read – Cat Tales with Laura and Inspirations with Laura

Reading

I love to read history books, especially ones about World War 2. Reading is terrific in idle time, as you can delve into a good book and learn a lot of interesting historical, scientific, and other things that will add to your array of knowledge. Every day, we should strive to learn something new. Reading a good book or magazine article can be a relaxing way to end a day when you are tired.

Exercise

I love to walk and pick up sticks that I see lying in the yard, as well as anything that may have blown in, and dispose of them properly. Riding a bike is an excellent form of exercise, and it is very relaxing as the wind blows through your hair. I notice birds and other animals while I ride my bike. Walking is one of the best exercises for your heart, mental well-being, and overall health.

Sitting On Your Deck

It is fun to sit on your deck and visit with friends while enjoying refreshments or using your barbecue grill. You can also sit in the shade on your deck, read a book, or work outdoors on your computer. I love the great outdoors, and having a deck is perfect for me because I can sit up high and have a bird’s-eye view of what is happening. I saw a fox run by and a deer, and I watched the birds that came up to our bird feeders. I have witnessed blue jays, woodpeckers, house finches, goldfinches, brown thrashers, bluebirds, cardinals, red-winged blackbirds, scarlet tanagers, and the more common birds at our bird feeders.

Vacations

I love to take a vacation now and then, as you will come home with a lifetime of precious memories that no one can take away. I love learning about the history of each country and admiring its architecture. I love Switzerland and enjoy admiring its beautiful mountains. Germany, England, Amsterdam, Czechoslovakia, and Switzerland were my favorite countries to see and visit. Try the signature food dishes in each country, and you will be pleasantly surprised by the excellent taste and seasonings. If you collect something small, taking home a souvenir from each country is a fantastic way to remember the store, the country, and the good time you had finding your collectible. Take plenty of pictures while you travel, as they are fun to look back on over the years. I love Colorado, Wyoming, Illinois, Ohio, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Virginia in the USA. I have always enjoyed traveling in Canada and shopping in their stores.

Volunteer

Volunteering at something you love can be very relaxing and rewarding. I enjoy visiting with people in Assisted Living Units or Nursing Homes. You can volunteer at hospitals, food banks, community kitchens, and mission work wherever needed.

Eating Out Or Going Places With Friends

Spending a quality day with friends or going on a trip with them is very relaxing and rewarding. I love eating at small family-owned restaurants, exploring the mom-and-pop stores, and finding something good to take home. You may discover appliances, shoes, clothes, furniture, and more that you’d like to purchase. Ensure you drive a vehicle with ample cargo space to haul your find-of-the-day home.

Broaden Your Horizons

Travel

Travel is an excellent way to broaden your horizons. You get to see things that you have read about in books and experience them firsthand. If you live in the States, travel to the different states, and you will be amazed by the beauty of each state. I love the mountains in Colorado and the smell of the crisp air up high in the mountains. Virginia was a lovely state to visit as it holds many historical events that helped shape our nation. Williamsburg, Virginia, has a living history area that you can walk through, and I thoroughly enjoyed that as I love history. I bought a silver cross that a silversmith made. I loved my visit to the New England States in the fall and enjoyed driving in New Hampshire and looking at all the beautiful fall colors. I loved driving along the coast of Maine and eating fresh lobster, crab legs, and lobster bisque soup. I had a wonderful time in Vermont, and I went to a farm that produces pure maple syrup, which is delicious. I had to purchase several bottles that they sent to my home address. Visiting The Vermont Country Store was fun, and I bought several items there. All the states will have something that will excite you, and you will remember what you saw and did in that state forever.

Make Sure You Learn Something New Everyday

Listen to documentaries, read your Bible, start a new hobby, read magazines or books on any nonfiction subject, plan a trip in the winter for the spring or summer, and talk to people. You will be surprised how much you can learn from them. Take any class on any subject you would like to learn more about. Listen to what your elders tell you as you will learn much from them, for they have lived through many different events and will be willing to share their stories with you. Listen closely to them, and you will walk away a better and more knowledgeable person.

Read Your Bible And Devotions

Follow God’s words, and you will notice how God can positively affect your life. Without God by our side, we are nothing. With God by our side, the possibilities are endless. The Bible teaches us life lessons, and yes, they do apply today. Think of how something you read in the Bible or a devotion applies to your everyday living. I have seen how devotion applied to many days in my life. God has always put the right people in my life at the right time. I thank God for my many blessings every day.

Overseas Travel

I have traveled to all of the countries my ancestors came from. I was lucky enough to visit with some of my wonderful relatives, and they treated my friend and me like royalty. I love Switzerland, as I love majestic mountain views and well-maintained buildings. I especially loved the village of Giswal, Switzerland. I could hear the cows ringing their bells in the meadow and see a farmer milking them in the morning. I loved how the village seemed to be untouched by the passage of time as it remained small. The church was beautiful, the cemetery was manicured to perfection, and the graves had a picture of each person who had died on them. In Amsterdam, I walked on the same streets and saw the same houses as my ancestors from the 1600s. I learned a lot about each country, and some people in the towns knew my ancestors’ last names. They told me their vast history, what they did for a living, and much more. Keep broadening your horizons. I saw Manx cats on The Isle Of Man.