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Good Morning! The snow’s deep, the coffee’s hot, and I’ve run the calculations—today’s a fine day to make something of.

Starting things off: It is a cloudy morning here in Cottage Country and a touch cool, with the temperature sitting at -17.2°C | 1.04°F. The good news is it’s warming up as I type.

Weather Forecast for Port Loring, Ontario

Today (Thursday, January 30, 2025):
A mix of sun and cloud with periods of snow and flurries at times. Accumulation of 1-3 cm is expected.
High: -3°C | 27°F
Low: -7°C | 19°F

Tonight:
Cloudy with a chance of light snow. Winds shifting slightly, bringing in cooler air overnight.
Low: -7°C | 19°F

Tomorrow (Friday, January 31, 2025):
Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of flurries. A colder day ahead with temperatures dropping significantly at night.
High: -4°C | 26°F
Low: -23°C | -9°F

Weather Lore

“When the wind is in the north, the skilful fisher goes not forth.”

A north wind often brings colder, unsettled weather, making outdoor work and fishing more difficult. With today’s chilly start and incoming snow, it looks like that old saying holds true.

“Halo around the moon, rain or snow soon.”

If you notice a ring around the moon tonight, it means moisture is moving in. This halo is caused by ice crystals high in the atmosphere refracting the moonlight—often a sign that snow is on the way or continuing.

A chilly but classic winter day ahead—stay warm and keep an eye on the sky!

Highway 522 is partially snow-covered this morning, with some icy spots thrown in for good measure. But really, if the roads were bare in January, we’d all be looking over our shoulders wondering what kind of trick Mother Nature had up her sleeve. If you’re heading to town for supplies, best take ‘er easy. Then again, you should always be taking care—especially with some of the driving habits around here.

You know the type. The ones who figure if they just think about stopping, that’s good enough. Or the folks who believe four-wheel drive means four-wheel brakes—right up until they’re halfway into a snowbank, wondering how that happened. And of course, there’s always the fella who refuses to shovel off his windshield because, according to him, “I can see just fine through this little hole.”

All I can say is, keep your wits about you, give yourself plenty of time, and if you do end up in the ditch, well—at least you’ll have company.

A Bit of This and That

For the past few days, my wife and I have been busy moving snow off our decks and driveway. And let me tell you, after all that shovelling, we were about as worn out as an old axe handle. By the time we finished, neither of us felt much like doing anything—except maybe sitting back with a hot coffee and watching the snow pile right back up again. That’s winter for you.

With that chore out of the way, I decided to spend some time here at my desk, working away on a few projects while I wait for my son Karl to finish building my new computer. He’s still waiting on parts, and from the sounds of it, those parts are taking the scenic route to get here.

Today, though, I’m heading out to my woodworking shop to get back into making wooden flutes. It’s been a while, and I’m hoping the old hands remember what to do. I figure once I get into it, it’ll come back to me—kind of like riding a bike, only with more sawdust and fewer bruises. Luckily, I’ve kept plenty of notes over the years, so if my memory needs a nudge, I’ve got them to fall back on. One way or another, I’ll get to making them.

I’m also hoping to put together a video on how I go about crafting them and post it on my YouTube channel in the coming months. So, if you’re interested in things like that, you might just be in for a treat. And if nothing else, you’ll at least get to see an old feller trying to remember how he used to do things—should make for some good entertainment either way.

With that, I’m off to enjoy the breakfast my lovely wife has made for me. After that, we’ll settle in for our regular morning chat over a hot cup of cocoa—nothing like a warm drink and good conversation to start the day off right. Then it’s out to the shop for me. Should be nice and toasty in there now, seeing as I kept the home fires going through the night. No sense in working with cold hands if a fella doesn’t have to.

You all have a great day, and remember—winter’s only as tough as you let it be. A little warmth, a little laughter, and a good sturdy shovel can get you through just about anything.

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