Cat Tales with Laura and Inspirations with Laura

Life Is Short So Go Ahead And Treat Yourself

If you have always wanted to do something, do it now while you can. One can get sick at any time in their life, and then it may be impossible to do or see what they have always dreamed of. Go on the vacation you have been waiting to take, which seems like a lifetime ago. If you can afford to go now, do so and stop thinking about it, as your health can change in a heartbeat. Treat yourself to some local cuisine and the special desserts available. Go on a leisurely tour and avoid vacations that require you to rush back home to work. Take a long, leisurely vacation and relax, unwind, and enjoy the sights, scenery, and all the delicious food you can.

Have You Always Wanted A Certain Type Of Vehicle? Now is The Time To Buy It.

Everyone dreams of a certain car that they have admired over the years. Please stop admiring and purchase one that fits your budget. I always wanted a Jag, so I bought a 15-year-old one. It did not live up to my expectations, but I did drive one for a little while. Twelve cylinders and Jags require way too much maintenance. I like Chevys, Buicks, and GMC the best for repair. They last a long time without many repairs. Small utility tractors are handy for moving smaller items. Kubota makes a Four Wheel Drive diesel with a bucket and other attachments that has lots of power for its size. I like my little Kubota.

Do Things That You Have Put Off That Will Make You Happy

If you have always wanted to play a musical instrument, there is no time like the present to read about it, watch YouTube videos, and take live lessons from a qualified instructor. Start a new hobby, such as going to the gym and meeting up with friends. Start reading more books at your local library and join a book club. If you have a bike, go on long and relaxing bike rides. Spend afternoons in a hammock reading and watching the birds eat at the bird feeders that you could put in the area of your hammock.

Buy Your Own Home

It is nice to own your own home, as you can have your dream kitchen and whatever amenities you want. You take pride in owning your home. Your home will continue to grow in value if you maintain it. You may want to add a deck to your home for barbecues or a nice place to relax and sit on sunny days.

Spend Time With Your Loved Ones

I love spending time with my friends and family, as they truly make me happy and help me enjoy life more. Make more time for a social life? Do not stay at home; get out with people, and you will be glad you did. Live a life that helps you thrive.

Using A Chainsaw

Chainsaws That I Love Using

I like the chainsaws that do not weigh much, but they are well-made and built to last the test of time and use. I have used heavy chainsaws in the past, but now I prefer professional tree-trimmer brands. I now own only STIHL brand-name chainsaws. I like the tree climber’s chainsaw because it is lightweight and easy to start. Generally, it will take off with only one pull of the rope. Stihl chainsaws have top-notch quality bars that do not separate, preventing the chain from coming off and flying right next to your arm, which is very dangerous indeed. I have a small electric Stihl chainsaw with two batteries that has a lot of power for trimming and quickly cutting small logs or branches. We had a small Homelite and a large Jonserud chainsaw, which worked very well. Do not buy cheap chainsaws that sell for $100.00 to $225.00; the bars are made cheaply and will separate in a hurry, which might result in you losing a limb or hand. I am impressed by the battery chainsaws, as they have much more power than I expected.

Maintaining Your Chainsaw

Make sure you clean all the wood chips out of your chainsaw, as it will last longer and cause fewer problems. Shut off your chainsaw and remove the batteries before doing any maintenance, as a safety measure. Oil your chain regularly, as it will last longer. If your chain is dull, take it to get sharpened, and if they suggest getting a new one, do so because you do not want to be using a chain with teeth that may break off or the chain break in two. Tightening the bar and chain is easy if you follow the instructions that came with your new chainsaw. Your chainsaw will need a new plug and the fuel line or fuel filter replaced every so often. If a small twig gets stuck in your saw, turn it off or remove the batteries, and then take the bar and chain off and clean out the small twig. Put your bar and chain back on and get it snug, but not overly snug, so that the chain can move freely. A new chain on a saw will stretch after use and will need to be tightened again. After I am done using my saw, I give it a thorough cleaning, wiping it free of dirt and debris, which helps keep it in tip-top shape.

Proper Chainsaw Gear

Wear safety glasses, a chainsaw helmet, chainsaw pants, and proper sturdy shoes. You may have a safety belt that attaches to your chainsaw, helping you reach high trees with no problem. Wear clothing that is not loose or thick, jeans and shirts that do not have extra-long sleeves, and pants that do not have extra-long legs that could get caught in the chainsaw. If you are climbing into a tall tree, put on a safety belt, as it will help catch you if you lose your footing. If working in tall trees, have someone help you, as it is not a job for just one person. Think first, and you will not have problems. Stay alert to your surroundings, the weather, and power lines. Safety always comes first.

Tags chainsaws, Safety comes first, tips

Time Passages

We Will Have Many Passages In Our Life

The Youthful Years Or The Carefree Years

We have fun playing with friends, and we are cared for by our parents. We play with toys of different types, entertaining ourselves for hours. If you like playing outdoors, as most children do, you play softball, basketball, football, soccer, frisbee golf, and anything else you can think of. Hide-and-seek is a good game for very young children, as they may hide on top of a small building, and the other kids keep running around looking for them until someone eventually looks up and spots them.

The Teenage Years

The teenage years are awkward as we try to fit in with our friends and wear the cool clothing to school. Teenagers are trying to act like adults, and they can be mouthy, annoying, and standoffish—especially during high school and college. We are acting more grown-up, but we still need lots of guidance. We must learn not to hang out with people who may lead us down the wrong path in life. Good study habits and good grades will take you far in life.

The College Years

If you go on to get a BA, Master’s, or Doctoral degree, you will be in your 20s or older. You are now set on a career that will take you far in life, hopefully. You may meet your future husband or wife at college and get married before or after you both graduate with your degrees and start your dream jobs, hopefully.

The Married Years

Hopefully, you will have a blessed marriage and love your other half just as much as the day you took your wedding vows. Most likely, after three years of marriage, you will have your first child. It is best to get established in life before you have children; that way, you know you will be able to provide for them, as many things can happen. Your child may get very sick, or maybe you or your spouse may get sick, and you will have to live off of just one income. Always have some reserves, as emergencies do pop up in life at the most inopportune times. Hopefully, your children will respect you, help care for you in your old age, and bless you with Grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Married life can be very blissful and loving if you marry the right person. God bless you and your family.

The Senior Years

Hopefully, most of your senior years will be happy, and you will be blessed with good health and able to travel, unwind, and enjoy them. Travel often and enjoy life to its fullest potential because someday smooth sailing will end and turbulent storms will enter your life. Continue to learn something new every day that you are on earth, and tell yourself every morning (that this is the day the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it). God is our biggest cheerleader in life, so follow God and his example, and you will have lived a life that helped others while you were on earth.

Tags #inspirationswithlaura #devotional #motivational

Bored cats

Bored Cats

Bored Cats Get Into More Mischief

A bored cat may start attacking your other cats just because it does not have anything positive to occupy its mind with. Buy toys that engage your cat and stimulate him in positive ways. Some of my house cats may start knocking things over when they get bored, such as a speaker, knocking a book off a nightstand, or throwing my paperwork all over the floor, which they did once before I came home from a vacation. It was their way of saying they did not approve of me leaving them. I have had my cats meowing loudly when I have been on the phone trying to visit with people. One of my cats got the zoomies and was jumping from the cat hammock to the next, and from chair to chair.

Bored Cats May Sleep More

I have noticed that when my cats haven’t played with cat toys or jumped or run through the house, they tend to take more catnaps. Humans also need things that engage their minds, or they tend to stagnate and learn nothing new. Make sure your cats have some treat balls or cat treat dispensers where they have to figure out what to move to get their tasty treat.

A Bored Cat May Start Licking Out Its Hair

They will lick the roots of their hair out completely, leaving a few bald spots or maybe some red spots that never seem to heal on their body. A truly bad case is when they have hardly any hair at all on their body. Play games with your cats so they know you care about them and that they are not abandoned or left alone. Give your cats some healthy cat treats every so often. Feed cat treats in moderation, as those calories can add up quickly. Comb out your cat often and help them groom themselves, especially as they get older, as they are less flexible, just as we are as we get older.

If You Have One Cat, Getting Another Cat May Be A Good Idea

If your cat has a playmate he gets along with, he will be happier and less bored. Friends help all of us feel less lonely and alone, and we look forward to doing fun things with our friends. My cats like to groom each other, play with each other’s tails, rub against each other, and maybe take a catnap right next to each other in a cat hammock.

A Cat With No Stimulation

If your cat has no stimulation in his life, he will not live nearly as long; he will age and deteriorate quickly. Every living thing needs stimulation in its life and a will to live. If your cat does not get the attention he needs regularly, he is doomed. Your cat needs love, food, fresh water, cat toys, regular Vet visits, and the best care that you can afford to live out all of those wonderful nine lives that they are capable of having in the arms of caring and loving cat parents.

Tags activwecats, boredcats, laurascats

Go After What You Want

I Never Give Up On What I Want In Life

If someone tells me I cannot do something, I am more determined than ever to prove them wrong. One party told me I could not win a prize on how to plant a field. I watched what the others had been doing and determined they had not done their math correctly regarding the degree to which the area should be planted. I won the top prize in that contest that had been going on all day long. I worked on one computer problem all day until I figured it out, and it was an ancient computer that used the old DOS system. I had to reprogram it, and it worked perfectly afterward. A very young man purchased it from me. I have fixed TV sets and typewriters, clocks, adjusted carburetors and plumbing, and installed new roofs. If I want something in life, I find a way to make it happen. If you fail, to begin with, keep working away at it, and your goals will be accomplished eventually.

Shop Around For Your Wants And Needs

I shopped around for the vehicles I have purchased over the years. I look for the best deal and the best trade-in price. One place wanted me to pay them $100 to look at their car, and I told them no. They informed me that if I purchased a vehicle from them, I would receive a refund. I said, “What if I do not like your car?” and they said they would keep my $100. I went to another car dealer, and they wanted me to sign a contract to buy before I could even look at their car. I said I would leave their store if I could not look at it first. The car was so small I could not even move in it. I went there and never came back again. I found a lovely car dealer out of town and purchased it there. I bought my last vehicle online and was pleased with how easy that transaction worked. When purchasing a home, shop around, compare prices, and tell your realtor what you want and need in your new home. Negotiate a price that you and the seller can live with. Have the seller provide warranty insurance for the furnace, AC, and more.

Bargains On Amazon And The Internet

I have purchased water heaters and small appliances online. I have had good luck with everything so far. You can buy slightly used devices online, which I have done. You can buy almost anything on the internet. Look at their reviews before you buy from them. I purchased a new smartwatch online. I purchased my three-wheel electric trike online and loved riding it.

God Never Gives Up On You

God goes after any lost sheep, and he is delighted when they come back home. God helps me reach my goals in life. Our goals should be to please God with what we do and pursue in life. I love writing Inspirationswithlaura as I want to share what inspires me and what God has done for me.

Tags Inspirations with Laura, tips

Talking On The Phone With A Person

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date April 12, 2026
No Comments on Talking On The Phone With A Person

Trying To Talk To A Living, Breathing Human Is Not An Easy Task

If you call a company, they will have a computer-animated person try to solve your problem, which they can hardly ever solve. The computer voice will prompt you to describe your situation and offer a solution, and if that doesn’t work, you’ll wait and wait on hold for customer service. I had to wait for four hours once, and by the time she answered, I was angry, and she said she didn’t want to talk to me. I’m sorry. How would she feel if she had spent four hours waiting on the phone for a solution to a problem that was the company’s fault? She had calmed down by then, and we agreed on a solution to my problem.

I Do Not Like It If The Other Person Has A Soft Voice And You Do Not Know What They Are Saying To You

They get mad at me quickly when I keep asking them to repeat everything they just said. I had to guess at what one person was saying, which isn’t ideal, and then they told me the speaker wasn’t working on their phone. They should have switched phones or had someone else help me, but they did not, which was very annoying indeed. Please speak up and enunciate your words so I can understand you. I asked one party to connect me with someone else, and they were not receptive. However, I do want to know what is being said while I am trying to resolve a problem.

Some Business People Do Not Have A Phone Number Anymore

It makes it hard for Senior Citizens who do not own a computer or have living family members to help them out. We must remember that Senior Citizens should be treated with respect and not expect them to be able to use a computer, as they did not grow up with it or may not have the means to afford one. I myself do not want to go online all the time to check whether a restaurant is open or closed. If they don’t have a phone, I won’t go to that particular restaurant.

Waiting Until The Computer Animated Person Finally Gets You To The Right Department

I was on hold for 45 minutes each time, waiting until they finally connected me to the proper division of the company. It was absolutely ridiculous that something so simple took so long. It seems that the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing. You will need a lot of patience to resolve anything today. We need more people in businesses and fewer animated computers, and things will be resolved much more quickly. I refuse to go to a restaurant that has only computers or AI working there. Going out to eat is about the food, your server, and the entire dining experience, which will eventually be lost forever. The experience of human service is terrific, and machines will never be able to fulfill that.

Tags human Communication is becoming a lost art, talking to an actual person, tips

Help Staying Connected To God

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date April 9, 2026
No Comments on Help Staying Connected To God

Drifting Away From Your Connection To God

Think about why you do not feel connected to God and try to get rid of that feeling. Sometimes, if a loved one dies, people say that if God loved me, why did he allow my son, wife, daughter, husband, or friend to be taken away from me? It was not God that took them away; it was just part of nature that took them away, as we all have a time to be born and a time to die, as that is just part of life. People will blame God for their illness, but that was not God’s bidding, as he loves all of his flock. Some people blame God for the weather, a job loss, and more. God does not control your destiny entirely; you have choices to make on your own, and if you choose wrong, you have a learning curve to correct your mistake. God will try to lead you on the right path, but if you keep taking your own path that may be totally wrong, that is on you. God is like a lighthouse to me as he tries to lead us back to shore and safety when the storms of life grow fierce and strong. God is your best friend and your truest friend, one who will never leave your side. Try to stay anchored to God, for God is anchored, and all other ground is sinking sand.

Talk With Your Friends About What Is Troubling You

Friends can help you see things in a clearer light. Something that you think is a big thing may only be a little bump in the road that you have blown out of proportion. The right friends will help strengthen your connection to God. Talk to your minister about what may be troubling you and how it may be changing your connection to God. Your minister will listen to you and help you reconnect with God, benefiting your mind, body, and soul. Without God in your life, you are nothing at all. With God in your life, all things are possible. Some of your friends may have gone through something similar to what you are going through, and they can share what they did with you, as two minds are better than one. You may want to join a support club, Bible study group, and more. I like to visit with senior citizens, as they have shed light on things that I never thought about. Everyone can learn a lot from our seniors if we truly listen to them and respect what they are trying to tell us, as their insights will help us go further in life. Knowledge is what takes you far in life, and that is why it is important to learn something new every day. Most of the time, we blame someone because of a lack of knowledge. Never blame someone for something until you are 110% sure. If they repent and are truly sorry, forgive them. God is your forever friend through thick and thin.

Tags #yourconnectiontoGod, friends, Inspirations with Laura

Tackliing Hard Projects

Tackling Hard Projects

Tackling Projects Can Be A Shore Indeed

If I have difficult projects to tackle, can I do them myself, or should I hire someone instead? It depends on how heavy the items I have to move are or how difficult the situation is before I decide to hire someone. I sometimes take on projects I shouldn’t, but I enjoy them, so I move forward until the job is done to my satisfaction. A simple little project can become complex if something breaks or you keep finding more and more repairs that need to be done.

Have The Right Equipment To Get The Job Done

You get what you pay for with equipment. You don’t need to buy the most expensive piece, but please buy at least the middle-priced one. I bought a rake once that broke the first day I owned it because the handle was made of the thinnest material you have ever seen. The rake had a ten-year warranty, but it meant nothing as the company had gone out of business. I purchased a Craftsman tape line and an ax, and when they broke, they replaced them at no charge. I always buy brand-name tools such as Echo, John Deere, STIHL, Porter-Cable, Toro, and Hiniker Snow Blades, among others. Having the right tools can make a job much easier, reducing downtime.

Roofing And Indoor Remodeling

I have a roof hammer and a good pair of cutters for cutting shingles to length, and I use at least a 35-year high-wind shingle. I put on a roof witch, which helps prevent ice dams on the eaves throughs. Having sturdy ladders is a must, as you do not want to be on a wiggly wobbly ladder up high. Make sure your brackets are secure, with the plank across, so they will hold your weight while you are roofing. I use high-quality paint brushes and rollers because they apply paint more evenly, giving you better coverage with less work. When cutting something, measure twice because once it is cut off, you cannot add it back on. Keep a clean work environment so you won’t step on nails or trip over things while working.

Plumbing Projects

Plumbing can get tricky in a hurry if you get ahead of yourself. If you install a new toilet and forget to tighten the hoses, you will have water gushing everywhere. Make sure you buy extra parts for your plumbing projects, because if one part doesn’t work for your setup, the other will most likely work, and you can always return unopened ones. Make sure you buy the right couplers. If unsure, buy both; buy extra washers and gaskets, and return the ones that did not work. It saves time and effort by avoiding driving back and forth to the hardware store for parts. If in doubt about fixing a faucet, buy a new one, as you know it will work. For installing a water heater or water softener, I suggest hiring a certified plumber. Try to make those hard projects as easy as possible by having the right tools and equipment.

Tags hiring someone, jobs to be done, tips

Cats Mousing Techniques

Stalk And Pray Techniques

I have had cats stalk and prey for a mouse for hours, and then, at the perfect moment, they pounce and deliver the killing bite to the neck. Some cats form alliances with other cats to catch a mouse. My house cats once had a mouse cornered behind a freezer, with one cat watching on each end. When the mouse did eventually come out, the cat in the middle killed it. One of my black cats had a mouse pinned behind my stove, and he scared it into the trap. I had an outdoor cat that sat on top of a wooden fence post for about four hours, patiently waiting to kill a mouse, and then, all of a sudden, with exact precision, she landed on it and ate her catch of the day.

The Old Cat Style

I have had my cats act as if they could hardly move, and the mouse would taunt them, and then they would spring to life and kill the mouse. One cat in a dog house kept letting the mouse run across her front legs, and then, with one swift move, her mouth latched onto its neck, and she had her snack of the day. My oldest cat once let a mouse walk beside her for quite some time, knowing she could no longer outrun it. When the mouse felt safe, she grabbed it and kept biting its neck until it died.

When Your Cats Band Together On Mouse Hunts

Sometimes several cats will go out hunting together as they can catch more mice that way. If the mouse escapes from one of them, the next cat will catch the prize mouse. Cats are very agile, which helps in their hunting and killing techniques. Mother cats will take their kittens out hunting. The kittens let the mice go at first until they learn from their Mother how to pounce on, prey on, and kill a mouse.

Cats And Dogs Mouse Hunting

Our one outdoor cat and dog would hunt for mice together. The cat caught a mouse and tried to give it to her kitten to eat, but her kitten thought to herself, “What am I supposed to do with this thing?” The dog had the mouse for a while, and the Mother cat tried to give it to her kitten again, but it did not work. Our dog ran off with the mouse and swallowed it whole.

Cats Finding A Nest Of Mice

One of my huntress cats once found a whole nest of mice. She ate each of the small ones, then delivered the large one to her kittens, and they ate it right up. She went back to the nest, found another large mouse, and her kittens ate it, too. Once in a while, my cats would leave a mouse tail behind, so I would know they were good hunters. Cats have perfect timing and precision for the perfect mouse kill.

Tags Benefits of Having a Cat, excellent mousers

Joy

Joyful Living Everyday

Make Today A Joyful Day

Do some of your favorite activities every day. Read a magazine or book to relax and learn something new every day. Try learning to play a musical instrument, and soon you will be playing relaxing melodies for yourself and others. I like to go for walks and listen to the sounds of nature. I especially like it when I hear a cardinal singing up high in a tree or see a pair of them eating at my bird feeder. I generally will see two Blue Herons fly out of the creek not far from me. They remind me of a historic bird. I love the smell of fresh-cut grass or alfalfa hay. I have seen groups of wild turkeys in the fields along with ducks and quail. If you ride a bicycle during the day, you can take in all of the sounds of nature, such as frogs croaking in the morning in standing water in the ditches, or hear your neighbors’ roosters’ wake-up call cock a doodle doo.

Spend Time With God Every Day

I’d like you to please read a daily devotion and reflect on how that has applied to your day. I am sure you can relate to the devotion in something that you did today and how it worked out for you and others in your life. Help spread God’s good works by helping others with things that make their lives easier and better. Give to mission projects and donate your used clothing and other items to charities that will help deliver them to the right places and the people who need them. Praise God every day for what he has done to make your day better, for bringing the right friends into your life and your family, and for placing people in your life at the right time and in the right place.

Help Others And Feel Joyful

I like it when people ask me for advice, and I can help them out. If I need help with something, I want someone I can depend on, as we all do. When you give someone a present that you know they will love, it gives you a joyful feeling. People have asked me to pull things off their high sleeves, and I always do, as I am glad I can reach them. I saw an older woman fall one day, and I found some middle-aged men to help pick her up and get her into the building where she wanted to go. I thanked the men for helping her. I was stuck in a ditch with my pickup years ago, and about half of my neighbors stopped to ask if they could help me. I said no, I had called a tow truck, but I did thank each one of them for asking if I needed help. Remember, everyone is your neighbor, and we should come to each other’s aid when needed. It gives me a good feeling to make someone’s day a little brighter.

Tags bring Joy to others, Inspirations with Laura