Well, sleepy day here in the small town of Port Loring. Been sitting here with a tea and not much traffic going by, but then, this time of year there never is. Sundays in this small town seems to be a bit like the old days, as everyone takes it easy and things, the way it should be. Weather here today is sunny so far with a few clouds. But colder and some snow is in the forecast for tonight and tomorrow. One station was even calling for three to six inches of the white stuff over night. Hmm have to see about that, but one never knows living here in the North. 44 degrees here at 10:06 AM. Weather station is working good since my son fixed it so that is a plus. Lot of folks have called saying that they liked the weather site and it has been an asset to the area, so that makes us feel good. Talk Soon
Business Sign Out Front
This is another picture of our business’s sign out along HWY 522. Great country.
Our Home Here In Port Loring
This picture is taken from HWY 522 in front of our home. The small building to the right is our store. Not big but lots of very unique things.
Fall Picture Here In Port Loring
One More That I Thought was real nice.
Fall Colours Here In Port Loring
Just up the road from us is this real nice view of some fall colours and thought I would share.
Store Sign Out Front And Flags
For a bigger view of the pictures just click on the picture. Enjoy.
Old Trailer In Front Of Our Home
Garlic Is In The Ground
Well weather is suppose to drop in temperatures tomorrow night, so got busy and planted my Garlic. I got to tell you I sure love the stuff and you can’t get anything more healthier to eat. I put in one row this year which is about twenty feet long. I just take a couple sticks and put a piece of twine from stick to stick. Reason being so I know where they are come spring when I go to plant the rest of the garden. Also it helps me keep a straight row. I don’t know but I got a thing about crooked rows. Once I get the line up I just take my hoe and dig a small trench about four inches deep. I then plant the garlic about five or six inches apart. Once all planted I then like to take a few handfuls of cow manure and sprinkle it over the cloves just before I cover them up. Once covered up I put a bit of straw over the top or leaves depending on what I have on hand. That’s it don’t take no effort at all. One thing to remember though, wash your hands before you have dinner, Hmm I thought my piece of cheddar cheese tasted a bit different. I also took an old white tarp this year and wrapped it around my grape vines as I got froze back last winter. Took all summer to grow new vines so didn’t want that to happen again. Wife likes Concord Grape Jam and if they keep freezing back one don’t get very many bunches. I also took some old half rotten boards I had laying around the place and cut them up for kindling so all set now for starting the old stove in the shop. Sure nice to be able to enjoy life up here in the north and do things that one wants. Talk Soon.
Port Loring Weather Station Up Date
Hi folks well my son has got the old weather station fixed up here and it is uploading for all to see again. I am sure lucky I got a feller that can fix these problems when they arise. Weather today here is sunny and warm for a change. Temperatures got up to around 56 Degrees, almost summer. For more Details you can now go to the weather site and have a look as there is a link to it here on the Blogs main page. Talk Soon
Community Voice Column Up Date
Hi Folks well I see the story I sent to the Community Voice didn’t run not sure why so from now on I won’t put any notices on here till I make sure they have run. Simple way of making sure you are able to read them. In this world of today things change and News Papers are one of them. Talk Soon.
Weekly Column In The Community Voice Glimpse
Hi folks well this week the column is called, Lost Wisdom. It pertains to my younger days and how I came to writing short stories, along with my views on our Elders and all the wisdom that will be lost when they are gone. Also a lot of other tips, info and bit of my wisdom that I know you will enjoy. So if you get a minute go out and get yourself a copy of the Community Voice, in North Bay and surrounding areas. Talk Soon.
Weekly Nugget Column Glimpse
Well I think my Column in the Saturday Nugget should be in there this week, as they took it out last week as they needed space. Well what can you do its their paper. At any rate here is a bit on what its about thought I would share.
This week I wrote one up on Messages and how we got them out to folks years ago back on the Dairy farm where I was raised. I got to say when writing this story a lot came to mind and brought back a lot of fine memories. Folks of today would probably wonder how we made out as good as we did back then, but we did ok. The Story is called Messages but we will see what the paper calls it as they have a Tendency of changing the titles on me. But what can you do. At any rate look for it this week in the North Bay Nugget. Talk Soon
Preparing Red or Green Peppers For Winter
Well I would think most folks have dug or picked their veggies for winter. I got mine in but this year I had a few extra red and green peppers. So what to do? Simple really, the wife took the peppers and cut them up in small pieces. She then set them on a cookie tray and put them in our oven. We have a Propane stove here in the country as we love to cook with a flame, also nice when the power goes out. Just seems to be a nicer way to cook, at least for us. The nice thing about a gas or propane stove or wood stove is it has a pilot light or flame of some kind going at all times or maybe now a days that isn’t right as the new stoves might not have a flame any more. Anyways, if you happen to have one of these stoves or a dry place you can put your peppers after you cut them, well then get to doing it as come winter when you want a real tasty home made soup you will have the fresh garden ingredients to put in there. My wife dries them in the oven for a few days and then once dried she grinds them up in a coffee grinder a hand one and then puts it in brown paper bags for storage. I got to tell you nothing is more tasty come winter. Hmm Good! Talk soon.
Port Loring Weather Station
Woke up to a heavy white frost this morning. Got cool, as temperatures were down to around 29F this morning. At noon today its up to 44 Degrees so a bit warmer. Was thinking that I might be coming down with a cold yesterday so took some Linden Blossom tea, seemed to stop it in its tracks. Old recipe from Germany that my old Grandfather used. Seems its a cure for the common cold and well it has fixed me in time of need. You will have to try it sometime. One just needs to find a Basswood tree and pick the blossoms when they come out in bloom. If you ever need info on them let me know. Forecast today at noon: Sunshine, 45 degrees, Barometer rising and sitting at 29.47 inHG, Humidity is 53%, Winds are from the South at around 8 MPH. Talk soon
Weather Station Info
Well temperatures have dropped here in this small town of Port Loring. But its the sign of whats to come. Old wood furnace is still perkin away and sure feels good when you come in from outside. Nothing like wood heat to take the chill out of ones bones. I should mention here that our weather station is down for a wee bit as my son is working on it. Should be back up and running come the weekend or shortly after. At any rate the weather today is sunny with a few clouds. Winds up to 30MPH Gusts. NW winds. Barometer 29.15 and rising. Weather Forecast, Sunny with a few clouds. Outside temperatures at noon is 41 Degrees with humidity at 40%. Talk Later.
Windy Day.
Well another pretty nice day here just a bit windy. Winds are from the South around 10 to 30 MPH so enough wind to blow a fellows hat off once and awhile. Lots of sunshine today but they say temperatures are going to drop over night. High today was around 61 degrees. Had the old wood furnace perkin away here this morning but kind of let it die out this afternoon. So might be a pretty nice night for the trick-er treaters. We don’t get to many up here in this area as there isn’t that many young ones. I think the most we have had since we moved here would be around ten. So we don’t have to spend to much on goodies. I did managed to clean up the last of my leaves today and put them in the garden. Once done I got out the tiller and worked them in so the wind didn’t blow them away on me. Can’t get anything better for a vegetable gardens than dry leaves. Talk Later
Nice Day
Well had a nice day here for a change. Sun was shinning for most the day. Temperatures were a bit cool though, but did get up to around 49 degrees after a frost early this morning when I got up. Winds were out of the west, light. This afternoon I took advantage of the good weather and cleaned the chimney in the house and outside. Then cleaned the eve troughs and took off the one out back, as in some cases it stops leaks in the house through out the winter, when ice backs up the water. Tried it last year and problem solved, so guess now its a yearly thing before it gets to cold. I also piled up some firewood I had laying around out back, so not a bad day all and all. Talk Soon.
WRITING A GOOD ARTICLE QUERY
WRITING A GOOD ARTICLE QUERY
Most magazine editors prefer authors send them a query letter
rather than the entire article. This helps minimize the size of
the unsolicited submissions stack towering over their desks, and
allows them to quickly judge if an idea is right for their
publication. Some editors will buy an article on the strength of
the query alone, especially if the author is previously
published. So, while you can send out queries before you
actually write the piece, it’s essential that you complete your
research and have a good idea of the direction your article will
take before committing to it in the query letter. Also, be sure
you can finish the article quickly if the editor writes back and
asks to see the whole piece. If you’ve never written a magazine
article before, I suggest you do so before sending out queries,
just to be sure you can deliver what you promise.
Like your article, the query letter should be lively, well-
organized, and entertaining. Open with a strong sentence that
sets the tone for your article–an interesting fact about your
subject, a question you intend to answer, or a line of dialog
from someone you interviewed. Complete the paragraph by
presenting the five basic facts about your topic: who, what,
when, where and why. Sprinkle in a few statistics if you have
them, and don’t forget to list the projected word length. Your
second paragraph introduces the questions you intend to answer
in the article, and the slant you’ll take on the subject. This
is your opportunity to show the editor why your article is
unique. If you have unusual information or have interviewed
experts, include that in this paragraph.
The third paragraph states the market for this topic. Show
you’ve done your research and explain why your article would
appeal to the magazine’s readership. You should know that your
particular slant on the topic hasn’t been done before (search
magazine databases at the library under subject headings), so
tell the editor of your findings.
Your final paragraph includes any pertinent information about
yourself. List previous writing credits, areas of expertise that
are related to your article, writing organizations to which you
belong. Anything that gives you credibility as an author should
be included. If you have no relevant experience, skip this
paragraph.
Some magazines request an annotated bibliography of resources
used in writing the article. This can be attached on a second
sheet of paper. Be sure your letter also includes your full
address, phone number, and email. Submit with a self-addressed,
stamped envelope for the editor’s reply.
It’s best to query one magazine at a time unless you are
slanting the article differently for different publications. If
two magazines request the complete work, send to your preferred
market first. If they buy the piece, be sure you retain the
appropriate rights to write about the same subject for a
different market before submitting a new article elsewhere.
Good Luck!
A COWBOY’S GUIDE TO LIFE
A COWBOY’S GUIDE TO LIFE
Don’t squat with your spurs on.
Don’t interfere with something that ain’t botherin’ you none.
Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.
The easiest way to eat crow is while it’s still warm. The colder it gets, the harder it is to swaller.
If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin’.
If it don’t seem like it’s worth the effort, it probably ain’t.
It don’t take a genius to spot a goat in a flock of sheep.
The biggest troublemaker you’ll probably ever have to deal with watches you shave his face in the mirror every morning.
Never ask a barber if you need a haircut.
If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of some influence, try orderin’ somebody else’s dog around.
Don’t worry about bitin’ off more’n you can chew; your mouth is probably a whole lot bigger’n you think.
Always drink upstream from the herd.
Generally, you ain’t learnin’ nothing when your mouth’s a-jawin’.
Tellin’ a man to git lost and makin’ him do it are two entirely different propositions.
If you’re ridin’ ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it’s still there with ya.
Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.
When you give a personal lesson in meanness to a critter or to a person, don’t be surprised if they learn their lesson.
When you’re throwin’ your weight around, be ready to have it thrown around by somebody else.
Lettin’ the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin’ it back.
Always take a good look at what you’re about to eat. It’s not so important to know what it is, but it’s sure crucial to know what it was.
The quickest way to double your money is to fold it over and put it back into your pocket.
Never miss a good chance to shut up.
Pretty Good Advice Huh?
Another Tale By Grey Wolf
The Legend of The Cedar Tree
By
Grey Wolf
A long time ago when the Cherokee people were new upon the earth, they thought that life would be much better if there was never any night. They beseeched the Ouga (Creator) that it might be day all the time and that there would be no darkness.
The Creator heard their voices and made the night cease and it was day all the time. Soon, the forest was thick with heavy growth. It became difficult to walk and to find the path. The people toiled in the gardens many long hours trying to keep the weeds pulled from among the corn and other food plants. It got hot, very hot, and continued that way day after long day. The people began to find it difficult to sleep and became short tempered and argued among themselves.
Not many days had passed before the people realized they had made a mistake and, once again, they beseeched the Creator. “Please,” they said, “we have made a mistake in asking that it be day all the time. Now we think that it should be night all the time.” The Creator paused at this new request and thought that perhaps the people may be right even though all things were created in twos… representing to us day and night, life and death, good and evil, times of plenty and those times of famine. The Creator loved the people and decided to make it night all the time as they had asked.
The day ceased and night fell upon the earth. Soon, the crops stopped growing and it became very cold. The people spent much of their time gathering wood for the fires. They could not see to hunt meat and with no crops growing it was not long before the people were cold, weak, and very hungry. Many of the people died.
Those that remained still living gathered once again to beseech the Creator. “Help us Creator,” they cried! “We have made a terrible mistake. You had made the day and the night perfect, and as it should be, from the beginning. We ask that you forgive us and make the day and night as it was before.”
Once again the Creator listened to the request of the people. The day and the night became, as the people had asked, as it had been in the beginning. Each day was divided between light and darkness. The weather became more pleasant, and the crops began to grow again. Game was plentiful and the hunting was good. The people had plenty to eat and there was not much sickness. The people treated each other with compassion and respect. It was good to be alive. The people thanked the Creator for their life and for the food they had to eat.
The Creator accepted the gratitude of the people and was glad to see them smiling again. However, during the time of the long days of night, many of the people had died, and the Creator was sorry that they had perished because of the night. The Creator placed their spirits in a newly created tree. This tree was named a-tsi-na tlu-gv {ah-see-na loo-guh} cedar tree.
When you smell the aroma of the cedar tree or gaze upon it standing in the forest, remember that if you are Tsalagi {Cherokee}, you are looking upon your ancestor.
Tradition holds that the wood of the cedar tree holds powerful protective spirits for the Cherokee. Many carry a small piece of cedar wood in their medicine bags worn around the neck. It is also placed above the entrances to the house to protect against the entry of evil spirits. A traditional drum would be made from cedar wood.
Does the author believe this? Well, lets just say that there is a piece of cedar in my medicine pouch and I carry it always. The Creator did not make the people because of loneliness, but because the Creator wanted to show generosity and love to the people. Accept the blessings and the gifts given and always give thanks for them.
Grey Wolf