The new year brings new visitors, all of them old friends.

Though I posted one photo of Amy Deputy in my end-of-year cancer update, I wanted to put up a couple more images. For one thing, I wanted to encourage donations to her “I need a new pair of socks” fund, but I also wanted to show that she is a terribly dear friend who is amazingly sweet and wonderful and is also a total nut.

Dave Lewis gave me a wonderful gift by bringing along Eileen Ryan to see me early in January. We chatted all afternoon before I could drag them in to the basement. We all used to work together at The Baltimore Sun, and Dave is still there. Eileen, by the time you read this my stash of Girl Scout cookies will be gone. Sorry. The box says a serving is two cookies but I think they actually mean “one row.”

Kate, originally a client and probably one of my most energetic boosters, surprised me by showing up at the house a little plump! Here is a person who runs marathons and triathlons when she’s not exercising. Turns out that she’s pregnant, not just overeating. She and Jonathan are going to be fantastic parents, if their kids can keep up with them.

Our yoga teacher Moses spent a day with us, and reminded me that even when I’m feeling rough I need to watch the alignment of my shoulders. Moses is a big guy, and all that space inside is filled up with his own heart, with extra helpings of humor and compassion. His own recovery from a harrowing accident in the Peruvian Andes continues at a remarkable pace, and he has been a valuable inspiration to me.

Sara and John brought their hurricane over one morning as well as some vittles. By “hurricane” I mean their daughters Lila, Gwen and June. Sara, too, started out as someone who hired me to photograph her wedding but since then we’ve become good friends and they’ve included me in their wider circle as well. Their hurricane didn’t do any real damage, though I do still find a stray goldfish cracker once in a while in the basement.

Most recently, I received a visit from celebrated Strobist David Hobby. Frankly, as I photographed people (or they photographed themselves) in the Basement Gallery I’ve considered it a challenge to work with exactly the same lighting setup and background each time. But David’s just do damned creative that I had to let him do his thing. So, he got to light himself and it turned out to be way cool. You other photographers who come visit better not expect the same treatment unless you can do better than Dave or you slip me some cash. Or Girl Scout Cookies. Thin Mints or Samoas. Your call.