Day 22: Around Palmer

Musk Ox, Veggies, and M Gets Yet Another Bath


Musk Ox-- At the Musk Ox Farm in Palmer, Alaska

We slept in this morning, and then headed out to explore a bit of Palmer. The day was cool and overcast, but the views from the road into town were still spectacular.  Here's one:
Driving into Palmer from our house 
And, here's a similar shot with a bit of Photoshop Magic applied:
Photoshop Magic On the Road Into Palmer, AK

Our first stop was the Palmer Farmer's Market-- which was quite the disappointment.  Only two vendors selling actual vegetables-- and selling them as if they were worth their weight in gold.  I picked up a nice looking purple cauliflower-- but I'm not sure who would pay $5 for a baseball sized zucchini (everyone knows the big ones are not only impossible to give away, but also aren't as tasty).

 After that stop, we headed off to give M a much needed (and deserved) bath. Here is Bob, once again manning the hose while I stayed dry inside.

Bob Gives M Yet Another Bath

M happy, it was time to make Lisa happy-- so we headed off in search of a farm stand.  We began with the "farm loop" but only came across one pick-it yourself stand.  So we headed back towards the house, where we had seen a sign for a farm stand.  

 This one was a winner, because you just couldn't go wrong with a place with a farm stand on the right part of the yard and an airplane on the other. (It had wing problems, and the guy was fixing it up.  But, not to fear-- his spare plane was over at the airport.)

 The timing was impeccable too.  Today was the very last day for the farm stand. (The season began on July 5 and was ending on August 18-- because that was all the summer they had.)

 We got a bounty of delicious looking (and after dinner tonight I can attest to actually delicious) fresh Alaska produce.  In fact we bought him out of zucchini, green beans and raspberries.  Those dirty potatoes you see...they came right out of the ground and into our bag.
Alaska Produce Fresh From the Farm

 Dinner handled, we decided to give the nearby Musk Ox farm a visit. This is a non-profit breeding farm, where they collect the musk-ox hair (Qiviut) and sell very soft (and very expensive) hats and scarves made from the Quviut yarn. The farm is run by grad students from all over the country, and they are very enthusiastic about their Musk Oxen.  Our guide introduced us to the herd and walked us around the farm. It was cool and breezy, but the Musk Oxen appeared to be happy (or at least the guide told us that they were happy in the cold and hated the heat).

 Here they are-- you decide:

Baby Musk Oxen (This year's litter)

Musk Ox at the watering hole (smiling I think)


Musk Ox Ready to Make a Run For It

Baby Musk Oxen Again

 We didn't end up with any Qiviut clothing, but I did take home an adorable little Musk Ox to add to my stuffed menagerie.

 After that we headed back to the house to try some of that great produce and to get out of the late afternoon rain. Unfortunately, it is still too overcast to get any great shots out the windows of our house-- hopefully tomorrow will be better.

 Until then...

 --Lisa

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