A beautiful time of the year

Right now in Palmer we are in the afterglow of celebrating Colony Christmas. And we can see the shadow of sweet solstice this weekend. And Christmas Eve and Chanukah is shortly afterwards. This is a beautiful time of year. We have fresh snow, no wind, cheery little lights everywhere, delicious cookies, festive holiday costumes, flowing gratitude and generous spirits.

Holiday Festivities—There were reindeer, costumes, Santa photos, choirs, choruses, orchestra, firetrucks, Barbecue Babes, furs, contests, races, warming tents, handbell concert, gingerbread building contest, tree festival, and Palmer Pancakes. Both the Nativity Scene and the Menorah were beautiful highlights of holy days in Palmer. Solstice is this weekend as the season of lights continues.

Parade of Lights and Firework Extravaganza—The light snowfall during the parade was perfect. Festive tractors, cows, horses, bicycles, joined up with the well-decorated firetrucks. So much work went into the production of the parade, the construction of various parade entries and the coordination of public safety. The Palmer Chamber, Rotary Club, Police and Public Works all did exceptional work to make the parade a joyful event for everyone.

Raven After Parade—Sunday morning after Saturday night’s Palmer people parade came the Palmer Raven Parade. As morning daylight appeared, so did dozens and flocks of ravens. They were thrilled to scavenge the remains of the parade both up and down the street along the snow covered sidewalks. Candy, candy wrappers, popcorn, soda cans, kleenexes, small bits of animal waste, bottles, chunks of pizza crust ,and paper pieces were the rewards for these industrious ravens. It was kind of like clean up day. Ravens would grab their treasures and retreat to the sidelines. Other ravens would rush the one with the treasure. It was a very exciting “morning-after” in downtown Palmer.

Winter’s Cache—This is a little known Palmer shop above Turkey Red. One has to make an effort to visit this store because it is up a flight of stairs (or the elevator) from street level. It feels like you are walking into a treasure box. There are hats with feathers, large jeweled brooches, evening dresses, candles, gloves, scarves, purses, sparkly fascinators, old painted trays, vintage housewares, and shiny old brass. This shop is right downtown, on the second floor, at the Palmer Downtown Plaza. It has good parking. The proprietor Cindy Smith has procured these precious products for Palmer patrons’ pleasures.

STREET VERSUS MALL: Sometimes when you’re in Downtown Palmer, it feels like you’re in the middle of a Norman Rockwell painting. Especially at the holidays. There’s all the little lights and the pretty shop windows. There’s activity on the sidewalks and sometimes music coming from somewhere. The walks are clear and the businesses are open and friendly. You’re bound to run into people you know, so you always plan for some extra time. Yes, you have to bundle up between shops, but even that feels good and refreshing, unless there are gale winds. (And as we’ve learned, the gale winds have an interesting effect on shoppers lingering longer.) There are good food offerings in downtown, which are equally inviting. Parking is easy in downtown Palmer and there is no such thing as a parking meter. Malls have their conveniences and their refiltered air but they are no match for Palmer’s street shopping and eating.

Barbara Hunt is both Palmer writer and artist. She works hard to keep the robust pulse of Palmer, Alaska. She shares the good stuff in the weekly Palmer Alaska Buzz Column in the Mat Su Valley Frontiersman and daily on the Palmer Alaska Buzz Facebook Group. Contact at bhunt@mtaonline.net or text 907.315.3222