A lot of haze.

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

That was this morning; we have green cropping up on all sides, but a lot of haze, too. There wasn't any wind yet then, which means this is smoke drifting in from somewhere.

Tomorrow's a no-burn day [which should've been the case today, too], but we're also supposed to get rain, which would be welcome. Also a faint possibility or more on Friday, and then a decent, measurable chance of snow and rain over the weekend. Of course, it won't be as warm, but we need the moisture; these winds have already dried the earth out pretty badly. 

Of course, that's not all the damage they do. I will take any kind of weather conditions but wind; it makes my joints and connective tissues flare worse than any other phenomenon. And today was one of those days filled with appointments and errands [and another $400 cash out the door, so thank all that's holy we had made a sale — dentist, pharmacy, and the grocery run I've been putting off for a month, all combined].

But we still need to keep making sales consistently in this already-terrible year. Normally, the lack of them in April wouldn't bother me so much, since everyone else is dealing with tax nonsense too, and I could reasonably depend on making it up in the weeks to come, but this year? When we have had so many other demands on us for money and for help, enough to wipe us out completely? If things don't pick up consistently very, very soon, we won't make it through this year. And the other demands on me are just as relentless [the ones that don't, directly, anyway, have to do explicitly with money]; there is no help for any of it, and I am at my wits' end over the latter ones especially.

As thought that weren't enough, my Patreon is still down by more than $700 a month over last year, and as our most consistent source of income, that is what pays our monthly bills like utilities and groceries and gas and so forth. It's not going to be enough even for that, never mind the taxes and everything else. Somehow, I have to bring in sales. If you're in the market, now would be a really, REALLY good time. I posted four new pairs of earrings a few nights ago, here, all at lower price points than his usual, and three new all-silver cuffs, here. And last night, I got the new naja [it's extraordinary] posted and sent viral, and it matches an existing cuff! and you can find them here and here. And as always, all the regular links are listed below, with sales, as always, being the most important:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (we'll always need the dog treats for the monsters, and Amazon and Lowe's cards [the Lowe's cards are probably going to have to go on a new fridge, so I'm hoarding them]); 
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

After such a grim 2023, and with this year starting off MUCH worse, we really need to get 2024 moving onto a better footing, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2024; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.                       

A Budding Glow

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's one of Wings's newest works, a cuff that shares its name with that which lends its own to people and place, manifest as light through red willows at day's end. It's a reflection, too, on the quality of that light, a budding glow that brings our whole warming world alive once more.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. We're now a third of the way through this no-longer-new calendar year and facing complications and costs, some carried over from the end of last year, some all new, that have completely wiped us out. We need to make consistent sales urgently, so shares are very much needed and much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2024; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.     

And again, it's only Tuesday.

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

Pear tree about to blossom. Technically, the blossoms are there, and the leaves, too; they're just still mostly furled together. They'll probably really begin to open up tomorrow. This happened at sunrise today; the other thing that happened is that the lilac bushes began to bud, deep purple. They likely won't flower for another week or two yet, but it's on the way.

Late again, because ::gestures around at the mess everything in the world is right now::. This week has been so fraught already, and there's so much ahead of us that I'm not looking forward to. And again, it's only Tuesday. It seems like it should be one or the other:  Either the last three days should've been less overflowing with stress and nonsense, or the rest of the week should be. But no; apparently it's got to be an all-week thing.

Again.

Meanwhile, we're just trying to survive. We're not quite four full months into this year, and it's already killing us. That's not an exaggeration; it's already become a health issue.  Speaking of things that are gigantic, I knew the leachfield would be destructively expensive, and it was; same for the taxes, and they are, and there are a majority of payments still ahead of us, and no means to pay them, since as of yesterday, we hadn't had a single sale in over a month [yesterday, we made two sales plus one commission, so that particular drought, while nowhere near broken, has been alleviated momentarily]. Normally, that wouldn't bother me so much, since everyone else is dealing with tax nonsense in April, but this year? When we have had so many other demands on us for money and for help, enough to wipe us out completely? If things don't pick up very, very soon, we won't make it through this year. And the other demands on me are just as relentless [the ones that don't, directly, anyway, have to do explicitly with money]; there is no help for any of it, and I am at my wits' end.

My Patreon is still down by more than $700 a month over last year, and as our most consistent source of income, that is what pays our monthly bills like utilities and groceries and gas and so forth. It's not going to be enough even for that, never mind the taxes and everything else. Somehow, I have to bring in sales. If you're in the market, now would be a really, REALLY good time. I posted four new pairs of earrings a few nights ago, here, all at lower price points than his usual, and three new all-silver cuffs, here. Tonight, I hope, I'll have the new naja [it's extraordinary] posted and sent viral, and it matches an existing cuff! so look for that. And as always, all the regular links are listed below, with sales, as always, being the most important:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here ( we'll always need the dog treats for the monsters, and Amazon and Lowe's cards [the Lowe's cards are probably going to have to go on a new fridge, so I'm hoarding them]); 
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

After such a grim 2023, and with this year starting off MUCH worse, we really need to get 2024 moving onto a better footing, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2024; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.                       

Red Willow Spirit: A Leafing Resilience

Photo copyright Wings, 2024; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's an edition of Red Willow Spirit for these days when spring first truly comes into its own, medicine in new leaf and flower. It's four images linked by three new works of wearable art, all of them manifest in a leafing resilience, a strength and certainty of spirit, that the worlds needs from us now.

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're now a third of the way through this no-longer-new calendar year and facing complications and costs, some carried over from the end of last year, some all new, that have completely wiped us out. We need to make consistent sales urgently, so shares are very much needed and much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2024; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.      

Gigantic.

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

It's dandelion season.  These are alpine dandelions here, the only ones that are indigenous; they're a bit larger, and they stand a bit higher, than ordinary dandelions. These, though? These are gigantic. I noticed this last year, too; with all the climatic changes this land is undergoing, one thing that's absolutely thriving are these. They're here a month early, already exploding in size and number, and they've been lasting well into the winter months, too.

Someone should study them, figure out what it is about them that's managing to handle this drought and climate collapse so well.

But colonial populations consider them "just a weed," and thus unworthy of bothering.

First ladybugs yesterday; first bullsnake today, although I didn't see him, Wings did. He's welcome, too, especially given that his primary diet [deer mice] is a major vector here for deadly diseases. Unfortunately, in the news is word that flies, common house flies, are apparently a vector for avian flu; I also know of two separate incidents of a cat and a dog locally showing up with what could be symptoms of it. Given that no one here can be bothered to mitigate COVID in the slightest, I guarantee you nobody's going to test them for that. Even though it's been in this state for at least a month already, and they've had to cull every bird at a hatchery down by Portales already. Fatal in 100% of cases of cats and dogs; in 50% of humans. And still y'all's president hasn't said so much as a word about it, so maybe you best get on that.

Meanwhile, we're just trying to survive. We're not quite four full months into this year, and it's already killing us. That's not an exaggeration; it's already become a health issue.  Speaking of things that are gigantic, I knew the leachfield would be destructively expensive, and it was; same for the taxes, and they are, and there are a majority of payments still ahead of us, and no means to pay them, since as of yesterday, we hadn't had a single sale in over a month [today, we've had one sale and one commission, so that particular drought, while nowhere near broken, has been alleviated momentarily]. Normally, that wouldn't bother me so much, since everyone else is dealing with tax nonsense in April, but this year? When we have had so many other demands on us for money and for help, enough to wipe us out completely? If things don't pick up very, very soon, we won't make it through this year. And the other demands on me are just as relentless [the ones that don't, directly, anyway, have to do explicitly with money]; there is no help for any of it, and I am at my wits' end.

My Patreon is still down by more than $700 a month over last year, and as our most consistent source of income, that is what pays our monthly bills like utilities and groceries and gas and so forth. It's not going to be enough even fo that, never mind the taxes and everything else. Somehow, I have to bring in sales. If you're in the market, now would be a really, REALLY good time. I posted four new pairs of earrings a few nights ago, here, all at lower price points than his usual, and three new all-silver cuffs, here. Presumably the naja in process I showed here the other day will be available soon, too. And as always, all the regular links are listed below, with sales, as always, being the most important:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here ( we'll always need the dog treats for the monsters, and Amazon and Lowe's cards [the Lowe's cards are probably going to have to go on a new fridge, so I'm hoarding them]); 
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

After such a grim 2023, and with this year starting off MUCH worse, we really need to get 2024 moving onto a better footing, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2024; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.                      

Monday Photo Meditation: An Expanding Breath

Photo copyright Wings, 2024; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a Monday Photo Meditation for this trickster season whose greater compensation is that it is also a season of firsts. It's a contemplation of the gifts those first provide and the example that they offer us, of the value of an expanding breath to re-energize and strengthen us for the days and the work ahead.

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're now a third of the way through this no-longer-new calendar year and facing complications and costs, some carried over from the end of last year, some all new, that have completely wiped us out. We need to make consistent sales urgently, so shares are very much needed and much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2024; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.     

A terrible month.

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

Haze everywhere this morning. Not enough wind to kick up any dust [yet], so that leaves smoke. There's still a pall above the horizon to the west, so presumably there's a fire that way — and still nothing reported for NM, so possibly in CO or UT, or even in AZ, carried up here on the winds.

April here is a terrible month for so very many, many reasons, and now there's always the threat of wildfire added to the wind and the ongoing record drought.

We're not quite four full months into this year, and it's already killing us. That's not an exaggeration; it's already become a health issue.  I knew the leachfield would be destructively expensive, and it was; same for the taxes, and they are, and there are a majority of payments still ahead of us, and no means to pay them, since we haven't had a single sale in over a month. Normally, that wouldn't bother me so much, since everyone else is dealing with tax nonsense in April, but this year? When we have had so many other demands on us for money and for help, enough to wipe us out completely? If things don't pick up very, very soon, we won't make it through this year. And the other demands on me are just as relentless [the ones that don't, directly, anyway, have to do explicitly with money]; there is no help for any of it, and I am at my wits' end.

My Patreon is still down by more than $700 a month over last year, and as our most consistent source of income, that is what pays our monthly bills like utilities and groceries and gas and so forth. It's not going to be enough even fo that, never mind the taxes and everything else. Somehow, I have to bring in sales. If you're in the market, now would be a really, REALLY good time. I posted four new pairs of earrings a few nights ago, here, all at lower price points than his usual, and three new all-silver cuffs, here. Presumably the naja in process I showed here the other day will be available soon, too. And as always, all the regular links are listed below, with sales, as always, being the most important:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here ( we'll always need the dog treats for the monsters, and Amazon and Lowe's cards [the Lowe's cards are probably going to have to go on a new fridge, so I'm hoarding them]); 
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

After such a grim 2023, and with this year starting off MUCH worse, we really need to get 2024 moving onto a better footing, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2024; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.