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Good Morning! The woodpile’s shrinking, the snowbanks are growing, and the coffee pot’s working overtime—must be a Northern Ontario morning.

Well, folks, for once, we’re waking up to a bit of sunshine. Been a while, and I was starting to wonder if ol’ Mother Nature up and lost the recipe for clear skies. But sure enough, there it is, peeking through like a neighbor dropping by unannounced—welcome, but still surprising.

But, don’t get too comfortable just yet. As today, we’re looking at a high of around 30°F (-1°C), which ain’t exactly shorts weather, but compared to what we’ve been getting, it’s downright balmy. And we might catch a bit of melting if the sun sticks around long enough.

Come nighttime though, things will dip back down to a crisp 14°F (-10°C), so don’t be putting away those wool socks just yet. And if you’re heading out, best bundle up.

Tomorrow? Well, we’re back to playing the guessing game. Expect clouds to roll in again, with a chance of snow flurries here and there, just to remind us winter’s still got a grip on things. We’ll see a High of 28°F (-2°C), a low of around 12°F (-11°C), and a wind that might just whisper sweet nothings in your ear.

So, there you have it. A little sun, a little cold, and a whole lot of winter still left to go. But hey, at least it keeps the mosquitoes away.

Highway 522’s looking mostly clear this morning—well, as clear as it ever gets this time of year. But don’t let that fool ya. There are still some of those sneaky icy patches hanging around in the curves where the sun don’t shine

So, if you’re out and about, best take ‘er easy. No sense turning a quick trip to town into an afternoon waiting on a tow truck. But then again, you folks around here already know that right? The thing is, most of us that live here in the north has been dodging black ice and potholes longer than some city folks have been driving. But—if you do happen to slide a little, well, at least it’ll give the fellas at the coffee shop something to shake their heads about. Although it doesn’t take much to do that.

On another note—yesterday, I had it in my mind to head out to the shop and work on my flutes. But you know how winter goes—what you plan and what actually happens are usually two different things.

After spending half the day wrestling snow off the driveway and decks, any thoughts of crafting tunes went right out the window. And by the time we finished, my lovely wife and I were both so beat, we barely had the energy to lift a coffee cup—let alone a carving knife. So, for the flutes? Well, I figured they’d keep. Didn’t reckon they were gonna get up and walk away… least I sure hope not.

Today—well, that’s another matter. As my old woodworking shop is warming up, with the wood stove throwing off just enough heat to take the chill out of the air. My carving knives are sharpened, sitting on the bench, ready for work. You know…there’s something about a well-honed blade and a fresh piece of wood that just feels right, like they were made for each other.

So with the sun shining for a change, there is no better day to get back at it. The way I see it, any day I can spend working in my shop instead of shoveling snow is a good one. The weather may have slowed me down a bit, but I am making progress. Little by little, chip by chip, things are coming together. That is the way of a woodworker—patience, steady hands, and knowing that some things just take time.

With that, I’m off to enjoy my breakfast—nothing fancy, just some good ol’ toast with eggs and a touch of sweetness, made by my lovely wife. It’s the kind of meal that’ll hold me over until lunchtime, though I wouldn’t be surprised if I find myself sneaking back in for a cup of hot cocoa later on. We’ll see how that goes—it might just become the perfect mid-morning treat.

Until the next time: Keep your minds open and your stories alive!