The Woes of the Motor City

The motor capital of the world continues to suffer from these hard times.
When they suffer, so do most industries - including health care.
The impact is great and it is all taking its toll on my dear Michigan.

Growing up in Detroit, cars were the big thing. It's what we knew.
Most families have members working in the auto industry. Just as mine.
One brother retired from Chrysler, another from Budd (car parts), and my dad retired from Uniroyal (cars need tires!), as did many extended family members who punched the clock at auto-related companies.

And now our world is rattled and everything is in disarray. What was the auto industry of so many years, is changing big time - and I do not think it will ever be the same again.

Ford Motor Co. seems to be holding their own at the present. Chrysler - as reported today - their negotations with Fiat have collapsed and bankruptcy appears to be inevitable. And General Motors continues to struggle and reorganize and is holding on for dear life. As a result, the Pontiac line is being eliminated and will disappear at the end of 2010. This is such sad news. I have driven a Pontiac since the '70's (on #8 right now). I can't imagine shopping for a car without being able to pick a Pontiac.

But life is full of surprises. And full of changes. And while the unknown is scarey, it is a part of life. So as we adapt to losing the comfort of what we know and opting for newness, I know we will survive. It is always hard to let go and head in a different direction. But it isn't always about choice, and this we are learning. It is about moving forward and survival. And perhaps in the long run it won't be as bad as we think.

I pray that people will survive these terrible times..........not just in Michigan, but everywhere. It is a time for faith, because without it we don't have quite as much hope.

God bless those without jobs - may they find new direction and may families hold together and help each other. We have always needed that, but now it seems even more important than ever.

So I ask.......God.......please show us the way.

Blessings to you all from

rut roh

Keegan came to Nana's House

Keegan showing his long skinny legs.

Keegan let's you know when he is uncomfortable.

No wet clothes for him.

Keegan came to visit

According to Keegan...................

I wasn't happy waiting for Mommy to come out from getting her allergy shots.

But then I got happy when Mommy started driving again.

And then we got to the Thai restaurant, and I was content in my seat...... But then Nana held me and fed me a bottle (bottles are kind of weird, aren't they?) I took some, but I really wanted to snooze some more.

And then we went to Nana's office - and I got to meet Nana's boss (she calls him Jim). Here he is holding me: (I think he likes me - I pretended I didn't notice)

And then Miss Margaret came to see me. Oh boy, another picture. Here's the two of us:

And then Miss Debbie came over and Nana took more pictures. This time with Miss Debbie holding me.

I'm thinking they like me. I like all of them, too.

And here is Nana holding me while she sits at her desk.

Then.....

my Mommy took me to her office. More people, more pictures.

It was fun being out with my Mommy. But I liked getting back in the SUV and going home. I missed the dogs and cats, oh ya those birds, I guess the fish, too. But I really needed to rest. It was a very busy day for me.

Rainy Days

Some people don't like the rain. But I do.
Some people don't like gloomy days. But I do.
Some people aren't going to like the weather forecast for the next few days. But I will.
There has to be different kinds of people - those that like things that others don't.
So I am in the rain and gloomy category. Not all the time - but I like the feel of the rain.
I like the smells of rainy days in spring.
I like how it washes off the remains of winter and makes the earth fresh.
And I like how it makes the grass green, gives the flowers encouragement to come back to life.
And I like the coziness of being indoors and being content in my little world.
I jokingly call myself "Morticia".
So, until the sun shines again....and it always will....I am enjoying the soothing sounds of rain.

Remember - April Rain brings May flowers. Happy Spring

My Magnolia - blossomed 4.18

The Cat and the Deer

Susan Boyle - Britain's Best

This video has been circulating around the internet. In case you haven't seen it - please click on the link below and check it out. It is a fantastic performance and will simply make you feel good. Every time I look at it, I get goosebumps all over again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

I love Susan Boyle. She is a truly BEAUTIFUL person and an inspiration to us all. God bless her!

Jasmine

In 2003, police in Warwickshire, England, opened a garden shed and found a whimpering, cowering dog.

It had been locked in the shed and abandoned. It was dirty and malnourished, and had clearly been abused.

In an act of kindness, the police took the dog, which was a Greyhound female, to the nearby Nuneaton Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary, run by a man named Geoff Grewcock and known as a willing haven for Animals abandoned, orphaned or otherwise in need.

Geoff and the other sanctuary staff went to work with two aims to restore the dog to full health, and to win her trust. It took several weeks, but eventually both goals were achieved.They named her Jasmine, and they started to think about finding her an adoptive home.

But Jasmine had other ideas. No-one remembers now how it began, but she started welcoming all Animal arrivals at the sanctuary.. It wouldn't matter if it was a puppy, a fox cub, a rabbit or, any other lost or hurting Animal, Jasmine would peer into the box or cage and, where possible, deliver a welcoming lick.

Geoff relates one of the early incidents. "We had two puppies that had been abandoned by a nearby railway line. One was a Lakeland Terrier cross and another was a Jack Russell Doberman cross. They were tiny when they arrived at the centre and Jasmine approached them and grabbed one by the scruff of the neck in her mouth and put him on the settee. Then she fetched the other one and sat down with them, cuddling them."

"But she is like that with all of our animals, even the rabbits. She takes all the stress out of them and it helps them to not only feel close to her but to settle into their new surroundings.

"She has done the same with the fox and badger cubs, she licks the rabbits and guinea pigs and even lets the birds perch on the bridge of her nose.

Jasmine, the timid, abused, deserted waif, became the animal sanctuary's resident surrogate mother, a role for which she might have been born. The list of orphaned and abandoned youngsters she has cared for comprises five fox cubs, four badger cubs, 15 chicks, eight guinea pigs, two stray puppies and 15 rabbits.

And one roe deer fawn. Tiny Bramble, 11 weeks old, was found semi-conscious in a field. Upon arrival at the sanctuary, Jasmine cuddled up to her to keep her warm, and then went into the full foster mum role. Jasmine the greyhound showers Bramble the Roe deer with affection and makes sure nothing is matted.

"They are inseparable," says Geoff "Bramble walks between her legs and they keep kissing each other. They walk together round the sanctuary.It's a real treat to see them.

Jasmine will continue to care for Bramble until she is old enough to be returned to woodland life. When that happens, Jasmine will not be lonely. She will be too busy showering love and affection on the next Orphan or victim of abuse.



From left, Toby, a stray Lakeland dog; Bramble, orphaned Roe deer; Buster, a stray Jack Russell; a dumped rabbit; Sky, an injured barn owl; and Jasmine with a Mothers heart doing best what a caring Mother would do.... Such is the order of God's Creation.

People's Personal Colors

Rik's daughter, Kelle, recently did a post about what she felt her two year old daughter, Lainey Love's "color" is. Kelle feels it is "yellow". Kelle feels she herself is "red" - and her dad agrees. Her style is bold - always has been - so red is definitely befitting her.

For Carin - another of Rik's daughters - he feels she is "burnt orange". She is more laidback and warm.

That got me wondering what my color is - what Beth and Becky's colors are. Rik says that I am "burnt orange" - warm shade of orange. I like that. And the fact that I love pumpkins - not only for their fabulous orange tones, but also for their sizes and shapes - each one an individual, is great, too.

So then Rik and I decided that Beth is purple. I was thinking exactly the same thing! And Becky is blue - the warm tones of blues. Definitely blue for her is what I was thinking and Rik said the same thing before I even spoke the words.

Rik finds comfort in "olive green". I can see that. We're thinking Gary is the warmest of "blues". Definitely.

Now I will ask - what color are you?

Keegan on Easter