Catching flight. New work coming.

Photo copyright Aji, 2019; all rights reserved.

Catching flight.

I didn't even realize the jay was in the frame when I shot the photo of the spirit bird in the sky. They're here long out of season, having set up full residence, apparently. The siskins are here out of season, too, even as the juncos and red finches stay longer than usual. Despite all the green, it's cooler than usual for this time of year. June is our hottest month here, and the forecast for its first couple of weeks is distinctly chilly, 70s tops.

Meanwhile, the ravens are relatively scarce, presumably spending time with their now-spirit namesake. A few months ago, they began gathering in force at a time when they're not usually here, save for the pair and their crow cousin who are in permanent residence with us. That worried me, because every time Raven has been injured (and he showed a remarkable propensity for finding trouble his whole life), they would always show up, the whole extended clan. It's no good disputing it; it happened, just as it was a mocking raven who communicated the puppy's name to me when he tried to but couldn't tell me himself. They were his guardians and guides, and I learned to view their gathering with some trepidation. At the time, I thought it meant that they were waiting to escort him home. Apparently, it was just the opposite; they were here to give him strength, because he wanted to live in this world a while longer. The only one in evidence lately is the one that flew joyously off with his spirit just as his body was placed in the ground.

And it's still empty here.

I see Joe just showed up, so it looks like the fence is getting fixed today, winds notwithstanding. Our own work continues; in an hour or two, I'll have new work coming by Wings to post here, a new collection of earrings at a much lower price point than his norm. He has a surfeit of beads in inventory now, and with a little help from me on color combinations, he's created a new line of bead earrings, all dangles, all using multiple gemstone beads. And yes, these are still higher-priced than most of the earrings you'll find elsewhere in this style, because these use the actual gemstones, not dyed rock or chalk or plastic: turquoise, malachite, jade, citrine, amber, garnet, ruby, onyx, Labradorite, mother-of-pearl, etc. There will be many more where these came from, with many more gemstones incorporated — lapis, kyanite, coral, various quartzes, various jaspers, peridot, carnelian, etc., etc. Watch this space for this first five pairs today; I'm not sure yet whether he'll have more tomorrow or not.

And, of course, please share the links, because we still need to make consistent sales; they're what pays the day-to-day bills and expenses.

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