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This morning, I could hear light, wet snow hitting the roof ... again. What happened to our spring? We are clearing out the land around our house and burning it everyday because we are out of firewood. (Bon voyage old dead willows — ha ha!) I have put away and then reclaimed the hats, boots, mittens and sleds at least three times now. I got out the raft and pumped it up — only to see it get covered by snow the next day. I awake at 5:30 a.m. to daylight, but the view is much the same as before — snow.

I cannot, in good conscience, complain though. I am thanking the Lord for this delay because he knows how crazy life gets when the temperatures hit 50 degrees in Alaska. Make that 45 degrees. He knows that when spring really rolls around, we’ll all turn our thoughts to mosquitoes and mud, and any delay in thinking about that is just okey-dokey with me. Besides, I had a great time sledding with my kids and friends the other day, complete with a fire and a picnic. My friend happened to have visitors up from Texas who were thrilled with the snow. The Alaska of their dreams delivered.   So don’t worry. Grab that last cup of coffee, a good book and mosey over to your coziest chair to soak up this calm before the storm. I guarantee in a month you’ll wish you had some days like this. And if you need something else to cheer you up — the leaves will be out in 28 days. Yippee! Think green. ...

Relay for Life

The Delta Relay for Life, an American Cancer Association fundraiser, will take place from 6 p.m. May 9 to 6 p.m. May 10 at the Delta High School track. Teams are now gathering pledges. The luminaria ceremony will take place on May 9 at 10 p.m. at the track. Luminaries can be purchased at the IGA on April 17 from 4-6 p.m. or April 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Luminaries will line the track during the relay in tribute to loved ones who have died of cancer. They can also be purchased by picking up an order form from one of the sponsoring businesses around town and mailing it in. Order forms are also available at www.deltanewsweb.com.  Farmer’s Market and Bazaar Biz

If you’ve ever contemplated selling items at a farmer’s market or a bazaar, this is the class for you. Coral Howe, small business development specialist with the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service, will be teaching a class from 1-3 p.m. Wednesday at the Cooperative Extension conference room in the Jarvis Office building. Topics include:

• What makes artisans and crafters tick?

• Do you ever feel nervous promoting your products?

• Getting customers to stop, look and buy, advertising, display techniques and trends, great customer service in five minutes or less and understanding production, inventory and profit margins.

There is a $10 registration fee, and pre-registration is required. The registration deadline is Friday. Seating is limited and space is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Coral will be available for private consultations Tuesday in the afternoon and evening, and Wednesday in the morning. For more information or to register or arrange a meeting, call 895-4215 or e-mail fnpnk@uaf.edu.

Library fundraiser

Make plans to attend Delta Library’s open house and “Basket of Books” auction this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy delightful snacks and rub elbows with library supporters while bidding on wonderful themed baskets overflowing with goodies for everyone’s taste. It is a write-in auction, so you need not be present to win. This event is in its 15th year and is crucial to keeping our library stocked and staffed. Please support this valuable local resource.

Women’s conference

A women’s conference will take place on April 25, 26, and 27 at the Fort Greely Chapel. The theme will be “Supping with the King.” The guest speaker will be Sgt. Major Sylvia. Attendees may bring sleeping bags and toiletries and stay the night. For more information, contact Chapel Administrator Michelle S. Garrick at 873-2476.

Brookelyn Bellinger lives in Big Delta and is the author of “The Frozen Toe Guide to Real Alaskan Livin’; Learn How to Survive Moose Attacks, Endless Winters, and Life Without Indoor Plumbing.” Send news items or comments to brookelynbellinger@hotmail.com, or visit www.brookelynbellinger.com.