George's Writers Corner, My Opinion Only

Two Fellas at The Farm Auction

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Only On The Walters Post

Now, I’m not here to tell folks what to think, I’m just sharing what life has shown me. Take from it what makes sense, leave the rest, but maybe let it sit with you a while.

So there’s this old farm auction out on the edge of town, dusty lane, row of pickups, folks in ball caps and boots looking over used tractors and a pile of split cedar posts.

Up pulls Pierre Poilievre, hops out of a half-ton that’s seen a gravel road or two. He strides in quick, starts shaking hands, asking what the last diesel bill was, and nodding along when someone grumbles about interest rates. He’s got a bit of a sharp tongue, pokes at the auctioneer for charging too much commission, and tells a joke about how the government’s taxes are like raccoons — always finding a way into your bin. Folks laugh, some clap him on the back.

Then along comes Mark Carney. Now, he doesn’t exactly drive in — he arrives with a shiny hired car from the city. He’s polite, soft-spoken, and when someone asks what he thinks about land prices, he talks about “leveraged debt positions” and “macroprudential tools.” A couple of local farmers scratch their heads, wonder what the hell that means, and drift off to check the plows. Carney stands there smiling, checking his watch, thinking maybe he’s got to be on a call with some London banker in an hour.

When the auction starts, Pierre’s bidding on a used stock trailer, saying it’ll help a rancher keep costs down. Carney’s mostly just observing, probably figuring out how farmland fits into global climate asset models.

By the end of the day, both shake hands and head off. Pierre goes off to grab a burger with the locals, Carney back to his next big finance meeting.

Moral of the story?
They’re both smart men in their own way. But if you’re looking for someone who talks like your neighbor about feed bills and mortgage payments, it sure isn’t Carney. He’s thinking more about how Canada fits into the world’s banking puzzle, often with a soft spot for how they do things across the pond in the UK.

Poilievre’s aiming to be the loud voice for the average fellow at the farm gate — though time’ll tell if he truly walks that walk.

Until the next time, keep your minds open and your stories alive. 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]

George's Writers Corner, Health, My Opinion Only, Weather, What's Happening

I Write Because I Don’t Talk This Much in Person on July 14/2025

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Good morning, folks. The coffee’s on, and the day is shaping up just the way I like it… unwritten.

Forecast for Port Loring Ontario, Today (Monday, July 14)

  • High: about 83 °F (29 °C); low tonight around 60 °F (15 °C)
  • Mostly sunny, hazy skies, likely due to wildfire smoke, which will affect our air quality some.
  • There is a Special Air Quality Statement in effect;

Tonight:

  • Clear and cool, dropping to 60 °F (15 °C)
  • Air quality might be a concern, so if there is smoke in your area, it might pay to keep your windows closed.

Tomorrow (Tuesday, July 15):

Hazy sun persists, with the air not being the best due to smoke.

Another warm one: 88 °F (31 °C) high, 65 °F (19 °C) low

But in saying that, things should cool down some after Wednesday.

Highway 522 was pretty quiet yesterday, but then again, it was Sunday. I suspect things will pick up a wee bit today, and like clockwork, it’ll get even busier as the weekend draws near. Although, truth be told, it’s been a lot quieter around here compared to other years. Folks just aren’t moving around as much, and who can blame them? A lot of people are hurting, plain and simple, with being taxed to the bone and trying to make a dollar stretch farther than it can go. It’s disheartening to watch, knowing full well that the powers that be haven’t the faintest idea how to run a country. Never have, and likely never will. They’ve lost touch. Health, well-being, the day-to-day struggles of ordinary people, hell, it means nothing to them. All they seem to care about is padding their pockets and worshipping the almighty dollar. The rest of us are just left to pick up the pieces and make do the best we can.

On another note, I did get a bit of garden work done yesterday morning before it got too hot. Once the sun started beating down, I figured I’d done enough and headed inside, where it was a lot cooler. No sense sweating buckets when there’s other things needing done. So I poured myself a coffee, sat down at my desk, and wrote up another story for one of my newspaper columns. I like to keep a few ahead, as it takes the pressure off and lets me enjoy the writing when the mood strikes.

So what are you up to today, GW?

Well, I figure since it’s shaping up to be another warm one, I’ll get a bit of outside work done early while it’s still bearable. Then my wife and I will likely take it easy this afternoon. We might even sit out under our old basswood tree on the swing for a spell, just soaking in the peace and quiet of our little piece of paradise. It sure is a sight to see this time of year with everything growing in leaps and bounds. You know, in this country, you enjoy it while you can, especially in the summer, because it never seems to last long.

Best fishing times for today in Port Loring, Ontario

Since you’re reading this after 5:30 AM, the best times to fish are late morning from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM and again in the evening between 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM. Fish tend to be more active during those cooler hours, especially as the sun starts to set. Midday can be slow, but a shady spot or deeper water might still bring a bite.

Like my Dad used to say, “Fish don’t rush, and neither should you. Sit quiet and steady, and the water will tell you when it’s time.” Often, the real reward isn’t just a big catch, but the calm you find out there waiting.

Lure of the day;

If you’re after Pickerel or Largemouth Bass during those late morning hours, a good ol’ spinnerbait or a soft plastic jerkbait will do the trick. They like something that moves just enough to catch their eye without scaring them off.

For the evening stretch, especially around dusk when the catfish start stirring, live bait like nightcrawlers or minnows works best. Catfish aren’t picky, but they sure know how to sniff out fresh, wriggling bait in the dark.

I’ve always said, “Match your bait to the fish and the time, and you’ll be smiling before you know it.”

So with that, I’m off to enjoy breakfast, thanks to my lovely wife. On the plate today: two eggs cooked easy over, finished with a touch of grass-fed butter, and two breakfast sausages, no preservatives or weird additives added. If there’s an ingredient we don’t recognize, we simply don’t eat it. The same goes for everything else we put on the table these days. It’s not easy, with the way food companies are mixing things up nowadays, but if you look closely and stick to your principles, it can be done. We are living in a toxic world, let me tell ya. Reason being…. it’s all about the money, not about our health.

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

George's Writers Corner, Health, Weather, What's Happening

Writing Ain’t Therapy, but It’s Close on July 13/2025

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Good morning, folks. I sat down to write and the words sat down with me. Not bad for a Sunday.

And a warm Sunday at that.

Weather Forecast for Port Loring, Ontario
Sunday, July 13, 2025

Today:
Expect a humid day with periods of morning rain and possibly a thunderstorm. As the day moves on, the skies will gradually clear, giving way to hazy sunshine by afternoon. Smoke from distant wildfires may roll into our area, depends on which way the winds are heading.
High: 82°F (28°C)

Tonight:
Mainly clear skies through the night, although some haze will likely linger due to wildfire smoke. It’ll cool off nicely, making for a decent night to sleep with the windows cracked if the air quality allows.
Low: 57°F (14°C)

Tomorrow – Monday, July 14:
Warm and dry with hazy sunshine continuing. Smoke may still be noticeable in the air, and it’s shaping up to be another hot one, especially by the afternoon.
High: 85°F (30°C)
Low: 60°F (16°C)

Highway 522 was pretty busy yesterday, with mostly the locals and cottagers moving around. We had a few tourists rolling through from other towns and cities, what some folks call day trippers, and a lot of them dropped by our gift shop picking up items of choice. It was nice to see, and it’s always good to hear what the rest of the world is up to these days.

Living where we do, way back in the country, we’re kind of kept in the dark when it comes to what’s taking place in the big cities.

Why do I enjoy listening to these folks? Well, I’ll tell ya, it makes my wife and me appreciate where we live and just how lucky we are.

Fishing Report for Sunday, July 13 – Port Loring, Ontario

Well, folks, if you’re planning on casting a line today, things are shaping up to be pretty fair. The morning started off muggy with some thunder rumbling around, but that’s eased off some now, leaving us with a mix of cloud and hazy sunshine.

The best times to be out on the water today are early this morning—around 2:30 to 4:30 AM for the real early risers—and again this afternoon from about 2:45 to 4:45 PM. There’s also a minor bite window around 8:00 to 9:00 AM if you’re just getting your boots on now. Later tonight, from about 10:30 to 11:30 PM, there’s another short feeding spell if you’re one to enjoy the stillness of the evening lake.

With the haze in the air and just enough cloud cover, it should keep the fish feeling a little more comfortable and maybe more willing to come up from the deeper water. Might be a good idea to work the edges of the weed beds or along the drop-offs this afternoon when the sun tries to push through.

All in all, it’s a good day for fishing. Just keep an eye on the sky in case those storms want to circle back. And as always, a bit of patience and the right lure for the day will go a long way.

Lure of the Day: From my years fishing the North, I’ve learned pickerel can’t resist a bright spinnerbait or a shiny silver spoon. Or… a simple hook tipped with a fresh minnow or a natural-colored crankbait usually does the trick. Sometimes, the old reliable ways are still the best.

So with that, I’m off for my breakfast my lovely wife has made for me — fresh-cut bacon and two eggs, easy over. No toast today; I’ve been off bread for about a month now. Why? Well, truth be told, wheat isn’t even good for a lot of animals, as it can cause all kinds of health issues.

Now, I’m not saying everyone has to cut wheat out completely, but going easy on bread and wheat products has made a real difference for me. The thing is, wheat we eat today isn’t the same as it was long ago, not by a long shot as it’s been bred to have more gluten and starch, which can be harder on our digestion. Even some of the animals don’t do well on too much wheat; it can upset their stomachs or cause health problems. So sometimes you just have to listen to your body — just like we watch how wheat and grain affect the animals. If it’s not good for them, maybe it’s not always good for us either.

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

George's Writers Corner, News, Information & Events

A Piece of Port Loring: The Place We’ve Built and Loved

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We’ve been living here in Port Loring for over twenty years now. Hard to believe how time slips by. You look around and see all the work that’s gone into this place, and it tells its own story.

The house is older, but solid. We’ve kept it in good shape, taking care of repairs and making it a home we’re proud of. Beside the house sits a small cottage we built ourselves. Inside, there’s a counter with a double sink and hot water, a small heater for cooler nights, a retro fridge, a microwave, and all the utensils you need. It has a double bed with a single bed above it, like a bunk bed. The cottage is beautiful inside and out, nicely decorated, and features a wrap-around deck shaded by huge maple trees and a few tall pines—a perfect spot to sit and relax. It even has high-speed internet through Starlink, which we purchased to stay connected. Hard to beat that out here.

Nearby, there’s a shower house I built myself. It’s not just for showers — it has a sink and a toilet, along with a stand-up shower. Everything’s nicely decorated, very clean, and done right, the way only an old craftsman can. It makes things comfortable for anyone staying over.

The property is 1.2 acres or more with 400 feet of frontage right on Highway 522. That makes getting around easy. You can walk to the local store, the restaurant, or head down to the lake to fish. We’ve always liked being close enough to town to feel connected, but far enough out to enjoy the quiet country life.

There’s a good-drilled well and a septic system done right by the professionals, so those worries are taken care of. Out back is a woodworking shop that was already here when we moved in. I fixed it up, insulated it, and installed a wood stove that keeps me warm all winter no matter how cold it gets. I’ve spent many afternoons there making birdhouses, benches, and the water wheel that turns steadily in our little fish pond. That pond has become one of my favourite spots. Watching the wheel go round and listening to the water is a good way to slow down and take a breath.

We’ve kept the grounds neat with flower beds full of perennials that come back every year and a vegetable garden that grows nearly anything we plant. There are several outbuildings for storing tools, toys, or whatever else you might have.

People driving by probably see a tidy property with neat lawns and flowers. What they don’t see is all the hours spent planting, building, fixing, and living here. They don’t see the quiet mornings with a cup of coffee on the porch or the peaceful nights when the crickets start up and the yard feels calm in a way only the country can bring.

This has been our home for a long time. We’ve put a lot of ourselves into it. Maybe one day someone else will take it over, make their own memories, and add another twenty years of stories. Until then, we’ll keep looking after it and enjoying it as we always have.

If this sounds like the kind of place you’ve been looking for, it’s currently for sale. You can get in touch with our realtor, Angie McCandless at Forest Hill Real Estate Inc. Brokerage. She’s ready to answer your questions and help you find out more.

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

George's Writers Corner, Weather, What's Happening

Been Writing So Long, Even My Coffee Has Opinions on July 12/2025

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A Small Piece Out Back of Our Property

Good morning. You know, over the years I’ve learned not to force the words …just open the door, and see which ones wander in.

Starting things off, we’re seeing some sunshine in our area, but that southwestern sky is looking kinda dark, which could mean that there’s something brewing weather wise.

Seeing that, here’s your weather forecast for Port Loring, ON:

Today (Saturday, July 12):
– Expect very warm and humid conditions today, with highs around 87 °F and a low tonight near 67 °F.
– There’ll be occasional rain and drizzle, so keep your raincoat handy if you’re heading out.

Tonight (into early Sunday):
– Skies will stay humid and cloudy, with scattered showers likely continuing into the evening.
– Lows will dip to about 67 °F.

Tomorrow (Sunday, July 13):
– Humidity remains high, with a chance of morning rain and a possible thunderstorm. During the day, we’ll see hazy sunshine mixed with cloud cover.
– The high will reach around 81 °F, with overnight cooling to 60 °F.
– Be aware that smoke from area fires may increase in our area. Depends on which way the wind is coming from.

Highway 522 has been picking up a wee bit, but surprisingly, it wasn’t all that busy yesterday. Sales in our gift shop slowed down some, but we’re still seeing a few folks dropping by and picking up our one-of-a-kind items.

And I have to tell ya, the one thing about our store—it isn’t like all the others. Most of what we carry is designed and made right here at home. And when you think about it, every piece we sell comes with a story. So really, you’re not just buying something, you’re taking home a little piece of us, and a story to go with it.

You won’t find that in most other shops these days. Unless it says “Made in China”—but hey, we all know that story.

Fishing Report for Port Loring, Ontario – Saturday, July 12, 2025

Well, the best times to be out on the water today are early this morning from 6:30 to 8:00 AM and then again this afternoon from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, with action likely carrying into the early evening. Fish tend to be more active, early in the summer, with the weather being warm and humid and the threat of some rain in the air. Gets too hot though, they are looking for the shady spots, Same as us humans.

Lure of the Day:
For Largemouth Bass, try a top water plug like a Whopper Popper near weed beds or structure.
For Pickerel or Pike, go with a spinner bait or shallow crank bait, you know the kind, something flashy that moves water and gets their attention.

Good Luck and remember: “Catchin’ fish is great, but sometimes just floatin’ around with a coffee is good enough.”

So what are you up to today, GW?

Well, with it being a touch cooler this morning, I’m thinking I’ll clean up some weeds in the vegetable gardens, the ones that like to sneak in and hide around the base of our tomato plants. After that, weather permitting, I plan on taking it easy and enjoying the outdoors with my lovely wife, out back on our swing under the basswood tree. My wife sure loves that swing. And hey, if it doesn’t get too hot, we might even get a game of horseshoes in. We’ll see how that pans out as the day rolls along.

On another note, yesterday I spent the day helping folks who stopped by our gift shop and garage sale. Yep, the garage sale is still on, and we’ll keep it going through till August.

Here’s the thing: those garage sale items have to go, no ifs or buts. So knowing that we’re open to all offers, and we’re ready to make deals to move them out. The store items are specialty pieces, so while they’re marked down, we can’t just give those away. But the prices are more than fair.

So if you’re looking for bargains, there are plenty waiting for you… right here at 11588 Highway 522 in Port Loring, Ontario. We are open from 10:00 AM – 4:00PM.

With that, I’m off to enjoy breakfast that my lovely wife is fixing for me, which will consist of two eggs easy over and a couple of slices of bacon without any preservatives added. After that, I’ll head out to our front porch with a cup of coffee and my little woman, and we’ll take in the nature all around our home here. It’s truly a one-of-a-kind piece of property, let me tell ya.

And if you’re curious about what’s next for us, well, this special place is up for sale as we’re getting ready to turn the page and start a new chapter in our lives. So if you’ve ever dreamed of calling a slice of Port Loring home, maybe now’s the time to drop by and see it for yourself. Along with meeting the writer and the artist.

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