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Morning’ from the backwoods! It’s a fresh day to enjoy the simple things—like this warm cup in my hands.

My wife and I are waking up to a cloudy morning here in the north. The good news is that it isn’t as cold today—makes stepping outside a little easier on the bones. But don’t let the milder temperatures fool you—it sure is windy! As I made my way to the old woodworking shop to light the stove, a gust of wind decided to give my hat a flying lesson. Off it went, tumbling across the yard, and there I was, trudging through snow drifts like an old prospector chasing gold. Lucky for me, I caught it before it ended up in the next township!

Weather Forecast for Port Loring, Ontario:

• Today: Cloudy with occasional flurries. Winds WNW at 30–40 km/h, gusting higher at times. High of -3°C (26°F) but feeling closer to -9°C (16°F) with the wind chill.
• Tonight: Mostly cloudy with a chance of scattered flurries. Winds easing to 15–25 km/h. Low around -8°C (18°F), with a wind chill near -13°C (9°F).
• Tomorrow: A mix of sun and clouds, with a slight chance of a morning flurry. Winds WSW at 10–15 km/h. High around -4°C (25°F), feeling like -7°C (19°F) with the wind.

Hold onto your hat, and keep that stove warm—it’s a blustery one out there!

Highway 522 is somewhat bare this morning, but don’t let that fool you—there are still plenty of icy and snowy patches waiting to test your nerves. And with the wind blowing like it’s trying to rearrange the landscape, I wouldn’t count on travelling being much fun today.

But, of course, out here in the north, a little wind and ice don’t faze anyone. You’ll still see pickups creeping along, their drivers giving a wave like it’s just another Monday. And then there are the hardy folks out for their walks, leaning into the wind like they’re on some grand adventure. As for the rest of us? We know better—best to stick close to the stove, keep the coffee hot, and let the snowdrifts mind their own business.

I didn’t make it out to my woodworking shop yesterday, aside from popping in to stoke the wood stove and keep the chill at bay. Instead, I spent the day working on an older computer I had lying around. My regular one, unfortunately, bit the ghost recently, so this older machine has been filling in for now. It’s not perfect, but it’s keeping me connected while I figure things out.

The good news is that Karl, my son, gave me a call, and we ended up chatting for over an hour. Being the professional tech expert he is, Karl suggested it’d be best to build me a brand-new computer from scratch. He knows all the right components to use—high-speed RAM, solid-state drives, advanced cooling systems, a high-performance video card, and a sleek, sturdy case. He even mentioned adding a few other bells and whistles that, truth be told, went a bit over my head.

Once it’s built, I’ll have one of the best computers out there—fast, powerful, and more than capable of editing my YouTube videos in 4K resolution. My cameras already shoot in 4K, but as Karl explained, you need a top-notch setup to handle footage like that.

Not only will the new computer be a game-changer for my videos, but it will also enhance my work as a writer. As many of you know, I write regularly for Post Media, the largest newspaper group in Canada. Having a fast, reliable computer will make research, writing, and managing deadlines that much easier. It’s an important tool for keeping up with both the creative and professional sides of my work.

At the end of the day, I’m grateful Karl’s taking the reins on this project. With his expertise, I know the new system will be exactly what I need to stay productive and keep creating—whether it’s stories for the papers or videos for all of you.

My wife and I also managed to get our decks and driveway cleared of snow yesterday, and I’ve got to say, I was surprised at just how much we had. There was a good foot or so, with the drifts piling up even higher in spots. That little project kept us busy most of the morning, and by the time we finished, we were more than ready for a couple of cups of fresh perked coffee. Let me tell ya, nothing beats the taste of a good hot cup after wrangling snow all morning.

As for today, I’ll probably fiddle around here on my old computer for the morning—it’s not fancy, but it gets the job done. Then, after lunch, I plan to head out to the woodworking shop for a bit. I’ve already got it warming up out there as I type, so it should be good and toasty by the time I’m ready to get to work on some more of the flutes I’ve been making for the past thirty years or so. They’re a challenge to make, but when they’re finished, each one is truly one of a kind.

Not too many of us old-timers are crafting things like that anymore, which is kind of a shame. Once we’re gone, a lot of that old know-how disappears right along with us. It’s a reminder of how important it is to pass on what we’ve learned, while we still can.

So with that, it’s once again time to head on off for my breakfast that my lovely wife has made for me. After that, I reckon a good chat will be in order over a cup of hot cocoa, just to slow things down a bit before the day really kicks in.

You all have a great day, and remember:

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