Kimberly, Author at Wallyhood

Old Apple Tree, We’ll Wassail Thee!

Kimberly January 8, 2015 2 Comments

Each year for countless generations in England, Morris dancers and other good-hearted folks who want to ensure a fine apple crop have wassailed the apple orchards. They bring song, dance and Important Rituals to the orchard, thereby scaring off evil spirits and creating the optimum growing environment for the blessed apple. Ten years ago, Seattle’s own Sound and Fury Morris Dancers introduced this tradition to Wallingford, starting an annual wassail tradition at Meridian Park’s old orchard.

This year, the Morris dancers and the community of neighbors who joins them will have an Especially Important Task – to inspire this previously-fallen-and-recently-righted …

Cider Press (and Sample) on Saturday

Kimberly October 14, 2014 2 Comments

Ruth and Justin, the coordinators of the Freeway Estates Community Orchard (FECO), wrote to invite the neighborhood to their 4th annual cider press, which is also a celebration of FECO’s receipt of a Large Grant from the Department of Neighborhoods.

The little orchard that could is ready to move into the next phase of its development with this grant, and has a vision for turning the orchard into a welcoming space for the community. Already, they’ve been engaging the next generation of gardeners with a partnership with McDonald elementary, teaching volunteers new skills like plant propagation, and planting to attract …

Micro-Shakespeare Tonight at Wallingford Park

Kimberly August 2, 2014 1 Comment

Every now and then I enjoy a fine, large Shakespeare production with elegant costumes or a novel interpretation. But the Shakespeare that comes to me in small batches, crafted by local talent and staged practically in my own backyard – well, that is something to be savored.

If you’d like a taste of micro-Shakespeare, grab your picnic blanket and head to the “upper” part of Wallingford Playfield tonight for a 7 pm double-feature of Shakespearean comedy. The Backyard Bard (a subdivision of Greenstage) will present All’s Well That Ends Well and The Comedy of Errors back-to-back in our backyard. Each …

Design a Winning Little Free Library

Kimberly July 20, 2014 5 Comments

I have a love affair with Little Free Libraries. To the point that my children now try to distract me whenever we walk near one (“Look Mom! Over there!”). Despite my offsprings’ best efforts, I have located three more nearby LFLs since I last wrote about them (see below).

Apparently I am not alone in my book lust, as Little Free Libraries are riding a wave of popularity that has crossed the globe. And now, the local architect/ humanitarians at Architects Without Borders bring us Libraries on the Loose, an LFL design contest with the ultimate goal of making LFLs …

Get Your Ice Cold Lemonade (and Other Goodies)!

Kimberly July 4, 2014 2 Comments

As many enterprising young Wallingford residents have already figured out, the hoards of fireworks-watcher who descend upon our neighborhood each July often arrive thirsty. And since it’s bad luck to walk past achild without purchasing anything, there is room for many neighborhood lemonade and goody stands. Here are three we know about.

1. Seb and Sofi’s Sixth Annual Lemonade Stand for the Whales. We wrote about these two charitable young people a couple of years back, and it turns out they are still at it. This year, their stand will feature lemonade and homemade brownies. All proceeds will be donated …

It’s Wading Pool Season

Kimberly July 3, 2014 Comments are off

Wading pool season is upon us! The Wallingford Playfield wading pool officially opened last week, to less than spectacular weather. This week is looking better – so if you find yourself in need of a refreshing wade or if you are hoping your kids will run themselves silly, head to the playfield between noon and seven p.m. on a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday.

Here’s an interesting tidbit from the Parks’ Department website – one public wading pool uses the same amount of water as 50 private wading pools. So, if we all wade together, we help conserve water! I know …

Beyond Summer Reading

Kimberly June 29, 2014 1 Comment

This afternoon, my family headed to the Wallingford Library is replenish our supply of summer reading material. We were enthusiastically greeted by librarian-in-chief Heather, who immediately registered the kids for the library’s Summer of Learning program. They were handed a free book (Minecraft for the 9 year old and Rainbow Fairy Magic for the 6 year old) along with a chart on which to track their summer reading and activities. Between now and August 4th, every time they log 10 activities they can be entered into a raffle for the library’s Breakfast of Champions at the Space Needle. Plus, the …

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Ben on Letter in Support of Japanese Dual Language Immersion at JSISJohn Stanford has been a dual-language immersion school for 24 years, but it has...
tj on Letter in Support of Japanese Dual Language Immersion at JSISMandarin programs are at Beacon Hill and Dearborn Park. Those programs need more...
ematza on Letter in Support of Japanese Dual Language Immersion at JSISI completely agree and would even argue that they need to find the funds to offe...