No end to the work. No end to the costs, either.

Photo copyright Aji, 2021; all rights reserved.

One of yesterday's many tasks.

The buffalo roast we were given last month was cut in such a way as not to be especially great for eating in that form; way too much gristle all through it. So Wings unwrapped it, cut it apart, and sliced and seasoned it into jerky. We have two of those trays of it drying now; it'll be ready for him to eat in a few weeks. Most years he keeps a supply of it, buffalo and/or elk jerky, out in the studio for quick energy when he's working.

And there's no end to the work. No end to the costs, either. He came home from the hardware/feed store yesterday to let me know that the guy we buy our winter hay from now had finally gotten some good-quality stuff in, and that the store also had a high-quality chainsaw on sale (which he needs for all the dead-tree work around here now, his smaller one not being up to the task of giant trunks). We calculated the $700 would cover the two giant bales of hay and the chainsaw, and we've raised $600 of that. Unfortunately, he also ran into one of friends yesterday who has piñon firewood for a good price, and we're already into cold temperatures; we'll need to load up on a lot more than what we've got.  Which means in addition to raising the final $100 for the chainsaw, I need to come up with about $800 for firewood. Which I could probably do in two parts, say, $400 now and another $400 worth in a week or two, but still. And having just paid the last of our October bills yesterday, there's nothing left, so here we go again with the endless chasing of sales to make everything meet where it needs to. For folks who are planning on Christmas shopping with us, you will need to order early this year, because thanks to DeJoy's damage, we can't guarantee shipping times.

Also, if you're planning on commissioning gifts for the holidays, DO IT NOW. We're also dealing with the same supply-chain issues as everyone else, and at some point soon, Wings is going to have to get silver and stones to produce holiday inventory, and I'm hearing that the price is already spiking on the metals. More to the point of what customers care about, we also can't guarantee shipping times this year, because see above. But I've posted a ton of Wings's new work lately, and there will be more in the days and weeks to come. If I could sell one of the big works, like one of the belts, maybe I could get us on the drill list for the well that is the only thing that's going to keep this land alive. But I've got way too much to do and too few hours and other resources to do it. 

Anyway, I have GOT to make some sales, so links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (priorities are first and foremost, the ladders, because see above, and coffee coffee coffee, which we're finding it harder and harder to get locally);
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

And if you've been contemplating a purchase? This would be a very, very good time to do it; I've got to cover all this staggering outlay somehow and get us through what's left of the year. And right now? I have no way to do it.  But there's lots of fabulous new work, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2021; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.