"Storms" but no real rain. No promised wiring fix yet, either, although plenty of expense this week. Sales/subscribers/shares all needed now.

Photo copyright Aji, 201; all rights reserved.

Yesterday's "storm," which consisted mostly of the few raindrops on the camera lens in that photo. Pretty rays, a pale rainbow on the other side, but not much else.

Not much here today, either, although there's too much going on and not enough resources to deal with it. I'm supposed to be with Wings at his clinic appointment, but aside from the fact that I woke up with no voice and a persistent cough, I'm stuck here waiting on crew stuff and wiring stuff, and the latter was due about four hours ago and still nothing. Plenty of expense to go with it, no doubt. And since I am feeling like death warmed over today, the rest is cut-and-paste.

Sales remain essential, for all kinds of reasons. Subscribers, too, but sales are the backbone of everything: basic expenses, finishing off the house, medical bills, all of it. We're coming fast down to the holiday season for this year, and this has been our worst sales year ever, which is saying something, given how bad most recent ones have been, too. I need to bring in a lot more income just to keep our heads above water with all this weighing us down. As though my breathing isn't compromised enough, all of this keeps a boulder squarely on my chest pretty much all the time, worrying about paying off everything. 

There are a lot of ways to help out. First, obviously, is sales; purchases of Wings's work (and/or work by the other artists whose art we carry) is always the first option, and it was the baseline for the construction in the first place. Second is subscribing to my Patreon page, which gets updated regularly with really cool imagery and a good amount of really good writing; if you now for September, you won't be billed until October 1st. Below there's also a link for "coffee," which allows folks to make small donations, and a couple of wishlists for keeping the animals in kibble and filling out needs around the house. In the middle is the link to Wings's PayPal account, and no, I won't turn away any donations, because we have to get this done and I have to have some peace of mind over it because I have none over my own survival these days). The only fundraising we'll be doing is right here; nowhere else. So here are all the links; please share them around, and if you are able to purchase, subscribe, donate, whatever, we'd be profoundly grateful:

• My new Patreon, The Interstices (Writing Between Worlds);
• Wings's site, for sales, with new items posted;
• Wings's direct PayPal link;
• A way to buy me coffee (which actually goes to all of our medical bills, which continue to mount);
• Amazon wishlist, which mostly consists of animal and household stuff;
• Partial registry #1, from Bed, Bath and Beyond. There are new kitchen-y things on it now, stuff that I didn't realize we'd need to replace (either because the RV ruined it or because we gave it away when we had to downsize).

That all I've got. I'm going to be back under the gun for the next several weeks. Thanks to everyone in advance. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Friday Feature: The Tracks of the Summer's-End Spirits

Photo copyright Aji, 201; all rights reserved.

It's our Friday Feature at The NDN Silver Blog, with a pair of small works from a family of local indigenous carvers. Their subjects are equally indigenous, small beings who, like us, are now making ready for winter, as we follow the tracks of the summer's-end spirits.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form.  And, as always, sales are very much needed (especially now; wiring fixes supposed to be coming yet today, on top of everything else), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.



All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Yesterday's gone (thank all that's holy). More expense than there should've been for this round. Sales/shares/subscribers all needed consistently.

Photo copyright Aji, 2018'; all rights reserved.

i am so glad yesterday's gone. There are certain days I dread every year, and that's one of them.

Final coat of sealer on. We can probably start using them again late tomorrow, instead of going up and down the outside deck stairs. The second coat should help protect from all manner of scratches and scuffs, given the level of traffic they get. They're back at Tony's workshop now, doing the balusters. Getting screwed on them (by the guy who was supposed to have done all that over the winter, and who got paid for it) puts us way behind on time, labor, and cost. They still have to build out the rail for the upstairs, too, so we may not be able to get anything else done out of this round except completing the stairs. I'd hoped to work the electrical stuff into this round, but I don't think it's going to be possible.

Which means, of course, that sales remain essential, for all kinds of reasons. Subscribers, too, but sales are the backbone of everything: basic expenses, finishing off the house, medical bills, all of it. We're coming fast down to the holiday season for this year, and this has been our worst sales year ever, which is saying something, given how bad most recent ones have been, too. I need to bring in a lot more income just to keep our heads above water with all this weighing us down. As though my breathing isn't compromised enough, all of this keeps a boulder squarely on my chest pretty much all the time, worrying about paying off everything. 

There are a lot of ways to help out. First, obviously, is sales; purchases of Wings's work (and/or work by the other artists whose art we carry) is always the first option, and it was the baseline for the construction in the first place. Second is subscribing to my Patreon page, which gets updated regularly with really cool imagery and a good amount of really good writing; if you now for September, you won't be billed until October 1st. Below there's also a link for "coffee," which allows folks to make small donations, and a couple of wishlists for keeping the animals in kibble and filling out needs around the house. In the middle is the link to Wings's PayPal account, and no, I won't turn away any donations, because we have to get this done and I have to have some peace of mind over it because I have none over my own survival these days). The only fundraising we'll be doing is right here; nowhere else. So here are all the links; please share them around, and if you are able to purchase, subscribe, donate, whatever, we'd be profoundly grateful:

• My new Patreon, The Interstices (Writing Between Worlds);
• Wings's site, for sales, with new items posted;
• Wings's direct PayPal link;
• A way to buy me coffee (which actually goes to all of our medical bills, which continue to mount);
• Amazon wishlist, which mostly consists of animal and household stuff;
• Partial registry #1, from Bed, Bath and Beyond. There are new kitchen-y things on it now, stuff that I didn't realize we'd need to replace (either because the RV ruined it or because we gave it away when we had to downsize).

That all I've got. I'm going to be back under the gun for the next several weeks. Thanks to everyone in advance. And special thanks to one person; you know who you are, and you know why.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

#ThrowbackThursday: Shelter and Light

Photo copyright Wings, 20128; all rights reserved.

It's #TBT at The NDN Silver Blog, with a work from about eight years ago that was emblematic of this late-summer season. It was a piece that evoked a slightly Asian sensibility, but it was a wholly indigenous symbol of tradition and protection, a work of shelter and light.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. This one was created in 2008 and sold in 2010 or 2011, if memory serves, but if the style speaks to your spirit, simply inquire via the site's Contact form; Wings can create a version uniquely your own. And, as always, sales are very much needed (especially now; labor for the crew plus the plumbers already paid out this week, and a lot more expense to come), so shares of the site links are much appreciated. 



All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Visible progress. Markers and distractions and the never-ending chase to pay the medical bills. Sales and subscribers and shares needed.

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

Visible progress! As of a few moments ago, that's what the stairs look like. The difference damn near defies description, going from bare wood on Monday to stained yesterday to first coat of sealer today. They're using gym sealer because it's a lot more efficient, in terms of time, labor, and cost, than ordinary sealer for such a high-traffic area. They say it may need only one more coat. For the rest of today and most of tomorrow, they'll be working on the balusters, sanding, staining, and sealing, in Tony's workshop: plenty of room to spread everything out, let them all dry, and keep them from getting rained on if the forecast is actually accurate. They won't be able to install them or do the upper banisters until next week, but that's still pretty fast.

I'm outside today, sitting in front of Wings's studio, because the fumes are just too much. I don't think they're actually as bad today as yesterday; it's more that yesterday has sensitized my already-screwed-up lungs that much more. Also, distractions are good today, since today is another one of those markers: the twelfth anniversary of the death by slow alcoholic suicide of my other sister (the middle one; the one who hated the very fact of my existence, which somehow makes it harder, not easier). The rest is cut-and-paste; I've been having a hell of time health-wise for almost a week now, and all my concentration has to go into work, and into chasing sales to pay the medical bills and everything else.

There are a lot of ways to help out. First, obviously, is sales; purchases of Wings's work (and/or work by the other artists whose art we carry) is always the first option, and it was the baseline for the construction in the first place. Second is subscribing to my Patreon page, which gets updated regularly with really cool imagery and a good amount of really good writing; if you now for September, you won't be billed until October 1st. Below there's also a link for "coffee," which allows folks to make small donations, and a couple of wishlists for keeping the animals in kibble and filling out needs around the house. In the middle is the link to Wings's PayPal account, and no, I won't turn away any donations, because we have to get this done and I have to have some peace of mind over it because I have none over my own survival these days). The only fundraising we'll be doing is right here; nowhere else. So here are all the links; please share them around, and if you are able to purchase, subscribe, donate, whatever, we'd be profoundly grateful:

• My new Patreon, The Interstices (Writing Between Worlds);
• Wings's site, for sales, with new items posted;
• Wings's direct PayPal link;
• A way to buy me coffee (which actually goes to all of our medical bills, which continue to mount);
• Amazon wishlist, which mostly consists of animal and household stuff;
• Partial registry #1, from Bed, Bath and Beyond. There are new kitchen-y things on it now, stuff that I didn't realize we'd need to replace (either because the RV ruined it or because we gave it away when we had to downsize).

That all I've got. I'm going to be back under the gun for the next several weeks. Thanks to everyone in advance. And special thanks to one person; you know who you are, and you know why.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Foretelling Summer's End

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a work perfectly suited to our accelerating shift in seasons. It's also a work infused with the spirits and dreams of Indian summer that hold the powers of vision and prophecy, now foretelling summer's end.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. And, as always, sales are very much needed (especially now; crew and plumbers and medical bills and truck repairs and too much to do before winter), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.



All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Miika gets something new. Patreon does the same old thing. New bills, and sales/subscribers/shares all needed.

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

Miika got her introduction to a fly mask yesterday. Initially, she wasn't keen on the sound of the velcro straps, so once I put it over her head, I left it undone. She walked around that way for a good hour, hour and a half, and then finally she let me fasten it. I kept it relatively loose and light, but here she is:

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

The whole thing was an episode in building trust for both of us, and she spent her time after I put it on her unfastened tracking the sound of my voice and following me around.  She's not as confident with it on because it also dims the light somewhat, and she's not used to having her vision obstructed in any way, but she grasped immediately that it kept the flies off her face. She's incredibly smart, but she's needed an environment where that can blossom.

The guys are here working on the stairs —sanding, staining, sealing, so back I go on the O2 shortly. The plumbers were here to replace the igniter in the water heater, too, and while there's no charge for the part, we've had the labor costs from the past few weeks, which were significant (almost $800) that we shelled out today. And Patreon is once again holding up my payout, with no information and no response, so apparently while they'll personally flog racists like Chapo Trap House on their Twitter page, they can't be bothered to do the right thing by us small marginalized independent creators. Meanwhile, the medical bills mount and so does my stress level, because even "payout" isn't instant; it has to go through about three transfer stages before I ever see the funds, and the first occurring on a holiday weekend already puts me behind. The rest is cut-and-paste, because I have way too much to do and way too many new (repeating?) obstacles to navigate right now.

This year has been terrible on so many levels, and the drought has been a disaster in many ways beyond the obvious one. It's killed so much of the tourism that now keeps Native artists here afloat. Sales continue to decline; every year is worse than the last, and I always think it can't get worse but it does. We need to continue to make sales, and I need to hit my subscriber goal on Patreon. The medical bills aren't going away any time soon, nor all the usual bills, and we still have so much to do to get the houser ready for winter. Last year was, everyone hopes, an aberration in terms of the lack of cold and snow; this year is supposed to be back to normal temps (and hopefully snowfall too), and since I am not in and out of the hospital at the moment (which last year shoved everything to the background until it was too late), we have to get this done. In part, we hope, to help continue to keep me out of the hospital this year.

There are a lot of ways to help out. First, obviously, is sales; purchases of Wings's work (and/or work by the other artists whose art we carry) is always the first option, and it was the baseline for the construction in the first place. Second is subscribing to my Patreon page, which gets updated regularly with really cool imagery and a good amount of really good writing; if you now for September, you won't be billed until October 1st. Below there's also a link for "coffee," which allows folks to make small donations, and a couple of wishlists for keeping the animals in kibble and filling out needs around the house. In the middle is the link to Wings's PayPal account, and no, I won't turn away any donations, because we have to get this done and I have to have some peace of mind over it because I have none over my own survival these days). The only fundraising we'll be doing is right here; nowhere else. So here are all the links; please share them around, and if you are able to purchase, subscribe, donate, whatever, we'd be profoundly grateful:

• My new Patreon, The Interstices (Writing Between Worlds);
• Wings's site, for sales, with new items posted;
• Wings's direct PayPal link;
• A way to buy me coffee (which actually goes to all of our medical bills, which continue to mount);
• Amazon wishlist, which mostly consists of animal and household stuff;
• Partial registry #1, from Bed, Bath and Beyond. There are new kitchen-y things on it now, stuff that I didn't realize we'd need to replace (either because the RV ruined it or because we gave it away when we had to downsize).

That all I've got. I'm going to be back under the gun for the next several weeks. Thanks to everyone in advance. And special thanks to one person; you know who you are, and you know why.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.