No snow, but today it's winter. The crew is pushing hard on interior stuff while we await a warm-up, but time's short. Sales/shares (including registries) badly needed.

Photo copyright Aji, 2017; all rights reserved.

So, apparently no snow today, either; just heavy gray clouds, harsh winds, and bitter cold. That's supposed to change by week's end, with an other unseasonable warm-up, but they're going to be shorter and iffier from here on in. And, of course, we could just was easily see snow here yet tonight; the forecast and radar maps are all over the damn place.

The deck is now done, save for the spray treatment of the wood. That will have to wait until the aforementioned warm-up. And hoppering the color coat/sanding/priming/painting the exterior trim will have to wait for that, so some aspects of this are in a brief holding pattern. We're still waiting on the remainder of the tile to finish off the downstairs bath, so that can't be scheduled, either. Today, Tony and Reynaldo hung the two downstairs small doors (coat closet and pantry, the latter of which is shown above). They still have to be trimmed out; the pantry also needs shelves and the coat closet needs a shelf and a rod, but at least the big gaping holes are covered for now.

What are in the works are two very, very big things: creating a base cabinet of sorts to hold the kitchen sink, so that it can be hooked up (and they'll add a foundation for the dishwasher while they're at it); and doing the interior stairs. And that will most likely be it until after the 18th, but there is a ton of finish work that will need to be done thereafter. Also, Tony and Reynaldo will spend the winter building our kitchen cabinets in Tony's workshop (at a higher rate, natch, because it's more detail work than the other stuff, but it will still be a better deal than buying them commercially, not least because it won't be all one big hit). I'm constantly astonished by just how much there is still to do. I also cannot wait to have a working kitchen sink and range, so that I can finally freaking cook in here instead of having to go over to the tin can. That thing is hellishly cold now, and just absolutely miserable to be in, even for a few moments at a time, but it's all I can do right now. It's also horribly spooky at night.

For now, though, there's that "nowhere near done" part, combined with the now "less than three weeks" part and the "winter weather" part. More than half of this week's labor is covered (but nowhere near all, so I've had to do some creative shuffling, and now in addition to finding the cash for next week's labor costs, I have to bring in some more scratch before next week to cover what went to this week's). Sales are going to be crucial to finishing this over the next few weeks, but we won't turn away donations, either. We need funds for materials, for increasing the crew's hours (and potentially adding a man, if it comes to that). But the registries have suddenly also become particularly important. The most immediate needs are listed first, and the priorities are the end table (item #1), the lamps, and the pair of Loon Peak Newdale nightstands (that last pair simply because they're almost out of stock already. The next big thing will be my office space, and yes, I really, REALLY want (and need) to get that done ASAP, but that stuff is pricier, and for now, I just want to finish off the downstairs as much as possible so that when folks are here in three weeks, it's comfortable for them. But shout-out and much gratitude to the kind soul who took a bunch of things off the list last night, and gave a boost to a bunch of others that are now in the crowdfunding category. And as always, all of them can be crowdfunded, so kicking in $10 or $20 on an item is extraordinarily useful; a few donations that size to a single item, and it's fulfilled and on its way. All of this, of course, means that we still need shares, daily. So here are all the links:

• Wings's direct PayPal link;
• Wings's site, for sales;
• Lowe's cards (the physical version) via our Amazon wishlist;
• Lowe's e-cards (delivered via e-mail) here; and
• Home Depot cards via the company site. The e-version using my e-mail address is great; I take the tablet to the store with me, and they scan it off the screen.
• Our Amazon wishlist generally.
• Wayfair gift cards, to replenish all the furnishings that the RV has destroyed in one way or another.
• Partial registry #1, from Bed, Bath and Beyond. It's not complete; what's left on it now are doormats and a few other miscellaneous items, although there are more that need to be added.
• Partial registry #2, from Wayfair. Also not complete, but I've finally added a bunch of items to it, mostly now furniture items. But about Wayfair, and VERY IMPORTANT: They make it possible to crowdfund each item. So if you'd like to help, but the prices are too much for one person? You can kick in 20 bucks, or ten, or five, on any one item; many small donations can add up to one item. Even the backordered/out-of-stock items can be crowdfunded in advance. Right now, the most pressing items are the ones outlined above. I've just added the furnishings for the rest of the upstairs (i.e., the guest room and my writing/office space, which also includes the desk and chair further down the list, and the last three rugs on the list, two of which are back-ordered). The chaise and daybed are for the two upstairs rooms: the latter for the guest room, the former for my office, which is where I will be spending most of my time, and my AI issues require working on a laptop with my legs outstretched, so that's why it's a pricier piece; it'll probably be the primary means to my role in our living. There will also be more items that fall into the badly-needed category (coffee/end tables and lamps, particularly), because the wiring and mold and lime and everything else in this toxic tin can has destroyed so much of what we used to have. I'm sickened by the amount of stuff we have to throw out (on top of the things that were simply ruined, such as the microwave fried by the wiring in this place).

Thank you all, once again, for everything you've done over the last 16 months to get us safe and keep me sane. We are both so thankful for each and every one of you who made it possible for us to sleep (and shower!) now, for the first time in seven years, in a safe and healthy (and warm!) place. I'm going to be mostly unavailable for very nearly anything for almost three weeks now, and it's all complicated by the cold weather and seven years of breathing toxic air. As I said the other night, I will miss everything under the sun, I will forget things, I will screw up things thought to be un-screw-up-able. That's just life with autoimmune disease anyway, and now it's severely exacerbated by all the rest of it. But we have a long way to go, and an absurd amount that needs to get done in three weeks, so please bear with me a while longer. The cold outside is a reminder that we have to get this done, and fast.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2017; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Red Willow Spirit: Spaces and Spirits Older Than Time

Photo copyright Wings, 2017; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's an edition of Red Willow Spirit for this final day of October. At this time of All Souls', when we honor those who have walked on, it's an exploration of place, of spaces and spirits older than time.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. It's all images today, and as always, Wings's photos are available for purchase in any of the usual three formats; simply inquire via the site's Contact form. Also as always, sales are very much needed (especially now, with snow due today after all and the crew pushing hard to beat bigger winter weather), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.



All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2017; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Deck basically done; fridge functional; range nearly so. Extra costs for the next 3 weeks. Sales/shares (registries included) badly needed.

Photo copyright Aji, 2017; all rights reserved.

Today began with chaos, but at least we have some progress to show for it. Nothing ever comes easy, of course.

That is now what the deck looks like up there; the railing is complete on all sides. It needs to be spray-treated, but that will have to wait until sometime after tomorrow, because it's too freaking cold right now. While it was bright and sunny this morning, we still had winter storm advisories; now that the clouds have moved in and the wind will cut you to the bone, they've dropped it to 20%, so who knows? It looks like snow, it feels like snow, it smells like snow, but what do I know?

At any rate, things began inauspiciously, down a man on the crew and me making my displeasure known, because three weeks. Apparently, reducing me to a point just an eyelash shy of tears had an effect, though (and it was not in the least faked; they literally had me at that point), because the guys moved much faster and more consistently all day long, with the result that the deck is now done save for the treating and one support post that the sawmill's had on order for 2 weeks and has not yet cut.

Photo copyright Aji, 2017;
all rights reserved.

Fridge and stove look like that now; can't deal with sink or dishwasher until the guys frame out a temporary support for them. The fridge had a problem, of course; the hose in the freezer is not long enough to reach the ice-maker that was designed specifically for this model, so it was an open question whether I'd have to fight with Home Depot, but so far, it's [slowly] making ice cubes. So we can at least keep food and insulin cold in here. The range is not yet useable; the sign and literature did not make it clear, but it needs an adapter to convert it from natural gas to propane, and didn't come with it, natch.  So that's another $150 + labor, and at least two more days lost. Oh, and the sink? The drain for it has been in at Lowe's in Santa Fe for more than a week, and it's a part that they neither ship nor deliver. They sent me an e-mail on Saturday reminding me to pick it up. Marcos was in Santa Fe this weekend, and he went in yesterday with his license and our release to get it. Much agitation and consultation and playing with the computer later, they flat-out lied to him and told him that 1) it was not in yet, and 2) would not be in until TODAY. Both of which IU have documentary proof were lies. So I fired off an e-mail to the national customer service folks, letting them know that the appropriate resolution to this would be to have the Santa Fe store, AT ITS OWN EXPENSE, overnight said drain to us here, because we've done a hell of a lot of business with them over the last year, we live 2.5 hours north on a rez in the mountains, it's cold and snow is on the way (it still was when I wrote that), and we cannot just get down there at any moment and certainly not today. We'll see, but they're going to correct it, because I'm not having them sell stuff out from under us and then tell us baldfaced lies so easily shown to be lies.

But, cold, snow, whatever, we do have this:

Photo copyright Aji, 2017; all rights reserved.

And we also have this, thanks to a dear friend family:

Photo copyright Aji, 2017;
all rights reserved.

Doesn't that look inviting? I'm still wandering around in a state of utter disbelief, even though we're nowhere near done, because this is just such a complete reversal from that cold, drafty, dusty, uninsulated, moldy, toxic tin can that I don't even know how to describe it.

Still, there's that "nowhere near done" part, combined with the "three weeks" part and the "snow" part. More than half of this week's labor is covered (but nowhere near all, so I have to bring in some more scratch in the next two days to cover that). Sales are going to be crucial to finishing this over the next few weeks, but we won't turn away donations, either. We need funds for materials, for increasing the crew's hours (and potentially adding a man, if it comes to that). But the registries have suddenly also become particularly important. The most immediate needs are listed first, and priority is the little Valencia end table (item #2), simply because it's nearly sold out already. Beyond that, the priorities are as follows, in no particular order: the remaining tables, the lamps, the white shelving unit for the downstairs bath, the round brown Rouseville Blue rug for the utility room. The next big thing will be my office space, and yes, I really, REALLY want (and need) to get that done ASAP, but that stuff is pricier, and for now, I just want to finish off the downstairs as much as possible so that when folks are here in three weeks, it's comfortable for them. And as always, they can be crowdfunded, so kicking in $10 or $20 on an item is extraordinarily useful; a few donations that size to a single item, and it's fulfilled and on its way. All of this, of course, means that we still need shares, daily. So here are all the links:

• Wings's direct PayPal link;
• Wings's site, for sales;
• Lowe's cards (the physical version) via our Amazon wishlist;
• Lowe's e-cards (delivered via e-mail) here; and
• Home Depot cards via the company site. The e-version using my e-mail address is great; I take the tablet to the store with me, and they scan it off the screen.
• Our Amazon wishlist generally.
• Wayfair gift cards, to replenish all the furnishings that the RV has destroyed in one way or another.
• Partial registry #1, from Bed, Bath and Beyond. It's not complete; what's on it so far are drapes for the upstairs, associated curtain rods, bath rugs for both bathrooms, and doormats and a few other miscellaneous items. Most important: hold-backs and drapes for upstairs.
• Partial registry #2, from Wayfair. Also not complete, but covers a number of the area rugs needed for the upstairs and some kitchen items. I've finally added a bunch of items to it, although nothing in the way of small tables or lamps or kitchen items beyond three basic things, because yesterday proved to be a time-suck of epic proportions, and today was more of the same. What I did get to is all of the rugs for the whole house, and a few basic furniture items. But about Wayfair, and VERY IMPORTANT: They make it possible to crowdfund each item. So if you'd like to help, but the prices are too much for one person? You can kick in 20 bucks, or ten, or five, on any one item; many small donations can add up to one item. Even the backordered/out-of-stock items can be crowdfunded in advance. Right now, the most pressing items are the ones outlined above. I've just added the furnishings for the rest of the upstairs (i.e., the guest room and my writing/office space, which also includes the desk and chair further down the list, and the last three rugs on the list, two of which are back-ordered). The chaise and daybed are for the two upstairs rooms: the latter for the guest room, the former for my office, which is where I will be spending most of my time, and my AI issues require working on a laptop with my legs outstretched, so that's why it's a pricier piece; it'll probably be the primary means to my role in our living. There will also be more items that fall into the badly-needed category (coffee/end tables and lamps, particularly), because the wiring and mold and lime and everything else in this toxic tin can has destroyed so much of what we used to have. I'm sickened by the amount of stuff we have to throw out (on top of the things that were simply ruined, such as the microwave fried by the wiring in this place).

Thank you all, once again, for everything you've done over the last 16 months to get us safe and keep me sane. We are both so thankful for each and every one of you who made it possible for us to sleep (and shower!) now, for the first time in seven years, in a safe and healthy (and warm!) place. But we have a long way to go, and the weather service is predicting another winter storm, complete with snow, for tomorrow evening, a reminder that we have to get this done, and fast.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2017; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Monday Photo Meditation: A Time for Old Ways

Photo copyright Wings, 2017; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a photo meditation on times and ways, places and spaces gone by and yet very much alive. It's a tribute to our forebears ways of doing and being, because this week of All Souls' is a time for old ways.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. As always, Wings's photos are available for purchase in any of the usual three formats; simply inquire via the site's Contact form. Also as always, sales are very much needed (especially now; we have to ramp up labor long and hard for the next three weeks), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.



All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2017; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Tomorrow begins three weeks of ungodly scheduling, with potentially more man-hours. We need sales and shares badly.

Photo copyright Aji, 2017; all rights reserved.

I have three weeks to push through an ungodly amount of change. Be warned: I will be mostly unavailable for just about any and every purpose. I am so overloaded at this point that I literally have no idea how I'm going to get through the next three weeks. Expect to see me only when you see me; expect to drop every single ball and a bunch of other stuff besides; expect me to forget everything up to and including my own name, and to screw up every single thing in the world. All this is hard enough with no deadlines and no winter weather breathing down my neck, but I have both of those; on top of it all, I have the constant chronic pain and fatigue that are, frankly, never going to go away so I wish people would stop asking, because they are what they are and there are no silver bullets.

Yeah, I'm cranky. I have to ride herd on the crew for three weeks straight, and no one's going to be especially happy (me least of all). But it's got to be done, because it's got to get done.

More than half of next week's labor is covered (but nowhere near all, so I have to bring in some more scratch in the next three days to cover that). Sales are going to be crucial to finishing this over the next few weeks, but we won't turn away donations, either. We need funds for materials, for increasing the crew's hours (and potentially adding a man, if it comes to that). But the registries have suddenly also become particularly important. The most immediate needs are listed first, although in no particular order: the tables, the lamps, the white shelving unit for the downstairs bath, the round brown Rouseville Blue rug for the utility room. The next big thing will be my office space, but that stuff is pricier, and for now, I just want to finish off the downstairs as much as possible so that when folks are here, it's comfortable for them. And as always, they can be crowdfunded, so kicking in $10 or $20 on an item is extraordinarily useful; a few donations that size to a single item, and it's fulfilled and on its way. All of this, of course, means that we still need shares, daily. So here are all the links:

• Wings's direct PayPal link;
• Wings's site, for sales;
• Lowe's cards (the physical version) via our Amazon wishlist;
• Lowe's e-cards (delivered via e-mail) here; and
• Home Depot cards via the company site. The e-version using my e-mail address is great; I take the tablet to the store with me, and they scan it off the screen.
• Our Amazon wishlist generally.
• Wayfair gift cards, to replenish all the furnishings that the RV has destroyed in one way or another.
• Partial registry #1, from Bed, Bath and Beyond. It's not complete; what's on it so far are drapes for the upstairs, associated curtain rods, bath rugs for both bathrooms, and doormats and a few other miscellaneous items. Most important: hold-backs and drapes for upstairs.
• Partial registry #2, from Wayfair. Also not complete, but covers a number of the area rugs needed for the upstairs and some kitchen items. I've finally added a bunch of items to it, although nothing in the way of small tables or lamps or kitchen items beyond three basic things, because yesterday proved to be a time-suck of epic proportions, and today was more of the same. What I did get to is all of the rugs for the whole house, and a few basic furniture items. But about Wayfair, and VERY IMPORTANT: They make it possible to crowdfund each item. So if you'd like to help, but the prices are too much for one person? You can kick in 20 bucks, or ten, or five, on any one item; many small donations can add up to one item. Even the backordered/out-of-stock items can be crowdfunded in advance. Right now, the most pressing items are the ones outlined above. I've just added the furnishings for the rest of the upstairs (i.e., the guest room and my writing/office space, which also includes the desk and chair further down the list, and the last three rugs on the list, two of which are back-ordered). The chaise and daybed are for the two upstairs rooms: the latter for the guest room, the former for my office, which is where I will be spending most of my time, and my AI issues require working on a laptop with my legs outstretched, so that's why it's a pricier piece; it'll probably be the primary means to my role in our living. There will also be more items that fall into the badly-needed category (coffee/end tables and lamps, particularly), because the wiring and mold and lime and everything else in this toxic tin can has destroyed so much of what we used to have. I'm sickened by the amount of stuff we have to throw out (on top of the things that were simply ruined, such as the microwave fried by the wiring in this place).

Thank you all, once again, for everything you've done over the last 16 months to get us safe and keep me sane. We are both so thankful for each and every one of you who made it possible for us to sleep (and shower!) now, for the first time in seven years, in a safe and healthy (and warm!) place. But we have a long way to go, and the weather service is predicting another winter storm, complete with snow, for tomorrow evening, a reminder that we have to get this done, and fast.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2017; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

We Are Earth, and We Are Light

Photo copyright Aji, 2017; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog it's a work especially suited to this day here, as we await a change in the weather and the departure of these final golden days. It's a reminder, too, in these days leading up to All Souls' that, like the seasons of the year, it is all one: We are earth, and we are light.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. And, as always, sales are very much needed (especially now, given that we may need to add crew hours to finish before the real weather hits), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.



All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2017; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Appliances! Not useable yet, but here at long last. Also, a lot to do this week, and a lot of expense. Sales/shares (including the registry) badly needed.

Photo copyright Aji, 2017; all rights reserved.

Today was both a gloriously huge step forward and a bit of a check on my ambitions. I got a stark reminder that, sleeping in a real bed in a real house with warmth and clean air or no, my body has limits. Big ones. Almost no sleep last night, and nothing to do with the environment, just what happens when my autoimmune conditions (and thus my pain levels) decide to spiral completely out of even minimal control. No big shocker there; I've been pushing it for months. But it meant that I was dragging today, and am absolutely wiped out tonight.

Still . . . APPLIANCES! Not that we can do anything with them yet. And as you can see, we did manage to get the little portable cart set up this morning, so we have one tiny surface. But hopefully tomorrow or the next day we can get the plumbers out to do all the hookups, and then we'll probably move Wings's ancient picnic-style table in temporarily to have some minimal counter space, and then the only thing I'll need to go back into the RV for is is the slow process of emptying it. Raven is on this rug at my feet;' She-Wolf is on the round rug in front of the big woodstove, which has a roaring fire in it; and Wings is upstairs resting after what has been, for him, a very long day also.

And it's still completely surreal.

But as I said last night, of course, we are not fully in here yet, and there's a huge amount to do before we can really say that we're truly living in it. Things like kitchen cabinets are months out yet, but we have to finish, at a minimum, the exterior, the shelves and closets, the stairs, and the kitchen sink/appliance set-up within the next three weeks. That's a lot in a very short period of time, and we have no choice but to find ways to push through it.

More than half of next week's labor is covered. Sales are going to be crucial to finishing this over the next few weeks, but we won't turn away donations, either. But the registries have suddenly become particularly important. The most immediate needs are listed first, although in no particular order: the tables, the lamps, the white shelving unit for the downstairs bath, the round brown Rouseville Blue rug for the utility room. The next big thing will be my office space, but that stuff is pricier, and for now, I just want to finish off the downstairs as much as possible so that when folks are here, it's comfortable for them. And as always, they can be crowdfunded, so kicking in $10 or $20 on an item is extraordinarily useful; a few donations that size to a single item, and it's fulfilled and on its way. All of this, of course, means that we still need shares, daily. So here are all the links:

• Wings's direct PayPal link;
• Wings's site, for sales;
• Lowe's cards (the physical version) via our Amazon wishlist;
• Lowe's e-cards (delivered via e-mail) here; and
• Home Depot cards via the company site. The e-version using my e-mail address is great; I take the tablet to the store with me, and they scan it off the screen.
• Our Amazon wishlist generally.
• Wayfair gift cards, to replenish all the furnishings that the RV has destroyed in one way or another.
• Partial registry #1, from Bed, Bath and Beyond. It's not complete; what's on it so far are drapes for the upstairs, associated curtain rods, bath rugs for both bathrooms, and doormats and a few other miscellaneous items. Most important: hold-backs and drapes for upstairs.
• Partial registry #2, from Wayfair. Also not complete, but covers a number of the area rugs needed for the upstairs and some kitchen items. I've finally added a bunch of items to it, although nothing in the way of small tables or lamps or kitchen items beyond three basic things, because yesterday proved to be a time-suck of epic proportions, and today was more of the same. What I did get to is all of the rugs for the whole house, and a few basic furniture items. But about Wayfair, and VERY IMPORTANT: They make it possible to crowdfund each item. So if you'd like to help, but the prices are too much for one person? You can kick in 20 bucks, or ten, or five, on any one item; many small donations can add up to one item. Even the backordered/out-of-stock items can be crowdfunded in advance. Right now, the most pressing items are the ones outlined above. I've just added the furnishings for the rest of the upstairs (i.e., the guest room and my writing/office space, which also includes the desk and chair further down the list, and the last three rugs on the list, two of which are back-ordered). The chaise and daybed are for the two upstairs rooms: the latter for the guest room, the former for my office, which is where I will be spending most of my time, and my AI issues require working on a laptop with my legs outstretched, so that's why it's a pricier piece; it'll probably be the primary means to my role in our living. There will also be more items that fall into the badly-needed category (coffee/end tables and lamps, particularly), because the wiring and mold and lime and everything else in this toxic tin can has destroyed so much of what we used to have. I'm sickened by the amount of stuff we have to throw out (on top of the things that were simply ruined, such as the microwave fried by the wiring in this place).

Thank you all, once again, for everything you've done over the last 16 months to get us safe and keep me sane. We are both so thankful for each and every one of you who made it possible for us to sleep (and shower!) now, for the first time in seven years, in a safe and healthy (and warm!) place. But we have a long way to go, and this night, at least, is going to be very, very cold again, a reminder that we have to get this done, and fast.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2017; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

The Light Within

Photo copyright Aji, 2017; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's one of Wings' most illuminating works, one that embodies prayer and ceremony and medicine simultaneously. It's a work that assumes the shape of the hoop even as it reminds us that, however broken or difficult the path, we may always seek the light within.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. And, as always, sales are very much needed (especially now; Monday begins a new labor push to beat the weather), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.



All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2017; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Match met, and more progress, but a HUGE amount to do in three weeks. Sales/shares (including the registry) badly needed.

Photo copyright Aji, 2017; all rights reserved.

No new photos from today, but that up there from yesterday is why I'm able to be typing this now. Yes, we put the router in my writing space, because eventually, once we can get it furnished, that will be where I spend most of my time and do most of my work. [And once there's a desk in there, the router and booster will go on it, and by then, the boxes of nails will be out of there.] Also no snow, except for traces on the peaks, just a very deep cold this morning. It warmed up quite a bit later in the day, but as soon as th3e sun starts to drop, the cold returns.

We unpacked the kitchen sink today, and it's sitting in the kitchen awaiting an install. The appliances are supposed to arrive tomorrow (except the range hood). We spent a lot of time today unpacking stuff and sorting through stuff, and it's a good thing, because once again this morning (as happened last year when the weather turned really cold), the front door popped out of place on the RV. Last year, after a couple of weeks of doing battle with it, we got it rigged to function, at least; this year, it's pretty obvious that it's done for. I have a big bag of stuff propped against it on the outside to keep it sorta mostly closed overnight.

Fortunately, we are not in it, even for dinner tonight. I just made soup and sandwiches and brought them over to the house, and we sat with our ancient and rickety tray tables in front of the TV, which I hooked up earlier today. And now, I have had a very hot shower and didn't even have to hurry through rinsing my hair; Wings has gone upstairs to take a nap; She-Wolf is on the dog bed by the stairs and Raven is on the rug at my feet; and I am on the couch with my legs stretched out in front of me, laptop on my lap, writing this with both a fire crackling behind me and college football on TV in front of me.

I never thought I'd ever be able to do this again.

And that is no exaggeration. You really can't imagine the despair, the sense of hopelessness, that has been a part of our every waking moment these last seven years. Because there was just simply no way. Except apparently, there is, and we're almost fully in. It's still completely surreal, this notion that we're living. in a. house.

But we are not fully in here yet, and there's a huge amount to do before we can really say that we're truly living in it. Things like kitchen cabinets are months out yet, but we have to finish, at a minimum, the exterior, the shelves and closets, the stairs, and the kitchen sink/appliance set-up within the next three weeks. That's a lot in a very short period of time, and we have no choice but to find ways to push through it.

We made last night's match, so more than half of next week's labor is covered. Sales are going to be crucial to finishing this over the next few weeks, but we won't turn away donations, either. But the registries have suddenly become particularly important. The most immediate needs are listed first, although in no particular order: the tables, the lamps, the rug for the entryway (it's that beige rectangular one with the turquoise branches here and there on it), the cabinet and shelves for the downstairs bath. And as always, they can be crowdfunded, so kicking in $10 or $20 on an item is extraordinarily useful; a few donations that sized to a single item, and it's fulfilled and on its way. All of this, of course, means that we still need shares, daily. So here are all the links:

• Wings's direct PayPal link;
• Wings's site, for sales;
• Lowe's cards (the physical version) via our Amazon wishlist;
• Lowe's e-cards (delivered via e-mail) here; and
• Home Depot cards via the company site. The e-version using my e-mail address is great; I take the tablet to the store with me, and they scan it off the screen.
• Our Amazon wishlist generally.
• Wayfair gift cards, to replenish all the furnishings that the RV has destroyed in one way or another.
• Partial registry #1, from Bed, Bath and Beyond. It's not complete; what's on it so far are drapes for the upstairs, associated curtain rods, bath rugs for both bathrooms, and doormats and a few other miscellaneous items. Most important: hold-backs and drapes for upstairs.
• Partial registry #2, from Wayfair. Also not complete, but covers a number of the area rugs needed for the upstairs and some kitchen items. I've finally added a bunch of items to it, although nothing in the way of small tables or lamps or kitchen items beyond three basic things, because yesterday proved to be a time-suck of epic proportions, and today was more of the same. What I did get to is all of the rugs for the whole house, and a few basic furniture items. But about Wayfair, and VERY IMPORTANT: They make it possible to crowdfund each item. So if you'd like to help, but the prices are too much for one person? You can kick in 20 bucks, or ten, or five, on any one item; many small donations can add up to one item. Even the backordered/out-of-stock items can be crowdfunded in advance. Right now, the most pressing items are the ones outlined above. I've just added the furnishings for the rest of the upstairs (i.e., the guest room and my writing/office space, which also includes the desk and chair further down the list, and the last three rugs on the list, two of which are back-ordered). The chaise and daybed are for the two upstairs rooms: the latter for the guest room, the former for my office, which is where I will be spending most of my time, and my AI issues require working on a laptop with my legs outstretched, so that's why it's a pricier piece; it'll probably be the primary means to my role in our living. There will also be more items that fall into the badly-needed category (coffee/end tables and lamps, particularly), because the wiring and mold and lime and everything else in this toxic tin can has destroyed so much of what we used to have. I'm sickened by the amount of stuff we have to throw out (on top of the things that were simply ruined, such as the microwave fried by the wiring in this place).

Thank you all, once again, for everything you've done over the last 16 months to get us safe and keep me sane. We are both so thankful for each and every one of you who made it possible for us to sleep (and shower!) now, for the first time in seven years, in a safe and healthy (and warm!) place. But we have a long way to go, and this night, at least, is going to be very, very cold again, a reminder that we have to get this done, and fast.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2017; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Friday Feature: Spirits That Walk In Dark and Light

Photo copyright Wings, 2017; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's our final Friday Feature for the month of October, in the days counting down to month's end and the days of All Souls'. During these days when the threshold between worlds narrows ever more, there are spirits that walk in dark and light, and then there are those that are, in their way, light itself.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. And, as always, sales are very much needed (especially now, with exterior work ramping up next week to beat winter's early arrival), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.



All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2017; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

We have Internet at the house! Also, there's a $500 match on offer. And a winter storm brewing outside. Shares/sales needed.

Photo copyright Aji, 2017; all rights reserved.

Know what that is?

That's our Internet! Yes, we have Internet access in the house now. A MUCH stronger signal, too, so the new equipment must be more powerful. It took some figuring out on their part when they showed up suddenly yesterday, because of the misinstall last year (of which the state inspector had made us aware on his surprise visit back in June, actually). At any rate, the two techs came up with a game plan, but they were missing at least one crucial piece of equipment, so they asked us what we thought about them coming back early this afternoon and doing it all at once. We preferred that, too, so it was settled. They made it an hour early this morning, and one of them told me they had been instructed to charge us by the hour, but because of what we'd had to put up with it, they had refused and were only charging us the single minimum flat rate of $60 + tax (i.e., the minimum for any fraction of one hour, even if it's five minutes).

I will be able to catch up on stuff in bed now, either at night or when I wake up in the morning. I can also sit on the couch, or the bancos, and do my work between wood fire and windows whenever I want. That is a gift of indescribable value.

But as I said last night, all this activity, especially with regard to scheduling and Internet transfers and so forth, means that everything's ramping up hard and fast now. And we're losing time rapidly; our first real winter storm is supposed to hit tonight, and while we may not get a lot of snow here (although the peaks should get quite a bit), we are slated for high winds and a massive drop in temperatures. The wind is already rising out there, and the temperatures have dropped significantly, so snow might be possible even here. We have to hurry now, and we that means raising enough scratch to keep the guys in the materials they need, and also to keep them paid. To that point, my beloved Ono has put up a diary for us tonight, so please go T&R and share it. There's also a $500 match on offer; if it gets made, that's $1,000 toward next week's labor, and it covers more than half of that, so it's significant.  

All of this also means that I have got to get my shit together with regard to the registries, because one thing we are absolutely going to need for any gathering that might have to be brought indoors, depending on the weather, is tables and lamps. So expect to see the tables added over the next day or so; some lamps are now on it, and they and the entry rug will be priorities. I'm going to try to add the tables tonight, so check back if you're so inclined. And as always, they can be crowdfunded, so kicking in $10 or $20 on an item is extraordinarily useful; a few donations that sized to a single item, and it's fulfilled and on its way.

All of this, of course, means that we still need shares, daily (and thank you to everyone who has fulfilled items off our registries). And don't forget, as I said: They can be crowdfunded! So here are all the links:

• Wings's direct PayPal link;
• Wings's site, for sales;
• Lowe's cards (the physical version) via our Amazon wishlist;
• Lowe's e-cards (delivered via e-mail) here; and
• Home Depot cards via the company site. The e-version using my e-mail address is great; I take the tablet to the store with me, and they scan it off the screen.
• Our Amazon wishlist generally.
• Wayfair gift cards, to replenish all the furnishings that the RV has destroyed in one way or another.
• Partial registry #1, from Bed, Bath and Beyond. It's not complete; what's on it so far are drapes for the upstairs, associated curtain rods, bath rugs for both bathrooms, and doormats and a few other miscellaneous items. Most important: hold-backs and drapes for upstairs.
• Partial registry #2, from Wayfair. Also not complete, but covers a number of the area rugs needed for the upstairs and some kitchen items. I've finally added a bunch of items to it, although nothing in the way of small tables or lamps or kitchen items beyond three basic things, because yesterday proved to be a time-suck of epic proportions, and today was more of the same. What I did get to is all of the rugs for the whole house, and a few basic furniture items. But about Wayfair, and VERY IMPORTANT: They make it possible to crowdfund each item. So if you'd like to help, but the prices are too much for one person? You can kick in 20 bucks, or ten, or five, on any one item; many small donations can add up to one item. Even the backordered/out-of-stock items can be crowdfunded in advance. Right now, the two most important items are probably the first four or five that show at the top of the list. I've just added the furnishings for the rest of the upstairs (i.e., the guest room and my writing/office space, which also includes the desk and chair further down the list, and the last three rugs on the list, two of which are back-ordered). The chaise and daybed are for the two upstairs rooms: the latter for the guest room, the former for my office, which is where I will be spending most of my time, and my AI issues require working on a laptop with my legs outstretched, so that's why it's a pricier piece; it'll probably be the primary means to my role in our living. There will also be more items that fall into the badly-needed category (coffee/end tables and lamps, particularly), because the wiring and mold and lime and everything else in this toxic tin can has destroyed so much of what we used to have. I'm sickened by the amount of stuff we have to throw out (on top of the things that were simply ruined, such as the microwave fried by the wiring in this place).

Thank you all, once again, for everything you've done over the last 16 months to get us safe and keep me sane. We are both so thankful for each and every one of you who made it possible for us to sleep (and shower!) now, for the first time in seven years, in a safe and healthy (and warm!) place. But we have a long way to go, and this night, at least, is going to be very, very cold again, a reminder that we have to get this done, and fast.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2017; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

#TBT: The Light That Leads to Winter

Photo copyright Wings, 2017; all rights reserved.

It's #ThrowbackThursday at The NDN Silver Blog, with a work from about eight years ago that wound up a gift by a third party for a friend facing her own cold and wintry circumstances. It was built around a rainbow moonstone, but in this instance, the light that leads to winter also led through it, a gift of our Grandmother's power and protection for our friend. 

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. This work sold in at the end of 2010, but if the style speaks to your spirit, simply inquire via the site's Contact form; Wings can create a version uniquely your own. And, as always, sales are very much needed (especially now; we have to push hard on the exterior over the next week, with the first real winter storm allegedly coming tonight), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2017; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Deck nearly done, plus 2 awesome deliveries. Winter storm for tomorrow night, with a lot ramping up now. Shares/sales very much needed.

Photo copyright Aji, 2017; all rights reserved.

It has been . . . a day. We're both somewhere way past exhausted, and nothing's over yet.  There's more work ahead of me tonight, and a lot more for both of us between now and next week. However . . . .

Tomorrow, we will allegedly have Internet access in the house! And Saturday, we will allegedly have appliances! Not hooked up, true, and the kitchen sink is still somewhere between North Carolina and here, apparently, and we still have to get the range hood with our remaining Lowe's cards (store credit, which requires an in-person visit). But those are all in process now, and another problem got handled today, and there's more in the works. Maybe we'll make most of our deadlines yet.

But we need help getting to that point.

First, though, a couple of other cool things:

Photo copyright Aji, 2017; all rights reserved.

The storage ottoman, which is actually pretty much exactly the same shade of teal as the branches in that rug. That's thanks to SR, and it's quite wonderful.

There's also something wonderful that's a whole other order of magnitude:

Photo copyright Aji, 2017; all rights reserved.

That is a bearskin sleigh blanket. It's also something over 150 years old, I'm told. It's also now a part of the bancos (and the couch, and the floor in front of the fire when the guys get all done and I can clean the floors properly) thanks to DannyB. And it's absolutely amazing; mint condition, silky soft, long neck hairs still on it, fully lined on the reverse in an old red-and-white patterned flannel. Everybody was interested in it, from the crew to the Internet guys to the dogs to the horses, even. But it's now folded carefully and in a safe place until we can put it out for actual winter use. 

Thank you, both of y'all. You made today something extra-wonderful.

But all this activity, especially with regard to scheduling and Internet transfers and so forth, means that everything's ramping up hard and fast now. And we're losing time rapidly; our first real winter storm is due to hit tomorrow evening, and while we may not get a lot of snow here (although the peaks should get quite a bit), we are slated for high winds and a massive drop in temperatures. We have to hurry now, and we that means raising enough scratch to keep the guys in the materials they need, and also to keep them paid.

It also means that I have got to get my shit together with regard to the registries, because one thing we are absolutely going to need for any gathering that might have to be brought indoors, depending on the weather, is tables and lamps. So expect to see the tables added over the next day or so; some lamps are now on it, and they and the entry rug will be priorities. 

Which, of course, means that we still need shares, daily (and thank you to everyone who has fulfilled items off our registries, although there's a lot more to go there; I haven't even gotten to the tables and lamps and other two upstairs rooms yet, but those will go on this weekend, I hope). They can be crowdfunded! So here are all the links:

• Wings's direct PayPal link;
• Wings's site, for sales;
• Lowe's cards (the physical version) via our Amazon wishlist;
• Lowe's e-cards (delivered via e-mail) here; and
• Home Depot cards via the company site. The e-version using my e-mail address is great; I take the tablet to the store with me, and they scan it off the screen.
• Our Amazon wishlist generally.
• Wayfair gift cards, to replenish all the furnishings that the RV has destroyed in one way or another.
• Partial registry #1, from Bed, Bath and Beyond. It's not complete; what's on it so far are drapes for the upstairs, associated curtain rods, bath rugs for both bathrooms, and doormats and a few other miscellaneous items. Most important: hold-backs and drapes for upstairs.
• Partial registry #2, from Wayfair. Also not complete, but covers a number of the area rugs needed for the upstairs and some kitchen items. I've finally added a bunch of items to it, although nothing in the way of small tables or lamps or kitchen items beyond three basic things, because yesterday proved to be a time-suck of epic proportions, and today was more of the same. What I did get to is all of the rugs for the whole house, and a few basic furniture items. But about Wayfair, and VERY IMPORTANT: They make it possible to crowdfund each item. So if you'd like to help, but the prices are too much for one person? You can kick in 20 bucks, or ten, or five, on any one item; many small donations can add up to one item. Even the backordered/out-of-stock items can be crowdfunded in advance. Right now, the two most important items are probably the first four or five that show at the top of the list. I've just added the furnishings for the rest of the upstairs (i.e., the guest room and my writing/office space, which also includes the desk and chair further down the list, and the last three rugs on the list, two of which are back-ordered). The chaise and daybed are for the two upstairs rooms: the latter for the guest room, the former for my office, which is where I will be spending most of my time, and my AI issues require working on a laptop with my legs outstretched, so that's why it's a pricier piece; it'll probably be the primary means to my role in our living. There will also be more items that fall into the badly-needed category (coffee/end tables and lamps, particularly), because the wiring and mold and lime and everything else in this toxic tin can has destroyed so much of what we used to have. I'm sickened by the amount of stuff we have to throw out (on top of the things that were simply ruined, such as the microwave fried by the wiring in this place).

Thank you all, once again, for everything you've done over the last 16 months to get us safe and keep me sane. We are both so thankful for each and every one of you who made it possible for us to sleep (and shower!) now, for the first time in seven years, in a safe and healthy (and warm!) place. But we have a long way to go, and this night, at least, is going to be very, very cold again, a reminder that we have to get this done, and fast.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2017; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.