Ajijaakwe: November 2019

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Blizzard conditions.

Photo copyright Aji, 2019;
all rights reserved.

Blizzard conditions for much of yesterday; today, it'll be the ground blizzard, with winds exceeding 40 mph on the way and wind chills not yet up to zero. It'll be getting down below zero tonight, actual temp.

A blizzard of other problems, too. While Wings was outside briefly yesterday, the wind kicked up and before he he could get back to the studio to shut the door, it had driven freezing rain inside it, all over. So on a day when he intended to work on new pieces, he spent the entire time cleaning up and drying out the studio.

Meanwhile, I got hit with a $400 expense seemingly out of nowhere (it's not nowhere, actually, but forgetfulness is the wages of autoimmune cognitive issues, chronic fatigue, and constant, unending pain). No, I have no way to take care of it. Then last night, reaching up to put away a pan, my upper back on the left side (ribs, spine, and scap) subluxed so badly I couldn't sleep all night and can barely move now. I have so much to do, and I can't do any of it. The pain was . . . something, like a knife blade slicing through all of the connective tissue, and it brought me literally to my knees. I don't know how I'm going to work today.

I'm so demoralized right now.

And as I said, I know it's a holiday for most folks, but the bills (to say nothing of their collectors) don't take holidays. The rest is all cut-and-paste, but please read it anyway. It matters, because while sales are literally all that matters at the moment, what else the wind leaves behind is all the rest of the work, and ALL of the bills. But really, it's SALES.

SALES SALES SALES. That's all it's about now. A lot of y'all don't realize this, but the Pueblo closes for much of the winter, starting usually a month to six weeks after the new year. Even before Christmas, the whole month of December locks vehicles out of the village, and that reduces tourist traffic a lot. Even though we're not physically there anymore, the drop in tourism affects us, too — and the numbers are down all over town and seemingly getting worse every single year.

What folks also don't realize is that this means that holiday sales are what keep us alive, through not just the end of the year but essentially the first six months of the year to come. This is it; this is what the whole year leads up to, and even in off years, Wings would still be filling commissions beginning around the first of October.

This year? NOTHING. None. Zip. Zero. And there are, effectively, fewer than four weeks left of the holiday sales season, because it takes time to make things, to say nothing of shipping them.

I don't know what we're going to do.

I'm back to using my rescue inhaler daily, along with the O2 at night, to deal with the breathing issues attending the sudden cold. My pain levels, especially after putting my body through so much these last few weeks to protect the house, are completely unmanageable now. And I'm looking at potentially canceling my doctor's appointment on the fifth, because . . . nothing is coming in, and we have a winter to get through. For those wondering about my own health issues, see here, although now there's a new wrinkle I'm not even going to bother to try to explain (suffice to say there's no affording treatment); with regard to the work being done, some of the details are here. Folks can help in several ways, and we really need it now:

Sales here;

Testimonials here;

Wishlist here;

Patreon here;

Ko-fi here.

Please share everything, because I'm suddenly back behind the eight-ball on a whole additional front, and yeah, I'm scared about covering everything and surviving, too. Thanks.

Prosperity, With the Courage to Embrace It

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's one of Wings's most unusual works, wrought in his own signature style, a piece to honor the powers of the Water Serpent. It's a work to remind us, too, that even the harshest days of winter are a gift, that we have can have prosperity, with the courage to embrace it.

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 repairs forcibly moved up and more medical expenses still in the offing), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

Friday, November 29, 2019

What the wind leaves behind.

That was late yesterday, an example of what the wind leaves behind. We got about four inches in the morning, then nothing but wind and cold and a brief bit of sun the rest of the day.

Today, it's freezing rain and sleet, with snow allegedly arriving in a couple of hours. Whatever else, it's messy, and about to get a lot messier, so it's a good day to be indoors. Wings is planning on spending the day in the studio, hopefully, and I'll be promoting his work all day for Black Friday, because we have GOT to make some sales.

And as I said, I know it's a holiday for most folks, but the bills (to say nothing of their collectors) don't take holidays. The rest is all cut-and-paste, but please read it anyway. It matters, because while sales are literally all that matters at the moment, what else the wind leaves behind is all the rest of the work, and ALL of the bills. [I subluxed my ribs and back the other night, so lots of severe pain and restricted range of again motion today, but the work is still there; I'm just slow.] But really, it's SALES.

SALES SALES SALES. That's all it's about now. A lot of y'all don't realize this, but the Pueblo closes for much of the winter, starting usually a month to six weeks after the new year. Even before Christmas, the whole month of December locks vehicles out off the village, and that reduces tourist traffic a lot. Even though we're not physically there anymore, the drop in tourism affects us, too — and the numbers are down all over town and seemingly getting worse every single year.

What folks also don't realize is that this means that holiday sales are what keep us alive, through not just the end of the year but essentially the first six months of the year to come. This is it; this is what the whole year leads up to, and even in off years, Wings would still be filling commissions beginning around the first of October.

This year? NOTHING. None. Zip. Zero. And there are, effectively, fewer than four weeks left of the holiday sales season, because it takes time to make things, to say nothing of shipping them.

I don't know what we're going to do.

I'm back to using my rescue inhaler daily, along with the O2 at night, to deal with the breathing issues attending the sudden cold. My pain levels, especially after putting my body through so much these last few weeks to protect the house, are completely unmanageable now. And I'm looking at potentially canceling my doctor's appointment on the fifth, because . . . nothing is coming in, and we have a winter to get through. For those wondering about my own health issues, see here, although now there's a new wrinkle I'm not even going to bother to try to explain (suffice to say there's no affording treatment); with regard to the work being done, some of the details are here. Folks can help in several ways, and we really need it now:

Sales here;

Testimonials here;

Wishlist here;

Patreon here;

Ko-fi here.

Please share everything, because I'm suddenly back behind the eight-ball on a whole additional front, and yeah, I'm scared about covering everything and surviving, too. Thanks.

Friday Feature: A Beaded Hoop: Heritage, History, Healing, and Harmony

It's our Friday Feature at The NDN Silver Blog, and today's featured work embodies the best of today's connotations of heritage even as it serves as a tool of survival on a day the outside world calls "Black Friday." It's a reminder, too that ur existences now are still a beaded hoop: heritage, history, healing, and harmony, and on this day, we work to honor and fulfill them all.

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 repairs forcibly moved up and more medical expenses still in the offing), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2019; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Snow, low-lying clouds, more storms on the way.

What it looks like here today: snow, low-lying clouds, more storms on the way.

Yes, I know it's a holiday for most of the country. I'm fixing a nice meal, one with plenty of traditional foods (our traditions, that is, despite colonial cooptation): turkey; cornbread and wild rice stuffing; mashed potatoes and gravy; herbed sweet potatoes; homemade cranberry sauce. If I get really ambitious, I might actually do a pie, albeit with canned pumpkin, and I might do frybread as well, to get us through the weekend. Around here, holiday weekends, especially in winter, are a time for leftovers, but also for red chile and frybread or tortillas, and yes, I do make all my own. As a couple, we've always worked to meld our traditions, food and, where appropriate, otherwise. So the stuffing becomes a mix of blue corn (his), wild rice (mine), green onion, cranberries and cherries today (mine), and piñon this year (his). We do this in the rest of our lives as best we can.

And as I said, I know it's a holiday for most folks, but the bills (to say nothing of their collectors) don't take holidays. The rest is all cut-and-paste, because while sales are literally all that matters at the moment, all the rest of the work still has to get done and I'm perpetually behind. [I subluxed my ribs and back overnight, so lots of severe pain and restricted range of motion today, but the work is still there; I'm just slow.] But really, it's SALES.

SALES SALES SALES. That's all it's about now. A lot of y'all don't realize this, but the Pueblo closes for much of the winter, starting usually a month to six weeks after the new year. Even before Christmas, the whole month of December locks vehicles out off the village, and that reduces tourist traffic a lot. Even though we're not physically there anymore, the drop in tourism affects us, too — and the numbers are down all over town and seemingly getting worse every single year.

What folks also don't realize is that this means that holiday sales are what keep us alive, through not just the end of the year but essentially the first six months of the year to come. This is it; this is what the whole year leads up to, and even in off years, Wings would still be filling commissions beginning around the first of October.

This year? NOTHING. None. Zip. Zero. And there are, effectively, fewer than four weeks left of the holiday sales season, because it takes time to make things, to say nothing of shipping them.

I don't know what we're going to do.

I'm back to using my rescue inhaler daily, along with the O2 at night, to deal with the breathing issues attending the sudden cold. My pain levels, especially after putting my body through so much these last few weeks to protect the house, are completely unmanageable now. And I'm looking at potentially canceling my doctor's appointment on the fifth, because . . . nothing is coming in, and we have a winter to get through. For those wondering about my own health issues, see here, although now there's a new wrinkle I'm not even going to bother to try to explain (suffice to say there's no affording treatment); with regard to the work being done, some of the details are here. Folks can help in several ways, and we really need it now:

Sales here;

Testimonials here;

Wishlist here;

Patreon here;

Ko-fi here.

Please share everything, because I'm suddenly back behind the eight-ball on a whole additional front, and yeah, I'm scared about covering everything and surviving, too. Thanks.

#ThrowbackThanksgivingThursday: At the Root, a Warming Sacred Fire

It's #TBTT at The NDN Silver Blog, where we observe and celebrate the traditional form of small-t "thanksgiving" every single day. It's also a throwback to some seven years ago, with a pair of earrings Wings created to celebrate survival and strength of heart and spirit, and at the root, a warming sacred fire.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. This work sold years ago and will never be duplicated exactly, but if the general 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, with repairs forcibly moved up and more medical expenses still in the offing), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

The light after — and before — the storm.

The light after — and before — the storm.

If the forecast max comes to pass, we could see eighteen inches over the next three days. I think half a foot is probably more likely, but we'll take whatever we can get. For today, I just want it to hold off until we're safely in for the night, because we've got a lot to do out of doors today first.

The rest is all cut-and-paste, because while sales are literally all that matters at the moment, all the rest of the work still has to get done and I'm perpetually behind. [I subluxed my shoulders and back yesterday dong a lot off it, and there's more to do today.] But really, it's SALES.

SALES SALES SALES. That's all it's about now. A lot of y'all don't realize this, but the Pueblo closes for much of the winter, starting usually a month to six weeks after the new year. Even before Christmas, the whole month of December locks vehicles out off the village, and that reduces tourist traffic a lot. Even though we're not physically there anymore, the drop in tourism affects us, too — and the numbers are down all over town and seemingly getting worse every single year.

What folks also don't realize is that this means that holiday sales are what keep us alive, through not just the end of the year but essentially the first six months of the year to come. This is it; this is what the whole year leads up to, and even in off years, Wings would still be filling commissions beginning around the first of October.

This year? NOTHING. None. Zip. Zero. And there are, effectively, fewer than four weeks left of the holiday sales season, because it takes time to make things, to say nothing of shipping them.

I don't know what we're going to do.

The headache is ragging out of control today; I've had to use my rescue inhaler to deal with the breathing issues attending the sudden cold. My pain levels, especially after putting my body through so much these last few weeks to protect the house, are completely unmanageable now. And I'm looking at potentially canceling my doctor's appointment on the fifth, because . . . nothing is coming in, and we have a winter to get through. For those wondering about my own health issues, see here, although now there's a new wrinkle I'm not even going to bother to try to explain (suffice to say there's no affording treatment); with regard to the work being done, some of the details are here. Folks can help in several ways, and we really need it now:

Sales here;

Testimonials here;

Wishlist here;

Patreon here;

Ko-fi here.

Please share everything, because I'm suddenly back behind the eight-ball on a whole additional front, and yeah, I'm scared about covering everything and surviving, too. Thanks.

A Time to Give Thanks to the Snow

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a work for winter's early arrival, manifest in the shades and shapes of the first snowfall. In this week when the outside world is focused on a false colonial narrative of "thanksgiving," it's also a reminder to us that this is a time to give thanks to the snow, for the survival of the land, and of ourselves.

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 repairs forcibly moved up and more medical expenses still in the offing), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Dangerous cold.

A snowman of sorts. No, that's not my artistry; I can't lift those heavy blocks of snow and ice in this kind of cold. I can barely breathe in it.

And this is dangerous cold. High winds, wind chills hovering just above zero. We had more snow earlier today, and there's more on the way tomorrow, with a lot more comingthe rest of the week.

The rest is all cut-and-paste, because while sales are literally all that matters at the moment, all the rest of the work still has to get done and I'm perpetually behind. [I subluxed my shoulders and back yesterday dong a lot off it, and there's more to do today.] But really, it's SALES.

SALES SALES SALES. That's all it's about now. A lot of y'all don't realize this, but the Pueblo closes for much of the winter, starting usually a month to six weeks after the new year. Even before Christmas, the whole month of December locks vehicles out off the village, and that reduces tourist traffic a lot. Even though we're not physically there anymore, the drop in tourism affects us, too — and the numbers are down all over town and seemingly getting worse every single year.

What folks also don't realize is that this means that holiday sales are what keep us alive, through not just the end of the year but essentially the first six months of the year to come. This is it; this is what the whole year leads up to, and even in off years, Wings would still be filling commissions beginning around the first of October.

This year? NOTHING. None. Zip. Zero. And there are, effectively, fewer than four weeks left of the holiday sales season, because it takes time to make things, to say nothing of shipping them.

I don't know what we're going to do.

The headache is ragging out of control today; I've had to use my rescue inhaler to deal with the breathing issues attending the sudden cold. My pain levels, especially after putting my body through so much these last few weeks to protect the house, are completely unmanageable now. And I'm looking at potentially canceling my doctor's appointment on the fifth, because . . . nothing is coming in, and we have a winter to get through. For those wondering about my own health issues, see here, although now there's a new wrinkle I'm not even going to bother to try to explain (suffice to say there's no affording treatment); with regard to the work being done, some of the details are here. Folks can help in several ways, and we really need it now:

Sales here;

Testimonials here;

Wishlist here;

Patreon here;

Ko-fi here.

Please share everything, because I'm suddenly back behind the eight-ball on a whole additional front, and yeah, I'm scared about covering everything and surviving, too. Thanks.

Red Willow Spirit: A Season of Ceremony and Strength

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's an edition of Red Willow Spirit for an early winter amid the markers of colonialism. It's a collection of images and two bejeweled works for the hard season, a reminder that is also a season of ceremony and strength.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. As always, his photos are available in any of the usual three formats; to order them or the silverwork shown, simply inquire via the site's Contact form. Also as always, sales are very much needed (especially now, with repairs forcibly moved up and more medical expenses still in the offing), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

Monday, November 25, 2019

More snow on the way.

That was him, up on the roof of the stalls yesterday, clearing heavy, heavy, wet snow. One of three separate structures whose roofs he did yesterday. With his knees and shoulders. I can't do it; aside from the subluxes, my balance is too bad from my autoimmune disease. But work has to get done. Now you know why I'm so fed up at the the unwillingness of those we've helped so constantly for so many years ever to offer the most basic hand with anything at all. Funny; they've all made themselves completely scarce. Until probably Wednesday or Friday, when they'll want holiday shopping money.

Do I sound bitter? Too damn bad. The way I was raised, you help everyone, and you don't expect pay to do basic family-and-friends pulling together stuff. But now it all goes one way, and one way only. [And I have not forgotten the people who were here with their hands out the very weeks when I nearly died, either. Just home from the hospital, not knowing if I'd survive, and not one of them offered a single hand, not a thing, not can I do your grocery shopping, not can I run errands, not can I pick up your meds, not can I make you a cup of coffee, but they sure asked for money for all that nothing. And yes, you know who you are.]

There's more snow on the way tonight, and a lot more the rest of the week.

The rest is all cut-and-paste, because while sales are literally all that matters at the moment, all the rest of the work still has to get done and I'm perpetually behind. [I subluxed my shoulders and back yesterday dong a lot off it, and there's more to do today.] But really, it's SALES.

SALES SALES SALES. That's all it's about now. A lot of y'all don't realize this, but the Pueblo closes for much of the winter, starting usually a month to six weeks after the new year. Even before Christmas, the whole month of December locks vehicles out off the village, and that reduces tourist traffic a lot. Even though we're not physically there anymore, the drop in tourism affects us, too — and the numbers are down all over town and seemingly getting worse every single year.

What folks also don't realize is that this means that holiday sales are what keep us alive, through not just the end of the year but essentially the first six months of the year to come. This is it; this is what the whole year leads up to, and even in off years, Wings would still be filling commissions beginning around the first of October.

This year? NOTHING. None. Zip. Zero. And there are, effectively, fewer than four weeks left of the holiday sales season, because it takes time to make things, to say nothing of shipping them.

I don't know what we're going to do.

The headache is ragging out of control today; I've had to use my rescue inhaler to deal with the breathing issues attending the sudden cold. My pain levels, especially after putting my body through so much these last few weeks to protect the house, are completely unmanageable now. And I'm looking at potentially canceling my doctor's appointment on the fifth, because . . . nothing is coming in, and we have a winter to get through. For those wondering about my own health issues, see here, although now there's a new wrinkle I'm not even going to bother to try to explain (suffice to say there's no affording treatment); with regard to the work being done, some of the details are here. Folks can help in several ways, and we really need it now:

Sales here;

Testimonials here;

Wishlist here;

Patreon here;

Ko-fi here.

Please share everything, because I'm suddenly back behind the eight-ball on a whole additional front, and yeah, I'm scared about covering everything and surviving, too. Thanks.

Monday Photo Meditation: The Work of Abundance

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a photo meditation for the start of a week allegedly devoted to honoring indigeneity, and one in which the weather will demonstrate for us once again the power of weather and season [inevitably, at this week, these entries become more political, and more plain in the truths they contemplate, so you've been warned]. It's a reflection, too, of identity and existence, on the courage and steadiness required of us and the example Eagle sets, of the work of abundance and our commitment to it.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. As always, his photos are available in any of the usual three formats (and this one, from about 13 years ago, is special, particularly now); simply inquire via the site's Contact form. Also as always, sales are very much needed (especially now, with repairs forcibly moved up and more medical expenses still in the offing), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Unsettled.

El Salto, with the Spoonbowl hiding behind the cloud to the right. That was yesterday. Today? The sun's already melted almost all the snow off everything but the highest ridges and the Spoonbowl itself.

And the next storm was supposed to arrive Wednesday, but now they're predicting snow for tomorrow night. The weather is as unsettled as everything else.

Speaking of unsettled, everything else is around here, too, including our minds and spirits, because the economy is so bad. The rest is all cut-and-paste, because while sales are literally all that matters at the moment, all the rest of the work still has to get done and I'm perpetually behind. But really, it's SALES.

SALES SALES SALES. That's all it's about now. A lot of y'all don't realize this, but the Pueblo closes for much of the winter, starting usually a month to six weeks after the new year. Even before Christmas, the whole month of December locks vehicles out off the village, and that reduces tourist traffic a lot. Even though we're not physically there anymore, the drop in tourism affects us, too — and the numbers are down all over town and seemingly getting worse every single year.

What folks also don't realize is that this means that holiday sales are what keep us alive, through not just the end of the year but essentially the first six months of the year to come. This is it; this is what the whole year leads up to, and even in off years, Wings would still be filling commissions beginning around the first of October.

This year? NOTHING. None. Zip. Zero. And there are, effectively, fewer than four weeks left of the holiday sales season, because it takes time to make things, to say nothing of shipping them.

I don't know what we're going to do.

The headache is ragging out of control today; I've had to use my rescue inhaler to deal with the breathing issues attending the sudden cold. My pain levels, especially after putting my body through so much these last few weeks to protect the house, are completely unmanageable now. And I'm looking at potentially canceling my doctor's appointment on the fifth, because . . . nothing is coming in, and we have a winter to get through. For those wondering about my own health issues, see here, although now there's a new wrinkle I'm not even going to bother to try to explain (suffice to say there's no affording treatment); with regard to the work being done, some of the details are here. Folks can help in several ways, and we really need it now:

Sales here;

Testimonials here;

Wishlist here;

Patreon here;

Ko-fi here.

Please share everything, because I'm suddenly back behind the eight-ball on a whole additional front, and yeah, I'm scared about covering everything and surviving, too. Thanks.

Dreams of Ice, of Winter Skies

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a work for a world as in need of a vision as the whole of humanity is now. It's a pair of earrings that brings together the blue of early winter skies with the silver of its brilliant light in a design that explicitly honors the fact and power of dreaming on mild day when, for us and for the Earth, the dreams of ice, of winter skies still hold sway.

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 repairs forcibly moved up and more medical expenses still in the offing), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Winter wonderland. Except for that whole lack of sales thing.

Winter wonderland. Except for that whole lack of sales thing.

SALES SALES SALES. That's all it's about now. A lot of y'all don't realize this, but the Pueblo closes for much of the winter, starting usually a month to six weeks after the new year. Even before Christmas, the whole month of December locks vehicles out off the village, and that reduces tourist traffic a lot. Even though we're not physically there anymore, the drop in tourism affects us, too — and the numbers are down all over town and seemingly getting worse every single year.

What folks also don't realize is that this means that holiday sales are what keep us alive, through not just the end of the year but essentially the first six months of the year to come. This is it; this is what the whole year leads up to, and even in off years, Wings would still be filling commissions beginning around the first of October.

This year? NOTHING. None. Zip. Zero. And there are, effectively, fewer than four weeks left of the holiday sales season, because it takes time to make things, to say nothing of shipping them.

I don't know what we're going to do.

The headache is ragging out of control today; I've had to use my rescue inhaler to deal with the breathing issues attending the sudden cold. My pain levels, especially after putting my body through so much these last few weeks to protect the house, are completely unmanageable now. And I'm looking at potentially canceling my doctor's appointment on the fifth, because . . . nothing is coming in, and we have a winter to get through. For those wondering about my own health issues, see here, although now there's a new wrinkle I'm not even going to bother to try to explain (suffice to say there's no affording treatment); with regard to the work being done, some of the details are here. Folks can help in several ways, and we really need it now:

Sales here;

Testimonials here;

Wishlist here;

Patreon here;

Ko-fi here.

Please share everything, because I'm suddenly back behind the eight-ball on a whole additional front, and yeah, I'm scared about covering everything and surviving, too. Thanks.