Cat Tales with Laura and Inspirations with Laura

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date November 15, 2024
No Comments on Sharing Is Caring For Others

Many Places Have A Sharing Pantry

A sharing pantry is for people struggling with bills or illness. When you give to a sharing pantry, give things you would want to receive if you were on the receiving end. If you have abundant food in your garden, share it with someone who would appreciate the fresh produce. I have given away things I raised, which people enjoy. Never let good food go to waste when so many people are starving. Sharing pantries helps out people in your community. I have heard of wealthy people going to these and bragging about it. Shame on you; you have been blessed, and not everything is about you. It would help if you had been raised to treat all people alike and not judge anyone as you do not know what they have endured. I think sharing pantries are essential, and they should be respected and used as they were intended to be used.

Good Used Clothing

Many children do not have warm winter coats to keep the elements out in the winter months. At the end of the winter season, one should go to the stores, buy some on sale, and then donate the nice new coats next year. If you have new clothing that hangs in your closet, please donate it to a worthy cause where it will do some good before it goes out of style, as everyone wants it to be in style. I have donated many new shoes over the years. The most needed things at shelters are underwear, socks, t-shirts, sweatshirts, and sweatpants. They need hats, gloves, and warm and toasty winter coats. If you do not have time to buy any of these items, give a cash donation if possible.

Be A Secret Santa

Surprise a stranger with a gift certificate to a store that they can use to buy food, gas, or whatever they need. Tell them that the gift certificate is a gift from God because it is if God has blessed you so that you can afford to give them a gift certificate. People need to know they are loved and appreciated in all walks of life. Kindness matters, but it matters a little bit more at Christmas. The party you help may feel down as they have lost a dear loved one, and your kindness lets them know that God and other caring people still love them.

Share Your Talents With Others

All of us are talented in one way or another. Maybe you can sing Opera, play the piano, harmonica, or accordion, or you are a great writer or illustrator. Do not hide your talents under a bushel basket. Could you share them with the world? Yes, as we have social media, people can find out about your abilities worldwide as they could not years ago. I love to look at good artwork, read books that broaden my horizons, and share my God-given talents with others. Sharing is caring for others, and think what a sad place the world would be if we never shared our knowledge, gifts, or talents with others. We would stagnate and fall backward as a nation as we would not learn anything. Our expertise and skills would die with us.

Tags be a secret Santa, share your talents, sharing pantry

Excess Baggage

Get Rid Of Old Baggage In Your Life

If something or someone is wearing you down in life, get rid of it or try to avoid them. If someone you know always puts you down and never praises you for anything you do to help them, you do not need them in your life. Unfortunately, some of us hang onto excess luggage as we do not see any alternative but to do so. Find a job that gratifies you and others if your work gets you down. Rental property can be terrible as some tenants leave all their garbage behind and trash a house that is only five years old. I feel sorry for landlords when they must be in the garbage business. They make no money whatsoever after someone trashes a house, and that is the reason why rent is so very costly today. When you rent or borrow something, leave it in the same or better condition when you leave. How you act in life will catch up with you eventually. No one gets a free ride in life unless it is a ride to jail because you did not treat someone right or you destroyed property.

Too Much Baggage On A Trip

It is true that the first time one travels, you pack everything except the kitchen sink. I remember I had a massive suitcase with enough pants and shirts to change into every other day. One learns quickly that you do not need all those changes of clothing. It was hard to maneuver that massive suitcase on the train as it stuck halfway out the door when the conductor left the train station. I barely had the strength to pull it through the train door, or it would have fallen to the platform, never to be seen again by me. As I was moving down the aisle with it, it kept bumping into people, and I kept apologizing constantly until I finally made it to my seat on the train. Lifting a heavy suitcase and storing it in a storage bin on a plane is almost impossible. Ditch the heavy and massive luggage, as it will make for a difficult trip instead of a relaxing trip.

Free You Mind Of Excess Baggage

Dwelling on the past is not good, as it prevents you from moving forward with your life and enjoying it to its full potential. Past mistakes are water over the bridge, as you cannot change the current in your life, but you can change the direction in your life. Don’t let the mistakes of the past define you forever. Always ask God for guidance if you feel you have lost direction. Ask God to forgive you for your mistakes or sins from the past, and do not keep carrying that excess luggage that weighs you down mentally and physically. We start life without heavy baggage and should end our life without heavy baggage. Put your trust in God, as he will supply you with all you need daily.

Tags Inspirations with Laura, too much baggage

Winterize

Things In Your Home To Winterize

Having your furnace and water heater checked over is a good idea. If a thermocouple or ignitor switch goes out in the middle of the winter, you may be without heat or hot water for a long time, depending on how busy your maintenance specialist is. Make sure you have a new furnace filter in your furnace every month to three months, depending on what kind of filter you purchased. If you are going on an extended vacation, you should winterize your toilet and plumbing to ensure you don’t have broken pipes and disasters when you return home. Ensure the weather stripping around doors and windows is in good shape and that older windows are caulked to keep out the elements from rotting boards and ruining the walls in your home from ice melting. Try to remove snow from your roof with a snow rake and get rid of ice dams. Ice dams can cause a lot of damage. Most new roofs have a product that lays under the shingles and prevents ice dams. Ice dams damage your gutters and the boards on the bottom of the roof, and then water can leak into your home, causing significant damage.

Winterize All of Your Vehicles

Ensure your battery maintains a good charge, or you may be stranded on a cold, dark, wintery night. Check the antifreeze in any vehicle with a motor and radiator. If it is not at a low-temperature rating, you could end up with a frozen engine block that could cost thousands of dollars to fix or replace. Ensure your engine and transmission oil are good and not a milky color, which means it has some water that will cause damage. Check to make sure the 4-wheel drive mechanism is greased and working freely. Have sand, an emergency kit in all your vehicles, and a shovel and red flag to tie up high on your car if you get stranded on the road in the winter. Without a red flag tied up high, the snow plow could cause significant damage to your vehicle when clearing the road, as he will not know it is not just a snowdrift.

Winterize Yourself

When working outdoors, have waterproof snow boots, mittens, and heavy socks so your feet do not freeze while working outdoors in the elements to move snow. I have on a heavy winter coat with a head covering where only my eyes are exposed. I start by moving the snow away from the house with a shovel or walk behind a snow blower, and then I work at the rest of the yard with a heated truck and blade to get rid of the rest of the snow. I put the pickup truck in four-wheel drive and can plow through most drifts unless they are solid as a rock.

Winterize Buildings For Your Outdoor Pets

Put insulation in any pet building you build, such as a heater, a heated water dish, and plenty of heated small buildings that only use electricity when they sense a pet’s weight. Ensure your pets have a warm and draft-free place for a safe winter for your beloved pets. Ensure all of your pets’ shots are up to date. Every creature, great and small, deserves a warm place to rest and sleep.

Tags tips, Winterizing

What Life Is All About

What Life is All About

What Do You Want To Leave Behind When You Die

I hope you want to be remembered for the good things you did with your life. I hope you teach as many people as possible the arts of your trade. If you have knowledge in a particular area and do not share it with others, your life will not have helped as much as it could have. Be kind, loving, and compassionate, and do not let your possessions control or define you. Some people will collect a particular item, and finding more of it is what occupies their minds and their daily lives. Possessions mean nothing in this world or the next; the human connections you make will fulfill you. Possessions do not care for you or love you. They just take up your time and keep you awake at night thinking about them. Help people in any way that will benefit them the most. Be a cheerleader for people and encourage them to do well. I want to be remembered for being kind, loving, compassionate, hopeful, sharing, and bringing joy and sunshine into the lives of others. I hope I have passed along what I have learned to others so they will have a fulfilled life for me being here and cheering them on to be the best they can be.

Forgiveness

We must forgive everyone who has done something wrong. You must forgive your family members, friends, parents, and yourself if you want to be happy in life. If you do not forgive others, why should anyone forgive you? When you forgive people, you do not have to forget what they did wrong, as only a fool would do that. Never let yourself get stung twice by the same Bee. Forgiveness sets you free, and you have a clear mind that is not clouded by the past.

Spending Quality Time with Loved Ones

Life is short, so spend quality time with those you hold dear most. Eat out often and go to plays, concerts, and events that they enjoy. Make sure you go on family trips or with a friend. It is lovely to be on vacation with an excellent, dear friend. Your friend and you will share some common interests, and you will learn that you like many things that your friend does. Once you see a ballet or opera, you will enjoy it. Time spent with loved ones is the most valuable time there is.

Time With God

Spending time with God is valuable; he should be your best friend, as he has seen you at your best and worst. God has helped you through turbulent and stormy times. God has been your cheerleader since you were born. Reading the Bible and daily devotions is one way of spending time with God. Praise God without ceasing for any blessings he has given or presented to you that have helped you. Be one of God’s good shepherds; that is a beautiful way to be remembered. Praise be to God.

Tags Inspirations with Laura, tips, what life is all about

Cats And Heated Beds

Helping Feral Cats Stay Warm

Cats need to sleep in a cozy and warm place in the wintertime. I like K&H heated cat beds, which last for years before the heated pad wears out in the building. Their building or house for cats has a flap on the front and back so cats can enter and leave quickly. The pad only heats up when it senses the weight of a cat sitting or lying on it. I also love the heated plastic mats you cover with a fleece cover, as the cats you are helping out can lay on it for warmth. If you dislike using a heated bed, place a lot of straw in a small building or box so the cats can make a little tunnel and stay warm as they snuggle together. Ensure any cats are out of drafty, northerly, or westerly winds. You can also hang a heat lamp over an area where they sleep. If you put a small electric heater in a building, ensure it shuts off automatically if it gets tipped over to avoid a fire that could kill the cats and spread to other buildings.

Housecats Love Heated Beds

My three house cats love to sleep in heated beds, as they are senior citizens now. The extra warmth feels good on their muscles and bodies, and they stay extra toasty and warm throughout the day. My nine cats next door love heated cat beds, windowsill cat beds, self-heating cat beds, and cat hammocks and towers. Their house has a furnace that keeps them warm, as most are senior citizens. Generally, in the heart of winter, three or more will curl up together in a heated K&H building. The windowsill heated bed is favored if the sun is shining.

Heat Registers

Some of my cats sleep next to the heat registers and purr contentedly. The minute they hear the furnace kick on, they are the first to get to their favorite heat register in the house. They prefer the register not to be fully open but almost fully open.

Cats Curled Up Next To You At Night

Cats are like heat-active missiles, as they will get as close to you as possible on a cold winter’s night. Sometimes, I have a three-cat night: one cat is by my side, one above my head, and one by my toes. A cat, from head to toe, keeps you warm and toasty.

Cats And Blankets

If you keep an extra blanket here and there, your cat will find it. I sometimes find Cali curled up on a pile of blankets. She will lay there and purr away loudly like she has found her dream bed, which is very soft and warm. Garfunkel will lay on top of a nice soft pillow and fall into a deep sleep. Once, I got a free small blanket in the mail and laid it next to my chair. Garfunkel and Cali started claiming it, and later on, Conrad loved its warmth. Keep your cats and feral cats warm and safe this winter.

Tags cat beds, Heated cat beds, Heated outside cat houses

In All Things There Is Always Some Sunshine

In All Things There is Always Some Sunshine

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date October 25, 2024
No Comments on In All Things There is Always Some Sunshine

Even In The Darkest Of Days, You Can Find Some Sunshine

On a dreary morning, you may not have much ambition. I try to find an excellent book to read or do some household chores as doing something makes me feel much better. I may watch an old TV program from years ago. I may call my friends and visit them on the phone, as friends can make the darkest days bright by adding laughter and joy into your life. Never sit and let heartache and despair take over your day. Life is short, and live each day to its fullest potential. You cannot change certain situations in your life, but you can at least make them bearable. Sometimes, you have to be your cheerleader. Never let what someone may say to you define you as a person; if they say something to hurt you or bring you down. The person who will put you down has very low self-esteem, and trying to put you down boosts their low self-esteem. The person who would do this will never support you or be your friend, so walk away if you have lost anything. You will be blessed by many good friends who will stand by you and lift you to new heights on your darkest days. Keep these friends close to your heart; they will stick with you until the end.

Days When Things Seem To Go Wrong

We all have days when almost everything seems to go wrong. Think about all of the people who have helped you these days. One winter morning, I was stuck in the ditch, and about 5 of my neighbors had offered to help me. I thanked them and told them a tow truck was coming to pull me out of the ditch. As a child, I lost my billfold in a clothing store. I was sure I would never see it again, along with the money I had in it. Later that day, a woman in the store turned it into the main office, and I got it back and the money as I had my name in the billfold. There are many honest and decent people in the world. One day, my pet goat, cat, and dog had wandered onto the blacktop, and an older woman chased them back to my place with her car. I thanked her and was glad no one or animal was hurt. Naturally, the cat returned when it felt like it, as you cannot herd a cat.

God Brings Sunshine Into Your Life

If you are feeling down, pray to God for help and guidance in what you are going through or may be facing down the road. God will help you in ways that you may never have imagined possible. God will bring the right people into your life at the right time. You may make a new friend who is like a guardian angel. God can turn any day into sunshine, a day with friends, laughter, and love. God knows exactly what we need and when we need it. Praise be to God.

Tags a new day has dawned, Inspirations with Laura, Rejoice

Vintage Toys

Why We Collect Old Toys That We Had When We Were Young

Perhaps the toys from our past remind us of our youth’s carefree and happy days. One day, I found a Doctor’s kit I had as a child at a rummage sale. It reminded me of when I used to play Doctor and write out prescriptions for pills to make my Grandmother well. Childhood treatments were always effective, and my Grandmother would put up with my pretend ailments and my prescriptions for her, which made her OK again. I always loved toy cap guns, so I purchased one at a rummage sale that somebody had hardly used. I also found a chicken that would lay eggs when you hit the egg on her stomach with a toy gun that shot out suction cup arrows. The vintage chicken toy looked brand new.

Sometimes, We Will Collect A Toy That We Wish We had As A Child

As a child, I always wanted a Lionel train, but I never had one, so I have some now. If we played with a toy at a friend’s house and loved it, that is why we might want a toy like that now in our older years. I never liked dolls and traditional girls’ toys; I always preferred the toys the boys played with. I loved to play marbles with the boys when I was in first through fifth grade. I loved to play baseball with boys at recess and catch the ball with my catcher’s mitt. I would dress up my cats in doll clothes, and they would sleep in a shoebox for one to two hours. Then, I would remove their doll dresses, and they would go back outdoors to catch mice and do their own thing. I thought it wasn’t brilliant to play with a plastic doll and pretend it was like a baby, as to me, it was just a piece of plastic. My cats were alive; I could easily pretend they were babies. I had stuffed animals of various kinds that I played with. One day, I found a stuffed toy dog I had fond memories of years ago. I purchased that old toy dog at a rummage sale as it looked clean and well-preserved.

Toys Bring Back Fond Memories From The Past

You may collect a toy car because you remember riding in one in childhood. My parents had a good-looking 1952 Chevy, and I liked riding in that car with them. I saw a car that looked very similar in color, and it was a 1952 and reasonably priced, so I purchased it. I used to have some toy steam engines, and it was fun to see them move and operate from the steam as they worked, just like the old steam engines they used on the farm and other places years ago. Toys remind us of the happiest times in our lives, the fun times and the beautiful memories of feeling safe and sound with our parents, and the fun family vacations that hold Dear memories in our hearts. Memory Lane is priceless as it is full of God’s blessings.

Tags Antiques, childhood toys, tips

Timing Is Everything

Be Patient And Wait Until The Time Is Right

Never talk to someone about an important matter when tired or worn out. Wait to speak to someone after they have had time to rest and relax. If worn out, they may be mad at you for no reason except they are plain worn out. If someone is wide awake and has plenty of rest, they will listen to you and be receptive and open to discussion on the matter at hand. Never buy a car until you have thought it over and can afford the car payments. Going into debt is never a good idea, as interest rates take forever to pay off, and you will probably pay for the car at least twice because of the exorbitant interest rates. Buying a house on time makes sense as you are not paying rent. You are making house payments, and you will own the house eventually. When starting in life, buy used as you do not have to have everything brand new. Save money for your old age as you will need a good amount to retire on and for the Nursing home eventually. Plan as timing is everything. If you put off things too long, you may not be able to do it in the future depending on your health or other things that may come up that you did not expect.

God Knows When The Timing Is Right For Us

God leads us on different paths in our lives at various times. He has things he wants us to do at certain times, and that is the path you are on at present. Some people are led on the path or mission God wants them to follow later in life. God knows when we can complete the path he has set out for us to accomplish. If we were younger, maybe he figured we did not know enough about the area he had planned for us. We may have many missions to complete on Earth before getting the ultimate mission God has always intended for us. God knows timing is everything and will never lead us on a mission we cannot complete without his guidance. We must always listen to what God calls us to do and be patient. Complete your mission with compassion, kindness, love, and understanding of other people’s feelings.

Golden Opportunity

If you see a golden opportunity, go for it and do not procrastinate; the next person may grab it immediately. Golden opportunities do not come along very often. If you have the money, health, and time to travel, do it now, as timing is everything. Do not wait until you retire, as your health could change quickly. If you are offered a dream job, take it and be happy. There is no use in working at a job that you dread as you do a disservice to yourself and others. Life is a golden opportunity as you can learn something new daily, enjoy other people’s company, and be out with Mother Nature. Remember, timing is everything; it has to be in the correct order and at the right time.

Tags Inspirations with Laura, timing matters, tips

Cats Love To Hide From You Now And Then

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date October 14, 2024
No Comments on Cats Love To Hide From You Now And Then

I Think Some Of My Cats Get A Thrill When They See Me Calling And Looking For Them

Winchester loves to go outdoors occasionally, but the other day, he would not come when I looked and looked and called his name. He had watched me frantically looking for him the whole time, and he heard me calling his name, but he would not come to me. I think he wanted to see if I loved him and was also having fun watching me. I had a cat that would run when I was near him, ready to take him back into the house. He would finally give in and let me catch him. I had a purebred Siamese cat with all her claws; she knew how to defend herself against any attacker. We had to go to town one day for an appointment, and she would not come out from under a big evergreen tree. I told her it would rain and she would be soaking wet when we returned home, and she was, but she never tried that again. I looked for one of my cats; she had climbed high in the tree and would not come down. I returned to the house, and she was ready to come in.

Cats Who Do Not Want To See The Vet Or Want A Private Place To Sleep

Years ago, some of my outdoor cats would hide in another building if they thought it was time for their Vet visit. My housecats tend to hide if they think I will give them medicine. I have found them on a shelf, in a box, or behind the washing machine or drapes. My grandmother could not find her Siamese cat years ago. Her cat had gotten the lid off a shoebox and somehow got the lid back on with her in it. A woman who helped her with things found her cat as it was purring away inside the shoebox. I saw one of my housecats sound asleep in a Christmas decorations box. Once, the linen closet door was open, and my Siamese cat had fallen asleep on the nice, clean towels.

Dangerous Spots Where Cats Will Hide

Cats love to lay on warm car engines in the winter months, and depending on where the cat is resting on the motor, it could be killed when the car is started. Cats will also sleep on top of warm car tires; if they do not jump off, their nine lives will be over. Always look in buildings you hardly use to see if your cat might have snuck in the last time you entered, as they may starve to death if you do not find them in time. One cat jumped in a chest of drawers the day her owners were moving. They found her one week later still alive, luckily but much thinner. Cats are very clever and sometimes too clever for their own good. God bless our feline friends and let them live out their whole nine lives.

Tags Cat Antics

What's On Your Horizon?

What’s On Your Horizon?

A New Day

I look forward to a new day and to what it will bring. If yesterday was not a good day for you, do not assume that today will be like yesterday or that it will turn out like yesterday because that is your mindset. A new day is a day with no mistakes. Plan your day, relax, and enjoy yourself, and always reach out to someone and make their day a little brighter. Bring sunshine into the lives of those you meet on life’s Hi-Way. I love to work outdoors and enjoy nature at its best. Life has a lot of joyous adventures if you take the time to have a few adventures with those you hold dear.

The Horizon Holds Something Different For Everyone

Your age makes a difference in what the horizon may hold for you. As young people, we focus on college and a career, meeting the love of our lives, getting married, and having children and pets. Parents raise their children to the best of their abilities, hoping they will succeed and have a better life than they did. In your forties, you should have a job, family, or life that brings you happiness and joy. You will begin to slow down a little in your fifties, but that is OK. Life should not have quite as many things that need to get done. When you turn 60, you know that retirement will be coming soon, and hopefully, you have saved something for your Golden years. Relax, enjoy yourself, and do more things that bring joy to your life.

I Hope Travel is On Your Horizon

I have enjoyed almost every trip I have taken. The scenery was breathtaking, and the food from the different countries was delicious. Make sure travel is one thing on your horizon that you can look forward to. If you can only travel a short distance, plan out day trips, and I am sure you will enjoy yourself and have a wonderful time exploring and shopping.

Sickness

Do not let sickness define or empower you; you must empower your illness. All of us will get some sickness or disease that will slow us down somewhat. Do what you love doing, and never let anything break your stride in life. On down days, pray to the Lord to help lift you and get you back on the right track again.

Time To Move or Down Size

If you live in a huge home and are now an empty nester, you may want to downsize to a smaller home that is easier to maintain and clean. Our large homes may be too much for us to manage as we age. Depending on how we get along, we must decide whether to buy a smaller house, rent or go to assisted living. We do not like to leave our home of many years filled with happy memories everywhere we look, but it might eventually be a necessity on our horizon. Make sure that whatever area of your horizon you are in, you always look forward to a new day with joy, hope, love, peace, and laughter.

Tags Inspirations with Laura, positive thoughts, uncertainty