Cat Tales with Laura and Inspirations with Laura

Life Is A True Gift

Never take your life for granted, for it is a gift from God. You should live every day with excitement and joy. I like to sing to God when I ride my bike and thank him for the many blessings in my life, such as health, friends, relatives, travel, and being able to help and serve others. I love to keep busy with both outdoor and indoor work, but I prefer the outdoor work, as it recharges my batteries and gives me joy and a bounce in my step when I have completed my to-do projects.

I Am Glad That I Am A Cat Caretaker

I feel blessed to take care of God’s creatures great and small. I have had a deep love for cats since I was two years old, and I still love them as much as I did back then. I have had cats born on our family farm over the years. I adopt cats from shelters now, and I provide them with the best care possible. They have fresh litterboxes, water, high-quality cat food, regular Vet checkups, and their necessary shots. We had several wonderful dogs over the years. I had a pet goat I dearly loved who lived to be 16.3 years old, which is very old for a goat. I have had other animals over the years. I love feeding birds outdoors and providing them with bird food and clean water in bird baths.

Take Time For Yourself

Sometimes I like to go somewhere by myself and relax. You must take care of yourself before you can serve others. I might stop somewhere to eat a special kind of food I like. I might eat a piece of quiche, some chicken salad, or salmon with a dill sauce.

Live Your Days Fulfilled

I had a dear friend whom I loved to travel with. We mostly enjoyed the same kinds of food. We enjoyed the same type of entertainment, such as concerts, ballet, opera, lifelong learning classes, and more. We would eat out at restaurants and coffee shops together, and we enjoyed small-town shopping. Surround yourself with people who care deeply about you, and you care deeply about them. God gave us good friends to help complete us, and he knew we needed confidants in our lives we could tell our problems to, who would offer solutions. Friends care for each other through thick and thin and never leave your side, as God is with you 24/7. I have many friends and relatives who have helped, supported, and lifted me when I was in need. My neighbor is a wonderful and caring friend. I am blessed to have had many wonderful and dear cousins in my life who have enriched it and made it brighter.

Truly Celebrate Your Life Daily

Life moves forward, and we must move forward with it. We all grow older, but age is just a number. Live a life of purpose and stay positive, and you will celebrate your life to the max. Keep moving and keep your get-up-and-go.

Tags Inspirations with Laura, tips

Cats And How They Show Love

Cats And How They Show Love Toward Others

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date July 5, 2026
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Cats Lick And Groom Each Other

Garfunkel will lick and groom Cali and Milford. They will jump up next to him, and immediately he starts licking them, or they may touch noses once in a while. Cali will return the favor. My cats next door will rub against each other and/or headbutt each other, and once in a while, they may lick or bite each other’s fur to remove snarls or help with general grooming. When Hilford’s mother, Addi, was alive, he would rub against her and, so to speak, hug her. I had an outdoor cat years ago that would sleep with our small dog in her doghouse, and our dog would babysit her kittens, and they would hunt mice in the ditches together. I had a pet goat years ago, and my cat loved the goat, and he loved her, but his grooming was a bit excessive, and he ended up giving her a mohawk. At least it was in the summer, and her hair grew back before cold weather set in. If a cat in the household is not doing well, the other cats will often check on it, lick it, and help groom it.

Our Samoyed And An Oppossum

Our dog would lie next to the opossum and try to keep it warm on a rainy day outside. She would also invite it into her doghouse if it were chilly out, along with one cat she licked.

Cats And Other Critters

My outdoor cats would eat next to skunks, raccoons, and opossums, as well as the pet goat and dog we had at the time. One time, one of our cats got into a horrible fight with a skunk, and our neighbor let us know what happened to our outdoor cat. A skunk had bitten her, but luckily, she had received her rabies shot, and she recovered quickly as I treated her with salve. I guess that skunk had never been around cats before. One cat seemed to talk to my horse every morning. She would go into the area where my horse was, meow at her, and my horse would whine back at her. I read about one horse that would meet a cat by the fence every morning. Cats try their best to get along with other critters, and they have rescued many abandoned baby critters. One cat brought a baby joey into its owner’s home, and one cat saved a baby rabbit and also a baby black panther. They were all saved by female house cats that were either nursing kittens or had lost their kittens. One cat saved a baby chick, and she sat on top of it at night to keep it warm. The Mother hen wanted her chick back when it was doing OK, but the Mother cat did not trust that hen with the baby chick for some time. The hen ended up with visitation rights only.

Cats Love Their Caregivers

Cats will lie next to you in bed at night, and if you are not feeling well, they might check in on you every hour to make sure you are OK. Cats will give you an Eskimo kiss, groom your hair, or sleep on the top part of your pillow, which is the spot where they lie when they think you are the best human ever. Cats have been known to go to the cemetery where their former owner is buried day after day. One poor cat got so thin because she would not eat as she lay on top of the grave. A woman adopted her; the cat quickly grew to care for her, and she started eating again. God bless our dear feline friends and family.

Tags cats and grooming, cats and othrt pets, Cats loving ways

Look Out For Snake Oil Salesmen

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date July 2, 2026
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If It Sounds Too Good To Be True, It Usually Is

If you see something wonderfully priced at only $1.00, don’t fall for it. They will usually ask for your credit card number and may charge your card to its limit. I saw an electric scooter for $25.00 the other day. When you go to check it out, you quickly find out it comes from a foreign country you have never heard of before, and you have to find a shipper to ship it to the USA, which costs thousands of dollars. None of these have happened to me, but it could happen to someone who doesn’t read the fine print. I always ask to speak with the previous owner of any used car before I buy it. One salesman told me the car had never been in an accident, but when I spoke to the owner, I learned it had been. I once got offers to fix my roof, and several thought she was just a woman and did not know the prices. He also tried to tell me that 35-year shingles were the same as 50-year shingles. I confronted the one who wanted to take me to the cleaners twice, and he had never had a woman challenge him on prices before. Be careful when buying replacement parts, as they may be knockoffs. I once had an auto body shop tell me I was getting genuine GM replacement parts, and the details he showed me were paper-thin as they were foreign. No wonder he could give such a low quote. Not only did he rip off the customer, but he also ripped off the insurance company.

People who do not Stand Behind What They Sell

I purchased something online recently, and it did not work, no matter what I tried to do to get it to function correctly. I contacted them via chat, and every time I asked for my money back, they ended the conversation immediately and would not respond to my emails. As I mentioned, I paid via PayPal, and they decided to issue a refund ASAP. PayPal is lovely as they make people stand behind their products. My parents purchased a new can opener from a privately owned hardware store years ago. The can opener would not cut the lid off any can, and the owner said my parents had abused it. He would not give them their money back. He lost my parents as customers forever and a few others. We purchased a washing machine, and the agitator went the opposite way. The store would not believe us, so we told them to come out and watch the agitator go the wrong way, and we got our money back. I purchased a new clock radio, and the clock did not work. I told them they had one left and wanted it, or I would speak with the manager. If a store does not like to help you with your purchase after the sale, speak to the manager, who will make it right with you when all else fails. Let the buyer beware and be a savvy consumer.

Tags cons, snake oil salespeople, tips

Keep Busy And Keep Moving

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date June 28, 2026
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Staying Busy Is Good For Your Overall Health

Being engaged in an activity is good for relieving stress and improving your overall state of mind. If one sits around, one tends to worry more. An active person does not have time to sit and worry about things he cannot change or control. I feel better when I am busy and active. An active person tends to live longer and stress less over little things that really do not matter in the scheme of things. Movement is good for your back and your joints, as the old saying goes, if you sit, you rust. Stay busy in the winter by sorting through things you no longer need, then donating them to a store that can resell them, helping those in your community who are less fortunate. Start a new hobby or learn something new at your local college. I like to plan out my garden in the winter months and then order the seeds I need. I love walking around our place, mowing the lawn, doing snow removal, and tending to our trees, such as watering them and keeping them trimmed.

Exercise Outdoors

It is good to shovel your snow as it gives your muscles much-needed exercise. Never shovel vigorously if you have been sitting around most of the winter, as you could have an instant heart attack. Operating a snow blower gives you some moderate exercise and gets you out of the house to breathe in the nice crisp air. Skiing, snowboarding, sledding, and ice skating are our fun winter activities. Ice hockey is a fun way to socialize and get out with your friends. Just walking up and down the steps in your home or outdoors can help you lose weight and help keep your joints more limber.

Socialize

Go out for coffee with a friend or eat out at a restaurant. You could meet a friend at the mall, walk around for exercise, then grab a bite to eat or maybe watch a movie. I love to go out for a drive with a friend and discover coffee shops, restaurants, bakeries, and small-town shopping, as I have found clothes, antiques, cooking stores, art shops, and much more.

Reading

I love to read history books, history magazines, cat magazines, books on daily devotions, and National Geographic. I do not like reading fiction. I love reading both old and modern medical books. I can then tell my Doctor what may be wrong with me in a more professional manner. I want to read about things that actually took place. I have no time for romance novels; I find reading them a total waste of time. I like to read books that enrich my mind, and I have learned something valuable to share with others. We never get too old to learn, and what you learn today could save your life or someone else’s tomorrow. Read books about a hobby or business that you may wish to start, as it pays to be informed before you leap into something that may not be right for you to pursue.

Tags exercise, read, socaialize, staybusy, walk

God Matters In Your Life

You Are Nothing At All Without God In Your Life

God is our heavenly creator, as he put breath in our bodies the day we were born. We are created in God’s image, and each one of us has a purpose in life. We should live lives that help others by bringing joy, love, peace, hope, compassion, and kindness into their lives. God wants each one of us to reach out to our fellow man and help him out when he is downtrodden or in despair. If someone has a loss of any kind, see if there is something you can do to help physically or financially, depending on your own health.

God Does Answer Prayers

We want God to answer our prayers ASAP, but God has his own time frame for answering them when he thinks it will do the most good at that particular moment. Be patient with others and with God. God has always answered my prayers by bringing the right people into my life at the right time. Don’t ask for trivial things in your prayers; ask for truly important things. Pray for those who have suffered a loss, people in constant pain, and parents who have children who are extremely sick. Thank God for your many blessings, and for keeping those you love and people you don’t know safe from harm and free from pain.

Always Make Time For God

Go to church or listen to church services online or at an outdoor service. Staying connected to God is easier when you are surrounded by like-minded people who think and share their religious knowledge with others. Read your Bible and a devotion every day, and you will be amazed by how much of it applies to your life today. Take a walk and notice the wonderful scenery and animals that God has made for us to look at and care for for future generations to come. Being out in nature is a good way to connect with God and everything he has created for us to eat, see, and admire. Pray to God without ceasing. All things are possible with God in your life 24/7.

God Is Your Biggest Cheerleader In Life

God wants you to be all that you possibly can be in life. Go to college, set goals for yourself, and pray to God for guidance on your journey toward knowledge and for help with your dream job. God wants us to be educated and give back to society by sharing our knowledge with the next generation. Let your light shine for the whole world to see, and never keep your light where others cannot see it. God teaches us through his compassion and kindness, and as we read the Bible and the Ten Commandments, they are not called “ten suggestions.” Go out into the world and share what you have learned with others so that they may learn and grow also. One can never have too much knowledge in this world, as things are constantly changing. Make time for God every day, and you will be very glad you did, as your days will be brighter and happier for doing so.

Tags Inspirations with Laura

Cats And Food Pecking Order And More

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date June 21, 2026
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Female And Male Cats

Male house cats think they should have first dibs on the food, just like cats in the wild. Sometimes the males will slap at the female cats if they eat first. I have some female cats that get my male cats running. Faith and Kenzie eat when and where they want to. Generally, male cats like to be held and petted more than female cats do. The female cats are programmed to be on top of their game constantly. If they have kittens, they must be on alert at all times to protect their young from predators of all kinds, and therefore do not have time to be held for long. I have also noticed that female cats do not like having their ears cleaned or taking medicine as much as male cats do. I do have one female housecat that is part Siamese and Calico, and she has let me treat her for years for her kidneys, and she is very tolerant, amazingly. Both sexes are avid hunters, but females tend to be bolder about what they go after. I had a female tortoise shell that would bring home dead garter snakes years ago. I also had a female cat that would kill rabbits and gophers. One amazing female cat had an all-out battle with a skunk. The skunk bit a hunk of her face, but she recovered unscared, and luckily, her rabies shots were up to date. Many years ago, we had farm cats that would kill large rats.

Cat Treat Time

I make sure all of my cats get healthy cat treats. They get organic catnip treats and treats without by-products, fillers, or high ash content, as none of those are good for or safe for your cat’s overall health. My cats love Hartz Delectables squeeze-ups, and they do not contain any harmful ingredients, unlike some canned cat foods. Read the labels on your cat food so you do not feed them food that could lead to the premature death of your beloved feline family.

Some Cats Will Do Most Anything To Gain Your Attention

Your cat may start making a racket when you are talking on the phone, as they want your undivided attention, even if it is negative attention. Your cat may start knocking over pictures or whatnots, or leaping on you over and over again, or meowing loudly. Cats love to lie on your laptop when you want to write a post. I had one cat who would knock all my paperwork off my desk whenever I went on vacation. He was showing me what he thought about me being gone for that length of time and someone caring for him other than me.

Cat Toys And Beds

Cats can be very protective of their toys. Some cats will mark their toys so no other cat will play with them. If your cat does this, please remove the toy immediately and wait a while before replacing it. Some cats have been known to mark their beds or bedding. If that happens, burn the bed and wait a while before replacing it, or they may repeat the offense right away. Never scold your cat, as they do not understand why they are being scolded. God bless our dear feline friends.

Tags Cat Antics, Cat food, Introducing a New Cat Into Your Home, Whats Upsetting My Cat ?

Carpentry Repairs

Learning How To Do Carpentry Repairs

I used to follow my grandfather, and later my father, around while they repaired various items. I learned a lot about carpentry skills from them. I watched them put shingles on a roof, repair window sills, and install new doors. I also watched them put in a new toilet, install paneling, do various kinds of woodworking, and do electrical work. I watched a company install vinyl siding on our home. They did not like it, so they cussed and swore at me a lot, but that did not deter me from learning to install vinyl siding on a building. I have put on new garage roofs, made electrical repairs, and installed a windowsill that I made myself. One day, years later, I dropped a bottle in my water closet, shattering the bowl and causing water to leak out. It happened on a Sunday, of course, so after church I went to a lumber yard, purchased a new water closet, and installed it, from memory of watching my father do it years ago. My cousin came the next week, and he said I had done everything right. I am still using the same wtar closet that I installed about 18 years ago, and I have not had any leaks or problems. Just a few days ago, I put trim around an old garage door just by looking at my new garage doors, and it sealed out the elements. I had hired a man to install a new window sill, and he asked me how to do it. I told him how, but I did the repair work. He didn’t know how to cut it to length. I told him to saw the old one in two and use that as a pattern, and all he said was, “Oh, really.”

Fixing Holes In Walls

We hired an electrician once who made the outlets twice as big as they should have been, and I became a fast expert at patching and filling holes in plaster. I used a lot of the self-sticking plaster repair tape, a trowel, and my finger to level out the spakeling and sandpaper to put the final touch on the repair area. One time, a man put his fist through the wall of a building. I fixed that with rags, a few paper bags, spakeling, and a lot of sanding to achieve a nice, smooth surface.

Ceiling Tile

My father would cut the ceiling tile, and I would staple it to the ceiling. You have to learn how to cut it and where to place it so it has a definite pattern, and depending on how good you are at cutting it, you may not have to put trim around the edges.

I Have Repaired Many Things Over The Years

Once, my sliding doors on a shed came down off one roller. I put a huge pry bar under it, and I managed to get that huge door back on the track again. I have climbed up on roofs and replaced missing shingles. I have done lots of indoor and outdoor painting, and a clean surface is key to a long-lasting paint job. Along with using oil paint or stain, it lasts much longer without peeling and withstands the elements much better than water-based paint. I have removed the wallpaper and then painted the walls. Learn carpentry skills, and those skills will stay with you, and you will save lots of money over the years.

Tags carpentry repairs, Carpentry skills, tips

Talk With God Daily

Talk With God Many Times Per Day

I thank God every morning that I wake up and that he has granted me another day. I always say: This Is The Day The Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad In It.” I enjoy nature immensely. Walking outdoors with God is a true joy. I look at all that God has created for us to enjoy and take care of while we are on Earth. God has entrusted us with the responsibility to be good stewards of the land, animals, trees, and so much more. I do not take that responsibility lightly. I get rid of weeds, keep things maintained, and try to help others to the best of my ability. I want to be a good citizen in every sense of the word.

Bedtime Prayers

I thank God for bringing joy, love, hope, peace, kindness, compassion, and people who lead me on the path where I want to be in life. I pray that God will bless my family, friends, and others I do not know, and always bring the right people into my life at the right time and in the right place. I have had many cheerleaders in my life, with God being my best one. I thank God for the parents he gave me and the wonderful relatives and friends, including a dear friend I traveled with and went on many outings with for many beautiful years.

Faith, Grace And God

Sometimes we tend to drift away from God for a while when we have clear sailing, and when the storms of life knock on our door, we return to him once again. We must remember that God does not want a rainy day friend. Hw wants us to remain on his side in good times and bad, as we never know what kind of weather will come our way. I have faith that God will lead me on the path that he has destined for me. The grace of God shines on you if you look at him for your many blessings, for without God in your life, you would be nothing at all. God put the breath of life in your body the day you were born. Treat your life and soul with care, and fulfill your purpose.

I Thank God For My Many Blessings

I was sick quite often as a child. I had pneumonia, histoplasmosis, and other less serious problems as a young child. God gave me outstanding parents, and they slept on the hospital floor when I was gravely ill. I was cured of pneumonia twice. I did have some long-term effects from the histoplasmosis until I reached fifth grade. The other students had made fun of me over the years because I was sickly. My fifth-grade teacher put a stop to that ASAP. I had a special bond with my fifth-grade teacher for many years, as she was the first woman to stand up for me against the bullies in my life. God puts angels in our lives to protect us. God will try to send you messages if you are open to hearing him and willing to walk with him by your side. Talk with God every day, and your days and nights will be comforting, bring you inner peace, and enrich your soul forever.

Copyrigght 2026. Not to be reproduced in any form.

Tags Inspirations with Laura

I Love Outdoor Work

The Great Outdoors

One has a wonderful feeling of accomplishment when you get something fixed, painted, or repaired outdoors. The outdoor air revives me and motivates me to get going and to complete things promptly.

Gardening Or Tending To Young Growing Trees

I love raised-bed gardening because the rabbits and deer tend to leave it alone, and not many weeds flourish in the rich garden soil. I have been eating a lot of lettuce lately, and cherry tomatoes will be ready soon. I will have green beans, beets, sweet onions, peppers, eggplant, and some butternut squash to eat as the season progresses. I love planting young trees, mulching around them, watering them, and watching them grow year after year. With time, they provide an excellent windbreak or shade.

Mowing The Yard

I find it very relaxing on my John Deere riding mower as I mow the lawn. One thinks about pleasant things from the past when you are mowing the lawn, and you think about how truly lucky you are to be in good health and a good state of mind. I look at the birds and small animals while I mow, and I thank God for another beautiful and glorious day.

Repairing Buildings

I have done a lot of building repairs over the years, and I have enjoyed them all, especially seeing the finished project and how much better it looks now. I have worked with paneling, installing ceiling tile, laying carpet, installing tile, roofing, installing siding, minor plumbing and electrical repairs, and more. By knowing how to do these things yourself, you can save a lot of money and get them fixed on your schedule, not someone else’s. I’m frustrated when workers are late or don’t show up, as I have been waiting all day for them. I have replaced rotten wood on buildings, painted houses, and stained decks. I always use oil-based paints and stains because they last for many years without peeling.

Winter Outdoor Work

It is not quite as enjoyable to be outdoors in the winter. I have a truck with a snow blade that I use for moving snow in the yard, and a small snow blower for the deck, sidewalk, and patio. They do a perfect job unless there has been a blizzard and the snow is hard-packed, in which case I need to hire someone. Cleaning out things in your sheds or garage is a good project on warmer winter days.

Indoor Winter Remodeling

If you want to install new cupboards, winter would be a good time to do it, as contractors are less busy. You might want to update your bathroom, and I have seen many winter specials over the years. You could get a good deal on an AC, since they often have closeout specials, and you could install it in the winter and be ready for next year’s heat wave. Indoor remodeling is always a good idea, as you do not want to do many things outdoors when it is bitterly cold.

Tags gardening, Repairs, tips

Operating At Best Peak Performance

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date June 4, 2026
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Peak Performance

To operate at peak performance, you will need rest, a clear understanding of what you want to accomplish, and the tools to do it. If you want to patch the roof on your home, you’d better be able to place shingles as they are supposed to be placed on a roof and not be afraid of heights. I like to paint outdoors, so I know you’ll need a clean, dust-free area. Otherwise, the paint will not adhere properly, and you’ll likely need to repaint soon because the area wasn’t cleaned before painting.

Cars And Peak Performance

A well-tuned car gets better gas mileage and lasts much longer than one that is neglected and not serviced regularly. A finally tuned engine will give your vehicle a lot of get-up-and-go. I would like to have my vehicle serviced regularly to prevent minor issues from becoming major ones down the road. I have had to replace sensors, spark plugs, thermostats, water pumps, idler arms, and brake pads, which is part of regular maintenance. I want my car to have a zippy motor for passing other vehicles. Regular oil changes help protect your car’s engine. I hope your car will zoom along the roads at peak performance without any problems for many years to come.

Some People Reach Their Peak Performance In Their Golden Years

Many famous artists and writers did not become well known until their golden years. As a Person ages, you have more time to devote to things that you put on the back burner in your younger years because you were too busy pursuing other things, such as your job, raising your family, and more. I had thought of becoming a lay minister for years, and I finally pursued that dream. I am a lay minister for my church only. I visit with people on the phone and in nursing homes and post inspirationswithlaura on my website.

You Must Love Your Work Or Dream To Operate At Peak Performance

If you cannot put 100% into your work or dreams, you will not achieve what you want. You have to love your job to become successful and be happy with your life and yourself. Writing is something that I have loved to do since I could write. I started out writing songs that were actually poetry. I published a poetry book years ago. I used to enjoy making pottery, but I stopped because my hands would cramp up as I pulled up the clay. I never did have a left-handed motorized potters wheel; I had a kick wheel. Nobody had a left-handed potter’s wheel years ago.

God And Peak Performance

God operates at peak performance 24\7. Whenever we pray, God is listening. He answers our prayers when he thinks the time is right. God helps us every day with no breaks or excuses. Think about it: if God were like some people and said, “I cannot listen, you know, as I am busy,” we would all be in a sad state of affairs. God is love, compassion, kindness, joy, peace, hope, and our loving Father.

Tags on top of your game, optimal performance