Cat Tales with Laura and Inspirations with Laura

A Cat Owners Daily Routine

My cats are my alarm clock. They generally wake me up by at least 6:00 AM every morning. They start by walking on my stomach or licking my hand.

I feed my cats early in the morning and give them fresh water. I comb or brush my cats, which tend to shed a lot. I generally comb out a small clump of fur from each cat I comb out.

I put my cat’s toys away every morning. It is always interesting to see what they will pick out of their cat toy box to play with for the day. They always pick out at least two catnip-filled toys. Today, they picked out a red toy lobster, a white toy rabbit, a small green dragon toy, and catnip toys.

They take turns sitting on my lap in the afternoon while I pat them on their head. They like sleeping on top of my grandfather’s clock and refrigerator.

My cat next door take sunbathe during the day. They like to sleep on a window sill cat bed. Lorenzo and Russ like to rest on a shelf with clean towels softened with fabric softener.

My cat’s next door get their litter box cleaned again in the afternoon. Some of my cat’s next door rush to make a new deposit to their litter box before I clean them out.

All of my cats get an afternoon or an evening snack. They may get cat treats or canned cat food or tuna canned in water as a treat for the day.

My cat Conrad likes to sleep on a rocking chair in the afternoon. Kohl wants to take sunbathe in the hallway upstairs in the afternoon. Garfunkel rests on the refrigerator, grandfather clock, and the China cabinet.

I love my daily routine of caring for my awesome feline family. I hope your feline family has a beautiful customary way with you.

Tags cat Toys, cat treats, Introducing a New Cat Into Your Home, kitten grooming, Picking Out A Kitten

Getting Your Cat Ready for the Cold Winter Months

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date December 5, 2015
No Comments on Getting Your Cat Ready for the Cold Winter Months

Ensure your outdoor cats have a place out of the wind. I have a unique building for my outdoor cats. I have heated outdoor beds in the building for my outdoor cats. I also have an old chicken nest filled with fresh straw. Cats or kittens without any protection from the elements can get the tips of their ears frozen off. My outdoor cats have a heated water dish. Your cat must have water available at all times for optimal health.

It is essential to check on your outdoor cats often in the winter. In a nasty blizzard, the opening of their building may get covered over with snow. Your cat may also become disoriented during a blizzard. You might save their life by alerting your cat’s well-being during a blizzard.

I have used a heat lamp to keep outdoor kittens warm. Ensure the heat lamp is away from anything that may catch fire. Give your outdoor cats extra food over the winter months to help them maintain more body heat. In cold weather, they will burn off any calories they may not burn off in warmer months.

My indoor cats have heated beds that they can rest or sleep in. They like to sleep in bed with me in the winter. They want to sleep next to the heat registers in my house. When I run an extra heater, I will find at least one of my cats sleeping next to it.

Ensure all of your cat shots are up to date before the cold winter months. A healthy cat can stand the cold much better than an unhealthy cat.

I ensure I have a good supply of cat litter and cat food before it gets icy out. You don’t want to slip on the ice and possibly break a bone trying to bring cat litter into your house.

Tags Signs of a Sick Cat, Whats Upsetting My Cat ?

Ireland Irish Foods

A Taste of Ireland

I was with a tour group while I was traveling in Ireland. We had an excellent buffet breakfast every morning. There were scrambled eggs, perfect brown bread, ham, tomatoes, baked beans, sausages, fried eggs, yogurt, fresh fruit, fruit smoothies, mushrooms, and scones. We had a variety of different fruit juices to choose from. Our waitress came to our table with a choice of coffee or tea for us to drink. I tried the coffee, and it was excellent.

My friend and I stopped at an Irish Pub. I ordered their Irish Stew, and it was excellent. The Stew was made with lamb, and the lamb was cooked to perfection. Our waitress also came to our table with a big bowl of potatoes for us to eat. There were so many potatoes that we could not possibly eat all of them.

At noon my friend and I enjoyed a delicious fruit scone. We had the scone with clotted cream. We had a large pot of tea with our scones. We enjoyed a scone almost every day while vacationing in Ireland.

I ordered the hake that was on our menu. The hake was beautiful, and it tasted like cod fish. The hake was served with a vegetable medley, mashed potatoes, and more potatoes on the side. I was so impressed with the hake I ordered it twice while vacationing.

I ordered the chicken breast that was served in a wine sauce. The chicken was very tender and just melted in my mouth. The chicken was done over a bed of potatoes. Our waitress also came to our table with a big platter of vegetables and potatoes. I ordered the chicken breast again the next day of our vacation.

I was very impressed with all the food I ate while vacationing in Ireland.

Tags Travel

What My Cats are Getting for Christmas Presents

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date November 28, 2015
1 Comment on What My Cats are Getting for Christmas Presents

My cats get cat treats that are natural with no artificial colors or preservatives in them. They love turkey, chicken, salmon, tuna, and other flavors. I give my cats treats on Christmas Eve or early Christmas morning.

I bought a few new heated cat beds for my cats. They love cuddling up in these warm, warm cat beds on cold winter nights. I also purchased some heated windowsill cat beds. They love to lay on these and watch the birds outdoors while resting on their heated window perches. I also have several heated stainless steel water bowls. I always buy stainless steel water bowls because they do not break like plastic ones in cold weather.

I have purchased several new toys for my cats. I have purchased singing toy birds for cats that are stuffed with catnip. I bought several bright-colored balls and toy mice that are always a big hit with my cats. For Christmas, they will also get a stuffed miniature sock monkey and a Star Wars cat toy this year.

All outdoor cat buildings have been filled with fresh straw and thoroughly cleaned before the cold weather sets in. Always keep a heated outdoor cat bed and a heated outdoor water bowl for your outdoor cats. Fresh straw helps your cat stay warmer in the winter months.

I will be buying another circle toy for my cats this year. They love to bat a ball or a mouse around in a track on a circle toy. I will buy one that is brightly colored. Some circle toys have a scratching pad for your cat to sharpen its claws on.

I make sure all of my cat’s shots are up to date, along with their yearly checkups. A gift of good health is the best present you could give your feline friend.

Merry Christmas to you and your family and all of your feline household.

Tags cat Toys, cat treats, Christmas and Your Cat

South Dakota Strawbale Winery

Strawbale Winery Located in Renner, South Dakota

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date November 24, 2015
1 Comment on Strawbale Winery Located in Renner, South Dakota

The South family established Strawbale Winery on their acreage in 2006. The building is constructed of compacted straw, straw bales, and wire covered with stucco. The building is a prairie-style wine cellar.

I enjoyed my tour of the Strawbale Winery. Their wines are produced, fermented, and blended on-site. They grow some of their fruit and buy the others from local markets. Their winery sits on a pleasant and relaxing acreage. I enjoyed patting their outdoor cats and looking at their chickens. I like that they have re-purposed items they use at their winery. They have a blackboard that they use as their countertop. Their wine is stored in giant plastic vats until it is ready to be bottled and corked. I found their winery to be very clean and efficient.

My friends and I tasted a variety of wines. Don, the winery owner, poured out the samples for us. I like white wines. I want wine that is sweet and very mild. I enjoyed their semi-sweet Plum, Apple Raspberry, and Apple Rhubarb wine. I also liked their sweet Burning Bog, a cranberry and jalapeno wines blend, and Pear wine. They have Dry, Semi-Sweet, Sweet, and Fortified ( 18% alcohol ) wines. I found their wine prices very reasonable in today’s wine market. I bought a bottle of their Strawberry Rhubarb Semi-Sweet wine.

Strawbale Winery has a lot of fun and exciting activities you can attend throughout the year. They have a Harvest Festival, Folk Off, Sangria Sundays, Strawbale Summer Porch, and Series. In December, they offer Twilight Flights. You will start with food and wine. Then a helicopter flight from the winery to downtown Sioux Falls to view the lights of the city and Falls Park Winter Wonderland. Return to the winery for desserts and dessert wines.

I truly enjoyed my visit to Strawbale Winery. The winery is a fun place to relax and unwind with a nice glass of wine.

Tags Travel

Orijen Tundra Cat Treat from Chewy.Com

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date November 21, 2015
No Comments on Orijen Tundra Cat Treat from Chewy.Com

I was provided Orijen Tundra Cat Treats from Chewy.Com to facilitate my review. All thoughts are 100% honest and my own.

Tundra Cat Treats are made with ranch-raised venison, Elk, Quail, and Steelhead Trout delivered fresh. Their cat treats are loaded with flavor and goodness; our local elk are raised free-range in Alberta, Canada. All of Orijen Cat Treats’ ingredients are never outsourced. The cat treats are made in their kitchens, where they freeze-dry fresh local ingredients and control every detail of their preparation. The cat treats are made without cooking or preservatives, so all the life-giving nutrients and flavors are fully retained in a treat your cat will love.

My house cats love this wonderful cat treat. Conrad kept wanting more and more of these marvelous cat treats. Garfunkel and Kohl ate up the Orijen Cat Treats as quickly as I put them down for them to eat. I laid some more cat treats down for them the next day, and they disappeared again rapidly.

Lorenzo tried to eat up my other cat’s treats. Sherlock, Hilford, and Mr. Gray went crazy for the Tundra cat Treats. Hilford let me pat him on the head as he ate his cat treats. Hilford is very shy, but he put up with me patting him on the head as long as he could get more Orijen Tundra Cat Treats from Chewy.Com. Cali liked the Tundra cat treats. Maggie ate every little piece of her cat treats. Russ and Addy got their fair share of the cat goodies, also. Peter and Nicole were not left out. I put some treats back on the board where they hide for them to eat.

Maggie devoured her Tundra Cat Treats. Onyx also got a few cat treats, which went very quickly.

I would highly recommend Orijen Tundra Cat Treats from Chewy.Com. Please feed all cat treats in moderation as a healthy treat. Each and everyone one of my cats almost inhaled these wonderful and nutritious cat treats.

Tags cat treats, What Should I be Feeding My Cat ?

South Dakota Washington Pavilion

Washington Pavilion Located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date November 17, 2015
No Comments on Washington Pavilion Located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

The Washington Pavilion started as a school in 1879. The building has one classroom and a hallway, as it was when it was Washington High School. I loved looking at all the histories of Washington High School. There are pictures of former students and trophies, and more. Portions of the building are made from native Sioux quartzite and have stood for almost 100 years. The building has the original marble staircases within the 1922 building, which now houses the Kirby Science Center. The building is a Neoclassical Structure and is an architectural landmark listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The last class to graduate at Washington High School was the class of 1992. In 1992 the Sioux Falls City Commission established the Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science Advisory Board. In 1999 the Washington Pavilion became the first facility in America to house a visual arts center, performing arts center, and a science center in one building. The Washington Pavilion became a fantastic art and science center through grants, bonds, and volunteers.

I loved the Kirby Science Discovery Center, one of the region’s best hands-on science centers. I loved looking at their 65 million-year-old Tyrannosaurus Rex replica. They have a machine you can go into to feel the effects of a tornado. Your hair will get exceptionally wind-blown in the tornado machine. Children can learn about psychics, earthquakes, bees, hang gliding, etc. They have a NASA area where your child can put his head in a space suit. The Kirby Discovery Science Center is informative, educational, and exceptionally interesting for young children.

I was very impressed with their Performing Arts Center. Workers gutted the old auditorium, stage, and gym to make a unique new auditorium. The hall is six stories tall, 99 feet wide, and 160 feet long. The acoustics are exceptional. Sound bounces off of quartzite panels. The orchestra level seats 1000, the mezzanine seats 500 + and the balcony 250+.The total seating capacity is about 1900 people. They also have a Wells Fargo Cino Dome Theather that holds 172 people. Their Belbas Theater holds about 300 people. They host a variety of programs in the Husby Performing Arts Center, such as musical ensembles, lectures, and piano recitals.

The Visual Arts Center displayed Mark W. McGinnis’s works. He works primarily in black acrylic ink and watercolor. I was impressed with his Third World Ties art exhibit. I also liked his Designs of Faith Art. He put a lot of time and study into all of his artwork.

The Visual Arts Center is one of only three accredited by the American Association of Museums in South Dakota. The Community Learning Center allows students ages eight to 18 to excel in the performing arts through music and theater. The Washington Pavilion has action art and science. You can have hands-on learning experiences in science, skills, and performing arts.

The Washington Pavilion is a beautiful place to learn more about the arts and science. I highly recommend spending a day or an afternoon at the Washington Pavilion. You can watch a movie or a piano recital performing arts and learn more about science.

Tags Travel

Curiousity Can Kill Your Cat

Curiosity Can Kill Your Cat

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date November 14, 2015
2 Comments on Curiosity Can Kill Your Cat

Cats have been trapped behind walls during remodeling. Kittens have fallen in wells. The kitten’s owner tied a towel on the end of a fishing pole and managed to get the kitten out of the well by the kitten grabbing onto the towel and reeling the kitten up out of the well. One party lit a candle in their kitchen, and their cat knocked it over and burned most of their house.

A tenant of mine did not know that her cat had gotten in her clothes dryer. The cat tumbled around in the clothes dryer for at least 20 minutes. When my tenant opened the dryer door, her cat stumbled out and had blood coming from her mouth. Luckily her cat made a full recovery. Another person told me her cat had gotten into her washing machine. She was washing her clothes on a gentle cycle. When she opened the lid to the washing machine, her cat was furious and upset. Her cat made a full recovery.

Cats love to sit on car motors and tires when the weather gets colder. Look at your car tires to ensure you do not run over your outdoor cats. Put used motor oil and anti-freeze in a container your cat cannot get into. Anti-freeze has a sweet taste that cats like, and they will die from drinking it. Keep all of your poisons and chemicals out of kitties’ reach.

We once had a cat that got in our grain auger and survived his ordeal. He rode in the grain wagon to the elevator. When the wagon was dumped at the elevator, he staggered out. They put him back in the empty wagon, and we let him out at home. He was fine and lived to be an old cat. I think he used up at least one of his nine lives.

Cats are interested, which is a sign of intelligence. They can get into trouble in a hurry by their trinket’s nature. Always ensure your cat is accounted for when working on different projects in your home and outdoors. Your cat’s life may depend on it.

Tags Cat Emergency

Remembering Our Veterans

Our troops in the Civil War were cold and hungry quite often. They did not have warm enough clothing for the weather conditions. Many were farmers and not adequately trained to fight in the battles. Their horses were shot out from under them. They ran out of ammunition and had to stab the opposition. Surgeries ran the risk of infection for a lack of sanitizing equipment. They marched on and fought in horrific conditions.

My Grandfather was in World War 1. My Grandfather rode a horse and carried bandages, medical supplies, and water for the troops. He slept in a tent at night. The trenches were full of water at times. A soldier would have to stand in the water until conditions got better. Many soldiers got frostbite or died from pneumonia from standing in the wet trenches.

I have read a lot of books about World War 2. A soldier can be marching next to his friends, and they are blown up right before him. What a horrific and terrifying sight for him to remember for the rest of his life. I went to the Pearl Harbor Memorial. I thought of what the soldiers sacrificed for us. They gave the ultimate sacrifice of their life.

My Uncle was in the Korean war. He never wanted to talk about it. One day he told me at night, the rats would run across his body all night long as he tried to sleep. The rats in Korea were as giant as cats.

All of the wars have been painful and horrific for our troops. Everyone has lost family or friends to fight. Mothers have lost every one of their sons in one single war. One soldier I read about laid on a grenade to save his entire platoon. His parents were heartbroken but also very proud of him that he gave his life to save his friends’ lives.

God Bless our veterans. They have been through a lot for us. So many have given the ultimate sacrifice of their life. They fought for their families and future generations to come.

Tags Remembering Our Veterans

Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History South Dakota

Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History Located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date November 10, 2015
2 Comments on Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History Located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

I was provided a ticket to the Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History to facilitate my review. All thoughts are 100 % honest and my own.

The Great Plains Zoo offers an up-close look at more than 1000 animals. The Zoo sits on a 45-acre park that offers up-close views of the animals not found in more prominent zoos. The Great Plains Zoo is one of only 13 zoos to have a Snow Monkey exhibit. The Zoo has a breeding program for 23 endangered species. The Zoo also has the Delbridge Museum of Natural History, which houses a rare collection of 100 mounted animals, including 38 vanishing species.

I enjoyed looking at the Giraffes. The Giraffes came up right next to the fence. I have house cats, and I also like big cats. I especially enjoyed looking at the Amur Tiger. The Amur Tiger was very playful, just like my house cats. The Cheetah was shyer, but she was such a beautiful big cat.

I used to have a pygmy goat named Zachary. The zoo’s African Pygmy goat reminded me of my beloved goat Zachary.

I enjoyed a close and personal look at the rare Rhinos of Africa. The Rhino is a fascinating and fun animal to watch and observe. The Rhinos were eating a lot of grass while I watched them.

The Snow Monkeys were adorable. I loved how they interacted with each other. The females are very protective of each other’s babies. Their Snow Monkey exhibit was awarded top honors in exhibit design.

The Great Plains Zoo is one of the cleanest and nicest zoos I have ever visited. All of their animals seemed happy and contented.

I enjoyed the Flamingos. I learned that the reason that they are a beautiful pink color is from all of the shrimp that they eat. They absorb the color of the shrimp into their body.

I recommend stopping at the Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History. The Zoo would make a perfect family outing that the whole family would love.

Tags Travel