Grateful for whatever green we can get.

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

The first tree to leaf turns out to be the globe willow. It's usually one of the earlier ones, but no earlier than the weeping willows. Unfortunately, the latter are dying; we've got only a few live branches left on them.

This is what a twelve-hundred-year drought does.

Still, it makes us grateful for whatever green we can get. I just wish I could bring in some of the metaphorical kind, because I'm breaking under the financial and other pressures right now. In truth, the heaviest load I'm carrying now, by the widest of margins, is one that doesn't [directly, at least] have anything to do with money. But pile the tax and other pressures on top of that, and the stress is quite literally killing me. 

Of course, I realize that the people stalking this page would be more than happy with that result.  Knock yourselves out with your pipe dreams; I ain't going anywhere.

Of course, as if that weren't way more than enough, my workload has increased substantially in other ways. On top of that surprise $707 we had to shell out at the dentist two days ago, Wings's extractions and other work have him unable to eat anything that requires chewing yet. Which has me making soups and stews from scratch, smoothies, hot cereals, other things that will be high enough in protein and fiber and other nutrients to keep his BG in balance without risking any damage to the work. 

And through it all, there's the constant drumbeat of demands on us both. In financial terms that stops now; until this year's taxes are paid, and next year's prepaid, because I'm not going through this again, there will be no money for anything but our baseline needs and other bills. No donations. Period. We don't have it.

Somehow, I have to bring in sales. This is what they used to call the drop-dead moment in a process or dynamic, and we're at it. If you're in the market, now would be a really, REALLY good time. There's lots of new work on the site, including a fabulous new pair of earrings and five new Warrior Woman pins, and I'll have three four new pairs of earrings posted in a little while [possibly a cuff, as well; we'll see]. 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.