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.

Tariffs and Turning Points

Only On The Walters Post

These are my own thoughts from what I’ve seen and lived through. I’m sharing them to spark some thinking and honest conversation, not because I have all the answers.

Well, here we go again. President Trump’s back in the spotlight, and this time he’s doubling down on tariffs … 50% now on Canadian steel and aluminum. That’s a hard pill to swallow, especially for the folks in Ontario who rely on that work to keep food on the table.

At first glance, this looks like trouble. And truth is, in the short term, it is. Companies will hurt. Some jobs might be on the line. Things could get tight, no doubt about it.

But here’s the thing , I don’t think it’s all bad. In fact, if we’re smart about it, this might just be the nudge we needed.

Doug Ford says we’re going to onshore every widget we can. And you know what? I agree with him. We’ve been too reliant on the U.S. for too long. We’ve seen this movie before, remember when they cut us off from masks during the pandemic? That was a wake-up call. And now, here we are again, being reminded that we need to start looking after ourselves.

We’ve got the resources, we’ve got the workers, and we’ve got the know-how. Why are we shipping aluminum south, only to have it turned into cans, marked up, and sent right back? Makes no sense. Let’s build the can plant here. Let’s melt our own steel, make our own beams, and keep our people working.

This won’t be easy. But long term, it could make us stronger, more independent, and better prepared for whatever comes next.

Sometimes, it takes a good shove to get us moving in the right direction. This might be one of those times.

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]

Waking up My Old Computer on June 2/2025

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Country Breakfast

Good Morning… Some days start with a chore list, others with a memory.

It’s a cool morning here in Port Loring, Ontario, Canada. However, the sun is breaking through the clouds, and it’s looking as if we’re in for a pretty nice day.

Anyway, here’s the weather forecast: For Port Loring Ontario Canada.

Today (Monday, June 2): Warmer with hazy sun; smoke from distant wildfires will enhance the sunset. High: 72°F (22°C), Low: 52°F (11°C).

Tonight: Partly cloudy with a low of 52°F (11°C).

Tomorrow (Tuesday, June 3): Hazy sun; breezy in the afternoon. High: 83°F (29°C), Low: 65°F (19°C).

Wednesday, June 4: Not as warm, with periods of rain. High: 73°F (23°C), Low: 55°F (13°C).

Highway 522 was quiet yesterday morning, but by the afternoon, it picked up with lots of new faces roaming around our area.

Bug Report:
With the cold, wet weather, the black flies have slowed down some. But when the sun shows herself, they will be back with a vengeance, along with the mosquitoes. I actually dislike the mosquitoes even more than the black flies. At any rate, with things warming up today, you can bet some folks are in for a stretch of itchy, swatting days ahead.

On another note, we had another really good day yesterday with our garage sale, with lots of folks dropping by. I thought, being Sunday, it might slow down some—but nope, for most of the day, we had a steady stream of folks picking up things. That said, we still have quite a bit left to sell, so we’ll keep the sale going right up until the middle of July, or until it’s all gone. We figure we might as well get all we can out of what we have, as we worked downright hard for it over the years.

Amazing, though, how much stuff a person can collect without even realizing they have it.

So what are you up to today, GW?

Well, today being so nice out, I’m thinking we’ll do some work in our vegetable gardens. I want to work up around the tomatoes, and we’ll be adding some grass cuttings, which we use for fertilizer. You can’t beat it once it’s had a chance to sit for a while.

The good news is, I was sure glad we covered our vegetables last night before heading to bed as we ended up with a frost, and it would’ve done some damage to a lot of the plants. Just had a feeling we might get one, and sure enough, we did. Pays to listen to those little feelings that come around from time to time.

At any rate, everything looked happy this morning when I uncovered them.

So, with that, I’m off to enjoy the breakfast my lovely wife has made for me, then I’ll be heading outdoors. Hate to waste a day as nice as this.

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]

Seen a Lot, But This Feels Different

These are my own thoughts from what I’ve seen and lived through. I’m sharing them to spark some thinking and honest conversation, not because I have all the answers.

I’ve been around a long time. Farmed most of my life. Watched the seasons change, year after year. Some were dry, some wet. Cold snaps in June, thaws in January. That’s just how it was. Nature had her own way of keeping things in balance.

So when folks talk about climate change, I can’t say it’s all new to me. The Earth’s been shifting for a long time. We’ve had ice ages, warm spells, droughts, and floods long before people were driving cars or flying in planes. That part I understand.

But if I’m being honest, something’s not just right now.

The thing is, our Weather’s not just different, it’s strange. Too many records getting broken. Too much heat too fast. Fires burning longer. Rains coming when they’re not supposed to. It feels like the rhythm’s out of step.

And I believe that we humans got something to do with it.

You can’t cut down forests, pave over everything, and pump smoke into the air for over a hundred years and expect nothing to happen. We’ve sped things up. Maybe not on purpose, but it’s happening all the same.

The scientists today say we’re getting close to breaking points or tipping points, they call them… where once something changes, it keeps on changing, no turning back. Glaciers melting faster, ocean currents slowing down, forests drying up.

That’s not the kind of thing you fix with a new law or a better gadget. That takes time, and I kinda feel time’s something we’re running out of.

Now, I’m not trying to scare anyone. But I am saying we ought to start paying attention, and if we don’t smarten up, the next generation’s going to be dealing with a world a whole lot harder to live in.

That’s just how I see it.

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]

Thoughts Between Coffee and Chores on June 1/2025

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Good Morning… As my old Dad used to say: “The tools are where I left them, which means I’ll be searching all morning.”

Port Loring, Ontario – Weather Outlook: June 1–10, 2025

As June begins, Port Loring will see a steady shift from spring’s leftovers to a more settled stretch of early summer warmth. There may be a few unsettled moments early on, but overall, the weather looks decent in the days ahead.

Sunday, June 1 to Tuesday, June 4
Daytime highs will range from 64°F to 72°F (18°C to 22°C), with overnight lows around 46°F to 54°F (8°C to 12°C).
Expect a mix of sun and cloud, especially on Monday, when a weak front may bring a few scattered showers or a brief thunderstorm.
Winds could pick up slightly Monday afternoon, but nothing to be concerned about.

Wednesday, June 5 to Friday, June 7
A slow warming trend begins. Highs will reach between 70°F and 75°F (21°C to 24°C), with mostly sunny skies expected.
Dry, comfortable air will move in from the west.
Nights will stay cool but pleasant, dipping to between 50°F and 55°F (10°C to 13°C).

Saturday, June 8 to Monday, June 10
The cooler air mass will move out, allowing for more typical June warmth to take hold.
Afternoon highs could reach 78°F to 82°F (26°C to 28°C) by Sunday and Monday.
There’s a slight chance of a pop-up shower or thunderstorm on Sunday, but most of the time will be dry.
Evenings will stay mild, with lows around 55°F to 61°F (13°C to 16°C).

Summary:
Mostly dry and stable weather ahead.
A chance of light showers early in the week, followed by several days of fair skies and rising temperatures.
It’ll start to feel more like early summer by the second weekend of June — good weather for yard work, sitting outside, or just getting some fresh air.

Highway 522 saw a good bit of traffic yesterday, and we had a steady stream of folks stopping in for our garage sale. I’ve got to say, it turned out to be a great day—lots of people picked up some real treasures, and we even made a few dollars along the way.

If you missed it on Friday or Saturday, don’t worry—we’re still going strong! The signs will be out again today, and we’ve got plenty of great items looking for a new home. So if you’re out and about, it’s definitely worth your while to swing by. You never know what you might find!

We’re open today from 10 AM to 4 PM at 11588 Highway 522, Port Loring, Ontario, Canada. Come on by and say hello!

Bug Report:
Well, yesterday wasn’t all that bad, at least not until later in the day when things started to warm up. Black flies and mosquitoes don’t care much for the cold, but once that sun comes out and the air heats up, you can bet they’ll be back—buzzing around, looking for a bit of that warm blood we humans haul around. And it’s not just us. They make life miserable for the critters too.

On another note, like I mentioned earlier, yesterday we had a busy day with the garage sale. There was plenty of chatting, laughter, and some real nice sales—not just from the garage sale tables, but from our little gift shop too. Folks were picking up all sorts of treasures, including my books and handcrafted flutes, along with my wife’s beautiful paintings and one-of-a-kind creations. All in all, it was a great day filled with good company.

So, what are you up to today, GW?

Well, today we’ll be carrying on with the garage sale, which will likely take up most of the day. If the sun decides to warm things up a bit, we might even squeeze in a little front porch sittin’ between customers.

With that, I’m off to enjoy the breakfast my little woman has ready for me, then I’ll head outside and get things opened up.

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]

Stories From my Old Desk on May 31/2025 The Last Day of May

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One of our many gardens

Good Morning… I remember one time, my old Dad and I were enjoying a cool drink out under a tree after a long day’s work. We weren’t saying much, just letting the day settle around us. After a bit, he gave a small sigh, more to himself than to me, and said,
“You know, George… if something really matters, you’ll find the time for it. Maybe not right away, maybe not even today, but sooner or later, you’ll make room. And if you don’t, well, it probably wasn’t worth doing in the first place.”

You know, I’ve carried that line with me ever since, as life really does have a way of showing you what’s worth chasing, and what’s better left behind. That is, if you’re willing to open your mind.

Good Morning…
Well, opening the door to head outside this morning, there’s no mistaking it, the temperature’s taken a good dip since yesterday. That warm spell we were spoiled with seems to have moved on, and in its place, we’ve got that cool, damp spring air settling back in. You can feel it in your bones.

For today, Saturday:
Well… we’ll see mostly cloudy skies, with the high only making it to about 54°F (12°C). There’s a bit of a bite to the breeze too, coming out of the north around 20 km/h, and gusting up to 40 before calming down later on. Tonight’ll be on the chilly side again, with a low around 41°F (5°C) and skies clearing here and there.

Sunday’s looking a touch better:
A bit of sunshine poking through, and we might get up to 66°F (19°C) if we’re lucky. But once the sun dips, it’ll cool off fast—dropping down to a cold 38°F (4°C) overnight. Might be a good idea to throw an extra blanket on the bed.

I’m thinking I might cover my tender plants in the vegetable garden before heading in for the day.

Come Monday:
Now that’s when things start shaping up. A mix of sun and cloud through the day and warming up nicely to around 71°F (22°C). Overnight low will hang around 52°F (11°C), which isn’t too bad at all.

Highway 522: Well, it isn’t all that busy these days, not like it used to be years back.
I suppose that’s to be expected, what with the weather not exactly being all that inviting. But truth be told, there’s more to it than just a bit of rain and chill in the air. And what would that be? Well… money’s tight. Real tight. And a big part of that comes from the powers that be taking nearly half of a working man’s paycheck.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep on saying it: a man or woman works hard for that money, and not one red cent of it should be taken before it even hits their pocket. It’s theirs, earned by the sweat on their brow, not some government official pushing paper behind a desk. They like to throw around all kinds of excuses, saying it’s needed to keep the country growing. But that’s the furthest thing from the truth. The real growth, the real strength of this country, has always come from the people who roll out of bed before the sun, who keep things running, and who are already being taxed in just about every other way you can imagine.

Bug Report:
Well, yesterday, with things warming up a wee bit, the blackflies and mosquitoes decided it was time to make their grand return. It wasn’t too bad if you kept moving, but the minute you stopped to catch your breath or lean on a fence post, they were on you like a government official coming after more of your paycheck.

Now, if you’re wearing a hat, it comes in handy, not just for keeping the sun off, but for swatting away those little bloodsuckers. And I’ll tell ya, that old hat of mine earned its keep yesterday, flapping around like it had a mind of its own. Today however being so cool out there and a touch windy they won’t be as bad.

On another note:
Yesterday, I worked the day away talking to folks who dropped by our garage sale that started yesterday and runs through till Monday. We’re open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, right here at 11588 Highway 522, Port Loring, Ontario. Had a good bunch of folks coming by, picking up their choice items, but there’s still plenty left to sell. So if you’re around today, or any day this weekend, don’t be shy, come on down and see what we’ve got. Whether you’re hunting for a bargain or just want to stop and chat, we’d be glad to see you. Lots of treasures still waiting for new homes!

So what are you up to today GW?

Well, today, even though it’s a bit cool out there, I’ll be carrying on with our garage sale. My wife’s been steadily putting new things out, and I have to tell you folks, I don’t even know where half of it came from. At any rate, it all has to go sooner rather than later, and that’s exactly what we’re doing. Might have to dust off my old coat again, though, with this chill in the air.

With that, I’m off for my morning breakfast. And being that it’s early, I’m thinking there’ll be plenty of time afterward to sit with a nice cup of hot cocoa and have a good chat with my lovely wife. Man, we’ve been so busy these past few months, and I have to tell you, with me not being in the best shape through winter, I’m not quite sure where I’m finding the energy to get all these things done.

The good news is, I am feeling better. Reason being that I’ve been serious about some natural remedies I picked up from an old Native friend of mine, Grey Wolf. He shared his knowledge with me many years ago, and it’s been a real help lately, along with my wife’s care and support, and eating a lot better, or should I say healthier, as I work through my issues. A few folks have asked how I’m holding up these days, so I thought I’d say that with what Grey Wolf taught me, combined with my wife’s help, it’s making a real difference.

Anyway, I am starting to feel a lot better, and that’s what matters most.

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]