A squall.

Photo copyright Aji, 2026; all rights reserved.

That was this evening. They said rain around 7 PM, and we didn't believe them. We got it, though. It was a squall, most wind than rain, but it produced some spectacular clouds, and for the last evening of Pride, a beautiful double rainbow.

It's been a day, and every single thing has taken several times as long as it should have, and I'm late on everything as a result, on my heaviest work day. The guys weren't here today [one had an appointment], which was why I was hoping to get some tings done, but nope. And they'll be here bright and early tomorrow, so it all starts right back up again.

So far behind, and my pain levels are off the charts. That stupid rotator cuff is back out of place, as is the muscle attached to it, and the pain is excruciating. My hips are the same, and my thoracic spine. The permanently-dislocated joints in my feet are making standing and walking an absolute nightmare, and I don't have time for any of it, but I also don't have a choice.

I've also got to bring in enough sales to cover all this repair work, and I can't do that if I can't actually focus on my work. I've actually got to bring in a lot more sales than I expected us to need at this particular moment. And we can still use help with shares, testimonials, wishlist stuff I can't get to yet, etc. To that end, links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here [the current remaining priorities are the LaminaSaver for Miika, and the Farnam fly spray, which is the very last item on the list as it displays here, despite being "highest" priority, so go figure];
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

And we do still need to make those regular weekly sales, so please share all of the links. We really do need to get this year onto a better footing than the last two, a year that, so far, has been very grim.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2026; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Red Willow Spirit: The Elemental Blue of a Stormy Summer Sky

Photo copyright Wings, 2026; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's an edition of Red Willow Spirit for all the power and beauty of midsummer here, for its gifts, and for its medicine. It's two images from some 19 years ago, linked by a single work of wearable art that suits them beautifully, all reminding us of the power of the elemental blue of a stormy summer sky.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. We still have to ensure that we break even on the year, and that begins with a minimum of one sale a week, without fail.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2026; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Mad doves.

Photo copyright Aji, 2026; all rights reserved.

 

You've heard of mad dogs and Englishmen, but you've never heard of mad doves. Welp. We got 'em.

Actually, they're just squinting into the sun and haze and wind, trying to keep their balance, but it makes them look furious. Of course, we get avian fury routinely here, birds squabbling over seed or suet, fledglings demanding to be fed, and this evening, a screaming hawk protecting us all from a threat.  If you're a subscriber, you'll find out what that means later.

Today's been a zoo. I've gotten a lot done and yet none of it's ever enough. tomorrow will be more of the same. And in truth, I've got to bring in a lot more sales than I expected us to need at this particular moment. And we can still use help with shares, testimonials, wishlist stuff I can't get to yet, etc. To that end, links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here [the current remaining priorities are the LaminaSaver for Miika, and the Farnam fly spray, which is the very last item on the list as it displays here, despite being "highest" priority, so go figure];
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

And we do still need to make those regular weekly sales, so please share all of the links. We really do need to get this year onto a better footing than the last two, a year that, so far, has been very grim.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2026; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Monday Photo Meditation: A Gathering Storm In an Indigo Sky

Photo copyright Wings, 2026; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a Monday Photo Meditation for these hot, dry, windy days that feel nothing like summer should be here now. It's an image that dates back 19 years, if memory serves, to July of 2007 and a panoramic shot of a gathering storm in an indigo sky.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. We still have to ensure that we break even on the year, and that begins with a minimum of one sale a week, without fail.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2026; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Not clouds.

Photo copyright Aji, 2026; all rights reserved..

That heavy white band behind the trees? Not clouds.

Nope; that's the smoke plume from the latest area wildfire, which has absolutely exploded this weekend thanks to these trickster winds.

And it's been a lousy day thanks to those winds; there is no weather phenomenon that jacks my symptoms into the stratosphere as thoroughly as high winds. I've spent the entire feeling half-dead, trying to slog through all my work and failing miserably because of it. I've only begun to feel even marginally functional in the past quarter-hour or so, and that's only because the wind is finally dying down [but not gone completely].

And I'm so dreading tomorrow, when the pace starts up again and none of my time will be my own because everybody else will expect me to be available at any given moment for . . . what? whatever. It doesn't matter; it never matters. My work only pays the bills, but it never matters enough for anyone to show it enough respect to let me do it. And in truth, I've got to bring in a lot more sales than I expected us to need at this particular moment. And we can still use help with shares, testimonials, wishlist stuff I can't get to yet, etc. To that end, links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here [the current remaining priorities are the LaminaSaver for Miika, and the Farnam fly spray, which is the very last item on the list as it displays here, despite being "highest" priority, so go figure];
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

And we do still need to make those regular weekly sales, so please share all of the links. We really do need to get this year onto a better footing than the last two, a year that, so far, has been very grim.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2026; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

 

Blue Skies and Wind, Petals and Light

Photo copyright Aji, 2026; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a work for the arrival of full summer and of the wildflowers we are missing now, like the anemones they call daughters of the wind. It's a pair of earrings hand-milled in a floral pattern, red brass the perfect gently glowing backdrop for sponge coral, together manifest as summer's blue skies and wind, petals and light.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. We still have to ensure that we break even on the year, and that begins with a minimum of one sale a week, without fail.

 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2026; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Very different view.

Photo copyright Aji, 2026; all rights reserved.

Very different view compared to this time yesterday. No rain today, and one in the forecast, either. Unfortunately, what we do have is lots of wind, high winds, and plenty of dust and dirt and pollen.

And smoke. 

You can't see the smoke in that view, but it's behind us to the west. There's a new fire start, apparently, near Hopewell Lake. With winds like these, that's a very bad thing. And tomorrow, of course, is supposed to be more of the same. There's a complete burn ban in the count right now, but people always think they should be exempt. And no, it's not going to have been lightning, not there and not today.The vast majority of wildfires here are human-caused. 

Apparently Utah is fast burning to a cinder; I read that they have had 355 separate wildfire starts this fire season alone, counting through last night. Compared to them, we're lucky, I guess.

Which is good, because neither of us has the time for dealing with staving one off now. I mean, there's never a good time for that, but some are less so than others, and this falls into the "less so" category by a good mile. I've got too much to get caught up, and so does he, and he's got new stuff in the works, too. And in truth, I've got to bring in a lot more sales than I expected us to need at this particular moment. And we can still use help with shares, testimonials, wishlist stuff I can't get to yet, etc. To that end, links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here [the current remaining priorities are the LaminaSaver for Miika, and the Farnam fly spray, which is the very last item on the list as it displays here, despite being "highest" priority, so go figure];
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

And we do still need to make those regular weekly sales, so please share all of the links. We really do need to get this year onto a better footing than the last two, a year that, so far, has been very grim.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2026; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.