Click on Image to Enlarge

Good morning, folks. Another morning, another page, and I’ve got a few thoughts worth putting down before the day pulls me away.

Well, looking out my window by my old desk here, it looks as if the day is shaping up to be a nice one. The sun is up, and the birds are feeding at our feeder.

Today’s Forecast (Tuesday, July 1):
Expect mostly cloudy skies, with a high near 78 °F (26 °C). Temperatures will dip to a low of 57 °F (14 °C) tonight, so a light jacket might come in handy.

Tomorrow (Wednesday, July 2):
It should be mostly sunny through the day, with highs around 79 °F (26 °C). Toward late afternoon, there’s a chance for heavy thunderstorms, possibly with some gusty winds and small hail, before cooling to about 57 °F (14 °C) overnight.

Around here, the skies have their own way of keeping us humble, sunshine in the morning, thunder by supper.

Highway 522 is starting to pick up traffic-wise, with tourists making their way into our area for the summer months. But then again, it is July 1. The kids are out of school and folks are itchin’ to find something to do that takes them away from the hustle and bustle of city life. I get it. After months of concrete and commotion, the pull of the quiet, the trees, and the slower rhythm of things starts to look real appealing.

Out here, time moves different. You hear the wind before you hear a car. Nights aren’t filled with sirens or streetlights, they’re wrapped in crickets, the occasional owl, and the kind of silence you can actually feel. We do have bright lights up here, though, they’re called stars. Millions of them, scattered across the sky like someone spilled a bucket of diamonds. And the best part? You don’t have to pay admission or fight for parking to see them.

Bug Report: Things have been pretty good for the past couple days, other than a few mosquitoes seeking out a meal or two.

On another note, yesterday my wife and I kept ourselves busy with folks stopping by the gift shop, picking up everything from handmade pieces to the odds and ends we’ve set out under the carport as part of our garage sale. Rain or not, we had a steady stream of visitors all weekend, which surprised us, in a good way.

I’ve got to say, I’m thankful I spent time last winter making up a good batch of flutes as lately, they’ve been flying off the shelves. Seems like more and more folks are drawn to something real, something made by hand. My books have also been moving pretty well too, and my wife’s paintings and greeting cards have been catching a lot of attention.

What my wife and I sell here isn’t the kind of thing you find in big box stores or tucked into rows of cookie-cutter souvenirs. Everything is one of a kind, made with care, right here at our home. Each piece carries a bit of who we are. Around here, we don’t just sell things. We share stories, whether it’s in wood, paint, or words.

So what are you up to today, GW?

Well, today being such a nice day, we’ll be carrying on with our garage sale while also tending to folks who stop by our gift shop. There are plenty of good deals to be had, if you’re looking.

I’m also planning to put that old hoe of mine back to work. The weeds in our vegetable garden are starting to sneak in again, and it’s always easier to take care of them now rather than later.

So with that I am off for some pancakes that my lovely wife has made for me while they are hot.

You all have a great day and: Until the next time: Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive. GW

Click on Image to Enlarge

Well, it’s a sunny start to the day here in Port Loring. It feels fresh out there this morning, sittin’ right around 58 F, which is about 15 C if you’re keeping track that way.

As the day moves forward, it’s looking to stay nice, a bit of sun, maybe a few clouds drifting by, but overall just a good, solid day. High should climb up to about 80 F, or 27 C. Good day to get things done outside or maybe just sit a spell in the shade if you’ve already done enough.

Come tonight, it won’t cool off too much. Expect it to dip down to around 62 F, or 17 C. Should be a quiet evening, maybe a few bugs depending on where you’re standing, but otherwise pretty mild.

Now tomorrow, that’s when things start to shift. It’s gonna cloud up some, and they’re saying we might get a couple showers, maybe even a thunderstorm in the mix. Air’s gonna feel heavier too, real warm and sticky. High’s supposed to hit around 86 F, or 30 C, with the low tomorrow night sittin’ close to 65 F, or 18 C.

Might be one of those days, where you get your outside work done early and then just keep an eye on the sky.

Highway 522: Well, traffic wise, it has picked up a lot. Campers, trailers, you name it, they’re all moving into our area. But it is the long weekend, the kids are out of school, and the city folks are wantin’ to leave that city life behind for a bit.

And I can’t say I blame them, neither. Up here, the air is fresh, the fish are waitin’ to eat some worms and keep the fishermen/women on their toes, and the blackflies are gone for another year.

They call it The Call of the Wild, and there ain’t no stronger force than nature, let me tell ya.

Bug Report:

All is quiet on the bug front… for now. But if this heat keeps creeping in like it might, you can bet those pesky deer flies and mosquitoes will be back out and about.

You see, they have been lying low, holding little bug meetings somewhere out in the bush, just waiting for the right time to come out and start irritating folks. And they always seem to seek out that nice warm city blood first. It’s a real treat to them.

Now, some folks think they are safe with bug spray, but I will tell you, most of that stuff today is not good for your health and truth told, it just works like a dinner bell letting the bugs know exactly where you are.

Instead of piling on bug spray, try not to put on any perfume or strongly scented soap. Wash your clothes in unscented soap, too. I use Dove or Ivory unscented, and it helps a lot.

So if you are heading outside, don’t forget your hat. It is your first line of defense. After that, you might be better off learning to swat fast and doing a little two-step than relying on a can of chemical hope.

On another note, yesterday despite the rain and the not-so-great weather in the morning, I ended up cleaning my woodworking shop. And in the afternoon, I wrote up another story for the newspapers I write for. All in all, it was a good day.

So what are you up to today, GW?

Well, with a day this nice, I’m planning to get outside and work in our vegetable gardens. I already spotted a few weeds trying to sneak in and get a foothold, and I’m not about to let them get the upper hand.

Speaking of the garden, I have to say, with all this wet weather we’ve had, things like tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, squash, and a few others have really taken off. They’ve grown so much in just a few days that they’re starting to crowd each other like old neighbors at a family reunion.

That’s good in one way, but in other ways it’s not so great. Looks like I’ll have to do some thinning out soon, give everything a bit more breathing room before they start stepping on each other’s toes.

So with that bit of info out there for you to read, I am off to enjoy the breakfast my lovely wife has made for me. After that, I will head on out to our front porch, with a cup of green tea for a change, since it’s such a really nice day.

My wife and I sure do enjoy sitting outside just taking in our beautiful piece of property. It is one of those small things about living in the country that makes all the hard work worthwhile.

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

Click on Image to Enlarge

Good Morning, From a Porch with a View of Everything That Matters and Nothing That Doesn’t.

She’s a cloudy morning closing in on the long weekend here in Port Loring. We haven’t had any rain yet, but… it’s still early and the air’s got that heavy feel to it—like something’s waiting to let loose.

Today:
Right now it’s sitting at about 63°F, and we’re on track for a wet one. They’re calling for rain through the day, with a few good cracks of thunder mixed in. If it does come, we could be looking at an inch, maybe closer to two in spots before it’s all said and done. Things should climb to around 74°F before settling back to 58°F by nightfall.

Tonight:
Showers hanging around, maybe another rumble or two after dark. Still damp, still gray, and cooling into the high 50s°F.

Saturday:
There’s a chance of a few leftover spits in the morning, but most of it should be out of here. The sky’ll likely stay thick and low, though. Cooler too, with the high topping out near 67°F, and dropping to 53°F once the sun ducks out.

Sunday’s the bright spot. Some sun, a few clouds, and warming up nicely to about 81°F. Should be a fine day to dry out or get something done outdoors.

So far, it’s just the quiet before the rain—but if those clouds are telling the truth, we’ll be listening to it hit the roof before long.

Highway 522’s been a little livelier the past couple days. Trucks hauling campers, cars with boats tied down in ways that make you hope they’re not going far, and folks doing that familiar summer shuffle—out of the city and into the bush. You can tell it’s the lead-up to a long weekend when the gas stations jack up prices—because nothing says ‘welcome to summer’ like paying more just to fill your tank.

Bug Report: Well, the black flies have left us for another year—they actually packed their suitcases about a week ago. But with all the dampness and hot weather we’ve been having, those bloodsucking parasites, the mosquitoes, are out in full force. It’s hard to get away from them, and if you leave your door open for any length of time, they’ll be in within seconds.

And if they aren’t bad enough, when the sun does come out and the mosquitoes ease off a bit, those damn deer flies take over. Once they find you, they won’t leave you alone—they follow you everywhere and, given the chance, they can sure bite. That’s when my old hat comes in handy, sending them off to meet their maker.

On another note, my wife and I have been keeping busy with a steady stream of customers and friends stopping by our garage sale and gift shop. I have to say, it’s been great seeing so many people picking up things, and who could blame them? As every piece in our shop is designed and crafted right here in our woodworking shop—unique, one-of-a-kind items you won’t find anywhere else.

And here’s the kicker: we’re clearing it all out at half price. So if you want something special—something made with care and a little bit of heart—now’s the time to stop in. Once these pieces are sold, the gift shop will close for good. It’s time for us to turn the page and focus on other projects and plans in our life.

On top of that, we have my books on sale—seven of them, each packed with more than fifty short stories. If you’re into tales that capture the land, the people, and the small moments that make life rich, these books might just be your next favorite read.

We’re open every day for the summer from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at 11588 Highway 522, Port Loring, Ontario. So come on by, say hello, browse the shop, and maybe take home a story or two—whether painted on wood or canvas by my wife, or printed on paper in my books, which she beautifully illustrated with a drawing for each story and painted every cover. Her art truly brings the stories to life.

So, what are you up to today, GW?

Well, with all this wet weather outside, I’ll be working on my lawnmower. It’s only two years old, but it’s been giving me trouble the past few days. I have to say, they sure don’t make things like they used to. I have an old rototiller that’s over forty years old, and it’s still going strong, needing only a flat tire fixed and a couple of new drive belts over the years.

We live in a throwaway world these days, where fixing things is almost a lost art. Truth is, it’s usually cheaper to just buy new—even when a lot of that new stuff is made so poorly it’s barely worth the money. But what do you expect when most of what we use here in Canada is made overseas by folks who don’t care much about quality?

So with that, I’m off to enjoy the breakfast my lovely wife is making for me—thick slices of grass-fed pea meal bacon, sizzling just right, topped with an easy-over egg with that golden, runny yolk spilling onto a toasted English muffin. All finished off with a generous melt of aged cheese that’s just the right balance of sharp and creamy. How about that for a breakfast to start the day?

Once I’ve enjoyed every bite, a warm cup of hot cocoa will be waiting for me. It’s a bit cool this morning, perfect weather to sit back, sip slowly, and take my time before stepping outside.

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