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.

Good Morning! Another sunrise in the countryside means another day to be grateful, for wide-open spaces and the freedom to roam.

I figure myself very lucky to live where I do. I just hope it remains that way.

We’re waking up to a touch of frost this morning here in Northern Ontario. The temperature at the time of this post was sitting at -1.8 C | 28.76 F. However, in saying that, the temperature will rise a lot as the day progresses. And front porch sittin’ will be guaranteed. At least for us here in cottage country.

So yesterday was a busy day for me and my lovely wife. Seems she gets into cleaning this time of year. It’s what we used to call spring-cleaning, and when a woman has it in her blood, there is no stopping her. I guess it is the same for a man in some ways, the only difference being we seem to direct our work mode to the outdoors. Which is what I did yesterday. I started off re-piling the few rows of firewood that fell over, caused by the ground settling. After that, I did some grafting on a few apple trees I am trying to restore. With no one trimming or looking after them, they naturally went wild over the years. So last year I cut them almost in half and then thinned them out some, and yesterday took some cuttings from some good apple trees and introduced them so to speak to the wild ones. So we will see how they take, as the days move along. Some do, some don’t.

Today will be another busy day as I have to do some repair work on the back of my shop and my lean-to, where we keep our firewood. With the high winds we had last week, it kind of made a mess of things. I didn’t really know how much damage it had done until I walked around our property. So that will keep me busy for most of the day. Once finished, I will see what them lawn chairs of ours has to say.

Highway 522… where the traffic’s light, but the charm is heavy. Just the way we like it out here in the country.

Wisdom I Have Learned: “Life’s like a field, full of bumps and rocks. You can either curse the stones or use them to build your fences and paths. Every obstacle is a chance to grow stronger and wiser.”

With that I am off for another bowl of porridge with some good old dark brown molasses sugar that my lovely wife is making for me, and will then see what the day has in store for me.

You all have a great day and I will leave you with this: “In the country, we don’t just take life one day at a time, we take it one cup of coffee at a time – because let’s be honest, caffeine is the secret sauce to a good day! Along with Cocoa, as it is pretty tasty too. We enjoy a cup every morning before we start our day.”

Fishing Times For Sunday
04/07/24

Major Times
–:—–:–
11:27 AM-1:27 PM

Minor Times
5:51 AM-6:51 AM
6:17 PM-7:17 PM

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

Fishing Tip of The Day: The fish don’t care about your schedule. They’ll bite when they darn well please, and all we can do is hope we’re in the right place at the right time. Such is life, right?