You know the rhyme, “April showers bring May flowers?” Not current in this time zone, as television broadcasters used to say back in the days when shows got sent up by tape on a slow barge from Seattle. The better saying might be, “April showers bring May mud.” OK, that doesn’t sound as catchy, but for anyone who has lived in Alaska at least one season, it’s oh-so-true.
Consider last Saturday when if you didn’t wear rubber boots, you got wet feet. You know those weather forecasts on computer apps that give you hour-by-hour predictions? It was like a meteorologist threw up every possibility just to see what would stick. Inside of an afternoon we had sunshine, rain, rain blowing sideways and, for those of you living at the higher elevations, snow. The Betster took a beach walk with the spousal and canine companions thinking that a patch of sunshine might hold long enough for a brisk stroll. As if. That’s why mariners call those blasts of sun “sucker holes.”
If you want to make bank on an April weather bet, go for precipitation. That’s why you see your neighbors wearing rubber boots a lot. Well, on pretty much any given day year round Homerites wear rubber boots, so I suppose that’s not so unusual. XtraTufs are not just a fashion statement. If you’ve ever had to hike in to your rustic cabin during break-up, you know why you want to wear rubber boots.
With modern roads, slopping through mud has become less of a challenge. People who pay for their gravel by the foot and maxxed out their budget 50 yards shy of home might be surprised to hear some townies have to make mud to experience it. Fear not. There’s always some pothole, always some ditch to remind us of the necessity for rubber boots.
Mud will be your friend until all this stuff dries up, and then we can complain about how dry everything has gotten and worry about fire dangers. Meanwhile, spring proceeds. The varied thrush have returned with their telephone-call trills and the Betster even heard a snipe whirring on Monday night. Celebrate the season with these awesome Best Bets:
BEST THANKS FOR ALL THE TUNES BET: KBBI Public Radio General Manager Dave Anderson retired April 8, and in his 35 years at KBBI, he’s helped make the station become the community treasure this town cherishes. Celebrate his good work starting at 4 p.m. Friday with music by Barroom Roses and the Holy Santos Gang. Tie-dye, Concert on the Lawn and Grateful Dead T-shirts are encouraged.
BEST TUNE UP THAT RESUME BET: Looking for a new job or career change? The Homer College Career and Job Fair runs 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday at the Kachemak Bay Campus. Eighteen employers will be there looking for good workers. You don’t need to be a graduating student, either. All ages are welcome.
BEST GREAT ART BET: While at the college, check out new art by students in Asia Freeman’s drawing class. Better yet, meet some of the artists from 5-6:30 p.m. Friday with an opening reception.
BEST ROAD READING BET: Taking a trip to Paris? Stock up on reading for that long flight through Iceland. The Friends of the Homer Public Library holds its Book and Plant Sale at the library. Members get first pick from 6-8 p.m. Friday and then it’s open to everyone from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday.
BEST THEY CALL IT AUDREY BET: Alaska doesn’t have ginormous plants that eat small animals, but it does have seven of the world’s 600 carnivorous plants. Learn about them with “To Eat or Be Eaten,” a talk by botanist Michael Baldwin, at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies for the Homer Native Plant Society’s meeting.
BEST PLANTING SEEDS BET: It won’t be too long now before the Homer Farmers Market opens. Learn about its new programs and changes at a fundraiser today at 7 p.m. at the Homer Theatre. Watch the documentary “A Farmer’s Road” and help support community agriculture on the lower Kenai Peninsula.
