Fog and smoke and O2. Sales and subscribers and shares badly needed.

Photo copyright Aij, 2018; all rights reserved.

More cut-and-paste today, only moreso. That was this morning; looks like winter, but it's actually fog and smoke from those two wildfires they're "leaving to the monsoons." You know, the monsoons we're not getting. The smoke is inhibiting my breathing, which is why I'm so tired all the time. It's also why I'm on O2 in the middle of the day, instead of just at night. I don't have anything left — energy, times, relief from the pain, freedom of breathing or movement — to construct a coherent paragraph. Or to care. The stress is killing me. The rest is all copied over from yesterday without change. 

Speaking of grief, though. So much to do, so much physical pain, so little time, and so much grief of another sort from the bill collectors, constantly. Like I said, I feel like I do when I have a mono flare — no energy whatsoever, and no amount of sleep fixes it. This year has done a number on me physically, and nothing I do seems to get me caught up again. If this is my new normal, I don't know how I get anything done. Neither the pain nor the fatigue will let go even the littlest bit, and I don't know where to go from here. The rest is cut-and-paste because I truly don't have the energy for anything more. We need sales, I need subscribers, we need to bring in some scratch badly. Here are the links and a request to share them:

• My new Patreon, The Interstices (Writing Between Worlds);
• Wings's site, for sales, with new items posted;
• Wings's direct PayPal link;
• A way to buy me coffee (which actually goes to all of our medical bills, which continue to mount);
• Amazon wishlist, which mostly consists of animal and household stuff;
• Partial registry #1, from Bed, Bath and Beyond. There are new kitchen-y things on it now, stuff that I didn't realize we'd need to replace (either because the RV ruined it or because we gave it away when we had to downsize).

I had said that I'd really like to raise another $500 in subscriptions before July is out, just to have a little more to throw to the medical wolves that are constantly at my throat. You can get in on it through Tuesday. If I could hit that by the end of the month, I could pay off another bill. If we could sell today's featured work (in the post below this), I could pay off two of the smaller ones entirely. The hounding never ends, either, and the stress is not helping with the cardio stuff. It's bad; I'm not going to go into detail just how bad, but it's compromising my health even more than what it's been. Now, we've got a lot more that needs to be done, too, and I'm damned if I know how. The truck was more than enough to throw a wrench in the works (and that's still unfixed, for the most part, given that just the one part is more than $1,200, so . . . ), but there's more medical stuff in the cards for me eventually, even though there's no affording it now. So please, please share the links. Thanks to everyone for the prayers and kind words and other help for Shade. I know she was better off for it, and I know she appreciated that. Miskwaki, too, and now his new girl, who never knew how good life could be until now.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Red Willow Spirit: The Rise and Fall of a Sanctuary Sun

Photo copyright Wings, 2018; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's an edition of Red Willow Spirit for a midsummer day that dawned looking more like winter. It's a reflection on the light, and on the fact that leave beneath the rise and fall of a sanctuary sun, one with the ability to renew our world still.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. It's all photos, and as always with Wings's work, they're 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; the medical bills keep climbing, and the incessant hounding is compromising my health that much more), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.



All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Cut-and-paste edition. Sales, subscribers, and shares all badly needed.

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

I know how she feels.

It's all cut-and-paste today. I don't have anything left — energy, times, relief from the pain, freedom of breathing or movement — to construct a coherent paragraph. Or to care. The stress is killing me. The rest is all copied over from yesterday without change. 

Speaking of grief, though. So much to do, so much physical pain, so little time, and so much grief of another sort from the bill collectors, constantly. Like I said, I feel like I do when I have a mono flare — no energy whatsoever, and no amount of sleep fixes it. This year has done a number on me physically, and nothing I do seems to get me caught up again. If this is my new normal, I don't know how I get anything done. Neither the pain nor the fatigue will let go even the littlest bit, and I don't know where to go from here. The rest is cut-and-paste because I truly don't have the energy for anything more. We need sales, I need subscribers, we need to bring in some scratch badly. Here are the links and a request to share them:

• My new Patreon, The Interstices (Writing Between Worlds);
• Wings's site, for sales, with new items posted;
• Wings's direct PayPal link;
• A way to buy me coffee (which actually goes to all of our medical bills, which continue to mount);
• Amazon wishlist, which mostly consists of animal and household stuff;
• Partial registry #1, from Bed, Bath and Beyond. There are new kitchen-y things on it now, stuff that I didn't realize we'd need to replace (either because the RV ruined it or because we gave it away when we had to downsize).

I had said that I'd really like to raise another $500 in subscriptions before July is out, just to have a little more to throw to the medical wolves that are constantly at my throat. You can get in on it through Tuesday. If I could hit that by the end of the month, I could pay off another bill. If we could sell today's featured work (in the post below this), I could pay off two of the smaller ones entirely. The hounding never ends, either, and the stress is not helping with the cardio stuff. It's bad; I'm not going to go into detail just how bad, but it's compromising my health even more than what it's been. Now, we've got a lot more that needs to be done, too, and I'm damned if I know how. The truck was more than enough to throw a wrench in the works (and that's still unfixed, for the most part, given that just the one part is more than $1,200, so . . . ), but there's more medical stuff in the cards for me eventually, even though there's no affording it now. So please, please share the links. Thanks to everyone for the prayers and kind words and other help for Shade. I know she was better off for it, and I know she appreciated that. Miskwaki, too, and now his new girl, who never knew how good life could be until now.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

From the Earth and the Bones

Photo copyright Wings, 2018; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a photo meditation for the end of July in a world rife with signs of autumn. It's a reminder, too, that time is far shorter than mere seasonal change, and that a new world must be built from the earth and the bones of the ancients if our world and our ways are to survive.

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. And, as always, sales are very much needed (especially now; the medical bills are killing me), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.



All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

What's missing? More of my life, in the trash. Sales and subscribers both badly needed, and shares, too.

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

What's missing?

Yup. As of yesterday evening, the RV is gone.  I now have a mostly-unobstructed view out the kitchen window, and one of the many guys who worked on the house has a new project. Oh, yes, we made sure he understood exactly what he was getting into; he wanted it anyway. So we gave it to him, no charge. We're just glad it's gone.

But there's a lot more missing now than just that.

Wings has spent the last four days or so frantically working to get everything out and get it cleaned out as much as possible. We had moved a few clothes and personal items out last November when we first began staying in the house . . . and then I almost died, twice, and that was that. All it took was a few days without us in it for the mice to overrun it; I couldn't go inside without risking my health, and Wings didn't have time. So virtually everything that was left that wasn't already ruined? Trash. I salvaged two pairs of jeans (that I can no longer wear, but hope is stupid), to pairs of shoes, two shirts, a best, and a sweater. Everything else, literally everything that was in there that connected me to my past, had to be thrown away. I'm sick over it, but I haven 't even had time to grieve it all yet. And all I have left by way of a wardrobe are the few clothes I brought over here with me in early November. Just going in there, mask on, to pull out those few items and approve trashing the rest was enough to make me physically ill, which is why Wings wouldn't let me help. [Yes, he wore mask, gloves, protective gear. Nobody needs plague or hantavirus.] But it feels as though over the last several years I've lost my entire life up to now, every material thing that connected me to my past.

And yes, I've got more grief bottled up over it that I can't let out. I will for a long time.

Speaking of grief, though. So much to do, so much physical pain, so little time, and so much grief of another sort from the bill collectors, constantly. Like I said, I feel like I do when I have a mono flare — no energy whatsoever, and no amount of sleep fixes it. This year has done a number on me physically, and nothing I do seems to get me caught up again. If this is my new normal, I don't know how I get anything done. Neither the pain nor the fatigue will let go even the littlest bit, and I don't know where to go from here. The rest is cut-and-paste because I truly don't have the energy for anything more. We need sales, I need subscribers, we need to bring in some scratch badly. Here are the links and a request to share them:

• My new Patreon, The Interstices (Writing Between Worlds);
• Wings's site, for sales, with new items posted;
• Wings's direct PayPal link;
• A way to buy me coffee (which actually goes to all of our medical bills, which continue to mount);
• Amazon wishlist, which mostly consists of animal and household stuff;
• Partial registry #1, from Bed, Bath and Beyond. There are new kitchen-y things on it now, stuff that I didn't realize we'd need to replace (either because the RV ruined it or because we gave it away when we had to downsize).

I had said that I'd really like to raise another $500 in subscriptions before July is out, just to have a little more to throw to the medical wolves that are constantly at my throat. You can get in on it through Tuesday. If I could hit that by the end of the month, I could pay off another bill. If we could sell today's featured work (in the post below this), I could pay off two of the smaller ones entirely. The hounding never ends, either, and the stress is not helping with the cardio stuff. It's bad; I'm not going to go into detail just how bad, but it's compromising my health even more than what it's been. Now, we've got a lot more that needs to be done, too, and I'm damned if I know how. The truck was more than enough to throw a wrench in the works (and that's still unfixed, for the most part, given that just the one part is more than $1,200, so . . . ), but there's more medical stuff in the cards for me eventually, even though there's no affording it now. So please, please share the links. Thanks to everyone for the prayers and kind words and other help for Shade. I know she was better off for it, and I know she appreciated that. Miskwaki, too, and now his new girl, who never knew how good life could be until now.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

A Mysterious Light

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's the remaining half of one of Wings's collections in miniature, one that embodies light in the storm. It's also a work that reminds us that storms come in very different forms, and that sometimes all we can do to find our way through them is to seek guidance in a mysterious 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 (selling this would pay off two of my smaller medical bills completely and get those particular wolves off my throat), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.



All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

A little rain last night. First day of fall here. Sales and subscribers badly needed, and shares, too.

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

Yesterday's storm. It stopped overhead, wrapping us all the way around on all sides. The world was pale gray, all the way to the ground, something we only get in the winter with snow. Of course, there was snow, up on the Spoonbowl. but down here, it was several hours of soft, steady rain, not enough to put a dent in the drought, but enough to revive the land for a bit, at least. There's a small amount of standing water in the main ditch — nothing that's flowed down from the river, just what couldn't soak in from last night's rain. The pups love it, of course. First day of fall here, though; the wind is distinctly autumnal, and the trees are all going gold, with the leaves falling around us already. 

Today has been . . . hmm.  Someone who was supposed to be here never showed, so Wings went in to the feed store, and of course, he showed up two hours late. I saw him only when he was driving away from the gate. It's fine; it was stuff for him, not for us. Then someone else shows up looking for a different address and instead of getting out, she lays on the horn over and over. Manners are for suckers, I guess.

Some things never change, though. So much to do, so much physical pain, so little time, and so much grief from the bill collectors, constantly. Like I said yesterday, I feel like I do when I have a mono flare — no energy whatsoever, and no amount of sleep fixes it. This year has done a number on me physically, and nothing I do seems to get me caught up again. If this is my new normal, I don't know how I get anything done. Neither the pain nor the fatigue will let go even the littlest bit, and I don't know where to go from here. The rest is cut-and-paste because I truly don't have the energy for anything more. We need sales, I need subscribers, we need to bring in some scratch badly. Here are the links and a request to share them:

• My new Patreon, The Interstices (Writing Between Worlds);
• Wings's site, for sales, with new items posted;
• Wings's direct PayPal link;
• A way to buy me coffee (which actually goes to all of our medical bills, which continue to mount);
• Amazon wishlist, which mostly consists of animal and household stuff;
• Partial registry #1, from Bed, Bath and Beyond. There are new kitchen-y things on it now, stuff that I didn't realize we'd need to replace (either because the RV ruined it or because we gave it away when we had to downsize).

I had said that I'd really like to raise another $500 in subscriptions before July is out, just to have a little more to throw to the medical wolves that are constantly at my throat. If I could hit that by the end of the month, I could pay off another bill. If we could sell today's featured work (in the post below this), I could pay off another one and put a little toward a third. The hounding never ends, either, and the stress is not helping with the cardio stuff. It's bad; I'm not going to go into detail just how bad, but it's compromising my health even more than what it's been. Now, we've got a lot more that needs to be done, too, and I'm damned if I know how. The truck was more than enough to throw a wrench in the works (and that's still unfixed, for the most part, given that just the one part is more than $1,200, so . . . ), but there's more medical stuff in the cards for me eventually, even though there's no affording it now. So please, please share the links. Thanks to everyone for the prayers and kind words and other help for Shade. I know she was better off for it, and I know she appreciated that. Miskwaki, too, and now his new girl, who never knew how good life could be until now.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

A Conjuring Sun

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's one of Wings's recent works, and a tribute to one of the governing forces of our world. We live now at the mercy of a conjuring sun, one that has summoned a shift in the seasons two months early, and we had best come to terms with such powers soon.

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 (and I'd really like to sell this one, because it would pay off one medical bill and let me put a bit on another), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.



All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

The raven knows. The creatures are mellow, at least, even if the bill collectors aren't. Sales badly needed, and subscribers and shares, too.

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

The raven knows.

That's our injured raven girl, yesterday. If you click on the photo to enlarge it, you can see her damaged left foot. The talon that's hooked over the back edge of the 2X4 if from her right foot; the left is bent out of shape, withered, and accordioned up a bit, so she doesn't have any real weight on it. Behind that 2X4 is where I put her food, and as of this morning, she's fully internalized that. How do I know? Because I put her food there while I'm feeding the dogs (the grain box is where their kibble is kept, along with the horses' grains), walked away for a moment, and turned back to see her there already. She'd been watching me from someplace out of my line of sight (although she doesn't really worry about that much; she trusts me enough to sit out in the open, if at a remove of a healthy yard or two).

Horses are mellow today, dogs are mellow, everything seems better than yesterday. Odd, given that the eclipse is today and that usually winds them all up, but maybe everybody's just tired. I know we are. And except for Miika acing her vet visit, yesterday was just a horrible day all around. 

Today's fraught, too, of course; it can't be otherwise with so much to do, so much physical pain, so little time, and so much grief from the bill collectors, constantly. Like I said yesterday, I feel like I do when I have a mono flare — no energy whatsoever, and no amount of sleep fixes it. This year has done a number on me physically, and nothing I do seems to get me caught up again. If this is my new normal, I don't know how I get anything done. Neither the pain nor the fatigue will let go even the littlest bit, and I don't know where to go from here. The rest is cut-and-paste because I truly don't have the energy for anything more. We need sales, I need subscribers, we need to bring in some scratch badly. Here are the links and a request to share them:

• My new Patreon, The Interstices (Writing Between Worlds);
• Wings's site, for sales, with new items posted;
• Wings's direct PayPal link;
• A way to buy me coffee (which actually goes to all of our medical bills, which continue to mount);
• Amazon wishlist, which mostly consists of animal and household stuff;
• Partial registry #1, from Bed, Bath and Beyond. There are new kitchen-y things on it now, stuff that I didn't realize we'd need to replace (either because the RV ruined it or because we gave it away when we had to downsize).

I had said that I'd really like to raise another $500 in subscriptions before July is out, just to have a little more to throw to the medical wolves that are constantly at my throat. That never ends, either, and the stress is not helping with the cardio stuff. It's bad; I'm not going to go into detail just how bad, but it's compromising my health even more than what it's been. Now, we've got a lot more that needs to be done, too, and I'm damned if I know how. The truck was more than enough to throw a wrench in the works (and that's still unfixed, for the most part, given that just the one part is more than $1,200, so . . . ), but there's more medical stuff in the cards for me eventually, even though there's no affording it now. So please, please share the links. Thanks to everyone for the prayers and kind words and other help for Shade. I know she was better off for it, and I know she appreciated that. Miskwaki, too, and now his new girl, who never knew how good life could be until now.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Friday Feature: A Cosmic Incantation

Photo copyright Aji, 2018;
all rights reserved.

It's our Friday Feature at The NDN Silver Blog, with a work by one of Wings's cousins wrought in earthy materials and glowing light. It's an elder's elder, one who rises to speak of the old ways, with a cosmic incantation to help us find the way forward in these drought-ridden days of light and shadow.

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 sales nearly nonexistent, a truck in need of expensive parts, and medical bills still mounting), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Aced it. Too much pain and fatigue for anything else. Sales/subscribers/shares all badly needed.

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

Welp, Miika aced her first vet visit. As spooky as she is, and as bull-headed, too, we thought she'd give us a hard time, but she seemed to sense that this was all for her well-being. She winced a little when the needle went in for the West Nile vax, and she got a little tetchy over her front feet being lifted and held, but that was it. 

She's sound. Anywhere from 7-9 years old, teeth in pretty good shape, no floating until next spring, barring any drastic changes. She's pigeon-toed, which we knew, and it's made worse by the complete and utter lack of anything resembling hoof care, but we'll start correcting that as much as is physically possible, slowly, over time. Wings is skilled farrier, and we know what to do to work on her alignment. Wide heel base and healthy overall in that regard, at least. Some swelling her and there, likely mostly to do with said lack of hoof care her whole life. Nothing likely to affect her fundamental soundness — at most, she'll be used for periodic pleasure riding and that's a long, long way off yet, given that she's never been even greenbroke — but something to watch and correct for to the extent possible. Vet really likes her, thinks she's "a good investment," but more than that, just likes her, her eyes, her demeanor, her level of chill. She was a very ,very good girl today. Miskwaki was good, too; since he was due for his annual two weeks from now, we had her go ahead and do his blood draw today (after losing Ice out of the blue a year ago, we had labs done on Miskwaki and Shade to try to catch anything early, although, as we saw with Shade, even that isn't always going to do it).

Other stuff, usual and otherwise, and I'm somewhere past exhausted and into "nonfunctional" now. I feel like I do when I have a mono flare — no energy whatsoever, and no amount of sleep fixes it. This year has done a number on me physically, and nothing I do seems to get me caught up again. If this is my new normal, I don't know how I get anything done. Neither the pain nor the fatigue will let go even the littlest bit, and I don't know where to go from here. The rest is cut-and-paste because I truly don't have the energy for anything more. We need sales, I need subscribers, we need to bring in some scratch badly. Here are the links and a request to share them:

• My new Patreon, The Interstices (Writing Between Worlds);
• Wings's site, for sales, with new items posted;
• Wings's direct PayPal link;
• A way to buy me coffee (which actually goes to all of our medical bills, which continue to mount);
• Amazon wishlist, which mostly consists of animal and household stuff;
• Partial registry #1, from Bed, Bath and Beyond. There are new kitchen-y things on it now, stuff that I didn't realize we'd need to replace (either because the RV ruined it or because we gave it away when we had to downsize).

I had said that I'd really like to raise another $500 in subscriptions before July is out, just to have a little more to throw to the medical wolves that are constantly at my throat. That never ends, either, and the stress is not helping with the cardio stuff. It's bad; I'm not going to go into detail just how bad, but it's compromising my health even more than what it's been. Now, we've got a lot more that needs to be done, too, and I'm damned if I know how. The truck was more than enough to throw a wrench in the works (and that's still unfixed, for the most part, given that just the one part is more than $1,200, so . . . ), but this thing with Shade? Out of left field. And once you're in it, you have to keep going; there's no way out but forward, whatever the result. So please, please share the links. Thanks to everyone for the prayers and kind words and other help for Shade. I know she was better off for it, and I know she appreciated that. Miskwaki, too, and now his new girl, who never knew how good life could be until now.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

#ThrowbackThursday: An Enchanted Crossing

Photo copyright Wings, 2018; all rights reserved.

It's #TBT at The NDN Silver Blog, with a work from nearly a decade ago that featured a focal stone unique only to a few places on earth, and indigenous to this land. It was the mysteries of time and the magic of the earth brought together in an enchanted crossing of silver and stone.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. This one sold long ago, of course, 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 yes, he does have a few staurolites in his inventory, although not many are as perfect as this one was). And, as always, sales are very much needed (especially now, with no tourism and no summer trade and medical and other bills still mounting), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.



All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Smart-ass horse. Lots of bills, stress, pain, nowhere near enough rain. Sales badly needed, and subscribers and shares, too.

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

Smart-ass horse.

We tried switching sides with them, but Little Miss Feelin' Herself had a tantrum over it. So back they go. It's only been a week today since she got here, but I swear, tonight it's feeling like months. As you can see, though, she's lost some weight, so I'm thinking she's actually not knocked up. [I also think she's in heat, but that's a separate issue.]

Today was a day that went from busy to flat-out exhausting way too fast, and the rest of the week looks to be more of the same. Also expensive. More dunning on the medical bills; truck still not fixed; vet bill coming up tomorrow. I'm worn out physically, mentally, and every other way, with a stress headache that won't go away. The heat complicates it and my breathing, and the changeable weather harasses my joints. Speaking of which, a little rain a few minutes ago, just enough also to complicate evening chores, and of course, it's all over now. Not much rain of other sorts, either; like I've said, I'm still not sleeping, and still dealing with jacked pain levels and repeated small episodes like what happened to me in November. This is not letting go, and I don't know how much of it is related to this ungodly heat and how much is something else, and no way to find out. It makes it a lot harder to deal with the autoimmune pain, though, to say nothing of my worthless left wrist. I'm also not worth much in terms of anything physical, and having only one really functional hand makes me even less useful. All this puts me way behind, as always, so here comes the cut-and-paste. We very much, very badly need sales and new Patreon subscribers, and if you subscribe today, you won't be billed until August 1st. We have got to make some sales, though. The last big tourist even of the season, the Fiesta, is over, with very little trade accompanying it for anyone. Business is nonexistent all over town, and without those sales and subscribers, I honestly don't know how we get through this drought, both literal and metaphorical, with no tourist trade and not much else, either. Here are the links and a request to share them:

• My new Patreon, The Interstices (Writing Between Worlds);
• Wings's site, for sales, with new items posted;
• Wings's direct PayPal link;
• A way to buy me coffee (which actually goes to all of our medical bills, which continue to mount);
• Amazon wishlist, which mostly consists of animal and household stuff;
• Partial registry #1, from Bed, Bath and Beyond. There are new kitchen-y things on it now, stuff that I didn't realize we'd need to replace (either because the RV ruined it or because we gave it away when we had to downsize).

I had said that I'd really like to raise another $500 in subscriptions before July is out, just to have a little more to throw to the medical wolves that are constantly at my throat. That never ends, either, and the stress is not helping with the cardio stuff. It's bad; I'm not going to go into detail just how bad, but it's compromising my health even more than what it's been. Now, we've got a lot more that needs to be done, too, and I'm damned if I know how. The truck was more than enough to throw a wrench in the works (and that's still unfixed, for the most part, given that just the one part is more than $1,200, so . . . ), but this thing with Shade? Out of left field. And once you're in it, you have to keep going; there's no way out but forward, whatever the result. So please, please share the links. Thanks to everyone for the prayers and kind words and other help for Shade. I know she was better off for it, and I know she appreciated that. Miskwaki, too, and now his new girl, who never knew how good life could be until now.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

A Medicine of Red Earth and Rain

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

 

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a big bold work that summons the strong elemental spirits of the season. It's a cuff in dusty, earthy reds and fiery browns, the embodiment of summer's gift, a medicine of red earth and rain.

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 repair and medical bills still mounting), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Saving wounded creatures. Rain still mostly passing us by. Sales and subscribers very much needed, and shares, too.

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

Yesterday. That's our injured raven, with a piece of kibble in her beak. She knows where to come now for food and water (although she has to contend with the competition from the massive grackle and blackbird clans to do it). Her left foot is no longer merely injured, but withered, so it looks like this is going to be a permanent challenge for her. We'll take care of her as best we can.

The pups stayed put today, and the horses weren't given a chance to start anything. They're mellower anyway; I think they shocked themselves and scared each other. We are not, however, going to attempt integration again immediately, although we'll likely swap them out (WRT the sides of the pen they're on) so that she doesn't start feeling proprietary about Miskwaki's home space, either.

Speaking of Miika, her initial vet visit is scheduled for Thursday, the day after tomorrow. Think of it as a well-baby visit, but for a 7- to 14-year-old horse: general check-up, shots, deworming, etc. WE should also find out whether she is indeed preggers; I'm guessing not, because both of us have noticed weight loss around her belly in the not-quite-week since she arrived. Her skin is in better shape, too, not hanging in folds around her joints, because she's hydrated properly. She is passing a great deal of manure, and while she's eating a lot (A LOT), we think that the proper nutrition and hydration have begun to move what was probably getting impacted as a result of dehydration. That would explain the bloating sufficient to make her look several months' pregnant; horse digestive tracts include a cecum but no provision for a cud, and so digestion in that miles-long tract relies heavily on enzymatic activity. If food gets stuck in the cecum or any other low-lying spot, it begins to ferment, and then to rot, which is why colic is so deadly, whether gas or impaction. And lack of sufficient water creates just that nightmare scenario. If we're right about that, we may have rescued her just in time.

Speaking of water, the clouds moved in an hour ago . . . and passed us right on by. We did get some more rain late last night, but nowhere near enough; we're supposed to get some tonight, too, but we know better than to depend on it by now. Not much rain of other sorts, either; like I've said, I'm still not sleeping, and still dealing with jacked pain levels and repeated small episodes like what happened to me in November. This is not letting go, and I don't know how much of it is related to this ungodly heat and how much is something else, and no way to find out. It makes it a lot harder to deal with the autoimmune pain, though, to say nothing of my worthless left wrist. I'm also not worth much in terms of anything physical, and having only one really functional hand makes me even less useful. All this puts me way behind, as always, so here comes the cut-and-paste. We very much, very badly need sales and new Patreon subscribers, and if you subscribe today, you won't be billed until August 1st. We have got to make some sales, though. The last big tourist even of the season, the Fiesta, is over, with very little trade accompanying it for anyone. Business is nonexistent all over town, and without those sales and subscribers, I honestly don't know how we get through this drought, both literal and metaphorical, with no tourist trade and not much else, either. Here are the links and a request to share them:

• My new Patreon, The Interstices (Writing Between Worlds);
• Wings's site, for sales, with new items posted;
• Wings's direct PayPal link;
• A way to buy me coffee (which actually goes to all of our medical bills, which continue to mount);
• Amazon wishlist, which mostly consists of animal and household stuff;
• Partial registry #1, from Bed, Bath and Beyond. There are new kitchen-y things on it now, stuff that I didn't realize we'd need to replace (either because the RV ruined it or because we gave it away when we had to downsize).

I had said that I'd really like to raise another $500 in subscriptions before July is out, just to have a little more to throw to the medical wolves that are constantly at my throat. That never ends, either, and the stress is not helping with the cardio stuff. Now, we've got a lot more that needs to be done, too, and I'm damned if I know how. The truck was more than enough to throw a wrench in the works (and that's still unfixed, for the most part, given that just the one part is more than $1,200, so . . . ), but this thing with Shade? Out of left field. And once you're in it, you have to keep going; there's no way out but forward, whatever the result. So please, please share the links. Thanks to everyone for the prayers and kind words and other help for Shade. I know she was better off for it, and I know she appreciated that. Miskwaki, too, and now his new girl, who never knew how good life could be until now.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Red Willow Spirit: An Alchemy of Clay and Light

Photo copyright Wings, 2018; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's an edition of Red Willow Spirit to honor the very earth of this place, melded with water and sun that misled invaders into believing they had found the Cities of Gold. It's a tribute to use, to color, to texture, to tradition, and an exploration of its beauty, an alchemy of clay and light.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. It's all photos today (most of which feature works in our past inventory, many of which stand on their own artistic merits as photographic images), and as always with Wings's work, they're 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; Miika's vet visit is Thursday, plus truck parts and mounting medical bills in the face of no tourist trade), so shares of the site links are much appreciated. 



All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

A little rain, a lot of turning leaves and uncooperative four-leggeds. A lot of bills still mounting. Sales and subscribers and shares all badly needed.

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

That's out the east windows a few minutes ago. The clouds have since resolved, more or less, into a solid gray veil, and we have a little bit of rain here courtesy of their payload. Not much; not nearly enough. Overnight, the west willows, the big lush ones that are among the last to turn every year, went yellow from the side branches out. yes, they're still mostly green overall, but we have whole branches that are not.

It's been a bitch of a day from jump: hot, oppressive, very little sleep. Right off the bat, the ferals all took off out onto the highway; there is water in the stream on the other side of the highway (although not ours, natch), and it brings all the small creatures out of hiding, which appeals to the dogs' predatory instincts. (Yes, they all survived and made it back safely.) Then, the first attempt at integrating the horses bombed spectacularly. It all seemed to be going very smoothly; Wings actually brought them together yesterday, with only the carrot stick between them, and then today, we brought Miskwaki over to eat out of the dual trough. All seemed fine; of course, they waited until I was in the shower and he was on the roof of the RV to start shit. Now, he has one abrasion on the inside of the knee of his left hind; she has about four lacerations on her left hind. I'm fed up with both of them at the moment (yes, I know, I know, better than most, actually, and we'll deal with it accordingly, but right now? I'll be in a more forgiving frame of mind once I get some decent rest).

Speaking of pain, like I've said, I'm still not sleeping, and still dealing with jacked pain levels and repeated small episodes like what happened to me in November. This is not letting go, and I don't know how much of it is related to this ungodly het and how much is something else, and no way to find out. It makes it a lot harder to deal with the autoimmune pain, though, to say nothing of my worthless left wrist. I'm also not worth much in terms of anything physical, and having only one really functional hand makes me even less useful. All this puts me way behind, as always, so here comes the cut-and-paste. We very much, very badly need sales and new Patreon subscribers, and if you subscribe today, you won't be billed until August 1st. We have got to make some sales, though. The last big tourist even of the season, the Fiesta, is over, with very little trade accompanying it for anyone. Business is nonexistent all over town, and without those sales and subscribers, I honestly don't know how we get through this drought, both literal and metaphorical, with no tourist trade and not much else, either. Here are the links and a request to share them:

• My new Patreon, The Interstices (Writing Between Worlds);
• Wings's site, for sales, with new items posted;
• Wings's direct PayPal link;
• A way to buy me coffee (which actually goes to all of our medical bills, which continue to mount);
• Amazon wishlist, which mostly consists of animal and household stuff;
• Partial registry #1, from Bed, Bath and Beyond. There are new kitchen-y things on it now, stuff that I didn't realize we'd need to replace (either because the RV ruined it or because we gave it away when we had to downsize).

I had said that I'd really like to raise another $500 in subscriptions before July is out, just to have a little more to throw to the medical wolves that are constantly at my throat. That never ends, either, and the stress is not helping with the cardio stuff. Now, we've got a lot more that needs to be done, too, and I'm damned if I know how. The truck was more than enough to throw a wrench in the works (and that's still unfixed, for the most part, given that just the one part is more than $1,200, so . . . ), but this thing with Shade? Out of left field. And once you're in it, you have to keep going; there's no way out but forward, whatever the result. So please, please share the links. Thanks to everyone for the prayers and kind words and other help for Shade. I know she was better off for it, and I know she appreciated that. Miskwaki, too, and now his new girl, who never knew how good life could be until now.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Monday Photo Meditation: An Elemental Magic

Photo copyright Wings, 2018; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a photo meditation for a midsummer of drought and simultaneously the indicators of a too-early autumn. It's also a reflection on old works and older ways, and the need for an elemental magic to guide us in navigating our new reality.

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. And, as always, sales are very much needed (especially now, with tourism nonexistent and sales nearly so, and medical bills still mounting), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Clouds, but no rain. One girl doing well; another trying to survive. Sales and subscribers and shares all very much needed now.

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

Yesterday's sun and shadow; clouds, but no rain. It's in the 90s every day; the heat is all June, but the drought is so terrible that the trees are already turning. It started a week or two ago across the highway (they always change first even in actual fall), but by yesterday, our big north willow had started to turn, too. We get all of summer's heat with none of the rest of it now, and at this rate, I'm not sure we'll have a winter, either.

We're both profoundly grateful that we have an adobe house to live in now instead of a 35-year-old ramshackle uninsulated metal RV. I'm not sure we'd still be alive if we'd had to live these last months, medical issues and all, in that mold trap.

The new girl is settling in; she has discovered that she likes grain, and carrots, and she no longer needs to be reminded that there's free access to water. She still doesn't much like Miskwaki being out of her sight. We'll be working on integrating them this week. Now that she's in her fifth day of decent food and water, I would swear that she's lost a little weight. She's certainly looking healthier all around. [The way a horse's digestive system is set up, malnutrition can lead to the kind of bloating that looks like pregnancy; it can also, of course, lead to impaction, displacement, and torsion, so the bloating is the least of it.] Still head-shy, but also letting me pet the front of her face without flinching. Miskwaki is back mostly to his old mellow self, too.

Less mellow for our injured raven (raven, as in bird, not Raven, as in dog). It appears that her left foot is completely broken. She can still fly, but she's much more vulnerable. She knows now to come around for food and water, and her mate is more willing to leave her as long as she's here, so hopefully this will keep her safe. We have no idea how it happened, and there's not going to be anything we can do for the foot (it would probably kill her to leave her mate for the wildlife rehabilitators down south of here, even if she were willing to trust us to catch her), but we're trying to make sure that she survives while it heals as best it can on its own.

Speaking of pain, like I've said, I'm still not sleeping, and still dealing with jacked pain levels and repeated small episodes like what happened to me in November. I'm also not worth much in terms of anything physical, and having only one really functional hand makes me even less useful. All this puts me way behind, as always, so here comes the cut-and-paste. We very much, very badly need sales and new Patreon subscribers, and if you subscribe today, you won't be billed until August 1st. We have got to make some sales, though. This weekend is the Fiesta, and it's had . . . hmm, issues, as they say, as well. Powwow should've been last weekend, but was of course canceled with virtually no warning to anybody. Business is nonexistent all over town, and without those sales and subscribers, I honestly don't know how we get through this drought, both literal and metaphorical, with no tourist trade and not much else, either. Here are the links and a request to share them:

• My new Patreon, The Interstices (Writing Between Worlds);
• Wings's site, for sales, with new items posted;
• Wings's direct PayPal link;
• A way to buy me coffee (which actually goes to all of our medical bills, which continue to mount);
• Amazon wishlist, which mostly consists of animal and household stuff;
• Partial registry #1, from Bed, Bath and Beyond. There are new kitchen-y things on it now, stuff that I didn't realize we'd need to replace (either because the RV ruined it or because we gave it away when we had to downsize).

I had said that I'd really like to raise another $500 in subscriptions before July is out, just to have a little more to throw to the medical wolves that are constantly at my throat. That never ends, either, and the stress is not helping with the cardio stuff. Now, we've got a lot more that needs to be done, too, and I'm damned if I know how. The truck was more than enough to throw a wrench in the works (and that's still unfixed, for the most part, given that just the one part is more than $1,200, so . . . ), but this thing with Shade? Out of left field. And once you're in it, you have to keep going; there's no way out but forward, whatever the result. So please, please share the links. Thanks to everyone for the prayers and kind words and other help for Shade. I know she was better off for it, and I know she appreciated that. Miskwaki, too, and now his new girl, who never knew how good life could be until now.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.