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.                                             

Rebirth Occurs In Its Own Sacred Light

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a pair of all-new works from one of Wings's signature series, perfect for marking both the return of the light and winter's forest light in a land badly in need of real winter now. It's two coil bracelets, just completed ad both particularly apt now, reminders of the gifts of the Winter Solstice and the new year, and of the truth that rebirth occurs in its own sacred light.

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.     

Hope is hard come by these days.

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

That was late today. What he's doing is marking out the boundaries for a bail, one that will be attached to that incredible lapis pendant I posted here as a work in progress a few days ago, here. It's one of many, many works in progress that he's had in the pipeline this year, and couldn't get to thanks to a dizzying array of obstacles. 

When I say it's been a bad year? I don't just mean financially, although that's the most obvious way.

Since this is the first day of the Earth's new year, I'm hoping [praying] that it's much better than the last couple of years have been, especially 2024. I have to admit, though, hope is hard come by these days. I've spent the last few days pushing it on a couple of damaging physical tasks, and my body is about ready to give out now. My spirit gave up a couple of days ago. 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.                                             

Setting Out Upon the Path of the Light

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a trio of works collectively comprising four separate items, all of them child's bangle bracelets that remind us of children's worth, and of our obligations to their well-being. It's a perfect collection for this Day of the Winter Solstice, animated by the spirits of dawn and rebirth, guiding us as we recommit to setting out upon the path of the light.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. Christmas is less than a week away, and it's now impossible to guarantee orders to reach you by Christmas. But we still need to bring in so very many sales over the next two weeks if we' re going 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.     

It's ending as it began.

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

All those white splotches on the ground on the center-right of the photo? That's not snow.

Nope. It's fur from the white dog cheesin' in the sun on the left. You could knit a sweater out of it. Well, maybe a hat. But it's still ridiculous.

Then again, when it's getting up to sixty degrees in mid-December at nearly 8K feet elevation, of course the dogs are going to start shedding. I've been hearing the chickens squawking the last few mornings; it's going to be freaky if I start finding freshly-laid eggs in "winter."

It's the end of the Earth's year tonight, the new one to be born at 2:20 AM local time. It's been a year of drought in every sense of the word, whether simple precipitation, humanity and generosity and goodness, or financially, and it's ending as it began. Barring the miracle we so desperately need right now? We end this year in a hole, and start 2025 the same way.

Frankly, given the terrible sales year this has been, with all our income going to absolutely astronomical unavoidable expenses?  I need to bring in five figures' worth of sales between now and year's end. And yeah, I know. It's not going to happen. Night before last, the pain woke me up around 2 AM, feeling literally as though someone had taken a hammer to every single joint system in my body; last night, just no sleep at all. Today I had to push it a lot physically, because things have to get done, but it's going to wipe me out completely. And even though I can't even begin to cover everything that needs to be covered [forget about the laptop replacement or the well pump replacement or tax prepayments or anything else; I'm talking just basic expenses and costs]? I've had to  . . . just shut off. I've had too much stress this year on every conceivable front, my body is paying for it, and I'm too exhausted even to think anymore. If that's giving up? Welp. Then I'm giving up.

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.] 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: Forms of Medicine and Methods of Reckoning

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

It's our Friday Feature at The NDN Silver Blog, with a trio of works that are perfect not only for this season, but this two-day period that marks the end, and the beginning, of the Earth's last and newest years. It's three silver rings, not quite the seasonal carol but much more perfect for the end and return of the light, forms of medicine and methods of reckoning for our world, and place and path within it.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. Christmas is less than a week away, and it's now impossible to guarantee [unless, just possibly, you're in-state] orders to reach you by Christmas. But we still need to bring in so very many sales over the next two weeks if we' re going 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.     

Wings's newest.

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

As promised, Wings's newest. It matches a cuff already in inventory, here, and there is a belt buckle coming, possibly as early as this evening.  

Coils, too, but I'm not sure when. Probably too late for Xmas shipping, but there's nothing I can do about that now.

Frankly, given the terrible sales year this has been, with all our income going to absolutely astronomical unavoidable expenses?  I need to bring in five figures' worth of sales between now and year's end. And yeah, I know. It's not going to happen. And we're not going to make it. So I'm frankly just . . . not pushing anymore. The pain woke me up around 2 AM, feeling literally as though someone had taken a hammer to every single joint system in my body, and while I'm working anyway, it's not going well. So I'm giving up on that for the time being.

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.] 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.