Apt for the last day of November.

Photo copyright Aji, 2025; all rights reserved.

That's what the eastern sky looked like about 8:30 this morning. Apt for the last day of November. So is the new cold.

And in theory, we'll have snow tonight into tomorrow.

But that means we're down to one month left in the year, and we're nowhere near where we need to be in terms of sales. We made one sale this morning, and I'm ecstatic; it's our first all weekend. But we're still down by dozens of sales, and numbers too large to contemplate.

After this god-awful year, we literally need to make a sale a day now, on average, and we're nowhere near that. The last two years have all but killed us financially, and we're almost out of year. To that end, links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here [priority is the vacuum! mine died two days ago, and we're being suffocated by dog hair];
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

And we do still need to make those regular weekly [daily now, really] sales, so please share all of the links. We really do need this to be a better month than what we've had so far this year.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2025; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.           

The Silver-Limned Blues of the Cloud-Webbed Winter Light

Photo copyright Aji, 2025; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a vintage work by Wings in the form and shape of a small summer spirit, but animated by the year-round phenomenon of the light that holds the sky. It's a pair of earrings adapted from one of his old belts from thirty years ago or more, butterfly conchas set with extraordinary Skystones, embodying the silver-limned blues of the cloud-webbed winter light.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. This is it: one month left in the year to catch up. The last two years have been nightmares of catastrophic repairs and other astronomical costs, and the damage has been incalculable. We now need to bring in multiple sales virtually daily just to break even on the year.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2025; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.        

Little winter bird.

Photo copyright Aji, 2025; all rights reserved.

Black-capped chickadee, little winter bird. They're here in force now, although this year, they never left; we had them even in summer. One of the downy woodpecker pair, almost as tiny, has been at the feeder this morning, too. 

Now if only we could get some winter weather for them.

And if only we could get some winter holiday sales. This is our drop-dead point: the biggest sales weekend of the year, and we have brought in not a single thing. I really need to make multiple sales this holiday weekend alone if we're going to make it. It's beyond grim. Yes, I recognize that we are extremely fortunate to be housed, to have food, to have clean water, to have firewood for heat. But after this god-awful year, we literally need to make a sale a day now, on average, and we're nowhere near that. The last two years have all but killed us financially, and we're almost out of year. To that end, links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here [priority is the vacuum! mine died two days ago, and we're being suffocated by dog hair];
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

And we do still need to make those regular weekly [daily now, really] sales, so please share all of the links. We really do need this to be a better month than what we've had so far this year.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2025; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.           

Days Born In Crimson Fire

Photo copyright Aji, 2025; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's an eminently traditional work for these days of the rolling fire of an early winter sky. It's a pair of old-style concha earrings set with tiny carnelian suns, a reminder in this season of deep cold and long dark that these are days born in crimson fire.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. Last year and this have been nightmares of catastrophic repairs and other astronomical costs, and the damage has been incalculable. We now need to bring in multiple sales each and every week to break even and make sure that basics are covered.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2025; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.        

Always hard at work.

Photo copyright Aji, 2025; all rights reserved.

Always in motion; always hard at work. Right now, though, the problem is that he needs to be hard at work in the studio, and he can't get free of all the other stuff to do that. He had intended to spend hours in there today, and . . . nope. And a lot of the outside stuff I can't do anymore, entirely aside from the fact that I have more than enough indoors every single day as it is.

But somehow we've got to manage it so that he gets studio time, and so that I get time to do nothing but push sales, because this is our drop-dead point: the biggest sales weekend of the year, and we have brought in nothing. I really need to make multiple sales this holiday weekend alone if we're going to make it. It's beyond grim. yes, I recognize that we are extremely fortunate to be housed, to have food, to have clean water, to have firewood for heat. But after this god-awful year, we literally need to make a sale a day now, on average, and we're nowhere near that. The last two years have all but killed us financially, and we're almost out of year. To that end, links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here [priority is the vacuum! mine died two days ago, and we're being suffocated by dog hair];
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

And we do still need to make those regular weekly [daily now, really] sales, so please share all of the links. We really do need this to be a better month than what we've had so far this year.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2025; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.           

Friday Feature: In a Chill World, Love's Scarlet Glow

Photo copyright Aji, 2025; all rights reserved.

It's our Friday Feature at The NDN Silver Blog, with a pair of works that embody both an elemental love and a radiant heart in fiery and powerful form. It's a necklace and a hook bracelet, both wrought in vintage style, both reminders that in a chill world world, love's scarlet glow warms, illuminates, and heals.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. Last year and this have been nightmares of catastrophic repairs and other astronomical costs, and the damage has been incalculable. We now need to bring in multiple sales each and every week to break even and make sure that basics are covered.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2025; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.        

Looks a little more like Thanksgiving.

Photo copyright Aji, 2025; all rights reserved.

Looks a little more like Thanksgiving. Needs those clouds for it look right; there should be the possibility of snow looming.

We don't actually have that, but I guess we'll take what we can get. In theory [still very much theory], we'll have snow on Sunday. We'll believe it when it actually happens, though.

We don't do much for the day. We tend to look at it as an extension of our practices on every other day, plus a nice harvest-style dinner. The turkey breast will go in the oven shortly [we always eat in the evenings]; pretty much everything else is in process, save dessert, which I may or may not do, depending on how much energy I have left. The half-week so far has done me a month's worth of damage, so I don't have a whole lot of bandwidth for anything right now.

And this is our drop-dead point: the biggest sales weekend of the year, and we have GOT to bring in several sales if we're going to make it. After this god-awful year, we literally need to make a sale a day now, on average, and we're nowhere near that. The last two years have all but killed us financially, and I need to get us caught up to make it through the end of the year. Whatever else, we [which means I] have got to change this trajectory, and fast; we're almost out of year. To that end, links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here [priority is the vacuum! mine died two days ago, and we're being suffocated by dog hair];
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

And we do still need to make those regular weekly [daily now, really] sales, so please share all of the links. We really do need this to be a better month than what we've had so far this year.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2025; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.           

#ThrowbackThursday: The Red Flame of Life and Love

Photo copyright Aji, 2025; all rights reserved.

It's #TBT at The NDN Silver Blog, with a #ThrowbackThursday work that dates back only to September, but that seems somehow perfect for this day. It's a baby bracelet set with old natural coral, made for a friend's grandson and a reminder on this day of our obligations to future generations, to nurture and maintain the red flame of life and love in our hearts, and in theirs.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. This work 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.  Last year and this have been nightmares of catastrophic repairs and other astronomical costs, and the damage has been incalculable. We now need to bring in multiple sales each and every week to break even and make sure that basics are covered.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2025; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.        

Sometimes the shot frames itself.

Photo copyright Aji, 2025; all rights reserved.

Sometimes the shot frames itself.

Glad the day's almost done. This one is another marker, the eighth anniversary of the second time I almost died. Eight years ago tonight, I was stuck in the hospital, awaiting tests the following day and a transfer to an Albuquerque hospital . . . because they were still convinced it was my heart. That was a loooooong ambulance ride, and I had way too much time to think about all I would lose if I didn't survive it.

But my heart was not only okay, but in great shape. This was something else [although also deadly], and it has gone on intermittently ever since, and to this day, the medical profession has not solved it [and doesn't care]. I'm pretty sure I have, but if I'm right, there's nothing I can do about it.

Just like the rest of my complex of conditions. I thought the last two days were rough, especially yesterday, wrangling a terrified 76-pound dog. Nothing compared to how terrible everything feels today. Pain levels off the charts, meds not even touching them, fatigue so bad you can't even think. I did manage to get the turkey breast in the brine and in the big fridge. Not much else in that regard. Might do the pie tomorrow; might only be a pumpkin tart. Might not even be that much; we'll see.

In the meantime, this is our drop-dead point: the biggest sales weekend of the year, and we have GOT to bring in several if we're going to make it. After this god-awful year, we literally need to make a sale a day now, on average, and we're nowhere near that. The last two years have all but killed us financially, and I need to get us caught up to make it through the end of the year. Whatever else, we [which means I] have got to change this trajectory, and fast; we're almost out of year. To that end, links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here [priority is the thermal bottle; and rugs! finally getting around to trying to replace the ones ruined two winters ago when our leachfield collapsed and flooded everything, and these are inexpensive];
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

And we do still need to make those regular weekly [daily now, really] sales, so please share all of the links. We really do need this to be a better month than what we've had so far this year.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2025; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.           

The Crimson Flame of a Cold-Weather Sun

Photo copyright Aji, 2025; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a matched trio of eminently traditional works, manifest as a celestial fire and the atmospheric flames and sunsparks it produces in the newly wintry air. It's a necklace and two pairs of earrings, all centered around a matched set of cabochons of fiery spiny oyster shell, all of them embodying the power and medicine of the crimson flame of a cold-weather sun.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. Last year and this have been nightmares of catastrophic repairs and other astronomical costs, and the damage has been incalculable. We now need to bring in multiple sales each and every week to break even and make sure that basics are covered.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2025; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.        

It's been a day, *again*.

Photo copyright Aji, 2025; all rights reserved.

Remnant fog, a little snow, and the ever-present contrails sucking all the moisture out of the sky.

It's been a day, again, and I am beat. I cannot keep to this pace; it's going to kill me.

Today was Stormy's vet visit. The good news is that she got to see our actual vet, the owner of the practice instead of a duty vet, and he said no need for labs; she must have torqued her hip running, and it pinched a nerve temporarily. She's moving well enough now that all he did was give us a small supply of pain meds to be used only as needed, and right now, she clearly doesn't need them. And then he only charged us for the meds, just shy of $18; didn't even charge us for the office visit. So that's one big financial worry [and even bigger Stormy worry] off my shoulders.

But everything else remains. And there are never enough hours in the day, and never enough time to chase sales within those hours, which I have GOT to do. Because after this god-awful year, we need to make a sale a day now, on average, and we're nowhere near that. The last two years have all but killed us financially, and I need to get us caught up to make it through the end of the year. Whatever else, we [which means I] have got to change this trajectory, and fast; we're almost out of year. To that end, links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here [priority is the thermal bottle; and rugs! finally getting around to trying to replace the ones ruined two winters ago when our leachfield collapsed and flooded everything, and these are inexpensive];
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

And we do still need to make those regular weekly [daily now, really] sales, so please share all of the links. We really do need this to be a better month than what we've had so far this year.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2025; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.           

Red Willow Spirit: Fall's Crimson Flames Call Winter Home

Photo copyright Wings, 2025;
all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's an edition of Red Willow Spirit for the fires of fall at November's end, for those we should have, those lost to us now, and those we might regain. It's three related images from just over five years ago linked by two perhaps unexpectedly apt works of wearable art, reminders, all, that fall's crimson flames call winter home to us.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. Last year and this have been nightmares of catastrophic repairs and other astronomical costs, and the damage has been incalculable. We now need to bring in multiple sales each and every week to break even and make sure that basics are covered.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2025; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.           

We can relate.

Photo copyright Aji, 2025; all rights reserved.

That cloud looks like some kind of sky being, pointing at . . . what? southeast-ish. Looks mad about something. Probably about the climate damage done here. 

We can relate.

Today was one of those days where we couldn't put the errands off [because holiday week] so I'm only just now getting to sit down to my own work. Again. And this has to be the last for the week, because we're running out of time. As I said yesterday, we're both still working at everything — flat-out, full-bore, choose your metaphor, it's all the same. Never enough hours in the day, and never enough time to chase sales within those hours, which I have GOT to do.

Because after this god-awful year, we need to make a sale a day now, on average, and we're nowhere near that. The last two years have all but killed us financially, and I need to get us caught up to make it through the end of the year. Whatever else, we [which means I] have got to change this trajectory, and fast; we're almost out of year. To that end, links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here [priority is the rice cooker, which I use multiple times a week and which died on me a week ago; and rugs! finally getting around to trying to replace the ones ruined two winters ago when our leachfield collapsed and flooded everything, and these are inexpensive];
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

And we do still need to make those regular weekly [daily now, really] sales, so please share all of the links. We really do need this to be a better month than what we've had so far this year.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2025; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.           

Monday Photo Meditation: The Last Red Leaf

Photo copyright Wings, 2025;
all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a Monday Photo Meditation for a week that is supposed to herald the winter holiday season, and for moments both melancholy and hopeful at once. It's an image from just over five years ago, one that Wings captured of the leaves of our larger fire maple earlier in the season, a reminder that the last red leaf to fall is a sign of winter to come, in a place where snowy weather is the greatest gift we could receive.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. Last year and this have been nightmares of catastrophic repairs and other astronomical costs, and the damage has been incalculable. We now need to bring in multiple sales each and every week to break even and make sure that basics are covered.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2025; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.          

Actual snow!

Photo copyright Aji, 2025; all rights reserved.

Yes! Actual snow! On the ground, even.

Of course, it's half-gone now, but it appears that there might actually be more on the way this evening. We can hope.

In the meantime, we're both still working at everything — flat-out, full-bore, choose your metaphor, it's all the same. Never enough hours in the day, and never enough time to chase sales within those hours, which I have GOT to do.

Because after this god-awful year, we need to make a sale a day now, on average, and we're nowhere near that. The last two years have all but killed us financially, and I need to get us caught up to make it through the end of the year. Whatever else, we [which means I] have got to change this trajectory, and fast; we're almost out of year. To that end, links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here [rugs! finally getting around to trying to replace the ones ruined two winters ago when our leachfield collapsed and flooded everything, and these are inexpensive];
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

And we do still need to make those regular weekly [daily now, really] sales, so please share all of the links. We really do need this to be a better month than what we've had so far this year.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2025; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.           

A Season of Red Suns Rising

Photo copyright Aji, 2025; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's an all-new work by Wings, completed only last week and glowing like the fire in these fall and winter dawn skies. It's a cuff bracelet, classically slender and set with a quartet of flame-hued cabochons, an embodiment of this, a season of red suns rising, reminding us to give thanks and to tend the fires in our hearts and spirits.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. Last year and this have been nightmares of catastrophic repairs and other astronomical costs, and the damage has been incalculable. We now need to bring in multiple sales each and every week to break even and make sure that basics are covered.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2025; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.        

Hard to believe.

Photo copyright Ai, 2025; all rights reserved.

Look at that flawless blue sky. Hard to believe we're supposed to get snow tomorrow.

Especially since it's over 60 degrees.

But that's the forecast, and the clouds are already forming low to the west.  Snow if it gets cold enough, otherwise rain, and we need the former much more than the latter now.

We need rain in the metaphorical sense, though, in any and every form at this point.

Yesterday was murder on my joints, and I'm not going anywhere this weekend. Besides, I have to get caught up as much as possible, because after that, I won't have a choice; post office and vet are both going to be mandatory. And the vet visit will wipe me out for the rest of next week, wrangling a nearly 80-pound dog who is terrified by going to the vet. I still haven't recovered from the last round two weeks ago. It sucks, but that's what my life is, and it's not going to get better, only worse, as this progresses. 

But health problems notwithstanding, I still have to make sales, and I have to bring in a hell of a lot more now than we've managed the rest of the year. I did get his four new items added the other day, here, here, here, and here. Did not get the fifth posted; but the photos are already out there, and it's already sold, as well as a special order based on it. But I have got to sell a lot more than that, and a lot more routinely, because this sales drought is killing us, and there is absolutely no way that I can pay all the things I have to pay without making multiple sales this week [and next, and the next, and the next].

Because after this god-awful year, we need to make a sale a day now, on average, and we're nowhere near that. The last two years have all but killed us financially, and I need to get us caught up to make it through the end of the year. Whatever else, we [which means I] have got to change this trajectory, and fast. To that end, links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here [rugs! finally getting around to trying to replace the ones ruined two winters ago when our leachfield collapsed and flooded everything, and these are inexpensive];
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

And we do still need to make those regular weekly [daily now, really] sales, so please share all of the links. We really do need this to be a better month than what we've had so far this year.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2025; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.           

The Haunting Dance of the Last of the Light

Photo copyright Aji, 2025; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a pair of works for the late-day gifts of late-autumn skies, silvered arcs where a flowering radiance meets luminous night. It's a pair of slender, stackable bracelets wrought with beautiful freehand detailing, both perfect embodiments of the haunting dance of the last of the light.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. Last year and this have been nightmares of catastrophic repairs and other astronomical costs, and the damage has been incalculable. We now need to bring in multiple sales each and every week to break even and make sure that basics are covered.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2025; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.        

Finally.

Photo copyright Aji, 2025; all rights reserved.

Finally, some measurable snow.

On the peaks, that is. Nothing like that down here, only a slight rime of slushy white that was gone before daylight.

It's been a day, which is why I'm only getting to my own work now. It also involved errands, which means standing in lines and walking around a grocery store [long overdue for grocery shopping], and that in turn means that I will be useless all weekend, because I can't do that anymore without excruciating pain. 

So I won't be going anywhere for two days. After that, I won't have a choice; post office and vet are both going to be mandatory. And the vet visit will wipe me out for the rest of next week, wrangling a nearly 80-pound dog who is terrified by the vet. It sucks, but that's what my life is, and it's not going to get better, only worse, as this progresses. 

But health problems notwithstanding, I still have to make sales, and I have to bring in a hell of a lot more now than we've managed the rest of the year. I did get his four new items added the other day, here, here, here, and here. Did not get the fifth posted; but the photos are already out there, and it's already sold, as well as a special order based on it. But I have got to sell a lot more than that, and a lot more routinely, because this sales drought is killing us, and there is absolutely no way that I can pay all the things I have to pay without making multiple sales this week [and next, and the next, and the next].

Because after this god-awful year, we need to make a sale a day now, on average, and we're nowhere near that. The last two years have all but killed us financially, and I need to get us caught up to make it through the end of the year. Whatever else, we [which means I] have got to change this trajectory, and fast. To that end, links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here [rugs! finally getting around to trying to replace the ones ruined two winters ago when our leachfield collapsed and flooded everything, and these are inexpensive];
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

And we do still need to make those regular weekly [daily now, really] sales, so please share all of the links. We really do need this to be a better month than what we've had so far this year.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2025; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.           

Friday Feature: Finding Winter Medicine In Following the Sun

Photo copyright Aji, 2025; all rights reserved.

It's our Friday Feature at The NDN Silver Blog, with a masterwork by any measure, a cuff big and bold, spare and elegant, manifest in an old style using multiple traditional silversmithing techniques. It's also a personal favorite, one of extraordinary symmetry and beauty, and one to remind us of the importance of finding winter medicine in following the sun.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. Last year and this have been nightmares of catastrophic repairs and other astronomical costs, and the damage has been incalculable. We now need to bring in multiple sales each and every week to break even and make sure that basics are covered.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2025; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.        

Big flakes.

Photo copyright Aji, 2025; all rights reserved.

Big flakes. [That applies in more than one sense lately, and I seem to be the one always having to clean up after it.]

Mostly gone already, though, I think; just a light flurry now, with rain beneath it.

I'm beat. I can't do much of anything right now, and there's so much that I have GOT to do anyway. I'm also tired of . . . well, everything right now.

What a terrible year. It's not improving at the end, either.

And nothing matters, not my health, not anything, if I don't bring in a hell of a lot more sales now. I've got to bring in a lot more sales to make up for this terrible year between now and then. I did get his four new items added the other day, here, here, here, and here. Did not get the fifth posted; but the photos are already out there, and it's already sold, as well as a special order based on it. But I have got to sell a lot more than that, and a lot more routinely, because this sales drought is killing us, and there is absolutely no way that I can pay all the things I have to pay without making multiple sales this week [and next, and the next, and the next].

Because after this god-awful year, we need to make a sale a day now, on average, and we're nowhere near that. The last two years have all but killed us financially, and I need to get us caught up to make it through the end of the year. Whatever else, we [which means I] have got to change this trajectory, and fast. To that end, links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here [rugs! finally getting around to trying to replace the ones ruined two winters ago when our leachfield collapsed and flooded everything, and these are inexpensive];
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

And we do still need to make those regular weekly [daily now, really] sales, so please share all of the links. We really do need this to be a better month than what we've had so far this year.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2025; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.           

#TBT: First Snow and Flowering Light

Photo copyright Wings, 2025;
all rights reserved.

It's #ThrowbackThursday at The NDN Silver Blog, with a #TBT featured work that dates back at least to 2006, and possibly to 2005. It's a classic solid silver cuff wrought in vintage style with extraordinary, labor-intensive freehand work, an embodiment of our current conditions here of first snow and flowering light.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. This work 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.  Last year and this have been nightmares of catastrophic repairs and other astronomical costs, and the damage has been incalculable. We now need to bring in multiple sales each and every week to break even and make sure that basics are covered.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2025; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.        

Aerodynamics.

Photo copyright Aji, 2025; all rights reserved.

All day long, my shots have been getting photobombed by birds. Click on the photo to enlarge it, and you'll see the piñon jay on the right: a perfect specimen of aerodynamics. We also got some rain this morning. [but still no snow], so there's that.

Also, Stormy is demonstrably better. After getting no response yesterday, I took matters into my own hands. I used to do our animals' medical stuff all the time, but we've been lucky enough not to need it much in recent years. Anyway, some traditional stuff last night; this morning, soupy rice with a little canned [meat] dog food and a little kibble mixed in, and after that, 5 mg of pred. She ate most of her breakfast, she swallowed her meds, and she's got her appetite and interest in things back. Still a little arthritic-appearing when she sits down, still a little gimpy on her hind legs when she gets up from sleeping. otherwise? Full weight, evenly distributed, on both hind legs, steady gait, no tremor. Did talk to them today finally, and we agreed on monitoring for the next few days and taking her in early in the week for blood labs just to make sure.

I'm glad that it's next week. My fatigue levels are way beyond toxic. I was so wiped out last night that I fell asleep around 12:30, O2 on, and woke up at 6 AM with the cannula still in place. Around 2 AM, Wings noticed a light on in the studio and went out to shut it off, and normally all he has to do is get out of bed and that's it; I'm wide awake, because the pain doesn't let me sleep and the slightest noise or motion is enough. He managed to rattle around getting dressed, go downstairs, go outside with the big flashlight and with the dogs making a racket, come back, shut the heavy downstairs door, rattle around the kitchen fixing something to eat, and come back up . . . and I never woke up.  It's a literal first-ever for me, but it's also indicative of how far beyond my limits I've had to push myself lately.

I've got to stop that. I can't, of course, at least not until the end of the year. If then. I've got to bring in a lot more sales to make up for this terrible year between now and then. I did get his four new items added the other day, here, here, here, and here. Did not get the fifth posted; but the photos are already out there, and it's already sold, as well as a special order based on it. But I have got to sell a lot more than that, and a lot more routinely, because this sales drought is killing us, and there is absolutely no way that I can pay all the things I have to pay without making multiple sales this week [and next, and the next, and the next].

Because after this god-awful year, we need to make a sale a day now, on average, and we're nowhere near that. The last two years have all but killed us financially, and I need to get us caught up to make it through the end of the year. Whatever else, we [which means I] have got to change this trajectory, and fast. To that end, links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here [rugs! finally getting around to trying to replace the ones ruined two winters ago when our leachfield collapsed and flooded everything, and these are inexpensive];
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

And we do still need to make those regular weekly [daily now, really] sales, so please share all of the links. We really do need this to be a better month than what we've had so far this year.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2025; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.