Columns

Did you know that Bruce County, Bruce Township, Port Elgin and Kincardine are all named for the same person? That would be James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin and 12th Earl of Kincardine, who was Governor General of Canada when the county...

"I can't figure out these people who work at the post office," Dave Winston said the other morning as the guys sat down at Mabel's Grill. "It's got so I hate to waste energy walking down the lane to the mail box every day because, if there's anything...

It may have come as a surprise to those with a romantic idea of farming when research revealed the high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression experienced by farmers...

It was fascinating to read in The Citizen, our sister publication, that Howson and Howson Limited of Blyth celebrated its 150th anniversary in the milling business.

When I was a kid growing up on a farm on the second line we shopped once a week, usually Saturday night, at the Red Front Grocery in Wingham...

"So, are you going to stoke up the barbecue this weekend?" Dave Winston asked Molly Whiteside as she passed out the menus at Mabel's Grill  on a sunny morning recently...

On the farm, summer living isn't always as easy as many songs suggest, however life is definitely easier without having to blow snow, thaw frozen water and equipment, and reschedule..

I was fascinated to read the column in the July issue by Bruce County historian Robin Hilborn about the lives of early settlers and  about the book History of Bruce County by Norman Robertson...

After going through two elections within just a few months, I am sure we are all happy to put that aside and move on with our lives. But if you'll bear with me for just a few more words on the topic, I have some thoughts that have been rolling around...

It's early summer and across Canada I expect barbecues are being heated up --- except at our house. We kind of lost our hunger for barbecuing a few years ago when we had regular infestations of mice building nests in our barbecue....

"Thank goodness the school year is nearly over. My son will be through with school and ready to help out with haying," Cliff Murray said  at Mabel's Grill as the guys settled in the other morning...

I was  looking out my window recently, as the farmer who rents the rest of our 150-acre parcel was planting corn with a huge tractor pulling a monster corn planter...

Life milestones give us the opportunity to pause and reflect on both the passage of time and how things have changed. As the Rural Voice celebrates 50 amazing years of publication, I reflect on my time with the Rural Voice as well as the remarkable...

The other month, when I was golfing, we got about six drops of rain.  Not enough to break out the umbrellas but a warning of what might follow...

"I'm surprised to see all you fellas in here this morning, what with planting season beginning," Molly Whiteside said when she brought menus to the guys at Mabel's Grill the other morning...

As we are getting this May edition out to press, there is still snow (albeit fresh snow) on the ground and there is a general impatience for spring...

Summer is almost here, finally, and another Blyth Festival season approaches. I'm thrilled to have my own play Powers and Gloria repeated in the season and happy to see Anne Chislett's powerful classic  Quiet in the Land is being staged again...

It can be easy to take where we live for granted. However, when you stop to think about all the natural assets we have here, it makes sense to value and protect them...

A few weeks ago, a message came across my news feed letting me know that screech owls were having a tough winter. The thick snow cover has been protecting the mice, moles, and voles causing the owls to hunt in areas that they would not normally ...

"I think I'll have the grilled pork chop," Cliff Murray said at Mabel's Grill the other morning.
"Grilled pork chop? For breakfast?" Molly Whiteside asked as she took their orders.  "Oh no, don't tell me you're getting into April Fool's Day jokes! ...

I was flabbergasted when I picked up the Farmtario paper and I saw that now, 50 years later, the federal government is letting go of the remaining farmland it assembled for a proposed airport near Pickering...

I love this part. While this might be one of the first columns you read this month, it is the last one that I write. I get to reflect on all the stories in the issue and pull a thread to tie them together...

"The whole world is a series of miracles, but we're so used to them we call them ordinary things," wrote Hans Christian Andersen. I love this quote by the famous Danish writer, who lived from 1805-1875 -- 200 years ago! ...

""I'll have bacon and eggs and orange juice," George MacKenzie said as he delivered his order at Mabel's Grill the other morning.
"We don't have orange juice anymore," Molly Whiteside replied as she wrote down their orders. "It'll have to be Canadian...