It's Wings's newest work. Say hello to the Light Eagle.

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

Say hello to Wings's newest work: The Light Eagle. Small, spare, simple, and at a lower price point than most of his recent work. It's all cut and wrapped freehand, and it hangs perfectly just below the collarbone. [What? I had to try it on to be sure.] 

You can read the full description here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form.



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.

Under the gun on funding, and way behind on the day. Sales. subscribers, and shares very much needed now.

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

Yesterday's sunrise. Not exactly red, but even so, to me, storm skies are pretty much always good news. Today, the clouds are in the west, so maybe we'll actually get some rain.

Today will be busy (appointments for Wings; routine stuff, just time-consuming), and the next week-plus will a mess in terms of time for me. I also have to spend every spare second chasing funding, because we have to get the guys back here roughly mid-September so they don't get onto other long-term jobs for the winter, and so we can get these inside stairs and some other stuff done before the weather gets too bad. Today is the last day to get me over the next hump on Patreon, too. If you've been thinking bout subscribing, today would be a good day to do that. I'm already way behind, so the rest is cut-and-paste:

There are a lot of ways to help out. First, obviously, is sales; purchases of Wings's work (and/or work by the other artists whose art we carry) is always the first option, and it was the baseline for the construction in the first place. Second is subscribing to my Patreon page, which gets updated regularly with really cool imagery and a good amount of really good writing; if you subscribe between now and Friday, you'll be billed on Saturday and I'll get it on this month's payout next week. Below there's also a link for "coffee," which allows folks to make small donations, and a couple of wishlists for keeping the animals in kibble and filling out needs around the house. In the middle is the link to Wings's PayPal account, and no, I won't turn away any donations, because we have to get this done and I have to have some peace of mind over it because I have none over my own survival these days). The only fundraising we'll be doing is right here; nowhere else. So here are all the links; please share them around, and if you are able to purchase, subscribe, donate, whatever, we'd be profoundly grateful:

• 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).

That all I've got. I'm going to be back under the gun for the next several weeks. Thanks to everyone in advance.

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: In the Path of the Spirits

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

It's our Friday Feature at The NDN Silver Blog, with a compact but powerful work by a master carver. It's a tiny medicine version of Bear, a being we are most likely to encounter in the coming weeks, and a reminder that, however accidental, it can be a great gift to find ourselves in the path of the spirits.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. And, as always, sales are much needed (especially now, with medical bills still mounting and the need to finish aspects of the house before an early winter arrives), 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.

Fundraising back on to finish the house before an early winter hits. Sales, subscribers, and shares all needed now.

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

Fundraising back on.

Yes, we have to get certain things on the house finished before winter. It was "finished" enough to move in, but there are significant things that need doing, and we can't afford to lose the guys on the crew to other stuff, nor can we go into winter without some of these undone. Some we know will likely get pushed into next year, but some of it can't wait. I'm reprising most of yesterday's post below. The next graf is one everyone should read, because it's clear to me that most folks don't have an understanding of my health issues (the new ones, on top of all the old autoimmune ones that have made life so difficult already for so many decades). This is serious stuff, and I'm stuck unable to get answers or to do anything about it, and what I said below about my big concern in all this? You have to understand that this is a very real and abiding fear, a fact-based one, one I live with every moment of every day now. For the moment, we need to rise 5K. I also need to get over the next hump on my Patreon by Friday, and one more $25 subscriber would do it.

For those of you who don't know, which is probably none of you, but I've learned that some folks have already forgotten: Last November, I almost died. Twice. Once, a week before the wedding; once, a week after. Our medical bills are astronomical, and they're still mounting. And no one can figure out what's causing this, but I have episodes almost daily. No, it's not stress; it's physical, but until some of these bills are paid down, I can't afford to take on the outside testing required. And, to put it really, really bluntly: I literally do not know, from day to day, whether I'm going to live or die. I don't know, when I go to bed at night, whether I'll wake up in the morning. It's a mindfuck and a half, and I've had to live with it for almost a year now. And one of my big concerns is getting the house entirely done, so that, should anything untoward happen, Wings has one less thing to worry about. I also want him safe.  

What we had saved up early this year went into a combination of medical bills and the house, but there's still more to be done. Part of what is driving it is basic safety stuff (like the stairs, and some electrical stuff that needs doing); part of it is making sure we don't lose the two guys who have gotten us this far, because their skills are in demand. We need to put them back to work soon, now that it's cool enough and we can have the door open for ventilation without being flooded by smoke and insects. We need to have them start back in mid-September, if at all possible, which means raising a big chunk of change fairly fast. My first goal is $5K, which should cover the labor and what few materials remain for the stairs, and possibly even cover some of the less important detail stuff.

There are a lot of ways to help out. First, obviously, is sales; purchases of Wings's work (and/or work by the other artists whose art we carry) is always the first option, and it was the baseline for the construction in the first place. Second is subscribing to my Patreon page, which gets updated regularly with really cool imagery and a good amount of really good writing; if you subscribe between now and Friday, you'll be billed on Saturday and I'll get it on this month's payout next week. Below there's also a link for "coffee," which allows folks to make small donations, and a couple of wishlists for keeping the animals in kibble and filling out needs around the house. In the middle is the link to Wings's PayPal account, and no, I won't turn away any donations, because we have to get this done and I have to have some peace of mind over it because I have none over my own survival these days). The only fundraising we'll be doing is right here; nowhere else. So here are all the links; please share them around, and if you are able to purchase, subscribe, donate, whatever, we'd be profoundly grateful:

• 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).

That all I've got. I'm going to be back under the gun for the next several weeks. Thanks to everyone in advance.

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.

#TBT: Generational Lines

Photo copyright Wings, 2018; all rights reserved.

It's #ThrowbackThursday at The NDN Silver Blog, with a work from eight or nine years ago that was part of a small series of milled heavy-wire cuffs. This one presented an unusual degree of difficulty in terms of design, fitting for a piece meant to honor elders and ancestor spirits even as it crossed generational lines.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. This one sold many years ago, 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; we need to bring the crewe back to finish certain things before what promises to be an early winter hits), 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.

She's back. So is the need to chase funding in earnest. Sales/subscribers/shares all very much needed now.

Photo copyright Aji, 201; all rights reserved.

My girl is back, several months early. She doesn't usually show up, except for more than the odd momentary sighting, until mid- to late winter. That's changed in the last year or so, and now, she's here really early.

She's hungry; in this drought, they're all hungry. But maybe she knew I needed her, too. Because today marks the day that I have to start the money chase again in earnest. We have to get the house finished, and a chunk of it has to get done before winter. This is supposed to be an El Niño year, which for us means MUCH colder temperatures and heavier snows. At this point, any snow at all would be welcome, but we really need a good hard winter to rescue the land here. But there are things we have to get done, and these are among them.

For those of you who don't know, which is probably none of you, but I've learned that some folks have already forgotten: Last November, I almost died. Twice. Once, a week before the wedding; once, a week after. Our medical bills are astronomical, and they're still mounting. And no one can figure out what's causing this, but I have episodes almost daily. No, it's not stress; it's physical, but until some of these bills are paid down, I can't afford to take on the outside testing required. And, to put it really, really bluntly: I literally do not know, from day to day, whether I'm going to live or die. I don't know, when I go to bed at night, whether I'll wake up in the morning. It's a mindfuck and a half, and I've had to live with it for almost a year now. And one of my big concerns is getting the house entirely done, so that, should anything untoward happen, Wings has one less thing to worry about. I also want him safe.  

What we had saved up early this year went into a combination of medical bills and the house, but there's still more to be done. Part of what is driving it is basic safety stuff (like the stairs, and some electrical stuff that needs doing); part of it is making sure we don't lose the two guys who have gotten us this far, because their skills are in demand. We need to put them back to work soon, now that it's cool enough and we can have the door open for ventilation without being flooded by smoke and insects. We need to have them start back in mid-September, if at all possible, which means raising a big chunk of change fairly fast. My first goal is $5K, which should cover the labor and what few materials remain for the stairs, and possibly even cover some of the less important detail stuff.

There are a lot of ways to help out. First, obviously, is sales; purchases of Wings's work (and/or work by the other artists whose art we carry) is always the first option, and it was the baseline for the construction in the first place. Second is subscribing to my Patreon page, which gets updated regularly with really cool imagery and a good amount of really good writing; if you subscribe between now and Friday, you'll be billed on Saturday and I'll get it on this month's payout next week. Below there's also a link for "coffee," which allows folks to make small donations, and a couple of wishlists for keeping the animals in kibble and filling out needs around the house. In the middle is the link to Wings's PayPal account, and no, I won't turn away any donations, because we have to get this done and I have to have some peace of mind over it because I have none over my own survival these days). The only fundraising we'll be doing is right here; nowhere else. So here are all the links; please share them around, and if you are able to purchase, subscribe, donate, whatever, we'd be profoundly grateful:

• 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).

That all I've got. I'm going to be back under the gun for the next several weeks. Thanks to everyone in advance.

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 Line of Infinite Light

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's one of Wings's recent works, and one of my favorites among his millwork designs. It's a simple pattern, simply named, one well-suited to our newly autumnal season when the horizon becomes, an opening, an aperture, a line of infinite light.

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; we are now at the point where the final stages of the house have to get done before winter), 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.

Autumn skies.

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

Autumn skies already.

So apparently the propane company's routes are not the routes, because they sent our driver elsewhere yesterday. He showed up at five, but they overfilled the tank and were back an our later (for yet another hour) having to bleed out the overage. They were here until around seven last night. At least we have a full tank, and now we have to fight with the water heater manufacturer because it's their defect.

Me? Nope. Back at square one, apparently. I'm done. Yesterday morning was incredibly destructive to me, and I'm not getting my hopes up for any of it ever again.

I have nothing but links, because we really need to bring in a lot more to make it through the rest of the season, forget the rest of the year:

• 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).

That all I've got. My entire existence is focused around chasing sales to pay medical and other) bills, and it's not going well.

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: To Follow the Shadows, and the Light

Photo copyright Wings, 2018; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's an edition of Red Willow Spirit for a sacred season, and for one in which the seasons themselves confound us and force us to adapt. It's a series of photos from a dozen years ago that Wings captured two or three months later than this, although the same lands look like this now, but they still remind us of the need observe lines and boundaries with respect, to walk trails and paths with honor, to follow the shadows, and the light.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. As always, his 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), 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.

I've got nothing.

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

Last night, hours before a storm hit. Nothing today. 

No, nothing. Someone else's emergency came first. I have no idea when, so don't ask me. After nearly a year of no answers and precious little effort by anyone but me, I'm not in the mood.

Also no propane, despite having been assured by dispatch and by the manager that it would be here today; they have about a half-hour left on the delivery day, so they need to get cracking. They had to go right past us this morning to get up to Seco Village, so they should've stopped then, but I suspect this is a power struggle with last week's driver now.

I have nothing but links, because we really need to bring in a lot more to make it through the rest of the season, forget the rest of the year:

• 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).

That all I've got. My entire existence is focused around chasing sales to pay medical and other) bills, and it's not going well.

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: The Earth's Journey

Photo copyright Wings, 2018; 
all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a photo meditation for a time of pilgrimage, in a newly changed world when seasons collide and merge. It's an image, too, to illustrate the Earth's journey in these changing times, and encouragement to make our own journey one with it.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. As always, his photos are available for purchase in any of the usual three format; simply inquire via the site's Contact form. Also as always, sales are very much needed (especially now), 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.

Of storms and being perpetually behind. Sales/subscribers/shares all needed.

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

Yesterday's precursor to last night's storm. That one gave us — maybe — two or three individual raindrops, but last night's was a corker. Raven even braved the stairs to join us up in the bedroom of his own volition, and given how much he hates stairs, that's saying something. He hates thunder even more. He never used to be bothered by it, but after we lost Griffin, his whole world imploded. We didn't realize how much he looked to Grif to be assured that all was right, or at least okay, with his world, and Grif was always completely unbothered by any kind of weather along as he was with me (and subsequently, Wings).

I am way, way behind today (and people continue to make me further behind by interrupting me every time I sit down to work, so there's that). Tomorrow may be a chance to find out part of what's going on with my health, or maybe not. No way to tell now, and maybe not even then. But I have to do it.

I am cranky right now, because I feel like crap and nothing ever changes on that front, and also because no matter what I do, I cannot get caught up. Hell, I can't even a get an uninterrupted half-hour to work on a post for Wings's site, much less any other writing for myself. I have no idea whether tomorrow will bring me the ability to get his post done before I have to deal with this other stuff, so don't expect to see me until you see me, and don't expect to hear anything either way, because I probably won't have any more info than you do, and if that's the case, I am guaranteed not to feel like talking about it. The rest is all the usual; we have a mini-reprieve coming, but it's a drop in the leaky bucket of medical bills and expenses.

And nothing improves without sales. Subscribers, too, and it would be nice to place a few things, but that seems not to be happening. But first and foremost, we need SALES. Also subscribers; also shares. We need them badly. We can't do the kind of outlay we were forced to make last week without juggling and shifting and otherwise delaying elsewhere. And none of that even begins to get at what I'm dealing with (and will be for a very, very long time yet). We managed to pay outright on the medical stuff (because we had no choice; it's all cash on the barrelhead), but this leaves us seriously short. So please share the links, because we really need to bring in a lot more to make it through the rest of the season, forget the rest of the year:

• 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).

That all I've got. My entire existence is focused around chasing sales to pay medical and other) bills, and it's not going well.

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 Light of All Our Suns

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's one of Wings's recent works, one that embodies the light of sun and moon, stars and storm all in a single shimmering arc. It's a work to remind us that, changes notwithstanding, the light of all our suns remains, and we may still grow beneath that glow 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), 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.

All new by Wings, a truly phenomenal "Stardust World."

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

It's an all-new work by Wings, just completed within the last hour, one of truly phenomenal substance and beauty (and priced accordingly). The stone is spectacularly large, a bold free-form natural Pilot Mountain stone that requires equally substantial silver to support it. Its name is Stardust World, and the association will become clear in the full description, which you can read here. There are some other views of it there, too, like this one:

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

The light in the studio doesn't do it justice; the stone is glossier and the colors far more intense in real life than the images show. It's another one that has me feeling covetous, but it's not meant for me. If it is meant for you, you can order it via the site's Contact form, here.

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.

One-handed, because I can't do it. Sales, subscribers, and shares all very much needed now.

Photo copyright Aji, 201; all rights reserved.

One-handed.  [Not so long ago, I would've been helping with that, but I can't do that right now. Good thing he's strong.] The round pen is once again a round pen, because he took all the ProPanel barriers down yesterday and returned them to their usual place. The horses are fully a herd now. 

Trying to catch up on some stuff today, so getting as much out of the way early as I can. I'm scrambling; way, way too many major bills and expenses and not nearly enough coming in. Cut-and-paste for the rest of it, but please, share the links.

Because nothing improves without sales. Subscribers, too, and it would be nice to place a few things, but that seems not to be happening. But first and foremost, we need SALES. Also subscribers; also shares. We need them badly. We can't do the kind of outlay we were forced to make last week without juggling and shifting and otherwise delaying elsewhere. And none of that even begins to get at what I'm dealing with (and will be for a very, very long time yet). We managed to pay outright on the medical stuff (because we had no choice; it's all cash on the barrelhead), but this leaves us seriously short. So please share the links, because we really need to bring in a lot more to make it through the rest of the season, forget the rest of the year:

• 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).

That all I've got. My entire existence is focused around chasing sales to pay medical and other) bills, and it's not going well.

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 World of Fire and Light

Photo copyright Aji, 2018;
all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's one of my favorite works among Wings's current inventory, one that he brought from a mind's-eye image into full and tangible form. It's a world of fire and light, a deeply rooted feminine power that reminds us of our obligations, to women, and to Mother Earth as a whole.

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), 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.

Horses integrated; one problem down, but countless more to go. Sales/subscribers/shares needed badly now.

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

They're friends now, as of day before yesterday. As of last night, fully integrated and sharing the main stall, a two-horse herd. There's a reason for that, but that's a story for another time; today, I'm sick as a dog, and just not up for anything clever. At least that's one problem down.

Still no propane. The truck is also running too rough for wings to drive it safely, so he's taken my car to pick up his scrips. Also my cheap phone, which, cheap or not, should at least be live on the network, and it keeps dropping off with no recourse here, so we might have to invest in something better; for now, he's trying to get them to fix it AGAIN. It's no use to us if we can't stay in touch in case of emergency. I have medical stuff coming up next week, and I'm as terrified of it as I am desperate to have this first step handled, because I have no idea what the result will be. And if it requires subsequent steps? Can't afford it. I'm bent double with the stress of all of this, and no way to fix any of it.

And nothing improves without sales. Subscribers, too, and it would be nice to place a few things, but that seems not to be happening. But first and foremost, we need SALES. Also subscribers; also shares. We need them badly. We can't do the kind of outlay we were forced to make last week without juggling and shifting and otherwise delaying elsewhere. And none of that even begins to get at what I'm dealing with (and will be for a very, very long time yet). We managed to pay outright on the medical stuff (because we had no choice; it's all cash on the barrelhead), but this leaves us seriously short. So please share the links, because we really need to bring in a lot more to make it through the rest of the season, forget the rest of the year:

• 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).

That all I've got. My entire existence is focused around chasing sales to pay medical and other) bills, and it's not going well.

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 Medicine of Fire

Photo copyrightWings, 2018; all rights reserved.

It's our Friday Feature at The NDN Silver Blog, with a work by a master from another Pueblo, one of Wings's fellow artists and longtime friends. It's also a spirit of our too-early autumn in the color of the changed leaves, a bright orange bear in the color of sunlight, carrying a medicine of fire.

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), 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.

Vultures everywhere. Sales/subscribers/shares all needed now.

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

Vultures. Everywhere.

Normally, the literal ones would mostly have moved on by now, but nothing is normal this year. The metaphorical ones are camped out permanently, apparently.

There's no end to it. Still no fricking propane delivery. It's the unit, but still. Now there's a new problem with the truck (with the main one still unfixed), supposedly the battery (which is relatively new, but no doubt out of warranty, because that's how it always goes). The bill collectors are determined to kill me if my own health doesn't get there first, which, on days like today, seem all too conceivable. I'm horribly short of breath, and the physical pain is out of control right now. I have some medical stuff coming up next week, too.

Nothing improves without sales. Subscribers, too, and it would be nice to place a few things, but that seems not to be happening. But first and foremost, we need SALES. Also subscribers; also shares. We need them badly. We can't do the kind of outlay we were forced to make last week without juggling and shifting and otherwise delaying elsewhere. And none of that even begins to get at what I'm dealing with (and will be for a very, very long time yet). We managed to pay outright on the medical stuff (because we had no choice; it's all cash on the barrelhead), but this leaves us seriously short. So please share the links, because we really need to bring in a lot more to make it through the rest of the season, forget the rest of the year:

• 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).

That all I've got. My entire existence is focused around chasing sales to pay medical and other) bills, and it's not going well.

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: Drawing Down the Light

Photo copyright Wings, 2018; all rights reserved.

It's #TBT at The NDN Silver Blog, with a work from some eight years ago that was a recreation of an earlier piece, one that still held the integrity of its own unique identity. It was a pair of earrings manifest as the Sacred Directions and the center of all things, a work for the life-giving elemental powers of the monsoon season, drawing down the light.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. These sold almost eight 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), 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.

Storms, but precious little rain. No delivery yet, but ore hassle and more expenses. Sales/subscribers/shares needed now.

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

Yesterday afternoon's storm. That photo is unaltered in any way; that's the actual color of the clouds. There was rotation in them, too, but all of that went past us to the south, headed eastward; we got a [very] brief, [very] light shower out of its northern edge. Supposed to be rain today, but for now, it's just lead-gray skies and lots of humidity.

Still no propane delivery, either, although one of the guys came out at the end of the day yesterday and fixed one issue. Turns out that, for our size tank, even at the red line (which is 20%, and we're currently at about 22%), our water heater should have no trouble grabbing the gas — which means the problem is the unit itself. We need to fill the tank to be able to demonstrate that, though, so . . . still waiting. One of us has to be here at all times until that's done, which is a pain in the ass right now, because we have a couple of errands that we need to run (i.e., together) and can't.  

Also, it's getting cold rapidly. The elms at the gate are half gold and orange already (orange! which doesn't normally happen here until the latter half of October; the aspens don't go orange until around end of October/first of November). When I went out to open the gate this morning, a bunch of dark gold weeping willow leaves were carpeting the ground. Mid-August. Trees turning, losing leaves, going dormant. We're going to need to use the woodstoves soon, which means, in addition to stocking up on more wood, that we need to have the chimney sweeps come out and clean the flues. I have no earthly idea what that's going to set us back, but it has to be done. [And just FTR: In the RV, we eventually couldn't use anything but electric space heaters in the winter for safety reasons, and our electric bills ranged from $500-$800 a month for 9 months out of the year. We're down to $100 or less here in the house, so the woodstoves were a spectacularly good investment.] Yes, our power bill was the cost of a car payment, or a rental in . . . well, other parts of the state, but not here, certainly.  But w've got to get the flues cleaned in the next 2 to 3 weeks, in addition to the medical bills and everything else, so we still need sales.

Yup. Sales, sales, SALES. Also subscribers; also shares. We need them badly. We can't do the kind of outlay we were forced to make last week without juggling and shifting and otherwise delaying elsewhere. And none of that even begins to get at what I'm dealing with (and will be for a very, very long time yet). We managed to pay outright on the medical stuff (because we had no choice; it's all cash on the barrelhead), but this leaves us seriously short. So please share the links, because we really need to bring in a lot more to make it through the rest of the season, forget the rest of the year:

• 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).

That all I've got. My entire existence is focused around chasing sales to pay medical and other) bills, and it's not going well.

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.

In the Light and the Shadow of the Storm

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's two of Wings's newest works, one completed only late yesterday (and a personal favorite of mine). They are the embodiment of this season here, one of great elemental forces and powers and spirits, and a time when we live in the light and the shadow of the storm.

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), 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.

Especially apt for recent days: new work by Wings.

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

And now we come to the work I covet personally (but these are meant to find a home elsewhere, so if you want them, don't hesitate). Wings completed these within the hour, and they are . . . positively elemental. They're called A Desert Wind, and you can read the full description here. These are the ones I mentioned the other day, that come from the same deposit as the last pair of landscape jasper earrings. These are definitely solid and full of substance, but they are not as heavy as the last pair, thanks to a significant amount of extra smithing and lapidary work on Wings's part. And the reverse is stunning:

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

Yes, they really do glow like that. I'd love for these (and the other two recent pair) to find their homes ASAP, so if you're interested, get hold of me via the site's Contact form (or via FB or Twitter DMs).



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.

Still no delivery, but more complications. A lot more smoke, too. Sales, subscribers, and shares all badly needed now.

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

So this week seems to be replicating last week. Woke up sometime before three with another massive migraine, although this time I managed to avoid last week's, erm, extra complications (but still too blind to write well or easily). This one is both mechanical (like last week's, a product of my neck injuries) AND a product of the wall of smoke that filled last night's western sky. That up there was early, before dark, that dark blue-gray at the bottom stretched halfway up from the horizon. Sore, swollen throat and congested nasal passages today, too, along, of course, with all the lung problems I've come to expect since last November. We're also still waiting on the propane delivery, with more complications yet; the question is whether it's their tank or the water heater or what. Still waiting for management . . . and it's all going to cost.

So. Sales. Sales, sales, SALES. We need them badly. We can't do this kind of outlay without juggling and shifting and otherwise delaying elsewhere. And none of that even begins to get at what I'm dealing with (and will be for a very, very long time yet). We managed to pay outright on the medical stuff (because we had no choice; it's all cash on the barrelhead), but this leaves us seriously short. So please share the links, because we really need to bring in a lot more to make it through the rest of the season, forget the rest of the year:

• 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).

That all I've got. My entire existence is focused around chasing sales to pay medical and other) bills, and it's not going well.

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.