How did we ever doubt you, Alaska? A few weeks ago it felt like our seasons had been pushed forward. Summer continued into September, with a bit more sunshine and warm days than usual. October felt like September, often wet and blustery. With not even a hard frost, it didn’t feel like an Alaska fall. Heck, there have been Octobers where Beluga Lake had begun to freeze and we might have even had snow. Not this year.

And yet, in the last week, October redeemed itself. Yesterday the Betster woke up to frost on the lawn, so sparkly white and thick it could have been snow. Southbound travelers returning home told of horror stories driving in Anchorage. It’s not that we seasoned Homerites can’t handle new snow, but apparently every year Anchorage imports drivers who have never driven on frozen precipitation. Egads.

So here we are: frost on the pumpkin. The Betster hopes you survived trick-or-treating last night, but beware. The Day of the Dead continues. In the tradition of Mexico and other Hispanic cultures, today the veil between the living and the dead gets lifted, and we may see our ancestors. Honor them with altars and accept their guidance. Perhaps La Calavera Catrina, the elegant skull, will show her face. That rattling you hear could just be alder branches scraping the roof — or something else.

Sort that candy haul, sweep up the cobwebs from the trees and light another candle in the pumpkin to brighten the night. It’s another fabulous weekend in Homer, with lots to do, like these Best Bets:

BEST ALWAYS THE FIRST BET: Summer may be finally over, but we’re still blessed with galleries staying open into the winter and holding First Friday openings. Better yet, we have some new venues, like Bear Creek Winery and The Shop. See the whole list on page 12.

BEST UNVEILING BET: These are tough times for boys and men as they struggle to understand new ideas of masculinity that honor positive male values but avoid negative concepts. Join the R.E.C. Room in a screening at 6 p.m. tonight of “The Mask You Live In” at the Homer Theatre. The film follows boys and men trying to stay true to themselves while navigating American’s definition of masculinity. A discussion follows.

BEST YOUR DAY BET: Now in its 35th year, the Rotary Health Fair has one goal in mind, but it’s a big one: getting healthier. From blood tests to flu shots to booths on every health issue imaginable, the Health Fair has it all. This year’s theme is “It’s Your Life …. Take a Day to Be Well.” The fair runs 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Homer High School. Don’t forget the Blood Bank of Alaska mobile blood drive at the health fair starting at 8 a.m. The bloodmobile also visits Safeway at 8 a.m. on Sunday.

BEST EVERYBODY BET: OK, how the heck do those dancers do that? That’s the general consensus of anyone who has seen Body Vox. The Portland, Oregon, based troupe visits Homer to show us the amazing things humans can express through the voice of the human body. The performance is at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Homer Mariner Theatre. Tickets are $21 for Homer Council on the Arts members, $26 general admission and $11 children under 16.

BEST UH OH BET: Don’t be saying that on Sunday morning when you show up at church thinking it’s 10 a.m. when it’s really 9 a.m. Sunday is the end of Daylight Saving Time. Set your clock back one hour at 2 a.m. Sunday. Or, you can go to bed early and remember to set your clock back before tucking in for the night.