Author: Laura Weers

Doctoring Your Cat

I have had several cats that have gotten ear mites lately. I had to bring Faith to my Vet for ear mite treatment, and she clawed my Vet and his assistant, and they were both bleeding. My Vet put her in a bag, and she broke the snap off of the bag at the end of her treatment. Once she was back in my car, she looked like she was smiling because her ears felt much better. Mr. Gray needed an ear mite treatment, and I had a friend help me with his treatment. We had him captured in a net, but he was still trying to do cartwheels atop a cupboard to escape me. I managed to get both ears treated with my friend’s help finally. Today he was fine and thrilled, and he let me pat him and hold him this morning. Cali needs treatment for kidney failure, and she wiggles and manages to get the needle out. I had to start her medicine again.

Feliway Pheromone Spray

This spray works very well at getting upset cats calmed down. You can spray it on a towel in the container you have them in to take them to your Vet or for that long road trip. My Vet sprayed it on a towel in my pet carrier, and my cat calmed down ASAP. If you are moving soon, spray it on some of your cat’s favorite items in your home so the moving trip will not be as stressful for your feline friend. If your cat will be flying in an airplane, be sure to spray some in your carrier, as the sound of the plane alone will stress out your dear feline friend.

Feral Acting Cats That Are Your House Cat

Some of my cats act like feral cats, even though I have had them since they were born on my farm. Some cats never seem to warm up to 100%, no matter how well you treat and fuss over them. Nicole, alias Mrs. Finger, loves to bite your finger and watch your blood flow. She looks like a Russian Blue, but she is truly a touch me, not cat.

Bad Behavior

Some cats are bound and determined to jump on your countertop no matter what you try to do to deter them. Crunchy aluminum foil helps as they do not like the sound of it when they step on it. Placing handkerchiefs soaked in perfume discourages your cat from sleeping or sitting on your furniture. Never reward your cat for bad behavior by giving him a snack after misbehaving, as you do not want to reinforce bad behavior.

Be Patient With Your Feline Friend And Try To Figure Out What Is Annoying Him

Your cat may be sick, so he is acting out of character. Your cat may not like your new routine or wonder why you stopped Tuna Tuesday. If you bring a new cat or person into your home, your kitty may rebel by spraying things. Some bad behavior is justified if you stop giving your cat his favorite food or change kitty litter brands or items that have been moved around in your home, as cats do not like changes one little bit. Always give your cat the benefit of the doubt unless you can prove otherwise.

Tags Cats with Cattitude

When Everything Seems To Go Wrong

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date July 14, 2023
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Your Day Goes From Bad To Worse

Your internet stops working, and you want to post things on social media, and you cannot. You will probably get angry and very frustrated. You may work for hours trying to fix it. You finally give up and hire someone. They almost have it up and going but not entirely, and they must return another day, nearly a week away. You updated to Windows 11, which started the snowball effect. Your wonderful neighbor ends up fixing it, and you feel at ease again and no longer stressed out.

Misplacing Things

Have you had an appt., and when you are ready to leave, you cannot find your garage door remote? I had this happen once, and I looked all over for it to find out that my cats had knocked it down on the floor. I always put my tools back in the same spot every time, or the next time I need them, I will not be able to find them. One time an identification card of mine ended up in my bookworm. I was sure pleased when I located that card again. If you put something away quickly and have a million other things on your mind, you will forget where you put it for safe storage.

You Get Up On A Cold Day To Discover That You Need A New Furnace

I was wondering why I felt so cold one March morning. My furnace did not work at all, and it was about 13 years old. I ordered a new furnace, and I had it installed one week later. Luckily I had other backup heat sources. My plumbing could have frozen if I had not had backup heat sources. Waking up nice and cozy on a cold morning is very nice.

Health

If you have your health, you have your wealth. One of my good friends said that to me, which is true. Sometimes we take our health for granted. None of us know from one day to another if we will be here tomorrow. Pray to God and ask him to make you well again. Pray for all of your dear friends who have health issues. Do not worry; God Is always by your side to help you through the turbulent times in your life.

Years Ago On The Farm

My Grandma started having breakfast with my Grandpa, and everything was fine. At about ten in the morning, a plane crashed in our forty across the road. Luckily no one was killed. The FAA came out to the field and inspected the wreckage. Relatives came for Sunday Dinner at noon unannounced. They told my Grandma they had sent a letter saying they were coming. Needless to say, that letter came after the fact. Grandma frantically put a meal together for everyone.

When Things Go Wrong, Pray To God For Guidance And Wisdom

God will never let you down. Never lose your faith, and never worry, for things will turn out better than expected. Everyone has days that do not go according to plan, which is part of life.

Tags Problems, Things stop working

Training Your Cat 101

To Walk With A Harness On

Getting your cat to walk with a harness takes time and patience. Your cat may lie down, thinking he cannot walk with the harness on. Give your cat a treat whenever he lets you put the harness on him. Give your cat a treat if he enables you to take the harness off without trying to bite you. Do not pull or drag your cat. Let him take the lead and reward him when he walks beside or before you.

Clicker Training

I worked with my cat Cali and told her she was a good cat before I clicked my ink pen about five times. The next time I said she was a good cat, she came to me without clicking the ink pen. If you want your cat to come to you when you call her name, click the ink pen and then say her name and give her a treat every time she comes when you call out her name. You can buy a store-clicking device, but my ink pen works fine. You can train your cat to jump through hoops using the clicker and treat method. Cats only have to see something once and remember it, but repetition instills it in their mind.

Oral Command Training

If you see your cat slapping another house cat, say their name and bad kitty. Never hit, scream, or yell at your cat; they will learn to avoid you like the plague. If your cat stops using the litter box, it may be because another cat is hogging it. Buy another litter box and do not get mad at your cat, and reward him with a treat when you see him using the litter box.

Consistency When Training Your Cat

If your cat does what you want him to remember, always treat him until he has mastered the task. Never provide a reward now and then, as your cat will not know what you want him to do. Never give just one of your cats a treat. Give each cat in your household a reward that learns something new. Do not be wishy-washy and correct your cat when he jumps on the table, and the next minute, you are okay with him on the table. Cats learn from your body language and the tone of your voice.

Training Your cat To Use A Kitty Treadmill

Tape cat treats to your treadmill that your kitty can eat if he runs around the track. You could also tie cat treats on a string taped to your kitty treadmill. Keep treating your cat on the treadmill until he enjoys running around and burning off those unwanted pounds. Your other cats will try to imitate your cat on the treadmill or jump on with him. I had a housecat that would run behind me on my treadmill. Whatever you want your cat to learn and accomplish, he can if you are consistent and patient with your beloved pet cat.

Tags cat behavior, cat training, cats, harness, tricks

A Grand Old Home Once Again

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date July 7, 2023
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I Imagine The People That Once Lived There

When I see an old house, I imagine the people that used to occupy the place and the laughter and joy that the people once had in the area. I have a picture in my mind of what the house used to look like in its glory days. I imagine children playing on a swing on the front porch. I can picture the place lit up and filled with family and friends relaxing and drinking lemonade in a warm summer.

Returning The Home To its Former Glory

When you buy a fixer-upper, you want to return it to its charm of days gone by. I try to purchase items for the house that suits its particular historical time frame. I like old homes with open floor plans, large bedrooms, open stairways, and storage space. I like oak floors, trim, and doors in an older home.

Make It As Orginal As Possible

When Putting up a new ceiling, save the old trim and put it back up. Re-stain the woodwork if necessary. Remove an old piece of the original wallpaper to match it as closely as possible. By taking conservative steps in your repairs on the house, you will preserve the original grandeur of the old house. You can also buy old fixtures from resale stores and aged oak flooring.

A Grand Old Home Again

The fixer-upper, I see hope where others see none, I hear laughter and footsteps once again, I see new hopes for the home you once were. I draw up floor plans to make you look like the magnificent home you once were; your open stairway redid, your doors re-stained, new countertops and fixtures throughout; I repaint your walls, I strengthen your timbers, you receive a new roof, your foundation is redone. I have redeemed your rooms to their ordinal grandeur. People now re-enter your stately elegance takes you aback.

God And Humans In The House Of God

I want to see the church full of churchgoers again. I remember when I was a little girl, the balcony was full of people. At Easter time, everyone had on new easter outfits. We had a lovely church breakfast before the Easter Sunday services started. On Christmas Eve, our church was full of people sitting in folding chairs along the edges of the pews. The people singing in the church were singing praises to God. I want to see the house of God bought back to its glory days again. Listening to a minister give a sermon brings God good news to his listeners, and they can reflect on his message all week long. People miss out when they do not attend church services as everyone has a different way of presenting God’s good news. I listen to three various church services on Sunday, and I learn something from every one of them. Read a devotion and think about how the request affects your life in today’s World. Read Bible passages and reflect on how you may use that message to improve your life. Let’s help bring new life into the Lord’s house.

Tags Grandeur, Home, Inspirations with Laura, remodeling

Cat Behavior

Your Cat May Get His Feelings, Hurt

If you do not give each of your cats the same amount of cat treats, they will gang up on the cat in your home that is getting the most goodies. Try to think how you would feel if your siblings got a big piece of Birthday cake and you only got a sliver. Sometimes you are the one that creates your cat’s bad behavior by not treating all of your cats alike. If you punish one of your cats and not the others for the same behavior, there will be animosity between them. If you buy cat toys, ensure each cat in your home has a new toy in about the same time frame. Groom all of your cats and not just one of them. Hold all of your cats, as the others will be watching. We do have favorite pets, but make time in your day for each pet.

Cat Fights

Males will fight to see who is the top Tom. Their fights can get very nasty and bloody quickly. Try to throw water on them to break up the battle if it is warm outdoors. Female cats fight with cats that try to harm or take their kittens away. I had three Toms that tried to beat up my neutered house cat. I managed to get him out of harm’s way quickly. Never leave your house cat outdoors unattended; another cat or wild animal may kill them. Cats are very territorial; if a newcomer gets on their turf, he better watch out. Tom cats have beaten up female cats badly, especially if they are newcomers that your resident Toms overlooked.

Toilet Paper And More

One day my toilet paper was all over the floor, full of teeth marks from one of my cats. I also found my toilet paper entirely off the roll all over the hallway. I was happy I did not have any company that day. My Siamese cat years ago was extra fussy with her litter box, and I guess she did not think it was clean enough to suit her. She started using my house plant for her litter box. I believe the house plant got replanted more than any other on Earth. House cats love jumping up high on things, and many things come tumbling down on the floor. I pick them up and arrange them differently to prevent recurring events.

Cats Get Jealous When You Pay Too Much Attention To Your Work To Suit Them

My purebred Siamese cat would always figure out how to get even with you. My Mother had papers on the couch, and Sugar bit the end of each piece of writing along with the entire edge of a new Atlas. Cats jump on bookwork, land on the floor, and start rearranging and putting your papers in the correct file again. Cats claw up your furniture to get your attention or start meowing or misbehaving while you talk to someone on the phone.

Tags Cat Antics, Whats Upsetting My Cat ?

Nature

Psalms 36: 5 – 6

Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens, and thy faithfulness reacheth onto the clouds.

Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are deep: O Lord, thou preservest man and beast.

Nature and its great majesty are a gift from God for all of us to enjoy every day of our lives. We are God’ss stewards,s, and it is our job to preserve and protect nature in all ways we can. Try to recycle everything that you can and always put garbage in its proper place. I do not like to see trash in the ditches, sidewalks, or nature trails anyplace it is not supposed to be.

Enjoy the soft singing of the birds, the gentle waves of water splashing in the ocean, and the crops as they ripen in the fields. Enjoy the grandeur of the vast mountain ranges and the beautiful flowers and mountain goats, prairie dogs, bears, and the sounds of nature.

Take in the incredible views of nature every day. As the old saying goes: “Stop and smell the roses.” I watch the birds eating at my bird feeders daily, and I am amazed at the variety of birds that show up to eat at my feeders. One day I saw three Bald Eagles and one Golden Eagle in my field.

I like to work in my garden, tend to my plants, and reap the rewards of my hard work. I want to feel the rich soil on my hands. Weeding, watering, and using organic fertilizer and weed killer, I can eat healthy and fresh vegetables from my garden. I freeze a lot of vegetables for the winter months, and do they ever taste wonderful in the middle of the winter?

Enjoy the gift of nature every day in your life. Heart and all it offers will lift your spirit and bring you closer to God.

Tags Inspirations with Laura

Difficult Cats

Cats Can Be Very Moody At Times

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date June 26, 2023
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Winchester

Winchester is a gorgeous yellow and white neutered male cat. He can be calm and relaxed for days and then gets very moody. He will try to attack my leg if I do not let him outdoors. He does not get outside when he exhibits that type of behavior. Today and let him outdoors, he smelled a wild animal’s urine mark. He tried to claw and bite me, thinking I was a wild animal. I had to place something around his neck and then grab him by the nap of his neck to get him back to the safety of the house. Something triggers bad behavior in pets, so be prepared for the unexpected. He gets mad when I put him back indoors and fights with a cat sitting by the door. If a cat is naughty, never give him a reward or a treat. Tell your pet no and do let him out until he exhibits the appropriate behavior.

Sugar

Sugar was a purebred Siamese cat that was my first house cat. She was raised in a house with a parakeet, so she liked birds. She would sit by the parakeet we had and listen to him sing. She had moody spells where she would start to stare at your face. I would then place her on the floor so she would not attack my face. She never did attack my face, but she looked like she would if she could get by with it. She was jealous that my Mother was working on genealogy instead of paying attention to her. When we left the room, she tore pieces of her papers off and the corner of a brand-new road atlas.

Cats Have A Reason For Their Odd Behavior, And it Is Our Responsibility To Figure Out What It Is

Your cat could be bored or feel threatened by something or someone new to your household. Cats do not like any changes whatsoever. Cats can exhibit lousy behavior when changes happen in your home. If you add a new pet to your home, your old pet will be very jealous of the new pet. Make introductions very slowly and have a door in between them, to begin with. They can sniff and smell each other through the crack at the bottom of the door. Quick introductions will be disastrous, and one pet may get hurt or injured. I had a cat that liked mice. He lived in a Vets office until I adopted him. I am sure the Vet trained him not to eat the small rodents that were people’s pets. Some cats never seem to warm up to you, even if you raised them as kittens. It could be the perfume you wear or your particular smell, or something that happened to them in kittenhood before you took them into your home. Always give your cat second and more chances for a cattitude adjustment. We all have bad days, and certain things set us off, also. I hope you and your cat will get along in purrfect harmony for many years.

God Will Lift You Up

Troubled Times

All of us have times when we feel uneasy or on edge. We may be sick or have lost a loved one. There are no continuous good times for any of us. Sometimes we will doubt ourselves or others. God will help you return to a time when you felt better and more at ease. Pray to God when you feel down and out; he will help you return to a better place in your heart and soul. Grieving for a loved one never goes away completely, but it is more bearable with God in your life. God knows all of your thoughts and is there for you 24/7.

Times When People Fail You

If you put too high demands on people for happiness, they will fail you. People are only human and can only help you to the best of their ability. If you want total perfection, you ask for what no one can deliver. People have their own life to live, and they cannot constantly dance to the beat of their drums. It is sad when you have an appointment with someone, and they do not show up. Before you get mad at them, see why they did not attend their appt.

Sickness

Sickness will strike when you least expect it. Sometimes we come out of illnesses appreciating God much more than before we were sick. We tend to move along with our lives, and when sickness strikes at home, we wonder why me. I say, why not me? As it happens to every one of us eventually. We appreciate God when he answers our prayers and helps us recover. God loves us dearly; sometimes, it takes an illness to thank God for everything he has given us. God wants all of his followers to be well and happy. Sometimes nature has other ideas for us. Pray to God, for he answers all prayers in his timeframe.

If We Fall, We Must Get Up Again

If we stumble and fall, we must get up again. All of us will have stumbling blocks in our lives. We may lose our job and have to start from scratch again. With modern technology, job skills change very quickly. We may half to go back to college and learn a new job skill. Keep a positive attitude and never think you are beaten because you will be destroyed if you do.

People May Make Fun Of You

Consider the source, and do not let them get the best of you. If someone thinks I cannot do something, I always prove them wrong by completing the task. Bullies will always be bullies, and they will be the ones that cannot get things done. Bullies are generally chickens that could not win a good fight if they tried. God will protect you from people who want to put you down, for he knows the genuine inner you and what you can do to benefit people while you are on earth. God, thank you for our many blessings in life.

Tags Inspirations with Laura

The Comings And Goings In An Old Hen House

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date June 19, 2023
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The New Hen House

It had several metal nests for each hen, a big fan that cooled the henhouse, water throughs with fresh water that ran into them, and several roosts to stand on. The walls were isolated with corncobs. Most of our chickens laid brown eggs; eventually, we had all leghorn chickens that laid white eggs. I used to help gather up the eggs. We would candle test each egg. We would clean the eggs with an egg washer and put them in cardboard boxes for the egg man to pick up in the morning. After the chicken droppings were removed, the hen house would be hosed down from one end to the other. The nest would get new straw put in them. Sulfa candles were lit to kill insects, mites, and rodents while the chickens were outdoors. After it aired out, the chickens had a lovely clean hen house to roost in.

The Old Hen House

Gathering eggs used to be fun in the new hen house, but the old hen house was full of rats at night and in the early morning hours. My father had a rat run up his arm one morning while he was gathering eggs which was a little too much excitement to start a new day. My father and our dog would go in the hen house together, and one morning, my father reached under an opossum to gather eggs, and our dog jumped into action and killed the opossum. The corn for the chickens was kept in an old wooden wagon in the middle of the chicken house, and I guess that attracted the rats along with the corn cob insolation.

Playing In And Outside Of The Old Unsused Hen House

I used to love to play in the old henhouse. I had a few toys in it, and my cats would come in and spend time with me. Outdoors I pretended the old chicken roosts were forts. Our family dog and I protected the fort with toy guns, bows, and arrows. I enjoyed many childhood days walking around the old henhouse looking for old buried bottles, tools, rocks, and anything else that fit my fancy. I had an old BB gun that I used to shoot at the door of the old henhouse. The BB gun had no power and did no damage. It was my first gun, and my parents wanted me to be safe, which I was.

Before The Hen House Was Torn Down

The building developed a hole in the roof where a Mother raccoon gave birth to her five babies. My father saw her running back and forth from the old henhouse. One day he saw her jump way back down under the roof. He investigated and caught all five babies in a fish net. They were adorable. My father placed them on the ground by the henhouse, and Momma Raccoon and her babies ran into the field. My father took a chainsaw, cut the building into three sections, and burned the remnants left of the old henhouse. I have lovely childhood memories of that once-grand old henhouse.

Tags Animals, Eggs, Hens

God Gives Me Hope

Sickness

God is there for you in times of sickness. God gives me hope that I will get better and recover soon. God knows the pain and suffering you are having while you are ill. God gives me hope when I look at all the beauty he has made on Earth. I pray to God for strength to get through an illness. Faith in God will help you get through the worst times in your life. Without hope and faith, you have nothing to lift you when you are down and out. When I pray and trust God, he will get me through any storm that might come my way. Always hope and pray for a better tomorrow.

Hope Will Carry You Far In Life

If you think a situation is hopeless, it probably will be because you have already determined it will be. Hope and understanding are built on solid ground; all other ground is sinking sand. Sometimes you can be too hopeful for your good. If you think you will get an A on a test, you may get a bad grade because you were overconfident. If you believe you will fail in life, you will. If you apply it to your daily living, God gave you what you need to succeed. Hope can help you soar like an eagle.

People That Have No Hope

I have seen people who think nothing will ever go their way. If you lose hope, others will lose hope in you. People who have lost hope are lonely, sad, and alone. You are never alone, as God is always by your side. It is proven that people who have social connections are more outgoing and confident in what they can achieve in life. Staying by yourself only adds to your problems as you will most likely keep hashing them repeatedly in your mind. Never cry over spilled milk. Move on, and look forward to the next extraordinary event. Try to lift people that feel hopeless in their lives. Tell them what they have done for others and what they have accomplished with their lives. Pray for them to have hope back in their lives again very soon.

Try To Be Hopeful Everyday

If you are tired after working all day, thank God for what he has helped you accomplish today. I am hopeful when I look at my accomplishments. I do not want to sit down and do nothing. Be glad you woke up this morning and have another day to thank God for your many blessings. God carries you when you are sick, so you only see one set of footprints in the sand. I am thankful that I have put my hope in God and others who are always there for me when I need them most. Thank you, God, for giving me hope to keep moving forward with joy, faith, love, and hope in my heart and soul.

Tags God, Hope, Inspirations with Laura