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Good Morning! You know, over the years I have found that a man’s handshake is his word, so keep yours firm and honest.

Well Folks, the calendar might say it’s spring, but I’ll tell ya, walking out to my wood-working shop early this morning sure didn’t feel like it. More like the middle of winter. And that wind coming in from the North along with the snow—well, let’s just say I was more than ready to turn around and head back into the house.

The shop itself though was nice and warm, but it’s that stretch between the house and the shop that’ll make a fella question his sanity, for even bothering to go outside in the first place. I suppose that’s just Northern Ontario’s way of reminding me who’s really in charge around here. Any way, once I got settled in with the wood stove crackling away and the smell of fresh-cut lumber in the air, it felt like the cold was just a distant memory.

Funny thing about days like this—no matter how fierce the wind blows or how hard the snow falls, there’s something about the quiet of the shop that makes it all worthwhile. And maybe, just maybe, a fella can convince himself spring ain’t all that far off after all.

Highway 522 is white this morning, which is a telltale sign that a person should stay home unless it’s absolutely necessary to be out and about. And you can bet that’s exactly what my lovely wife and I plan on doing. No sense braving the slick roads when a hot cup of coffee and a warm fire are calling our names.

Days like this, the world can wait. And if anyone needs us, well, they can always trudge through the snow and come knocking. Though, I suspect they’d rather stay home too.

On another note, I didn’t make it out to do any work in my wood-working shop yesterday, though I did keep the shop stove going, which kept things nice and cozy. Nothing like the warmth of a good wood stove on a cold day.

I do have more work that needs doing, but it isn’t in the shop—it’s over in one of my side buildings. I’ve got to sort through things in there, just like I did with the main shop. Once I get that all squared away, I’ll be ready for spring. And when the weather finally decides to warm up, my wife and I are planning one heck of a sale. The kind of sale where there’s something for everyone.

What more can I say? Not much, really. Just a waiting game now, I suppose.

So, what are you up to today, GW?

Well, seeing as it’s nasty outside, I figure I’ll settle back into writing up some more stories for my newspaper columns. Yesterday was a great day for writing—the words flowed nicely, almost like they were waiting to be written. And by the looks of things, today’s shaping up to be another good day for writing, as the words seem to be coming pretty easily here on my blog this morning, too.

Might just be one of those days where the thoughts and stories find their way onto the page without much fuss. And if that’s the case, I sure won’t be complaining.

Well, once again, it’s that time to enjoy the breakfast my little woman has made for me. She’s one of a kind, that’s for sure. And if anyone ever wonders who the real hard worker is around here, let me tell ya—it sure isn’t me.

Just this morning, while I was out getting the shop stove going and writing this blog, she’d already straightened herself around, cleaned up the house a bit, swept the floors, stripped the bed because it’s wash day, made it back up with fresh, clean sheets, and tidied up the bedroom. And now, she’s in the kitchen making my breakfast, humming away like it’s all just another ordinary day.

I swear, there’s never a shortage of work in this house, and she tackles it all with more energy than most folks half her age. Truth be told, I don’t know where she finds the strength, but she sure does. And all the while, she’s got a smile on her face and something kind to say. She’s the kind of woman who makes a man feel like he’s the luckiest fella in the world.

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

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Good Morning! As my old Dad used to say: “If you can’t fix it with a hammer, George, you’ve got yourself an electrical problem.”

Well, folks, yesterday might’ve been the first day of spring, but you sure wouldn’t know it by what’s happening weather-wise this morning. Through the night, we got ourselves a good two to three inches of snow, and as I write this, the temperature’s sitting at a brisk 18.68°F | -7.4°C. But hey, the sun’s shining, so it at least looks a bit like spring—sort of.

Here’s the weather forecast for Port Loring, Ontario:

Friday, March 21:

• Daytime: Expect a mix of sun and clouds, with a 40% chance of flurries. High around 44°F (7°C).
• Night: Cloudy skies. Low near 21°F (-6°C).

Saturday, March 22:

• Daytime: Cloudy with a 60% chance of snow or rain. High approximately 30°F (-1°C).
• Night: Partly cloudy with a 40% chance of snow. Low dropping to 7°F (-14°C).

So…. it looks like spring’s just teasing us again, like a feller waving’ a pie under your nose and then running off with it!

Highway 522’s mostly clear of snow, so traveling’ should be decent today for those making their way to the larger towns. But don’t let your guard down as there’s always plenty of deer along the roadside and crossing the highway, especially this time of year. Just the other day, on our trip to the city and back, we had to slow down for at least six of ’em crossing the road—keeps you on your toes, that’s for sure.

On another note, I finally got the main shop all cleaned up and everything sorted out. It sure was a job going through fifty years or more of stuff—felt like I was digging’ through history itself! But it’s all done now, and what I want to keep is tucked away, and everything we’re selling’ is in another spot. Feels good to have that off my plate, though I’m sure I’ll find something else to clean up next!

So what’s on the agenda for today, GW? Well, with the ground covered in ice and snow again, I guess I’ll be working away here at my computer, writing up a couple more stories for my columns. I write for the largest newspaper in Canada—been at it for over 36 years now. That should keep me busy this morning. After lunch, we’ll see what the weather’s up to and take it from there.

With that, I’m off once again for the breakfast my lovely wife has gotten ready for me. After that we’ll enjoy our regular morning chat along with our hot cocoa, and then, well, I’ll get to writing. At least that’s the plan—though, some days, the words flow like water, and other days, it’s nothing but blank pages.

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

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Good Morning! Living slow ain’t lazy not by a long shot…it’s just knowing what’s worth hurrying for.

She’s a wet, rainy morning here in the north, but the good news is, it’s not too cold outside. In saying that, the mild temperatures have melted most of our snow and ice. Oh, there’s still a bit hanging on the north side of things, but with this warmth, it won’t be around much longer.

Highway 522 is quiet this morning, with most folks around here sleeping in thanks to the dreary, cloudy weather. Can’t say I blame ’em none, but I remember years ago, a day lying in bed wouldn’t get the cows milked, or the chickens fed. And as my old Dad used to say; “A day shouldn’t be wasted.” And if there is one thing my wife and I never do…is waste a day, as our days are full, always have been, and by the looks of things these days, always will be.

On another note, I had plans yesterday to spend some time puttering around in my old woodworking shop. But like most days, things didn’t go quite as planned, as out of the blue, my wife and I decided to head on into town to pick up a few supplies, we were running low on. And wouldn’t you know it, after stocking up, we found ourselves at a fast-food joint, ordering up a burger and fries. Now, that’s not something we do very often do, but the urge got to me, wanting to see what the other half has been eating these days. I have to say that the fast food place was sure busy with folks waiting in line for their food. Taste-wise, I’ll admit, it wasn’t all that bad. But later that night? Well, let’s just say my stomach sure let me know it wasn’t happy with my lunch choices, which goes to show, some foods taste good going down, but your body’s got the final say.

At any rate, we picked up what we needed, along with a few things we hadn’t exactly planned on. Always amazes me how that happens! I swear the stores must know what catches our eye and stick ’em right where we’ll see ’em. And on impulse, we grab it, only to wonder later why the hell we bought it in the first place. But, like most things, it is what it is. Once we were done shopping, we grabbed a coffee for the trip home, taking in the sights along the way. You know, living where we do, the scenery is always changing, especially this time of year. Kind of nice, really, watching the white landscape slowly turning’ to green. So yea, all and all, other than spending money... it was one great day.

So, what’s on your agenda today, GW? Well, earlier this morning, I went out and got the wood stove going in the woodworking shop, which is burning nicely warming things up, which will make it a lot nicer to work in, once I have my breakfast. And by the looks of things my lovely wife’s got it all ready, sitting on the kitchen table, just waiting for me. After I’ve had that, we’ll have our regular cup of hot cocoa, and of course, our morning chat. Then… I’ll head outdoors to see what the day brings.

Until next time—keep your minds open and your stories alive! GW