Good Morning! “Where the to-do list is long, but the joy of living in the country makes every task/job a pleasure.”

It’s a sunny morning waking up here in cottage country. However, it is a touch cool with the grass covered with frost. The temperature waking up was sitting at -1 C | 30.2 F. It will warm up considerably as the day moves forward, and tomorrow even warmer. Front porch sittin’ weather for sure!

So knowing that my wife and I will get to working outside on our fishpond, that we have in the works. I would like to get the liner installed today if possible. The thing is it has to be warm enough, as the liner is thick and hard to move around. So it needs to be laid out in the sunshine for a bit, to soften things up before we can install it. But once all said and done, it will be a nice-added feature to our property.

Highway 522 is as dry as Granny’s biscuits on a Sunday morning. However, there are a few cars moving around this morning, mostly locals taking in what is happening around town. Just your normal day occurrence, as it is with most small towns. And you can’t forget the gossip, it’s hotter than a skillet on a stove. By the time the rooster crows, everybody knows who’s been stirring the pot. Oh! And Granny’s biscuits weren’t all that dry if you added some fresh churned butter on top of them.

On another note, yesterday I worked the day away in our woodworking shop on a new bench that we will put out by our new fishpond. It’s taking a bit of work, but it will be nice when all finished up. There is always something going on around our home.

Wisdom I have learned: “There’s a story in every sunrise and a lesson in every sunset. Living in the country most of my life, I have learned to read the sky like a book, to know when rain’s a-coming or when a frost is on its way. It’s a kind of wisdom you can’t learn from books or fancy schools—it’s written in the land itself, in the whisper of the wind and the song of the birds. And if you listen close enough, you’ll hear it too!”

With that I am off for my morning breakfast that my lovely wife is making for me, or should say, has made for me, and will then get to doing something, that is after we have our morning chat while enjoying a hot cup of cocoa. It’s the secret to a long marriage, amongst other things.

You all have a great day, and I will leave you with this: “In the country, we are not separate from nature; we are a part of it. To live in harmony with the land is to honor our ancestors and preserve the legacy for future generations.”

Fishing Times For Thursday
04/25/24

Major Times
1:11 AM-3:11 AM
1:35 PM-3:35 PM

Minor Times
6:12 AM-7:12 AM
10:10 PM-11:10 PM

Day Rating: I give it a 4-Star rating out of 5 for catching a few. Good Luck!

Fishing Tip of the Day: “Fish can smell ya coming a mile away. Move slow, talk quiet, and don’t go stomping around like a bull in a china shop. Sneak up on ’em, and you’ll have better luck.”

Good Morning! Another sunrise here in the North, where the air is cleaner, the people friendlier, and the closest thing we have to a subway is the root cellar!”

So it’s another cloudy morning here, waking up in cottage country. And we are also having a bit of rain. I am kind of thinking it will remain cloudy for most of the day. Tomorrow however we should see a wee bit of sunshine, which should stay with us for a couple of days, but then it’s back to rain. As the old saying goes: “April Showers Brings May Flowers.”

Highway 522 is still very quiet, as is most things in our area at this time of the year. You could say that: “Up here in the North, life moves slower than maple syrup in January. It’s smooth, sweet, and takes its time.”

On another note, yesterday, I did do a wee bit of work in my woodworking shop, as I had to put a new wheel and tire on my wheelbarrow. I had it for over fifty some years and the wheel itself simply rotted away. But now it should be good for another fifty years. We will have to see how that pans out. They don’t make things as good as they used to.

Today I will do some work in the shop and after lunch my lovely wife and I will enjoy the Masters Golf Tournament. We never miss it and have watched it for as long as I can remember. We sure enjoy seeing the flowers and the land itself, it gets us ready for what’s to come here in the north.

With that, I am off for my morning bowl of porridge and will then see what the day has planned for me. You just never know.

You all have a great day and I will leave you with this: “Life in the country is like a well-aged whiskey – smooth, rich, and best enjoyed in good company. So let’s raise a toast to today, tomorrow, and all the days yet to come!”

Fishing Times for Sunday
04/14/24

Major Times
5:28 AM-7:28 AM
5:56 PM-7:56 PM

Minor Times
2:03 AM-3:03 AM
9:52 AM-10:52 AM

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

Fishing Tip Of The Day: Bait Wisely, or Fish Foolishly: Back in the day, bait was more than just a snack for the fish – it was an art form. Us old-timers could turn a humble worm into a fish magnet with just a flick of the wrist and a sprinkle of magic (or maybe just a sprinkle of Grandmas bacon grease).

Good Morning! “Another day in paradise, where the only skyscrapers are the towering trees and the only rush hour is when the deer dart through the field.”

We are seeing some clouds here this morning in cottage country, and along with them, we did have a wee bit of snow overnight. Today however we should see a wee bit of sunshine, I hope…. which will get rid of the snow we did have, which was about an inch. We did have our share of rain yesterday, as it rained pretty well all day long.

Highway 522 is still quiet, which is normal for this time of year. You know: “They say the road less traveled is the one worth taking, and on Highway 522, we’ve got plenty of room to roam. I hope it stays that way, because there’s something special about having the whole highway to yourself.” Very hard to find these days, elsewhere.

On another note, my lovely wife and I had another busy day yesterday. We ordered a new washing machine from Home Hardware, and they delivered it. The fellows that delivered it were very helpful, and put it down the stairs and into our basement. There is no way I could have done it myself. And it wasn’t an easy chore with the way our stairs are. I have to say, that folks at the home hardware store here in town are nice folks, always accommodating, willing to help with one’s needs. Especially Steve, he is my go-to guy when I need help with projects I have on the go. The rest of the staff are nice too, though, I wouldn’t want you to think I am taking anything away from them. After we had it in the basement with the help of my wife we got it hooked up leveled and working. Today being Saturday wash day, we will see how she works.

Farm Life: “I have always said farm life ain’t just about plowing fields and mending fences. It’s about respecting the land, understanding its moods and its needs. It’s about knowing when to push and when to pull back, when to plant and when to harvest. And let me tell you, there ain’t no better teacher than Mother Nature herself. She’ll humble you quick if you ain’t paying attention.”

With that I am off for my breakfast that my little woman has prepared for me, and will then see what the day has in store. Every day is different, which is the way it supposed to be.

You all have a great day, and I will leave you with this: “They say you can’t have your cake and eat it too, but here at my home my wife bakes our own cakes, frost them with homemade buttercream, and we eat them with a side of fresh-picked berries. And if that’s not living the dream, I don’t know what is!”

Fishing Times for Saturday
04/13/24

Major Times
4:30 AM-6:30 AM
5:00 PM-7:00 PM

Minor Times
1:04 AM-2:04 AM
8:54 AM-9:54 AM

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

Fishing Tip Of The Day: Fishing ain’t just about catching fish. It’s about finding what’s important in nature and in life. There’s something magical about being out on the water, away from the hustle and bustle of the world. You could say, it’s therapy for the soul, a chance to recharge and reconnect with what truly matters. Something a lot are missing these days.

Good Morning! Where the only time we’re not working is when we’re eating, and even then, our minds are working on what we are going to do next.

It’s a touch cloudy here waking up in the north, but we should see some sunshine off and on throughout the day. But in saying that, the forecast for the next three days isn’t looking all that good, with rain in the forecast. But the trees and things do need it, and along with that it eases off the threat of forest fires.

I have always said: “When the barn door’s open, the animals roam free. The same goes for opportunities. So…. the thing to do, is to keep your eyes open and grab them when they come along.”

On another note, yesterday, my wife and I worked the day away outside on the new Fish Pond we have wanted for the past few years. We did make one, when we moved here over 20 some years ago, but with all that was going on in our life’s I filled it in.

Now being that we have a bit more time on our hands, and time to enjoy it, we decided to build another. Luckily, my wife, being a Landscape Designer in the South for a good number of years, knew exactly what to do. Her experience made the whole process a lot easier. As for me, well, I did my fair share of the grunt work. One thing is for certain, being a farmer for a good number of years, I’m used to getting my hands dirty, and my boots too, as in the bottom of that hole with the surface water coming in…. there were a few times that I didn’t think I was going to get out, with my boots getting stuck in the mud. But you know what they say, tough times don’t last, tough folks do. And when we finally see those fish gliding around, along with the plants and things, and the new water wheel a turning, I am going to build, it will be a little piece of paradise right in our backyard.

With that, I am off for my morning bowl of porridge that my lovely wife is preparing for me, and will then get to making that new water wheel. Should be an interesting project and keep me busy for a couple of days.

You all have a great day, and I’ll leave you with this: “The land ain’t just dirt and crops. It’s a part of you, and you’re a part of it. I’ve learned that after years of walking its fields and feeling its heartbeat.”

Fishing Times for Wednesday
04/10/24

Major Times
1:38 AM-3:38 AM
2:06 PM-4:06 PM

Minor Times
6:57 AM-7:57 AM
10:30 PM-11:30 PM

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

“Barry & Me’s Fish Tales: Reel Tips for Real Anglers” Remember those old wiry fish may be elusive, but with a little patience and perseverance, you’ll reel them in eventually. Don’t be afraid to wait it out and let the fish come to you.