Author: Laura Weers

Small-Town Shopping Makes For A Good Day Trip

I love making a day of it by shopping in old towns. I have found fantastic clothing stores in small towns and purchased a lot of clothing from them over the years. The store owners are always amiable and accommodating to your needs. Some old buildings have been re-purposed into beautiful stores. I went into an old bank building which was now a lovely restaurant. I also was in an old church, now a lovely antique store in Kalona, Iowa. I once ate in an old gas station that now served twelve people on old wooden stools in Missouri. I love looking at the lovely architecture of the old buildings in small towns.

Old Hardware Stores

I have purchased many items at old small-town hardware stores over the years. I love the hardware stores in Kalona, Iowa. I have bought old tools from them that were brand new and made much better than the new ones they make now. One of the hardware stores sold furniture upstairs, and I found a lovely table for my home. I purchased a brush cutter, a new lawn mower, and a sump pump from small-town hardware stores. I have seen old appliances that have never been used that will last many years. I still have one refrigerator going strong after 20 years of use. I also have a 1953 GE refrigerator that keeps things fresh and cool.

Antique Stores

You can find almost anything at an antique store that is made well. I purchased a lovely old settee that I had recovered and sat in my Dining room. I also bought a hand trimmer that trims my bushes to perfection. I have found lovely old oil lamps that I light when my electricity goes out in bad weather. It is nice to see some of the old toys you used to play with as a child. I found an old Doctors bag with all the plastic instruments still in it that I used to play with growing up. I found an excellent harmonica in an antique store in Southern Iowa.

Old Drug Stores

There are still a few old drug stores around that still have a soda fountain. I purchased a Green River soda from an old drugstore. A Green River Soda pop dates back to 1919, and it was also a big seller in the fifties and sixties; I have found lovely old greeting cards to send people. Some old drug stores still sell radios and other household gadgets.

Small Town Restaurants And Coffee Shops

I have found an excellent restaurant in small towns. I love the Tuscan Moon Restaurant in Kalona, Iowa. He specializes in Italian food and offers other food choices. I have ordered his lamb twice, and it is the best lamb I have ever eaten, as it was baked to perfection. I have found many small-town coffee shops in Iowa that I love to visit every time I go to their town. Most of the coffee shops have lovely baked goods for sale also. Small-town shopping keeps your money local. If we do not support small-town businesses, they will disappear completely. Make a day of it shopping and eating in small towns across America and take home some wonderful and valuable treasures with you.

Tags Travel

Turbulence In Your Life

Turbulence On An Airplane

When the pilot of our plane says turbulence ahead, we tend to become a little bit nervous; we might imagine the worst-case scenario: we run into an air pocket, and our plane will crash. Our stewardess tells us to remain seated and that if the turbulence gets terrible, the oxygen supply will drop, and we should put it on before assisting others with theirs. Some people are already getting sick at just the sound of it and filling up their vomit bags. As the plane tends to toss back and forth, some people are getting pale in color. When the pilot announces clearly ahead, people are finally calm.

Turbulent Storms In Your Life

All of us will have turbulent storms in our life eventually. Life is all about how you handle the batteries in your life. If you think you are on a sinking ship, you will be. Without a positive outlook on your life, you will have no view whatsoever. Look at the horizon and think I see it every morning when I wake up. God is with you always, so ask God to help you with the turbulent times in your life. At times of turbulence, think of others with raging storms. You are not the only one in the world that is having turbulence in your life. By helping others with trying times in their life, you will also help yourself immensely. Reach out to people, grow with each other, and praise God for your many blessings.

Life Is A Hi-Way With A Few Potholes

We try to drive around the potholes in our life, but occasionally, we sink into one. Are cars getting out of alignment when we hit a pothole? We get out of alignment in our life once in a bit. When out of alignment, we must turn to friends, Family, and God to return to our former alignment.

Turbulence With Relationships

God has turbulence with our relationships with him now and then. God rejoices when one of his stray sheep returns to the fold. Husbands and Wives will argue occasionally but do not go to bed with an angry heart. Try to see the other person’s point of view and reach an agreement that will work for both of you. If you let a wound fester, it will soon affect your whole body. Friends and Family will have arguments over money or some trivial matters but do not let that divide your relationship. Friends and Family are critical because they have shaped you into who you are today. Good and lasting friendships are tough to find, so treat your friends with the utmost respect and genuinely care about each other well being. God loves us as an extension of his Family and forgives us when we stray from his teachings. Forgive people that may have caused a little turbulence in your life as you have generated some turbulence in someone’s life. May you have little turmoil in your life and not make a small storm into a large one. Clear skies ahead for all on your travels through life.

Why Does My Cat Do That ?

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date April 12, 2021
No Comments on Why Does My Cat Do That ?

Some Common Things Your Cat Does

Cats clean themselves as it is relaxing and refreshing to them. Cats lick themselves to remove their scent in the wild so nearby predators cannot pick it up. They also remove loose hair. A cat licking himself clean is like us taking a refreshing shower. Kneading relaxes your cat and reminds him of when he used to nurse his Mother. Your cat finds comfort in his kneading behavior. Cats eat grass to remove hairballs, as most cats heave after eating some grass. Outdoor cats also need to eat grass to remove any feathers or bones of an animal they may have ingested. Cats love to follow you into the bathroom as you are now their captive audience and get all the immediate attention they crave. Cats lick you to show that they love you and create an everlasting bond. Cats cover their kitty litter so predators will not pick up their scent. Toms and females in heat will leave it uncovered to let other cats know that they are present in the area.

Cats Like To Sleep As Close As Possible To You

Your cat feels secure when he is close to you. Your cat feels safe when he is around your familiar scent. Cats love to be extra warm and comfy and find our bodies an excellent heat source. Cats love to sleep by your head because it is the most generous area of your body. You may wake up to your cat kneading away on you in the morning. Your cat finds comfort in needing and being next to you. My oldest house cat sometimes likes to be the only cat in my bed, and he starts nipping my other house cats. I make him stop. My most senior cat wanted to stake his claim on me and make me think he was the only one to stay with me and be my knight in shining armor.

Other Things That Your Cat Likes To Do

Cats like to walk between our legs and put their scent on us to stake their claim on us and warn other cats to stay away from us. They do not realize you may not see them and step on them accidentally. Cats love to play with string when bored, which also helps strengthen their hunting skills. Cats make a chirping meow sound when they see a bird outdoors. Your cat imagines what it would be like to catch the bird and eat it and savor its flavor of the bird. Cats will flash their tail quickly when they are upset or nervous or anticipate an encounter with a rival cat. Cats that are healthy and happy will hold their seats straight up. A cat with its tail straight down may be feeling aggressive. A bushy tail means your cat is very agitated, and anything in her way better get away or she may attack it. Ears tucked down signal a nervous cat that feels threatened, and you better leave her alone until she feels less fearful. Cats try to communicate with us to the best of their ability. Cats have notified their owners of a gas leak by curling their noses back, leading the owners to the leak, sniffing it, and curling up their noses. God bless our feline friends for helping us out over the years. Cats are excellent friends and lifelong companions.

Tags Benefits of Having a Cat, Hairballs, Whats Upsetting My Cat ?

Instant Gratification

I Want It Now Attitude

My parents started with used appliances and furniture. They only purchased what they could afford. Many people today want everything brand new and go into debt to buy what they want when they want it, even though they know they cannot afford it. No one needs the latest TV set or the new smartphone that just came on the market. Please wait for the price to come down or buy a gently used one; when you buy something on time, depending on the loan length, you pay twice the original amount. Save up for the future and forget the I want it now attitude, as you will be glad you did down the road.

Starting In Life

Never go into debt as a college student to buy a car, TV, or a new laptop computer. Ensure you get your college loan paid off before purchasing anything else. Buy used furniture and items for your dorm room. Live within your means. You do not have to follow suit if your college friend has a fancy car; let him have his car and be happy you do not have his debt. No one should start life with much debt, as you may pay it off for the next ten years or more. You must have a job that you can count on and pays well. Instant gratification can be an instant failure. A bad credit rating will follow you for years, and when you need a loan, you will not be able to get one.

Buying A Home

Start buying an older home in good shape, so you will get it paid off quickly. Older homes have a lot of character and charm. An older home will most likely have beautiful oak floors and built-ins that newer homes do not have. If you keep the house in good repair, you should be able to double your money on it down the road. When you have saved up money over the years, you can buy your dream home and get it paid off without a massive debt hanging over your head.

You Do Not Need A New Expensive Sports Car

Start buying a used car that your mechanic has looked over and found mechanically sound. Your used car will get you from point A to point B the same as a new car would. Buy another used car after your first one stops performing mechanically. I would never go into debt to buy a new vehicle unless financially ready. You need to have a steady income to purchase and maintain a car. Enjoy the ride if you still need speed and can pay cash for your sports car.

I Hope You Have No Debt Sucking The Life Out Of You

Instant gratification can lead to instant failure in a heartbeat. Live within your means and enjoy the fruits of your labor without worrying about unpaid debts. Never try to keep up with your neighbor or someone else. Never show off, as that grows very annoying quickly. Live responsibly and sensibly. Remember to tithe at church and help the needy and the poor.

Tags Inspirations with Laura, tips

Women Be A Smart Savvy Consumer

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date April 5, 2021
2 Comments on Women Be A Smart Savvy Consumer

Before You Buy A large Ticket Item

Know the selling price of several items you are trying to purchase. By comparison shopping, you will not overpay for a thing. When replacing the roof on your home, get at least three estimates and ask some of the people in your neighborhood that have a similar top to yours what they paid for their roof. I have had some roofers ask me three times as much as what men had to pay to replace their roofs. Do not let handypersons take you to the cleaners just because you are a woman, Show handypersons that you are intelligent and well-informed about the price you should pay for the job.

Car Prices

I was dealing with a vehicle they had just quoted the price to a man. I asked them what they wanted for the car, and they told me a figure of $6000.00 more than the man. I spoke to the manager and told him about it. He was bold enough to tell me that women generally pay more than men for the same car. I told him I would never darken his doorstep again. Do not let any dealer make you sign paperwork to look at the vehicle for sale. I told the dealer I would never sign anything unless I looked a the car and we agreed on a price first. He was persistent, but so was I. I said I would look at it first or walk out the door. He finally said I could look at the car. I looked at it, but I wouldn’t say I liked it at all. I looked at a car the other day, and he said they could not sell it until it had 4000 miles on it because it was a demo car. I asked what the price would b,e, and he said the same as the window sticker price. Most dealers would get a kickback from the company and pass the cost on to you. I guess he figured I was an uninformed woman. He will not be selling that car anytime soon.

Repair Work Cost

Before you rewire your home, get a new furnace, appliances, car repair, and more, check the prices of these repairs for your area. Get estimates and suspend how the companies are rated online, or ask them if you can talk to several of their customers to see how satisfied they are with them. Never hire anyone without a signed contract, or you will be in for a rude awakening as they can charge you whatever they want to now.

What They Think They Can Get By With

I had to sell something, and I had no say in it as I had to sell it. I asked the men in my neighborhood what they were getting in pay for the same item, and To my surprise, they were getting $1500.00 more than what I was offered. When I complained, they said they would take me to court if I did not take their price. I said I would sell it if they paid me what the men in my neighborhood paid me. I stood my ground and got the same price as the men in my area. Women, be informed and stand your ground.

Tags an informed buyer, tips

What Is Your Status ?

Status With Others

Status is your respect among the public or a particular group of people. If you do not respect others, your status in society is deficient. If you want to show off your job, position, or education, it does not put you in the best light with people. By showing off your status, you are like a kid in the schoolyard with a fancy new bike. Some people write in their Christmas letters that their son or daughter is attending Harvard. They are social snobs writing about their fancy new home or the new Rolls in the driveway and telling about their kids in college. No one cares that their child is going to Harvard except for them or a future employer. There is no need to brag about events. People will find out independently, and you will have a much better standing in your community without having a brag fest.

Status Overload

One man put a glass garage door on his garage, so anyone driving by could see his Lamborghini parked inside. At night the garage was lit like a Christmas tree with lights shining on the sports cars, so you could not miss it. Some people have to buy the latest gadgets that man has ever created. After a while, they get tired of it and move on to something bigger and better. Live modestly and do not overspend, and do not be a showoff. People that show off all of the time are exhausting to be around. One party always told anyone who came to see them that their money paid for everything in the house. What a degrading remark to make with your spouse sitting beside you. People should just be glad that they can afford the things that they have in life and be quiet and polite about it.

Never Show Off Your Status

The better you feel about yourself, the less you need to show off. Do not throw your education in someone’s face. Do not use words you know others do not understand to boost your low ego. Live humbly, and do not show off your wealth. Give to others anonymously, as people will eventually know who gave the money without you having to make considerable fanfare about it. Remember that God helps you every single day of your life without making substantial fanfare about it. God wants you to live as he did and help as many people as possible without expecting something in return. Give to others as they have given unto you. Give graciously, generously, compassionately, kindly, and with love. Live humbly, joyfully, and peacefully with the love of God in your heart for your fellow man. Stay connected to God, share with the less fortunate, and help God continue his good works on earth. Please do not show off, as it does not fit God’s teachings and how he lived.

Tags Inspirations with Laura

Love Of Cats

The Love Of Cats

Rescuing Cats

I have rescued many cats over the years. I have saved little kittens dumped in our field in the middle of the winter. I have adopted cats that I have found wandering around in restaurant parking lots. I have adopted farm cats and kittens. I have adopted cats the owners gave away because they were having a baby. I have taken in all different ages of cats and kittens. Most cats and kittens I have taken in have had excellent, pleasant, friendly dispositions.

Make A Nice Pleasant Environment For Your New Feline Friend

Make a nice warm area where your cat can relax and hide until he gets used to his new home. Put out a new litter box for him, fresh water, and plenty of cat food. I put out a new cat bed with a new fluffy towel for him to sleep on. Put out various cat toys for your new cat to enjoy. Introduce your new cat very, very slowly into a multi-cat household. I generally keep the new cat in the bathroom for three days so they can smell each other under the bathroom door and avoid a lot of unnecessary cat fights when they get together later on.

Shower Your New Cat With Lots Of Attention

Hold and pat your new cat on the head and scratch him under the chin. Give him lots of cat treats and play interactive games with him. Cats love playing with a fish on the end of a string or getting goodies from a cat treat dispenser. Let your new cat know that he is loved but do not ignore your other cats, or they will be very jealous of the newcomer.

Praise Your Cat For Good Behavior

Reward your new cat when you tell him something is off-limits and he obeys your command. Give him some tuna canned water or his favorite cat treats. Never yell or scream at your cat; he will always be terrified of seeing you. Be kind and gentle with any pet. Your new cat will try to please you to the best of his ability, so just be patient and understanding. A calm, pleasant voice will always get the best results.

A Lifetime Feline Friend

You will have your cat for many years if he is treated right, loved, cared for, and has the right genetic makeup for a long life. Take your cat to your Vet for yearly shots and checkups, as a pound of prevention is worth a pound of cure, as the old saying goes. Your cat will be by your side when you do not feel well, and he will do his best to nurse you back to health by purring away and being your constant companion in your time of need. Trust earns the love of cats, and that trust should never be broken as it is a golden trust.

Tags Benefits of Having a Cat, Introducing a New Cat Into Your Home, Picking Out A Kitten

Commitment

Your Responsibility To Follow Through With What You Said You Would Do

If we commit to something, the person on the receiving end expects us to follow through with what we said we would do. If you tell someone you want to eat out with them next week and eat out with someone else when you were supposed to, that is not right. You should never throw one person under the bus because you prefer the company of another person over them. Someday that friend will wise up to you, and you will find it difficult for anyone of your friends to commit to you for anything when they know they are your second choice. Always put yourself in the other person’s position and think about how you made them feel.

Volunteers

If you volunteer to do something, you have committed to completing the task, as if you signed a legally binding contract. If volunteers only worked when they felt like it, many deaths and disasters would never get cleaned up. We have volunteer fire departments that come to put out fires, and if they showed up every so often instead of every time the bell rang, we would lose a lot of people, property, and buildings to fires that could have been put out if they answered their call of commitment or duty.

Doctors, Nurses, And Health Care Workers

We expect our Doctor to be knowledgeable in treating us as his knowledge may be a matter of life or death for us. Untreated illnesses can escalate in a hurry and lead to our untimely demise. If your Doctor does not keep on top of new diseases, he lacks commitment to you and the others he treats. We expect our nurses always to be caring, compassionate, knowledgeable, kind, and considerate of us. We want our Doctors and nurses to continue their commitment to keeping us as healthy as possible. We want our Doctor to send us to another Doctor ASAP if we have an illness that does not generally appear on the radar screen. Healthcare workers should treat all people fairly and with compassion. A nurse once told me to clean up after myself when I was deathly ill. She was a night nurse, and since she seemed not committed to being a nurse, I wish she would find something else to float her boat. People in the rest homes need to be saved by compassionate, caring, and kind workers to care for them. I have found people soaking wet in rest homes and care workers smoking instead of feeding their residents. We are all growing older every day, and yes, you, too, are caregivers, so put that in your pipe and smoke it for future reference as to how you may be treated down the road.

Ministers And Other Professions

A minister must be committed to God in caring for his parishioners. A minister should call on his parishioners and check on their well-being. A minister has signed a contract with God and his parishioners. Teachers should be knowledgeable about what they are teaching and like small children, young adults, or adults, depending on their grades. Your auto mechanic should keep up with the latest diagnostic test for your car to keep it running at its absolute best. Whatever you choose in life, do it with total commitment, show compassion, kindness, and knowledge, and follow The Golden Rule – Do Unto To Others As You Would Have Them Do Unto You. Stay committed to God and others in your life.

Tags Inspirations with Laura

Traveling 101 Two

Ordering Food

One time I ordered the soup of the day, and luckily, before my waitress took off with my order, I asked her what kind of soup it was, and she said cow stomach; I canceled my soup ASAP. When I was in France, a man ordered Escargot, and he was anything but pleased when his snails arrived. If you do not know what food is, ask what it is before you call it and discover that you cannot eat it because it is not what you thought it was. I ordered a cafe latte in France and received a cup of coffee and a cup of tea. I first drank my cup of coffee, followed by my tea. The word latte sounded like tea to my waitress. You must always consider the language difference before ordering or asking for something. If you do not get what you ordered, do not be afraid to say so; I saw my food delivered to a different table and received what they ordered. When my waitress returned, she switched our plates, and we had a pleasant meal.

Hotel Rooms

In Europe, we got stuck in a room in their attic. It was so cramped we could hardly move. We put up with it for two nights and then asked for a different room. They gave us a huge room then, which made our stay pleasant. One time on a trip overseas, we ended up at a hotel room out of the 1940s, and they had the blankets, tables, chairs, and elevator to prove it. We left and went to another hotel which was very elegant and outstanding. One time in a hotel room, we could not operate our faucets for the shower. The manager said we had to twist the bottom of the tap sideways to get water to the battery. He thought I was stupid and could not figure that out, so I told him that if we did that in the USA, we would have a significant problem as we would break the faucet off the sink, and water would fly everywhere. We asked for a hairdryer once, and they said they had given them to all the men and told us we could use an iron. They had a convention of men there at the time. They should have kept some extras for the tour group on their way the next day.

Plan Your Days Activities

Sometimes the best-laid plans of mice or men will not happen no matter what you may try. For days like that, have a backup plan for what you may do or see that day. Try to see many things in one day without wearing yourself out by having too many planned activities for one day. Relax, unwind on your vacation, and do things your family will enjoy doing. Stop at museums, concerts, plays, theme parks, and national monuments, and shop for items that you may see that you would like to have. Travel in the good old USA as there is much to see and do; go to the country you have always dreamed about going to, and I promise you will not regret it as it will enrich your soul. Traveling is excellent; no one can take those beautiful memories and moments away from you. God bless you with safe travels.

Tags Travel

The Truth Be Told

The Truth Always Comes Out Eventually

Some people will give you a soft soap job that puts them in hot water. They devote so much time to telling you everything but the truth. They will try to tell you that the sun will not come up tomorrow. Eventually, they hardly know the truth from facts or fiction themselves. A person that does not mean the truth is a person that you will soon want to eliminate from your life. If you cannot tell the truth, you are not fair to yourself or others. The truth will set you free, as the old saying goes. When you do not tell the truth, an albatross around your neck will hold you down in a stopping position for the rest of your life. Tell the truth in the first place, then you do not have to try to remember all of your lies which will trip you up, so you stumble and fall before many people that you care about as you have lost all credibility on your part.

The Man That Could Soft Soap Everyone, Or So He Thought He Could

People are constantly watching and observing what you do and what you say. Do not try to tread on the water with people because you will soon drown. The naughty salesman that would do anything to be a top salesman of the week. He worked in a car lot that sold old, worn-out cars. He would tell people that the high miles on cars would not hurt them and that the car had a lot of mileage left. People were buying cars from him right and left to begin with. One lady had the transmission go out of her car after driving it for only 50 miles. He would tell the people that all the vehicles on the lot had gone through. They had been gone through the mill of disrepair. One man complained that the oil pan fell off his car, and he told him he had hit something in the road. One day he made a grave mistake and sold one of his old beasts of a car to a retired mechanic. He tried to lie to the mechanic, but his hand got caught in a trap this time. The mechanic took him to court, and he won once they heard his case. The top salesman could not soft soap the Judge as the facts about the car sunk him.

God Know When You Try To Soft Soap Him

One man went to church every Sunday thinking that that was all it took to be a good Christian. He could never walk the walk or talk the talk out of the church. He only parted with his money when he wanted something for himself. He would ignore the cries of the oppressed. He would miss the signs God was trying to put before him to think about others, not just himself. One day he lost his high-paying job, and now he was on the end of receiving true Christian love in the form of shelter and food, which made him see the light again and the light of God. He became a good Christian who shared his wealth with many when he regained his footing later. God let his light shine in this man so he could let his light shine in others. God can turn your life around if you stop and see the cries of the less fortunate.

Tags Inspirations with Laura