Here’s where Mothering art director Laura Egley Taylor provides a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the magazine while sharing her opinions and tips on photography, typography and design, and life in general—all filtered through her newly developing empty-nester viewpoint.

Laura lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico with her husband, Tim, and, until recently, their son, Reeve, 21, who, after spending last year studying music in Scotland, is several thousand miles closer this year—studying music in southern New Mexico.

Oh, and the title of the blog? Besides being Laura’s personal experience of how magazine production (and life, in general) works, it is also a reference to this cartoon by Sidney Harris.

All photos and illustrations included in these postings are © Mothering magazine or © Laura Egley Taylor unless otherwise noted.