Let’s get one thing out of the way right off the bat: It’s NOT Mexican Independence Day. That’s September 16th. Cinco de Mayo DOES celebrate the victory of the Mexican army over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. The way I read the history of this unofficial* holiday, Cinco de Mayo had its beginnings, not in Puebla—or even Mexico—but rather in California. There, it has been celebrated continuously since 1863. And like many things spawned in California, Cinco de Mayo leaked out into the rest of the country and now has become a celebration of …
Seattle Tilth Edible Plant Sale Reminder
Here’s your reminder for the Tilth Alliance Edible Plant Sale, scheduled for May 6 (pre-sale, by ticket admission), and May 7-8, at Meridian Park. This gives you time to either plan and make space in your garden beds; or alternatively, to get as far away from Wallingford as you can to avoid the throngs who will flood into the area for this uber-popular event. For those of you venturing in to the sale, don’t forget that the Good Shepherd P-Patch will be on the scene selling baked goods to tide you over while you wait in lines and browse. Hours …
The Passing of Scott Morrow
I was surprised and saddened to read of the passing of Scott Morrow in the Seattle Times. If that name doesn’t ring a bell, Morrow was a longtime activist in Seattle’s struggles with the issue of homelessness and an early proponent of sanctioned encampments and tiny-house villages. He died of pancreatic cancer on April 19. His tribute/obituary on Legacy.com details a life of advocacy and service.
I never met Scott Morrow. But when I signed on as a volunteer editor for Wallyhood last year, I thought an interesting transitional story between the “old” Wallyhood and the “new” version would be …
April Showers Bring – May Showers?
…At least that is what I heard on the radio this week! But, say it isn’t so! Let’s be more optimistic, shall we? April showers bring MAY FLOWERS! Integrating flowers into your kitchen garden provides many benefits.
Edible flowers look beautiful and they attract beneficial pollinators to the garden. Plant them in with the vegetables, especially around fruiting plants that need cross-pollination of their male and female flowers like squash, pumpkins, and cucumbers. Then use them throughout the season to add flare to your cooking and cocktailing!
Here are a few flowers to try this season and ways to use …
Good Shepherd Center Earthquake Retrofit
The Good Shepherd Center is the large, five-story building set back in a campus at N 50th St and Sunnyside Ave N. It is just east of Meridian Playground. Both the large building and the park were part of the Home of the Good Shepher, operated since 1906 by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd as a safe place for young women who were having problems with their families or without a family. It provided not just shelter and stability, but also education. One of the main sources of income for them was a contract with the railroads to …
Give Big in Wallingford
Give Big is an annual celebration of our non-profit service organizations and a time to encourage you to donate to support them. It is sponsored by 501Commons, an organization that supports non-profits in many ways. This year the focus is on May 3 and 4 as days to Give Big, although you can, of course, donate to your favorite non-profit at any time.
The Give Big website lists and lets you connect with 1,200 non-profit organizations in Seattle and surrounding Puget Sound neighboring counties, from Olympia to Bellingham. On this website you can search for a particular type of organization, …
Sweet Lilly’s Droodles
Story by Susan Gilmore
Walk by the old, shutdown Ramona Cleaners on 40th and Wallingford Avenue and you’ll see the face of Sweet Lilly, the 9-year-old Great Dane and namesake of the new business Sweet Lilly’s Droodles.
The pet treat business is the brainchild of Leslie Shelton, owner of Sweet Lilly’s and a Wallingford resident.
Wrote Shelton in her Sweet Lilly story: “In 2012 my husband and I made the decision to open our hearts and home to a new puppy. After the loss of our first Great Dane, Abby, it took years to get over the pain and …