Real winter.

Photo copyright Aji, 2025; all rights reserved.

There has not been a single cloud in the sky all day today.

I don't think the mercury got above freezing, either.

This is real winter, at last. The problem is, we're not used to it after so many years without. We forget just how cold real seasonal cold can be. And frankly? This isn't even that. This is the easy stuff.

At least for those of us fortunate enough to be housed.

Too many here are not. It's not really possible to overstate how bad it is out there, nor how great the need is. Today I was privileged to meet with two folks who coordinate outreach on another front, and at some point, I'm very likely going to come to y'all and ask for help funding backpacks. Their survival kits are created on a limited budget, and it came down to choosing between blankets and backpacks to hold everything. Given this cold, I would've made the same choice, I expect. But the need remains, and at some point, when I have details of exactly what and how many and so forth, I'll be asking folks to support it.

On that note, go here, buy something, or several somethings, off the other outreach group's wishlist, and you will literally be saving a life, probably more than one. 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 three that I'm told are the most urgent at this moment]:

• The bulk backpacks - at least six 12 packs [not the backpacks discussed above]
• Pepper spray
• Bulk packs of work socks
• Whistles
• 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

They're giving out gear as fast as it comes in, and all of it contributes, quite literally, to saving lives.

And then there's us. My laptop nearly crapped out on me entirely today, shutting itself down literally every ten seconds; I don't know how much it's got left in it. There's the well pressure pump and the roof still to be done. There's medical [and I've had to up my chemo dose again, because the lupus and RA are progressing] and dental. Taxes are coming up all too fast. We need sales, and we need them now. Or a miracle. Or both.

THERE'S SO MUCH NEW WORK ON THE SITE. There's also a new bolo and a new pair of earrings coming, maybe tomorrow [the bolo's done; I just have had no time to get the photos edited and description written; the earrings should be complete tomorrow sometime]. There's the second bolo coming, too, the dino-bone one, and it's amazing already. 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 really 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.