I’d like to talk about gifts. Not just the image that usually comes to mind with that word, of a package wrapped in pretty paper, maybe with a ribbon and bow, but the less tangible gifts of friendship, community, shelter, love. How many of us take for granted having a secure roof over our heads? Not all of us, I’m sure, but probably more than a few. I did, until I read Aji’s account of how she and Wings survive in a tiny RV, after their manufactured home was repossessed. Not only is life difficult in the RV, it’s dangerous.
Aji is a gift and a treasure to the Daily Kos community. Although she does not write here these days, she remains engaged with the community, and has helped fundraise for many DK users in need in the past on her own blog. As you’re probably aware, we’ve been raising funds and awareness to help Wings and Aji build a home on Wings’ ancestral lands, one crowdfunded and supported by sales of Wings’ Silverwork so that banksters can’t take it away.
Now, Aji’s birthday is approaching, a week from today, and it would be wonderful if we could give back some, and help raise enough that their crew can get the roof on. They just finished stairs up to the second floor, and as you can see in the title picture, they’ve done much of the framing of the walls on the second floor as well.
The roof is an estimated $5300 expense, of which they’ve already raised $1900 (leaving $3400 to go). It would be a wonderful gift if we could help them over the mark needed.
Their crew is going to be ready to start the roof on Monday, assuming we can get this portion funded. Lumber is expensive, but it’s critical to get the roof on before early winter snows (which have been starting earlier and earlier thanks to climate change) make that impossible. While many of us would love to see Aji & Wings able to move in before winter, we know that may not happen. But if we can get the roof on, we might make it to a state where interior work could continue through the winter snows (although they’ll still need to deal with the septic before ground freeze).
How you can help, followed by a special offer:
NOTE: We have $1000 in Matching Funds! The next $1000 raised will become $2000!!
Now, the special offer:
For this upcoming holiday season, Wings will be offering some small charms made special for this winter season and in celebration and thanks for those of you who have helped in so many ways to help Aji and Wings build their new home. These charms will only be shown in our diaries. They will be sold at a modest reduced price, and only twelve will be available at this price. If you are interested in the piece shown in this diary, please reach out to Aji through the NDN Silver website contact page. Available designs are: Thunderhead; Crossed Arrows; Broken Arrow; Heart; Badger Paw; Bear Paw; Flower; Water Bird; Four Sacred Directions; Five-Pointed Star; and Starburst." They are $50, plus $5 s/h/i.
From Aji:
Each charm is a sterling silver concha, domed in repoussé fashion, with a single traditional symbol hand-stamped on both the front and the reverse. Each measures a half-inch across; each has a lobster-claw clasp already attached.
This particular charm with a Thunderhead stamp:
In our land, water is life, and the rains are the gift of the spirits. This is one of the ancient and traditional thunderhead symbols — three rounded clouds with the rains falling from them in vertical lines. Here, rain symbolizes prosperity and abundance.
An earlier diary by kishik, found here, provides links to each gallery on Wings’ website, for ease of navigation by mobile users. And this diary by belinda ridgewood explains how to navigate Wings’ site on a desktop.
If you want to commission a piece from Wings for the holidays, now is the time to do it — the creative process takes time, and it’s best to beat the rush. I just received this amazing piece in the mail yesterday:
It is incredible, and I’ve only taken it off to sleep so far. I’ll post the back of it in the comments.
Thank you for reading, and sharing the gift of love and community for one of our own.