Shade

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

That's Shade, a little over an hour ago. The eating is a good sign, but as you can see, she's not looking at all herself. 

Shade is sixteen, normally sleek and muscular; perfect weight assertive, stubborn, take-no-shit temperament. Cree, who we lost last year on February 15th (2017), was her mother, and she was really the only one who could discipline Shade at all. Cree was also the herd matriarch, and when we lost her, the other three bonded tighter than ever. Then when we lost Ice on August 6th? Shade and Miskwaki have become inseparable, to the point that neither wants the other out of his or her sight.

I mentioned in the post just below this one some of what's been going on lately. Shade has had a few relatively mild colics over the years, generally nothing that walking and maybe a little Banamine couldn't handle. She did, however, seem to get entirely her mother's genes, so she developed laminitis in her right front a couple of years ago (mild and well-managed), and lately we've been thinking that she's also developed her mom's Cushing's. That is likely true, but it remains to be seen whether we'll have the chance to address it.

She had been dealing with a skin irritation on the underside of her belly that looked like allergy, but along with that, she began losing weight, especially off her topline, and her coat and skin had lost their healthy-looking sheen and texture. All potentially related to the Cushing's (save the allergy, although it and the inflammation could certainly aggravate each other). Two weeks ago, we had the vet pull some labs, and her liver enzymes were elevated: not drastically so; just enough to indicate a problem, or at least a potential one. The plan was two weeks' worth of antibiotics in case it was infection-related, and then re-evaluate.

The last couple of days, she took a dive. Clearly at least pre-colicky, although Banamine and walking, again, seemed initially to take care of it. Not today. Today, she was in enough distress that Miskwaki constantly nipped at her neck and back and flanks to try to get her on her feet (because horses know, and they know what needs to happen; he used to do it with Cree, too). A little before 5 PM, it was clearly time to call the vet (who has been dealing with colic emergencies all over the county nonstop for days, and has had very little sleep, but was kind enough to come out within a half-hour). She spent a couple of hours out here, and initially, it looked very bad indeed.

Without getting too graphic (those of you with horses will know what this means), she was in full colic, such that her intestine was displaced. Now, that's not torsion; it's not good, but it's not the near-death sentence that a torsion colic is (that's what Ice developed at the end, a result of the tumor we didn't even know he had having grown and shifted to such an extent that it turned his intestine into a twist). Shade's is merely moved to the side, which is still dangerous but not at quite the same level. However, on the manual exam, the vet couldn't get beyond the displacement (sometimes it's not so bad, and that can be done; this was not one of those times). What that means is that we don't know what's causing the displacement: simple gas? an impaction? a mass (i.e., a tumor)? that limits what we can do even diagnostically.

So we began with more sedation and tubing her with mineral oil. Then, the vet did an ultrasound of the liver area. That was not promising; she has to analyze the images thoroughly, but it appears as though there might be a whole line of small masses there.  Now, that doesn't necessarily mean cancer; they could be benign. Alternatively, even a benign mass, growing too much or shifting the wrong way, can prove fatal. So that's a crapshoot. Finally, she did a belly tap (think spinal tap, but of the stomach cavity, using a hollow needle to pull out fluid for analysis). We were hoping to be able to see what proteins or other substances might be in it, but instead, it was filled with blood. That likely indicates internal bleeding — although, again, it could be something relatively minor that just happens to coincide with everything else.

Afterward, she refused her grain and lay down again; no thrashing, no seizing, just a half-roll. Then, she emitted a small amount of gas a couple of times, and that is the absolute best thing that could happen right now. The vet recalibrated her chances from 80/20 against to 50/50. We can address the liver stuff down the road (and the Cushing's, too, if it comes to that), but nothing happens if she doesn't make it through this colic. We have two syringes filled with sedative for her should things go south, but as of last check about 20 minutes ago, she was lying down relatively comfortably, head up, eyes clear and alert, looking as relaxed as is possible under the circumstances. We're taking that as a good sign. Miskwaki is standing watch over her. And we'll take all the prayers and good vibes for this girl that we can get, because it's not her time yet. Whatever ya got, please, please, send it her way. 

Thanks.



All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

The truck, the horse, and the firebug. It's all going to hell. Sales and subscribers and shares very badly needed now.

Photo copyright Aji, 2018;
all rights reserved.

Well, this month is going to to go right down to the wire as one damn thing after another. I seriously hope things turn over tomorrow, because in addition to being July 1st, it's also Wings's birthday, and I'd like his year to get off to a far better start than these last few months have been. This day, though, has been a disaster. 

First, the truck: That expensive part? Turns out to be the wrong one. The one we really needed, apparently, runs in excess of $1,200, so that's a ::cough: nonstarter, no pun intended. Philip instead replaced all the points and will do his best to keep it running while he trawls salvage yards for a used version, but that's not a sure thing, so there may come a point when we have to lay out that kind of cash. We don't have it now, though, so it's moot anyway.

Shade has something seriously wrong. The problem is figuring out what. It could turn out to be something eminently treatable, but we're not at a point where we can tell. She's undergoing a seemingly endless round of mild colics, and while Wings was running a bunch of errands this morning, I came out of the shower, saw her down again, and immediately set both wrist/hand and ankle on fire getting her haltered and walking her around. The vet, who is dealing with a rash of terrible colics thanks to climate change and the heat and the smoke, has been staying in touch as best she can, and she thinks that the colicky tendencies are related to whatever's wrong with her liver (that's the diagnostic difficulty, which can be both expensive and invasive, so we're trying other things first). Wings has just gone in to the drugstore to get a rectal thermometer, because we now have to start checking her temperature to make sure she's not febrile (she likely is). At any rate, we've both nearly given ourselves heatstroke today trying to deal with stabilizing her, so it hasn't been a good day all the way around.

And, of course, the medical bills aren't going away by themselves (they're just multiplying), and there's no tourism, no powwow, not even a demonstration today (not that we could've gone anyway, given the morning's events, although we wanted to), and most definitely no sales. The arsonist is still running free, though, and that concerns me, because the house is not finished yet. It's finished enough for us to live in it, obviously, but not enough for anyone to be willing to insure it (a little electrical work, the stairs, the remainder of the kitchen that's not finished off yet), and we need to be able to get it insured. The wildfires scare me, but this firebug is scaring me even more. So we have to make sales, I have to get new subscribers (even if I can't write the way I want to on Patreon right now because of the pain and damage to the nerves in my wrist and hand), we have to generate income some damn way. Here are the links and a request to share them, because without more sales and Patreon subscribers I honestly don't know how we get through this:

• My new Patreon, The Interstices (Writing Between Worlds);
• Wings's site, for sales, with new items posted;
• Wings's direct PayPal link;
• A way to buy me coffee (which actually goes to all of our medical bills, which continue to mount);
• Amazon wishlist, which mostly consists of animal and household stuff;
• Partial registry #1, from Bed, Bath and Beyond. There are new kitchen-y things on it now, stuff that I didn't realize we'd need to replace (either because the RV ruined it or because we gave it away when we had to downsize).

A special thank-you to the folks from recent days who have now made it possible to get the truck fixed. Today is the last day to get in on June's Patreon subscriptions, to be billed July 1st; I'd really like to raise another $500 in subscriptions before July is out, just to have a little more to throw to the medical wolves that are constantly at my throat. Now, we've got a lot more that needs to be done, too, and I'm damned if I know how.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Blue, to Every Corner

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a small but substantial work that brings the four corners of the sky down to wearable form. It's also unusually apt for this day when, after so many long days of gray smoky haze from area wildfires, we have been given the gift of being able once again to see the blue, to every corner of our world.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. And, as always, sales are very much needed (especially now; no sales, medical bills mounting, something severely wrong with Shade, and the truck just got a whole lot more expensive to fix), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Smoke, dust, and endless crap. Sales, subscriptions, and shares needed now.

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

I see this month is determined to go out the same way it came in, on a steady stream of dirt, smoke, and endless crap.

Yesterday, the local hardware store overcharged us. Instead of refunding it on the debit card, they charged us twice with no credit in between. This necessitated much running around by Wings today and dealing with all sorts of ridiculousness, and constant interruptions that have left me unable to get anything at all accomplished today. Of course, while they debit instantly, the store tells us now it'll take a few days for the credit. If it's not in there tomorrow morning, they're going to be dealing with a fire of another sort.

Because right now, it's all about the fires. No, Taos County's finest have not collared the serial arsonist who's been engaging in all sorts of happy roadside terrorism for a smooth month now in this drought. Two jail staffers got arrested for drug trafficking, though. And a hospital employee whose earlier criminal case was dismissed has now had it reopened. [An employee who has had, and continues to have, access to confidential and sensitive patient information. For people like, you know, me.] Still no announcement of a fireworks ban for the Fourth, despite a record drought and the whole county being ready to go up at a single spark. But tell me again about the wonders of colonization and gentrification, hmm? 

I posted three new pieces by Wings yesterday here. Between the heat and the smoke affecting my breathing adversely and the acute nerve pain and loss of function in my hand and wrist, I'm going to be slow and mostly useless for the foreseeable future. Here are the links and a request to share them, because without more sales and Patreon subscribers I honestly don't know how we get through this:

• My new Patreon, The Interstices (Writing Between Worlds);
• Wings's site, for sales, with new items posted;
• Wings's direct PayPal link;
• A way to buy me coffee (which actually goes to all of our medical bills, which continue to mount);
• Amazon wishlist, which mostly consists of animal and household stuff;
• Partial registry #1, from Bed, Bath and Beyond. There are new kitchen-y things on it now, stuff that I didn't realize we'd need to replace (either because the RV ruined it or because we gave it away when we had to downsize).

A special thank-you to the folks from recent days who have now made it possible to get the truck fixed. The parts are on order and Philip expects to be able to work on it next week. so we may have it running again relatively soon. No wiggle room for anything else, which means a trip to turn in his scrap silver is in the offing soon. Also, tomorrow is the last day to get in on June's Patreon subscriptions, to be billed July 1st; I'd really like to raise another $500 in subscriptions before July is out, just to have a little more to throw to the medical wolves that are constantly at my throat.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Friday Feature: The Everyday Presence of the Bright Blue Sky

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

It's our Friday Feature at The NDN Silver Blog, with a work by an artist from another Pueblo, a maternal spirit being responsible for nurturing and and training the young. It's Crow Mother arrayed against turquoise skies not much in evidence here today, but her presence reminds us that a return to the old ways holds hope for the return of the everyday presence of the bright blue sky. 

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. And, as always, sales are very much needed (especially now, with no tourism, no sales, and medical bills still mounting), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.



All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Three new works by Wings!

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

From yesterday and today, three all-new works by Wings: a cuff bracelet and two rings.

The first is the cuff shown above; you can see it from another angle here:

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

The stones are stunning, especially that big center cab. These are greens with enough blue undertones to turn them into a rich teal, and against the floral millwork? They're fabulous. This one is called The Greening of the Earth, and you can read the full description here.

The second piece from yesterday is the first of the rings — n o stone this time, but it's a luminous work of anticlastic forging:

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

The light in the studio right now is not conducive to photographing silverwork, so there's a lot of color reflection from inside the studio. Suffice to say it's solid sterling silver, polished to a beautiful finish, with millwork that suits its name spectacularly well: A Flowering Light. You can read its full description here.

Finally, from today, the second ring, this one more traditional in style:

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

This one is called Water Lilies, and it features another of those pond-colored cabochons, deep teal blue-green, as the focal point, with a beautifully textured milled band. You can read its full description here.

Given our current circumstances around here, with a drought in both literal and figurative terms, fires exploding everywhere (including one 3.25 miles down the road this morning) and no rain of either the tangible or metaphorical variety in sight for anyone, selling these would do wonders right now. Of course, so would selling any of Wings's other newish works, or his older inventory, for that matter. Here's the link to his site; please spread it around. If you'd like to order, you can reach me via the site's Contact form, or via DM on Twitter or FB.

Thanks.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Fires in our back yard; lots of smoke, but no rain. Sales and subscribers and shares all badly needed now.

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

No official update yet today on the nearby Sardinas Canyon Fire; we spent last night choking on the smoke, and thus got very little sleep. That up there in the photo? That's this morning, right freaking now, about two miles down the road around the curve from us. No, I have no idea what caused it (although the smart money would be on human recklessness), and I have no idea how under control it is at this moment, but people need to wise up fast, because this is literally our back yard, so to speak. It's 92 degrees and climbing, no rain in the forecast, a veil of smoke everywhere, breathing is labored, and between idiocy and our local arsonist, we have to worry about the whole county going up in flames. [Yes, there's a serial arsonist here who's been setting roadside grass fires for weeks, as though this place weren't enough of a tinderbox already.] 

I posted two new pieces by Wings yesterday here and here; I'll have a third later today, and I'll highlight them all here in a separate post then. Between the heat and the smoke affecting my breathing adversely and the acute nerve pain and loss of function in my hand and wrist, I'm going top be slow and mostly useless for the foreseeable future. Here are the links and a request to share them, because without more sales and Patreon subscribers I honestly don't know how we get through this:

• My new Patreon, The Interstices (Writing Between Worlds);
• Wings's site, for sales, with new items posted;
• Wings's direct PayPal link;
• A way to buy me coffee (which actually goes to all of our medical bills, which continue to mount);
• Amazon wishlist, which mostly consists of animal and household stuff;
• Partial registry #1, from Bed, Bath and Beyond. There are new kitchen-y things on it now, stuff that I didn't realize we'd need to replace (either because the RV ruined it or because we gave it away when we had to downsize).

A special thank-you to the folks from recent days who have now made it possible to get the truck fixed. The parts are on order and Philip expects to be able to work on it next week. so we may have it running again relatively soon.  

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

#ThrowbackThursday: A Blue Sky Flowering Again

Photo copyright Wings, 2018; all rights reserved.

It's #TBT at The NDN Silver Blog, with a work from some nine or ten years ago wrought in a moderately vintage traditional style. It's a necklace that captures the spirit and power of the season, of the light, of the Four Sacred Directions, of a blue sky flowering again.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. This one sold years ago, of course, but if the style speaks to your spirit, simply inquire via the site's Contact form; Wings can create a version uniquely your own. And, as always, sales are very much needed (especially now; heat waves and fires close to home, no tourism and no rain of any sort, but the medical bills keep rising), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Exploding fires of various sorts. Sales and subscribers and shares all very much needed.

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

The Sardinas Canyon Fire exploded yesterday, right in front of our eyes, from 85 to more than 500 acres. The plume looked like the mushroom cloud from a hydrogen bomb drop. This is about 30 miles south of us, in hard-to-reach back country, accessible mostly from the air. Zero containment. We're unlikely to get anything worse than smoke, but in 97-degree heat, that will be bad for breathing. Pray it doesn't amount to anything worse.

Shade got her follow-up blood draw yesterday, to see whether the 2 weeks' worth of antibiotics have lowered her liver enzymes at all. It seems that I called it months ago, though; apart from whatever's affecting her liver (the current theory is inflammation from allergic reaction having sparked an infection), it's looking like Cushing's. Not looking forward to that; we treated her mom, Cree, for it, and the meds are costly (but effective). The other kind of medicine I mentioned from the other night uncovered something else, too, and that's been taken care of. Today Blue has to get her vaccine booster, and between the heat and the smoke and the acute pain in my hand and wrist, I'm still wiped out, here are the links and a request to share them, because without more sales and Patreon subscribers I honestly don't know how we get through this:

• My new Patreon, The Interstices (Writing Between Worlds);
• Wings's site, for sales, with new items posted;
• Wings's direct PayPal link;
• A way to buy me coffee (which actually goes to all of our medical bills, which continue to mount);
• Amazon wishlist, which mostly consists of animal and household stuff;
• Partial registry #1, from Bed, Bath and Beyond. There are new kitchen-y things on it now, stuff that I didn't realize we'd need to replace (either because the RV ruined it or because we gave it away when we had to downsize).

A special thank-you to the folks from yesterday and the two days before who have now made it possible to get the truck fixed. Philip will order the parts for it at the end of the week, and labor is likely covered, so we may have it running again relatively soon.  

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

A Pollinating Sky

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's one of Wings's newest works, completed only last week. It's an embodiment of one of the small spirits of summer, fragile and fierce, and a plea for their return: to pollinate the earth as they herald the gift of the rains from a pollinating sky.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. And, as always, sales are very much needed (especially now; a new vet bill for Shade in addition to our own medical bills, and while we have a new wildfire nearby, we have no tourist trade or sales incoming), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.



All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.
  

Owned. More on Shade today; truck next week, maybe. Sales, subscribers, and shares all very much needed now.

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

Yeah, they own us now. They have leashes, collars, tags, vaccine tags, bells (borrowed from the older cousins they never got a chance to know). We run an errand, and just like all the others, they're there waiting at the carport for us when we get back.

A lot to do today, including Shade's follow-up (a blood draw to see whether the 2 weeks' worth of antibiotics have lowered her liver enzymes at all). Some friends brought us some medicine late yesterday evening (our kind of medicine), and we used it last night. I'm still wiped out, though (I'd forgotten how exhausting acute pain can be), so all I have are links and a request to share them, because without more sales and Patreon subscribers I honestly don't know how we get through this:

• My new Patreon, The Interstices (Writing Between Worlds);
• Wings's site, for sales, with new items posted;
• Wings's direct PayPal link;
• A way to buy me coffee (which actually goes to all of our medical bills, which continue to mount);
• Amazon wishlist, which mostly consists of animal and household stuff;
• Partial registry #1, from Bed, Bath and Beyond. There are new kitchen-y things on it now, stuff that I didn't realize we'd need to replace (either because the RV ruined it or because we gave it away when we had to downsize).

A special thank-you to five folks from yesterday and the day before who just brought us that much closer to being able to get the truck fixed. Philip will order the parts for it at the end of the week, so if we can pay for the labor next week, we may have it running again relatively soon.  

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Red Willow Spirit: A World of Bright Blue Skies

Photo copyright Wings, 2018; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's an edition of Red Willow Spirit for the waning moments of June and the first hot hazy days of official summer. In what should be the start of the rainy season, as we face the worst drought in living memory, it's a lesson to us about the nature of adapting to live, to thrive, to survive in a world of bright blue skies.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. As always, Wings's photos are available for purchase in any of the usual three formats; simply inquire via the site's Contact form. Also as always, sales are very much needed (especially now; no sales, more medical bills, no rain of any sort and no end in sight), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.



All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Nothing left in the tank. Sales, subscribers, and shares all very badly needed.

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

I don't have anything in me today. I spent all of yesterday hearing the poor male flicker calling for his lost love, and it broke my heart knowing that she wouldn't return and that he has no idea why. My physical pain is completely unmanageable (to say nothing of my clumsiness, not being able to use my left hand for anything). All I get are rejection letters and threatening collection notices on the medical bills. There's no tourism, no powwow, no sales, and not a drop of rain in sight — but there is a new fire south by Pot Creek. 

There are days when I can do this, and days when I can't. The physical pain has swamped my ability to deal with everything else, so all I have are links and a request to share them, because I honestly don't know how we get through this:

• My new Patreon, The Interstices (Writing Between Worlds);
• Wings's site, for sales, with new items posted;
• Wings's direct PayPal link;
• A way to buy me coffee (which actually goes to all of our medical bills, which continue to mount);
• Amazon wishlist, which mostly consists of animal and household stuff;
• Partial registry #1, from Bed, Bath and Beyond. There are new kitchen-y things on it now, stuff that I didn't realize we'd need to replace (either because the RV ruined it or because we gave it away when we had to downsize).

We need sales and subscribers badly, so please spread the links around as much as possible. Thanks.  

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Monday Photo Meditation: Hot Dry Blue

Photo copyright Wings, 2018; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a photo meditation for the end of what is usually our hottest month of the year. It's a warning, too, in the face of great upheaval to come, that we must learn to adapt to our new world here, to live and thrive upon an earth leached of water and color, to survive beneath a hot dry blue.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. As always, Wings's photos are available for purchase in any of the usual three formats; simply inquire via the site's Contact form. Also as always, sales are very much needed (especially now; mounting bills, no tourism, no sales, no help with labor, and no truck at the moment), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.



All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Messenger girl, gone. A lot else, too. Sales, subscribers, and shares all badly needed.

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

Our beautiful little wild messenger girl, gone. Apparently, again, the hawk; I saw him drift over the east fence this morning. Later on, Coyote brought her little body over where we would find it (meaning that she did it in full view and then left it, knowing we would take care of it). Neck broken; feathers off the back from the talons; dropped onto a hard surface from the air. She still had nesting material caught in her little beak.

It seems like a bad omen. These are sacred birds. After everything else that's gone so wrong lately, it's impossible not to be superstitious. All the more so since I'm still limping on both feet from the fall (my right ankle is still double its normal size, and both legs are black and blue), and the wrist is constantly agonizing. As I said yesterday, I've been chasing sales for weeks to no avail, and I'm at the point where there's nothing left to do. Wings is bearing the full brunt of the physical labor because we can't afford his helper anymore; the truck is out of commission; and the medical bills keep piling up and I have nothing for them other than they'll get something small when they get it.

So between the truck and Shade's and Raven's vet bills and my own ER bills, and the complete and utter lack of sales, things are getting to a breaking point, fast. We need to make sales. It would be really helpful to sell Wings's new work, and plenty of the existing work, too (especially since there's no end to the dunning on the existing ER bills). New Patreon subscriptions would help, too. Please keep sharing the links; I have no diagnosis on the cardiorespiratory stuff, and I can't even schedule the next round of testing yet, so we need to get a handle on all of this:

• My new Patreon, The Interstices (Writing Between Worlds);
• Wings's site, for sales, with new items posted;
• Wings's direct PayPal link;
• A way to buy me coffee (which actually goes to all of our medical bills, which continue to mount);
• Amazon wishlist, which mostly consists of animal and household stuff;
• Partial registry #1, from Bed, Bath and Beyond. There are new kitchen-y things on it now, stuff that I didn't realize we'd need to replace (either because the RV ruined it or because we gave it away when we had to downsize).

It would be wonderful to sell all of Wings's new work, to say nothing of the existing inventory. But his new stuff is pretty special. Also, if all goes well, I may have more to post shortly — given the way this day is going, probably not today, but maybe tomorrow. It's beautiful work. So please spread the links around. A lot.  

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

The Path of the Earth's Spirit

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a work of, in human terms, utter timelessness, one that fuses an ancient earth and an ancient spirit. It's also one that draws us a map of the body of our Mother, even as it urges us to follow the path of the Earth's spirit if we, and she, are to survive.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. And, as always, sales are very much needed (especially now, with medical bills mounting, a truck in need or repair, and no tourist trade), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.



All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Another one: Agate takes flight. With a little help from a hawk, apparently.

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

Here we go again: Agate this time, one of the silvers. I can't tell for sure at this late date, but I think she might be the one on the left in the opening to the hay bales, the one with a single white patch showing. Her name came from the fact that, unlike a lot of Silver-Laced Wyandottes, the white in her feathers was less spots, more banding.

And I think we did the dogs an injustice yesterday.

This afternoon, they were in the studio with Wings when the deed apparently went down. No one heard or saw anything until Wings saw Coyote notice a pile of feathers and go to check it out. He came and got me. It was odd: Two piles of feathers, right next to each other, all arrayed in circles of sorts, as though the feathers had simply fallen off and drifted downward onto their backs. No chicken anywhere; we searched all over. I did think I heard her once, but where the sound came from? Nothing there. Ghost chicken.

The thing is, there was no feather trail. No blood trail, either. Had it been one of the dogs, or even a coyote (the real kind, not the trickster pup), there would've been both. ::Sigh:: this drought is murderous. Everything is hungry now, and dry, too. There's no food, no prey. And the Swainson's have young way up in their nest in the cottonwood stand across the road; they have to eat. It was a spotlessly clean kill and removal, and that indicates a raptor.

Also, yesterday? Maybe a trial run. Wings thought he was catching Coyote at the kill (or at least the feed thereafter), but now we think maybe she had just run the hawk off instead. Because . . . well, without going into too many gory details, let's just say that when a raptor decides to feed where it kills? There are certain features to the how of it, features that show up in the damage to the carcass. Thinking back, it fits.

If so, we owe Coyote an apology. We owe one of a different sort to Agate, and to Marigold, too. Needless to say, the girls won't be coming out of their run for a few days (in addition to the actual coop where they sleep, they have the run of the old hay barn in which it sits, and a large fenced-in run out behind it, so they can still range freely, if not nearly so far afield). And given how few rodents there are around (since there's no water to be had, for love or money), we need to pray harder for rain, apparently.

We love you, Agate, and you, too, Marigold.







All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Hot and windy; no rain of any sort, but plenty of pain (and bill collectors). Sales, subscribers, and shares all very badly needed now.

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

We have a few odd cloud formations lately, in otherwise hot blue skies. The temps are brutal, and no rain in sight. Of any sort.

So let's make this quick, because my wrist and hand are in absolute agony. They gave me absolutely nothing for pain, and nerve pain is intense. I've been chasing sales for weeks to no avail, and I'm at the point where there's nothing left to do. Wings is bearing the full brunt of the physical labor because we can't afford his helper anymore; the truck is out of commission; and the medical bills keep piling up and I have nothing for them other than they'll get when they get it.

Between the constant physical pain and the stress that never give's me a moment's rest, I'm not sleeping, either. I am absolutely wiped out on all fronts, to from here on, it's cut-and-paste. We have GOT to make some sales.

So between the truck and Shade's and Raven's vet bills and my own ER bills, and the complete and utter lack of sales, things are getting to a breaking point. We need to make sales. It would be really helpful to sell Wings's new work, and plenty of the existing work, too (especially since there's no end to the dunning on the existing ER bills). New Patreon subscriptions would help, too. Please keep sharing the links; I have no diagnosis on the cardiorespiratory stuff, and I can't even schedule the next round of testing yet, so we need to get a handle on all of this:

• My new Patreon, The Interstices (Writing Between Worlds);
• Wings's site, for sales, with new items posted;
• Wings's direct PayPal link;
• A way to buy me coffee (which actually goes to all of our medical bills, which continue to mount);
• Amazon wishlist, which mostly consists of animal and household stuff;
• Partial registry #1, from Bed, Bath and Beyond. There are new kitchen-y things on it now, stuff that I didn't realize we'd need to replace (either because the RV ruined it or because we gave it away when we had to downsize).

It would be wonderful to sell all of Wings's new work, to say nothing of the existing inventory. But his new stuff is pretty special. Also, if all goes well, I may have more to post shortly — given the way this day is going, probably not today, but maybe tomorrow. It's beautiful work. So please spread the links around. A lot.  

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

The Dust of the Universe

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's one of Wings's newest works, a set of braided suns caught fast in a silvery hoop of the seasons and an orbit of earth and light. Its symbolism reminds us that, like all things, we are all the dust of the universe, and when we ensure the world's well-being, we ensure it for ourselves, as well.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. And, as always, sales are very much needed (especially now; medical bills mounting, truck out of commission, and Wings bearing the full brunt of the workload now, since we can no longer afford his helper), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.



All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Marigold flies in a different world. The truck doesn't fly at all. Sales, subscribers, and shares badly needed.

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

You can't tell from the photo, but Marigold is, if I'm not mistaken, the Americauna chick farthest to the right who is not the one in the feed dish. I can't find a photo of her as an adult, although I know there are some. I'm reasonably sure that one is her, because, like Sienna, she had more red mixed in with the yellow in her feathers than their sisters do (and hence her name). ::Sigh:: at any rate, Marigold flies in a different world now. 

This one is my fault. Wings had lowered the fencing above the gate to the coop to keep the starling out, and I've been bitching about it for weeks, because the wire always, always catches my hair as I go under it. Two days ago, as a favor to me, he pinned it up a bit higher. Apparently, it was just enough that Marigold was able to fly out from the top of the feed can. And apparently that was enough to convince Coyote that, since her flock was not with her, she was fair game. I'm just sick over it. And Coyote knows better, but dogs that have been starved in puppyhood will tend to develop a strong prey drive, and here we are.

The one good thing today is the my sutures are out. The wrist looks like hell; the scar is a mess. It feels worse; clearly it cut much more than a "micronerve," and the pain is extraordinary. Nothing I can do except deal, and be grateful for that one small thing, since the rest of the day has gone to hell in the proverbial handbasket. The truck was running rough yesterday, and Philip took a look at it this morning. In addition to a new distributor, it needs a bunch of other stuff, and we'll get out of it for $500-600 if we're really lucky. Unfortunately, we don't have it right now, so that's gonna have to wait. And given how bad my pain levels still are, the rest is mostly cut-and-paste.

So between the truck and Shade's and Raven's vet bills and my own ER bills, and the complete and utter lack of sales, things are getting to a breaking point. We need to make sales. It would be really helpful to sell Wings's new work, and plenty of the existing work, too (especially since there's no end to the dunning on the existing ER bills). New Patreon subscriptions would help, too. Please keep sharing the links; I have no diagnosis on the cardiorespiratory stuff, and I can't even schedule the next round of testing yet, so we need to get a handle on all of this:

• My new Patreon, The Interstices (Writing Between Worlds);
• Wings's site, for sales, with new items posted;
• Wings's direct PayPal link;
• A way to buy me coffee (which actually goes to all of our medical bills, which continue to mount);
• Amazon wishlist, which mostly consists of animal and household stuff;
• Partial registry #1, from Bed, Bath and Beyond. There are new kitchen-y things on it now, stuff that I didn't realize we'd need to replace (either because the RV ruined it or because we gave it away when we had to downsize).

It would be wonderful to sell all of Wings's new work, to say nothing of the existing inventory. But his new stuff is pretty special. Also, if all goes well, I may have more to post shortly — given the way this day is going, probably not today, but maybe tomorrow. It's beautiful work. So please spread the links around. A lot.  

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Friday Feature: A Price, and a Partnership, for Mother Earth

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

It's our Friday Feature at The NDN Silver Blog, with a work by an indigenous artist from another people and culture, evoking older traditional ways. It is, perhaps, a blueprint for change to save our own world, one that needs a shift in the balance of power and giving, one that needs a price, and a partnership, for Mother Earth.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. And, as always, sales are very much needed (especially now; as though the medical bills weren't enough, we now have an estimate of $500-600 needed to fix the truck, which will have to wait for now), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.



All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

The flickers are back. So are unamanageable pain levels, and the bill collectors. Sales, subscribers, and shares all very badly needed.

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

The flickers are back. That's always welcome news, and I could do with some good news right now.

I'm getting everything out of the way early today. I'm having a extraordinarily difficult time with pain, what with the nerve pain and numbness in my hand and wrist, the ripped ligament (again; this happened two years ago, too) in my right ankle and the sprain in my left knee, and the all-over body pain everywhere. It's a beautiful day today; we got the Trickster Twins' boosters handled (covered by the rescue folks), and Patreon has sorta fixed their image-upload problem from yesterday, so the post I was going to drop yesterday is up for today (an image post, so kind of pointless with no image capability then), and yesterday's substitute essay now has its image uploaded, too. I'm trying to get all my writing done now because the pain is really taking me out of the game. We were supposed to attend the rosary tonight for the mother of a friend — she walked on early Monday morning — and I'm not even in good enough shape for that.

Between Shade's and Raven's vet bills and my own ER bills, and the complete and utter lack of sales, things are getting to a breaking point. We need to make sales. It would be really helpful to sell Wings's new work, and plenty of the existing work, too (especially since there's no end to the dunning on the existing ER bills). New Patreon subscriptions would help, too. Please keep sharing the links; I have no diagnosis on the cardiorespiratory stuff, and I can't even schedule the next round of testing yet, so we need to get a handle on all of this:

• My new Patreon, The Interstices (Writing Between Worlds);
• Wings's site, for sales, with new items posted;
• Wings's direct PayPal link;
• A way to buy me coffee (which actually goes to all of our medical bills, which continue to mount);
• Amazon wishlist, which mostly consists of animal and household stuff;
• Partial registry #1, from Bed, Bath and Beyond. There are new kitchen-y things on it now, stuff that I didn't realize we'd need to replace (either because the RV ruined it or because we gave it away when we had to downsize).

It would be wonderful to sell all of Wings's new work, to say nothing of the existing inventory. But his new stuff is pretty special. Please spread the links around. A lot.  

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.