Tag: Travel

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date May 28, 2021
No Comments on Take Time To Talk To People

Call Someone And Visit With Them Today

Talking to someone who cares about you can calm and relax you. You can discuss your day’s activities with someone and ask them how their day went. You can always talk about the weather or newsworthy items. What one person might not remember, the other person may place in great detail, and you can compare notes on recent events. Talking to friends lets them know you love them and are concerned for their well-being. Remember to always speak to your elders respectfully and listen to what they say, as you will learn a great deal from them.

Put Your Computer Away for One Day

Go outdoors for a walk with friends or family and enjoy each other’s company. You will soon see what you have missed by having your eyes and mind set on computer games, social media, and so much more. Get out and enjoy nature and indeed visit with someone. Conversation with people seems to be a lost art. I have a friend who went to a family gathering, and her nephew and niece would not even talk to her when he asked them about things they enjoy doing. They walked off with their smartphones in hand, and she never saw them the rest of the day. That is very disrespectful behavior. Parents should tell their kids to put their smartphones away, visit with their family at family gatherings, and respond to anyone they know that talks to them.

Talking And Laughter Are The Best Medicine

When you visit with someone, you can get them to laugh and put them in a better frame of mind. By having a one-on-one conversation, you can see the other person’s facial expressions and not much, just from facial words about their feelings. Tune into other people by asking them about their family life and what they do for a living. The conversation does matter a great deal. One conversation can sink a ship or let it sail around the world. Without discussion, we would not have laws, learn from our elders, or learn from those that came before us. Books would not be published if you never reached out to publishers and made the corrections they told you to make to publish your book.

Start A Conversation With A Stranger

I have visited with people that set next to me on an airline flight. They have told me about the business that they are in and all about their family members. I have told people in conversation with them that I write about travel, cats, and inspirations with Laura, and we have exchanged business cards with each other. I follow some of them on my Facebook account, and they have followed me back. Talk to and connect with people, and see how much you have in common with them. You will make long-lasting friendships with some people you meet on life’s Hi-Way. God bless you as you talk to people and learn from them and help each other by talking with them and helping them solve some of life’s bumps in the road.

Tags Inspirations with Laura, Travel

The Ways Of The World

Good And Bad

There will always be good and bad people in the World until the end of time. Some people will say the World is a terrible place. The truth is that a few wrong people seem to set the standard for people’s thinking. Try to think of all the good and positive things that happen in the World because of good people. News tends to focus on the wrong, and the good people are not mentioned much. People destroy the World with greed and disrespect for nature and what it has to offer us. Luckily we have people that try to save endangered species and are also helping with the drastic climate changes that tend to produce more devastation than ever on our planet earth. Climate change has more storms, and deforestation affects our rich oxygen supply, drastically affecting the next generation. Are car emissions affecting the ice caps that keep melting away, affecting the habitat for Polar Bears, and so much more?

Traveling In The World

When you are traveling and need help, someone will point you in the right direction. I have had excellent luck asking a young person where a particular attraction is. Most young people in foreign countries can speak English fluently. People, on the whole, are beneficial and friendly. I love meeting and talking to people in foreign countries. I like learning about the vast history of the country they grew up in, and I love sharing their stories with you. I visited a farming community still with milk cows and sheep in the field. I could hear the cows ringing the cow bells around their necks as they gathered in the barn in the early morning. The cows walked into their milking stalls, and the farmer milked them by hand. The sheep were baaing away in the pasture. I noticed some free-range chickens and a farm cat in their yard. I patted the sheep and the cat on the head. I fed a sheep a piece of divinity candy which it seemed to enjoy very much.

The World And What It Beholds Is A Very Precious Gift

God has given us a beautiful and bountiful World to live in. We must maintain the treasures in the World, or we will not be able to live on planet earth anymore. We cannot keep robbing resources from our planet without replacing them. If we cut down more trees, we can adapt our ad to global warming. Fracking can put dangerous chemicals in our water supply. God made us the stewards of the land, the birds of the sky, and the fish of the sea. Our job is not to pollute and destroy our planet so that nothing can live on it. We have to protect our precious planet for future generations, or we w, will destroy humanity and all of the inhabitants living in the World. God blesses us with the knowledge and the love of the planet to keep us living on a clean and healthy planet for many years.

Tags Inspirations with Laura, Travel

My Secret To A Happy Life

The secret to a happy life is to be fulfilled in what you do and pursue in life. Keep busy and active, surround yourself with people, and stay close to your family connections. Pursue activities that stimulate you and that enhance the lives of others. Make a list of what you wish to accomplish every day, and you will get a lot done if you are determined to complete everything you have written on your list.

I love to travel and see the different architecture that the area has. I am glad I have had the opportunity to walk down the same streets my ancestors walked down in the old country. I saw the place where my Great Grandfather lived until he came to America. He was not the eldest son, so he moved to America to make a life for himself. He came to America with his wife, and they had children in America. He purchased farmland and built a house; I still live on the same building site. America is truly a land of opportunity.

I love living in the country. I love the wide open spaces and the smell of freshly worked land. I love to watch the baby farm animals grow. I have been around cats all of my life. Cats are wonderful companions that make life more enjoyable. I enjoyed being around cattle, pigs, and chickens. I would feed the pigs and gather the chicken eggs years ago. I would follow my Grandfather and Father around the farm and watch them repair cars, lawnmowers, and farm equipment. I loved visiting the multiple ‘neighbors’ farms and watching repairs being made. I enjoy watching the crops grow, and the combines gather up the harvest for the year. I love the quietness and peacefulness that the country has to offer. Neighbors still help one another when someone passes away. They help support the family by assisting them in harvesting the crop.

I am thrilled to have had outstanding and excellent parents. My parents always supported me in my en-devours and my accomplishments. Good parents, friends, relatives, and supportive people will make you truly happy, and you will live the life you always dreamed of living. I love writing and sharing my adventures and experiences with you through blogging. I loved helping my parents paint and make repairs to the rental homes that we had. I continued with the rental business until I retired. A purposeful life full of friends and God’s blessings are there for all who pursue its comforts. I hope you are having a happy life and living your dreams.

Tags Inspirations with Laura, Travel

Small Town Shopping

Small-Town Shopping Makes For A Good Day Trip

I love making a day of it by shopping in old towns. I have found fantastic clothing stores in small towns and purchased a lot of clothing from them over the years. The store owners are always amiable and accommodating to your needs. Some old buildings have been re-purposed into beautiful stores. I went into an old bank building which was now a lovely restaurant. I also was in an old church, now a lovely antique store in Kalona, Iowa. I once ate in an old gas station that now served twelve people on old wooden stools in Missouri. I love looking at the lovely architecture of the old buildings in small towns.

Old Hardware Stores

I have purchased many items at old small-town hardware stores over the years. I love the hardware stores in Kalona, Iowa. I have bought old tools from them that were brand new and made much better than the new ones they make now. One of the hardware stores sold furniture upstairs, and I found a lovely table for my home. I purchased a brush cutter, a new lawn mower, and a sump pump from small-town hardware stores. I have seen old appliances that have never been used that will last many years. I still have one refrigerator going strong after 20 years of use. I also have a 1953 GE refrigerator that keeps things fresh and cool.

Antique Stores

You can find almost anything at an antique store that is made well. I purchased a lovely old settee that I had recovered and sat in my Dining room. I also bought a hand trimmer that trims my bushes to perfection. I have found lovely old oil lamps that I light when my electricity goes out in bad weather. It is nice to see some of the old toys you used to play with as a child. I found an old Doctors bag with all the plastic instruments still in it that I used to play with growing up. I found an excellent harmonica in an antique store in Southern Iowa.

Old Drug Stores

There are still a few old drug stores around that still have a soda fountain. I purchased a Green River soda from an old drugstore. A Green River Soda pop dates back to 1919, and it was also a big seller in the fifties and sixties; I have found lovely old greeting cards to send people. Some old drug stores still sell radios and other household gadgets.

Small Town Restaurants And Coffee Shops

I have found an excellent restaurant in small towns. I love the Tuscan Moon Restaurant in Kalona, Iowa. He specializes in Italian food and offers other food choices. I have ordered his lamb twice, and it is the best lamb I have ever eaten, as it was baked to perfection. I have found many small-town coffee shops in Iowa that I love to visit every time I go to their town. Most of the coffee shops have lovely baked goods for sale also. Small-town shopping keeps your money local. If we do not support small-town businesses, they will disappear completely. Make a day of it shopping and eating in small towns across America and take home some wonderful and valuable treasures with you.

Tags Travel

Traveling 101 Two

Ordering Food

One time I ordered the soup of the day, and luckily, before my waitress took off with my order, I asked her what kind of soup it was, and she said cow stomach; I canceled my soup ASAP. When I was in France, a man ordered Escargot, and he was anything but pleased when his snails arrived. If you do not know what food is, ask what it is before you call it and discover that you cannot eat it because it is not what you thought it was. I ordered a cafe latte in France and received a cup of coffee and a cup of tea. I first drank my cup of coffee, followed by my tea. The word latte sounded like tea to my waitress. You must always consider the language difference before ordering or asking for something. If you do not get what you ordered, do not be afraid to say so; I saw my food delivered to a different table and received what they ordered. When my waitress returned, she switched our plates, and we had a pleasant meal.

Hotel Rooms

In Europe, we got stuck in a room in their attic. It was so cramped we could hardly move. We put up with it for two nights and then asked for a different room. They gave us a huge room then, which made our stay pleasant. One time on a trip overseas, we ended up at a hotel room out of the 1940s, and they had the blankets, tables, chairs, and elevator to prove it. We left and went to another hotel which was very elegant and outstanding. One time in a hotel room, we could not operate our faucets for the shower. The manager said we had to twist the bottom of the tap sideways to get water to the battery. He thought I was stupid and could not figure that out, so I told him that if we did that in the USA, we would have a significant problem as we would break the faucet off the sink, and water would fly everywhere. We asked for a hairdryer once, and they said they had given them to all the men and told us we could use an iron. They had a convention of men there at the time. They should have kept some extras for the tour group on their way the next day.

Plan Your Days Activities

Sometimes the best-laid plans of mice or men will not happen no matter what you may try. For days like that, have a backup plan for what you may do or see that day. Try to see many things in one day without wearing yourself out by having too many planned activities for one day. Relax, unwind on your vacation, and do things your family will enjoy doing. Stop at museums, concerts, plays, theme parks, and national monuments, and shop for items that you may see that you would like to have. Travel in the good old USA as there is much to see and do; go to the country you have always dreamed about going to, and I promise you will not regret it as it will enrich your soul. Traveling is excellent; no one can take those beautiful memories and moments away from you. God bless you with safe travels.

Tags Travel

Walking On Your Vacation

Shopping At Stores

My friend and I stayed in a hotel in the central part of town. We would take off from the hotel in the morning and shop at the local stores. It is fun to look at the sights and shops while walking around. We would stop at local museums and buy concert tickets in the evening. I tried on a pair of shoes I liked and carried them back to my hotel room. I once purchased a Christmas wreath that I moved to the local post office I sent home. Many stores would offer free shipping to your beautiful home, so I would not have to return it to my hotel room. I found an old toy store on vacation in France with beautiful toys like those I had years ago. I purchased a wind-up toy pig, a robot, and an old car with a man driving it with his duster outfit on. I have found beautiful crosses in the windows of stores that I love to wear.

Looking At Sights And Scenery While You Walk

I have walked into bakeries and purchased their excellent baked goods. They make for a good evening dessert after a day of walking and taking in all of the sights and sounds. After reviewing their menu, you can walk into the local restaurants and see which one you want to eat. My friend and I went on an old train engine for a ride after we saw their sign that the train ride would start in one hour. It was so much fun riding in that little passenger train car. We have walked up to old lighthouses and taken a tour of them. I love old lighthouses, what they stand for, and how many lives they have saved over the years.

Outdoor Markets

I love going to the outdoor markets in Europe. I have found beautiful gifts to give people for Christmas. I have found a unique one of the k and items. I have purchased old books, handmade wooden items for kitchen use, socks, shirts, toys for my pet cats, and much more. I bought a big antique serving plate for my friend for her birthday. I purchased a handmade flute and Turkish delights in Turkey. I also purchased a small Turkish rug. I love looking at fresh-cut flowers and produce items. I have purchased fresh fruit at outdoor markets to eat in my hotel room at night, which is a healthy snack to eat in the evening. I bought a cuckoo clock in Germany.

Walking On A Vacation Is Good For You

You can talk to some locals as you walk along and ask them where you might go for a concert, opera, play, and more tickets. I asked them where some of their favorite restaurants were located. People tend to be very helpful in directing you to find something you may want to look at in town. The exercise you get while walking will keep you from gaining weight on your trip. Keep walking, and you will be surprised by what you will see and be able to do on your walking adventures on your upcoming vacations.

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I Can Accomplish That

Determination

If I am determined to do something, I can get it done. If one has their mind set on accomplishing a goal and keeps working on it, one can most likely reach your goal. Think of your mission coming to fruition and how wonderful that will be. Never let someone tell you not to try something because they don’t think you can do it. If they are correct, at least you tried to do it, which is an achievement. If you never try to enrich your life and move forward with new plans and ideas, you will stagnate and not be happy or accomplish what you could have to improve the world.

Education

You will never regret going to college as you can accomplish much more with a college degree than without one. Most jobs require at least a master’s degree today, which are high-paying, lasting jobs. You must have the vast computer knowledge to get top-quality employment today. If you do not know how to use a computer effectively and efficiently,

Tags Inspirations with Laura, Travel

Bean & Bistro Located In Northwood

Bean & Bistro Located In Northwood, Iowa

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date February 1, 2021
2 Comments on Bean & Bistro Located In Northwood, Iowa

Coffee, Chai Tea, And More

I love the coffee at Bean and Bistro. I have had their lattes, cappuccinos, and regular and decaffeinated coffee. Their coffee has a nice mild flavor, and I love the aroma of the coffee. I love their vanilla chai tea and their hot chocolate. I have had vanilla, pumpkin spice, caramel, and other flavored coffee drinks. All of their coffee is made to perfection. If you ask for a lot of foam in your coffee, you will get that.

Breakfast and Cinnamon Rolls And Cookies

I love their Wednesday burrito breakfast special. I order the burrito with ham in it, which is delicious. I love all the food at Bean & Bistro in Northwood, Iowa. The burrito is filled with hash browns and cheese that I ordered. You can get your burrito with ham, bacon, or sausage, which also comes with sour cream. The special comes with a large cup of coffee and cream if you want it. Their cinnamon rolls are the best cinnamon rolls that I have ever eaten in my life. The frosting is a light brown cinnamon that gives it the right amount of sweetness. I wouldn’t say I like cake icing cinnamon rolls as they are way too sweet, and they do not make those which I am glad for. They also make another outstanding cheesecake cinnamon roll. The cinnamon roll has cheesecake on top of it, and I love cheesecake. I generally take home two cinnamon rolls to have later on. I would highly recommend trying their cinnamon rolls as they are mouth-watering. I like to take home some of their cookies to snack on. I have tried their chocolate chip cookies and more.

Lunch

They have various kinds of wraps that come with chips. They have a grilled cheese sandwich which comes with tomato soup. I have tried their soup and loved that it was not spicy, as I wouldn’t say I like spicy foods. Their grilled chicken wrap is delicious. They have smash burgers with caramelized onions, bacon, Swiss cheese, and homemade chips. They have daily lunch specials that are very generous and filling. I love all the food at Bean and Bistro n Northwood, Iowa.

The Owner And Staff

The owner always asked me how my food was, which I appreciated. She works in the kitchen with gloves on while she prepares your food. Her co-worker is an excellent barista, and they both have pleasant personalities. They take time to visit with you and put a smile on your face. I ordered six cinnamon rolls one day for other pothers to pick up when I arrived. They were ready to go when I got there.

The Atmosphere

The restaurant is nicely decorated. I love the antiques in the restaurant, as there are two old coffee grinders and a neat little antique corner table with a mirror. She has pictures of people drinking coffee and old coffee signs on the walls. There are more interesting antique pieces to look at. You can see her care in preparing food in the kitchen while waiting. Take a nice little drive and have coffee, breakfast, lunch, cinnamon rolls, and more at Bean & Bistro in Northwood, Iowa.

Italian Night

She will start Italian night starting Saturday in March from 5 to 8 PM; she will bring your wine or spirits to enjoy while eating Italian food. There will be an uncorking fee for your wine or spirits. What an excellent way to spend a Saturday evening with friends or family.

The Bistro Bed and Breakfast

She has a Bed and Breakfast above her Bistro. You can spend a lovely quiet evening above her Bistro and get served one of her fantastic breakfast items and your choice of hot coffee or other hot drinks that she has.

Tags food, Travel

The Art Of Becoming The Well Seasoned Traveler Part 2

The Art of Becoming The Well Seasoned Traveler Part 2

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date January 25, 2021
2 Comments on The Art of Becoming The Well Seasoned Traveler Part 2

Keep Your Passport And Valuables Attached To Your Person

Keep your passport in a passport holder that goes around your neck with a metal rope that cannot be cut. Keep your money in a money belt or have a zippered container to safely pin to your clothing with a place for your passport. Make sure you always have them attached to your person. Make sure your plane tickets are where you can find them in a hurry. Keep a copy of your receipt for your hotel room and vouchers that you will have to see local attractions. Keep phone numbers for your hotel on you if you get lost while walking about, as they can direct you back to your room. Take a cell phone with you that can be used abroad using a different sim card. Keep emergency numbers with you at all times if someone has to tell someone that you are sick and need medical care.

Take Change With You For Using Rest Rooms Abroad

Most restrooms abroad require you to put the exact amount of change in so a bar will lift all, lowing you use the bathroom. They will not let you in if you do not have a chance. Some bathrooms have matrons sitting by the door asking for more money than they should before they will let you in. Stores do not have bathrooms for the general public. Gas stations also charge users for their toilets. Restaurants want you to buy something before they let you use their restrooms. Once, I used a toilet in a drug store, and she locked me in the bathroom. My friend told her she had to let me out, and luckily, she let me out before we missed our bus back to our hotel for the night. The matron barely let us in one restroom, and she started pounding on the door with a billy club. The matron yelled at us in a train station while we used the restroom. One restroom at a restaurant had men and women using the same toilet. Using the bathroom overseas can be quite an experience you will soon forget.

Allow Time For Unexpected Adventures On Your Trip

We had a plane ride over the islands in Hawaii that I genuinely enjoyed. Our guide told us the history of each island, and we toured an orchid greenhouse. He sold one orchid bulb overseas for $10000.00. We went in a submarine and saw fish and giant turtles in the clear waters of Hawaii. We visited Stonehenge in England, which I had always wanted to see. If you see a day trip, make reservations to go on it since you will probably regret that you did not see it if your heart was set on seeing it. We booked several ballets, operas, and concerts, which I enjoyed immensely. Do not be afraid to look at local attractions such as monuments, museums, and much more on the spur of the moment, as that moment may never reoccur.

Tags Travel

The Black Sheep Coffee Baa Located In Greene

The Black Sheep Coffee Baa Located In Greene, Iowa

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date January 11, 2021
No Comments on The Black Sheep Coffee Baa Located In Greene, Iowa

Awesome Baked Goods

I ordered a vanilla chai latte and an Almond poppy seed muffin. My chai tea was excellent, and my Almond poppy seed muffin was delicious. My muffin was fresh and tasted like almonds, and the poppy seeds added to the delicate taste. Patrons started coming into the coffee shop and bakery. The Almond poppy seed muffins were flying off the sleeves as they were a big hit with everyone. I ordered six almond sticks to take home. I ate one for an evening snack, and it melted in my mouth. I love almond letters; the almond sticks taste like almond letters. They had scones, cinnamon rolls, colossal chocolate chip cookies, baked bread, and much more to take home.

Lunch Items

I ordered a bowl of their hamburger cheesy soup, which I took home to eat for lunch. The soup was packaged in a microwave container that was vented. I also took home four extra large chocolate chip cookies. I heated the soup in my microwave at noon. My soup was excellent as it had a hamburger, broccoli, and cheese. I enjoyed my soup while I watched TV. They sell paninis, Reubens, salads, and breakfast items.

Friendly Staff

The employees were amiable and accommodating. My barista knew how to make a perfect froth for my latte. All of the food items were handled with gloves on. The coffee shop and bakery owner came out to greet me and see how everything was. I appreciate it when the owner comes out to talk to her customers, as it shows she wants everything done to satisfy the customers. She was charming to visit with. The Black Sheep Coffee Baa is located on Traer Street in Greene, Iowa. A lovely coffee shop to go to for a pleasant morning drive or for a beautiful lunch and delicious baked goods to take home and enjoy throughout the week.

Nicely Decorated

I love the little black sheep in the coffee shop, the old antique stove, the pictures of sheep on the walls, and the old coffee signs. The coffee shop is nicely appointed and has a relaxing atmosphere.

My Morning Breakfast

I ate one of the fantastic chocolate chip cookies for breakfast this morning. I figure why not start your day with sweets, as you can work it off throughout your day. I also heated my leftover chai latte. I enjoyed my breakfast today.

Baked Goods I Will Savor Throughout The Week

I will be munching away on my almond sticks, which I love immensely. I will also be eating more chocolate chip cookies. When I run out of baked goods, I will return to The Black Sheep Coffee Baa and Bakery on Traer Street in Greene, Iowa.

I look forward to trying more of their coffee, lunch items, and baked goods.

Tags Travel