Palmer celebrates “Winter’s Back is Broken!”

Snow Sculpture—This is mother nature’s turn at art sculpture. We have many snow piles laying around, waiting to melt. It seems like they aren’t doing anything. But upon investigation, they are being transformed into works of art, thanks to the heat of our welcome sun. It’s interesting to see how the sun will hollow out and carve abstract images in these enormous piles of packed snow. Transformation and creation. All we have to do is watch.

Vernal Equinox—As of Monday, we are on the sun spectrum now. March 20 is commonly celebrated as the first day of spring. And no one celebrates it more than Alaskans. Frankly we deserve it more than others. It has been a brutal and difficult winter. So when we see a patch of gravel driveway or a big black bug, we rejoice. There will be no more 8pm darkness for many months. We are grateful as we soak in the sun’s heat momentarily…because we all know we aren’t quite at the end of winter. No doubt there will be an Easter snowfall and probably some major Palmer winds before spring sets in permanently. But, we are closer to the the warmth. We know it is coming. And for people with a daylight schedule, this availability of increasing light is a continuing gift. “The Equinox is the beginning of the triumph of light over dark; warmth over cold; and day over night.”

Authentic Signs of Change—People are out in T-shirts because it is sweating weather! And some young ones are in shorts. No one wants to wear boots anymore, although puddle season (filled with muck and mud) is right around the corner. No one wants to shovel anymore because we are sick of it and we feel that it is the Sun’s turn to make the melt happen. Hungry moose are finally finding tiny spots of vegetation as the snow pack melts from the south side of trees and brush. Pussywillows are evident on the highest shrubs. We’ve seen a few convertibles cruising—all the windows are still rolled up and heater is on, but the tops are down.

Annual Custody Battle—A seasonal custody battle is going on between winter and spring. It has daily dynamics dependent on the weather. Clinically we are still owned by winter, but spring is definitely making itself known. Our alignment is clear as we begin to lean into the light. We breathe in the sun and marinate in it’s welcome warmth. And we thank the universe that we survived another season.

Watch the Skys—This is the week when first swans are spotted traditionally. The migratory birds will be coming back soon. The return of the birds is a definite reminder that our seasonal wheel is turning.

This Week in Palmer—Wednesday night is Taco Night at Omnivore. Thursday night is a Reggae Dance Band at the Palmer Train Depot. The Palmer Ale House has live music on both Wednesday night and Friday night. Thursday night is a Small Business Social Hour at Bleeding Heart Brewery. The Art Cafe has lots of classes, all the time. Peter Pan starts up at the Glenn Massay Theater this weekend. Klondike Mikes, 203 Kombucha, and Pianist Al Plisousky (at Pizza Ria Delphi) are always good weekend spots of Palmer Joy. Weekly Monday Happy Runs with our community (and Aktive Soles) is another predictable and happy activity, regardless of the weather. And pretty soon, the Palmer Library will have a temporary place open in Palmer, but not this week.

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.