Lower 48 travel writers don't mention the quaint charms of Homer in the middle of a big sloppy late-fall storm. Climate researchers put little notes saying "local conditions may vary" when writing about Kachemak Bay. If you got through the Nutcracker Faire without breaking bones or bending fenders, count yourself lucky.

Brave road crews tried to stay one shovel ahead of the ice. Hardy workers in a pouring rain looked like a segment of "Tougher in Alaska" as they pitched shovels of asphalt into the pothole we locals call the Black Hole of Lake Street.

No sooner could you say "six days in Maui" then all of a sudden, whoomp, we got enough snow to put some traction back on the roads. Puddles froze up, people put up their low-energy LED twinkling holiday lights and inside of a day our town looked like the winter wonderland we thought we used to know.

That's situation normal here at Latitude 59 degrees and a few minutes. As the Betster keeps tellin' ya, if you don't like the weather, push the reset button. That's what Ma Nature does about twice a week.

Ice, snow or sunshine, even when only brave fishermen dare venture behind the safety of the front steps, there's always something amazing to do in Homer, like these Best Bets:

BEST BEST SELLER BET: Not everyone writes a book that becomes a movie starring Keanu Reeves, and not everyone gets to hang for a training season with Lance Armstrong. That's why Dan Coyle writes best-selling books. Learn from one of Homer's genius writers when he teaches a writer's workshop at 6 p.m. today at the Homer Public Library.

BEST ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE BET: JulieAnn Smith has been amazing audiences for years with her awesome harp playing. If you haven't heard her play, you're in for a treat at 4 p.m. Sunday at Faith Lutheran Church when she plays at a release concert for her new CD, "Tower of Love." Donate what you can, with a $50 donation receiving her new CD. Proceeds benefit the Tower of Love orphanage in Matsulu Mpumalanga, South Africa.

BEST SO LONG AND THANKS FOR ALL THE PIX BET: If you've ever poked around in the Pratt Museum's back room, you've seen some of the wonders in its collection, including one of Homer's best collections of historic photographs. Curator of collections Betsy Webb gets a lot of the credit for putting it all together. She's retiring this month, or as she puts it, "repurposing." Celebrate her good work at 4 p.m. Friday at the Pratt Museum's annual holiday potluck party. Don't miss the quilit raffle and holiday recital from 1-3 p.m. Saturday at the Pratt.

BEST PIE ARE SQUARED BET: Rev. Darren Williams at the Refuge Chapel has been getting people right with Jesus for years. He's the kind of minister who reaches out to the down-and-out crowd because, as a matter of fact, that's what Jesus would do. The chapel could use a new sound system, so if you want to help 'em out, bid on marvelous pies at an auction at 11 a.m. Saturday.

BEST NOT TOO LATE BET: OK, you've had plenty of opportunities to get some amazing locally made crafts, but if you still haven't decided on that perfect gift, check out the Homer Senior Center Craft Fair from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday or the Christmas Bazaar from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Kenai Peninsula Fair Grounds in Ninilchik.

BEST SLIP SLIDE BET: Smooth moves and slick steps are OK when you put on your dancin' shoes for the monthly square and contra dance. This month's dance is at 7:30 p.m. at West Homer Elementary School. Rich Kleinleder calls to music by the Spit City Slickers. Bring clean, soft-soled shoes. Admission is $6; kids under 16 get in free.