Countryside Conversations on April 26/2024

Good Morning! Another sunrise means another chance to make hay while the sun shines and enjoy the simple pleasures of country living.

Here in cottage country this morning, we’ve got a bit of a mixed bag. The sun’s shining bright, but there’s still a thick frost hanging around. It seems like the plants, trees, and whatnot are having a tough time deciding whether they want to start growing or not this year. But you know? They always seem to make out okay, no matter what Mother Nature throws their way.

Some of them, like that white lilac by our house and those flowering crab apple trees, they’re starting to show some signs of life. The regular apple and pear trees are taking their time, which is a good thing.

The tulips are almost ready to burst, and the daffodils? Well, they’re already in full bloom. Just a few days back, I picked a couple for my lovely wife. They sure do smell and look nice. And here’s a neat trick: snap one off about halfway down the stem, stick it in a cup of water, and it’ll stay fresh for over a week. Pretty amazing, huh? Every time my wife and I catch sight of them, it brings a smile to our faces.

Highway 522 has picked up a lot lately with traffic, not sure where they are all coming from, but they are out there. Which is normal for this time of year heading into May. You wouldn’t know it, though, weather wise, as some days are more like fall than spring. But it will warm up soon enough. I have always said to my little woman, that: Highway 522 isn’t just a strip of asphalt… it’s a gateway to adventure, a winding path that leads to hidden fishing spots, secret swimming holes, and endless acres of unexplored wilderness. Hard to find highways like that anymore. I hope it always remains that way.

On another note, my wife and I decided to dig our fishpond a touch larger yesterday, which we did. First, though, we laid out the liner we bought, and let it warm up in the sun. Makes it easier to handle being so thick and all. Once we had the pond the size, and shape we wanted, we installed the liner. At the end of the day, things were looking mighty fine. Today, being that it is going to be nice, weather wise, we will continue on making things look even nicer. It sure is nice to be able to do these things. I enjoy working alongside my wife.

With that, I am now going to start the day with a bowl of porridge made by my better half. Not to forget our chat and a cup of hot cocoa. Simple pleasures make the best mornings.

You all have a great day, and I will leave you with these few words that my old friend Grey Wolf used to say many years ago: “In the country, every tree has a story, every river has a song, and every mountain holds a secret. It’s where I feel most alive, most connected to my ancestors, and most at peace.” I sure do miss that old feller.

Fishing Times For Friday
04/26/24

Major Times
2:00 AM-4:00 AM
2:26 PM-4:26 PM

Minor Times
6:41 AM-7:41 AM
11:21 PM-12:21 AM

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

Fishing tip of the day: “It isn’t just about dragging your line behind the boat. Mix it up, change your speed, your depth, your lure. Keep ’em guessing, and you’ll reel ’em in.” GW

All my books are available on my Amazon Author Page.

If you purchase a book, a brief Amazon review really helps new readers discover my work—it means a lot.

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In Closing, I Would Like to Wish You Well!

George Walters | [email protected]

Life’s Happenings in the Country on April 25/2024

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.”

All my books are available on my Amazon Author Page.

If you purchase a book, a brief Amazon review really helps new readers discover my work—it means a lot.

Support my writing: Support My Writing

In Closing, I Would Like to Wish You Well!

George Walters | [email protected]

Waking Up to Country Living on April 24/2024

Good Morning! Where the only rush we know is the wind through the trees and the river flowing over the rocks’

It’s a cold morning here in cottage country with wind coming in from the north and the temperature sitting at -5.8 C | 21.56 F. And on top of that there are a lot of clouds blocking our sunshine. We could see some breaks in the clouds though, as the day progresses, and it will warm up a wee bit. Tomorrow, things will start to warm up even more, to where a fellow feels like doing some work outside. And my wife and I have a lot to do.

Yesterday I worked the day away, writing up a couple stories for my columns in newspapers I write for, and today I might carry on. I will see how that goes after I have my breakfast. I have to be in the right frame of mind it seems for the words to flow as they should.

Highway 522 is still very quiet with the cold, rainy weather, folks are staying home in the cities, not wanting to waste the money going to places they can’t enjoy or afford. And I can’t say I blame them with the price of the gas nowadays, since they added more carbon tax onto it. In all my days, I never saw such a thing till now. It used to be you could fill up the truck without wincing, but now it’s like handing over your hard-earned cash for a slap in the face. Heck, we’re just trying to make a living out here, putting food on the table for our families. But with all these extra taxes, it’s like we’re fighting an uphill battle just to break even. And what’s it all for? You know, they keep saying this carbon tax is all about saving the planet, but there are a lot smarter ways to do it than just taking more money from us regular folks. Those fancy suits making all these decisions, they ain’t the ones feeling the squeeze when they gas up their fancy cars. Not to forget how they keep giving themselves fat pay raises, and for what? It’s been a mystery for years.

Sorry, got a bit off track there. But seriously, it’s frustrating seeing our hard-earned cash disappearing faster than water down a drain, all in the name of some vague environmental cause. We’re just trying to make ends meet here, and it feels like we’re the ones getting the short end of the stick every time.

Wisdom Learned: “I remember one time when Bessie decided she’d had enough of the milking’ stool and took off running like a bat outta hell! Had me chasing her all around the pasture, swearing up a storm. But you know what? It taught me a valuable lesson: sometimes you have to let go and let the cow do the running. Life’s too short to be chasing after things you can’t control!”

With that bit of information, I am off for my morning bowl of porridge that my lovely wife is making for me, which seems to get me ready to take on whatever challenges come my way!

You all have a great day and I will leave you with this: “They say you can take the boy out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the boy… and honestly, why would you want to? There’s no place like home, especially when home is surrounded by fields and forests as far as the eye can see.”

Fishing Times For Wednesday
04/24/24

Major Times
12:25 AM-2:25 AM
12:47 PM-2:47 PM

Minor Times
5:49 AM-6:49 AM
8:59 PM-9:59 PM

Day Rating: I give it a 5-Star Rating out of 5 for catching a few. Great day for fishing, but you might need a warm coat. Good Luck!

Fishing Tip and Lore For The Day. “Back in my day, we’d sit by the fire and tie our own flies, using feathers, fur, and threads. There’s something about them homemade flies that drives the fish wild.” GW

All my books are available on my Amazon Author Page.

If you purchase a book, a brief Amazon review really helps new readers discover my work—it means a lot.

Support my writing: Support My Writing

In Closing, I Would Like to Wish You Well!

George Walters | [email protected]

Tales from the Wide Open Spaces Here in the North on April 23/2024

Good Morning. Where the only deadlines my wife and I have to worry about are the ones set by the seasons, and the only schedules we keep are dictated by the rhythm of nature.

It’s another cloudy day here in cottage country, and by the looks of things the clouds will remain with us for most of the day. And with those clouds we could see some more showers off and on.

Yesterday was a busy day for my wife and I as we headed on into North Bay to pick up some supplies and things. We had a good trip there and back, taking in what nature had to offer. It seems that no matter how many times we have made the trip, there is always something new to see. That’s the nice thing about living where we do. Although years ago I did enjoy our farms, and I have to say I miss them in a round about way. In other words, I miss the farms themselves, but don’t miss the politics that went with the farms. More so today.

Today being a bit cool and such, I am thinking I will write up a couple more stories for my newspaper columns, which should keep me busy for most of the day. Tomorrow however, with the sunshine returning, maybe my lovely wife and I will be able to do some work on our new fishpond we dug a couple of weeks ago. We will see how that turns out. It all depends on what Mother Nature has in store. She is, or has been, a might testing the past few weeks. But I suspect she has her reasons.

Folks always ask me, ‘What’s the secret to a happy life, old timer?’ And I tell them, “Well, it’s like trying to catch a newborn calf that has been let out of the barn on its own, for the first time—you have to be quick on your feet and ready for anything! But seriously, I believe it’s about finding joy in the simple things, taking time to smell the roses, and sharing a good laugh with friends and family. Because at the end of the day, it ain’t the size of your barn/house that matters—it’s the size of your smile.”

With that, I am off for my morning bowl of porridge that my little woman is making for me, and will then see what the day has in store, other than I have planned.

You all have a great day and I will leave you with this: “Here in the country, the only thing that moves faster than the seasons is the gossip – but hey, what’s life without a little chatter now and then?”

Fishing Times For Tuesday
04/23/24

Major Times
–:—–:–
12:03 PM-2:03 PM

Minor Times
5:31 AM-6:31 AM
7:48 PM-8:48 PM

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

Fishing Tip of The Day: Fish around natural cover such as fallen trees, submerged vegetation, and rocky outcrops. These areas provide shelter and ambush points for fish, making them prime feeding locations. GW

All my books are available on my Amazon Author Page.

If you purchase a book, a brief Amazon review really helps new readers discover my work—it means a lot.

Support my writing: Support My Writing

In Closing, I Would Like to Wish You Well!

George Walters | [email protected]

Life Beyond the City’s Clamor on April 21/2024

Good Morning! Time to embrace the peace and quiet of country living, where the only sirens we hear are from the distant call of the wild.

We are waking up to some sunshine here in cottage country. And it sure is nice to see, and feel for that matter.

Highway 522 is bare and dry, which will make traveling good today, and truth told it should remain that way now for the rest of the summer. Let’s hope so. How to tell when the tourists are here, well you can tell when someone’s not from around here when they actually use their turn signal.

On another note, I worked the day away yesterday in my woodworking shop on the new waterwheel I am making for our new fishpond. I have to say I made some pretty good headway, and today I should be able to finish it.

I have always said: “When the barn door’s open, the animals roam free. The same goes for opportunities. Keep your eyes open and seize ’em when they come.”

With that, I am off for a bagel this morning with some honey and cream cheese that my lovely wife is making for me, and will then head on out to my shop.

You all have a great day and I will leave you with this: “In the country, time moves a little slower, and the stories run a little deeper – where every wrinkle tells a tale and every creak in the floorboard echoes with the laughter of generations past.”

Fishing Times for Sunday
04/21/24

Major Times
–:—–:–
10:43 AM-12:43 PM

Minor Times
5:01 AM-6:01 AM
5:36 PM-6:36 PM

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

Fishing Tip of the Day: Experiment with different trolling speeds, depths, and lure colors to find the most effective combination. Vary your trolling patterns until you find a setup that consistently produces bites.

All my books are available on my Amazon Author Page.

If you purchase a book, a brief Amazon review really helps new readers discover my work—it means a lot.

Support my writing: Support My Writing

In Closing, I Would Like to Wish You Well!

George Walters | [email protected]