Elk tracks.

Photo copyright Aji, 2025; all rights reserved.

Last night, Wings said, "I think our family might come to visit tonight." He meant the elk, and he was right. All those long, thin lines of tracks, look like runner tracks? Those are what elk tracks look like in the snow.

Actually, they were here by 11 PM, because the dogs asked to go out, and just as I opened the door I realized, too late, why — they both took off like a shot. So I grabbed the flashlight and turned it on the east field, and the beam picked up a pair of glowing golden eyes staring right at me. I do what I always do, greet them in the old language, tell them they're welcome here and to stay off the highway, and the dogs came back and the elk went on with whatever forage they were finding under the snow. An hour later, though, they were gone; I could hear some big engine rumbling constantly from somewhere, and that likely scared them off back upslope.

Yesterday was a hard day, between the weather and the medical stuff and getting home late and having to navigate a foot and a half of accumulation during evening chores, but at least all that's in the rear-view. We've both done some shoveling today, Wings much more than I, obviously, but most of what absolutely has to be done is done. And hopefully, I can spend the weekend getting caught up on a few things, because I'm certainly way behind now. Among other things, I need to get that new cuff posted; it's been done for about three days, and I just have had zero time for anything of that nature.

Which is not good, because I have GOT to make some sales, since we've had only one so far in this new year. It takes at least one sale a week [sometimes more] just for us to break even on the year, and last year? We didn't even do half that. We're going to have to replace the well pressure pump, without question. Taxes are coming. My laptop apparently will have to wait yet another year [assuming I can keep this alive that long, which I can't assume for a moment, actually]. So now would still be a good time to buy. TONS of new and fabulous work on the site, and tons more on the way, too. But I've got to sell something, for the love of all that's holy. I won't survive another awful year like last year. Every day I wake up to pain that was worse than the day before. I also wonder what will happen to us if it gets so bad that I can't even do this much every day. Lately, that day is seeming like it's maybe not so far off now, and that scares the hell out of me.

Links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (Amazon cards are probably most useful at this point); 
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

After such a grim year, this one far worse than the last, we urgently need to begin 2025 on a better footing before taxes take every cent, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2025; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.