Stories in the Making, One Morning at a Time on April 23/2025

Click on Image To Enlarge!

Good morning! You know… out here, the only real chatter worth listening to comes from the chickadees in the trees, not from the phone lines. But when the phone does ring, it’s rarely anyone we actually want to hear from. And more often than not, it’s a telemarketer trying to sell us something we didn’t even know we needed, or a recorded voice asking for our vote like we’ve been best friends since high school.

Well, we’re finally getting a bit of sunshine this morning, and I’ve got to say, it’s a welcome sight. The weather hasn’t been all that kind to us so far this spring… cold, damp, and downright unpredictable. I’m hoping it’ll make up for all the nonsense it’s thrown at us these last few weeks… after all, we’re closing in on May, and it’s about time we got some decent weather.

Weather Forecast for Port Loring, Ontario

April 23 to April 24, 2025

Today – Wednesday
After a stretch of wet and dreary weather, we’re finally getting a bit of sunshine. Skies will stay mostly clear, with a high around 50°F (10°C) a fine day to get a few outside chores done. At any rate, it’s a welcome change. Oh, and the wind will be light coming in from the west with dry conditions staying with us for most of the day.

Tonight
Clear and cool tonight, with temperatures dipping to about 39°F (4°C). A calm evening, good for stargazing, which we have a lot of in our area. Might be a touch damp by morning with some patchy ground frost in lower spots.

Tomorrow – Thursday
The day will start off bright, but clouds will creep in by late morning. Expect a high near 55°F (13°C), with a slight chance of a stray afternoon shower. Nothing major, but enough to make you pause before hauling out the laundry line. Overnight, it’ll cool back down to around 40°F (5°C), which means it’s still not quite time to leave the greenhouse door wide open.

Highway 522 is bare and dry this morning, making for an easy drive for anyone heading off to the big city for supplies. Traffic’s picking up too, mostly locals out and about, doing their rounds, either ticking off errands or, more often than not, catching up on the latest gossip. Around here, a trip to the post office can take a good hour if you run into the right (or wrong) crowd—especially those who seem to know what’s going on before it even happens.


On another note, yesterday I spent the whole day in front of my computer, working away with my wife by my side. We’ve been going through old newspapers and magazines she’s saved over the years, scanning every page that features one of my stories. I have to tell you, we worked hard all day and still barely made a dent in what’s stacked up in boxes—hundreds of them, at least. The problem with old newspapers is they deteriorate over time, and on top of that, they’re a real hassle to move around. But now, thanks to the high-tech setup our son helped us get going, we can have every story I’ve ever written stored in one place. And the best part? It’ll show the dates and other details for each one. Pretty handy, right? Now, we can flip through them whenever we want, without all the heavy lifting.

So what are you up to today, GW?

Well, with the sun finally shining today, once it warms up a bit, I’ll be heading out to the old woodworking shop. There’s plenty to do—first, I’ll be cleaning things up a bit, then I’ll finish building the one wall that needed repairs on the end of one of our outbuildings. And after that? Well, we’ll see. There’s still a lot to tackle as we get ready for the big spring sale we’re planning.

So, with that, I’m off for the breakfast my little woman made for me… oatmeal, or porridge as some might call it, is on the menu this morning. After that, we’ll settle in with our hot cups of cocoa and enjoy a good chat. We always look forward to talking to each other before the day gets started.

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]

Cracks in Canada’s Foundation

Only On The Walters Post

These are my own thoughts from what I’ve seen and lived through. I’m sharing them to spark some thinking and honest conversation, not because I have all the answers.

I’ve been around long enough to know that when a country starts showing signs of strain, it’s not always loud or sudden. Sometimes it’s quiet, a slow unraveling, and I’ve got to say, from where I sit, things don’t feel right anymore.

It used to be that if you worked hard, followed the rules, and did your best, you’d get somewhere. You might not end up rich, but you could build a decent life; raise a family, own a home, maybe even leave something behind for your kids. But, that promise … the one this country was built on … well it’s fading fast.

More and more, I see folks stuck in place, no matter how hard they try. Young people working two or three jobs just to afford rent. Families are falling apart under the weight of debt and stress, while older folks like me watch the world shift into something unrecognizable, and not for the better.

It worries me, not just for me and mine, but for the kind of country we’re leaving behind. If we keep heading down this road, I can picture a future where people just give up. Where trust in our systems and institutions dries up, and where laws get ignored not out of rebellion, but out of desperation, because folks can’t afford food or shelter any other way.

And it’s not just about money, it’s about what that kind of pressure does to people. It chips away at your spirit, makes you question whether doing the right thing even matters; and when enough people feel like that, you’ve got a real problem on your hands.

I don’t claim to have all the answers, never have. But I’ve got eyes, and I’ve got gut instincts sharpened by a lifetime of hard work and paying attention. The thing is… if we don’t start facing reality and talking honestly about what’s going wrong, then we’re going to find ourselves in a place we never thought we’d be.

This isn’t fear talking, folks, it’s the plain truth. You can only ignore the cracks in the foundation for so long, before the whole thing comes falling down.


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]

Polls: Why Too Many Canadians Miss the Big Picture

Only On The Walters Post

These are my own thoughts from what I’ve seen and lived through. I’m sharing them to spark some thinking and honest conversation, not because I have all the answers.

I’ve been thinking a lot about these election polls we keep seeing — especially here in Canada. They’re everywhere, like weeds in spring, and folks seem to treat them like gospel. Trouble is, I think too many folks let those numbers do their thinking for them.

Here’s what I mean.

It seems like a lot of people don’t bother digging into the bigger picture anymore — what a candidate really stands for, what their record says about them, or where they might take the country. Instead, they just glance at the polls and go, “Well, looks like he or she’s ahead. Might as well vote for the winner.”

Why is that?

I figure a lot of folks just like backing a winner. Gives them that little boost — that statistic satisfaction, you might say. They can tell themselves, “Well, I voted for the one who got in,” as if that alone makes it the right choice. It’s kind of like cheering for the top team in a league, just so you can feel like you’re part of something successful — even if you’ve got no idea what game’s being played.

Problem is, when you vote like that, you’re not thinking about the real cost.

And speaking of cost have we already forgotten what the last bunch in power here did? Billions added to the national debt, bad decisions that left a mess behind, and not much in the way of accountability. It seems to me people are quick to overlook all that, so long as the polls show their pick is out front.

That’s the danger of letting polls lead the charge. We end up electing based on momentum, not merit. And then we’re left cleaning up after the same kind of leadership that put us in this hole to begin with.

Polls have their place, sure. But they shouldn’t be steering the ship. If we want to keep this country on solid ground, we’ve got to vote with our heads and our hearts — not just follow the crowd.

So with this election coming up, it might pay to take a step back. Look past the numbers. Ask yourself what really matters to you — and whether the person you’re backing stands a chance of doing right by it. Because in the end, a country isn’t built by winners — it’s built by folks who think for themselves.


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]

Thoughts Before the Ink Dries on April 21/2025

Click on Image to Enlarge

Good Morning, From where the Trees Don’t Care About Your Problems, and the Only Rush Hour’s When the Deer Cross the Road.

It’s a cloudy morning here in Cottage Country, and the weather’s setting the tone for a cozy, indoor kind of day.

🌧️ Monday, April 21 – Rainy and Breezy

Today, except scattered showers throughout the day. The skies will stay gray, with clouds hanging low over the treetops.

  • High: 54°F (12°C)
  • Low: 36°F (2°C)
  • Rainfall: Around 0.39 inches (10 mm)
  • Winds: From the southwest at 15 to 25 mph (24 to 40 km/h), rustling the pines.

The rain should taper off by evening, but the chill in the air will linger — the kind that makes you reach for your long handles, and think twice about stepping out without your hat.

🌥️ Tuesday, April 22 – Grey Skies and Chilly Winds

Tomorrow brings more of the same — overcast skies, brisk air, and a touch of morning drizzle. And if we are real lucky, a touch of sunshine might show herself.

Winds: Will shift to the northwest at 10 to 20 mph (16 to 32 km/h), clearing the last of the rain clouds by afternoon.

High: 47°F (8°C)

Low: 30°F (-1°C)

Rainfall: Light, around 0.04 inches (1 mm)

Highway 522 is bare and dry at the time of this post, and the traffic is next to nill.

On another note, yesterday I worked the day away outside, being that it was so nice and sunny. The wind was cool, but the sun was throwin’ off some heat for a change, which made it real nice for gettin’ some outside work done up.

My wife and I even got a chance to do some front porch sittin’ in the afternoon, which was sure nice for a change. Nothin’ like soakin’ up some of that vitamin D3 the way it should be done.

So what are you up to today, GW?

Well, since the weather’s not going to be so nice today, I might do some work here at my computer. I’ve been going through a bunch of newspapers I wrote for, years ago that my wife saved, and I have to say, they sure are interesting — like stepping back in time.

But, I might head out to the old woodworking shop and clean things up in there a bit later on. We’ll see what happens. I never really know what I’ll be doing. Start off with one thing, end up doing another.

With that I am off for my breakfast that my little woman has made for me, and will then see what the day has in store.

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]

“The Election Under Threat”

Only On The Walters Post

These are my own thoughts from what I’ve seen and lived through. I’m sharing them to spark some thinking and honest conversation, not because I have all the answers.

It was spring, and the election was just around the corner. George and Joe, two old-timers who’d seen a lot in their time, sat on the porch, sipping their coffee. The conversation turned to the election, and things weren’t looking too good.

“Have you been seeing what’s going on online?” Joe asked, frowning. “Someone’s saying one of the candidates wants to sell off farmland to foreign companies. I don’t know if that’s true, but it sure doesn’t sit right with me.”

George nodded slowly. “That’s the problem these days. People can post anything online, and others believe it. But we don’t know who’s behind those posts. Some of that stuff could be coming from other countries, trying to mess with our vote.”

Joe looked at him, puzzled. “You mean someone else is stirring the pot here? Making us believe things that aren’t true?”

“Exactly,” George replied. “It’s not just a few people in Canada arguing over politics anymore. Other countries—places like Russia or China—can create fake accounts or spread stories that divide us. They’ve got ways of making us believe things that aren’t facts.”

“That’s scary,” Joe said. “What can we do about it?”

George sighed. “Well, it’s up to folks like us to know better. We’ve been around long enough to see when something doesn’t add up. But the younger folks—those who get their news from Facebook or whatever—don’t always question what they see. That’s how these countries can cause real damage, without ever even stepping foot on Canadian soil.”

Joe thought for a moment. “Guess it comes down to making sure people know what’s true. If they start spreading lies or half-truths, that’s how they win.”

“That’s right,” George said. “We’ve got to make sure we don’t fall for it. And we’ve got to teach the younger crowd along with some of the older ones to do the same.”


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]