Returning from a foraging run, my bag lighter than I had hoped, my heart happily pounded as I made the jaunt back to my yurt home. I had seen not one (but two!) woodcocks on my last couple of excursions into the Dancing Rabbit woodlands. Woodcocks, also go by possibly my favorite name for anything ever—Timberdoodles! That rarely sighted, fancy-strutting bird…its name, appearance, and dance, all make me laugh with crazy joy.
Nik here, writing from the newly-found unofficial Dancing Rabbit Gym & Training Center (or DRGTC for short…or if you’re short of breath), nestled in a grove of osage and locust trees. Rachel has been having a thrift sale lately and her well-used Everlast punching bag has become the central makeup of the Gym–the DRGTC, ya know–but there’s also a relatively thorn-free branch for pull-ups and a few shiitake logs for bicep curls… Some weeks feel like months here at DR, and this heavy-laden week was one of them. It has been a week of comings and goings. A fantastic visitor session is on their last week of the three-week stay, and a few of them are definitely seeing Dancing Rabbit as part of their future.
Sungee has returned, full of exuberance and starting a new coaching service for goal setting, matchmaking, and creating positive manifestation in life.
Katherine’s parents visited earlier this week with their dog Ana, who rumpused around with Katherine’s dog, Henry, like old chums. Bill, her dad and famed darts player, gracefully accepted a challenge up in Critterville to a game of cricket. Some talents must be genetic, because even as Bill systematically closed out the board like a gentlemanly sniper, Katherine came away victorious that evening… Granted, Bill did seem a bit distracted about the throw-line, which Henry dutifully marked as he napped.
Tereza headed off for a long-overdue vacation across Australia for the rest of the month. Even for a village of particularly worldly residents, travel, especially long-distance travel, is never taken lightly for those who are greatly concerned about carbon-footprints and being ecologically sound. But Rabbits, like anyone else, have dreams of seeing Ayers Rock or Machu Pichu or the coasts of Ireland. Forsaking unnecessary road travel often, almost like saving particularly delicious calories for our carbon diets, we can be more aware of how our travel habits affect carbon emissions. Staying in one place on principle, afraid, never helped the world or that person. So, when are lucky enough to have far-flung adventures, I hope we are mindful and enjoy every delicious experience!
Speaking of delicious experiences, Aaron “Illly” donned the birthday cape last Friday and had a cob-oven-fired pizza party. A true community effort; Pizza after pizza was shaped by guest pizza-artist, our Italian visitor, Erica, from dough made by our queen of sourdough, Julie. Every Rabbit brought toppings—the fresh and the strange and the delicious. One specially made pie was a piece of brilliant irony: vegan cheese, mustard greens, and chicken livers. I am here reporting that I ate every bite.
Well, back at the DRGTC, picking leaves off freshly foraged jewelweed, because I don’t know about your gym, but this one has a particular problem with encroaching poison ivy. The jewelweed has been soothing the itch particularly well. Membership requests are currently being taken. Wearing high socks is recommended.
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Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage is an intentional community and nonprofit outside Rutledge, in northeast Missouri, focused on demonstrating sustainable living possibilities. We offer a free tour to the public at 1 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month, April through October. Find out more about us by visiting our our website, reading our blog, or emailing us.