This past weekend I got to enjoy the Palmer Museum Garden & Art Faire. This is the third year I’ve gone to the faire (check out the first visit here) and always enjoy it. The forecast didn’t look great, but the day turned out beautiful and just perfect for this type of event. There were vendors, live music and instructional classes throughout the day.
I had planned to attend a couple of the classes offered but my schedule didn’t work out. While browsing the vendors I noticed that Lakeside Forge was instructing a couple of workers. I’m not sure if they had signed up or if this was part of his display, but they sure looked like they were learning a lot!
The Hubs met me at the Faire on his way to run some errands and we got some lunch from the food vendors. Because there was another event going on in town there wasn’t as much selection as years past, but we enjoyed the BBQ pork & noodles we got from Momma Rav’s. While we waited in line, I was eyeing the cool truck next door which was built on an old International truck! We also sampled a couple of the Rhubarb Rumble entries at the vendor booths while we browsed. Although we didn’t make it out to all the locations around town with recipes for sampling, our favorite was the rhubarb strawberry salsa with cinnamon chips.
After the Hubs went off to run his errands I checked out a few more of the activities at the fair. There was a group of painters capturing this lovely scene full of peonies. Some took the abstract route, while others created a portrait. As a photographer, it was fun to see the differences these creatives had in their visions of the same set up.
Next, I took in some of the history of downtown Palmer. The city was started as a farming colony as part of Roosevelt’s New Deal program during the 30’s. Inside the museum they were playing a documentary that showcased what life was like as the colony was built through interviews of those who were there. I’m so grateful for those brave families who left everything they knew behind to start over in Alaska. They were the foot hold for the wonderful community we love today.
The museum also had displays of life in Alaska during those times. One display featured the history of the Matanuska Maid, a local icon and mascot of sorts for the local dairy & creamery. They also had displays of the native cultures in the region and the mining history of the surrounding ranges.
They also had displays about the daily life of the pioneers including the giant cabbages they could grow due to the long hours of sunlight and the typical household items they used, including dresses made from flour sacks. Nothing went to waste due to the limited resources and minimal funds available.
There were also displays about the difficulties the pioneers faced in creating the farms out of the Alaskan wilderness. Not all of Roosevelt’s plans worked in Alaska and many had to be altered to fit the unique circumstances encountered here.
I spotted these pretty glass emblems in the window of the gift shop area and immediately fell in love with them. I had something similar with the Norfolk Mermaid on it from when I lived on the East Coast. There were several designs to pick from, but I think I like the iconic water tower the best. I decided to think on it some and come back to get one in a few weeks.
This enamelware pot was right near the entrance and drew my eye instantly. I loved the simple charm of the rusty bucket and the faux lavender was the perfect touch to finish it off. If it had been for sale it would be in my home right now!
I also toured the exhibition garden next to the museum. I’ve been to this garden many times and always love seeing how things grow here so I can compare how they will do in our yard which is just a few miles away.
The new truck statue between the museum and the garden looked great with the new plantings starting to fill in. I’m excited to see how they decorate it for Colony Christmas this winter!
There were also several antique tractors on display outside the museum. I’ve seen a few of these before in local parades, but it was fun to get up close and see some of their details. The vintage lawn mower was tucked in between a couple of the big tractors and caught my eye with it’s unique design.
I also learned about a new project some local veterans are spearheading. They are fundraising to purchase the fuselage of an old cargo plane and turn it into a traveling Alaska and military art gallery, performance venue, and museum. Learn more about this unique project at their website: www.rollingboxcar.com.
While I didn’t find any garden art that called my name this time around, I did come home with this lovely peony bouquet to brighten our dining room. We also bought two of the mason jar strawberry lemonades I had the first year to enjoy at home.
It was the perfect mid-summer event to celebrate the community, local growers and the season. I look forward to seeing what they plan for next year’s event!
Dust Bunnies and Dog Toys 