Memphis Democrat
April 3, 2003

Hi everyone, this is Alline filling in again for Rachel.

Things are bustling here at Dancing Rabbit. Where, oh where, to start? How about with Rachel, who’s latest bird-watching trip was an early-morning jaunt near Kirksville to see (and hear!) prairie chickens. Tamar and Tony went along, and our ornithologist friend Pete provided commentary. While our group couldn’t get too close, they said the birds were amazing, and didn’t look real. I think “cartoon-y” was the term Tamar used. Can’t wait to see some for myself!

Jeffrey and Cecil continue to go to K-ville every week to play bridge. They were short a 4th this week so Jacque rushed to the rescue and played a hand or two. Cecil then went to Florida for a quick week to visit with his family, as he hadn’t seem them in quite a while. We really miss Cecil when he’s gone, and so we take turns telling not-very-funny jokes until he returns with the real thing. This week’s favorite: Did you hear about the new pirate movie coming out? It’s rated “arrrrrrrrrrrrhhh” (you have to say it out loud and sound like a pirate). As I said before, we’re anxiously awaiting Cecil’s return.

The Ericksons came by with some snowbird friends for a tour. They all asked great questions and didn’t mind the dust at all, so it was a pleasure!

We had our first visitor of the year, Jim from Mexico, MO. He kept busy helping with Skyhouse construction and Tamar’s garden and his work was much appreciated. He also brought us lots of stuff he no longer needed, including chain saws and pressure cookers. We promise not to use them together.

A singer/songwriter/pianist named Kristi Martel, on her way from Lawrence, KS, to Fairfield, stayed a night and while here put on a house concert for us. We turned the couches around on one side of the living room and she set up her equipment up on the other and voila - a stage! It was a really fun performance - she has an amazing voice and an easy, comfortable way with an audience. We’re looking forward to her next visit.

Penn, Gare and Jeffrey did a lot of “computer geek” stuff trying to get our crashed computer back from the dead. Imagine Tamar’s delight when SHE was the one to figure out what the problem was! They may never hear the end of it.

The folks in the newly-formed Blue Stem food co-op (Tom C., Susan B., Andra, Penn, Gare and Bob) spent a day in Downing picking up another load of wood from an old barn they had ‘deconstructed’. This week they also broke ground on their garden. Susan W. and Erik have also started digging their garden – the hum of vegetables is in the air!

Alyson has almost completed her move into her new room in Skyhouse, and is loving the morning light that streams in from her east windows. Andra hitched a ride with Stan from Sandhill (who was going to a farm conference) to her hometown Kansas City and spent a quick day ½ with family and friends. It was kind of like a low-tech magic show – boom, she’s gone, and then, boom, she’s back! We’re very easily amused around here…

Bob continues to marvel at the Missouri weather. Walking home from his weekly Saturday morning coffee and donuts at Zimmerman’s café it got so warm he had to take off his coat, which later came in handy as a shield for the horizontal snow and sleet. Go figure – it’s nothing like Texas, he says with a smile.

Happy birthday to Kurt, on April 2nd, as well as to our favorite Rutledge Postmaster!

Our first official tour of the season (for those of you who are not our landlords) is Saturday, April 19th at 1:00 p.m. Please call 883-5511 and let us know if you are planning on coming.

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