Another calm Sunday night sittin’ here by the fire with my trusty dog, Henry. The day was a brisk one with 25 degrees readin’ on the gauge and a slight breeze headed out of the… sky. 🙂
Katherine here to give you the goings-on in Rabbitville as a long time reader, first time writer.
My morning started off just right with a nice brunch made by Nik at the Mercantile. They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day and I just have to agree when that warm plate of food comes out pairing ever so nicely with my hot coffee and seat by the fire. The company is pretty nice too as we mingle with the locals and B&B guests. Today, however, found us just with the Rabbit folk in what I like to call our fluffle (rabbit family).
I do enjoy my fellow communitarians in our various shapes, sizes, and personalities. While I would call Ma’ikwe more of an extrovert, I would call Bob more of a trapezoid and Dan more of a farmer. We are all so very different in our passions and even daily functions, yet share a value that looks something like sustainable community. So if you ever find yourself itching to wax philosophical with an activist, a vegan, or a rhombus, come on over to brunch (served every Sunday at the Mercantile) and see what’s cookin’. Every course is served with a side of smile and a cup of good cheer. Just be sure to ask for the duck joke.
And speaking of the Mercantile, congrats to Alline on her new cookbook, “Beyond Toast: 40 Wonderful Ways to Use Jam”! I am personally pretty stoked to see all 40 ways during a reading/tasting from the book, happening later this week.
The first two inches of snow blanketed the town just a few days ago and the snowballs and giggles are already flyin’. ‘Tis the season to stretch one’s throwing arm before endeavoring out amongst the snowball ninjas that have found their way into our village.
Every year I attempt to be classified as a snow ninja and every year my giggles seem to hold me back. I doubt much will change in that department, though one can hope.
With the snow comes warm fires in our stoves, and with our stoves comes wood, and with wood comes my next topic of choice— our clarification of the lumber covenant.
Eco Progress, a very hard working and awesome committee that helps keep DR fine tuning our ecological super-powers, has researched for many months the particulars of our 5th Ecological Covenant: “No lumber harvested outside of the bioregion, excepting reused and reclaimed lumber, shall be used for construction at Dancing Rabbit”.
They have conducted surveys with Rabbits, read extensively about bioregions, interviewed founders as to their intentions, and so much more in an effort to ensure that we are all on the same page, and that that page is made of vellum.
The clarification came to the Village Council meeting and was eagerly discussed by more than a few interested Rabbits. While we still need to come back for a second meeting, we got through and decided upon most of the proposal in what turned out to be a polite and lively discussion. When even the definition of construction is up for debate, you know it’s gonna be a good time for all.
Speaking of good times, Ellena left us with a farewell party this week that was something of a smash. The wexer (work-exchanger) turned friend invited us to drink hot chocolate and laugh at the funny faces in the mirror as we painted them up for a rousing good time. While baboons and princesses are a must-have at any good paint party, one can never go wrong with a good tribal or leaf around the eye.
As if that wasn’t enough to get the imagination going, we played a game of Exquisite Corpse to round out the affair. This game entails just a pen, paper, and ingenuity. One starts a drawing on the top of the paper, covers the image, and passes the paper on to the next artist, who adds to the work without seeing the previous contribution. The result is a sometimes hilarious vision that is sure to please at least one in the room.
On a interesting intellectual note, I just read that this game was inspired by the French Surrealists of the early 1900s, and was found to be both fun and enriching. Remember that for your next DR Trivia Night.
One last momentous celebration that I would like to mention is Alyssa’s 40th Birthday! Our village has what I think a most grand tradition for birthdays ending in the “Big 0”, known as the Birthday Spectacle. Dating back many years, Rabbits have seen silly, bizarre, and brave sights that live on in our stories which are passed down into legend. If only I could regale you with the tale of Cecil and the Death Defying Cistern Drop! But that my friends, is a story for another day.
Alyssa’s birthday was a lovely time to get together and appreciate friends, food, music, and dance! As for her Spectacle… that is her story to tell…
And as for this retelling of events passed, it has been my pleasure to share with y’all just one Happy Rabbit’s experience. Thanks for readin’ and ‘til next time, *K*.
[Editor’s note: Katherine generally peppers her writing with smileys, and asked me to leave at least one in. Can you find it? Yup, up at the very beginning! Perhaps we can tempt her to write more often by promising more smileys next time…]
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Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage is an intentional community and nonprofit outside Rutledge, in northeast Missouri, focused on demonstrating sustainable living possibilities. Find out more about us by visiting our website, reading our blog, or emailing us.