Good bye January 2022

We survived January and now we are on the downside of winter’s darkness. Light is growing in huge chunks daily. Tormenting winds have ceased and most of us lived through it with stories to tell. Despite all the cold, January was a very photographic month. Indigo skies, white mountain tops, frosted tree limbs, frosty crystals. We never get tired of taking snaps of our sunsets, sunrises, mountains and creatures. Sometimes social media has dozens and dozens of the same event, from many different viewpoints. It’s a phenomena because each Palmer area photo is better than the last one. I think documenting these events is one of the singular ways we appreciate where we live. It causes a pause in our lives, to stop, catch your breath and take a snap of our wonderful world.

Hello February 2022—February—generally— in Palmer is a very good month. Our light has returned and we are picking up five minutes a day. With the light comes the hope. Seeds have been ordered, collated and are scheduled for planting. With the seeds comes hope. We think wishfully that the worst of winter is behind us. There are milder, seasonal temperatures. There is a snow moon. There isn’t a melt yet but with the bit of warmer temperatures—comes hope.

Remember that the Ice is Not Gone—Our December and January wicked weather has left its legacy with the solid ice layer, hiding under the snow. It is brutal and hard to land on. It is sneaky because one doesn’t usually see it before it grabs you and yanks you down. Be aware and careful.

Beginning of February—We know that the Year of the Tiger, starts on February 1. This is part of the Chinese New Year celebration (but also possibly a nod to the Bengals in the upcoming Super Bowl.) We also know that Groundhog’s day is February 2. Celebration of rodent day is always a favorite. Groundhogs are sweet mammals but not found in Alaska; however the charming hoary marmot, often seen and photographed at Hatcher Pass, is definitely a clever cousin to the groundhog. There is also a certain history associated with February 2, often referred to as Candlemas. February 2 falls midway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. In Ireland this is a holy day celebrating St. Brigid, the Grain Goddess. The theme of all these celebrations is birth, fertility in the earth, and lactation; I’m not sure if this is significant in the Palmer area but I have heard of baby goats and lambs being born recently. Plus there are seeds being planted right now at local greenhouses.

Palmer Museum Annual Meeting—Prepare now for next week’s annual meeting at the Museum. There will be trivia games and refreshments. And you will get to renew your membership and elect a new board of directors. The meeting is Wednesday, February 9th at 530 pm. We are so lucky to have an excellent Palmer Museum and an active Palmer Historical Society. Both help us keep the compass of our community by honoring history and valuing lessons learned.

This Week in Palmer—There is more basketball. There is more hockey. Thursday is a marvelous Magical Pig Conversation, sponsored by Palmer’s Seeds and Soil Farm—check facebook page for details. There is Ice Fishing at Finger Lake on Friday. The Ice Maze is open on Friday. And there is First Friday at Poppy Lane. There are beautiful skiing conditions. There is deliberate ice skating and accidental ice slipping. There is live music at Klondikes and the Palmer Ale House. There are knitters at the bars and the coffee houses. Omnivore is doing their first soft and slow opening next week; they are located at the former Humdinger’s site. You will remember Omnivore as a precious red food truck which offered excellent fresh food in the Valley. Well they are opening up a quick lunch counter and full dinner service and Palmer will be better for it.

Stay safe and don’t slip on the ice!

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. Her “Palmer Buzz 2022 Community Calendar” is available at the Palmer shops. Contact at bhunt@mtaonline.net or text 907.315.3222