Tag: tips

Laying Out Your Garden

I try to rotate my garden crops every year. By moving your garden crops around, you do not deplete your soil with the necessary nutrients for what you are growing in that area. Rotation also improves the number of garden pests, weeds, and fungi you must deal with. I plant my squash in the corner of my garden so the vines will not grow over and prevent sunshine from getting to my other garden goods. I try to plant items that will not last so long on the edge of my garden. I always grow my tomatoes in a row with cages around them. I use two rows of green beans side by side, making picking the beans easier.

Garden Fertilizer

I buy garden fertilizer from a local garden center. I put fertilizer on my garden at the beginning of the season and the end of the season. I work the fertilizer into the ground with my garden tiller. Once my seeds are established, I sprinkle weed preventer around the plants and between the rows. I put wood chips around my tomato plants and green beans to prevent plant fungus that can kill off beans and tomatoes. Remember to sprinkle more weed preventers around your plants according to the directions on the container.

Garden Tilling

Always work up your garden soil at the start of the season. Till in between the rows to help prevent weeds. Tilling loosens up your soil so your plants can absorb necessary nutrients easier, get a more extensive rot base, and produce a bountiful harvest for you and your family. Weeds rob your plants of nutrients and make your garden look unattended.

Planting Your Garden

I plant garden seeds, and I love to watch them grow. I buy tomato plants, eggplants, and squash plants. I use an old garden hose, make a ridge for my seeds, and gently cover the bases. I place paper around the bottom of my plant so rootworms will not eat off the plants. Ensure you leave enough room between your rows for quickly weeding and picking your products.

Thinning Out Your Seeds

Pull out plant seeds that are way too thick. By thinning out your plants, you will have more extensive, healthier plants that produce more. You can remove extra tomatoes from your plants by trimming off additional leaders. If you have a sick-looking tomato plant or another plant, remove it so your other plants will not become infected.

Harvesting The Fruits Of Your Labor

It would be best to have-looking and other plants you eat. e eating fresh garden lettuce, radishes, Swiss chard, and other greens ready early in the gardening season. I never get tired of eating fresh green beans and butternut squash. I freeze squash and green beans, which I enjoy eating in the winter. I have raspberry bushes in my garden that produce well. I love raspberries in my breakfast food in the morning. An apple tree makes for a beautiful apple sauce or apple pies. I have some rhubarb plants that I make rhubarb crisp with. I hope you have a bountiful harvest from your garden this year.

Tags gardening, tips

Spring Cleaning

Bedroom Spring Cleaning

I remove all the dresser scarves and wash or shake them out outdoors. I remove items from the room and place them in the hallway. I use a wood floor polish wax that makes the floor glisten. I give everything a thorough dusting. I remove everything from the closet floor and sleeves to clean the closet well. I wash the bedding and shake out the pillows or wash them. I constantly scour the light fixtures and put new batteries in the smoke alarms. I pass the cloth drapes and hang them wet to dry on their curtain roads. Getting rid of unworn clothes in the closet or the chest of drawers is a good idea. I like to put new shelf paper in the trunk of drawers.

Bathroom Spring Cleaning

I remove everything from the medicine cabinet and throw away expired medicines or ointments. I have another cupboard in my bathroom that gets dusted after I remove the things. I clean the fixtures every week with my regular cleaning. It is a good idea to clean up the shower if you have one. You can soak your shower head in vinegar and remove some of the lime.

Kitchen Spring Cleaning

Clean off your Formica countertop with a bleach solution. Take everything out of your cupboards and wipe out the cabinets. You should put new shelf paper in your cabinets. Get rid of unused pots, pans, dishes, glasses, and kitchen utensils. Etc. Dust under the stove and refrigerator. Clean all of the sleeves in your refrigerator and throw out old containers. Wash your potholders or buy new ones. I put new bulbs in my light fixture. Now is an excellent time to put new batteries in your smoke alarm or replace it.

Living Room Spring Cleaning

I vacuum under all of the furniture, and I vacuum next to the wood surround. I clean all the tables and shake out the dresser scarves. I take things out of wood cabinets and dust, replace them, and throw out something I have not looked at for ages. I remove my books from the bookcase and dust the books off on top. Anything with glass in it gets cleaned with glass cleaner. I vacuum off my drapes, or I take them to the cleaners.

Dining Room

I have a corner cabinet that has a few things in it. I wash off the items in a dishpan filled with water that I bring into the dining room. I remove all the figurines from my whatnot shelf and clean the glass pieces with Windex window cleaner. The carpet gets a good vacuuming, and so do the drapes. I use lemon oil on all of my wood furniture as it preserves the wood and makes it shine.

Basement

I wash the cement floor in my basement with Lysol cleaner. I remove everything from shelves, and they get dusted or washed off. I unplug my freezer and give it a good defrosting. I store the food in several coolers. I clean out my washing machine with a lemon scent cleaner that you throw into your washing machine on its regular cycle. I purchased a dryer vent brush that works beautifully for cleaning out your dryer vents. I ensure I have new batteries in my smoke and carbon monoxide detector. I clean out my canned food cupboard and any other cabinets or cupboards.

Closets And Windows

I remove the towels from my linen closet and remove the worn ones. I clean my coat closet and remove old coats I no longer wear. I have a wardrobe just for blankets, and I have them in plastic containers to keep them in the best condition possible. My windows open easily, and I can wash out the bottom section of the window and clean the inside and outside of my windows with any cleaner.

Garage Spring Cleaning

I sweep out all the filth that gathers on the garage floor during winter. I remove everything from the floor and use a large shop vacuum, which does an excellent job. I have also used a mop and soapy water on my garage floor. Make sure you lubricate your garage doors or hire someone to do it for you so they will be in tip-top shape. My house smells incredible after its spring cleaning, and I feel a great sense of accomplishment. Happy Spring Cleaning!

Tags Spring Cleaning, tips

First Class Service

We Want First-Class Service From A Business

When I purchase an appliance from a store, I expect them to service and take care of my product after the sale. If you buy a device from a discount warehouse, you are on your own after the sale. Be careful as to where your device is genuinely made. I purchased a stove proudly made in the USA, only to discover later that all the parts are made in China. I had to wait three months for my details to come. I hated being without my oven for three whole months. My refrigerator gave out in December, and I have still not received my new refrigerator because of Covid 19. My refrigerator did finally come on the last day of August.

The appliance stores cannot get in most new appliances or parts to fix them. The stores are trying their best, so be extra patient with them. Someone, I know, a man that purchased a used car, and they told them to get it serviced someplace else because they were busy. Suppose they said they would lose all of my business for good. Years ago, my Father purchased a truck from a dealer, and the serviceman said here is the wrench. Fix it yourself. We never bought another vehicle there. Businesses must remember that the customer is always right and try to make the customer happy and satisfied at the time of the sale and after the sale with top-quality service. Having unhappy customers can close the doors of a business in a hurry, as word of mouth travels quickly, and many people read social media platforms. If we cannot eat the food served in a restaurant for some reason, we want a refund or a different meal. If a business does not take care of its customers very soon, they have no customers to take care of. Treat your customers like family; they will tell everyone they know to come to your place of business.

Traveling And Accommodations

When we travel, we want to fly on a plane with clean trays, which are not noisy. When we hire a taxi, we want a courteous driver that knows his way around the city and the countryside. If we take a bus tour, we want a bus driver that is very knowledgeable about the historic areas of the town and mentions all the places of importance to us. One tour group had a bus driver who drank on the job and was very obnoxious. I was glad we did not have him. We felt very sorry for his tour group since he did not tell them anything meaningful about the area. I want a hotel room that is extra clean with fresh, clean linens and towels. We once stayed at a cottage with worn-out yellow sheets and towels that were like sandpaper. Her cat slipped through the door and was wet on the floor. She did clean that up, luckily. The townspeople highly recommended her place. I would never stay there again, no matter what. Look at your hotel rooms before paying for them, if possible.

Treat Your Customers Like Royalty

Provide top-notch quality service to all of your customers regularly. First-class service should be given. A happy customer is a customer for life who will bring more lifetime customers to your door for years. Enjoy and take pride in your First Class Service quality business for many years, and you will get rave reviews.

Tags tips, Travel

Gifts

How To Act When You Receive A Gift

Thank the person for the gift that they have given to you. Send them a thank you note for the present or tell them you are enjoying the advantage they gave you. If they come to your home, put their gift where they might see it. Always be genuinely grateful for any assistance that is provided to you.

How Not To Act When you Receive A Gift From Someone

I have heard of people who turn around and sell the item they have just received. One party was told that the tomatoes they had received were too large. There is one person who, the minute he gets a gift, turns around and gives the gift to another friend. One party told me that they had a group rummage sale, and his friend had the nerve to bring his gift to the rummage sale that he had just received from him. If you keep giving a friend’s gift away soon, you will receive no gifts and may also lose a friend. I treasure my gifts from friends. The gift you receive from a friend is given to you with love. Love and respect your friends at all times. Never tell someone who has given you a gift that you already have one. Never tell someone you do not like the gift they gave you. Do not complain about gifts ever. You do not know what the person went through to buy you what they thought was the perfect gift for you. Some people have told a person that they have received a gift from me that I keep in storage or never use it. I wish they would think how they would feel if someone told them that. Be grateful for all of the gifts that you have been given.

Gods Gifts To Us

God has given us life, and he has given us a purpose for our life. God answers all of our prayers in his time frame. God blesses us every single day of our lives. God has given us a beautiful World to live in. God’ss only son, Jesus, died for all our sins so that we will have eternal life. God is your strength while you are weak. God is your guide when you are lost. God gave us the Bible and The Ten Commandments. God can help restore us when all seems lost in this World. There are angels among us that God sends our way when we need them the most. Praise God for all the many gifts you have and will yet receive from him. God gives us the land we can raise food on and animals that we can eat for protein and food for our soul, which is the most important. We must always keep our souls nourished to be prepared when God comes for us in our final days.

Tags Inspirations with Laura, tips

Foods That Make Great Leftovers

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date November 26, 2021
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Meats That Make Great Leftovers

I like to bake several chicken breasts in the oven simultaneously. I can then have chicken salad sandwiches later on in the week. I also want to make a casserole with leftover turkey or chicken. I put potatoes in the chicken or turkey casserole, peas, onions, stuffing mix, and some dried cranberries or apricots, and bake it in the oven at 400 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour. Meatloaf is always wonderful over several days. Hamburger makes a great skillet meal. I put a pound of hamburger in my almost fully cooked skillet, baked beans, corn, and some saffron seasoning. I like mixing hamburgers and rice with a mild hot sauce in my skillet.

I want to make meatballs now and then as they make excellent leftovers. I take some of the meatballs, put them in a pan with a handle on my stove along with some frozen green beans, and let them cook until my fork quickly goes through the green beans. I will occasionally buy ha,m and bake it in my oven with pineapple sections attached to it with toothpicks. You can have several meals of tasty ham later in the week. I generally buy one rump roast during the year. I cook it in my crock pot and add potatoes, celery, carrots, and any variety of vegetables I may have. I put balsamic vinegar or seven up in the crock pot as it makes the roast tender as a maiden’s heart.

Vegetables That Make Great Leftovers

I like to make a potato casserole that I have almost done hamburger in, peas, onion rings, milk, and cheese. I start with a layer of potatoes, then I put the other mixture in and add more potatoes, and I end up with potatoes and co-jack cheese. I bake it in my oven at 350 degrees for about 2 hours. I will cook a large bunch of beets, and I will freeze them plain or as Harvard beets. If you buy carrots or other vegetables, you can eat some raw and then eat the others fully cooked. I like salad turnips as they have a mild taste and taste similar to a raw radish. I mix cooked parsnips with cooked potatoes as they make a good root vegetable mash. I love butternut squash. I bake two large squash in my oven at the same time. I eat one squash meal and freeze 3 quarts to eat in the winter month. Ensure you freeze many vegetables for the winter months, as they will be an excellent addition to your meals.

Desserts That Make Great Leftovers

I like to bake an apple crisp in the early fall; a big pan will last for about two weeks in my refrigerator. A squash or pumpkin pie is good over several days. Pudding is always a welcome dessert, and it is easy makes. Cinnamon rolls are delicious to eat over several days. Bake up a large batch of cookies, and you can snack on them for a while. I love angel food cake, and it keeps beautifully in your freezer. I froze 17 different kinds of pies, and did they ever taste tasty in the winter months? Jellies and jams are good mixed with peanut butter or spread on toast. Leftover cake is always a crowd-pleaser, especially if it is nice and moist. Bread pudding is easily made in the microwave and is an excellent leftover. Fudge is a favorite of mine, and it keeps for a very long time. Be creative in making leftover dishes that will please the ones you hold most dear to your heart.

Tags Leftovers, tips

Blind Ambition

Full Speed Ahead

If you pursue something without clarity or purpose, you have blind ambition. If you go full speed ahead on an idea you did not research, you are most likely doomed to failure. It would be best if you looked before you leap into something. If you buy a business and have no idea or concept of how to run that particular type of business, you will fail and lose everything. Some people think their idea or invention will make them millions, and they sink all of their life’s savings into it and lose everything. Never put all of your money into one thing. Diversify your money and your talents to succeed in life.

Blind Ambition Can Be A Good Thing

A lot of businesses would never get started without blind ambition. Sometimes you must focus on the result. If you buy an old company, you must know how you will remodel it and how you can make money. You have to imagine the shelves loaded with merchandise for sale and your store full of Happy customers. It would be best if you were a little dreamer to own and operate a business successfully.

Rental Property

You will need some blind ambition to imagine how a fixer-upper rental home will look when you finish it. Do not start a rental property business without knowing how some tenants will treat your property. Blind ambition when dealing with some tenants will sink your ship at sea. Some tenants pay their rent when they feel like it. Some tenants will destroy your home and leave all their garbage in it. One party purchased a business lately, and she will fix 12 apts Above her store. After she selects one, she will use the rent money to improve the next one and keep running with that idea in her mind. She will lose her business if a tenant or two does not pay her. Rental property is not a good investment at all today. Prices for repairs and general maintenance are way overpriced. Most tenants today do not treat your property as if they owned it. My advice would be to fix a fixer-upper and then sell it ASAP. One party told me that a tenant he had rented to for ten years did $12.000.00 worth of damage to his home, and he did not make a dime for ten years.

Never Let Blind Ambition Override Your Sense Of Right And Wrong

If you know that something is wrong or unethical, do not pursue it. You will feel terrible if you do something wrong in the future because you thought it was a sure fired thing. If you do anything that hurts someone else to succeed in life, you have already failed in the eyes of God and others. Do purposeful and meaningful things with your life that will enrich your life and the lives of others.

Tags Inspirations with Laura, tips

Difficult Cats

Shopping In Sheffield, Iowa

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date November 15, 2021
No Comments on Shopping In Sheffield, Iowa

Peachy Keehn Boutique

I was very impressed when I walked in the door at Peachy Keehn Boutique. Her Boutique is gorgeous and nicely arranged. I was greeted by the owner when I walked in. I noticed a nice thick flannel shirt and tried on several of them until I found the one that best fit. I have worn the shirt several times; it is lovely and cozy. Most stores have thin flannel shirts that do not keep you warm. Peachy Keehn Boutique buys top-quality merchandise for sale at affordable prices. She had shoes, jewelry, scarves, jeans, and much more for sale in her store. Her Boutique has excellent lighting, and there is something that everyone would like to own and wear in her Boutique. I will be a regular customer at her lovely Boutique.

Forever Yours

It is a flower and gift shop. I have purchased many things from Forever Yours over the years. I like their coffee packets and chai tea packets. They are delicious and make for a nice drink to warm you up or give you an extra energy boost in your day. I purchased a lovely woodpecker bird that I have sitting on top of my desk. The store’s owner is amiable; if you want something she does not have, she will order it for you if possible. She sells lovely garden stones with sayings on them. Her flower arrangements are beautiful. She has a lot of Christmas items for sale in her store and many other terrific gift items.

Block 10

I love having coffee and lunch at Block 10. I generally bring home a Belgium Cream filled donut covered with chocolate to eat at another time. I love to eat a turkey wrap that they have with avocados and cheese in the center of it. I had potato soup the other day, just like Grandma’s homemade potato soup. I buy their dill-flavored mustard, soup mixes, and there pretzels. I have enjoyed eating away at a big block of their fudge. They have a gift store, clothing, antiques, baking dishes, and much more upstairs above their restaurant.

Antique Store

The antique store is the cleanest antique store I have ever been in. I purchased a toy from my past there. It was a small handheld hand mixer made of metal, and the whisk still worked perfectly. If you want or collect antiques, this is the perfect store. They have every antique imaginable in their fine antique store. They have lovely antique furniture and so much more.

Other Stores

I like to look around in the pharmacy. I purchased an ink pen and a comb, and various gift items. There are so many excellent and outstanding stores to shop in. Spend an afternoon shopping in Sheffield, Iowa. I love small-town shopping; it is delightful, and all the store people made it extra special.

Tags Small town shopping, tips, Travel

Buying A Starter Home

Have A Plan For Fixing Your First Home

Look at the home you want to purchase several times to make sure it is the ideal starter home for you. Talk to the neighbors and the police to see if you’ll buy a home in that area of town. Talk to several contractors to estimate what you cannot fix yourself. Look at all your expenses on the house if you purchase it. Have the roof and foundation checked. Have the house checked for termites. Have an inspector inspect the home to see if you overlooked some oversized ticket items. Have someone go up in the attic and check the insulation level and see if there are any broken rafters or any signs of fire from the past. See what other houses in the neighborhood are selling for. Look at several starter home possibilities before deciding to buy a first home. Eventually, you will probably want to remodel your kitchen and bathroom, as people will notice these improvements if and when you ever want to sell your home. See what it will cost to insure your home and the average utility bills year-round.

Negotiating The Price On Your Starter Home

Tell your realtor the price you wish to pay for the home. She will present the offer to the seller, and they will generally come back with a counteroffer. You can then submit your counteroffer and see if they will accept it. They may counter your request again, and you have to decide if you can live with that price or if you want to wait and see if they will accept your offer. You may get a policy covering all major appliances and furnaces if they break down in the home through your realtor. You may contact the seller to throw something in on the deal, such as the stove and refrigerator or a piece of furniture you like in the home. You might tell him that if he puts a new furnace in, consider selling the house. Negotiating is a must since most repairs run higher than you think they will.

Things To Do Right After You Purchase Your Starter Home

Put in all new door locks so you will feel secure. Buy insurance on your home and its contents. Check your window latches and ensure your basement windows cannot be easily opened outdoors. Put all new carpets throughout the house. If the roof needs replacing, do it ASAP before it leaks and ruins the ceiling and the floors. Have cracks fixed in the foundation before you have significant gaps? You will have nothing when you do not have a good roof or foundation on your home; a house with a good foundation cannot stand on solid ground for long.

Curb Appeal For Your Starter Home

Plant bushes and trees and keep the outside of your home repaired. Good landscaping sets off the house. Keep your lawn mowed and rake up your leaves. Clean off the snow from your walks in the winter months. Replace uneven sidewalk sections. Window treatments make a home look much better. Keep your porch stained and your house painted. Never set garbage by your home and leave it there. A well-maintained home will last for years, and you can sell it right away when you are ready for your dream home. Enjoy your first starter home and remodel it to your specifications.

Tags starter home, tips

Where To Find Toys To Buy For Christmas

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date October 18, 2021
No Comments on Where To Find Toys To Buy For Christmas

Landers Hardware Hank is Located In Greene, Iowa

They have a large selection of toys suitable for boys and girls of all ages. They have a lot of Hot Wheel cars and farm equipment toys. They have dolls and Breyer’s Horses. They have toy guns and bows and arrows for sets for kids. I also saw an assortment of stuffed animals. They have catcher mitts and bad-mitten sets. Landers Hardware Hank has a wide variety of small-town hardware store toys. I was impressed with their selection of fine toys.

Larson’s Mercantile is Located In Clear Lake, Iowa

Larson’s has Breyer Horses, dolls, old-style toys, Lego sets, Melissa and Doug items, coloring books, books for kids, a large variety of stuffed animals, toy money, and old-fashioned board games. They sell small plastic animals of all kinds. They have small toys that make perfect stocking stuffers. They have Gumby and his horse friend Pokey. I like their old-fashioned candy bars and candy cigarettes. They have pocket-sized or desk-top quiz games, skee ball games, and many more. They have wooden puzzles and jigsaw puzzles. I saw a children’s Bible that would make a perfect Christmas present. Their marble collection is fantastic. They have many toys that I grew up with and loved playing with years ago. They have an ant farm kit and a container to keep insects in to observe them. Larson’s Mercantile has toys for every age group that they will be delighted with.

Lark Toys is Located In Kellogg, Minnesota

I love looking at the toys at Lark Toys. They have a large assortment of nicely made wooden toys. They have a vast selection of books. They had a cat book that was identical to the one my Mother had as a child. The book had a modern cover, but all the cat pictures were similar. They have a toy museum that the adults will love looking at while shopping for toys for the kids in the family. All the toys have excellent artistry and are built to last for years. Lark toy store is enormous and arranged nicely, so everything is easy to find.

Hunts Silver Lake Drug Store, Located In Rochester, Minnesota

They sell Breyer horses and stuffed animals. They have Melissa and Doug items for sale. They have small plastic toys for sale. They have many Hallmark items for sale. Hunts Drug Store is easy to find In Rochester, Minnesota.

Midwest Toys Of Iowa is Located In Mallard, Iowa

I talked to the owner of Midwest Toys of Iowa, and he said he had 500 small toys for sale, plus much more. They have a large selection of farm toys and equipment. They have lots of games and collectibles for sale. They have been in business for two years and have an annual income of 1M to 2.5 M.

Charles RO Supply is Located In Maiden, MA

I purchased several nice Lionel trains over the years from Charles RO Supply. Charles RO is America’s largest train store. I always ordered my Lionel trains directly from them. I called their 800 number, and my trains always arrived on schedule. I would generally order from the owner of the company. Charles RO is my go-to store for toy trains. I am happy with all of my purchases from them over the years. I hope you find the perfect toys for your little ones or older ones this Christmas season.

Tags tips, toys

Strength

Strength To Carry On

Sometimes we do not think we have the strength to carry on. We must look deep inside our souls when we do not believe we have the power to carry on. I find inner strength when I am busy and working. If you sit around and think of all your aches and pains, you will have more aches and pains from inactivity. Keeping busy gives you a cause and a purpose for every day. If you do not have plans for your day, make some, and do not sit and think about all your problems that take away from your inner strength. People that dwell and fixate on their problems will not live as long as those that do not. God gives you the power to carry on every day if you let him into your life daily.

Strength In Life

We see lots of people that are very strong in life. Some people have had to endure many tragedies in their lives but have the strength to carry on no matter what comes their way in life. Your life is what you make it to some degree; if you choose to be weak and lifeless, you will die. It would be best to interact with people in life to find your inner strength. Good friends bring power into your life daily. Going to church and visiting with your church friends can strengthen you. Pray to God without ceasing, as he can give you strength. God answers my prayers and gives me power when I am weakest.

Strong People

Some people can lift hefty weights or carry big loads. Some people do carry heavy loads every day of their lives. They may care for sick parents, children, and friends and have health issues. Never expect anyone to take a heavy load alone, or they will begin to feel weak and feel that no one cares about them or the people they are caring for. Strong people seem to endure whatever life throws their way. We all have a breaking point eventually and will need help from other strong people, especially God’s loving support.

Lean On God’s Strength

Ask God to strengthen you when you feel weak as water. God can perform miracles if you let him be your compass. God is my everlasting compass and lighthouse to guide me through all of life’s turbulent storms that can come up with absolutely no warning. You can feel fine one day and may be very sick the next day. Call friends and talk to them; hearing their voices will make you feel strong again. Pray to God to give you back your inner strength, and praise God when he does. Keep up your faith and your strength in life. God bless you and yours with the ultimate power.

Tags Inspirations with Laura, tips