This year's ending completely on-brand.

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

We had some beautiful cloud formations here today, including some dark snowclouds this morning. But this year's ending completely on-brand, all bitter trickster winds and dry as dust, no rain or snow in sight. There's a lot of media yappery about the supposed "polar vortex," but nothing in the extended forecast; it's supposed to be in the 50s again on Friday, for the love all that's holy.

The land is gray with drought. That's not the only thing, either.

I've spent the day doing laundry and a thousand and one other things, and I'm both sore and beat. That's why everything's late, which is also entirely on-brand for this stupid, ridiculous year. But I have not done my regular top-to-bottom end-of-year housecleaning these last few days, ad not because there was no time, although there wasn't. It's because my pain levels are so bad, and the crippling of my hands and other joints also so bad at the moment, that I simply couldn't. So, we'll take tomorrow off from cleaning-type chores, and then I'll tackle it in pieces in the days to come. Long gone are the days when I'd be up on a ladder cleaning every single fixture with cleanser and wet and dry cloths, though.   There's no way anymore.

Wings was busy all day outside, too, trying to get as much done as possible. It's endless, on every single front, but the work has to get done, and that includes constantly chasing sales. Because we have got to get 2025 off onto a better footing than this year was, and do it immediately, or we're screwed. 

And yes, I know we're lucky. The housing crisis worsens daily here. On that note, go here, buy something, or several somethings, off the outreach group's wishlist, and you will literally be saving a life, probably more than one. It's not really possible to overstate how bad it is out there, nor how great the need is. I've sorted it in their Priority order, but once again there's a new order of priorities, not yet entirely reflected in the list itself. This is from the organizer herself [I've italicized the ones that seem to be the most urgent at this moment]:

• The bulk backpacks - at least six 12 packs
• Whistles
• Pepper spray
• Money/document belts (look like tan fanny packs, worn under the clothing  to hide and keep documents safe and protected.
• Bulk dog leashes
• XXL dog harnesses
• Chapstick
• Packs of wipes

The outreach program is giving gear out as fast as they get them, and being mostly housebound now, it's hard for me to get out to pick up any before they're gone. That's why I put some of those essentials on our own wishlist, with a note that they're for the outreach effort; soon, I'll adjust those priorities accordingly, too. 

For us? SALES. PLEASE. THERE'S SO MUCH NEW WORK ON THE SITE. And I need to sell them all, because I still need to make a ridiculous amount of sales to cover all the stuff still in the pipeline that needs covering [laptop, roof AND now the well pressure pump, more medical, always prepaid taxes, etc.]. So: GO BUY! PLEASE. [Yeah, I know; I don't know why I bother, either. As I said, hope is a stupid, stubborn, fucked-up thing sometimes, even if it's also very thin and half-broken.] Links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (Priority is the liquid soaps and Amazon cards, probably most useful at this point); 
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

After such a grim year, this one far worse than the last, we really need to end 2024 on a better footing before 2025 and taxes take every cent, 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 Storm Is an End, and a Rebirth

Photo copyright Wings, 2024;
all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's an edition of Red Willow Spirit for year's end, and for a wounded world in need of a better year to come. It's three images linked by one all-new work of wearable art shown from two perspectives, all of them signifiers of elemental medicine, and a reminder, in these hard times, that a storm is an end, and a rebirth.

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. Year's end, and we still need a sales miracle now if we're going to have a hope of breaking even on this terrible year, 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.       

Hard at it.

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

Excising the surrounding silver from that bolo. You see me talk about a jeweler's saw? That's what it looks like.  A big open frame with a filament of metal locked into the open upper and lower ends on one side. The blade looks a bit like an Eversharp refill, if you're old enough to remember those, but thinner and brighter.  And if you get a finger on your other hand caught while you're cutting, it'll do some damage.

He's been hard at it in the studio, and on a bunch of other tasks, too. No vacation from all the daily chores here, for either of us, and the weather doesn't matter. Today was all trickster winds that shouldn't be here until April, but the mercury's 30 degrees too high and there's no snow, so we have the worst of spring before the previous year's even out. Worst because, aside from the general annoyance factor, sustained high winds are literally the very worst thing for my joints. I can deal with heat, cold, rain, snow, hail, humidity, aridity, whatever . . . but wind kills me. He's finding out what that's like first-hand, too; it's murder on his knees [me, every joint system; I only wish it were confined to my knees]. But the work has to get done, and that includes constantly chasing sales, because we have got to get 2025 off onto a better footing than this year was, and do it immediately, or we're screwed. 

And yes, I know we're lucky. The housing crisis worsens daily here. On that note, go here, buy something, or several somethings, off the outreach group's wishlist, and you will literally be saving a life, probably more than one. It's not really possible to overstate how bad it is out there, nor how great the need is. I've sorted it in their Priority order, but once again there's a new order of priorities, not yet entirely reflected in the list itself. This is from the organizer herself [I've italicized the ones that seem to be the most urgent at this moment]:

• The bulk backpacks - at least six 12 packs
• Whistles
• Pepper spray
• Money/document belts (look like tan fanny packs, worn under the clothing  to hide and keep documents safe and protected.
• Bulk dog leashes
• XXL dog harnesses
• Chapstick
• Packs of wipes

The outreach program is giving gear out as fast as they get them, and being mostly housebound now, it's hard for me to get out to pick up any before they're gone. That's why I put some of those essentials on our own wishlist, with a note that they're for the outreach effort; soon, I'll adjust those priorities accordingly, too. 

For us? SALES. PLEASE. THERE'S SO MUCH NEW WORK ON THE SITE. And I need to sell them all, because I still need to make a ridiculous amount of sales to cover all the stuff still in the pipeline that needs covering [laptop, roof AND now the well pressure pump, more medical, always prepaid taxes, etc.]. So: GO BUY! PLEASE. [Yeah, I know; I don't know why I bother, either. As I said, hope is a stupid, stubborn, fucked-up thing sometimes, even if it's also very thin and half-broken.] Links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (Priority is the liquid soaps and Amazon cards, probably most useful at this point); 
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

After such a grim year, this one far worse than the last, we really need to end 2024 on a better footing before 2025 and taxes take every cent, 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: The Snow's Cleansing Embrace

Photo copyright Wings, 2024;
all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a Monday Photo Meditation for an earth in need of healing at year's end. It's a tribute to past and future simultaneously, to the snow's cleansing embrace and our own abilities to restore our world to health and harmony.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. Christmas notwithstanding, we still need a sales miracle over the next day if we're going to being to break even on the year, 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.     

Making up for lost time.

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

Current work in progress. I don't know whether the trillion cab is going to be oriented that way or with the point up, but it's fossilized dinosaur bone, and it's very, very cool. It's a bolo, if you're wondering. There's a lot more on his workbench, too; making up for lost time earlier this year.

There's no making up for lost sales, though; we're out of year in the next couple of days. I thought last year was bad, but this year has really been something else, in all the worst ways, and I really need 2025 to improve in that regard. I already know there won't be any improvement for me health-wise, but there's nothing I can do about that. These diseases are progressive, and all the many decades of joint damage while doctors were unwilling to treat me in even the most minuscule of ways are making up for lost time, too. The joint damage is a done deal, all over my body; so is the fact that I will always deal with constant acute and chronic pain every moment. The only hope left is slowing the effects on my organs. But if we can at least have a decent sales year, from jump, then that takes one huge source of stress off me. Of course, I have absolutely no reason to believe that it will happen; given this year, just the opposite. Hope is a stupid, stubborn thing.

And yes, I know we're lucky. The housing crisis worsens daily here. On that note, go here, buy something, or several somethings, off the outreach group's wishlist, and you will literally be saving a life, probably more than one. It's not really possible to overstate how bad it is out there, nor how great the need is. I've sorted it in their Priority order, but once again there's a new order of priorities, not yet entirely reflected in the list itself. This is from the organizer herself:

• The bulk backpacks - at least six 12 packs
• Whistles
• Pepper spray
• Money/document belts (look like tan fanny packs, worn under the clothing  to hide and keep documents safe and protected.
• Bulk dog leashes
• XXL dog harnesses
• Chapstick
• Packs of wipes

The outreach program is giving gear out as fast as they get them, and being mostly housebound now, it's hard for me to get out to pick up any before they're gone. That's why I put some of those essentials on our own wishlist, with a note that they're for the outreach effort; soon, I'll adjust those priorities accordingly, too. 

For us? SALES. PLEASE. THERE'S SO MUCH NEW WORK ON THE SITE. And I need to sell them all, because I still need to make a ridiculous amount of sales to cover all the stuff still in the pipeline that needs covering [laptop, roof AND now the well pressure pump, more medical, always prepaid taxes, etc.]. So: GO BUY! PLEASE. [Yeah, I know; I don't know why I bother, either. As I said, hope is a stupid, stubborn, fucked-up thing sometimes, even if it's also very thin and half-broken.] Links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (Priority is the liquid soaps and Amazon cards, probably most useful at this point); 
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

After such a grim year, this one far worse than the last, we really need to end 2024 on a better footing before 2025 and taxes take every cent, 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.                                              

The First Medicine of Winter

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a work for those healing moments when the water comes, whether as rain in summer or in the form of winter snows. It's a work also to honor these gifts, these blessings, the First Medicine of winter, and for our own obligations to respect it, to restore and renew it now.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. Christmas notwithstanding, we still need a sales miracle before Wednesday if we're going to being to break even on the year, 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 risk.

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

A little new snow overnight. We even got a little down here, although on that score, by "little," I mean almost microscopic. 

But it's something. In a drought like this, you can't afford ingratitude for any amount.

Fewer than four days to the new calendar year. As bad as it seemed back in 2016, now it's frankly terrifying. People are entirely unprepared for what's coming, politically, governmentally, societally, ecologically, every other way. That doesn't refer to us, incidentally; we have a pretty good grasp on just how terrible things are going to get. But knowing what's coming and being able to do something about it are two very different things, and all of the resources, access, and authority and control are on the wrong side now. We certainly have none of them whatsoever, just a lot of risk, and a lot of vulnerability to their bad acts.

I'm going to be very hit or miss about everything for the foreseeable. This time of year is always a slow-motion autoimmune crash for me, but there always comes a point where it becomes a hard and comprehensive crash, and I hit that latter point yesterday morning. I'm in agonizing pain every moment, and no, there is nothing to be done about it except grit my teeth and try to work through it as best I can [and the first person to suggest cannabis in any form catches a lifetime block; that shit doesn't do anything for me except worsen all of it].

On the plus side, we've made a couple of sales this week, and thanks to that and another friend, scrips have gotten got, and the autopays should be covered on the first. Yes, we still need that miracle [well pump, laptop, everything else], but the immediate gaps are covered, and for that I am profoundly grateful to all involved.

And yes, I know we're lucky. The housing crisis worsens daily here. On that note, in reference to the deliveries above? Also go here, buy something, or several somethings, off the outreach group's wishlist, and you will literally be saving a life, probably more than one. It's not really possible to overstate how bad it is out there, nor how great the need is. I've sorted it in their Priority order, but once again there's a new order of priorities as of today. This is from the organizer herself:

• The bulk backpacks - at least six 12 packs
• Whistles
• Pepper spray
• Money/document belts (look like tan fanny packs, worn under the clothing  to hide and keep documents safe and protected.
• Bulk dog leashes
• XXL dog harnesses
• Chapstick
• Packs of wipes

The outreach program is giving gear out as fast as they get them, and being mostly housebound now, it's hard for me to get out to pick up any before they're gone. That's why I put some of those essentials on our own wishlist, with a note that they're for the outreach effort; soon, I'll adjust those priorities accordingly, too. 

For us? SALES. PLEASE. THERE'S SO MUCH NEW WORK ON THE SITE. And I need to sell them all, because I still need to make a ridiculous amount of sales to cover all the stuff still in the pipeline that needs covering [laptop, roof AND now the well pressure pump, more medical, always prepaid taxes, etc.]. So: GO BUY! PLEASE. [Yeah, I know; I don't know why I bother, either. Hope is a stupid, stubborn, fucked-up thing sometimes, even if it's also very thin and half-broken.] Links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (Priority is the liquid soaps and Amazon cards, probably most useful at this point); 
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

After such a grim year, this one far worse than the last, we really need to end 2024 on a better footing before 2025 and taxes take every cent, 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.                                              

Weaving a Blanket of Renewal

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a work for the braiding of elemental powers and seasonal forces, one for weaving snow and fire. It's a cuff set with a stone perfect for the cleansing power of winter snows, and for weaving a blanket of renewal for the year to come.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. Christmas notwithstanding, we still need a sales miracle over the next week if we're going to being to break even on the year, 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.     

Talk about a dog's life.

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

Oh, if only.

If I tried that? I wouldn't be able to sit or stand for at least a week, never mind walk.

Sunny, though, is supremely unbothered. He hops up onto the ottoman, back down onto the floor, over to the dog bed, no dignity in evidence through any of it. Talk about a dog's life.

Today was one of those days, and if I have my way, I'm going nowhere but the post office next week, and then only if we have orders to ship [and maybe the grocery store once]. I woke up, got up, and my whole left shoulder/arm/upper back immediately decided to go on strike. That's what I thought would be the problem today.

NOPE.

Got downstairs, and ten minutes later, my hip joints and lower back collectively decided to sublux, then seize up entirely. The pain is . . . something else. And of course I had to be on my feet, walking around on hard surfaces, standing in line all afternoon.

On the plus side, we've made a couple of sales this week, and thanks to that and another friend, scrips have gotten got, and the autopays should be covered on the first. Yes, we still need that miracle [well pump, laptop, everything else], but the immediate gaps are covered, and for that I am profoundly grateful to all involved.

And yes, I know we're lucky. The housing crisis worsens daily here. On that note, in reference to the deliveries above? Also go here, buy something, or several somethings, off the outreach group's wishlist, and you will literally be saving a life, probably more than one. It's not really possible to overstate how bad it is out there, nor how great the need is. I've sorted it in their Priority order, but once again there's a new order of priorities as of today. This is from the organizer herself:

• The bulk backpacks - at least six 12 packs
• Whistles
• Pepper spray
• Money/document belts (look like tan fanny packs, worn under the clothing  to hide and keep documents safe and protected.
• Bulk dog leashes
• XXL dog harnesses
• Chapstick
• Packs of wipes

The outreach program is giving gear out as fast as they get them, and being mostly housebound now, it's hard for me to get out to pick up any before they're gone. That's why I put some of those essentials on our own wishlist, with a note that they're for the outreach effort; soon, I'll adjust those priorities accordingly, too. 

For us? SALES. PLEASE. THERE'S SO MUCH NEW WORK ON THE SITE. And I need to sell them all, because I still need to make a ridiculous amount of sales to cover all the stuff still in the pipeline that needs covering [laptop, roof AND now the well pressure pump, more medical, always prepaid taxes, etc.]. So: GO BUY! PLEASE. [Yeah, I know; I don't know why I bother, either. Hope is a stupid, stubborn, fucked-up thing sometimes, even if it's also very thin and half-broken.] Links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (Priority is the liquid soaps and Amazon cards, probably most useful at this point); 
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

After such a grim year, this one far worse than the last, we really need to end 2024 on a better footing before 2025 and taxes take every cent, 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: To Reclaim Our World In Winter

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

It's our Friday Feature at The NDN Silver Blog, with a work that honors both this land mass we know as Turtle Island and the humble spirit of the relative who made its existence possible. It's a meditation, too, on the nature of such gifts, and their use as inspiration to us to reclaim our world in winter, for its restoration and rebirth.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. Christmas notwithstanding, we still need a sales miracle over the next week if we're going to being to break even on the year, 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.     

Still in need of a miracle.

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

More work in progress. This one's going to be a bolo. If he keeps to his current plan, it's be set with a trillion-cut cab of fossilized dinosaur bone. It's going to be amazing.

I wish we could sell some of the existing amazing work, though. We did make one sale last night, for which we are both profoundly grateful. The problem is the expenses so far outweigh the income this year that we are still in need of a miracle.

One that I am all but 100% sure will not be forthcoming. So it's apparently set in stone already: We end this year in a hole, and start 2025 the same way. 

Yes, I know we're lucky. The housing crisis worsens daily here. On that note, in reference to the deliveries above? Also go here, buy something, or several somethings, off the outreach group's wishlist, and you will literally be saving a life, probably more than one. It's not really possible to overstate how bad it is out there, nor how great the need is. I've sorted it in their Priority order, but there are new priorities as of what they've given out today. This is from the organizer herself:

• The bulk backpacks - at least six 12 packs
• Hand Warmers
• Space Blankets
• Pepper spray
• Money/Document belts (look like tan fanny packs, worn under the clothing  to hide and keep documents safe and protected.
• 2 person tents
• Tarps

The outreach program is giving gear out as fast as they get them, and being mostly housebound now, it's hard for me to get out to pick up any before they're gone. That's why I put some of those essentials on our own wishlist, with a note that they're for the outreach effort; soon, I'll adjust those priorities accordingly, too. 

For us? SALES. PLEASE. THERE'S SO MUCH NEW WORK ON THE SITE. And I need to sell them all, because I still need to make a ridiculous amount of sales to cover all the stuff still in the pipeline that needs covering [laptop, roof next year AND now the well pressure pump, more medical, always prepaid taxes, etc.]. So: GO BUY! PLEASE. [Yeah, I know; I don't know why I bother, either. Hope is a stupid, stubborn, fucked-up thing sometimes, even if it's also very thin and half-broken.] Links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (Priority is the liquid soaps and Amazon cards, probably most useful at this point); 
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

After such a grim year, this one far worse than the last, we really need to end 2024 on a better footing before 2025 and taxes take every cent, 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.                                             

#ThrowbackThursday: The Snow Is a Regenerative Spirit

Photo copyright Wings, 2024; all rights reserved.

It's #TBT at The NDN Silver Blog, with a #ThrowbackThursday work that is part of one of Wings's longest-running signature series, a symbol of life and balance perfect for this season and time. it's one in his extensive series of winter holiday tree pins, one to remind us that the snow is a regenerative spirit here, one the bestows breath and life to this land, and to us.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. As always, this work will never be duplicated exactly, but if the style speaks to your spirit, simply inquire via the site's Contact form; Wings can create a version uniquely your own [albeit not until after the new year; commissions are now closed until sometime in early 2025]. Christmas notwithstanding, we still need a sales miracle over the next week if we're going to being to break even on the year, 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 little snow.

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

Well, we got a little snow, so that qualifies it as a good Christmas, I guess.  Just a few flakes, enough graupel for a little round cover for the moment. It won't accumulate, and it won't last, but it's something.

Very modest here otherwise. Humble little [very little] tree, although the lights and ornaments transform it. Wings needed a new wallet, which is what I got him, plus a [mis]print by a Native artist that hasn't arrived yet. He gave me two tiny pairs of stud earrings [not by him, but actual gold/silver and turquoise] and a small silk scarf [I was expecting nothing, very literally, so I feel like I made out like a bandit]. No turkey or duck or goose for dinner, not even a roast or a ham, which is kind of a relief, given my pain and fatigue levels. We scored a couple of buffalo steaks recently, and those are what we're having for dinner tonight, along with sweet potatoes and wild rice. No, I did not make a pie, either. There hasn't been time or money for any of that.

And it's apparently set in stone already: We end this year in a hole, and start 2025 the same way. So for today? Yeah, I'm numb when it comes to festivities. I'm just grateful fo the snow, and that we're sheltered and warm.

Because, yes, I know we're lucky. The housing crisis worsens daily here. On that note, in reference to the deliveries above? Also go here, buy something, or several somethings, off the outreach group's wishlist, and you will literally be saving a life, probably more than one. It's not really possible to overstate how bad it is out there, nor how great the need is. I've sorted it in their Priority order, but there are new priorities as of what they've given out today. This is from the organizer herself:

• The bulk backpacks - at least six 12 packs
• Hand Warmers
• Space Blankets
• Pepper spray
• Money/Document belts (look like tan fanny packs, worn under the clothing  to hide and keep documents safe and protected.
• 2 person tents
• Tarps

The outreach program is giving gear out as fast as they get them, and being mostly housebound now, it's hard for me to get out to pick up any before they're gone. That's why I put some of those essentials on our own wishlist, with a note that they're for the outreach effort; soon, I'll adjust those priorities accordingly, too. 

For us? THERE'S SO MUCH NEW WORK ON THE SITE. And I need to sell them all, because I still need to make a ridiculous amount of sales to cover all the stuff still in the pipeline that needs covering [laptop, roof next year AND now the well pressure pump, more medical, always prepaid taxes, etc.]. So: GO BUY! PLEASE. [Yeah, I know; I don't know why I bother, either. Hope is a stupid, stubborn, fucked-up thing sometimes, even if it's also very thin and half-broken.] Links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (Priority is the liquid soaps and Amazon cards, probably most useful at this point); 
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

After such a grim year, this one far worse than the last, we really need to end 2024 on a better footing before 2025 and taxes take every cent, 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.                                             

Restoring Balance Is Winter's Blessing of the Earth

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a pair of works perfect for this day and season, the holiday resin, berry, bough of an evergreen twilight. It's the two current iterations from Wings's signature series of whimsical holiday tree pins, a year-round wearable reminder that restoring balance is winter's blessing of the earth, and that it is also our own work, too.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. Christmas notwithstanding, we still need a sales miracle over the next week if we're going to being to break even on the year, 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.     

Still a Charlie Brown tree.

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

Shot from outside, through the window.  Still a Charlie Brown tree.

Nothing under it but the tree skirt.  I have one very small thing to wrap for Wings, and one placeholder for something for him that isn't here. That's it. There's nothing else. No money, never mind time. [No, nothing for me, either.]

I was feeling better about everything this morning, but the day intervened, and I finally broke. I'm in so much pain and this year has been so awful on every leve, and I can do absolutely nothing and there will be no miracle forthcoming and I don't know what the fuck we're going to do. It's apparently set in stone already: We end this year in a hole, and start 2025 the same way. So for today? Yeah, I give up. I'm numb.

And yes, I know we're lucky. The housing crisis worsens daily here. On that note, in reference to the deliveries above? Also go here, buy something, or several somethings, off the outreach group's wishlist, and you will literally be saving a life, probably more than one. It's not really possible to overstate how bad it is out there, nor how great the need is. I've sorted it in their Priority order, but there are new priorities as of what they've given out today. This is from the organizer herself:

• The bulk backpacks - at least six 12 packs
• Hand Warmers
• Space Blankets
• Pepper spray
• Money/Document belts (look like tan fanny packs, worn under the clothing  to hide and keep documents safe and protected.
• 2 person tents
• Tarps

The outreach program is giving gear out as fast as they get them, and being mostly housebound now, it's hard for me to get out to pick up any before they're gone. That's why I put some of those essentials on our own wishlist, with a note that they're for the outreach effort; soon, I'll adjust those priorities accordingly, too. 

For us? THERE'S SO MUCH NEW WORK ON THE SITE. And I need to sell them all, because I still need to make a ridiculous amount of sales to cover all the stuff still in the pipeline that needs covering [laptop, roof next year AND now the well pressure pump, more medical, always prepaid taxes, etc.]. So: GO BUY! PLEASE. [Yeah, I know; I don't know why I bother, either. Hope is a stupid, stubborn, fucked-up thing sometimes, even if it's also very thin and half-broken.] Links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (Priority is the liquid soaps and Amazon cards, probably most useful at this point); 
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

After such a grim year, this one far worse than the last, we really need to end 2024 on a better footing before 2025 and taxes take every cent, 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: Rest As Winter's Medicine

Photo copyright Wings, 2024;
all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's an edition of Red Willow Spirit for what some traditions consider the holiest night of the year, and what for others is simply the best of the cold season's beauty. It's two images linked by a single work of wearable art, all of them reminders of the purpose of the cold and the dark: in what we are a told is the season of giving, a tribute to the gift of rest as winter's medicine.

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. Christmas notwithstanding, we still need a sales miracle over the next two weeks if we're going to being to break even on the year, 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.      

The rest of the day? Pfft.

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

I had such high hopes for this day on every front, and it's been absolute trash.

Except, of course, for Wings's latest, one he had hoped to have done in time for Christmas purchasing, but everything has conspired against it. But you can see here what it looks like, smaller rounds and discs of turquoise up the rest of the strand on either side. It's very vintage Indigenous Art Deco, hints of a century ago, and a bit of an Egyptian feel to it, too. Royal lapis, and he found those turquoise cabs hidden away; no idea what they are, except absolutely extraordinary clear blue, like old Sleeping Beauty. He doesn't even the findings on yet, so it's not on the site, and I don't even know what he's charging for it, but if you're interested in it, I can find out.

The rest of the day? Pfft.  Started out with beautiful low dark cloud cover, and we got nothing out of it. High in the fifties again; dry as ash and bone. The dogs are mini-Pigpens, as in the Peanuts character; they each carry their own dustcloud with them wherever they go. And, of course, they bring it inside, which means I'm fighting a losing battle daily.

Speaking of Peanuts, our little Charlie Brown tree is up, but not decorated; lights aren't up outside yet, either. The latter is for tomorrow; I'll get the former started yet tonight, at least lights and garlands and a few ornaments, even if the rest has to wait for tomorrow. I ain't going anywhere.

At all. I'm beat. This has been a destructive, dangerous, deadly year, and we all know what's looming. There is never any respite from the pain, and the RA is attacking new joints now [and I suspect the lupus is doing the same with certain organs, given the difficulty everything is causing me now]. As bad as things are, I'm just glad we're home, in for the night, housed and warm and not needing to go anywhere or do anything at this moment. And right now, I'm just trying not to think about what we're facing, because barring the miracle we so desperately need right now? We end this year in a hole, and start 2025 the same way. 

And yes, I know we're lucky. The housing crisis worsens daily here. On that note, in reference to the deliveries above? Also go here, buy something, or several somethings, off the outreach group's wishlist, and you will literally be saving a life, probably more than one. It's not really possible to overstate how bad it is out there, nor how great the need is. I've sorted it in their Priority order, but there are new priorities as of what they've given out today. This is from the organizer herself:

• The bulk backpacks - at least six 12 packs
• Hand Warmers
• Space Blankets
• Pepper spray
• Money/Document belts (look like tan fanny packs, worn under the clothing  to hide and keep documents safe and protected.
• 2 person tents
• Tarps

The outreach program is giving gear out as fast as they get them, and being mostly housebound now, it's hard for me to get out to pick up any before they're gone. That's why I put some of those essentials on our own wishlist, with a note that they're for the outreach effort; soon, I'll adjust those priorities accordingly, too. 

For us? THERE'S SO MUCH NEW WORK ON THE SITE. And I need to sell them all, because I still need to make a ridiculous amount of sales to cover all the stuff still in the pipeline that needs covering [laptop, roof next year AND now the well pressure pump, more medical, always prepaid taxes, etc.]. So: GO BUY! PLEASE. [Yeah, I know; I don't know why I bother, either. Hope is a stupid, stubborn, fucked-up thing sometimes, even if it's also very thin and half-broken.] Links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (Priority is the liquid soaps and Amazon cards, probably most useful at this point); 
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

After such a grim year, this one far worse than the last, we really need to end 2024 on a better footing before 2025 and taxes take every cent, 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: A Respite of Snow and Ceremony

Photo copyright Wings, 2024; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a Monday Photo Meditation for a week that supposedly marks a sacred season, if one badly marred by commercialism now. It's a remembrance of what winter was here not so very long ago, inspiration for us to reclaim the best of the season, a time of rebirth and a respite of snow and ceremony.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. Christmas notwithstanding, we still need a sales miracle over the next two weeks if we're going to being to break even on the year, 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.    

Almost nothing.

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

When you're just a little [okay, big] white dog, and you thought maybe Christmas came early, so you went up the chimney looking for Santa Paws, and you didn't find any presents, but you did find an old wonderfully-fermented bone buried somewhere else.

I don't know what Sunny got into, but he looks like he rolled in the ash pile this morning. Whatever it is, he seems proud of it.

Everything's late because it's been another one of those days. If I have my way, we won't go anywhere else this week. [I lie. We'll take a few trips around town to see if any unhoused folks need gear. But barring the sudden need to ship a bunch of orders (haha, yeah, right), I hope that's it.]

I'm beat. This has been a destructive, dangerous, deadly year, and we all know what's looming. I realized, though, while we were out today just how bad it is here, and it's kind of terrifying. Normally, it's bumper-to-bumper, wall-to-wall shoppers and tourists, all December. Three days before Christmas? You can barely move or breathe in town.

Today? Almost nothing. The traffic should be worse, if anything, given the construction on the main drag, but . . . almost nothing. Shelves are bare of staples, but holiday foods? Eggnog, pre-made pies, turkeys, ducks, geese, etc.? Tons of them left. Almost no holiday decorations. And the real tell? I can only recall seeing one person all month hauling a Christmas tree in their truck. The tree lot by the post office? Three days before Christmas, they're down to a dozen, maybe less, in other years. It's all the giant bank trees no one can afford or fit in their house and the tiny scraggly Charlie Brown trees that are left.

Not this year. Today, there were literally DOZENS of Christmas trees left, big and small, full, lush, beautiful, perfect for any home. I've never seen this before. But it's an indicator of how bad things are out there.

It also explains why the election went as it did, with Dems yapping about how great the economy is while down here in the trenches, the most vulnerable people are losing everything, being turned out into the streets while the party's venture-capital pals pop champagne at their latest unhousing of the obstacles to their profits. Things could be very different right now, but the blame lies squarely at their door [the Nazis are unreachable, so don't even talk to me about blaming the Klan, the Dems courted that evil and left our peoples and communities to die].

As bad as things are, I'm just glad we're home, in for the night, housed and warm and not needing to go anywhere or do anything at this moment. And right now, I'm just trying not to think about what we're facing, because barring the miracle we so desperately need right now? We end this year in a hole, and start 2025 the same way. 

And yes, I know we're lucky. The housing crisis worsens daily here. On that note, in reference to the deliveries above? Also go here, buy something, or several somethings, off the outreach group's wishlist, and you will literally be saving a life, probably more than one. It's not really possible to overstate how bad it is out there, nor how great the need is. I've sorted it in their Priority order, but there are new priorities as of what they've given out today. This is from the organizer herself:

• The bulk backpacks - at least six 12 packs
• Hand Warmers
• Space Blankets
• Pepper spray
• Money/Document belts (look like tan fanny packs, worn under the clothing  to hide and keep documents safe and protected.
• 2 person tents
• Tarps

The outreach program is giving gear out as fast as they get them, and being mostly housebound now, it's hard for me to get out to pick up any before they're gone. That's why I put some of those essentials on our own wishlist, with a note that they're for the outreach effort; soon, I'll adjust those priorities accordingly, too. 

For us? THERE'S SO MUCH NEW WORK ON THE SITE. And I need to sell them all, because I still need to make a ridiculous amount of sales to cover all the stuff still in the pipeline that needs covering [laptop, roof next year AND now the well pressure pump, more medical, always prepaid taxes, etc.]. So: GO BUY! PLEASE. [Yeah, I know; I don't know why I bother, either. Hope is a stupid, stubborn, fucked-up thing sometimes, even if it's also very thin and half-broken.] Links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (Priority is the liquid soaps and Amazon cards, probably most useful at this point); 
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

After such a grim year, this one far worse than the last, we really need to end 2024 on a better footing before 2025 and taxes take every cent, 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.