Bitterly cold but deadly dry.

Photo copyright Aji, 2021; all rights reserved.

This view was our reward shortly after getting home late yesterday. It was a long day, long drive, and a day that was a marker for both of us in other ways besides, the first of a whole series of those commemorating December losses. Seeing such a beautiful moonrise took the edge off that void just the smallest bit.

But it was a rough day physically, coming on the heels of two even rougher days and what has been, in fact, an exceptionally difficult week, and my body has now rebelled entirely. Nothin is taking the edge off my pain, and it's everywhere, and I'll be doing well to get the bare minimum today, never mind everything this week kept me from doing that needed to be done already. On top if it all, it's bitterly cold but deadly dry, in every sense of the expression. I hate this.

It was an exceptionally costly week, too. Thanks to the power outage, we're out a smooth $500 cash, plus the cost of the food from the fridge that has to be thrown out. I think pretty much everything in the freezer survived, so at least we didn't lose that, too. I haven't even had a chance to go through everything properly yet, ad I have to do that today and tomorrow, because Monday and Tuesday are already going to be a mess. 

I'll have five new pieces later this afternoon, and selling a couple of them would cover those losses and expenses. It'll be four new Warrior Woman pins and one new ring, but I have to get the photos taken and uploaded and the descriptions written before I can actually make them available for sale, so it may be late in the day. Please be on the lookout for them and share them when they appear.

Speaking of finance issues, our doctor's practice is a certified community health center, and they are currently in the middle of their year-end appeal (and since they are a qualifying non-profit, donations are tax-deductible). They treat a large cross-section of grossly-underserved local populations, and they need help now. Since this is the doctor who saved both our lives, we'll be giving again this year, no matter what. You should, too, and tell 'em we sent you. You can do that here.

But the work just keeps piling up. So do the expenses. I'm currently waiting for delivery of the other beads and cabs that Wings needs for his next set, and for several other things in the pipeline. There was yesterday's small fortune to the doctor. And all of that means that I need to bring in enough to cover all that outlay, because none of this comes cheap.

Yeah, it always comes back to that: more sales. A lot more, because we have two years' worth of a shattered pandemic economy to make up for, by which I mean we need to gain more ground ourselves financially to be able to be sure of making it through the winter. And again, if you're planning on commissioning gifts for the holidays, DO IT NOW. [And that includes just ordinary orders for the holidays, too.] Yes, I mean NOW. We have about one more week for shipping, and then no guarantees on delivery in time. We're dealing with the same supply-chain issues as everyone else, and at some point soon, Wings is going to have to get silver and stones to produce holiday inventory, and I'm hearing that the price is already spiking on the metals. More to the point of what customers care about, we also can't guarantee shipping times this year, because see above. But I've posted a ton of Wings's new work lately, and there will be more in the days and weeks to come. If I could sell one of the big works, like one of the belts, maybe I could get us on the drill list for the well that is the only thing that's going to keep this land alive. But I've got way too much to do and too few hours and other resources to do it. 

Anyway, I have GOT to continue to make sales, so links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (priorities are first and foremost, the ladders, because see above);
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

And if you've been contemplating a purchase? This would be a very, very good time to do it; I've got to cover all this staggering outlay somehow and get us through what's left of the year. And right now? I have no way to do it.  But there's lots of fabulous new work, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2021; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.