“Good mornin’! Start the day slow and steady, like a good ol’ tractor… that sometimes needs a push to get going.”

Well, the long weekend is upon us, and we are all waking up to some rain. Not that we really need it, as we have had our fair share over the past few weeks. It also hasn’t been all that hot, which I like, as it makes things a lot nicer when working outdoors. Truth told, it has been a great year weather-wise.

You know… over the years, I’ve seen and done a lot. From tending fruit trees on my farm to working on a dairy farm as a boy, to running a tire and landscaping business, and even carving out a woodworking shop. Nowadays, I’m retired and living up north, enjoying the simpler life.

My writing journey has been just as varied. For over 30 years, I’ve penned columns for newspapers around the globe, sharing stories from my life experiences. I’ve published seven books so far, though none of them delve into the sci-fi realm. In saying that, currently, I’m working on a sci-fi mystery novel, hoping it’ll turn into a series.

Speaking of mysteries, there’s one that’s been on my mind lately – global warming. Now, don’t get me wrong, I believe we’re seeing changes in the climate, but I also believe it’s part of a larger cycle. Way back when, millions of years ago, carbon levels were much higher than they are today. The Earth has gone through warming and cooling phases long before we humans started driving cars and burning fossil fuels.

But here’s the kicker – while scientists are scrambling to figure it all out, I can’t help but think that maybe Mother Nature is just having one of her mood swings. After all, she’s been around a lot longer than we have, and she’s got a knack for keeping us on our toes.

So… yes we have to do our part, along with being mindful of our planet, but remember – Mother Nature always has the last laugh.

Highway 522 is quiet this morning, likely because it’s early and raining. But I suspect traffic will pick up later on. Tomorrow, we might see more showers in the morning and a lot of clouds, but later in the day, we could be greeted by some sunshine as this weather pattern moves away. It’ll be cooler, though. Monday should be real nice. Perfect timing for everyone to enjoy the last day of the long weekend!

Bug Report: Everything’s fine around here, except for those pesky mosquitoes – those blood-sucking freeloaders!

With that, I’m off for my breakfast… a couple of eggs sunny side up, a couple of slices of bacon, and… a piece of toast for dipping. You know, over the years, I’ve found that the yolk in eggs is what folks should be eating, not just the whites. It’s been proven that yolks hold a wealth of vitamins, minerals, and plenty of other good things that keep a person healthy, especially for the eyes and… well, you get the idea!

You all have a great day, and remember; “If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging. Take it easy!” GW

The Best Fishing Times for Saturday
06/29/24

Major Times
6:45 AM-8:45 AM
7:09 PM-9:09 PM

Minor Times
12:42 AM-1:42 AM
2:01 PM-3:01 PM

Day Rating: I give it a 3-Star Rating out of 5 for catching a few if you do venture out there, and don’t forget your raincoat.

Advice from an Old Angler: “When reeling in, try a drift and pause technique. Reel in a bit, then pause. This stop-and-go action mimics an injured bait fish, tempting predators to strike.”

Good Morning! A new day means new chances. Try not to mess ’em up too much.

It looks as if another nice day is shaping up for us here in Cottage Country. The sun is shinning, our property is looking nice, and the birds are chirping outside our windows. Pretty hard to beat that.

Yesterday, my wife and I worked the morning away, mowing grass. After lunch, she worked in her flower gardens pulling weeds and grass, and trimming back some bushes that were getting out of hand. Myself, I tackled fixing the deck on our old Roper Mower. One spindle that drives the blades finally gave up the ghost.

While at it, I decided to hunt for some new blades, only to find out that no one carries them anymore. With the mower being so old, they’re as scarce as hens’ teeth. So, unless I can scrounge up a couple, I’ll have to put the old ones back on.

It’s an old mower, well over 30 years, but it runs pretty good. And given the cost of a new one, fixing this old girl, makes a lot of sense. Besides, it’s got character. Just like our place out here in the country—where the grass keeps growing, and the work never ends, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Today I am planning on weeding our vegetable garden, which I was going to do yesterday but got side tracked… which I am finding out happens a lot lately.

Highway 522 has sure picked up lately, likely thanks to folks gearing up for the long weekend. Everyone’s hoping for a good time, but Mother Nature might have other plans. The forecast isn’t too promising… it’s calling for humid weather with a thick cloud cover, along with a few afternoon showers, and maybe even a thunderstorm on Saturday. Sunday isn’t looking much better, cooler with a lot of clouds. Monday is looking beautiful though, sunny with peasant temperatures.

But it is what it is. On the bright side, Saturday and Sunday will be perfect weather for indoor projects—or maybe a good excuse to finally start that book you’ve been putting off. And hey, at least the mosquitoes will have a tough time flying in the rain!

Bug Report; Other than a few mosquitoes, things are pretty good. Even the deer flies aren’t all that bad. We worked outdoors all day yesterday and hardly seen a one.

With that, I’m off for a bowl of porridge this morning, courtesy of my lovely wife. After that, I’ll head out to our front porch, cup of hot cocoa in hand, and take in the view of our beautiful piece of property. We sure do love living here in cottage country, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It’s a great way to start the day, let me tell ya.

You all have a great day and as my old friend Gray Wolf used to say: “Life’s like a river, go with the flow but steer your own course. Stay well!” GW

Fishing Times for Friday
06/28/24

Major Times
5:51 AM-7:51 AM
6:21 PM-8:21 PM

Minor Times
12:24 AM-1:24 AM
12:43 PM-1:43 PM

Day Rating: I give it a 3-Star Rating out of 5 for catching a few. Good Luck!

Advice from an Old Angler: “Take the young’uns fishin’. Teach ’em the old ways and share the stories. It’s not just about catchin’ fish; it’s about passin’ down traditions.”

“Mornin’, folks! Time to rise and shine, or at least rise. We’ll work on the shine part later.”

This morning in cottage country started off with some clouds, but now the sun is trying hard to break through. That will be nice, as my wife and I have some mowing to do. It seems there’s always something to be done when you own a home, especially in this neck of the woods.

You know, I retired up here in the north many years ago, wondering what I was going to do. The thing is, I’ve been busier now than I ever was when we had our farm along with two other businesses. Turns out, retirement is a full-time job… without the paycheck!

Highway 522 is picking up a wee bit, traffic-wise. With the long weekend closing in, I suspect it’ll get busier. Then again, if we have a rainy weekend, it might keep a few folks at home. So far this year, most of our weekends have had some rain, which is fine by me but not so good for those who only have weekends off. Not much one can do about that other than to find other things to do inside.

Bug Report: Actually, things are pretty good out there these days. My wife and I worked outside by my woodworking shop all day yesterday, and we hardly saw any. Which made it a real nice day.

With that, I’m off for my breakfast—a bowl of porridge that my lovely wife is making for me. After that, I’ll see if our old mowers are going to run. One never knows, being that they’re getting up there in years. Kind of like me!

You all have a great day and remember, the best fertilizer for the field is the farmer’s footsteps. See you next time!

Thursday
06/27/24

Major Times
5:09 AM-7:09 AM
5:33 PM-7:33 PM

Minor Times
12:05 AM-1:05 AM
11:25 AM-12:25 PM

Day Rating: I give it a 2-Star Rating out of 5 for catching a few. Good Luck!

Advice from an Old Angler: “Use a sliding bobber to adjust your bait’s depth easily. This lets you fish at different depths without constantly retyin’ your rig.”

Good Morning, and as my old dad used to say: Life’s like a good cup of coffee; take it slow and savor every drop.

It’s one beautiful day here in the north. The rain has left us, for a while, the sun is shinning with just a couple of fluffy clouds, the humidity is starting to drop, and the wind coming in from the North West is light. You could say it’s been a perfect spring and summer so far. And by the looks of things it is going to continue. “What’s all the fuss about global warming? Sure, there are changes happening in some parts of the world, but it’s nothing the planet hasn’t experienced before.”

On another note, we did have a lot of much-needed rain over the past week or so, which really made everything start growing. Today, I plan on doing some hoeing in my vegetable gardens, as those pesky weeds are starting to show themselves in earnest. I just cut them off and leave them where they fall, since they rot and act as fertilizer. It would be a shame to waste them.

I remember years ago when my wife and I were farming. Every winter, we had to trim our grapevines, which left a lot of brush between the rows. Most people would drag it out in piles and burn it, but I had an idea. I decided to hook up my rotary mower to the back of the tractor and cut the brush into small pieces, thinking I wouldn’t have to burn it anymore, which would save a lot of work. It worked great! Before long, folks from miles around were doing it too. Another benefit was that the small pieces would rot and act as fertilizer, which the plants loved. Sometimes, it just takes a bit of ingenuity, which isn’t as common today.

Highway 522 has picked up a wee bit, but not as much as it has over the past years. But that could change being that we are heading into July. Thinking of that, it seems time is sure flying by fast this year.

Bug Report: As I mentioned in my last post, the black flies have left us for another year, but with all this warm, wet weather, the mosquitoes are having a field day feasting on us humans. Additionally, the deer flies are particularly bad this year. They are so bad that they are forcing deer and moose out of the bush and onto the highways. We saw several spots along the highway going into town yesterday covered with blood where someone had hit one. So, best to be careful if you are out and about.

Today along with doing some hoeing in the gardens I am also going to get this old boat of mine ready to put out front of our home for sale. I was going to do it the other day but got side tracked. Which is normal for my wife and I, as we head off to do one thing and a lot of times do something totally different. Such is life living here in the country.

With that I am off for my breakfast that my little woman is preparing for me and will then, enjoy a cup of coffee on the front porch with my lovely wife, before I get to work, just because I can.

You all have a great day and don’t forget, every day’s a gift. Take care, folks

Fishing Times for Wednesday
06/26/24

Major Times
4:20 AM-6:20 AM
4:45 PM-6:45 PM

Minor Times
–:—–:–
10:05 AM-11:05 AM

Day Rating: I give it a 1-Star Rating out of 5 for catching a few. Not the greatest day for fishing but hey! You never know. Good Luck!

Advice from an Old Angler: Look for bubbles on the water’s surface. They’re often a sign of fish movin’ below, stirrin’ up the bottom. Cast your line where you see the bubbles, and you might find a school of fish.