Reentry

I feel I would be remiss if I didn't somehow mark this season of life in light of the pandemic, not only for posterity's sake, but also for my own reflection and mental processing.  So, here goes.  :)

We have known people who have tested positive for, struggled with, and/or passed from COVID-19, and we've (only just recently) experienced it ourselves.  There has been and is so much else going on in the world, as well, and like many of you, I'm sure, my head has been in a constant state of "spin," and it seems as though my heart cannot handle one more tragedy/conflict/moral dilemma.  While it seems like there's so much we could process together and talk about, conversations in the recent past have seemed to go generally the same way:  

How are you doing?

Oh, you know, hanging in there.  How about you?

Yeah.  Same - just in survival mode.  Anything new going on?

Not really.  You?

Nope.

It has been so hard to wrap our minds around what in the actual world is going on, so hard to figure out how to be in all of this, so hard to know what to do or think, and as a result, we've stayed on the surface of what could be deepening conversations and relationships.  We've seemingly given up some hope and drive and zest.  We've settled for this perpetual "new normal," and despite "making the most of it," we're not necessarily thriving.  Sure, initially, we were innovative and creative and almost excited about finding new ways to fill our time, but as that time went on, we became increasingly wearied by that time that kept and kept and kept going on.  That's seemed to be the case for me, at least.

Don't hear me saying we haven't all been doing the best we can.  And please don't hear me saying (to any of you or to myself) that we should've done more, done better, or done different.  I'm just trying to put words to where we're coming from as we look to where we're going.

I recently read an article titled, in part, "mourning the mom I used to be," and man - so much of it hit home.  As I read it, I also realized not only have I been mourning the mom I used to be, but also the wife, friend, aunt, leader, teacher, and person I used to be.  The pandemic has robbed us of so much, not the least of which is access to experiences, situations, resources, and people that help us to be the best versions of ourselves.  Sure, we figured out to "make do," but it just hasn't been the same.  

See - already, the tone of this post of mine is uncharacteristically pessimistic and dark, right?!  This leads me to the fact that the pandemic has also given us a lot.  One of these "gifts" is a harsh reality check that, at least for me, has lead to some new perspectives.  Being so isolated and unoccupied magnified our home lives and our thought lives.  It's given us time to overhaul our spaces, our marriages, our parenting, and the way we spend our time.  Near the beginning of this pandemic life, I wondered what we'd look like on the other side of it all.  I wondered if we'd maintain the new priorities we'd put into place.  Wondered if we'd still be content to stay home all day for days in a row; if we'd leave space for family time amongst other obligations; if we'd keep our closets organized and our clutter minimal (😉).  And here we are (I think/hope)!  It seems that I won't have to wonder about that time, anymore.  It seems we're there.  (Or "here?"  Whatever makes the most sense.  Notice I didn't say this time has given me extra, new, or even renewed brain cells...)

I took both kids to in-person story time at the library last week, and it was a surprisingly surreal experience.  Pre-COVID, library story time was a regular part of Jacob and I's routine.  We started going as soon as he dropped his morning nap (around 15 months, I think), and we attended a couple times a week.  He loved the librarians, learned/practiced social skills, and met some of his (and my) best friends there.

When the pandemic hit, we obviously stopped going to story time...and everywhere else.  My little social butterfly who, for many reasons, thrived on our daily outings, was caged, if you will.  You may remember how early-COVID days went around here, as documented in this video.

Late last year, thanks to a friend's generous offer to stay with Lydia during her morning nap, I was able to take Jacob back to a couple story times - one was outside and one was very sparsely attended and somewhat disjointed, and both were are not-our-usual library.  Because our previous story time experiences were half his lifetime ago, Jacob only remembered these COVID ones, as far as I could tell.  So, you can imagine his (and my) delight when we attended last week and there were several families in attendance, he remembered the librarians, and activities included both bubbles and the parachute.  Plus, we got to share it all with Lydia for the first time.

That's partially where the surreal-ness came in, for me.  I hadn't gotten to be "this mom" with her, yet.  I haven't gotten to show her the world...or the world her, for that matter.  How relieving it was to see her so comfortable and engaged in this almost-normal, pre-COVID environment.  She caught on quickly, was independently involved, and acted like she'd been doing it all her whole life.

She took it upon herself to pick up all the unattended carpet squares after putting away her own.

Do you see that boy's face?!  ♥

After story time, we went to a park to play and have a picnic (giving myself a gold star for this foresight and preparedness - haha).  It was suuuuch a beautiful day, and the sunshine and warmth were doing wonders for everyone.  Some older-than-Jacob boys showed up shortly after we'd finished our lunch.  Not only did Jacob require minimal encouragement to approach them, but when he did, he introduced himself ("and this is my sister Lydia," he said of his own accord) and asked if they wanted to play a game of tag.  How relieving it was to see him so comfortable and engaged in this almost-normal, pre-COVID environment.  He was friendly, played fair, and made sure everyone watched out for his "little sister" (something he hasn't had opportunity to implement much and did all on his own).

Days like these (story time + park + picnic in the sunshine) assure me that all is not lost.  Kids really are resilient, and it's never too late to "get back out there" - for them or for yourself.  I'm still the person I was pre-pandemic, and I can still be the mom I was, too.  How relieving it was to see me so comfortable and engaged in this almost-normal, pre-COVID environment.  I made small talk, arrived on time and prepared (after being so out of practice), and truly enjoyed a large portion of the day with my sweet kiddos (don't take this the wrong way - of course I'm very grateful to be able to stay home with them, but if you can't relate, just trust me when I say it's not always enjoyable).  While it's ok to mourn the mom I hadn't been able to be, I can also be grateful to have gained so many new tools and experiences during our quarantine life the last couple of years (still crazy to put that time stamp on it all, right?!).

All that to say, the world is such a volatile place, these days.  Perhaps it always was, and we're just hyper-sensitive to it, since we haven't had much else to occupy our time and minds?  Who knows.  Regardless, it almost makes me want to just keep staying at home.  Keep living in our bubble of Pinterest activities, backyard playtime, and limited interaction with the outside world.  But only almost.  There is still beauty to be found and joy to be felt.  There are still connections to be made and relationships to be had.  There are still adventures to embark on and places to explore.  We will not live in fear.  Plus, I can't keep these two all to myself - their light is too bright and their joy too immense. ♥

The Lord has sustained us through this past season, and He will sustain us through the next...and the next...and the next.  I am so thankful for the hope, peace, wisdom, and provision He provides.  I am in constant awe of His grace and His kindness.  When the world is so dark and humanity seems hopeless, I cling to the fact that His love and forgiveness are for everyone, and I pray everyone has the opportunity to accept and profess that truth.  I am ready to keep helping make that happen.  

I am ready to regain some of what we've lost.  I am ready to move forward with new perspectives, new tools, and new expectations.  I'm ready to remember and appreciate who we were - who I was - and excited to discover who we'll become - who I'll become.  Are you?

Readily,

Kensy

Favorites of the day:

all the new words Lydia is trying out

meeting new people

the PAT (Parents As Teachers) program

(This may be another blog post for some day, but for now, I highly recommend this program for new parents/parents of young children.  We just (finally) started and I regret not doing so sooner, if nothing else than for the affirmation and encouragement I've already received from an expert in the field of young children/parenting.  How valuable to a stay-at-home mom, especially!  Really thankful for this resource.)

Nothing and everything

Did anyone besides me think I'd actually get a post out on the precise "COVID-versary?"  A few days late isn't bad, though...especially given the year its been.  Right?  ;)  I didn't really intend to write a "one year later" post, but then, it all kind of hit me, and as you know, this is how I best process.  

I can't remember whether or not I've written much about the IF:Gathering in the past (and I can't afford the time to search the archives), so I'll give an elevator pitch here:

The IF:Gathering is a women's conference held in TX and live-streamed (even pre-2021) to viewers worldwide.  The theme each year centers around "IF" (What IF God is real?  What IF He keeps His promises?  How do we respond?).  This year, the theme was "Even:IF - Even IF the worst happens, we don't lose hope."  Women are invited to host IF:Locals in their churches, homes, schools, etc., and for the last few years, I have led a team to host an IF:Local at our church.  We typically gather Friday evening and most of Saturday to tune in to the live worship and speakers, share meals and snacks, participate in great conversation, and make a craft or two.  IF:2020 was one of the last big "things" in my/our life before the stay-at-home orders went into place. 

So, as I sat down to watch IF:2021 - alone, in our basement, while corresponding with ladies from our church on the live chat feature - I got teary.  Yes, we have missed several "normal" gatherings, events, occasions, etc. in the past year, but we found ways to work around them, compromise, and make the best of the worst.  Yes, this virtual IF:Gathering was the best possible work-around for all involved, and the IF team made it all so easy for us to tune in and stay as connected as possible - I wasn't sad because I had to miss out on the content, or anything.

Baby's first IF:Gathering
(just briefly during her before-bed feeding...so, I guess I wasn't alone the whole time - haha)

What made me most sad was the connection, conversation, quiet stillness, corporate worship, and honestly, yummy snacks we were all missing out on.  I was sad thinking about so many viewing it together, yet alone in our separate places, and knowing how much better it could be...how much better it always was.  I was sad knowing how much we're all craving normalcy and hugs and face-to-face, non-masked conversation.  I did what I could to make the ladies from our church who tuned in feel special and connected, but felt helpless to provide what I know at least I wanted: an extended period of time to ourselves, out of our homes, being filled spiritually, emotionally, physically, and relationally - not worrying about who's cooking or what's happening next or what else we should be doing.  As this was all hitting me harder than I expected, I was trying to figure out why.  

After a year of quarantine, it feels like nothing has changed.  We are still keeping to ourselves as much as possible.  We are still only making necessary shopping trips (for the most part).  We have only seen a handful of people face-to-face/"in real life" over the course of an entire year.  We go through the drive-thrus, pick out library books online, and have play dates and story time via FaceTime.  We are still hesitant to make concrete plans outside of our "bubble," not knowing what's coming next.  This has all started to feel normal, and I wish it didn't.

At the same time, however, as I think about our family and what's been going on in our little corner of the world for a year, now, everything has changed!  We are a family of four - we have TWO kids!  Our baby boy is nearing the end of toddlerhood.  Our new baby girl is over half a year old, now!  Whereas a year ago we hardly went two days in a row without getting out of the house, we've become accustomed to spending days on end at home...sometimes even without setting foot outside (thanks a lot, subzero temps).  Now, it's even sometimes our preference to stay home (granted, it's much easier to do so (see above note about the TWO kids)).  

While I still wish it didn't feel quite so normal to not have plans, to not see other people, to be home all the time, and to wear a mask, the year of "extreme togetherness" has been a gift in so many ways.  The lack of events, celebrations, and gatherings have allowed me to feel more content to just "be" in our new season of life.  It didn't feel like we were missing out on much, if anything, when we were in the newborn stage and even now, as we continue to live that "sleep, eat, play, repeat (and poop, if we're lucky)" life.  We've developed new rhythms, made lifestyle changes, and spent more time together than ever before, and I it has been so beneficial.    

God's timing, His peace, and His control are more evident to me as a result of this season than any other time in my life, I think.  He continues to provide in so many ways - both tangible and intangible; He always has.  Perhaps, I am just more attuned to it all.  Perhaps my head and heart are more clear, and therefore, able to take time and space to recognize these things, rather than being distracted by so much else.  Perhaps this is what I needed to learn and what I most need to take away from "all this COVID stuff" - to be more attentive to how God is working in my life, how He's showing up for me and those around me, and how I need to respond.

In spite of the hope vaccinations bring and the glimpses of normalcy the warmer weather may promise, the world is still so broken, unstable, and confusing.  God, on the other hand, is not.  He has not changed.  He is and was and forever will be hope, certainty, and peace.  He is our rock and our protector.  If only we will remember this and lean on Him...and encourage others to do so, as well.

May His peace, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Lovingly and prayerfully,

Kensy

Favorites of the day:

sprouts and buds and all things spring

nap scheduled aligning (!!!!)

This girl...and this outfit from our "hand-me-downs collection."

A new kind of goodbye

Oh man - I am so behind on blog posts!  I've literally been working on this one for a month.  Yikes.

Here's my to-do list where future posts are concerned:
birthday
new job
new additions to the home decor, etc.
cooking/Pampered Chef things

But first, I need to share some sad news and heartfelt thoughts...

About three weeks ago, I said goodbye to the family I've nannied for since moving to KC...because, they moved...to California.

Words can't really express how/why/to what extent this makes me so very sad, but I'm going to try:

First of all, I love them to pieces.  Really.  They're such wonderful people and those boys are simply the sweetest (and cutest).  From the moment we met, they immediately embraced both Bryant and I into their family, and they've been there for us ever since.  For the most part, we saw each other a few times a week for almost 2 years, whether it was just the boys and I, or all of us together for some occasion.  They became part of our "normal," our routine.

Secondly, this goodbye is different than ones I've said before.  I have babysat/nannied for several families - a couple for many years on end - and "goodbye" is never easy.  When I said goodbye to the family I cared for in Topeka, due to the fact that I was going to be spending summer breaks (and then graduating and living) in Lincoln (where I was attending college), it felt very strange.  I had known that family for 8 years - long enough to hold two of the three kids as newborns, help all three through potty-training, start helping them learn to read, etc.  Not living 5 minutes from them and spending time with them, together with my own immediate family, on such a regular basis just didn't feel right.  When I said goodbye to the sweet family I nannied for in Lincoln, because I was getting married and moving to KC, it was so, so difficult.  That family had welcomed me into their hearts and home and provided a level of genuine love and comfort in the home-away-from-home I found myself craving after graduating college and truly stepping out on my own.  I wrote about those sweet, smart, funny kiddos often in this blog!  They were a huge part of my life in Lincoln.

I'm comforted by the fact that I have continued to keep in touch with these families, both virtually and in person.  Even though some of the kiddos have grown taller than me, one is visiting colleges (*gasp*), and all are out of diapers and reading on their own (still hard to believe, though this has been true for several years, now), they still hold such special places in my heart, and I'm glad to call them friends.

What was different about this recent goodbye was the fact that I wasn't the one doing the leaving.  My life was not the one in transition, this time.  As a result of their departure on a new adventure for their family, though, my life did enter into a time of transition.  That job title had become part of my KC identity - it was the first thing outside of the home I found to do here, and it was something I absolutely loved!  Yes, there are several other pieces of my identity here, and I celebrate and embrace those, too.  It's a tough reminder, though, when people ask what I do; I no longer say, "I'm a nanny for twin three-year-old boys," because they're gone.

(Of course, this also means a dear friend (the boys' mom) is also moving away.  Good thing I've had practice maintaining long distance relationships!  Though, it's difficult to lay by the pool together, share meals, craft, and do each other's nails over the phone...)

These pictures of the boys trying to pack me in a box to take with them (I think they really thought it would be possible to do so) pretty much sum up how we feel about each other and the fact that they were moving away:

(It was too dark to take pictures inside the box, but at one point, I really was all the way in with the flaps closed.  Upon me mentioning how dark it was, one of the boys handed in his beloved Daisy Duck to keep me company.)

Of course, we had to come say goodbye to Charlie and Pepper.  (There was too much movement with sweet Pepper to catch a good picture.)

I sent them to CA with one of my beloved stuffed cats.

Our final goodbye was so hard, but so sweet.  I was crying, of course, and as I leaned into the car to give one last hug to the boys in their car seats, one of them just held my head - gently, at first, then squeezed tighter and stroked my hair.  I can't make this up - it was so, so precious.  The other was too busy wiping his own silent tears.  Though it was so difficult saying goodbye, I will cherish that tender moment for a long, long time.

As sad as we were to see them go, we're thrilled for their family and all the new opportunities and adventures to be had in CA!  Praise the Lord for technology and how easy it makes it to keep in touch!

Sadly but glad-for-themly,
Kensy

Favorites of the day:

I don't think I've posted since I've been able to announce that
I'M GOING TO BE AN AUNT!!
My brother and sister-in-law are expecting a baby boy in March!  WOHOO!!

the time I was able to take to finally get this post finished up this morning (with a candle lit and a cat warming my lap, no less)

my sweet husband who regularly makes breakfast for me, because he's way better at mornings than I am

(Also, it's the 3-year anniversary of him officially asking me to date him!)

FULL life

My dear, faithful readers,

You're probably wondering if I've forgotten the password to my Blogger account...or if I've lost the ability to type...or if the heat has melted my laptop and rendered any updates unpostable...or if I've given up for good on this journey of the written type.

Not one of those scenarios is true (though losing my laptop to the heat has sure seemed plausible lately!).  Rather, I've just been working to further find my niche here in KC, and I'm ready to play the "open book" card and tell you about it.

I'll be completely honest in sharing the fact that this transition hasn't been all roses and butterflies...or ponies and rainbows, for that matter.  It's been tricky (a word I use more than I realized - one of the boys I nanny for has started using it...in conjunction with scrunching up his face in the most adorable way).

Yes, I love being a wife and supporting/caring for/enjoying time with my husband.  Yes, I like being able to help a wonderful family out by caring for their precious boys whenever they need me to do so.  Yes, I enjoy meeting new people and making connections in order to not only build my clientele, but also to build relationships here.  Yes, I appreciate and take advantage of this season in life when I have ample time to myself and can do what I want when I want.

All that said, however, I found myself having a hard time being content (speaking of...you might remember the post I once wrote about contentment).  I felt like I didn't have a lot to show for this new life I'd entered into; like I wasn't truly accomplishing anything, contributing to society, or using my God-given skill set to the fullest.  And I'm realizing this might also be why I haven't written a blog post in the recent past...I haven't really felt like I have anything to write about, I guess.

My life in Lincoln (and Topeka, for that matter) was FULL - I knew a lot of people, I did a lot of things, and I had a lot of friends.  I know those seem like fairly broad statements, but that doesn't make them less true.  I was used to completing myriad tasks in short time frames, having many musical outlets for practice/performance/collaboration, finishing large projects after months of problem-solving and much effort, seeing and furthering the progress of many students in a week's time, being very involved in church and church-related activities, and never being at a loss for things to do or people to see.   

After leaving those things behind, I found myself realizing how much weight those aspects of life carried and contributed to my feelings of accomplishment and self-worth.  I won't go so far as to say I was feeling worthless, but like I said, I wasn't feeling like I had much to say when asked, "So, what are you doing in KC?"

By the grace of God, and with a little help from my husband and those closest to me, though, I recently had a little epiphany: my KC life is equally FULL - just in different ways and with different "things!"  I told you about some of those things in a previous post, and am excited to tell you more, but what I want to make clear as I wrap up this little-glimpse-into-my-heart post is that I am becoming more and more content with my "new life."  I'm recognizing the ways I am and can be using my gifts.  I'm meeting new people and forming new relationships.  I'm continuing to enjoy the time I spend making our house a home and serving my husband.  I'm finding new "things" to do and ways to help out and contribute to the greater good.  I'm embracing the new place and new life to which God has called me...and truly loving married life.

I'd like to thank you all for reading.  I hesitated to write all this out, much less post it, but I'd also like to be honest and share my life - good and bad, ups and downs - in hopes that you might be able to relate in some way.  I also know a lot of you really do care, and I appreciate that very much!

In other news...the front flower bed has continued to take off!

One last thing: I'd like to give a quick shout out to my awesome brother and the amazing woman he has asked to be part of our family!  Please join me in congratulating them on their upcoming wedding and praying for blessings on their marriage.  ☺

Thanks again!

Love,

Kensy

Favorites of the day:

Andy Stanley's "Brand: New" series

Netflix

WEDDING WEEKEND!!

I flew the coop!

Hello, hello, hello, dear friends and readers!

Welcome to the freshly updated "Scoop from the Coop!"

As many of you know, my life underwent a few not-so-minor changes in the recent past, so I thought this blog should reflect accordingly...on a more minor level, perhaps.

Though I'm no longer living at the coop, I'd like to retain the blog title, because...well, I don't think that really requires explanation.  ☺

So, take a deep breath with me, and get excited for more new things to come!

Subjects of upcoming posts to look forward to:
Wedding
Honeymoon
Unpacking/settling in
Charlie & Pepper
Music/Kiddos/Jobs

In the meantime, I really just wanted to drop you all a line and thank you for your patience as I've begun to settle into married life.  Many of you have asked about my blog, new life, and generally how things are going.  I so appreciate your interest, concern, and generosity, and will do my best to keep you posted on the happenings, big and small, in OUR life.

Also, I wanted to share this:
Since fall was so busy with wedding/moving/work/etc., I kind-of missed the all-thing-pumpkin boat.  Terribly sad news, right?  Fear not, though!  Thanks to a recent trip to Oklahoma and my mother-in-law's genius (and our kitchen being unpacked, organized, and in working order (which no small feat)), I have pumpkin aplenty and am making up for lost time this week.  I'm (finally) trying recipes I pinned on Pinterest boards long ago, and have made the following this week:
Whipped Cinnamon Pumpkin Honey Butter
Pumpkin Poppers
Overnight Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls (These are in the fridge getting ready to be baked tomorrow!)

This one's on deck:
Pumpkin Bread with Salted Caramel Drizzled Pumpkin Buttercream

Yum.

That's all, for now.  As usual, thanks for reading, and I'll look forward to filling you in more soon!

Happy holidays, Merry Christmas, and warm wishes to you and yours!

Wife-ly,
Kensy

Favorites of the day:

my HUSBAND!!!

having a well-stocked kitchen

this gal and guy:

The hard part...

Hi all,

Happy fall!  Hope this finds you all well!

My engagement post quickly climbed to the top of the page view leaderboard.  Thanks for sharing in our excitement and joy!  There are days that I think it's kinda crazy (had you told my single self a year ago that in less than twelve months I'd be nearing the end of planning my wedding, I probably wouldn't have believed it)...but more often than not, it feels totally normal and right and sensible to think about getting married in a few weeks.  Pretty sure that's how it's supposed to be.  ☺

So...with that super exciting life event comes a fairly sad and very bittersweet one: I'll be moving to Kansas City after we're married.

I can count on one hand (actually, one finger) the number of times I've relocated in my lifetime.  Yes, there was some back-and-forth from home and school and various residences during college, but nothing outside of Lincoln or Topeka.

Change, in general, is (and always has been) very hard for me.  Good change, bad change; big change, small change - it all comes with quite a bit of questioning, evaluating, and adjustment in my head and heart, no matter what.

Needless to say, the fact that I'm leaving Lincoln (and Nebraska) doesn't come without quite a bit of heartache...

God has done a big work in my heart in the months leading up to this change.  If you don't mind, I'd like to walk you through the various stages of thought I went through:

1. (digging in my heels)  No.  I'm not leaving Lincoln.  No way, no how.
2. (sad face) What if I do need to leave...?
3. Nope - not going to leave.  There are plenty of jobs for him here.
3-1/2. That's selfish of me...I shouldn't expect him to move here just because I don't want to leave.
4. We made a pro's and con's list for each place (Lincoln and KC).
5. The pro's and con's were similar, but when we put numerical values to each based on the weight they bore for each of us, we were fairly equally split.
6. Is this something we should even be considering?  How are we ever going to come to a decision?
7. KC might not be so bad...
8. No. Lincoln is better.
9. But in KC, it would be easier to put "being a wife" at the top of my list of priorities (rather than the relationships and jobs I've made a priority for the last 5 or so years post-college).
10. Nah - I could easily switch my priorities here if he moved here.  No need to leave.
11. I REALLY love this guy...nothing should and nothing will trump that.
12. Kansas City, here I come! ☺

My very wise brother told me, once, that if the people I'm saddest to leave feel the same way about me as I do them, they'll be sad for me to leave, too, but will also be supportive of and happy for me.  This is a thought I've clung to, and it has rung true as I've broken the news to the various circles I'm part of.  I can't tell you how thankful I am to have that love and support.  Even though it doesn't alleviate the sadness, it truly makes the transition much more bearable.

Cliché as it may be, Lincoln will always hold a very, very special place in my heart.  The relationships I've built, connections I've made, and opportunities I've taken advantage of while living here are invaluable.  Not to mention being able to say I've lived in a chicken coop!  ☺

(By the way - Charlie hasn't fully digested the move, yet, but I'm sure in good time he'll feel as good about it as I do (though you should know we'll be gaining two roommates - a boy and his dog!).)

Don't worry - I plan to visit a whole lot!  Who knows - maybe life will bring us back to "the good life" at some point.  ☺  (That's Nebraska slogan, by the way - "the good life.")

In the meantime, it's time to get ready to see what life in Kansas City will bring (after we take part in a wedding and head to Cancun for a week, of course).  Suggestions of things to do/see/hear/eat in KC, advice, and prayers are welcomed and appreciated!  I'm so very excited to be there...with my husband(!!!!)...starting a new chapter in life.  Wohoo!

As usual, thanks for reading.  ☺

Until next time,
Kensy

P.S. I'd also welcome suggestions/ideas as to how to tie in the "coop" part of this blog in a non-coop location.  Unfortunately, we won't be airlifting the coop to KC (ha), so I can seamlessly keep the blog title, though it's been suggested by some.  ; )

Favorites of the day:

fall

tapioca fluff pudding

my fiancé