick. Sometimes, the old reliable ways are still the best.

So with that, I’m off for my breakfast my lovely wife has made for me — fresh-cut bacon and two eggs, easy over. No toast today; I’ve been off bread for about a month now. Why? Well, truth be told, wheat isn’t even good for a lot of animals, as it can cause all kinds of health issues.

Now, I’m not saying everyone has to cut wheat out completely, but going easy on bread and wheat products has made a real difference for me. The thing is, wheat we eat today isn’t the same as it was long ago, not by a long shot as it’s been bred to have more gluten and starch, which can be harder on our digestion. Even some of the animals don’t do well on too much wheat; it can upset their stomachs or cause health problems. So sometimes you just have to listen to your body — just like we watch how wheat and grain affect the animals. If it’s not good for them, maybe it’s not always good for us either.

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, News, Information & Events

A Piece of Port Loring: The Place We’ve Built and Loved

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We’ve been living here in Port Loring for over twenty years now. Hard to believe how time slips by. You look around and see all the work that’s gone into this place, and it tells its own story.

The house is older, but solid. We’ve kept it in good shape, taking care of repairs and making it a home we’re proud of. Beside the house sits a small cottage we built ourselves. Inside, there’s a counter with a double sink and hot water, a small heater for cooler nights, a retro fridge, a microwave, and all the utensils you need. It has a double bed with a single bed above it, like a bunk bed. The cottage is beautiful inside and out, nicely decorated, and features a wrap-around deck shaded by huge maple trees and a few tall pines—a perfect spot to sit and relax. It even has high-speed internet through Starlink, which we purchased to stay connected. Hard to beat that out here.

Nearby, there’s a shower house I built myself. It’s not just for showers — it has a sink and a toilet, along with a stand-up shower. Everything’s nicely decorated, very clean, and done right, the way only an old craftsman can. It makes things comfortable for anyone staying over.

The property is 1.2 acres or more with 400 feet of frontage right on Highway 522. That makes getting around easy. You can walk to the local store, the restaurant, or head down to the lake to fish. We’ve always liked being close enough to town to feel connected, but far enough out to enjoy the quiet country life.

There’s a good-drilled well and a septic system done right by the professionals, so those worries are taken care of. Out back is a woodworking shop that was already here when we moved in. I fixed it up, insulated it, and installed a wood stove that keeps me warm all winter no matter how cold it gets. I’ve spent many afternoons there making birdhouses, benches, and the water wheel that turns steadily in our little fish pond. That pond has become one of my favourite spots. Watching the wheel go round and listening to the water is a good way to slow down and take a breath.

We’ve kept the grounds neat with flower beds full of perennials that come back every year and a vegetable garden that grows nearly anything we plant. There are several outbuildings for storing tools, toys, or whatever else you might have.

People driving by probably see a tidy property with neat lawns and flowers. What they don’t see is all the hours spent planting, building, fixing, and living here. They don’t see the quiet mornings with a cup of coffee on the porch or the peaceful nights when the crickets start up and the yard feels calm in a way only the country can bring.

This has been our home for a long time. We’ve put a lot of ourselves into it. Maybe one day someone else will take it over, make their own memories, and add another twenty years of stories. Until then, we’ll keep looking after it and enjoying it as we always have.

If this sounds like the kind of place you’ve been looking for, it’s currently for sale. You can get in touch with our realtor, Angie McCandless at Forest Hill Real Estate Inc. Brokerage. She’s ready to answer your questions and help you find out more.

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

Been Writing So Long, Even My Coffee Has Opinions on July 12/2025

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A Small Piece Out Back of Our Property

Good morning. You know, over the years I’ve learned not to force the words …just open the door, and see which ones wander in.

Starting things off, we’re seeing some sunshine in our area, but that southwestern sky is looking kinda dark, which could mean that there’s something brewing weather wise.

Seeing that, here’s your weather forecast for Port Loring, ON:

Today (Saturday, July 12):
– Expect very warm and humid conditions today, with highs around 87 °F and a low tonight near 67 °F.
– There’ll be occasional rain and drizzle, so keep your raincoat handy if you’re heading out.

Tonight (into early Sunday):
– Skies will stay humid and cloudy, with scattered showers likely continuing into the evening.
– Lows will dip to about 67 °F.

Tomorrow (Sunday, July 13):
– Humidity remains high, with a chance of morning rain and a possible thunderstorm. During the day, we’ll see hazy sunshine mixed with cloud cover.
– The high will reach around 81 °F, with overnight cooling to 60 °F.
– Be aware that smoke from area fires may increase in our area. Depends on which way the wind is coming from.

Highway 522 has been picking up a wee bit, but surprisingly, it wasn’t all that busy yesterday. Sales in our gift shop slowed down some, but we’re still seeing a few folks dropping by and picking up our one-of-a-kind items.

And I have to tell ya, the one thing about our store—it isn’t like all the others. Most of what we carry is designed and made right here at home. And when you think about it, every piece we sell comes with a story. So really, you’re not just buying something, you’re taking home a little piece of us, and a story to go with it.

You won’t find that in most other shops these days. Unless it says “Made in China”—but hey, we all know that story.

Fishing Report for Port Loring, Ontario – Saturday, July 12, 2025

Well, the best times to be out on the water today are early this morning from 6:30 to 8:00 AM and then again this afternoon from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, with action likely carrying into the early evening. Fish tend to be more active, early in the summer, with the weather being warm and humid and the threat of some rain in the air. Gets too hot though, they are looking for the shady spots, Same as us humans.

Lure of the Day:
For Largemouth Bass, try a top water plug like a Whopper Popper near weed beds or structure.
For Pickerel or Pike, go with a spinner bait or shallow crank bait, you know the kind, something flashy that moves water and gets their attention.

Good Luck and remember: “Catchin’ fish is great, but sometimes just floatin’ around with a coffee is good enough.”

So what are you up to today, GW?

Well, with it being a touch cooler this morning, I’m thinking I’ll clean up some weeds in the vegetable gardens, the ones that like to sneak in and hide around the base of our tomato plants. After that, weather permitting, I plan on taking it easy and enjoying the outdoors with my lovely wife, out back on our swing under the basswood tree. My wife sure loves that swing. And hey, if it doesn’t get too hot, we might even get a game of horseshoes in. We’ll see how that pans out as the day rolls along.

On another note, yesterday I spent the day helping folks who stopped by our gift shop and garage sale. Yep, the garage sale is still on, and we’ll keep it going through till August.

Here’s the thing: those garage sale items have to go, no ifs or buts. So knowing that we’re open to all offers, and we’re ready to make deals to move them out. The store items are specialty pieces, so while they’re marked down, we can’t just give those away. But the prices are more than fair.

So if you’re looking for bargains, there are plenty waiting for you… right here at 11588 Highway 522 in Port Loring, Ontario. We are open from 10:00 AM – 4:00PM.

With that, I’m off to enjoy breakfast that my lovely wife is fixing for me, which will consist of two eggs easy over and a couple of slices of bacon without any preservatives added. After that, I’ll head out to our front porch with a cup of coffee and my little woman, and we’ll take in the nature all around our home here. It’s truly a one-of-a-kind piece of property, let me tell ya.

And if you’re curious about what’s next for us, well, this special place is up for sale as we’re getting ready to turn the page and start a new chapter in our lives. So if you’ve ever dreamed of calling a slice of Port Loring home, maybe now’s the time to drop by and see it for yourself. Along with meeting the writer and the artist.

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, My Opinion Only

Are We Racing Toward Electric Cars Without a Road to Drive On?

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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, I’ve been doing some reading lately on this big push for electric vehicles here in Canada, and I’ll tell you straight. I don’t think we’re going about it the right way.

They’re talking about forcing car companies to hit twenty percent EV sales by 2026, then banning new gas and diesel cars by 2035. Trouble is, no one seems to be asking the simple question: can we even handle it?

As it stands, right now, we don’t have near enough charging stations, or the power grid upgrades needed to keep all these batteries humming. And speaking of batteries, have folks really looked into what goes into them? Mining for lithium, cobalt, and nickel tears up the land somewhere else, and often in places with little to no environmental safeguards. Then there’s the dirty truth about what happens when these massive batteries wear out. They’re not exactly easy to recycle, and that’s a pile of hazardous waste waiting for the next generation.

Meanwhile, here in Canada, we’ve got plenty of oil and natural gas. It’s our bread and butter, puts food on the table for countless families, and keeps small towns alive. Instead of tearing down what we have, why aren’t we putting our heads together to make our traditional engines cleaner? We’ve already come a long way, as modern gas and diesel engines are nothing like the old smoke-belchers. With a bit more effort, we could keep refining them so they’re even easier on the environment.

And let’s not forget, our electricity isn’t all coming from wind or water. Much of it still burns fossil fuels, so pushing everyone into EVs doesn’t magically clean things up. It just shifts where the pollution happens, usually out of sight and out of mind.

Now, I’m not saying we shouldn’t look for new tech. But I am saying we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Seems to me, we ought to be improving what we already have, making the most of our own resources, and ensuring Canadians can keep moving without having to pay the folks in charge, for the privilege.

That’s how I see it, anyway.

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, My Opinion Only

Who’s Really Speaking for Canada?

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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.

There’s been a new poll making the rounds, done by the Pew Research Center, saying more Canadians these days see the United States as a threat. They found that 59 percent of Canadians now think of the U.S. as their biggest threat, up from just 20 percent back in 2019.

But even with that, the same poll says 55 percent of Canadians still see the U.S. as our most important ally. So it’s a strange mix, as folks see them as both a friend and a danger.

Now, here’s how I look at it. I’ve lived here in Canada all my life, over seventy years, and my father before me did too. Folks like us, who’ve been here for generations, are the ones whose say is slowly losing ground. It seems to me it’s not so much long-time Canadians feeling this way, but more the result of having a growing number of people coming in from other parts of the world, bringing different views with them.

Don’t get me wrong, I welcome most folks making a new life here, but it changes how these surveys come out. It’s like our voices, the people who built this country and lived side by side with the U.S. through thick and thin, are getting a bit drowned out.

As for Trump, well, sure, he was abrupt and a some didn’t care for his way of speaking. But to me, he was just calling a spade a spade, telling it like it is. That kind of straight talk may rub some folks the wrong way, yet it’s the kind of honesty I’ve always appreciated.

So when I read that Canada now sees the U.S. as more of a threat, I take it with a grain of salt. From where I sit, most folks I know still see the United States as our best friend and strongest ally. We might not agree on everything, but that’s family for you.

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]