George Walters Blog

All Pictures have original hand writing from folks years ago. Quite amazing in itself.  Click On Picture To Enlarge:

Capt. Bill Brooks, Wife and Family At Lumber Camp Possibly 1916-18

Years ago where I was raised there was an old general store that once a week I got to visit.  The two main items on my list while there was the candy sticks and listening to the old fellows that gathered there each day tellin’ their stories.  Also take notice of that old scale on the counter.  I got one identical here at our home and still works great.  This picture of Kelcey’s General Store here in Port Loring brought back a lot of memories for me so thought I would share.  Click on picture to enlarge

Kelcey's Store Loring About 1912

Dug up the last of my dandelions yesterday while out there planting my garlic.  Washed all the roots and put them in the oven.  I sure enjoy adding the roots once ground up, to my coffee every day.  If you haven’t ever tried fresh perked coffee mixed with one spoon of dandelion roots, you are sure missing out.  And thing is, they are so…… good for you.  Dandelion roots are a rich source of vitamins A, B complex, C, and D, D stops the flu in its tracks, as well as minerals such as iron, potassium, and zinc. Dandelion roots are also used as an appetite stimulant, digestive aid, and an amazing aid for liver and gallbladder function.  It also helps in lowering ones blood pressure and acts when called upon to help one relax.   Can’t beat that huh?  Yep Mother Nature has a lot to offer, one just has to know where to look.  One last thing.  Do to all the pesticides that are allowed these days, one should make sure you know where you are digging your roots.  Don’t need you getting sick from eating them covered with pesticides.   Talk soon and have a great day, even though it is raining in most parts of the country today.  But I never let them days bug me.  I am alive and well and that is all that really matters in life.

Weather for today and most of next week.  Hmmm, did I see some white stuff in there???  Oh and for up to the minute weather, click on my weather station link, which is on the left of the screen.  Says Port Loring Weather. I gotta’ say it is right on the money.

Today
A few showers changing to rain at times heavy this morning. Amount 5 to 10 mm(0.2 to 0.4 in). Wind becoming south 30 km/h (19 mph) late this morning. High 15C(59F).

Tonight
Rain at times heavy. Amount 15 mm(0.6 in). Wind south 40 km/h (25 mph) gusting to 70 km/h (43 mph). Low 8C(46F).
rain

Saturday
Showers at times heavy. Wind southwest 30 km/h (19 mph) gusting to 60 km/h (37 mph). Temperature falling to 5C(41F) in the afternoon.
cloudy

Sunday
Cloudy. Low 2C(36F). High 6C(43F).
rain

Monday
Periods of rain. Low 2C(36F). High 7C(45F).
cloudy

Tuesday
Cloudy. Low 0C(32F). High 3C(37F).
snow

Wednesday
Periods of snow mixed with rain. Low 0C(32F). High 4C(39F).
snow

Thursday
Periods of snow. Low 0C(32F). High 2C(36F). Normals for the period low -1C(30F). High 7C(45F).

To George Walters

What do  you make of this fine weather we are experiencing this year? As a homesteader I have found it mighty hard to garden & cut my wood for winter.

As I have wandered about this week when it wasn’t raining I noticed there is not a pine cone on any trees on my property. From your past experiences do you know what this would mean?

I used to hear if they cones were high up on the tree the snow would be high, if they were low then snow was not deep that year.
Not seeing any cones I was wondering if we would have any snow or not.

Thank you for any information

Reply:

Hi there , nice to hear from you. Yep I noticed that too.  One thing you got to keep an eye on is if you happen to have an over amount of red squirrels.  If so they clean them up and put them in piles at the base of trees or in the crook of trees.  Usually the squirrels are the ones that knock them to the ground.  Other than that they stay on the tree until the hot sun breaks them open so they can spread the seeds inside of them.  If for example  farmers had a great crops  that meant a long cold winter as nature knows and wants to make sure every one eats. My wife put up 70 quart jars of tomatoes and lots of other things in the freezer this year in-spite of the not so good summer.   The coats on the deer are a wee bit heavier than normal this year so one would figure that that is another sign they are getting ready.  The pine cones as you say have been gathered up and put away for winter by birds, squirrels and chipmunks so that is another sign.  If there is any they will be up high on the very tops.  The leaves on the trees were also very full this year which is another sign of a not so good winter. So………… hard year to tell but a few signs does say we should be putting in a wee bit more firewood in the basement or where it is easy to get at.  I would also think we might get some snow this year do to the fact there is so much moisture in the soil and things.  I know you are right about the wood being so hard to keep dry this year and last year also.  Two years ago I bit the bullet and built a lean to to put my wood under. Just got fed up with it being wet all the time. Tarps seemed to make it worse.  I have never been happier now that I got it built.  They aren’t that expensive to build either, mine holds around 20 split face cords and cost around 400 all total roof and all.  Although I put plywood for a roof and then cheated by staining the plywood and laying a tarp over the top of that, for now any-ways. So far so good.  Some day I will get energetic and put up some shingles or something.   Maybe.  Well you take care, gloomy old day out there again this morning.  Guess I will plant the rest of my garlic got half of it in had to go and pick up some more as run out.  Take care George

Here is a really Interesting article that all should at the very least take a look at. Kind of makes one really wonder why this flu shot is even being given to folks. If it doesn’t, well it should.  Take A Look.  Click Link Below.

Well I gotta’ tell ya folks.  Candy apples  are my weakness.  Took a long time to come up with a good recipe so thought I would share. Only other tip other than the recipe is when it reaches 300 degrees on the candy thermometer, get to dunking your apples, and make sure you butter your cookie sheet that they will be sitting on.  What a great old way to enjoy Halloween and the kids love them.

Makes 4 good size apples.

2 Cups Of Sugar

• 3/4 cup water
• 1/2 cup light or regular corn syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon red food colouring, (optional) Better than Food Colouring, Buy Bright Red Apples
• 4 medium apples good size apples

Directions

1. Line a cookie sheet with butter really good.  In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine sugar, 3/4 cup water, corn syrup, and food coloring, if using. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce heat to medium-high. Insert candy thermometer and continue to boil until temperature reaches  300 degrees  (hard crack stage) takes about 20 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, insert a wooden stick into the top of each apple, pushing about halfway through; set aside. When mixture reaches temperature, immediately remove from heat. Working quickly, dip apples in sugar mixture until completely coated and then move to  cookie sheet and let cool.  Now the best part comes into play.  A lot of slurping.

Here is an interesting article pertaining to governments and their power over the public.  First off I feel they shouldn’t have this power at all.  If things like this have to be done, it should be brought forth in front of the public and let them make the right decision, say it again, right decison.   I gotta’ tell ya.  I don’t feel good about what the Powers That Be are doing today when it comes to this flu vaccine.  I also got a feeling that some things not so good is heading our way and it isn’t the flu by no means.  But hey! who am I, just one old farmer sitting on a fence looking at things.  Take a look at the article below, just click on the link. My Opinion Only.

The U.S. swine flu conspiracy conspiracy