Having said that, why do I make these entries sharing my thoughts? If I believed that “therapy” sessions did anyone any good then maybe this is my personal form of it. Of course if you ask me… “therapy” and all such other nonsense does nothing more than reinforce the weakness of a person by telling them that all will be better in the morning. Heck people… if you have a problem step up to the line and deal with it. YOU are the one that has to work out and correct whatever it is messing up your head so just go ahead and do it without indulging your faltering confidence by running for a shoulder to cry on. If you go to a professional remember that their bottom line goal in life is to make money, and if it's to a friend... why oh why would you want to dump your problems on them if you are a friend yourself? They probably have enough worries of their own without being expected to solve your problems too.
… well, maybe for me as an anti-social character it is. I’ve been set up at the Manitoulin Flee Market for several weeks now and have made a few observations. These seem to indicate that a very large number of visitors are not there to buy, but just to visit and get caught up on events. Apparently the weekly market rounds make up a very important part of their social life and it almost makes sense to me. 
If I’m not at the market I’m sitting in front of my computer (probably on Facebook) and pretending to myself that I am doing something worthwhile. After all, Farm Town teaches me valuable lessons about crop rotation and animal husbandry. Fish Wrangler allows me to interact with my other crew members and seek out new and different undersea creatures. Nations teaches me the hows and whys of making proper political decisions. Poker teaches me logic and when to fold and run. Bingo teaches me patience and Twitter keeps me in touch with current events. Who am I kidding… I’m just playing around!
On the other hand the market has taught me communications skills, polished my sales pitch and taught me to listen to people (customers) and help them choose the right product for themselves. Selling isn’t about making a buck, it’s about helping people by allowing them to obtain products that are actually of use to them. If I sell them crap they won’t come back, right? By selling them a quality product that they actually need and at a fair price I have created a loyal customer who thinks of me and keeps coming back when they need something.
I don’t take friendship lightly and while I have my own fair share of acquaintances that fall into this category I find there are only a handful that fit on a very special shortlist. It goes without saying that on the top of this list is Gloria, my wife of 31 years and 3 days now. We had some very special chemistry going from the day we first met, or at least I did, I think she needed a little more convincing! I’m sure she thought I was just another Bay clerk passing through but many months later when I was promoted to Store Manager sure enough, she followed me down the coast and has been putting up with my many idiosyncrasies ever since. THANK YOU!!!
We started with an appetizer of the Country Mushroom and Nut Pate and this is one of the most fantastic things I have ever eaten! It's a creation of owner Rose herself and the menu description is “A combination of mushrooms, onion, garlic, almonds, hazelnuts, cream cheese, thyme are blended together and served with French Stick.” WOW! WOW! WOW! It was all I could do to NOT lick the bowl clean! There has to be one ingredient not listed though as there was a very definite and pleasant bite to the palate and I’m thinking there had to be a touch of jalapeno or some other hot pepper added in also. Not overpowering at all but just a very nice finish to it.
Following a wonderful potato soup as main courses Gloria opted for the Manitoulin Whitefish while I had the Manitoulin beef, both of us with superb mashed potatoes with yams, fresh carrots and string beans.
The Garden’s Gate has been listed in many publications and touted on CBC as being one of THE places to eat in Ontario and I now know why. As many of the ingredients as possible are from Manitoulin itself including a great variety of herbs from their own gardens. Other items such as fresh blueberries may come from as far away as Sudbury but you know if something is available here on the island then that is where it is obtained.
... but it's the biggest darned Pigeon I've ever seen, much larger than any you see in the cities. I mean, this guy is the size of a large chicken and just huge compared to the Mourning Doves that hang around the house. It's also the first time one has ever shown up at our feeder and you'll notice that he has an orange band on one leg and a yellow band on the other. Wonder where he blew if off course from?
So... hats off to these citizens and any others out there who are nice enough to vacate their positions to make room for someone else. I can guarantee that there are hundreds of people in Canada that would love to fill your abandoned spot, and thousands of individuals around the world that would jump at the chance to move here. Thank you for considering others, and as I’m crawling over rotting, plague infested garbage on the street corners it would be great to have your address so I could stop by and thank you in person.
Attitude... adjusting.
I've been busy trying to do 14 things at the same time again but I had to take a few minutes out the other day to snap a few photos of the Trillium's down Beach Road. There must be millions of them all over Manitoulin at this time of the year. Too bad all the summer visitors miss this fantastic view of our island.
The Fort Sheg Flee Market is now open for the season. Come and see me and all the other booths every Saturday and Sunday from 9:00am to 4:00pm right through the summer and into October. 
Another new web site for the books this week. The Innavik Hydro Project is being undertaken by Pituvik Landholding Corporation in the village of Inukjuak in Nunavik. This town is one of my favorite locations in the entire country and is a great place to visit. If you're looking for a different kind of adventure for your vacation this year then this would be it. There is a great little hotel run by the local CO-OP and you can easily arrange a guide to take you out on the land, up the river or out to Hudson's Bay. 
If you're an amateur archaeologist then you might be interested to know that the oldest rock in the world is located near the community. It has been dated and fully documented at well over 3,000,000 years old. Access to the community is only by plane and you would most likely take an Air Inuit Dash-8 aircraft out of Montreal and could possibly make stops at La Grande, Kuujjuaraapik, and Umiujaq on your journey.
Still no sign of the Hummingbirds or Cardinals around the house yet, although they've been seen in other parts of the island. I heard a Whip-Poor-Will in Manitowaning the other day and something today that might have been a Mockingbird but I didn't spot him. The male Goldfinches are all bright yellow again and the Rose Breasted Grosbeak showed up yesterday so the Baltimore Oriole can't be too far behind. I'll let you know when they get here.
I've been puzzling the last couple days over how to tell you about one of my favorite Watkins products and then hot off the internet comes just what I was looking for, and worded much better than I could have done. Here is the text from a Summit Group bulletin about Rezist Plus. If you would like more information on this product or a list of ingredients just let me know.
Many respiratory conditions such as colds and flu are caused by viruses that attach themselves to the lining of the nose or throat and then spread through the upper respiratory system. In response, the immune system floods the area with infection-fighting white blood cells. The symptoms of a cold or the flu aren't produced by the viruses, but are actually the result of the body trying to stave off the infection. They are more common in winter, when indoor heating reduces the humidity in the air; this lack of moist air dries out the nasal passages and creates the perfect environment for viruses to reproduce.
You can contact us about all the Watkins products through this blog, by calling 705-282-3556 and leaving a message, by emailing me at murray@ourmanitoulin.com or you can even order direct by going to www.WatkinsOnline.com/Dewing 
Today it gives me great pleasure to welcome a new member to the family of web sites that I maintain. It is for the EaglzNest Bed & Breakfast located right here in Wikwemikong, the very heart of Rainbow Country. Check it out and please consider staying there on your next visit to our area. Lorraine, Mocha and Buttons would be happy to see you! 
