Five-Minute Break

Photo copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved.

I'm beat. We've both been running flat-out all week again, and it's not over yet.

Best I can do is my buddy, the Chokecherry Bird. He's a perfect little model, willing to pose all the time.

[Sigh] maybe he can convince the out-of-season scrub jays to sit still long enough for me to grab my camera.

I'm out; another long, long day ahead tomorrow.






All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

#TBT: Blazing a Trail Across the Sky

Photo copyright Wings, 2015; all rights reserved.

It's #TBT at The NDN Silver Blog, and today, it's a return to our high-desert skies of some 20 years ago. It's one of Wings's film photos, and it's every bit as spectacular as the twilight sky it captures.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. The photo may be purchased in any of the three usual formats; inquire via the Contact form. And, of course, shares are much needed and welcomed.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Unsettled Weather (Of All Sorts)

Photo copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved.

That was yesterday evening, to the southwest.

It's indicative of the weather here: near 70 one day; rain and sleet and slush and snow the next, then back to warm temps that seem cold because the winds are too damn high.

The rest of life here seems to be taking its cues from the weather.

Dream Horse, Medicine Horse

Photo copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's the first in this week's Wednesday/Weekend series featuring Wings's own work. A couple of days ago, I promised you a masterpiece for today, and I kept my word. It's amazing.

The post itself is here. Wings's main page is here. Shares from the links at his site are, as always, much needed and appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Y'All Need to See This — UPDATED

Keep RTing this video. This needs national attention. pic.twitter.com/ctf233HBwI
— FriendlyBlackHottie (@HollyGoNightly1) April 29, 2015

And then you need to do something about it.

UPDATE: The young man in the video who was summarily disappeared by Baltimore police has been identified. his name is #JosephKent, and he is reportedly a student at Morgan State University. No information has been made available as to his whereabouts or his condition. Please post his name as a hashtag on social media to keep the pressure on for information (and to keep him safe, one hopes).

No, I don't have much in the way of concrete suggestions for big action. But there is no "two sides" bullshit about this; the side that deserves your support is that of the Black residents of the city of Baltimore. What appears on that video is more suited to an openly fascist regime than what we expect (not get, but expect) in this country.

There is one thing you can do, though. The beginning of it's here, in this Storify. We have to take control of the words. I will have much, much, MUCH more to say on this in the days to come, but this is where we start, because it's what I could do right now.

Because the violence is on one side here, and it's not the Black folks in Baltimore inflicting it.






Except where otherwise noted, all content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Video and Tweet as credited above. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Jewels and Gems: Pictured Rocks and Painted Deserts

Photo copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's this week's entry in our ongoing Tuesday Jewels and Gems series. Today, it's Nature's own artwork, in the colors and shapes of the desert itself. Of the three silverwork pieces shown, only the last is available for purchase (but it's a beautiful one, and modestly priced relative to much of Wings's work). There are, however, several images of cabs like the one shown above, all of which will eventually be made into new pieces. If you see one that speaks to you, let me know.

The post itself is here. Wings's main page is here. And, of course, shares are much needed and appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Pain, Loss, Hope, and the Chokecherry Birds

Photo copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved.

What a day.

I awakened to ice everywhere this morning. Last night's snow switched to rain shortly after it started, and the predicted 8-12" storm didn't even materialize on the peaks.

By ten o'clock, the temperature had risen so fast that the ice was already water.

It seems a perfect metaphor for the wild swings that have punctuated this day.

I looked at the news even before I made coffee. The death toll in Nepal was grim then; now, it's over 4,300 and climbing.

By the end of the day, when I was finally indoors, for the most part, I watched in horror as events unfolded, as they say, in Baltimore — "events" that were no such thing, but were, rather, wholly engineered by paramilitarized police spoiling for an excuse to engage in uncontrolled mob behavior against a Black community that has been suffocating beneath their combat boots for generations and more. And I see, in allegedly liberal spaces, white people continuing to prattle on at me about how terrible it all is, echoing the unadulterated racism of Wolf Blitzer, et al. placing the blame once again on the victims in service of white demands for a hollow and soulless "respectability."

I have wept several times today.

I have also had two moments of joy.

One occurred even as I was watching Baltimore's suffering. I received a message from a young woman. Her late father was a Native artist; we have one of his pieces for sale. Googling his name, she came across one of my posts; the price was out of range, but that's remediable, and we rapidly reached an agreement. The details aren't important to anyone else, other than to say that it was clear to all of us that this was meant to be. We are in the process of sending that piece of art home to be reunited with the artist's daughter, in his memory.

The second occurred earlier in the day, and it was perhaps a harbinger of what was to come, of the connection made: The chokecherry birds, those who break the food open with their beaks, the evening grosbeaks returned en masse. The young parents have already had their first brood, it seems, and they are old enough to fly. They brought the whole family to see us, with a stop at the feeder and in the aspens just outside the window. The one above stayed there for 20 minutes or more, fully aware that I was walking around below, photographing him, talking softly to him, and he obligingly turned this way and that, posing and hopping and dancing and flitting, giving me nearly 50 shots (some bad, some ordinary, and a few very, very clear). 

They say that yellow is the color of hope. It's appeared twice to me today, once in the warm golden color of a piece of art, and once in the yellow-orange feathers of a new family of visitors.

I hope it's a sign, not just for us, but for everyone.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Monday Photo Meditation: At Trail's End

Photo copyright Wings, 2015; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a photo meditation for our four-legged family members, the large ones. It's also a preview of sorts, of what's to come on Wednesday. No details now, but trust me when I say it's going to be amazing.

The post itself is here. Wings's main page is here. Photos may, of course, be purchased in any of the usual three ways; just use the Contact form to inquire. And, as always, shares are much needed and appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

An April Christmas Tree

Photo copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved.

Yes. Complete with crystal ornaments.

After wearing shorts for muck duty yesterday, we've had rain, sleet, hail, slush, and snow all day, intermixed with sun.We also have a winter storm warning in effect until 6:00 PM tomorrow, with a possibility of 8-12 inches. here, not on the peaks.

Or possibly nothing.

Which explains why my joints are shrieking.

Even with the pretty Christmas trees.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Navigational Guides

Photo copyright Wings, 2015; all rights reserved.

Today at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a return of sorts to our regularly scheduled programming. Not entirely, though: At the end of the regular post, there's a postscript with links to ShelterBox, whose staff are en route to Nepal to provide aid to those in the disaster zone. We hope people will share, and, of course, give if they can.

Today's post is here; yesterday's, which includes a description of why we have chosen to support ShelterBox, is here. Wings's main is here. And as always, shares are much needed and appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner. 

Comic Relief

Photo copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved.

He follows me around, hoping to score some more kibble. 

When I feed the dogs, I put their dishes atop a huge chest-high wooden box where Wings keeps big tools and supplies; it's like having a table to work on. This morning, I'd put the dogs' food in their dishes, then stepped away for a moment to put She-Wolf's supplements away. I turned around to see this guy perched on the edge of Raven's dish, horking up a huge beakful of kibble mixed with wet food.

Now, it's not as though I don't leave them a little kibble every day, right on top of the box. After all, they were here first, and they're not exactly wild; they've sort of domesticated us to their needs. And it's not as though I hadn't already placed their little pile atop the box, too.

But no. He has to swipe the wet stuff.

So I yell at him from the studio door, advising him to stay in his lane and eat his own, not Raven's. I head back to the box to get their dishes, pick them up, put them down on the ground in front of each dog.

I straighten up, and lo and behold, atop the box is a big clump of kibble mixed with wet food, right where Raven's dish had been only seconds before, and Magpie sitting atop the post throwing shade.

He brought it back.

Yes, Raven got it. But I gave the magpie family a little extra tonight.






All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

When Lines Move and Spaces Shift: Help for Nepal

Photo copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's something much different from what I had planned for today. There's the image you see above, but no sales information, and no links to it, either. Instead, the only links in the post go to ShelterBox, and we're asking our family, friends, and clients to consider donating to boxes being sent to Nepal and environs to save the lives of our brothers and sisters there. It's an ancient country and an ancient culture, one that shares more than a few similarities with our own, and they're suffering not only massive personal losses, but losses of their collective soul.

Again, that post is here, and it includes links to information about ShelterBox and to its direct donation page. Shares of this particular post will be very much appreciated; today, it's about saving lives.

Chi miigwech and ta'a, from both of us.






All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

From Home

Photo copyright Aji, 2015;
all rights reserved.

This is our tree. One of them, actually; there's another to be placed in the ground in the coming days.

Wings planted this one yesterday.

Someday, we'll have the bark. Eventually, maybe the mushrooms.

For now, I have something from home.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Friday Feature: On Lines of Smoke, In Spaces of Spirit

Photo copyright Aji, 2015;
all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a Friday Feature in keeping with recent motifs. It also highlights a pair of modestly-priced items by a young artist carrying on the line of a big family legacy.

The post itself is here. Wings's main page is here. Shares much needed and appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Horse Day

Photo copyright Wings, 2015; all rights reserved. 

Almost the whole day spent on the horses.

Again.

Starting with a truncated morning, because a local guy was delivering some grass hay. It's fully colic season now, and our alfalfa, pure and unadulterated, is too rich. More money, of course.

Then, Cree.

Wings trimmed all four hooves, and by "trimmed," I mean took half an inch and more off each one. A foundered horse needs low heels and short toes, and we gave her both today. Not that we haven't been, but she's Cushingoid now, and horses with Cushing's have the same tendency that humans with certain endocrine disorders do: rapidly-growing coats that lead to hirsutism, and by the same hormonal imbalance, rapidly-growing hooves, too. 

And with founder, you get inflammation in the hoof that leads to swelling within the hoof capsule, which leads to abscesses, which in turn creates more inflammation of the laminae and the inner hoof wall, which in turn worsens the founder, and so the whole cycle just keeps going, and going, and going . . . . 

So. Take off as much of the extraneous overgrowth as possible, open up the inflamed areas to let the abscesses drain, and shorten the toes and lower the heels drastically. Think about what happens to a woman wearing high heels: all the weight goes forward on the foot, so the ball of her foot and her toes bear the brunt of it. Same with horses with founder. Lower the heel; reduce the weight on the front. So lowered heels on the foundered forefeet, with greatly shortened toes to force the weight further back, and lowered heels on the rear to keep her weight shifting further back below her body.

Why, yes, I could write a book about it. Why do you ask?

Then painting her frogs and soles with tea-tree oil (prevents thrush), then putting the soak boots on her and loading them with apple-cider vinegar and Epsom salts (drawing formula to drain the abscesses). 

Then muck duty. For four shit factories.

Plus all the usual (cooking, cleaning, feeding the troops), plus my "day job." Meanwhile, Wings has studio work to get done, plus soil prep, plus he planted a tree for me, one from home. Another in a few days, when the ground softens enough. Tomorrow, it's Shade's turn with the hoof knives and nippers and file.

No, these are not the kind of things that other people can do for us. That's not remotely my point. But they go a long way toward showing what our days are like. It's not always the horses, of course; it's often a lot of other things.

Because this? This is an ordinary day.






All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

#ThrowbackThursday: Between Shift and Shadow

Photo copyright Wings, 2015; all rights reserved.

It's #ThrowbackThursday at The NDN Silver Blog, and today, we continue exploring the themes of the week, this time explicitly through the lens of Wings's camera. It's one of his iconic Pueblo shots, captured at a beautiful series of thresholds of all sorts.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. The photo is, of course, available for purchase in any of the usual three formats; simply inquire via the Contact form. And shares from the links on his site are of course much needed and appreciated.






All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

An ancient cottonwood . . . .

Photo copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved.

A distant visitor.

A more distant storm.

Spring.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Hawk Envisions the World

Photo copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's the masterpiece I promised yesterday, and (also as promised) one with a direct relationship to yesterday's Jewels and Gems entry. It also continues with our themes of lines and the spaces between of thresholds and spirits that transcend them in ways that serve as examples for us all.

The post itself is here. Wings's main page is here. And, as always, shares from the links at Wings's site are much needed and appreciated. 






All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

#IHateSpring, V. EleventyBillion

Photo copyright Wings, 2015; all rights reserved.

Half an hour ago, I stuck She-Wolf with a needle. Twice. For the second time today. She gets the small jab in the lip with a lancet at least twice daily, plus the larger one in the fleshy folds over her withers with the syringe. Every day for nearly a year and a half now.

She's beat the projections on blindness for at least 15 months. And she understands that the sharp quick pain is a small price to pay for feeling normal again. She makes it easy, except on my knees.

The two above? Notsomuch. It's not their fault, of course; half-ton animals whose feet bear their weight nearly constantly present their own set of problems, albeit honestly and somewhat organically.

But these two have gone past that point now.

It's Spring, which is the absolute worst season for horse health, period. It's colic season, which has thus far been thankfully mostly absent [knocks on wood superstitiously]. But for laminitic horses, it's also flare season, and it's unbelievably brutal, especially here. The temperature can easily fluctuate fifty degrees over the course of a day; hell, it can drop twenty or thirty degrees in a matter of minutes when the wind rises against the thunderheads. And colic issues and laminitis are also intertwined, as are Cushing's and diabetes and a whole host of inflammatory conditions and disorders.

Cree is having an extremely difficult time. 

It's not the first, nor the worst, but it's rough. On all of us. Now Shade is having difficulties, too. Not, frankly, a huge surprise; she turns 13 next month, and she has her mother's genes. But it's one more worrisome problem, and one more collection of laborious tasks. Wings spent a good chunk of today working on their feet (this time with admittedly minimal help from me, since I had to be doing other things). But it's a long-haul process at the best of times, and right now, there's no end in sight.

It's not the burden on us that's at issue. Let's just be clear on that. Yeah, it's tough, and tiring. Okay, exhausting, if I'm being honest. But we've handled it before, and we'll handle it again. No, the issue is their pain.

So, whatever ya got? Our big girls need it.

Thanks.






All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Jewels and Gems: Through Other Eyes

Photo copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's this week's edition of our Tuesday Jewels and Gems series. Today, it's stones by way of animal spirits, or at least their views of the world. There's also the promised reference to the girl whose photo I posted here earlier today.

The post itself is here. Wings's main page is here. As always, shares from the site's own links are much needed and appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Heads Up.

Photo copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved.

I'm posting my other totem, for lack of a better word, here because I don't want that other thing at the top all day. Today's pointer will be late, because today's post at Wings's site will be late: I have to get some photos for it, and the camera's on the charger, plus I have time-sensitive stuff to take care of early today. Take my word for it that the girl in the photo is relevant to the topic.

I'll see y'all late today, most likely. When I do get today's piece up, it'll be worth the wait, although you won't get to see the really amazing work until tomorrow.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

"Pretty"

Photo copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved.

Small children are Nature's perfect narcissists. Their entire existence is centered in their senses, including feeling — emotional as well as tactile. Fully-realized humans they may be, but they are not, as some would have one believe, merely adults in miniature. They haven't developed the capacity for most interrelationships, except insofar as responding to the effects of those interpersonal connections on their own bodies and lives.

It's a pure form of narcissism, one come by entirely honestly.

She understands this with benefit of hindsight, and not a little formal education. She understands that much of childhood existence is something to which blame cannot be logically (or morally) assigned, yet that doesn't unravel the multifarious strands of guilt that have braided themselves over and around and through her soul.

Monday Photo Meditation: Between the Lines

Photo copyright Wings, 2015; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a photo meditation on a phenomenon close to my heart and soul. This time, it's seen through the twinned lenses of Wings's camera and culture. 

The post itself is here. Wings's main page is here. As always, photos are available for purchase in any of the three usual formats; simply use the Contact form to inquire. And, as always, shares are much needed and appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Trickster

Photo copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved.

Somebody wanted his picture taken.

I take that to mean that he also wanted y'all to see him.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Holding Sacred Space

Photo copyright Wings, 2015; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's the final entry in this edition of our Wednesday/Weekend series featuring Wings's current work. [Actually, it's been posted for half a day already, but I haven't had time until now to put up the pointer here.] It continues the symbolic themes and color schemes of the previous two entries: Pueblo blues and sacred spaces.

The post itself is here. Wings's main page is here. Shares much needed and much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

The Light

Photo copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved.

Amidst tiny flurries.

The camera settings are unaltered; that was the actual light.

Yes, I know there are metaphors here, but I'm too tired.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Living In the Real Sacred Space

Photo copyright Wings, 2015; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's our Saturday entry for this edition of our Wednesday/Weekend series highlighting some of Wings's best current work. Today, it's a piece that coordinates both in style and in spirit with his latest masterwork that we brought you on Wednesday. [Sorry, everyone; Wednesday's featured piece has already sold, but today's and the one we'll be bringing you tomorrow are still available.]

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. And, as always, shares from the links at his site are very much needed and appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Redheads

Photo copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved.

Well, yellow doesn't seem to handle the cold so well.

Fifteen degrees this morning.

The poppy froze, and the grosbeaks didn't return — at least not within sight, although I'm positive I heard them off and on throughout the day.

The redheads seem to be a little hardier.

Either way, someone brought us some blessings today. So no complaints, even with the cold.

We've both spent the entire week running, flat out. No break in sight for the weekend, either, snow or no. Wings has new work in the works, and I need to be able to pick up as much of the labor around here as possible so he can get the studio time he needs.

And I'm still slogging through this recent episode. The one advantage of this pace is that it means I don't have much time to dwell on it. I'm sure plenty of people are ready to tell me that's unhealthy, but they can save it for someone else. I've got shit to do, and survival is at a premium.

I'll have all the usual posts at Wings's site over the weekend, and maybe something new here. Or not.

And maybe another shot or two of our redheads.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Friday Feature: Earth and Water, Air and Fire

Photo copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved.

Now up at The NDN Silver Blog, this week's Friday Feature continues the themes (and colors) of the week, this time through the lens of another Native artist. It's also the final pair like this, and they're $100 off!

The post itself is here. Wings's main page is here. And, as always, shares from the links at his site are much needed and much appreciated.





All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Yellow-Dressed Guests

Photo copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved.

Last Saturday, a yellow poppy.

Today, a pair of yellow birds: a mated pair of young evening grosbeaks.

Supposedly, they're indigenous to the area. In all these years, we've never seen one here.

They discovered the feeder this morning, and they may as well have been in bird heaven. They arrived with a clan of red and tan house finches, seemingly treating them as extended relatives. A little skittish, but not too afraid; they left and returned, left and returned. When I finished my morning practice of burning cedar and walked back, they'd migrated to the topmost branches of one of the aspens nearest the house, chirping and singing in clear solo bell-like tones. They didn't twitch so much as a tailfeather when I passed beneath them.

I think they'll be back tomorrow.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

#TBT: Sheltering Skies and Sacred Spaces

Photo copyright Wings, 2015;
all rights reserved.

It's #TBT at The NDN Silver Blog, and today, it's a continuation of recent spiritual themes and color schemes: sacred spaces and pueblo blues. Not the kind of blues that keep company with sadness or melancholy; these are blessings, undisguised.

The post itself is here. Wings's main page is here. The photo is available for purchase in any of the usual three ways; simply inquire via the site's Contact form. And, as always, shares are much needed and much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Four Years Now

Photo copyright Wings, 2015; all rights reserved.

Four years ago last night (10:42 PM, to be exact).

This photo was taken not long before, when she was already ill past the point of no return. In the photo, though, she felt fine; she was simply snoozing, tuckered out after a long day of playing. It all happened fast, fortunately, and Dom really had only one day that was not so great, her last. I sat with her on the floor when it was clear it was imminent, and she went to sleep on my lap one final time. Her burial was actually four years ago this morning; it was bitterly cold that night, and too late to dig in the dark. So I put a little cedar on her resting place this morning.

She learned that she loved riding the ATV with Wings; she'd stretch out on the back, or on the fender in front. He had a dream early yesterday morning in which he was riding the ATV (we use it for muck duty, hauling heavy stuff, plowing snow, etc.), and in his dream, we had a cat that was demanding to be taken for a ride. Apparently Dom decided to pay him a visit, even if she took feline form. She was always a little lithe and cat-like, anyway.

Hard to believe it's been four years already. It's also a time of year when the death markers, for humans and animals alike, come thick and fast for us. Another has just been added. There'll be at least one in each of the next three months, too. 

For now, though, I'm just going to remember this little girl we love so much, simultaneously fragile and fierce, as she was when Wings took that photo: Happy, comfortable, content.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.