Click On Image to Enlarge

Good morning, folks. You know, I’ve found that the older you get, the less you chase the big story, the small ones are the best.

Well, once again, it looks like we are in for another beautiful day here in cottage country. It was so nice this morning that my wife and I sat on our front porch, coffee in hand, soaking in everything nature had to offer in our little corner of the world. It sure feels good to be able to do that.

Over the years, I’ve learned that it’s not the big things in life that really matter—things like chasing money or working day in and day out. It’s the small things. Sitting with a loved one or a friend, chatting over a coffee or two, or just sitting quietly and listening to the trees, or watching the birds or critters. As my old Dad used to say, “watching the grass grow.”

Funny thing is, years ago I thought he was just teasing me. ‘Watching the Grass Grow’, truth is, he was telling me exactly what I’m telling you now.

Bug Report: Everything’s running smooth in that department. Not much bothering folks these days, unless you count the occasional deer fly with nothing better to do than pester whoever wanders by.

Fishing Times – Port Loring, Ontario – Saturday, August 2

The early morning bite ran from 6:43 to 8:43, so most of that is already past at the time of this post. Your next shot is the minor bite from 3:15 to 4:15 this afternoon, then the prime time from 7:06 to 9:06 this evening.

Tip for the North: Evening fishing here in northern Ontario can be just as good, if not better, than mornings. As the air cools and light fades, fish often move in from deeper water to feed. Toss a bright spoon for pike or a jig with live bait for walleye, and you might just land supper.

Good Luck!

So what are you up to today, GW?

Well, today and for the next couple of days, my wife and I have our work cut out for us as we have firewood to pile for next winter.

Now, I know what some folks are thinking — “Aren’t you selling the place?” And yes, the house has been on the market a couple of months now. But here’s the thing: just because we might move doesn’t mean winter won’t show up anyway.

I’ve always figured it’s better to be ready than caught wishing you were. If the place sells, the next folks will thank me for the stacked wood. If it doesn’t, well, we’ll be warm come January.

That’s just the way I’ve always done things — one season at a time, and never waiting on what-ifs.

So with all that I am off once again for my breakfast that my lovely wife has made for me and will then head on outdoors and get to work while it’s cool.

And For the Powers that be:: a paycheck isn’t government property; it’s a man’s lifeblood. Let him keep it. All taxes should be removed from paychecks.

Until the next time: Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive. GW

Click on Image to Enlarge

Good morning, folks. Over Forty years of writing taught me patience, the kind you don’t find on the spur of the moment. Which is what is needed in the world we live in today.

It looks like we’re in for a really nice day here in cottage country. The sun is just starting to show herself, casting shadows through the trees, and it’s one of those sights that makes you want to stop and take it all in.

Today in Port Loring, the sky’s gonna be partly sunny, with the sun peeking through like she’s teasing you out for a good ol’ country day. The temperature’ll climb up to a nice, easy 74°F (23°C) which isn’t too hot, or too cold, just right for puttin’ on your boots and heading out to the lake or the garden. You might even hear the birds singin’ louder as they soak up the sunshine. If you’re anything like me, it’s a perfect day to grab a coffee and maybe sit on the porch, and watch the world mosey on by.

Come nighttime, the day’s heat’ll mellow out to a mild 55°F (13°C). So if you’re sittin’ around a campfire or star-gazin, you’ll want a light jacket or a cozy blanket. The air’ll be cool but gentle, just enough to keep the bugs down and the crickets up.

Now, tomorrow’s shaping up to be even better. Mostly sunny skies will shine down on us, pushin’ the thermometer up to around 77°F (25°C). That’s the kinda day where you wanna be outside, maybe puttering around the cottage, fixing a fence, or just kickin’ back with friends and family. The evening will settle back down to a pleasant 56°F (13°C), clear and quiet as a whisper. Perfect for sittin’ out under the stars again, tellin’ stories, and lettin’ your mind wander.

All in all, a couple of days that remind you why cottage country’s got a hold on your heart.

On another note, my wife and I managed to get our mowing done for the week yesterday. By the time we finished, we were more than ready for lunch and a cup of coffee, which we enjoyed while sitting on the front porch, taking in all our hard work.

Later in the afternoon, after catching our second wind, we cleared out all the shelves and things from the carport where we’d been storing our garage sale items. That’s where we usually park the car, so it sure felt good to have it back to normal.

It’s amazing how you can get used to things just so—and when they aren’t the way they should be, it really bothers you.

So what are you up to today, GW?

Well, today to start things off, I’m going to straighten up my woodworking shop. It’s one huge mess out there right now—thanks to the garage sale going on for the past two months, I’ve had stuff scattered all over the place. But today, I’m fixing to get it back in shape and make it look like a proper woodworking shop again.

After that, I plan on watering all our vegetables. I’ve got a few 45-gallon barrels full of rainwater, and with how dry it’s been these past couple of weeks, those plants sure need a good drink.

If time allows, I’ll try to wash the car and put a coat of wax on it. We’ll see how that goes, though, because my wife and I also want to take some time to sit out on the swing under our old basswood tree out back. There’s nothing quite like sitting out there, just soaking it all in.

Like the saying goes; “All work and no play makes George a dull boy.” Well, the original saying that many years ago was; “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”

Bug Report: Truth told, things in that department is mighty fine these days, no reason not to be outside enjoying this summer weather.

Fishing Times:

Looks like today’s a good one for fishin’ here in Port Loring. Best times to throw your line in the water, are late morning from 10:30 to 12:30 and then again late afternoon from 4 to 8. That’s when the pickerel and largemouth bass are most likely to be hungry.

For pickerel, use live minnows or leeches, fish slow near the bottom around weed beds or rocks. Now for Largemouth bass they like shallow water and cover, cast your line near fallen trees, docks, or lily pads with topwater lures like frogs or poppers.

Remember, patiences is the key when fishing. And I have also found a lot of times is that sometimes it’s not just about catchin’ the fish, as it is… enjoying the quiet and the day.

Good Luck!

So with that, I’m off to the front porch with my lovely wife to enjoy a cup of tea. After that, I’ll dig into the breakfast she makes me every morning, then mosey on out to my shop and get to work.

Until the next time: Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive. GW

Click On Image to Enlarge

Good morning, folks. The birds are chatting at our feeder, the trees are holding steady, and the world keeps turning … with or without us. So enjoy every moment.

It looks as if we are in for another nice day here in Cottage Country. The sun is shinning, and the temperatures have dropped back down to where it makes a feller feel alive.

It’s shaping up to be a real nice day here in Port Loring. Right now at 7:41 AM the temperature is sitting around 58 F (14 C) and the sun is out bright, which makes for a fine start to the day. By this afternoon we should see it climb to around 73 F (23 C) with plenty of sunshine and not much wind to speak of. A day like this makes you want to be outside, which is always a good thing.

As we head into tonight, the temperature will drop to about 49 F (10 C), and the sky will stay mostly clear. It will be one of those nights where the air cools off just enough to sleep good with the windows open.

Looking ahead to tomorrow, it will stay on the pleasant side. The high will be around 74 F (23 C) and we should see a mix of sun and a few passing clouds. The low tomorrow night will be close to 54 F (12 C), which is still on the comfortable side.

All in all, a stretch of weather you can enjoy, and if you have some work to do outdoors or a bit of fishing in mind, I would take advantage of it.

Highway 522 is still slow compared to other years, which is fine with me, as my wife and I enjoy the quiet. We came here for the peace, and it has never let us down. Evenings on the porch with the wind in the trees and a lone dove calling in the distance remind us we chose the right place. But the best part is… a person can hear themselves think, and that is worth more than any busy road.

On another note, yesterday was such a nice day that my wife and I decided to wrap up our garage sale for good. After two months of folks stopping by, we figured it was time, and I want to thank everyone who came out and made it a real success. We sold over three-quarters of what we had, and the rest we packed up and dropped off in North Bay for the homeless. It felt good knowing those things might help someone else.

While we were in town, we picked up some groceries and, like always, a few things I didn’t know we needed until I saw them. We also stopped by our son’s apartment, and he took us over to Casey’s for lunch. I had the fish and chips with a side of gravy, and it was every bit as tasty as you would expect. We sat and chatted for an hour or so before grabbing a coffee for the road. The drive home was slow and easy, with nature giving us plenty to look at along the way. We rolled into the yard around five in the evening, feeling like it had been one fine day.

Oh, the garage sale might be done, but our little gift shop is still open and will be right through until sometime in September. And one other note. If our home does sell, we will be having another sale with all my equipment. That will include the rototillers, snowblowers, and every bit of my woodworking gear, which is quite a lot. But we will wait and see how things go. When the time comes, I will let you know what is taking place. If the house doesn’t sell this year, we will simply try again next year. There is no rush on our part, as it’s not as if we have to sell.

Fishing Times for Port Loring Ontario

Well, since it’s already past 8 AM, you’ve still got a good chance for some action this morning between about 9:30 and 11:00 before things slow down around noon. The evening bite from 5:00 to 7:00 is still your best bet to catch a few pickerel, bass, or pike.

Pickerel and bass tend to hang around weeds or shallow edges during those times, while pike like to lurk near cover. A flashy spinnerbait or a good crankbait tipped with a minnow will usually do the trick. When the sun gets high, it’s best to head for deeper or shaded spots where the fish go to cool off and wait for supper.

Patience is key. Fish don’t always bite right away, but when they do, it’s worth sticking around.

Good luck and tight lines.

So with that, I’m off for the breakfast my lovely wife is making for me. After that, we’ll both head out to do some mowing, which will make our property look all the nicer. We sure do enjoy it all trimmed up. There isn’t one spot on our property we don’t enjoy looking at.

Until the next time: Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive. GW