Looking Out My Office Window
Heatherwood & the Bluff Above
Warm sun rays brighten
the garden and hillside above.
A bright New Year ahead!
As I sit in my office gazing out the window, I warmly admire our garden and the hillside above covered by the early morning sunlight. The scene entices me to look into the future in a warm positive light. New knowledge, adventures, and experiences lie ahead. I wish you all a Happy New Year!
Sunrise over Lower Garden
Heatherwood Winter
A bright sunrise is a welcomed harbinger of a bright New Year. I look forward to new adventures and new experiences. I look forward to sharing good times with family and friends. Thoughts of new additions to Heatherwood and the Yakima Arboretum dance through my mind. I am anxious to reintroduce myself to my old hobbies that I have let lapse over the last few years. Being and enjoying life with loved ones is always at the top of my list. Each and every day is precious. I hope to live each one to its fullest.
Happy New Year!
Chief Joseph Lodgepole Pine
Heatherwood Winter
Even though we do not have snow this Christmas, I can always dream! Christmastime is a time for dreaming. I dream of all the wonderful times we had with Grandma and Grandpap up at the ranch. I dream of the time that Dad stayed up all night putting up the Christmas tree and our first American Flyer train. We kids could hardly contain ourselves on Christmas morning when we could not come out of the bedroom until Pop finished helping Santa to get the train running. I remember the wonderful years when our whole family, Mom, Dad, we kids, Grandma, Grandpap, aunts, uncles, and cousins gathered together at our Hillcrest home for Christmas Dinner. I smile as I remember how our family grew and we watched all our nieces and nephews energetically opening their presents. Many times when Karen and I were in the Washington, DC and Philadelphia areas, we could not make it home for Christmas. I fondly reflect on those special quiet Christmases. And now as Mary and I enjoy the wonderful Holidays, I dream to the future Christmases with family and friends. And as I dream, I reflect and contemplate on the true meaning of Christmas.
Merry Christmas!
Path to Center Circle
Heatherwood Autumn
Oranges, reds, yellows, and browns are the colors of Thanksgiving. Heatherwood, in the late fall, displays these colors throughout the garden. We cook our Thanksgiving turkey outside. So even with all the football games going on, we venture out every half hour or so and enjoy the fall colors around us.
We have so much to be thankful for, including this little spot of Eden. We wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving as you enjoy it with family, friends, loved ones, and each other!
K & M
“Almost Opened Daffodills”
Heatherwood Spring
Today we will host our family Easter celebration. We will have three generations of Grafs, Downeys, Pecks, and Powells with us this year. The older generation will relax and laugh as we watch the youngsters search for the Easter eggs. There are plenty of spots to hide them in our Heatherwood garden. While we relax and laugh, the middle generation parents will nervously make sure their kids don’t get carried away.
While we enjoy the day, we will all thank our Lord in our own way for the life He has given for us.
Happy Easter to all!
“A Field of Daffys”
Heatherwood Crabapple Grove
I thought I would start the new year with a thought of what Heatherwood will look like in the spring. The winter snow has been beautiful, but I am getting a little tired of plowing the driveway and shoveling snow. During these winter days, I enjoy the time to sit back and plan for the next projects we will undertake in the garden. I close my eyes, dream, smile, and think of the coming new year.
I wish all a Happy New Year filled with happy times, new experiences, and wonderful adventures.
Love and Peace to all our family and friends and all the peoples of the World.
Karl & Mary
“Japanese Garden Entrance”
Heatherwood Winter
Our wish for a White Christmas will be fulfilled. With our continued cold temperatures, the snow from previous snowfalls has not melted and the frost remains on our trees. In addition we have had several little dustings to keep the snow looking fresh. Our setting for Christmas is a winter wonderland. We will no longer need to dream for a white Christmas. It is here in full glory!
Merry Christmas!
“Fall Color”
Heatherwood Autumn
Thanksgiving is my favorite Holiday. I remember the wonderful times up at the Ranch with Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Ben, all of my aunts and uncles, Mom and Dad, and 4 of 5 of my siblings. There were 15 of us back then in the 50’s. Our family has now grown to about 75 comprising four generations: aunts, uncles, our generation, nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, cousins, and all the spouses. Back in the 50’s we were all together up at Grandma’s and Grandpa’s. Today, we are spread out over Washington, Oregon, and New York. I miss the old days when we were all together, but time passes and new experiences open up. Each day adds to my list of memories of a wonderful life.
There is so much to be grateful for. Happy Thanksgiving!
“The Lady”
Please pause, reflect, and thank our Veterans for all that they have given to make Freedom possible. Today is a special time for remembrance and giving honor to ones who have served. Take the time!!!