Welcome to Poppyfields Forever!
This is the story of how I fled Altadena during the Eaton fire, the start of the long and winding road back, and what I am learning along the way.
September 2023
January 2025
Hi, I’m Whitney and I want to thank you for stopping by my blog. I am a native Pasadenan who made the move to Altadena when I purchased my first home in November 2011. I’m currently staying in Pasadena as I begin the process to rebuild and return to Altadena.
What made you decide to create a blog?
That’s a fair question and I’m glad you asked! I have experienced a myriad of emotions over the past three months and all the while I’ve had this persistent thought that there was a story to be shared. What better way to do so than through a blog?
About the title: I was bouncing ideas for potential titles with my friend Tracy who shares my penchant for fun with song titles. She proposed this one and it made me smile. It reminded me of the something I have loved about Altadena; seeing the poppies bloom around late winter/early spring on my street and all over town. My talented and kind neighbor Kim Macdonald made paintings of poppies as part of her post-fire healing journey and offered them to her neighbors. With her permission I have included my favorite of her paintings as the artwork associated with Poppyfields Forever.
Kim’s painting. I love this.
This blog is an opportunity to follow along through the ups, downs, twists and turns I will encounter on this journey all the way until I walk through the threshold of my rebuilt home! It’s a long road ahead, come and join me.