Ajijaakwe: August 2019

Saturday, August 31, 2019

Clouds that turn to rain . . . elsewhere.

Clouds that turn to rain . . . elsewhere.

It actually looked like we would get some last night, but no. Stopped just short of us, then the wind did a 180, and it blew out completely. Probably more of the same today.

More of the same on the other kind of rain, too, which is to say, none. Christmas is less than four months away now, and we have got to start getting sales stepped up. Summer into the winter holidays is our busy season, but not this year, and I have no way to cover everything I need to cover just in the next three weeks. This week's labor more than wiped out such sales as we did make. I don't have the requisite alchemical powers to manufacture money out of nothing, but as always, I'll find a way because I have no choice.

The medical expenses aren't going to let up for me, either. Nothing's changed on the pain front; see here for details if you really want to know (it's not pleasant). What we're having to expend now to fix all this before winter comes (and when the guys are available to do it), because it will be many more times as expensive if we have to replace everything next year because it rotted over the winter months? That's what we had set aside for my future medical testing later this year and into next (because there's a LOT of it yet to be done, and it all costs a fortune). So I'm having to push sales to replace that, and that means it's all stress all the time, because I now have to raise a lot more money sooner than I expected, and still deal with whatever might be in the offing medically. Some of the details are here; the upshot is that I've got to raise about $3,500 just for this first go-around, which I hope will cover about three weeks' worth of labor on all this stuff. We've managed $755 in sales, which means another $2,745 to go, and I'm so tired.

We were supposed to go to Santa Fe yesterday to take care of some paperwork, but there's simply no time. I got almost nothing done yesterday; my pain levels are so extreme right now that I can barely function. Today promises to be just as terrible with regard to the length of the to-do list, and the inability to clear it because of my pain levels. Squeezing in some writing time would be nice, given that I have deadlines today, but that's doubtful, since I can't seem to be left alone even to get the usual posts done. And there's always the housework. On top of that, there's always the endless push for sales, because these bills won't pay themselves (and I paid out another $1,100 Thursday in what I hope is now the final final bill from my biospies).

So I need help to get all this done. Folks can help in several ways:

Sales here;
Testimonials here;
Wishlist here;
Patreon here;
Ko-fi here.

And as I said, sales are ideal, of course; one or two of Wings's bigger pieces would cover the whole shot for this round. Patreon subscriptions are good, too. Either way, it's a trade for value. But I'm already feeling panicked at what we thought wold be our schedule being so suddenly and thoroughly upended, and we'll take it however it comes at this point. Oh, Wings dropped new bead pieces yesterday, with more to come probably over the weekend; you can see, share, and shop yesterday's here.

Please share everything, because I'm suddenly back behind the eight-ball on a whole additional front, and yeah, I'm scared about covering everything and surviving, too. Thanks.

A Turquoise Sky and a Shimmering Earth

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a ring in the shape of the four corners of our world. It's a work for this emergent and early autumn, too, a turquoise sky and a shimmering earth and all the mystery and magic and medicine of the 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, with repairs forcibly moved up and more medical expenses still in the offing), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2019; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Friday, August 30, 2019

The rain continues to pass us by.

This should still be monsoon season, and for points west and south, it still is. Up here? The rain continues to pass us by.

That's true in both senses of the phrase. Sales have been way down all year, victim to an economy again trashed deliberately, albeit for somewhat different purposes than when W did it in 2008.

On the plus side, we resolved two of our seemingly-insurmountable repair problems last night, the sanders and the protective plates for the doors. With regard to the former, someone suggested a rental place up in Questa (something like 26 miles north, instead of an two hours south through Gorge construction). They didn't have it, but they suggested the local lumberyard up there, and sure enough, they have one. Cheaper on the rental, too. We'll reserve it by phone tomorrow morning, then pick it up on Tuesday. As to the plates, we don't actually need custom sizes after all, and thus no need to have someone make them (which is good, since the guy Wings knows who was supposed to spec it never showed, and we know he didn't have the same idea in mind as we did anyway). It was simply a matter of rearranging my thought processes to accommodate what's available: kick plates for the bottom on the horizontal; push plates for the bottom on the vertical. Differently terminology, same result, and the combination of sizes we need to keep the weather off base of the doors (and doggy toenails, too).

Now, I just need to find a way to pay for all of it; this week's labor more than wiped out such sales as we did make. I don't have the requisite alchemical powers to manufacture money out of nothing, but as always, I'll find a way because I have no choice.

The medical expenses aren't going to let up for me, either. Nothing's changed on the pain front; see here for details if you really want to know (it's not pleasant). What we're having to expend now to fix all this before winter comes (and when the guys are available to do it), because it will be many more times as expensive if we have to replace everything next year because it rotted over the winter months? That's what we had set aside for my future medical testing later this year and into next (because there's a LOT of it yet to be done, and it all costs a fortune). So I'm having to push sales to replace that, and that means it's all stress all the time, because I now have to raise a lot more money sooner than I expected, and still deal with whatever might be in the offing medically. Some of the details are here; the upshot is that I've got to raise about $3,500 just for this first go-around, which I hope will cover about three weeks' worth of labor on all this stuff. We've managed $755 in sales, which means another $2,745 to go, and I'm so tired.

We were supposed to go to Santa Fe today to take care of some paperwork, but there's simply no time. I need to get a bunch of things done today that will keep me mostly offline: packing and shipping; drafting a letter of complaint for Wings regarding ongoing malfeasance by a government division (I'm sure you can guess); getting the pieces selected and packed for donation to Nano's parish's annual fundraiser; miscellaneous other work. Squeezing in some writing time would be nice, but that's doubtful. And there's always the housework. On top of that, there's always the endless push for sales, because these bills won't pay themselves (and I paid out another $1,100 yesterday in what I hope is now the final final bill from my biospies).

So I need help to get all this done. Folks can help in several ways:

Sales here;
Testimonials here;
Wishlist here;
Patreon here;
Ko-fi here.

Friday Feature: A Glowing Earth Beneath a Dawn-Lit Sky

It's our Friday Feature at The NDN Silver Blog, with a work by a local (now retired) Pueblo master. It's an elder in the shapes and shades of this sacred season touched by an early tinge of autumn, each day breaking upon a glowing earth beneath a dawn-lit 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 repairs forcibly moved up and more medical expenses still in the offing), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2019; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Coming in hard and fast.

Yes, that's a giant-looking hummingbird up at the top of the photo, coming in hard and fast above the covered banisters. An approach, unfortunately, that's a perfect metaphor for all the expenses we're suddenly facing again.

Yesterday was a mess all the way around. Metal-work guy never showed about the kick plates; the guys need an upright deck sander for the deck floor and the steps, and no one nearer than Santa Fe has one for rent. Unfortunately, we would have to travel down to Santa Fe in hopes that it's there on the relevant day, and if it's not, we've made a trip for nothing and would have to do it all over again. And, of course, the rental and deposit aren't cheap. Our best-case scenario is that they can make it work with either a floor sander or a larger orbital with a long handle, and that we can buy one outright; several hundred dollars on the barrelhead, but no more expensive than the costs, and ridiculousness, of trying to rent a really basic piece of construction and repair equipment not to be found in a county overflowing with colonial McMansions.

Wings also had his preliminary appointment with the orthopedic surgeon yesterday (and just before we left, we discovered that Clover, one of the chickens, had gone to sleep and will not awaken again, but you can read about her here if you're so inclined). The upshot is that we're all looking at, say, Novemberish for this, maybe into December. His a1c is just a fraction over the line for the surgery (heightened infection risk in diabetics, and heightened risk anyway when a foreign object, such as a new knee, is being introduced into the body, this the reason for the hard and fast rule). So, since he doesn't do well on some of the newer meds that would shove it down much faster (and wreak havoc on his equilibrium), we have to do this the organic way, so to speak, with some really fine tuning of his diet (and mine with it, because I'll keep him company along the way). He's at another appointment today, one where I would just be in the way (physical pain management kind of stuff), and while there was nothing out of pocket yesterday thanks to Medicare, today there will be. And a lot more to come.

The medical expenses aren't going to let up for me, either. Nothing's changed on the pain front; see here for details if you really want to know (it's not pleasant). What we're having to expend now to fix all this before winter comes (and when the guys are available to do it), because it will be many more times as expensive if we have to replace everything next year because it rotted over the winter months? That's what we had set aside for my future medical testing later this year and into next (because there's a LOT of it yet to be done, and it all costs a fortune). So I'm having to push sales to replace that, and that means it's all stress all the time, because I now have to raise a lot more money sooner than I expected, and still deal with whatever might be in the offing medically. Some of the details are here; the upshot is that I've got to raise about $3,500 just for this first go-around, which I hope will cover about three weeks' worth of labor on all this stuff. We've managed $755 in sales, which means another $2,745 to go, and I'm so tired.

So I need help to get all this done. Folks can help in several ways:

Sales here;
Testimonials here;
Wishlist here;
Patreon here;
Ko-fi here.

#TBT: Flowering Earth, Radiant Sky

It's #ThrowbackThursday at The NDN Silver Blog, with a work that was one in a series of four similar pieces, a collection that was a special commission by a dear friend. This one brought together extraordinary silver stampwork and a truly phenomenal stone, bound together in a perfect combination of flowering earth, radiant sky.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. This one obviously will never be duplicated exactly, but if the general style speaks to your spirit (and that stone! he has one or two left), simply inquire viva the site's Contact form; Wings can create a version uniquely your own. And, as always, sales are very much needed (especially now, with repairs forcibly moved up and more medical expenses still in the offing), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2019; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Clover decided she's ready to fly.

Things are a zoo here this week: all the work to be done on house fixes and weatherization, plus multiple medical appointments. Yesterday afternoon was Wings's appointment for his knees (more about that later). For the moment, the upshot is that, before we left for said appointment, we needed to put the chickens back in their coop. I got all but one of the two remaining silvers inside, but when I went to look for her, I couldn't find her anywhere.

I noticed that several of the chickens had crowded in between and around the straw bales across from the coop itself (they have an actual wooden coop inside a walled and roofed structure that used to be the hay barn, with an opening to a large area in the back fenced with ProPanel and chicken wire, so that when the weather's bad or we're going to be gone and can't let them have the run of the whole place for safety's sake, at least they still have free-range space at all times). At any rate, the half-dozen or so across from the coop were raising hell, and since we found a dead magpie in that spot a few days ago, I thought I better double-check.

Clover was not among the straw bales. However, I turned to look beneath the coop, and she was under the farthest (north) corner. They sometimes lay eggs in that spot, so I assumed she was there for that purpose, but went to check anyway — and found that instead, Clover decided she's ready to fly.

We didn't have time to do anything yesterday and got home from the appointment too late to do anything, either. Fortunately, it's cold at night, and she'd chosen the shadiest corner of the coop. Given the magpie's fate, we were a little concerned that something might have gotten her, but this morning, looking at her little body, it seemed fairly obvious that she'd just . . . gone to sleep.

That's her up in the middle of the photo, the raggedy little black and white (a silver-laced Wyandotte, to be precise; she was named for the prairie clover found growing wild here, whose petals her white spots resembled). Last year's drought affected the chickens' molt cycles profoundly; some molted in early summer, some at their more usual time in the fall, some not at all . . . and some, like Clover, molted early last year and then didn't get their feathers back until this year. Clover, however, never got her new ones in at all. It didn't affect her any, other than cosmetically; she was one of the most active of the chicks, always on the run in pursuit of crumble or scratch or bugs or seed or kibble or her beloved suet over by the bird feeder. Her molt did make her a bit more skittish than usual, but she was always a spooky little girl, if an otherwise happy and always healthy one. there was no sign of any health issue at all; she continued to lay, continued to remain as active as always. But these are organic chicks bred locally, and we've noticed that they don't have the hardiness of those bred on the more established farms that don't advertise themselves as "organic." Their lifespans tend to be two to three years shorter on average, and I'm guessing that's what happened here: She felt a little odd, returned to the coop and went to hide in their communal "safe space," went to sleep, and her little heart just . . . stopped. No sign of trauma or pain; everything apparently peaceful.

And so we buried her this morning, with everything she needs for her journey. While her spirit travels to worlds where her sisters wait, and the dogs and horses, too, her body rests on the west side, where some of the others are buried, near a dwarf blue spruce we planted to honor a warrior and friend who walked on some years ago. That spruce is a lush, deep blue-green now.

And now, her surviving sisters' numbers are reduced to fourteen; only one of the silvers remains. We'll miss her beautiful brown eggs, small and slightly roundish and filled with flavor. Most of all, though, we'll miss our little raggedy girl, always happy, always on the run. We love you, Clover.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

As promised, four new pairs of gemstone bead earrings.

All right, I said that Wings had some new pieces in the works. Tonight, as promised, four new pairs of gemstone bead earrings, now up at NDN Silver. There may be another four tomorrow, although it may need to wait for the weekend, depending on how the day goes. There may also be some coordinating necklaces in the offing, but that's not a sure thing yet. At any rate, keep an eye out for them all; whatever he does, it'll be fabulous.

First up is First Light, shown above. These are gorgeous, and quite literally a cascade of the colors of the dawn sky; you can read their full description here.

Second, it's more sources of light in Distant Suns. These are all the shades of fire in a graduated fall, and you can read their description here.

Third is my personal favorite, Stardust and Twilight. These are at a slightly higher price point (although still below the $200 mark) thanks to the value of the beads used, and they are long and substantial. Their full description is here.

The fourth and final pair are the longest, and with the most poetic name: We Belong to the Earth. These are a combination of hand-carved African bone beads and little orbs of earth and fire. Their description is here.

As always, there's a full inventory of traditional and contemporary Indigenous silverwork at NDN Silver, and also as always, you can order via the site's Contact form.

Watching the $$ mount again.

Not complete yet, but a lot better. They've repaired the moldings, re-sanded, re-stained, and are waiting on the re-sealing of them until we get the kick plates; one of Wings's friends who does iron and steel work is coming out to spec that part of it today. Part of it was damage from Raven when he was sick; part of it was the fact that the recommended stain/sealant we used the first time around (rec'd by the maker of the doors) did nothing to keep out the effects of rain and snow and so forth, and the bottom was already stripped. The biggest part of it, and why all this stuff got rolled into it now, is the fact that while we were told we were getting hard pine, they've turned out to soft pine, and they've warped repeatedly in the weather. That in turn sprang the lock mechanism in the tumblers (yes, it would lock, but it wouldn't latch properly if it was closed but unlocked). They rehung and reset everything, including the hardware and the striker plate, and they're looking at creating specialized shims for intermittent temporary use when the weather does what it's going to do. No, there's no getting any return on all this from the maker now, so don't even go there. Today, they've started on sanding the balusters and railing on the deck; we'll have to rent an upright floor sander from Española next week for them to do the floorboards. No, no return on this mess, either, after all this time, but it was a definite screwup on the weatherization-that-wasn't. And if you're wondering why we didn't pursue it then, perhaps you'll recall that the day they did it was also the the first time I almost died.

Meanwhile, I'm watching the $$ mount again.

Not least because the medical expenses never let up, either. Nothing's changed from yesterday on the pain front. See here for details if you really want to know; it's not pleasant. What we're having to expend now to fix all this before winter comes (and when the guys are available to do it), because it will be many more times as expensive if we have to replace everything next year because it rotted over the winter months? That's what we had set aside for my future medical testing later this year and into next (because there's a LOT of it yet to be done, and it all costs a fortune). So I'm having to push sales to replace that, and that means it's all stress all the time, because I now have to raise a lot more money sooner than I expected, and still deal with whatever might be in the offing medically. Some of the details are here; the upshot is that I've got to raise about $3,500 just for this first go-around, which I hope will cover about three weeks' worth of labor on all this stuff. We've managed $755 in sales, which means another $2,745 to go, and I'm so tired.

So I need help to get all this done. Folks can help in several ways:

Sales here;
Testimonials here;
Wishlist here;
Patreon here;
Ko-fi here.

And as I said, sales are ideal, of course; one or two of Wings's bigger pieces would cover the whole shot for this round. Patreon subscriptions are good, too. Either way, it's a trade for value. But I'm already feeling panicked at what we thought wold be our schedule being so suddenly and thoroughly upended, and we'll take it however it comes at this point. Oh, and Wings may have several new bead pieces today, or tomorrow, or later in the week; not sure when, so please be on the lookout and share them when they drop.

Please share everything, because I'm suddenly back behind the eight-ball on a whole additional front, and yeah, I'm scared about covering everything and surviving, too. Thanks.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2019; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

The Medicine of Earth and Sky

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's one of Wings's most recent works, and my absolute personal favorite in its category. It's a work in the shades of season and place, all shimmery copper color webbed with turquoise, like the medicine of earth and 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 repairs forcibly moved up and more medical expenses still in the offing), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2019; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Taken.

Photo copyright Aji, 2019;
all rights reserved.

One half of one door done; they're working on half of the other one right now. I don't know whether Kit's down there supervising this time or not.

We probably would've been just as well off with the dog running the show the first time around, for that matter. It really sucks to figure out that you got taken in an effort to give your business to local folks (especially locals who wanted something from you besides just money; colonial stuff Wings refused to do).

At any rate, it's supposed to be cooler next week, so they'll start sanding the wood and get it weatherized then. They fixed the problem with the kitchen door, although that now requires Sherm to do some replastering along the jamb when we're able to have him come back and redo the utility room wall. And I'm watching the $$ mount again.

Not least because the medical expenses never let up, either. Went to the chiro yesterday (which was an experience unto itself; her work is stellar, but the staff admin stuff, notsomuch, and I was there another three fucking hours, half of it unnecessarily). She wants me to go see another person (in addition to her, not instead of her) for specialized bodywork, and while that's all fine and well, I can't afford it, either in money or in time and stress right now. Yesterday took more than enough out of me. Apparently the ligaments that hold my pelvic saddle in place, well, don't. Hold it in place, I mean. So while last time she worked on the left, which was significantly out of place, this time, it was the right. And today, my left is back in agony from the shift, and my legs are cramping all the way up and down from hips to feet. See here for details if you really want to know; it's not pleasant.

All stress all the time, too, because I now have to raise a lot more money sooner than I expected, and still deal with whatever might be in the offing medically. Some of the details are here; the upshot is that I've got to raise about $3,500 just for this first go-around, which I hope will cover about three weeks' worth of labor on all this stuff. We've managed $755 in sales, which means another $2,745 to go, and I'm so tired.

So I need help to get all this done. Folks can help in several ways:

Sales here;
Testimonials here;
Wishlist here;
Patreon here;
Ko-fi here.

And as I said, sales are ideal, of course; one or two of Wings's bigger pieces would cover the whole shot for this round. Patreon subscriptions are good, too. Either way, it's a trade for value. But I'm already feeling panicked at what we thought wold be our schedule being so suddenly and thoroughly upended, and we'll take it however it comes at this point. Oh, and Wings may have several new bead pieces today, or tomorrow, or later in the week; not sure when, so please be on the lookout and share them when they drop.

Please share everything, because I'm suddenly back behind the eight-ball on a whole additional front, and yeah, I'm scared about covering everything and surviving, too. Thanks.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2019; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Red Willow Spirit: Desert Earth and Adobe Sky

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's an edition of Red Willow Spirit for the gifts of these waning days of summer. It's a reminder of the land upon which we walk, of the Indigenous history and wisdom emergent from it, of warmth and light, desert earth and adobe sky.

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; to order them or the silverwork shown, simply inquire via the site's Contact form. Also as always, sales are very much needed, so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2019; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Monday, August 26, 2019

Without the grace.

Me yesterday and already this morning, without the grace. Also without the ability to catch myself in midair when I inevitably fall and go smacking onto the ground.

The guys are already here working on the front door issues. The other weatherization may not start until next week, depending on temps; it got increasingly hot yesterday afternoon, and it was 90 degrees at 6PM. Hay loading and stacking has been put off until tomorrow; River neglected to mention that he had to take his mom to ABQ for a medical appointment today, so he drove all the way up here from there this morning and is worn out. He still has to drive back to pick her up at the end of the day, so we sent him home to get some sleep, instead.

It's been a zoo here already. Chinook, who knows both Tony and Nano and has always been fine with them, has for whatever reason decided that them working on the house means that they are DANGEROUS EVIL MEN who wish to DO US HARM and she must WOOF AND WOOF AND WOOF at them, so I spent no small amount of time wrangling her this morning along with everything else. And this comes on top of yesterday's efforts, which involved regular chores that it was time to do, and so, my physical misery notwithstanding, I cleaned two sinks, two toilets, mopped the upstairs bathroom floor, vacuumed the stairs, did three loads of laundry and one load of dishes, in addition to bunch of other less countable stuff, and cooking, too. This is what my days are like, and while the furniture still needs dusting, it will have to wait, because right now, we've got wood dust and shavings and other stuff flying everywhere, and I need to stay out of it as much as possible to be able to breathe.

I also have to go to the chiro this afternoon, and we'll see where that leaves me, because these last several days have been all pain all the time and I'm losing my ability to cope with it. See here for details if you really want to know; it's not pleasant. All stress all the time, too, because I now have to raise a lot more money sooner than I expected, and still deal with whatever might be in the offing medically. Some of the details are here; the upshot is that I've got to raise about $3,500 just for this first go-around, which I hope will cover about three weeks' worth of labor on all this stuff.

So I need help to get all this done. Folks can help in several ways:

Sales here;
Testimonials here;
Wishlist here;
Patreon here;
Ko-fi here.

And as I said, sales are ideal, of course; one or two of Wings's bigger pieces would cover the whole shot for this round. Patreon subscriptions are good, too. Either way, it's a trade for value. But I'm already feeling panicked at what we thought wold be our schedule being so suddenly and thoroughly upended, and we'll take it however it comes at this point. Oh, and Wings may have several new bead pieces today, or tomorrow, or later in the week; not sure when, so please be on the lookout and share them when they drop.

Please share everything, because I'm suddenly back behind the eight-ball on a whole additional front, and yeah, I'm scared about covering everything and surviving, too. Thanks.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2019; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Monday Photo Meditation: Blue Sky, Red Earth, Black Shadow, Golden Light

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a photo meditation for autumn's early arrival, ushering this place into a space of magic and medicine. It's an image in the primary colors of space and season, too, of blue sky, red earth, black shadow, golden light.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. As always, his photos are available 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, with repairs forcibly moved up and more medical expenses still in the offing), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2019; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Crunch time.

The east field, yesterday. Gabe's turning it now, and then presumably he'll bale this afternoon. I hope so, because this can't wait any longer. The guys will load and stack tomorrow.

I feel like the blade of a pendulum is swinging directly over my head, getting closer with every pass.

Crunch time. There are some things we have to get done on the house before winter, and we have to work around the schedules of the people who'll be doing it, and as of yesterday, the start of the process got moved up to tomorrow. Forget being at my wits' end; we're way past that now. {And yeah, I know; most folks thought the house was done. Not even close. Last year was supposed to be kitchen countertops and trimwork, and instead, it all went to keeping me out of the hospital; this year was supposed to be that, again, and instead it's more medical and fixing what certain individuals screwed up the first time around. I won't have a complete kitchen before 2020 or 2021, at the earliest.] Some of the details are here; the upshot is that I've got to raise about $3,500 just for this first go-around, which I hope will cover about three weeks' worth of labor on all this stuff.

Anyway. Today is really, really kicking my ass on the pain front. See here for details; suffice to say that this is one of those days when it's completely unmanageable, and I don't need any of you to yell at me because that voice in my head is busy doing it for you, telling me that if I weren't so lazy and useless I could get it all done. The fact of the matter is that I can't, because I can barely move, but abuse spawns its own hellish offspring and they never shut up.

So I need help to get all this done. Folks can help in several ways:

Sales here;
Testimonials here;
Wishlist here;
Patreon here;
Ko-fi here.

And as I said, sales are ideal, of course; one or two of Wings's bigger pieces would cover the whole shot for this round. Patreon subscriptions are good, too. Either way, it's a trade for value. But I'm already feeling panicked at what we thought wold be our schedule being so suddenly and thoroughly upended, and we'll take it however it comes at this point.

Please share everything, because I'm suddenly back behind the eight-ball on a whole additional front, and yeah, I'm scared about covering everything and surviving, too. Thanks.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2019; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

The Dreams of the Dark Lit By a Medicine Light

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's one of Wings's recent masterworks, a traditional cuff infused with a contemporary spirit and the power of vision wrought in silver and stone. It's the dreams of the dark lit by a medicine light, a web of illuminating power for the longest of nights.

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 repairs forcibly moved up and more medical expenses still in the offing), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2019; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Tricksters, weather and otherwise.

Welp, this is a problem.

See that dustcloud in the center of the photo? It's a massive dust devil that went tearing along our south boundary. That's not the problem; it's just indicative of what we're dealing with now: tricksters, weather and otherwise.

Right now, one of the big issues is time — time that's fast running out. We spoke with Tony today, and Nano a couple of days ago, about the possibility of arranging for them to do some of the things still incomplete on the house (or, in a couple of cases, that need redoing, one of which is the wood weatherization). We have to work around their schedules, of course, and we thought that would buy us a little more time, but the time they can do it is essentially now.

A complicating factor is what climate change has done to our weather patterns. Fall's been here for a couple of weeks of already; hell, the leaves began changing on some of the trees way back in July. It's pretty universally accepted here that, based on our current patterns, winter is going to be both early and hard this year. And a big chunk of what needs to be done has to be done before it gets too cold (or snowy).

I just found out that they're going to need to start on Monday. Yeah, as in the day after tomorrow. And I still have a ton of medical stuff in the offing, and I'm going to have to do some shuffling to cover stuff in the short term, and probably postpone some treatments and tests until late fall or winter at this point. Even so, I need to make up the difference in what we'll be paying for labor (and materials, where needed), because that money was allocated to savings for our health stuff in the relative near term.

So, yeah. I have to go back to the money chase. I hate fundraising with the white-hot heat of a thousand suns, but there's no choice. And if we could do it all with sales? We'd be ecstatic. Realistically, I know that's not going to happen, not enough of them fast enough to cover it all. There's still the plumber and the interior plaster repair that has to happen before winter, too. As if I didn't have enough pain and fatigue and stress right now, but this has to get done before the weather turns bad.

For this first go-round (which will be a few weeks' worth of work), I'm guessing, based on past experience, that we'll be looking at around $3,500 for labor to get the most urgent stuff done over the next few weeks.

Folks can help in several ways:

Sales here;
Testimonials here;
Wishlist here;
Patreon here;
Ko-fi here.

And as I said, sales are ideal, of course; one or two of Wings's bigger pieces would cover the whole shot for this round. Patreon subscriptions are good, too. Either way, it's a trade for value. But I'm already feeling panicked at what we thought wold be our schedule being so suddenly and thoroughly upended, and we'll take it however it comes at this point.

Please share everything, because I'm suddenly back behind the eight-ball on a whole additional front, and yeah, I'm scared about covering everything and surviving, too. Thanks.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2019; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

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