Week of the Autumn Equinox

It’s officially fall and the Autumn Equinox divides the day and night equally. Today (Wednesday)—in Palmer Alaska, we have 12 hours and 4 minutes. Our sun rose at 7:46am. Our solar noon is at 1:48pm. Our sun set at 7: 51pm. Tomorrow we will have less than 12 hours of daylight for a few months.

Palmer Welcomes the Dark Season—It’s nothing to be scared about….it’s just the approach of our darker season. We survive and thrive during the dark season by adding lights and joy to our lives. In Palmer, this isn’t a problem. Palmer has dozens and dozens of weekly events which speak to our robust and lively community, especially in the winter months.

Mamma Mia! at the Glenn Massey theater at the College—Don’t miss this show. It has a remarkable cast, crazy music, and fabulous scenery. The talent is incredible and it is amazingly local. It feels like a “big-city” show. Plus you get to sit in the luscious pink seats at the lovely theater. I promise you will leave smiling. We are so fortunate to have this show from Valley Performing Arts.

Saturday Blessing of the Animals in Palmer—This Saturday, two and four legged friends will be blessed at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church parking lot at 11:30am. Animal blessings are actually celebrated worldwide in most all religions. Military dogs, farm animals, service and working animals, family pets, and horses have received blessings. Cats, may need blessing, but are generally averse to such a ceremony.

Wednesday—Walk the Farm in the afternoon from 430 to 530 at the Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center. Then go to “As The Page Turns” Bookclub at Fireside Books from 7-9pm.

Thursday— is Community Silent Meditation at the Level Seven Spiritual Center on Elmwood. Also, a public event by Valley Mountain Bikers and Hikers and Aktive Soles will have their Thursday Night Run series from 6-9 pm on various trails in the Valley.

Rock Mat-Su is offering a free film screening at the Palmer Train Depot of “Wrestling Ghosts,” which is a documentary focusing on mental health, healing and traumas. There is dinner provided but it is not an event for children. 6-830 and RSVP is requested.

Friday Palmer will be Jumping—Go visit the Kangoo Jumps Class at Midnight Sun Yoga Center. It really is fun. Then jump around with Area 907 band, at Klondike Mike’s on Friday night.

Saturday—Non-Essentials, on Palmer’s main street, will have fresh produce, kombucha and herbal teas all day Saturday at their weekly wellness market. The Art Cafe will have great classes. The Emergency Preparedness Expo is Saturday from 10 to 3 at the big white Borough Building beginning at 10 in Palmer. Bleeding Heart is having their Beer Czar Home-brew Competition on Saturday. And Palmer Chamber of Commerce is having their annual, fun auction on Saturday night at 6 pm at the Mat Su Senior Service Center, with catered dinner by Turkey Red.

Sunday—Weekly the Palmer Paintbrush Jam does Art Illustrated Journal on Sundays at Level Seven. And the Palmer Art Cafe is having a wonderful mosaic box making class in the afternoon. Vagabond Blues has a fabulous show on Sunday evening including Chis Smither and Peter Mulvey—get your tickets at Vagabonds.

Palmer’s Autumn Equinox really is the point where our days and nights are equally long. Let’s prepare to say a respectful hello to the impending dark. We also give thanks to the waning sunlight, as we store our harvest of this year’s crops. This is the time for heavy sweaters and foraging. We watch the snow creep down the mountains. Since we’ve not had a deep freeze yet, please celebrate. Once the big freeze happens, we’re all in and all done. But until that time, let’s enjoy warmth from the daytime sunlight.

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