Camouflage

Photo copyright Aji, 2016; all rights reserved.

He was barely visible at that distance, a tiny gray silhouette against the rising sun, easily mistaken for a misshapen bit of wood at the top of the post.

Camouflage.




All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2016; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Indigenous Arts: The Fire Within

Photo copyright Wings, 2016; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's this week's entry in our series on Indigenous Arts, with a continuation of the month's look at Native heritage and history. Today, we take a slightly different approach, with one focused on the intersections of our peoples with colonial violence, and the fires needed to ensure our survival, including the fire within.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. This time, the images are largely only illustrative, but as always, the photos are available for purchase in any of the usual three formats. The two silverwork pieces remain available for purchase; simply inquire via the site's Contact form. And, also as always, sales are much needed, so shares of the site links are much appreciated.



All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2016; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Massive weather, interior framework, and racing the clock. New match coming Friday. Shares needed.

Photo copyright Wings, 2016; all rights reserved.

It's been pouring off and on since last night. Right now, it's torrential, and it's been so dry that the water has nowhere to go: We have rivers running along the land right outside. It's down nearly to freezing now, and this is only the leading edge of a truly massive storm system. If the current pattern holds, it'll become snow and ice overnight, and the roads will be an absolutely mess tomorrow.

The guys were only able to do exterior work briefly this morning (during a lull between passing storm cells). It's too dangerous for them to be up on the scaffolds in bad weather. So for most of the day, they began blocking out the framework on the upstairs interior. What you see there is the master bath in the foreground, and further back at the right is the closet of the master bedroom. Once again, the local hardware store/lumberyard sent a bunch of defective lumber, so they're going to have to return a lot of it tomorrow, because we are absolutely not paying for warped wood. There are times when some folks make it really, really hard to keep business local. [Also, this local practice of closing on Mondays by some businesses makes work really difficult, something that stymied another task today that I really, really needed to get done. I'm now pushed back several days as a result, and I needed to be done with it and have this off my plate by Wednesday morning.]

Anyway. We both got absolutely soaked while running errands, and doing chores when we got home. Not what we need, since we're both still sick, but it is what it is. Wings is, fortunately, resting now, and I'm hoping I can get a jump on at least a little of my work for tomorrow, which promises to be even busier than my average Tuesday (and it's invariably my worst day of the week). The electric space heaters are going, the leaks in this place are already there but at least they're minimal for now, and the dogs are indoors and drying out.

Tomorrow, if all goes as planned, we'll be getting hold of Jason to make a relatively hefty payment toward the balance due on the windows and doors, thanks to the match from last week and a sale. From here on, it's going to be a constant push, because we're nearly out of time and we have to raise a lot in a very short period of time to get the house closed in and the septic system installed before real winter grinds everything to a halt.

So. We need continued daily shares of our YouCaring page via the widgets provided, especially the widget code at lower right that produces this running tally:

We also need equally consistent shares of Wings's site, since this is normally the season that keeps us alive through the long harsh winter months. This year, in addition to everyday expenses, it's also funding the construction, and we've got a lot yet to fund. Folks who are thinking about commissioning holiday gifts should also get hold of me now, so that I can make sure that your order gets into the queue on Wings's workbench in time to ensure design, execution, and delivery for the holidays.

Many thanks to everyone for helping us get this far. We have a lot of small stages built into this one so-called "final" stage, and I have to push us through them come rain or snow, hell or high water. On Friday, we'll have a new anonymous match to announce, too. Please help us push through to the end of this process by continuing to share the links daily.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2016; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Miracle

Photo copyright Aji, 2016; all rights reserved.

A mark has been made. We may not see it, but somewhere, someday, someone who needs to see it will.

And it will be enough.

That is its own gift.

That is a miracle.

We are a miracle.




All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2016; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Monday Photo Meditation: Sacred Fire

Photo copyright Wings, 2016; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a photo meditation for a day in which the need for fire, as our peoples understand it, has become all too terribly obvious. The point today is not photo sales, but the links at the bottom of the post.

I should note that these links, and this process, are the only ones that Wings and I endorse. We always and only give to actual Native efforts. This fight was begun by the people of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, and they are the front lines of the resistance. They should not be erased from either the discussion or the donation process, and if you want to do the most good, you can accomplish that by giving directly to them through their own link. Obviously, shares of today's post for the purpose of spreading the word from the perspective of Native solidarity are much appreciated.



All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2016; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Winter storm only hours away. Holidays officially not far behind. Shares needed.

I finally had a chance today to notice that the guys got most of the flashing on the front vigas on Thursday. No opportunity for photos, though. 

Or, frankly, for much else. We've both been overdoing it, and it caught up to me today in a big way. Wings's own recovery is stalled, and he'll be calling the clinic tomorrow. (They better hope they don't talk to me; I found out they never did the labs, as though bugs wear flashing neon signs that say, Hi! I'm just a virus, and you don't have to worry about pneumonia! This is what passes for health care.)

A lot to do this week, a short week to begin with, and now with a storm supposed to hit tonight and run into Tuesday. No time for much else (or energy, either), so tonight it's just the links:

Our YouCaring page, via the widgets provided, especially the code from the box at lower right that gives you the running tally above.

Wings's site, which pays the bills and funds construction both (and he's got four new pairs of earrings up, with more new work coming probably mid-week or so). 

If you're contemplating holiday commissions, Thanksgiving week is that point where people really need to get them in to ensure time for design, execution, and delivery, so get hold of me via the Contact form so that I can ensure that you get what you really want, and get it into Wings's queue on his workbench.

Many thanks to everyone for your help thus far. I'm sorry I'm so continually scattered, but it's going to be that way probably for the remainder of the year. I've got to push us through this final set of multiple-stages-in-one, get the house closed in and habitable, and get us safely into it, while we're in the middle of our busiest time of year (and do it, apparently, with the bug from hell that won't die). I'm behind, but I'll get to everything eventually, just slowly. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2016; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Act.

Photo copyright Aji, 2016; all rights reserved. 

There will be time for everything, but we must learn to recognize, to know: When.

When to act.



All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2016; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.