I'm skeptical.

Photo copyright Aji, 2025; all rights reserved.

I said elsewhere today that the thin line of clouds to the south looked more like early June. That up there? That should be the end of June, when the last of the snow finally gives way to the warmth.

The last of the snow is four months early.

It's terrifying.

In theory, we might get some snow Sunday through Tuesday. Given the forecast highs, though, if we get anything at all, I think it's more likely to be rain, unless it occurs overnight. I'm skeptical that we'll get anything at all, though.

Our nephew was here today helping with a bunch of tasks, including Miika's farrier work, so he and Wings got a lot done, and he's coming back tomorrow to do more. I'm so grateful for the help, because this is all work I can no longer do — including holding Miika while Wings does her hooves, because all it takes is one good jerk from a horse with CPTSD, and my shoulder's dislocated. The lupus has damaged my connective tissue in every joint system so badly [and the rheumatoid arthritis has so badly damaged al of my joints], that everything subluxes on its own now. I can be sitting here working, minding my own business, and something will dislocate; sleeping, and suddenly excruciating pain tears me awake because, well, the tissue has just torn again, and the joint is out of place. Even things you didn't think could dislocate, like ribs.

So the heavy labor is off-limits to me anymore, except in emergencies. Of course, I have more than enough of my own work these days, and I'm way behind on all of it. Partly because those in authority and control [not power; Carter taught me that] are killing more of the planet, and more people, daily [and those elected to defend against it are AWOL entirely], and partly because all the usual issues continue apace. So does the work, our own and the vocational stuff that we have no choice but to do. And, of course, the world is still on fire, they're still coming for us all, and we still have to worry about our communities, about our relatives [both of whom are disproportionately affected by this illegal "funding suspension"], . . . and about us. Last year was indescribably bad on pretty much every single front, especially sales. This year, already a month into it, and it's not appreciably better. I have GOT to make some sales, since we've had only two so far in this new year, and we're already in the second month. 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. Now we have a potential security issue, and I think we're going to have to hire someone to install a camera system here [the distance is too great for the little cheap cameras; this will require something a lot more sophisticated (and a lot more costly, natch)]. 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; those two new pairs of earrings finally got posted yesterday, and the four new necklaces are under way [by tonight, if at all possible]. But I've got to sell something, for the love of all that's holy. I can't live with this level of unrelenting stress on top of everything else.

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.