I was the first one up this morning and came downstairs to enjoy a few minutes of calm before the kids got up and the rest of the household got moving. I was standing at the kitchen counter pouring myself a cup of coffee when I glanced up and saw something I hadn’t really noticed in a long time.

I am a Swanson, as is my father, of course. To celebrate and affirm this fact on the occasion of his marriage back in 1995, I made this piece of stained glass, which now hangs in the entryway of his home.

These days, my “making” is largely limited to pushing words around a page and wrangling stacks of paper into bound volumes. But for a while, I was an enthusiastic stained glass window maker. I’ve often thought that I would enjoy taking it up again when I can find some free time.

Maybe when the new baby comes? If I remember right, small children are known to thrive in proximity to lead.

According to the best estimates of the medical community, we’re 55 days and counting.