Tag: tips

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date August 4, 2025
No Comments on Fixing Things After A Storm

Getting A Repairman

Getting a repairman after a horrible storm is not an easy task, as they get booked up quickly. I have a repairman whom I have had for several years, and he is excellent at his work. He is swamped, of course, so it takes a while before he can get your job completed, but he is worth the wait. Have a standing agreement with your repairman, such as having him make repairs for you on a yearly or regular basis.

Get References If You Have Never Hired The Person Before

A woman told me she hired a roofer and he put nails right through the sheetrock in her home. Another party had the roofer lay the new shingles over the old ones, even though it was supposed to be a complete tear-off. I had a roofer who hired a lot of men, and they were all working in the same area. The whole overhang fell off. Luckily, I had witnesses of the event, and he fixed it up to inspection standards by the city. We had hired a carpenter years ago, and he wanted to cut around the light fixtures to put up new ceiling tile instead of taking them down first and cutting a small hole for the wires—some workers you have to keep an eye on constantly. I also like to watch workers so I can learn how to make the repairs myself.

Tree Services

I have an excellent tree service now, and their work is superb. Some tree services try to charge women three times the amount they would charge a man. Women ask the men in your neighborhood what they are paying for tree removal or trimming similar to what you want done, so you will not be fleeced.

Keep A Journal Of Their Work Hours

I keep track of their hours, and before they leave for the day, we agree on their hours to avoid any surprises when it comes time to pay them. Some workers will sit around and do nothing and expect you to pay them for that.

Make it Crystal Clear On What You Want Your Worker To Do.

If you do not tell your worker what color or quality of material you want him to buy, that is your problem, as you did not specify.

Electrican

I have had the same electrician for many years, and he does top-quality work, and that is what you want when it comes to electrical repairs. Faulty wiring can lead to your house burning down. Having an electrician who has worked for you for years ensures that he will come ASAP if you lose your wiring mast that leads to your house in a horrible storm.

Plumber, Heating, And AC

I have an excellent plumber, heating, and AC company that takes care of my repairs quickly. Lightning hit my AC in a summer storm, and they had a new AC in three days. Establish a good relationship with your maintenance specialists and tell them that you love the top-quality work that they do for you.

Tags Repairmen, Repairs, roof, storm damage, tips, tree removal, wiring

My Springtime Plants

Early Garden Vegetables

I generally plant lettuce, spinach, and Swiss chard in April. I add fertilizer to the garden soil and work up the ground with my garden tiller. My garden rows are 30 inches apart, so I can quickly till between them. I plant my seeds shallow so they will not have trouble coming up if we get a lot of rainfall that packs the soil. April is also a good time to plant radishes, beets, carrots, peas, potatoes, onions, kale, and turnips. I plant my tomatoes on May 10th, butternut squash, and green bean seeds. You can plant more green bean seeds on May 25th if you wish to do so. Thank you, God, for the seeds that turn into excellent food for us to eat year-round. Tending to your garden is a joy as you watch the fruits of your labor flourish. Gardening is a fantastic exercise for you and has many health benefits.

Springtime Flowers

I enjoy looking at our tulips and the flowers on our Magnolia tree. I appreciate the early crocuses and daffodils. I love looking at the blossoms on our old Bartlett pear tree and the crabapple trees. The Red Bud tree flowers open a little later in the season but are also truly beautiful. The tulip festival in Pella, Iowa, is lovely to look at. They have wonderful places to eat and fantastic candy stores with almond letters. I love to look at the early flowers in the parks and look for morel mushrooms.

Planting Trees

Now is the time to plant fruit, shade, evergreens, and ornamental trees. Make sure you open up the root ball before you plant your new trees. An open root ball will ensure a healthier tree with room for its roots to expand and grow, and soak up the moisture in the soil quickly. Water your new trees as recommended by your greenhouse.

Freezing Excess Vegetables

I love to freeze lots of green beans as they are good to eat in winter. I also freeze squash, Swiss chard, spinach, tomatoes, and raspberries. I used to freeze pumpkin, cherry, gooseberry, currant, and mulberry pies.. I also froze several rhubarb crisps.

Springtime Brings All Kinds Of Beauty Back To Life

Once again, our lawns look green, plush, and lovely, and we keep them manicured by mowing and weed-whacking around trees and bushes. We hear birds singing with glee every morning, or when the sun is shining, Robins look for worms, and generally they succeed in unearthing one for a tasty meal. Many animals are born in the spring and enjoy eating the long grasses and their regular feed. God’s beauty is found everywhere we look. Thank you, God, for the beauty you have put in the world for us to see and appreciate.

Tags flowers, gardening, tips, Trees, vegetables

Volume

How Much Volume Do Your Things Take Up?

If you have things stored everywhere, they take up a lot of space. If you have things just for the sake of having them, they take up way too much space in your life. I do not want to become encumbered with stuff I do not even look at, as life is too short to clean things that you may look at a few times and then forget about. If something takes up a lot of volume in your life, it can be not good. Some people get carried away in collecting something, which becomes an obsession. Do not waste a beautiful day chasing after something you will add to your collection. Collect in moderation so that you may enjoy the items and not have them stored away here, there, and everywhere, which will be a burden to someone someday as to how they will get rid of it. If you pay storage fees for things stored, get rid of them because if they were essential, they would be in your home and not stored in a storage shed. One man’s junk is another man’s treasure, which is not always true. Junk is junk, and true treasure is time spent with those you love. Never live for material objects; after all, none of us have seen a moving truck following a hearse to the cemetery. Your possessions are not crucial in the scheme of things. God, family, friends, and pets are essential in life and should take up all your life volume.

Volume That Drowns Out The Sounds Of Nature

I never could stand to hear a radio playing music at the highest volume possible as it drowns out all the sounds of nature. I once was at a campground with an A-rating, and at midnight, they started playing Ain’t Nothing But A Hound Dog all night long. The noise drowned out the sound of the crashing waves, which had lulled me to sleep earlier. Once, I was sitting by a lake, and a car pulled up with the loudest music you have ever heard. The birds I had been watching flew off at lightning speed, and I left, too, as it ruined the area’s tranquility. I was sitting at a stop sign, and this car pulled up beside me, ramping up his engine constantly as if he was challenging me to a race. I did not even look at him, which made him mad as he drove off with screeching tires burning rubber. Next to the fire and ambulance department, a man pulled up behind me and put on a siren, and I naturally figured it was an ambulance until I saw no one else was moving. Someone like him could cause a horrible accident.

Volume Has Its Limits

Take things slow in life and take time to smell the roses, so to speak. Do not let volume control your life or your actions. Keep your volume of things at a managed level. Never let someone drown out your moments of tranquility with their volume.

Tags Inspirations with Laura, tips, too much stuff

We Long For Fast Service

Waiting On The Phone For Service

I cannot stand it when I have to wait on the phone for hours. I called a business I had been dealing with, and they said I was number 29 on the query. After a three-hour wait, I finally got through after they had hung up the phone on me three times. I was very flustered with them when they finally answered my question. They took ten dollars off my next bill for my extra long wait on the phone. If something you bought is brand new and not working right, you want answers immediately on how to get it working again. I had to call one business at least forty times before they gave me my money back for a defective item they had sent me. The top of the item looked like a forklift had crushed it. I had sent pictures and emails to them to no avail. I finally got a copy of the memo from the delivery company to prove my point, or they would have kept my money. The older workers at the delivery company would not help me, but a new young worker sent me the necessary paperwork.

Waiting For Appointments Of All Kinds

After I had waited for twenty minutes, I began to get impatient. If I stay at a restaurant for over fifteen minutes and no server has come, I get up and leave and go to a different restaurant. My time is just as valuable as theirs is. Once, I had to wait 2 hours for an oil change as one of the mechanics had called in sick. They should have called and told me their situation as I was a regular customer. If they are running late, they should tell you why, and then you would be more understanding. All of us have a family emergency now and then or a health issue, and we don’t expect people to be on time then or to keep their appointment with us as family comes first.

Service Is Not What It Used To Be

Years ago, we had fast and friendly service, and the serviceman had all the necessary parts. I had a man come out without the parts he needed to repair my furnace, and he charged me for another service call. I said I would not pay it as he should have had the parts with him because I told him the particular parts he needed to have with him. Some service people will try to put old parts in if you do not watch them, so you will need another service call. The old phrase the customer is always right does not apply anymore with some businesses. They don’t seem to care if you are happy with their company. They should think about word of mouth as it travels at lightning speed. Tell the company you are working with that you are dissatisfied with their service if they let you down or try to take advantage of you. Always talk to the manager, or your grievance with your product or service will get lost in the shuffle. Always ask to speak to the manager or owner of the store.

Tags Quick Service, service after the sale, tips

Negotiations

Agreeing On A Price

If you do not like the price of something you are trying to buy, try to negotiate on the price. Remember to make a reasonable offer and not a lowball offer. I was trying to sell a couch for $100.00 once, and a party asked me if I Would sell it for $20.00, and I told them I would be losing money on it. They told me they would talk to their friends about it, and I told them to please do so because I don’t want them in my store anyway. If you ask for 10 to 20 percent off, that is within reason; anything more is not. Stores have to make a profit to keep their doors open and their shelves stocked. When buying a big ticket item, always negotiate on the price as there is some wiggle room there.

Call Different Dealers To See What The Type Of Vehicle You Are Considering Buying Is Selling For At That Dealership

If you walk into a car dealership with no idea of what the car is worth that you are considering buying, you will be taken to the cleaners. They can size you up quickly and think we have a greenhorn here. I called several dealers and found the best price to avoid getting taken. Please do your homework when it comes to buying a new car. Once you have agreed on a price, make sure you have every little detail in writing, such as the vehicle’s serial number, year, motor size, and any extras you may want included in the deal. You are out of luck if something goes wrong and it is not written down in the contract.

Buying A Home

If it has been on the market for over 6 months, you most likely will be able to negotiate and buy your dream house at a reduced price. Don’t get too greedy on your end, as you may make the seller mad, and he will not work with you at all. Ensure you have the house inspected, as you do not need surprises down the road that will cost a lot to repair. The roof and the foundation are the main things in any home. Without a solid foundation, you are on sinking sand, so to speak. A leaking roof will destroy your home rather quickly. If you want something fixed before you buy, have it written in the contract.

Don’t Get Taken On Negotiations

Make sure you entirely understand what you are negotiating. If one party thinks you want new windows in a home and the other party writes down new awnings, there will be a significant problem. Read everything twice before you sign on the dotted line. Unfortunately, people are always waiting in the wings who will try to take advantage of you on deals. Understand what you buy and all the terms and conditions involved in your business transaction. Always have someone with you when you purchase big-ticket items. If something should go wrong, they can back you up if necessary. I hope you have happy and safe negotiations.

Tags bargaining, buying a car, buying a home, buying tips, sealing the deal, tips

People Will Show You What They Truly Are

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date February 7, 2025
No Comments on People Will Show You What They Truly Are

You Cannot Hide The Real You From Others.

You cannot pretend to be something you are not. People will soon catch onto one if they see you in action doing something that does not fit into the way you want people to see you. If you say you are generous to a fault, and then the next minute, you are trying to keep the best for yourself, you are not generous. If you do not want something, others won’t like it either. Some people will re-gift an item because they did not like it. Giving something to someone you do not like shows disrespect to the person you passed it off to. Be yourself always and consistently put yourself in the other person’s place.

God Knows What Is In Your Soul

You cannot hide one thing from God, as he watches over you and observes what you do daily. God notices how you treat people and pets. God knows if your intentions toward someone are good or bad. I have observed some people trying to do a soap job on people. They will say their product will cure the common cold, which would not help anyone as it has no medicinal quality. Years ago, a peddler came to my parents’ house and said he had vitamins to sell. My father opened up the container full of sawdust. I had a mechanic tell me my transmission was going out on my car when I had him fill my car with gas. He had put transmission oil on a rag and told me it was coming from my car. I told hFatherFather would look at it, and my car was fine, just as I thought. I wondered how many women he had tricked and had him fix or repair their transmission that was fine from the get-go. God knows what is in your soul, and you will not be able to get by with something without God knowing all about it, and everything will not be good with your soul.

The Inner You Will Come Out In Its Full Light

Some people will do something good to get Brownie points. I wouldn’t say I like that type of person. I hope you have a genuine and pure heart and do good things for others because you are kind, good, compassionate, loving, and caring for the needs of others. Over the years, people have said I will help you, and they never have. Do not promise something that you never tend to deliver. I would hope that you realize your children are watching and learning from you how to treat others. I had a little boy hold a door open for me the other day, and I thanked him for doing so. Another woman told the boy’s Mother you bought him to respect and help his elders. I have had excellent tenants over the years, but some were nasty ones. The bad ones tend to show you what they are when they move out of your house and leave all of their garbage behind and damage your home. One tenant painted the bathtub black and stuffed the cold air registers with newspapers, which I removed ASAP as they could have started a fire while running the furnace. I hauled five large dumpsters out of a small two-bedroom home with a garage. I am so glad I only own one home now. What you leave behind in this world will be noticed, and somebody will hold you accountable.

Tags actions speak louder then words, Inspirations with Laura, tips

Boxing Up And Moving Items

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date February 3, 2025
No Comments on Boxing Up And Moving Items

Finding Boxes

Finding good boxes is not as easy as it used to be, as most packages are crushed in stores’ crushers. However, I have found a few stores that still save their boxes. You can buy boxes at a moving company, Staples, and a few shipping companies. Do not try to package your things in a lightbox, as the bottom may fall out. I put a lot of plastic packaging around breakables or newspapers. To make your boxes sturdy, put more packaging tape on them.

Write Down The Room From Which The Items Came.

Writing down the room where the items should be placed saves you a lot of time when setting up your new home. You can put the things marked in the living room in the living room and continue with all the rooms. If you use your head, moving items around a third time is unnecessary.

Furniture

Wrap up all your furniture with moving blankets so it is not scratched when it arrives at your new location. Take the drawers out of your chest of drawers when you are moving them, as this will lighten your load considerably. Remove mirrors from items and take the legs off your furniture so you will not have a broken leg on a valuable piece. Be careful not to pack your items too closely as they may move around, and something might be ruined. Tie things in place if at all possible.

Beds And Frames

Moving beds up and down steps can be a nightmare, especially if you have pie steps. You have to be able to perform miracles to get the bed lifted just right around the pie steps. It will take several attempts if you have a queen—or king-size bed. Wrap it well with blankets so it does not get stained or torn in transit.

Dishes, Glasses, Breakables, And Kitchen Gadgets

I wouldn’t say I like wrapping up dishes, but I ensure they are perfect before I move them. It is a good idea to place a paper plate between your words to cushion them and prevent them from getting scratched or chipped. I also put newspapers around the edges of the box they are in. Put large kitchen gadgets in packs of their own. Wrap up your glasses at the top and have several layers of paper around the stems so they will not get broken off. Wrap figurines and other breakable items with several bubble wrap or newspaper layers.

Large Appliances

Ensure they are secured and tied well in your truck so they do not lean over the edge when you turn a corner and get dented. I once saw a refrigerator fall out of a truck, which was dented all over.

Lawn Mowers And Snow Blowers

Make sure you have them fastened securely in your truck. I once saw a snow blower fall on the Hi-Way as they did not have the tailgate latched securely. Be extra careful when you box up and move anything to a new location.

Tags boxing, moving, tips

Enjoy Life To Its Full Potential

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date December 13, 2024
No Comments on Enjoy Life To Its Full Potential

Get Out With People Often

If you do not get out with friends, you may dwell on problems. By getting out with friends, you can take your mind off your worries and focus on the positives in your life. If you lock yourself away like a hermit, you will continuously think of all the negative things that have happened to you. Friends lift your spirits and bring out the sunshine on the darkest days. A friend may suggest a fun outing or adventure you will remember for many years. You can always join a club of some kind. My grandmother belonged to a book club and made many friends just by being in that book club. If your local college has lifelong learning classes, take some of them as the classes will enrich your mind, and you will also make new friends. Go to a concert or a movie, and you will meet people from all different walks of life by just going to various events in your area or out of town. I hope you have been blessed to have traveled with friends and that you can cherish those wonderful memories forever.

Travel

I have been blessed to have an excellent travel companion over the years. She is older than me, but age makes no difference. We are very good friends. We do not take as long of trips as we did years ago, but we both enjoy each other’s company and make each other laugh. Travel while you can because you never know what lies down the road, as your health could change in a heartbeat. Traveling with someone who likes the same things you do and wants to experience the area’s foods, soak in the atmosphere, and take in as many events as possible is a blessing. I encourage everyone to find a friend to travel with as travel opens up a gateway of knowledge. I found out about my ancestors and walked on the same ground as they had before me. I visited the farm where my great-grandfather grew up as a child, and I visited with some of my cousins, which was a wonderful and memorable experience that I will hold dear forever.

Stay Focused On God

Staying focused on God is the primary key to living life to its full potential. If you do not, you will be like a ship lost at sea without a lighthouse or compass to lead it back to a safe harbor. Sometimes, we tend to drift away from God when we have smooth sailing, and then we ask God for help when we have turmoil. God does not want a rainy-day friend. He wants you to praise him in good and bad times. God has answered many of my prayers, for which I am immensely grateful. God knows what you need in your life and when to give it. Life is perplexing and complex as it has many curves and valleys, mountains, and treacherous events to get through, but with faith and God’s guidance, you will make it.

Tags Inspirations with Laura, Socialize, tips, Travel

Dashing Around And The Christmas Season

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date December 6, 2024
No Comments on Dashing Around And The Christmas Season

Don’t Wait Until The Last Minute To Get Things Done

I try to get everything done ahead of schedule. If you procrastinate and wait until the last minute to get things done, you will regret it. If an emergency shows up, you will have an awful time trying to play catch up because you did not get things done that could have been done when you had the time. I’m not too fond of it when someone says they can do a project for me at a specific time and do not come, as that upsets my schedule of things to get done. Work fast and do not take shortcuts and many breaks, for people do not want to pay you for just sitting around and smoking. I have observed many workers over the years, watching one worker actually working with everyone else watching him. Never let yourself get into that position; speak up and ask others to do their fair share. Shop early for presents, or if the price of gas or food is rising, stock up now and be prepared early. Get your equipment ready for winter so you will not have a significant problem in a blizzard and be stranded and practically frozen.

Dashing Around At The Last Minute

Buy the Christmas presents that are hot on the list for kids this winter. If you wait, you can get into a war over who grabbed the item first, as there is always a limited amount of it on the shelves in the store. I have seen many parents madly dashing around from store to store, trying to find that toy that every kid on the planet must have for Christmas this year. Shop early and save yourself from stressing out over one Christmas gift. Some people wait until the day before Christmas to buy their presents, and then they feel overwhelmed as most things on their list are unavailable at this late hour. Dashing around from store to store is not my idea of fun shopping. I want to be prepared early and look everything over without a mob of people in the store.

Remember The True Reason For The Christmas Season

Some people think Christmas is all about gifts and what they will receive for Christmas this year. Christmas is not all about gifts or all about you. Think of how you can help the less fortunate at Christmas. Christmas is all about the birth of Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Think of everything God has given you in your lifetime and celebrate his birth and what he has done for you and others. Sing praises to God without ceasing. Show God’s love to others this Christmas season. Surprise someone with a gift certificate and tell them it is a gift from God, which is as if you have been blessed so that you can give them a gift certificate. God, thank you for everything you have done to enrich our lives and help us enhance the lives of others with the love you freely give us.

Tags do not procrastinate, the Christmas Season, tips

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