Palmer Renaissance Painting

The Palmer Arts Council and the Palmer Downtown Deli sponsor the “last Sunday of the month” monthly Palmer Portrait Painting events. Over the past year many Palmeranians have been featured as the model, for this community painting group. However, this past Sunday, things changed up a bit.

The painters painted food portraits. Four courses were served progressively—each one a work of art.

Fortunately food tends to stay still, once plated, in most cases. However, the time frame was quick. 40 minutes per course. Which meant the salad had to hold still for 40 minutes. Even the heirloom tomatoes posed. Likewise with the Cornish game hens held their legs up high and still, like fine synchronized swimmers. Green beans and couscous obliged. And finally the cheesecake with the succulent berries and honey dripping down the sides. Painting human models is hard work and sometimes one becomes hungry while painting. Painting good chef-prepared food, however, is entirely different. One is hungry the entire time and the aroma can cause the whole painting to be undone.

The painters were all rewarded with the actual food, which was a tremendous reward in and of itself.

Winter’s Back Is Definitely Broken—This Palmer proclamation is more true than ever before on this early date. Some of us worrywarts are concerned that this warm spell is a trick or a tease. But long-range, it appears that winter is done before the end of March. This is a great thing but it means we need to adjust clean-ups, fire watches, seasonal planting dates, and other chronological due dates to take advantage of our highly unusual plus-100 days of growing season. I think we will adjust just fine but it is different.

Monday Fun Run—The Monday Fun Run happens every single Monday throughout the year, thanks to Active Soles in Palmer, Alaska. It’s easy to participate when it is sunny and delightful. But even in the throes of darkness and on the icy paths of winter, the Fun Run prevailed. This is one of those Palmer weekly events which help make our town wondrous.

Easter Snow???—Easter may have real bunnies and egg hunts this year without the snowsuits. It’s a possibility. But there is also the possibility that this is an April Fool’s month trick by that sneaky Mother Nature. Either way, we have had a fine hint of spring and a full promise of a summer. The problem with an early break-up is the early possibility of fires without a corresponding green up. Spruce bark beetle preventative measures need to be enforced immediately—because of the early spring.

Aroma—It’s the smell of spring in Palmer. And it isn’t floral. Nor pastel. It is the smell of dog doo and compost and rotten ice. And it smells so good. After a long and beautiful winter, the arrival of aroma is a welcome thing, regardless. The earth is alive.

Palmer Municipal Golf Course—It opened last weekend. While the midwest and east coast were receiving snow, Palmer golfers teed up. At one point during the day, four swans flew low over the field between holes 14 and 18. It’s a walking course now until things dry up. And yes, the small red fox near hole number nine still steals golf balls because they look suspiciously like bird eggs.

Eat and Drink Local—You have another few weeks to participate in the Taste, sponsored by the Palmer Chamber of Commerce. When you purchase meals and food at some of our wonderful restaurants you are entered in the larger contest for $1000 dollars.

Buzz—The Palmer Alaska Buzz is taking a well-earned two week vacation and will not be publishing a column until the middle of April. Keep the good stuff going, Palmer Peeps. The social media group will still be buzzing throughout the vacation, thanks to some help from my friends!

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