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Good morning. Silence has a way of speaking first.

You know... I’ve learned over the years that the best stories don’t come from chasing them down like a dog after a rabbit. Instead they show up when you sit still long enough to let the world settle. Funny as most mornings, before the coffee’s even brewed, I find myself in that space between sleep and the day’s noise, a space where thoughts drift in like fog over a field.

That’s where the stories live. In the pauses. In the morning quiet before you’ve told yourself what to think.

People ask me sometimes, “Where do you get your ideas?” and I never have a good answer that satisfies them. The truth is, I don’t get them at all. I just listen. I sit with the silence, and after a while, something speaks. Sometimes it’s a memory that floats up. Other times it’s a question I didn’t know I was asking. Once in a while, it’s nothing more than the way the light hits the kitchen table and reminds me of something I forgot I knew.

That’s when I write it down. Not because I understand it yet, but because it asked to be written.

It’s a strange partnership, this business of listening first and writing second. You might think it would be the other way around, but it isn’t. I’ve found over the years, that the mind needs space to wander before it finds anything worth keeping. Rush it and you get noise. Wait for it and you get a story.

So yea… that’s how most of my mornings start: silence speaks, I listen, and then I write what it told me, or so it seems.

Well, I have to tell you, weather-wise here in cottage country, it’s one of those days that makes a fella or gal want to head outside to their favorite sitting spot and take in what nature has to offer. Not too hot, not too cold. The sun is shining. The leaves are in full bloom, so to speak, showing off all their colors. It’s the kind of day that makes you feel damn lucky to be alive.

Highway 522 was quite busy yesterday, with lots of trucks pulling campers, ATVs strapped down, canoes on roofs—you name it. They were all heading up and down the highway. Not sure where they’re all going, seeing as there aren’t that many stores in our area. But I suspect they know where they’re headed, and I guess that’s all that matters.

On another note, yesterday with my wife’s help, we did some more work in the old shed where we keep our pile of lumber, both used and weathered, waiting for its next life as a one-of-a-kind creation. Let me tell you, it took a bit of doing to get those boards, planks, and odds and ends into their right place so everything would be easy to reach. I thought we had it all done up nicely the day before, but nope, turns out we missed a few things. Now though, we’ve got it looking good, neat enough that even a picky friend would have to nod in approval.

You know, thinking about that, it never ceases to amaze me how much you can fit into a small space if you go about it the right way. And when it comes to organizing, my wife is a real natural. She’s got an eye for seeing possibilities where I just see clutter. Seems that within minutes, she’s come up with a plan, sorting and stacking and tucking things just so, and the best part is, it actually works.

So what are you up to today GW?

Well, today I’m thinking I’ll mulch up some of our maple leaves, then gather them and put them into the vegetable garden. After that, I’ll fire up the old rototiller and work them right into the soil. It should make for some rich, earth by the time next spring’s planting rolls around. My old dad always said: “George… you only get what you give back when it comes to soil,” and that is sure true.

So, yeah, that’s the plan anyway. But plans have a funny way of changing once you step outside. Sometimes I head off in one direction and end up doing something completely different. Maybe the wheelbarrow has a flat tire, or I notice the woodpile leaning to one side and decide it needs re stacking. Sometimes I just lean on the rake for a bit, watching a crow or raven circle overhead, and forget what I came out to do.

Life’s a mystery, that’s for sure, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. That’s what keeps things interesting, don’t you think?

So, with that bit of information, I’m off for my breakfast, same as yesterday: a bowl of porridge and a piece of toast piled high with homemade strawberry jam. After that, I’ll head out to the front porch to check on my old rocking chair. I could’ve sworn I heard it calling my name a few minutes ago… either that, or the old thing’s just lonely. Either way, I suppose I’d better not keep it waiting.

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

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Good morning, you know? I’ve witnessed how a simple habit, like going for a morning walk, or sitting and enjoying something as simple as a cup of coffee with your wife, “Can accomplish more than skill alone ever could.”

We’re waking up to some clouds here in cottage country this morning. But on the bright side—get it? Bright side?… we’ll be seeing some sunshine as the day moves forward.”

Highway 522 has been busier these past few days, with campers rolling into the area. If the sun shows itself and the temperatures climb, as they suppose to, I figure we’ll see even more traffic, especially from the folks on motorcycles, since their riding days are running short in this country.

On another note, sore foot and all, my wife and I managed to get the woodshed cleaned up, sorted out all the specialty lumber we keep for one-of-a-kind projects. Feels good to walk in and grab the right board without digging through a hundred of them. By the end of it, though, I was more than ready for my old La-Z-Boy and a chance to put my feet up. I’ve always said older folks need to know their limits, especially with health issues. Guess it’s about time I start taking my own advice. Sheesh.

So what are you up to today GW?

Well, today, depending on how my foot and side are feeling, I plan on straightening up my woodworking shop, getting it ready for some projects my wife and I have in mind for the winter. But we’ll see how that goes after I have my breakfast and a cup of hot tea, straight from England. I have to admit, those Brits do know how to make a proper cup of tea—probably better than they know how to drive on the left side of the road! We also buy the kind without any of those PFAS (Forever Chemicals) that most teas sneak in today. Thought I’d throw that in for anyone trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle—it’s one of those things not many people know about.

So with that, I am off for my breakfast that my lovely wife has put together for me, which will consist of some porridge made from “Stoked Oats Run of The Mill Rolled Oats.” That’s what they are called. If you like healthy porridge, give them a try…you won’t be disappointed.

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