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It’s autumn! And here around the northeast it means it’s mums season. Mums sold everywhere- garden centers, farmers markets, supermarkets… Mums in the cooling weather will stay blooming with some care, like trimming back spent blooms, and they will continue to bloom until a hard freeze.
The other day, Aji posted this on the NDN blog:
We have spent the week thus far amidst the flowers, witnessing their final dance before the snow flies.
Throw Back Tuesday —NDN SilverHaving just brought home the mums in the photo above last week where they are sitting on my front stoop, you can see why I am taken back by their similarities. Mums mean Autumn and from Autumn follows the cooler temperatures to Winter. While Aji and Wings live far from me, the changing seasons seem to affect us the same — or perhaps it’s our bodies and minds and hearts reactions to the sun drooping lower on the horizon, casting shadows more deeply and sooner than during the bright summer season.
Autumn to Winter. Aji reports that the temperatures are already dipping low in the morning and days to continue outdoor work on their home will be coming to a close — likely by the end of November.
The crew, in the meantime has been busy, despite some setbacks (like weather and a slight injury) that kept them from coming a day here or there.
Here you can see the build-up for the floor of the second story. Wiring is also being placed. You can also see the old RV where Aji and Wings have been living these past six years sitting behind their new home.
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And then comes the particle board as the base for the subfloor of the second story. I love the way the vigas frame the opening for the stairway up to the second floor (which Aji says will be a curved metal frame stairway). Also, you can see part of the carved post peeking through the opening in the photo on the left.
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From here, having now a firm complete base to work from, the second story walls have begun to go up. Aji explained to me that there will be a balcony. So what you see in the photo on the right is a door in the center that will go out onto the balcony.
So — here’s where we are:
All the walls, both exterior and interior on the second story will be done soon. What’s needed then will be a roof. Once the roof is up, then work trying to beat the clock as far as Winter’s approach can slow as interior work can then safely be done without worrying about snow or rain falling inside. But the roof is a big expense and they are looking at a cost of $5,300 which they are trying to raise in the next two weeks.
Here’s how you can help Aji and Wings achieve their next construction goal to get the roof up. Shares. Share in twitter, facebook. Tell friends. Share these diaries with them. Tell them to visit Aji’s blog and Wings NDN Silver site.
Are you entranced by the beauty of the earrings shown in this diary above? These have long gone to their human’s ears, but Wings can make something similar and the holidays are coming up, as earrings, or a brooch or a pendant. The form is quite lovely. If you’re looking for something special and want to commission a piece from Wings, now is the time to start placing your order.
And finally —
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.
Thunderhead Charm- $50.00***************************************
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.
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Stardust earrings — created by Wings**************************************
I have been especially lucky to own a pair of earrings that are similar to this charm style, but my earrings are a design of disks latched together in a cascade. They’re my favorite of all of Wings’ earrings that I wear almost every day. There’s something quite special about them. The silver is just the right weight to hang and drape and just able to brush against my shoulders. You can see the simple stamp work up on the top disk, which is slightly larger than the six disks below. Simple elegance, powerful in its essence — the essence which comes from Wings hands and spirit as he designs, makes and envisions what the silver should hold and reverberate.
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There will be a match drive tonight of $200!! Can we meet this?
update: Match was met and then some. THANK YOU! Can we keep the momentum going? :)