Palmer’s second spring

We are now in the “second temporary spring” of 2024 and it won’t last, but it is appreciated. The temperatures are higher and there is a bit of warmth in the afternoon rays which are a bit higher in the sky and last longer in the day. We notice this short second spring because of small things. We don’t have to wear so much winter outerwear and in fact, sometimes when we layer, we actually layer too much! The vehicles are not as frozen and the wheels are not as square. More birds are visiting along with small mammals. The days of documented coldest days are done for now. Our toes are perfectly fine in our winter boots and the outside thermometer has some life to it now. It seems that there are seven springs in this part of the world. None of them are constant or consecutive. But they do follow a general pattern and it is a countdown for the real thing. Sap isn’t rising yet but gardeners are planting seeds in preparation. We will still receive snow, ice and wind, but the promise is coming.

Reflection on that Recent “Cold Snap”—Those prolonged days of minus 10, minus 20 and even minus 30 are over. And anyone that refers to it as a “cold snap” needs to make a correction to their word choice. It was way beyond cold. And it wasn’t a snap. It was extreme and exceeded the “3 days and 5 hour definition of a cold snap.” Indeed it was prolonged and frozen and instead of snapping, it pummeled and punched us. It felt like a month in the ice age, and it’s continued inhospitality was downright insulting and hostile. The deep freeze of 2024 is hopefully just a frozen memory now.

Palmer Love Items—If you celebrate Valentine’s day there are many wonderful P-town offerings. We have Palmer coffee roasters, florists, candy makers, cake makers, fabulous cookie bakers, painters, knitters, breweries, kombuchery, and restaurants in our town which offer “love items and experiences” for you and your valentine. The book store, bike shop, gift shops, yoga studios, art cafe, hairdressers, nail artists, massage therapists all offer loving gifts as well. Palmer love is pretty invasive this week. There are many ways to show the love and many of our local and lovely Palmer merchants are putting it out there. Shop Palmer local and share the love.

You Get to Give Love Back—To the Mat Su Borough in the form of your 2nd installment of our annual property taxes, due mid month. Now, predictably the immediate chorus begins singing about “receiving nothing for your tax money.” But please remember that our Borough provides services in animal control, code compliance, junk and trash, fireworks, landfill, road service areas, roads, parks, emergency services, public safety, rescue, ambulances, fire protection, swimming pools, water rescue, recycling, clean-ups, solid waste, and maintenance. That is not nothing!

Weekend Reminder— This is the time for the Annual VAA Wearable Art and Runway Fashion Show at the Palmer Depot on both Saturday afternoon and evening. If you haven’t attended this amazing festival of creativity, you should. Tickets are available at both NonEssentials and Fireside Book Store in Palmer. The Valley Art Alliance hosts the gig and says, “Wearable Art refers to hand crafted and one of a kind pieces of artwork designed to be worn by the human body as an artistic expression. Using their knowledge of color, fabric and non-traditional materials, artists create unique, wearable garments which they (or their models) wear while parading down an authentic “fashion runway”, accompanied by narration and music.”

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