A beautiful last day of April.

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

Wings had a chance to score some high-quality grass hay for Miika for less than half the going rate, so he snapped it up. She's running low anyway, and it's pushing $20 a bale most places. Of course, it wasn't in the budget, but it's better than being forced to budget $20/bale down the road. The guy also brought us some lamb and pork from his farm. Since Wings is mostly still on soups and stews at the moment [those dental extractions], both will be very useful. 

And yes, that is indeed a mask that Wings is wearing. When I said we wear them all the time? I was not joking, and not exaggerating either. If we're going to be in contact with anyone other than each other, the masks go on. It's what keeps us both as healthy as possible.

It's been a beautiful last day of April: in the seventies, the wind brisk but mostly not murderous [save for one dust devil that ripped through while we were doing evening chores, and ramped up into something much bigger when got past our east boundary]. But we're still going to be glad to see the calendar turn over to May tomorrow. As I said yesterday, April's a bad month every single year, for so many reasons, but this has been one of the worst in recent memory, and while May is not going to be any better on certain fronts [namely the financial ones], it'll be an improvement in a lot of other ways.

But May is still going to be hellishly costly: In addition to all the usual, we both have major medical expenses near month's end; there's Wings's ongoing dental; we have some bureaucratic nonsense to take care of; and somehow, I have to squeeze out a big chunk for taxes. And the other demands on me are just as relentless [the ones that don't, directly, anyway, have to do explicitly with money]; there is no help for any of it, and I am at my wits' end over the latter ones especially.

As though that weren't enough, my Patreon is still down by more than $700 a month over last year, and as our most consistent source of income, that is what pays our monthly bills like utilities and groceries and gas and so forth. It's not going to be enough even for that, never mind the taxes and everything else. Somehow, I have to bring in sales. If you're in the market, now would be a really, REALLY good time. I posted four new pairs of earrings a few nights ago, here, all at lower price points than his usual, and three new all-silver cuffs, here. And the other night, I got the new naja [it's extraordinary] posted and sent viral, and it matches an existing cuff! and you can find them here and here. And as always, all the regular links are listed below, with sales, as always, being the most important:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (we'll always need the dog treats for the monsters, and Amazon and Lowe's cards [the Lowe's cards are probably going to have to go on a new fridge, so I'm hoarding them]); 
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

After such a grim 2023, and with this year starting off MUCH worse, we really need to get 2024 moving onto a better footing, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2024; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.                        

Red Willow Spirit: Pollinating a World Reborn

Photo copyright Wings, 2024;
all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's an edition of Red Willow Spirit for a week when spring is already fully coming into its own, a time of pollen and sun upon warming winds and trees in leaf and flower. It's two images linked by a single work work of wearable art, a tribute to early blossoms and even earlier small spirits, already at the work of pollinating a world reborn.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. As always, his photos are available in any of the usual three formats; simply inquire via the site's Contact form. We're now a third of the way through this no-longer-new calendar year and facing complications and costs, some carried over from the end of last year, some all new, that have completely wiped us out. We need to make consistent sales urgently, so shares are very much needed and much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2024; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.       

Be glad when April's over.

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

The green is getting closer; just not here for our aspens yet. What shows in the photo is down the highway around the curve, so maybe less than a half-mile south of us. Maybe we'll get lucky and have aspen leaves here in a couple of more days . . . you know, as opposed to the long dangling strands of pollen we have now. Being on the chemo, I've handled allergy season better this year than ever before in my life, but my eyes still itch and I still have that pollen-induced cough. I'm just grateful not to be sneezing and sniffling constantly, which is my usual at this time of year.

Also? We'll both be glad when April's over. It's a bad month every single year, for so many reasons, but this has been one of the worst in recent memory, and while May is not going to be any better on certain fronts [namely the financial ones], it'll be an improvement in a lot of other ways.

But May is still going to be hellishly costly: In addition to all the usual, we both have major medical expenses near month's end; there's Wings's ongoing dental; we have some bureaucratic nonsense to take care of; and somehow, I have to squeeze out a big chunk for taxes. And the other demands on me are just as relentless [the ones that don't, directly, anyway, have to do explicitly with money]; there is no help for any of it, and I am at my wits' end over the latter ones especially.

As though that weren't enough, my Patreon is still down by more than $700 a month over last year, and as our most consistent source of income, that is what pays our monthly bills like utilities and groceries and gas and so forth. It's not going to be enough even for that, never mind the taxes and everything else. Somehow, I have to bring in sales. If you're in the market, now would be a really, REALLY good time. I posted four new pairs of earrings a few nights ago, here, all at lower price points than his usual, and three new all-silver cuffs, here. And the other night, I got the new naja [it's extraordinary] posted and sent viral, and it matches an existing cuff! and you can find them here and here. And as always, all the regular links are listed below, with sales, as always, being the most important:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (we'll always need the dog treats for the monsters, and Amazon and Lowe's cards [the Lowe's cards are probably going to have to go on a new fridge, so I'm hoarding them]); 
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

After such a grim 2023, and with this year starting off MUCH worse, we really need to get 2024 moving onto a better footing, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2024; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.                        

Monday Photo Meditation: Striving For Renewal

Photo copyright Wings, 2024; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a Monday Photo Meditation for a week that shifts the season from spring's wintry edges into its more summery winds. It's a contemplation of what the last three days' healing gifts have brought us, including the truth that even in the face of catastrophe and collapse, our small world is alive again and striving for renewal.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. As always, his photos are available in any of the usual three formats; simply inquire via the site's Contact form. We're now a third of the way through this no-longer-new calendar year and facing complications and costs, some carried over from the end of last year, some all new, that have completely wiped us out. We need to make consistent sales urgently, so shares are very much needed and much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2024; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.     

Room to breathe.

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

That look you get when you're tired of being hassled by some loudmouth little punk.

Actually, what's happening here is that Young Mr. Red-Tail is camped out in a tree that's too close to where the magpies have their young, and Mr. Magpie isn't having any. He chased the hawk through all three weeping willows, and finally the latter got fed up and flew off toward his own nest across the road. [Yes, it appears that we will have baby red-tails this year; possibly, we already do, since when I was out in the rain and the dark two nights ago, I heard baby-bird cries from over that way.]

I know how they both feel, just wanting some space to be left alone, and room to breathe.

No chance of that. Another demand today. It's not one where we can say no. If it's not repaid, we're screwed; we have literally no breathing room. And May is going to be hellishly costly as it is: In addition to all the usual, we both have major medical expenses near month's end; there's Wings's ongoing dental; we have some bureaucratic nonsense to take care of; and somehow, I have to squeeze out a big chunk for taxes. And the other demands on me are just as relentless [the ones that don't, directly, anyway, have to do explicitly with money]; there is no help for any of it, and I am at my wits' end over the latter ones especially.

As though that weren't enough, my Patreon is still down by more than $700 a month over last year, and as our most consistent source of income, that is what pays our monthly bills like utilities and groceries and gas and so forth. It's not going to be enough even for that, never mind the taxes and everything else. Somehow, I have to bring in sales. If you're in the market, now would be a really, REALLY good time. I posted four new pairs of earrings a few nights ago, here, all at lower price points than his usual, and three new all-silver cuffs, here. And the other night, I got the new naja [it's extraordinary] posted and sent viral, and it matches an existing cuff! and you can find them here and here. And as always, all the regular links are listed below, with sales, as always, being the most important:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (we'll always need the dog treats for the monsters, and Amazon and Lowe's cards [the Lowe's cards are probably going to have to go on a new fridge, so I'm hoarding them]); 
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

After such a grim 2023, and with this year starting off MUCH worse, we really need to get 2024 moving onto a better footing, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2024; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.                       

Bringing the Earth Back to Life

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a work for alpine desert spring weather and the storm at the edge of the sky. Today, for the moment, it seems to be the reverse, the sky at the edge of the storm, but both are working in concert now, bringing the earth back to life.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. We're now a third of the way through this no-longer-new calendar year and facing complications and costs, some carried over from the end of last year, some all new, that have completely wiped us out. We need to make consistent sales urgently, so shares are very much needed and much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2024; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.       

What's coming.

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

This is what's coming, right this minute. We've had wave after wave since last night, some more violent than others. Most of it's been a mix of rain, sleet, graupel, and snow, but there's been sun, fog, and high winds, too. It's that last that does the damage. Right now, we're in that space of just waiting, waiting for it to arrive so we can see where it lands on the spectrum, from essentially nothing to a truly violent storm, or any point in between. They're all a distinct possibility right now.

What's coming on other fronts is what worries me more right now. My chemo dose is upped again as of yesterday, to six tablets, and I'm not sure we now know how my body's handling it, which is to say, not well. Five is apparently my limit for now, so next week, I'll lower it again, because today? Today I feel like absolute hell. And on top of that, I'm just so tired; these last weeks [months] have been so stress-filled and required so much of us both physically that I feel like I'll never catch up. I'm hoping that I don't have to leave here at all next week, except maybe to the post office if we're blessed enough to make some desperately-needed sales.

Because when we have had so many other demands on us for money and for help as we have so far this year, enough to wipe us out completely, if things don't pick up consistently very, very soon, we won't make it through this year. For May, in addition to all the usual, we both have major medical expenses near month's end; there's Wings's ongoing dental; we have some bureaucratic nonsense to take care of; and somehow, I have to squeeze out a big chunk for taxes. And the other demands on me are just as relentless [the ones that don't, directly, anyway, have to do explicitly with money]; there is no help for any of it, and I am at my wits' end over the latter ones especially.

As though that weren't enough, my Patreon is still down by more than $700 a month over last year, and as our most consistent source of income, that is what pays our monthly bills like utilities and groceries and gas and so forth. It's not going to be enough even for that, never mind the taxes and everything else. Somehow, I have to bring in sales. If you're in the market, now would be a really, REALLY good time. I posted four new pairs of earrings a few nights ago, here, all at lower price points than his usual, and three new all-silver cuffs, here. And the other night, I got the new naja [it's extraordinary] posted and sent viral, and it matches an existing cuff! and you can find them here and here. And as always, all the regular links are listed below, with sales, as always, being the most important:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (we'll always need the dog treats for the monsters, and Amazon and Lowe's cards [the Lowe's cards are probably going to have to go on a new fridge, so I'm hoarding them]); 
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

After such a grim 2023, and with this year starting off MUCH worse, we really need to get 2024 moving onto a better footing, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2024; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.                       

A Living Light

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a work for the unsettled conditions that are the hallmark of spring here, and for the breath and light that they create. It's a ring wrought in one of Wings's favorite old-school motifs, the rolling sun, this time with new details that illustrate the medicine of such a living light.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. We're now a third of the way through this no-longer-new calendar year and facing complications and costs, some carried over from the end of last year, some all new, that have completely wiped us out. We need to make consistent sales urgently, so shares are very much needed and much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2024; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.      

Winter on its way back.

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

Winter on its way back. We're supposed to get rain turning to a dusting of snow overnight, but the snow's already falling over Pueblo Peak. Of course, the sudden plunge in temperature and conditions comes on the day a hummingbird arrives, two full months early. Yes, we've hauled out one of the feeders and I made nectar, filled it, and hung it up. At least he'll have fuel. 

I need fuel to keep going right now. My chemo dose is upped again, to six tablets, and I'm not sure how my body's handling it yet. Five might be my limit for now; we'll see. I'm just so tired; these last weeks [months] have been so stress-filled and required so much of us both physically that I feel like I'll never catch up. I'm hoping that I don't have to leave here at all next week, except maybe to the post office if we're blessed enough to make some desperately-needed sales.

Because when we have had so many other demands on us for money and for help as we have so far this year, enough to wipe us out completely, if things don't pick up consistently very, very soon, we won't make it through this year. And the other demands on me are just as relentless [the ones that don't, directly, anyway, have to do explicitly with money]; there is no help for any of it, and I am at my wits' end over the latter ones especially.

As though that weren't enough, my Patreon is still down by more than $700 a month over last year, and as our most consistent source of income, that is what pays our monthly bills like utilities and groceries and gas and so forth. It's not going to be enough even for that, never mind the taxes and everything else. Somehow, I have to bring in sales. If you're in the market, now would be a really, REALLY good time. I posted four new pairs of earrings a few nights ago, here, all at lower price points than his usual, and three new all-silver cuffs, here. And the other night, I got the new naja [it's extraordinary] posted and sent viral, and it matches an existing cuff! and you can find them here and here. And as always, all the regular links are listed below, with sales, as always, being the most important:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (we'll always need the dog treats for the monsters, and Amazon and Lowe's cards [the Lowe's cards are probably going to have to go on a new fridge, so I'm hoarding them]); 
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

After such a grim 2023, and with this year starting off MUCH worse, we really need to get 2024 moving onto a better footing, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2024; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.                       

Friday Feature: A Blossoming Land

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

It's our Friday Feature at The NDN Silver Blog, with a pair of works newly created and beautifully matched, both from the same category and wrought in a similar traditional style. It's a pair of classic slender cuffs, eminently stackable, both stamped with imagery to honor a blossoming land, one with extraordinary filework detail and the other with secret etching for texture.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. We're now a third of the way through this no-longer-new calendar year and facing complications and costs, some carried over from the end of last year, some all new, that have completely wiped us out. We need to make consistent sales urgently, so shares are very much needed and much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2024; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner. 

Hope is all we've got.

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

Bullsnake, enjoying the last of the warmth before the storm arrives. And it seems as though it might arrive sooner rather than later, mostly cloudy now, increasingly windy and increasingly cold.

In Wings's way, snakes mean prosperity. I sincerely hope that's true, given what this year has done to us thus far; just yesterday was another $400 cash out the door for dentist, pharmacy, and the grocery run I've been putting off for a month, all combined. But at this point, hope is all we've got. On every front.

When we have had so many other demands on us for money and for help, enough to wipe us out completely, if things don't pick up consistently very, very soon, we won't make it through this year. And the other demands on me are just as relentless [the ones that don't, directly, anyway, have to do explicitly with money]; there is no help for any of it, and I am at my wits' end over the latter ones especially.

As though that weren't enough, my Patreon is still down by more than $700 a month over last year, and as our most consistent source of income, that is what pays our monthly bills like utilities and groceries and gas and so forth. It's not going to be enough even for that, never mind the taxes and everything else. Somehow, I have to bring in sales. If you're in the market, now would be a really, REALLY good time. I posted four new pairs of earrings a few nights ago, here, all at lower price points than his usual, and three new all-silver cuffs, here. And last night, I got the new naja [it's extraordinary] posted and sent viral, and it matches an existing cuff! and you can find them here and here. And as always, all the regular links are listed below, with sales, as always, being the most important:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (we'll always need the dog treats for the monsters, and Amazon and Lowe's cards [the Lowe's cards are probably going to have to go on a new fridge, so I'm hoarding them]); 
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

After such a grim 2023, and with this year starting off MUCH worse, we really need to get 2024 moving onto a better footing, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2024; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.                       

#TBT: A Flowering Season

Photo copyright Wings, 2024;
all rights reserved.

It's #ThrowbackThursday at The NDN Silver Blog, with a #TBT work that dates back almost two decades, and one of Wings's unique iterations of an old traditional style. It's a link bracelet created the old way, one whose stampwork pattern reminds us that this is a flowering season, for the earth, for us, and for the work we do.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. As always, this work will never be duplicated, 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. We're now a third of the way through this no-longer-new calendar year and facing complications and costs, some carried over from the end of last year, some all new, that have completely wiped us out. We need to make consistent sales urgently, so shares are very much needed and much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2024; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.      

A lot of haze.

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

That was this morning; we have green cropping up on all sides, but a lot of haze, too. There wasn't any wind yet then, which means this is smoke drifting in from somewhere.

Tomorrow's a no-burn day [which should've been the case today, too], but we're also supposed to get rain, which would be welcome. Also a faint possibility or more on Friday, and then a decent, measurable chance of snow and rain over the weekend. Of course, it won't be as warm, but we need the moisture; these winds have already dried the earth out pretty badly. 

Of course, that's not all the damage they do. I will take any kind of weather conditions but wind; it makes my joints and connective tissues flare worse than any other phenomenon. And today was one of those days filled with appointments and errands [and another $400 cash out the door, so thank all that's holy we had made a sale — dentist, pharmacy, and the grocery run I've been putting off for a month, all combined].

But we still need to keep making sales consistently in this already-terrible year. Normally, the lack of them in April wouldn't bother me so much, since everyone else is dealing with tax nonsense too, and I could reasonably depend on making it up in the weeks to come, but this year? When we have had so many other demands on us for money and for help, enough to wipe us out completely? If things don't pick up consistently very, very soon, we won't make it through this year. And the other demands on me are just as relentless [the ones that don't, directly, anyway, have to do explicitly with money]; there is no help for any of it, and I am at my wits' end over the latter ones especially.

As thought that weren't enough, my Patreon is still down by more than $700 a month over last year, and as our most consistent source of income, that is what pays our monthly bills like utilities and groceries and gas and so forth. It's not going to be enough even for that, never mind the taxes and everything else. Somehow, I have to bring in sales. If you're in the market, now would be a really, REALLY good time. I posted four new pairs of earrings a few nights ago, here, all at lower price points than his usual, and three new all-silver cuffs, here. And last night, I got the new naja [it's extraordinary] posted and sent viral, and it matches an existing cuff! and you can find them here and here. And as always, all the regular links are listed below, with sales, as always, being the most important:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (we'll always need the dog treats for the monsters, and Amazon and Lowe's cards [the Lowe's cards are probably going to have to go on a new fridge, so I'm hoarding them]); 
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

After such a grim 2023, and with this year starting off MUCH worse, we really need to get 2024 moving onto a better footing, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2024; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.                       

A Budding Glow

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's one of Wings's newest works, a cuff that shares its name with that which lends its own to people and place, manifest as light through red willows at day's end. It's a reflection, too, on the quality of that light, a budding glow that brings our whole warming world alive once more.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. We're now a third of the way through this no-longer-new calendar year and facing complications and costs, some carried over from the end of last year, some all new, that have completely wiped us out. We need to make consistent sales urgently, so shares are very much needed and much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2024; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.     

And again, it's only Tuesday.

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

Pear tree about to blossom. Technically, the blossoms are there, and the leaves, too; they're just still mostly furled together. They'll probably really begin to open up tomorrow. This happened at sunrise today; the other thing that happened is that the lilac bushes began to bud, deep purple. They likely won't flower for another week or two yet, but it's on the way.

Late again, because ::gestures around at the mess everything in the world is right now::. This week has been so fraught already, and there's so much ahead of us that I'm not looking forward to. And again, it's only Tuesday. It seems like it should be one or the other:  Either the last three days should've been less overflowing with stress and nonsense, or the rest of the week should be. But no; apparently it's got to be an all-week thing.

Again.

Meanwhile, we're just trying to survive. We're not quite four full months into this year, and it's already killing us. That's not an exaggeration; it's already become a health issue.  Speaking of things that are gigantic, I knew the leachfield would be destructively expensive, and it was; same for the taxes, and they are, and there are a majority of payments still ahead of us, and no means to pay them, since as of yesterday, we hadn't had a single sale in over a month [yesterday, we made two sales plus one commission, so that particular drought, while nowhere near broken, has been alleviated momentarily]. Normally, that wouldn't bother me so much, since everyone else is dealing with tax nonsense in April, but this year? When we have had so many other demands on us for money and for help, enough to wipe us out completely? If things don't pick up very, very soon, we won't make it through this year. And the other demands on me are just as relentless [the ones that don't, directly, anyway, have to do explicitly with money]; there is no help for any of it, and I am at my wits' end.

My Patreon is still down by more than $700 a month over last year, and as our most consistent source of income, that is what pays our monthly bills like utilities and groceries and gas and so forth. It's not going to be enough even for that, never mind the taxes and everything else. Somehow, I have to bring in sales. If you're in the market, now would be a really, REALLY good time. I posted four new pairs of earrings a few nights ago, here, all at lower price points than his usual, and three new all-silver cuffs, here. Tonight, I hope, I'll have the new naja [it's extraordinary] posted and sent viral, and it matches an existing cuff! so look for that. And as always, all the regular links are listed below, with sales, as always, being the most important:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here ( we'll always need the dog treats for the monsters, and Amazon and Lowe's cards [the Lowe's cards are probably going to have to go on a new fridge, so I'm hoarding them]); 
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

After such a grim 2023, and with this year starting off MUCH worse, we really need to get 2024 moving onto a better footing, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2024; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.                       

Red Willow Spirit: A Leafing Resilience

Photo copyright Wings, 2024; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's an edition of Red Willow Spirit for these days when spring first truly comes into its own, medicine in new leaf and flower. It's four images linked by three new works of wearable art, all of them manifest in a leafing resilience, a strength and certainty of spirit, that the worlds needs from us now.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. As always, his photos are available in any of the usual three formats; simply inquire via the site's Contact form. We're now a third of the way through this no-longer-new calendar year and facing complications and costs, some carried over from the end of last year, some all new, that have completely wiped us out. We need to make consistent sales urgently, so shares are very much needed and much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2024; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.      

Gigantic.

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

It's dandelion season.  These are alpine dandelions here, the only ones that are indigenous; they're a bit larger, and they stand a bit higher, than ordinary dandelions. These, though? These are gigantic. I noticed this last year, too; with all the climatic changes this land is undergoing, one thing that's absolutely thriving are these. They're here a month early, already exploding in size and number, and they've been lasting well into the winter months, too.

Someone should study them, figure out what it is about them that's managing to handle this drought and climate collapse so well.

But colonial populations consider them "just a weed," and thus unworthy of bothering.

First ladybugs yesterday; first bullsnake today, although I didn't see him, Wings did. He's welcome, too, especially given that his primary diet [deer mice] is a major vector here for deadly diseases. Unfortunately, in the news is word that flies, common house flies, are apparently a vector for avian flu; I also know of two separate incidents of a cat and a dog locally showing up with what could be symptoms of it. Given that no one here can be bothered to mitigate COVID in the slightest, I guarantee you nobody's going to test them for that. Even though it's been in this state for at least a month already, and they've had to cull every bird at a hatchery down by Portales already. Fatal in 100% of cases of cats and dogs; in 50% of humans. And still y'all's president hasn't said so much as a word about it, so maybe you best get on that.

Meanwhile, we're just trying to survive. We're not quite four full months into this year, and it's already killing us. That's not an exaggeration; it's already become a health issue.  Speaking of things that are gigantic, I knew the leachfield would be destructively expensive, and it was; same for the taxes, and they are, and there are a majority of payments still ahead of us, and no means to pay them, since as of yesterday, we hadn't had a single sale in over a month [today, we've had one sale and one commission, so that particular drought, while nowhere near broken, has been alleviated momentarily]. Normally, that wouldn't bother me so much, since everyone else is dealing with tax nonsense in April, but this year? When we have had so many other demands on us for money and for help, enough to wipe us out completely? If things don't pick up very, very soon, we won't make it through this year. And the other demands on me are just as relentless [the ones that don't, directly, anyway, have to do explicitly with money]; there is no help for any of it, and I am at my wits' end.

My Patreon is still down by more than $700 a month over last year, and as our most consistent source of income, that is what pays our monthly bills like utilities and groceries and gas and so forth. It's not going to be enough even fo that, never mind the taxes and everything else. Somehow, I have to bring in sales. If you're in the market, now would be a really, REALLY good time. I posted four new pairs of earrings a few nights ago, here, all at lower price points than his usual, and three new all-silver cuffs, here. Presumably the naja in process I showed here the other day will be available soon, too. And as always, all the regular links are listed below, with sales, as always, being the most important:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here ( we'll always need the dog treats for the monsters, and Amazon and Lowe's cards [the Lowe's cards are probably going to have to go on a new fridge, so I'm hoarding them]); 
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

After such a grim 2023, and with this year starting off MUCH worse, we really need to get 2024 moving onto a better footing, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2024; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.                      

Monday Photo Meditation: An Expanding Breath

Photo copyright Wings, 2024; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a Monday Photo Meditation for this trickster season whose greater compensation is that it is also a season of firsts. It's a contemplation of the gifts those first provide and the example that they offer us, of the value of an expanding breath to re-energize and strengthen us for the days and the work ahead.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. As always, his photos are available in any of the usual three formats; simply inquire via the site's Contact form. We're now a third of the way through this no-longer-new calendar year and facing complications and costs, some carried over from the end of last year, some all new, that have completely wiped us out. We need to make consistent sales urgently, so shares are very much needed and much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2024; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.     

A terrible month.

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

Haze everywhere this morning. Not enough wind to kick up any dust [yet], so that leaves smoke. There's still a pall above the horizon to the west, so presumably there's a fire that way — and still nothing reported for NM, so possibly in CO or UT, or even in AZ, carried up here on the winds.

April here is a terrible month for so very many, many reasons, and now there's always the threat of wildfire added to the wind and the ongoing record drought.

We're not quite four full months into this year, and it's already killing us. That's not an exaggeration; it's already become a health issue.  I knew the leachfield would be destructively expensive, and it was; same for the taxes, and they are, and there are a majority of payments still ahead of us, and no means to pay them, since we haven't had a single sale in over a month. Normally, that wouldn't bother me so much, since everyone else is dealing with tax nonsense in April, but this year? When we have had so many other demands on us for money and for help, enough to wipe us out completely? If things don't pick up very, very soon, we won't make it through this year. And the other demands on me are just as relentless [the ones that don't, directly, anyway, have to do explicitly with money]; there is no help for any of it, and I am at my wits' end.

My Patreon is still down by more than $700 a month over last year, and as our most consistent source of income, that is what pays our monthly bills like utilities and groceries and gas and so forth. It's not going to be enough even fo that, never mind the taxes and everything else. Somehow, I have to bring in sales. If you're in the market, now would be a really, REALLY good time. I posted four new pairs of earrings a few nights ago, here, all at lower price points than his usual, and three new all-silver cuffs, here. Presumably the naja in process I showed here the other day will be available soon, too. And as always, all the regular links are listed below, with sales, as always, being the most important:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here ( we'll always need the dog treats for the monsters, and Amazon and Lowe's cards [the Lowe's cards are probably going to have to go on a new fridge, so I'm hoarding them]); 
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

After such a grim 2023, and with this year starting off MUCH worse, we really need to get 2024 moving onto a better footing, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2024; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.                     

A Growing Peace

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a work for world desperately in need of what the light of peace that it symbolizes, if it — and we — are to survive. It's a contemplation of the destruction that peace's absence creates, of the example the trees can set for us, and of a growing peace out there waiting to be born, if we all step up to the work of it.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. We're now a third of the way through this no-longer-new calendar year and facing complications and costs, some carried over from the end of last year, some all new, that have completely wiped us out. We need to make consistent sales urgently, so shares are very much needed and much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2024; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.