Very lucky.

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

That was the first storm yesterday to produce rotation in the clouds (and lower to the ground, in the wind). No touchdown, but the telltale freight-train roar was there. My biggest fear was the horses; the chickens can go to ground in the coop (and put them inside so I could let the dogs out of the dog run); we and the dogs can hide in the downstairs shower. But there's no safe place to put horses around here if one does touch down. 

We had several more before the day was out, but this was the bad one, the one that looked and sounded and felt like it could actually do something. We're very lucky that it didn't. Now, it's clear and bright, but the clouds are already building up; we're supposed to get more weather overnight into tomorrow, and again on Monday. We'll see.

Meanwhile, I'm still battling constant pain and lack of sleep to get through with the tax nonsense. I'm trying to get them turned over by the end of the week, but I may not make it at this rate; we'll see. Might pull an all-nighter tonight to do it. I still have to find a way to pay it all, and get us through April's costly medical stuff, too. 

And I still have to keep trying to make enough sales to cover the coming outlay to a government that would prefer to see us dead. We've had two sales over the last 8 weeks or so; not unusual for the first quarter of the year, but also not useful for dealing with the Tax Man. I need help doing this. Links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (priorities are first and foremost, the other ladder and the Thermacell lanterns; the flies are already out, so the mosquitoes won't be far behind);
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

We're still hoping to put aside enough for a new well when the ground thaws enough to drill in the spring, too, so now's always a good time to make a purchase. And 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, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.                         

#TBT: Still Standing When the Storm Departs

Photo copyright Wings, 2022; all rights reserved.

It's #ThrowbackThursday at The NDN Silver Blog, with a #TBT work from eleven years ago that is  particularly apt for our current spate of extreme weather. It's a pin in the shape of the Pueblo's iconic traditional architecture, set with a stone the shade of the stormy sky, reminding us that these thousand-year-old homes will be still standing when the storm departs.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. This work obviously will never be duplicated exactly, but if the general style speaks to your spirit, simply inquire via the site's Contact form; Wings can create a version uniquely your own. We will still need to make consistent sales to make it through this third year of pandemic and loss, so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.   

I hope it's enough.

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

Stormy weather. Supposed to be a good chance of more on Friday. We haven't had this much moisture in years; I hope it's enough to reverse a little of the aridification that's killing off the trees and the red willows.

Speaking of which, I hope today is enough to get the taxes mostly done. It probably won't be, but I'm trying to get them turned over by the end of the week. I still have to find a way to pay it all, and get us through April's costly medical stuff, too. 

And I still have to keep trying to make enough sales to cover the coming outlay to a government that would prefer to see us dead. We've had two sales over the last 8 weeks or so; not unusual for the first quarter of the year, but also not useful for dealing with the Tax Man. I need help doing this. Links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (priorities are first and foremost, the other ladder and the Thermacell lanterns; the flies are already out, so the mosquitoes won't be far behind);
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

We're still hoping to put aside enough for a new well when the ground thaws enough to drill in the spring, too, so now's always a good time to make a purchase. And 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, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.                         

When the Storm Is Born of the Light

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a masterwork for day, weather, and season here, birthed in hard labor to become its own gift. It's a necklace that transcends everything it was supposed to be, like the weather outside the window — a reminder that when the storm is born of the light, our whole world grows and thrives.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. We will still need to make consistent sales to make it through this third year of pandemic and loss, so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.   

Wrapped up early.

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

A few trailing clouds late yesterday turned into a fiery sunset late in the evening, and then to rain early this morning. The sun's back out again, temporarily, but it's dark to the west/southwest, and the radar map shows the possibility of several lines of small storms yet to come. We'll see whether we actually get much in the way of rain or snow, but as always, we'll take what we can get now.

I was up until one this morning, working, and of course unable to sleep anyway. By then I was fried, and I went to be and lay awake, tossing and turning, for another five hours, because the pain won't give an inch, and of course the lack of sleep just makes it all that much worse. Two intermittent hours (five minutes here, ten minutes there) and now I'm back at it, and I need to get this part of my day wrapped up early. Because among a couple of other tasks today, I have to get through the tax stuff, find a way to pay it all, and get us through April's costly medical stuff, too. Finally making progress on the former; hopefully they'll be done before the week's out and turned over to the preparer.

And I still have to keep trying to make enough sales to cover the coming outlay to a government that would prefer to see us dead. We've had two sales over the last 8 weeks or so; not unusual for the first quarter of the year, but also not useful for dealing with the Tax Man. I need help doing this. Links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (priorities are first and foremost, the other ladder and the Thermacell lanterns; the flies are already out, so the mosquitoes won't be far behind);
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

We're still hoping to put aside enough for a new well when the ground thaws enough to drill in the spring, too, so now's always a good time to make a purchase. And 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, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.                         

Red Willow Spirit: A Chrysalis Season

Photo copyright Wings, 2022; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's an edition of Red Willow Spirit for a world emerging now from winter's cocoon. It's a set of three images and two works of wearable art that show this place in all its glowing glowing new growth beneath azure skies, a chrysalis season for a world reborn.

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. We will still need to make consistent sales to make it through this third year of pandemic and loss, so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.  

The change is here.

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

That was last night. The clouds have been telegraphing a change in the weather for days; today, the change is here. Much colder than recent days, skies completely gray, and we're supposed to have both rain and snow again by tomorrow into Wednesday. 

And I realized yesterday morning that I'm in trouble. I have rarely felt so completely disabled by my autoimmune disease as I am now. And I can't do a damn thing about it for at least a month yet. As I said yesterday, it has me very nearly housebound now.

In addition, I'm having to deal with this new development of muscle contractures, and it's literally crippling me. My pain levels are off the charts, and I still can't sleep (and this stupid colonial time change is making that all the worse). I'm not remotely functional. And I have to get through the tax stuff, find a way to pay it all, and get us through April's costly medical stuff, too. Finally making progress on the former; hopefully they'll be done before the week's out and turned over to the preparer.

And I have to keep trying (so far, unsuccessfully) to make enough (or even any) sales to cover the coming outlay to a government that would prefer to see us dead. We've had one sale over the last 6 weeks or so. I need help doing this. Links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (priorities are first and foremost, the other ladder and the Bissell vac);
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

We're still hoping to put aside enough for a new well when the ground thaws enough to drill in the spring, too, so now's always a good time to make a purchase. And 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, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.                         

Monday Photo Meditation: The Smallest Silvered Buds Against an Indigo Sky

Photo copyright Wings, 2022; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a photo meditation for an early spring Monday with an image from a dozen years or so ago, give or take a few either side, and a spare and momentary beauty in an unsettled season. It's a contemplation, too, of changed circumstances for our world since and of the additional work it requires of us now, beginning with the smallest silvered buds against an indigo sky, and getting the young through the storms to come.

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. We will still need to make consistent sales to make it through this third year of pandemic and loss, so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner. 

Harbingers.

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

That was last night, from the deck. Zoomed out, it may not look like much, but they were gigantic. Fitting, for harbingers of change: imposing, and not a little forbidding, too.

Supposed to have snow again by Tuesday and into Wednesday, but that's not the only change. I realized this morning that I'm in trouble. And I can't do a damn thing about it for at least a month yet.

The reason my lupus symptoms have launched themselves into the stratosphere is because of the COVID vaccines. I knew it would happen, but I wasn't prepared for it to be so bad. And it's one of the reasons why I have no patience for bullshit on this, governmental or otherwise; I've put myself into a terrible situation both to protect myself and to protect others, and the people for whom it will have the least effects are refusing to do likewise, keeping me and mine at constant risk of a horrible illness and death. It has me very nearly housebound now.

In addition, I'm having to deal with this new development of muscle contractures, and it's literally crippling me. My pain levels are off the charts, and I still can't sleep (and this stupid colonial time change is making that all the worse). I'm not remotely functional. And I have to get through the tax stuff, find a way to pay it all, and get us through April's costly medical stuff, too.

And I have to keep trying (so far, unsuccessfully) to make enough (or even any) sales to cover the coming outlay to a government that would prefer to see us dead. We've had one sale over the last 6 weeks or so. I need help doing this. Links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (priorities are first and foremost, the other ladder and the Bissell vac);
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

We're still hoping to put aside enough for a new well when the ground thaws enough to drill in the spring, too, so now's always a good time to make a purchase. And 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, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.                         

New Petals and Young Wings Floating On the Light

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a work from one of Wings's signature series that embodies all the promise of the new season. It's the WarriorWoman, holding the deep clear beauty of the dusken spring sky, wrought to honor the new petals and young wings floating on the light.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. We will still need to make consistent sales to make it through this third year of pandemic and loss, so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.    

Nice to have some color brightening things up again.

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

Wings went into town yesterday to take care of that outlay I mentioned last week, helping out with tradish stuff. He came back with these. The grocery store hasn't had much selection lately, and it's far too early for ours to grow, so it's nice to have some color brightening things up again.

Meanwhile, it's going to get well into the 70s (or higher; it's already well past 70) today. Then we're supposed to get snow again at mid-week. Still waiting for Meadowlark to put in his first appearance and pronounce it officially spring. Still trying to finish up the tax prep stuff that's bedeviling me, trying (so far, unsuccessfully) to make enough (or even any) sales to cover the coming outlay to a government that would prefer to see us dead. And I still am getting virtually no sleep, and still can barely walk. That's not improving any.

But we've also got to pay a lot to the Tax Man this year; thereafter, we both have to pay out a lot on medical stuff for the month of April, and we've had one sale over the last 6 weeks or so. I need help doing this. Links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (priorities are first and foremost, the other ladder and the Bissell vac);
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

We're still hoping to put aside enough for a new well when the ground thaws enough to drill in the spring, too, so now's always a good time to make a purchase. And 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, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.                         

The Fire In the Spring Sky

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a personal favorite, a work that captures the radiant glow of the orb that warms our world. It's the square of the sun in the form and shape of a ring, one manifest as the fire in the spring sky at sunset.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. We will still need to make consistent sales to make it through this third year of pandemic and loss, so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.     

Not ready to come out of hibernation.

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

The tools still think it's winter, obviously not ready to come out of hibernation. I can understand that; I'm exhausted all the time, too.

I did get a little sleep last night; not much, but a little. Which makes today slightly better again than a couple of days ago, but I'm still a zombie right now, at the point of the year when I most need my brain to be sharp, and it's putting me further and further behind. And yes, that part of it is causing me untold stress.

Things will lighten up in May, presumably, on the paperwork front, at least; probably not much change on the pain and disability fronts. For now, I need to make some sales to cover the coming outlay to a government that would prefer to see us dead. Today is the day that big outlay went out the door that I mentioned last week. We've also got to pay a lot to the Tax Man this year; thereafter, we both have to pay out a lot on medical stuff for the month of April, and we've had one sale over the last 6 weeks or so. I need help doing this. Links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (priorities are first and foremost, the other ladder and the Bissell vac);
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

We're still hoping to put aside enough for a new well when the ground thaws enough to drill in the spring, too, so now's always a good time to make a purchase. And 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, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.                         

Friday Feature: Shadows and Dust and a Soaring, Spreading Light

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

It's our Friday Feature at The NDN Silver Blog, with a trio of works that carry the spring sun's golden glow in spectacularly brilliant form — works, all, animated by their own unique spirits and yet so closely related that they could be braided together in a single coordinated set. It's necklace, bracelet, and earrings lit with a seasonal fire, one of warming winds and glowing dusken skies, shadows and dust and a soaring, spreading light.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. We will still need to make consistent sales to make it through this third year of pandemic and loss, so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.  

One tiny bright spot.

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

This little visitor hopped onto the sage roots at my feet yesterday and stayed with me for a few moments, one tiny bright spot in an otherwise mostly awful day. We had a high wind warning in effect yesterday, and it didn't disappoint: sustained 30-mph winds with gusts 65mph+. Hideous under the best circumstances, and these are hardly the best circumstances now. Autoimmune diseases are notoriously influenced by changes in weather, but there is nothing, no amount of humidity or aridity, heat or cold, that destroys my joints like wind does. And since I'm mostly running on virtually no sleep at all, it's all the worse.

Yesterday was also a marker for me, a particularly bad one. I'm glad it's over. And I finally got a few hours sleep last night, none of it uninterrupted and nowhere near a normal amount, but something. Which means that I'm feeling slightly more functional today.

Slightly. I'm still a zombie right now, at the point of the year when I most need my brain to be sharp, and it's putting me further and further behind. And yes, that part of it is causing me untold stress.

Things will lighten up in May, presumably, on the paperwork front, at least; probably not much change on the pain and disability fronts. For now, I need to make some sales to cover the coming outlay to a government that would prefer to see us dead. We've got to pay a lot to the Tax Man; thereafter, we both have to pay out a lot on medical stuff for the month of April, and we've had one sale over the last 6 weeks or so. I need help doing this. Links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (priorities are first and foremost, the other ladder and the Bissell vac);
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

We're still hoping to put aside enough for a new well when the ground thaws enough to drill in the spring, too, so now's always a good time to make a purchase. And 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, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.                         

#ThrowbackThursday: Trickster Winds, Protector Spirits

Photo copyright Wings, 2022; all rights reserved.

It's #TBT at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a #ThrowbackThursday work that dates back exactly ten years virtually to the day, to March of 2012, and one among a very special [and sanctioned] trio of works commissioned by a very dear friend. It's Wolf's ancestor as you've never seen him before and a counter to Coyote in this unsettled season: trickster winds, protector spirits for us all.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. This work obviously will never, ever be duplicated, but if the general style speaks to your spirit, simply inquire via the site's Contact form; Wings can create a version uniquely your own. We will still need to make consistent sales to make it through this third year of pandemic and loss, so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.   

Feets.

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

One of the three we call "Feets."  Also "Leggins" [yes, I know there's a "g" at the end of the word, but that's not how we pronounce it]. Look at those fluffy feets. Turns out there are three of them, not two: this one with fairly ordinary plumage colors and patterns, one that is shades of dark gray all over with vitiligo [yes, they can have it, and it manifests as irregular loss of melanin, i.e., nonbilateral white patches], and one that is leucistic, white with red. The feathers on the feet are actually vestigial wings from prehistoric times, a result, apparently, of two specific recessive genes occurring simultaneously. This particular flock has a lot more recessive genes in it than just those, obviously.

Whatever; I need something to entertain myself even mildly right now. I've had exactly two halfway-decent nights' sleep since the first of the year, and I'm functioning daily [or not, as the case may be] on about two cumulative hours' worth per night, spread out in patches of a few minutes here and there, mostly after 6 AM. No, there's nothing I can take that doesn't cause me worse problems. No, it's not a result of caffeine or stress or anything like that; it's pain, pure and simple. And there's nothing I can do about it. I'm a zombie right now, at the point of the year when I most need my brain to be sharp, and it's putting me further and further behind. And yes, that part of it is causing me untold stress.

Things will lighten up in May, presumably, on the paperwork front, at least; probably not much change on the pain and disability fronts. For now, I need to make some sales to cover the coming outlay to a government that would prefer to see us dead. We've got to pay a lot to the Tax Man; thereafter, we both have to pay out a lot on medical stuff for the month of April, and we've had one sale over the last 6 weeks or so. I need help doing this. Links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (priorities are first and foremost, the other ladder and the Bissell vac);
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

We're still hoping to put aside enough for a new well when the ground thaws enough to drill in the spring, too, so now's always a good time to make a purchase. And 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, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.                        

A Strong Light That Rides the Winds of Spring

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a big, bold, old-style work with a contemporary twist, one to honor the storm, and the light. It's a work seemingly made explicitly for this season and eve this very day, manifest as a strong light that rides the winds of spring, the same one that attends — and transcends — even the fiercest storm.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. We will still need to make consistent sales to make it through this third year of pandemic and loss, so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.     

Down a hole.

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

Cricket with his whole head down a hole, hunting the prairie dog that keeps taunting him. All three of the dogs are constantly filthy now, spending all their time trying to run the fat little plague carriers to ground.

Of course, the image is a metaphor for me these days, too, stuck down a hole of a very different sort, one mired in taxes but also beset on all sides by indescribably amounts of pain and constant insomnia. Two badly-broken hours of fitful sleep this morning between 6 and 8 AM, and no, it doesn't matter what I take or do at bedtime or when; this is all a product of unrelenting pain. I'm finding it really, really hard to slog through each day right now, and there's no end in sight, no light at the end of the tunnel, no way out of the hole. This is my life now.

Things will lighten up in May, presumably, on the paperwork front, at least; probably not much change on the pain and disability fronts. For now, I need to make some sales to cover the coming outlay to a government that would prefer to see us dead. There's more work in the pipeline, too, incredible stuff, and we're going to have to cover a huge amount of medical stuff for us both in April. Links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (priorities are first and foremost, the other ladder and the Bissell vac);
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

We're still hoping to put aside enough for a new well when the ground thaws enough to drill in the spring, too, so now's always a good time to make a purchase. And 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, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.                        

Red Willow Spirit: The Song At the Heart of the Light

Photo copyright Wings, 2022; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's an edition of Red Willow Spirit for a trickster season, when winter's presence contradicts the calendar and the true marker of spring has not yet put in appearance. It's a contemplation of the arrival, the presence, and the call and response rhythms of Meadowlark, spring's true spirit here, who comes bearing the song at the heart of the 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. We will still need to make consistent sales to make it through this third year of pandemic and loss, so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner. 

It's gonna be a rough week.

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

They run and run and run and they all suddenly converge on the horses' trough all at once. Then they run and run and run some more. I wish I had a fraction of their energy.

Yesterday was brutal. I didn't even fall asleep until after 6 AM, was up by 8, after two hours' sleep that could only be called "fitful" at best, and after a whole night of feeling as though I were being drawn and quartered, all my joints being pulled slowly out place, the connective tissue tearing as it goes. So much pain, it's indescribable. It's probably partly allergy-related, because I also mostly lost my voice yesterday, and there's pollen everywhere, despite the cold; the winds make sure of that.

::Sigh:: it's gonna be a rough week.

It's all tax stuff, except of course when I get summoned away to do  something else, and then I have to make up for lost time again. Then when that's done, there's everything else. Also, Patreon patrons: Speaking of taxes, that's what March and April are here, and also medical appointment months, and I am already snowed completely under. I will not be doing daily postings for that period. I'll try to post as often as I can (and so far, I've managed at least a photo [portal] every night), but I can't in good conscience commit to every day (or every night, as the case may be) when I have all of this stuff hanging over my head. Things will lighten up in May, presumably. For now, I need to make some sales to cover the coming outlay to a government that would prefer to see us dead. I also need to cover an unexpected outlay; traditional matters are always expensive, and while we're not involved, we're helping folks this year with some of the very high costs, and that will be another big outlay this week. 

And on top of all of that, I'm still trying desperately to get caught up on a bunch of the things I haven't been able to do these last three weeks, having been so sick with this godforsaken lupus flare. Still need to make sales, though. There's more work in the pipeline, too, incredible stuff. Links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (priorities are first and foremost, the other ladder and the Bissell vac);
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

We're still hoping to put aside enough for a new well when the ground thaws enough to drill in the spring, too, so now's always a good time to make a purchase. And 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, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.                        

Monday Photo Meditation: The Only Settled Part of Spring

Photo copyright Wings, 2022; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a photo meditation for the first Monday, and indeed the first full day, of spring. It's a musing on the nature of seasonal visitors and residents, migratory and otherwise, and on the truth that here, the only settled part of spring is its unsettled and unsettling nature.

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. We will still need to make consistent sales to make it through this third year of pandemic and loss, so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner. 

Obsessed.

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

She is obsessed with the prairie dogs that are running all over the neighboring fields. Cricket caught the season's first about a week ago, and now this predatory little runt can think of nothing else. They'll probably go to ground again today, though; first official day of spring, and snowclouds are hanging low and heavy, with a forecast for white stuff tomorrow.

For today and the days to come, though, it's all the same old shit. I have to block out the whole week to come to do nothing but tax stuff, having lost the last four days straight to other demands. Then when that's done, there's everything else. Also, Patreon patrons: Speaking of taxes, that's what March and April are here, and also medical appointment months, and I am already snowed completely under. I will not be doing daily postings for that period. I'll try to post as often as I can (and so far, I've managed at least a photo [portal] every night), but I can't in good conscience commit to every day (or every night, as the case may be) when I have all of this stuff hanging over my head. Things will lighten up in May, presumably. For now, I need to make some sales to cover the coming outlay to a government that would prefer to see us dead. I also need to cover an unexpected outlay; traditional matters are always expensive, and while we're not involved, we're helping folks this year with some of the very high costs, and that will be another big outlay this week. 

And on top of all of that, I'm still trying desperately to get caught up on a bunch of the things I haven't been able to do these last three weeks, having been so sick with this godforsaken lupus flare. Still need to make sales, though. There's more work in the pipeline, too, incredible stuff. Links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (priorities are first and foremost, the other ladder and the Bissell vac);
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

We're still hoping to put aside enough for a new well when the ground thaws enough to drill in the spring, too, so now's always a good time to make a purchase. And 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, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.                        

From Winter's Night to Dawn of Spring

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a personal favorite, a manifestation of the sacred and of the illumination it provides. It's a reminder, too, of the role it plays in lighting the dark, from winter's night to dawn of spring.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. We will still need to make consistent sales to make it through this third year of pandemic and loss, so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.    

Signs of spring everywhere now.

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

That's the smaller of the two fire maples; signs of spring everywhere now. Still no meadowlark's song, though, so no matter what the calendar or thermometer say, it's not spring here yet.

At this point, though, it's late enough in the new year that we're looking forward to warmer weather, finally. We'll still take whatever snow we can get, and whatever rain, too, but it's looking like we'll actually have a planting season this year, and we're anxious to get started on it. Effectively, that doesn't usually happen here [on our plot] before May, but there's lots to do in the meantime, not least of which is getting my body in shape to be able to handle it. I also need to find a way to get this item off our wishlist, because it's the only way I'm going to be able to do any gardening now. I hate the realization that I can no longer bend over or kneel on the ground to work with the earth. I'm struggling with all these new limitations, not just on what I can do but on my mobility generally.

For now, though, the immediate limitation is on my time, because I have to block out the whole week to come to do nothing but tax stuff, having lost the last four days straight to other demands. Then when that's done, there's everything else. Also, Patreon patrons: Speaking of taxes, that's what March and April are here, and also medical appointment months, and I am already snowed completely under. I will not be doing daily postings for that period. I'll try to post as often as I can (and so far, I've managed at least a photo [portal] every night), but I can't in good conscience commit to every day (or every night, as the case may be) when I have all of this stuff hanging over my head. Things will lighten up in May, presumably. For now, I need to make some sales to cover the coming outlay to a government that would prefer to see us dead. I also need to cover an unexpected outlay; traditional matters are always expensive, and while we're not involved, we're helping folks this year with some of the very high costs, and that will be another big outlay this week. Sales to offset that would be very welcome, especially as we're likely to have to shell out a comparable amount on a plumber after the replacement trap for the kitchen sink comes in.

And on top of all of that, I'm still trying desperately to get caught up on a bunch of the things I haven't been able to do these last three weeks, having been so sick with this godforsaken lupus flare. Still need to make sales, though. There's more work in the pipeline, too, incredible stuff. Links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (priorities are first and foremost, the other ladder and the Bissell vac);
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

We're still hoping to put aside enough for a new well when the ground thaws enough to drill in the spring, too, so now's always a good time to make a purchase. And 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, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.