Leaving and Waving

Leaving and Waving, October 2025

I am deeply moved by Deanna Dikeman’s project, Leaving and Waving. Deanna took a small gesture of love, a simple family tradition, recognized it for the work of art it was, and then proceeded to document it for all her worth. Every photograph in her project resonates with my own experience as the parent of adult children. Waving good-bye after they visit is our tradition, too. And always, that goodbye is bittersweet. So proud of the men they have become while still holding tight to the little boys they once were. Deeply happy to see them, to hug them, to witness their lives. Willing to let them go. Knowing this is the right thing to do. Looking forward to their next visit before they even make it to the highway toward their own homes.

Pictures Make the Best Gifts

Artifact Uprising is having a 30% off sale on calendars right now. I’ve been designing and ordering these calendars to give as Christmas gifts for years. I’ve always been pleased with the quality of the prints, and the gifts have been well-received.

It would be easy to spend hours deliberating on photo choices for calendars, especially if you’re into specific themes. But I take a simpler approach, mostly driven by the “does this spark joy” criterion. Generally, I look to photos from the current year— though I often have to go back a few years to find winter images since I tend to take fewer pictures during those months. I try to stick to a color palette so that the monthly photos flow smoothly. I don’t get too hung up on something specific for a given month like hearts for February with Valentine’s Day, but I do take a seasonal approach.

When I think of showing and sharing my work, this is one of my favorite ways. It’s not about approval-seeking or external validation of my photography skill. It’s simply sharing something I love to make in the same way I might make jars of granola, sugar cookies, or loaves of poppy seed bread as gifts. A joyful act of kindness.

Calendar Images for 2026

The Way In

From The Book of Alchemy: A Creative Practice For An Inspired Life by Suleika Jaouad:

“It’s easy to be energized when you’re in the grip of a big idea. But what do you do when you don’t have anything to work with? Just stay in bed?”

The book is about the art of journaling and its healing power. I’m not sure I would be able to journal for 100 days, even with prompts. But I do know that I could take a picture every day for 100 days, as long as the rules are loose and I can make it my way. This is my form of journaling: taking pictures. Sometimes I am hesitant to call myself a photographer, choosing instead to say, I love to take pictures. You don’t have to be a photographer to notice light and lines and movement and color.

We were buying paint for our front door makeover. Doors on 40 year old houses need a fresh coat of paint and new hinges, and sometimes, a fancy new keypad entry thingie. As the nice young person in Home Depot mixed our paint, the color of red peppers, I stood at the counter, surveying the workspace. When my eyes landed on the paper towel used to clean the paint can opener tool, I was immediately drawn to the random little swipes of color. I weighed my love of this accidental artwork against my need to not be a bother, to not impose, or stand out in any way. It’s a small thing to ask for what you want, and yet sometimes it seems like an insurmountable task. In the end, I took a deep breath, and asked if I could have the paper towel to take home. I explained that I take pictures and this paper pallet was something that caught my eye. The salesperson laughed and smiled and handed the paper towel to me. Looking for goodness is the way that I dispute negative beliefs and train myself to be optimistic.