PALMER BUZZ: Palmer book at top of the charts

It’s an amazing book, “Palmer, Alaska Businesses and Buildings,” by Joseph and Cheryl Homme. This is not a full review, but it is a reminder that it has sold out several times at Fireside Books, the Alaska Picker and the Palmer Historical Society.

Sad but necessary day for Palmer turkeys

This is Murder Monday in fresh turkey world. They have lived full lives, hanging out in the grand Alaska summer. But today they are harvested. Bless all those turkeys who lived a full life and who will now go on to nourish others. Palmer Moonstone Farm lit candles in their honor before the day’s deed. All those organic birds were taken care of humanely and will evolve in peace.

And the meat from the birds is better because of it.

Food and blessing holiday

The sweetest thing about Thanksgiving is that it doesn’t involve gifts or candy. It is purely about being grateful. And we are lucky the Palmer’s Valley Hotel offers a lovely Thanksgiving dinner.

Don’t judge the reasons for dining out; some folks have no kitchen and some folks are traveling; some folks are incapacitated; some have no friends or family; and frankly, some just aren’t talented in the kitchen. The Valley Hotel treats everyone right and welcomes the wanderers and the wayward and the workers. Thank you.

Stan’s fireworks on Saturday night

Stan is the Man at Country Cutts in Palmer. And he is also the Palmer legendary man that puts up the fabulous firework show annually on the Saturday after Thanksgiving at exactly 7:19 p.m.

It’s an important date for him—and he celebrates it with the whole town. Fireworks in the deepest dark of winter are rich and robust. There is nothing pastel or wishy-washy about them.

They shoot though the darkness with extreme definition. This Saturday!!

Celebrate Black Friday by spending nothing

Just hang and recover and rest up for Saturday!

Celebrate Small Business Saturday in a big way — go to downtown Palmer and spread your clams from one end of the shopping district to the other. This is the way our small local Palmer businesses thrive and in turn the way our town flourishes. Here is a partial list of cool things:

• Fireside Books will have wonderful Joe Lawton signing his “George Palmer’s Alaska Kin” book. Remember Palmer is named after George!

• Downtown Deli is offering a happy cookie to anyone who shows them Palmer business receipts from their shopping day. More receipts equals more cookies. More cookies equals more happiness.

• And of course deli soup and sandwiches are sustenance for shopping. Palmer Art is going to be hanging on their walls to more completely signify their ongoing Palmer community commitment.

• NonEssentials has their gorgeous winter windows done. Inside is just as lovely and the shop will open early at 8:30 a.m.!

• Humdinger’s offers the best pizza, big art, and a nourishing respite from all the retail craziness of Main Street

• Coverups is going to do drawings and giveaways all day—plus really cool ornaments will be on special.

• Garden Gate has hot cider and coffee all day plus they are opening early at 9 a.m.!

• Alaska Picker will be hosting Palmer authors Joe and Cheryl Homme from 11-3, for a book signing! Plus there are oodles of wonders in the shop.

• Mad Matters will be filled with Christmas and holiday fairies. This is an exciting event to witness the fairies crawling out and flitting about the shop. They also have nice blankets, original art and terrific smelling soaps!

• UPS Store is offering free 10 black and white copies and hot cider and sweets!

• Midnight Sun Yoga is offering free tea to go!

• Artists Uncorked is offering free wooden tree ornaments to paint!

• Musk Ox Farm is having a very rare sale of 30 percent of the local qiviut yarns ad garments. This is a super special gift for the community and the muskies thank us for the support!

Northern flying squirrels report in Palmer

It’s documented that nocturnal northern flying squirrels are living in our trees. They have really floppy underarms that become wings when airborne They are a grayish color and they can glide to a bird feeder or porch railing.