Hello sweet friends! Most of the time when you land here, you can expect to hear from yours truly…but today we are swapping it up a bit! Many of our new readers may not realize that Everyday Living Blog was the brainchild of my sweet hubby! He bought the domain several years back, and due to his very busy schedule, I decided to take it and run with it in 2014! I often refer to him as my Renaissance Man because he is truly multi-talented…a gifted singer, songwriter, and guitarist to just name a few! He chimes in and writes a post every once in a while, and you’re in for a real treat today as he takes over! Butch’s unique gift of storytelling sheds much light on our everyday living!
“Music makes pictures and often tells stories”….. The pictures we share today were inspired by music as it was music that recently brought us to Aspen, Colorado. Music is a major part of our everyday living and perhaps this is true for you as well. We all likely have songs that stir within us sweet memories and immediately transport us to another time and another place. There are special events, occasions, and seasons in our lives where moments are relived through music. For us, a few days in Aspen for the John Denver Celebration was as close as we can get to going back in time to the 1970’s and our early years together. John’s music was and remains very special to us. We love his music as much today as we did back then.
I was 12 when my grandparents took me on a trip to visit my great aunt in Colorado Springs. It was the summer of 1963. I had never seen anything like those mountains and it changed me forever. It was late June and Papa drove us to the top of Pikes Peak. My shorts and tee shirt failed me since it was about 30 and snowing. I never dreamed I’d ever get to go back. But in 1975, Pam and I were blessed with an opportunity to return to Colorado and made our way to Aspen. We had been married a little over two years and had heard John live in concert for the first time only a couple of months prior. We heard him numerous times over the next 22 years, including once in 1997. His music had impacted our lives and would forever be a part of things we love and things we share. We even made our way to Starwood in Aspen but decided we should not hang around long for fear of getting in trouble for being on private property! Young and foolish might describe that trip but it’s a wonderful memory.
It was a beautiful October day in the Rockies. Pam had not been in Aspen since October 1975.
The John Denver Sanctuary is a very unique and special place dedicated to John’s memory on about 4 1/2 acres along the Roaring Fork River northeast of downtown. It’s open to the public and there is no charge. Come along for a short tour.
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The Song Garden features a number of Johns song lyrics engraved in large stones placed near the river. While we walked among the lyrics, a visitor pulled out a guitar and seated on a rock by the river began to play and sing. We understand it happens often. I didn’t have a guitar, but if the stranger had offered his, I would’ve taken him up on it. I do know a few of John’s songs. (Maybe more than a few).
Stones are scattered on the hillside as you enter the song garden. It’s a great place to sit and relax, listen to the river, and take in the beauty that is 360.
The ski runs were quiet but will be alive with activity in a few weeks. The surrounding beauty and fresh air does indeed fill up your senses. I can see how a gifted songwriter like John could be inspired to write Annie’s Song in 10 minutes while riding a ski lift. It’s a beautiful love song that I’ve sung at many weddings. And, it’s my ringtone when Pam calls my cell!
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We walked this path and talked of poems, prayers, and promises.
Sunshine is one of my all time favorite songs. I was asked recently to sing on the spur of the moment by a singer-songwriter who was performing for us and others at a resort near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. He handed me his guitar, so what can you do but sing “Sunshine On My Shoulders”.
The Roaring Fork River
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Pam surprised me with a Guild guitar in 1976. John played Guild at times and Pam had heard me talk so much about that. I treasure that guitar and have probably played John’s songs on it a few thousand times-no exaggeration. I’m protective of it and mainly play my Taylor these days. (John played Taylor also). Of course the first song I would play on the Guild was John’s signature song.
The Sanctuary by design is home to perennial flower gardens, other vegetation, stone paths, and winding streams. A man made wetland serves to filter storm water before it enters the river.
The Wheeler Opera House, the tall building seen here, was the venue for three concerts we attended. As you might guess, the concerts were a tribute to John Denver and his music.
Former band members, long time friends, co-writers, recording artist, and other special guests graced the Wheeler stage each evening in grand style to fill the house with John’s songs and share memorable stories.
Concerts were held in some of the local churches during the day. There was no shortage of music and we enjoyed it all, taking in 4 concerts one day!
Speaking of Aspen, a close up of a quaking Aspen is to us another way to experience “Aspenglow”.
“Leaving on a Jet Plane” – over the Maroon Bells.
This picnic table in the John Denver Sanctuary tells us a story. It sits alone, the seats are empty and the food has long since been taken away. We were in Aspen for the 20th anniversary of John’s tragic death in a plane crash on October 12, 1997. This scene instantly reminded me of verse 14 in the fourth chapter of James in the Bible. Life is fragile and fleeting. The verse says, “yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes”.
I am awestruck and without words to describe the beauty of the Colorado mountains. I feel all of you would agree. If creation is beyond our words, how unimaginable is the greatness of our Creator who made it all ! We experienced a Rocky Mountain High and more as we paused to worship and thank the one true God who made everything and allowed us the privilege of seeing and being a part of it. Speaking of Jesus, Colossians 1: 15-17 says: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
“This Old Guitar”…. taught me to sing a few love songs.
Musicians, singers and songwriters are plentiful. John was all three, and one of the best at doing it all. But he possessed something that is a remarkable gift that not nearly as many have. He had the ability to communicate a song better than anyone I’ve heard. There’s a real difference in singing a song and communicating the message from your heart to the heart of the listener. It’s unique, it is rare, it’s a gift, and it was John. He left us his autograph.
It’s Pam again…thanks for coming over to read about our time in Aspen…we had a wonderful trip! We always love your comments! Don’t forget to check out all of the beautiful tables on our Thanksgiving Tablescape Blog Hop!
Tuesday
My Kentucky Living • Savvy Apron • Rattlebridge Farm • Living with Thanksgiving
Wednesday
Belle Blue Interiors • From My Carolina Home • Bluesky at Home • The Painted Apron
Corner of Plaid and Paisley • The Red Painted Cottage
Thursday
A casa di Bianca • Dining Delight • Sweet Sensations • Our Crafty Mom • Panoply
Friday
My French Twist • Hey Fitzy • B Lovely Events • Me and My Captain • Life and Linda
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Life on Lakeshore Drive,Coastal Charm, Dwellings-Heart of Your Home, Savvy Southern Style, French Country Cottage, Stone Gable, Confessions of a Plate Addict, Worthing Court, Between Naps on the Porch, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, The Charm of Home, Katherines Corner,Vintage Mama’s Cottage, Marilyn’s Treats, Peonies & Orange Blossoms, Eclectic Red Barn, Share Your Cup,21 Rosemary Lane,The Vintage Nest, The Essence Of Home, Feathering My Empty Nest, Kingsbury Brook Farm, The Red Painted Cottage, Love Of Home,My Soulful Home, Celebrating Everyday Life, Little Farmstead, Starfish Cottage, Rattlebridge Farm, Rustic & Refined,The Freckled Rose, Life and Linda, DIY 180, The Stonybrook House, Celebrate & Decorate, Sweet Sensations, The Dedicated House, Jodie Fitz
Music is very precious for my family too.We love to see videos in youtube together and each one chooses a song,it can be Cat Stevens,Frank sinatra,Queen or Ed Sheeran!We spend several hours this way and it is so good and pleasure! I love “Sunshine on my shoulders” and love your post so much!Thanks,Butch and Pam,and have a nice day!
Thank you Maristella for sharing your warm thoughts! Hugs~
What a beautiful post and such a wonderful tribute to a great talent. John Denver is special to me and to all of us who live in West Virginia. He made our “Country Roads” quite famous. All his words in the song were true and real. Thank you for sharing such a special trip with all of us. Blessings to you both.
Thank you Sandra! He gave everyone a beautiful glimpse of WV!
Wow, what a great post with gorgeous pictures and a wonderful tribute to John Denver and his talent. Music does make pictures. I would love to hear you and Pam sing! My son and son-in-law play the guitar and both of them as well as my daughter love to sing.
Your pictures are so beautiful they make me want to plan a trip there. I can’t image the great music you enjoyed attending all the concerts. My husband and I have loved John’s music for years.I fondly remember the 8 track tape of his we played in our car when we were newly married! We were so saddened by his death.
Thank you for sharing your trip with us.
Bonnie, how well we remember those 8 track tapes! John’s music lives on and we still play it most days!
This post is beautiful! I’d love to see everything you shared. My husband and I both loved ol’ John Denver but I had no idea all of that was there. We watched interviews with John and interviews with his ex-wife recently and his love for Colorado was so evident and transformative. I’m going to share this with my hubby. 🙂
Thank you Stacey…John’s music lives on!
Pam and Butch, you have taken us on a beautiful journey. Reflecting on the life and music of John Denver was one journey. Bob and I love his music and love the man. You are right. John Denver could communicate. Then there is your love story and your faith intertwined in this journey. The John Denver Sanctuary is amazing and I did not know about it. Thank you for all the pics of so many lyrics engraved on these rocks. Music is the universal language. It can speak to us like nothing else. Thank you for sharing so much of your story. You are two super talented people.
I don’t know which is more beautiful, your story or your photos! It all really touched my heart, thank you for sharing! ? ? ?
Jenna
Thank you Jenna!
Pam. I think Butch needs to do a concert at the Water Wall next spring/summer when they start that again. It is such a nice venue for music. He is a gifted writer. Enjoyed this stroll with you through his writing.
Jenny, that is a great idea! Thank you~
Beautiful pictures! I know ya’ll had a wonderful time there. Probably overcome by beautiful memories. I always love to hear Butch play and sing. He should do more for us!
Thank you Brenda, many memories were revisited and many more made!
Que sorpresa tan hermosa…luego, a la noche te comento porque ahora me tengo que ir a Madrid para darles clase de piano a mis nietos Marcos y David.
Tengo que verlo y leerlo con tranquilidad, disfrutando de todo esto que los dos habéis publicado.
Dolores
What a beautiful surprise … then, at night I comment because now I have to go to Madrid to give piano lessons to my grandchildren Marcos and David.
I have to see it and read it calmly, enjoying all this that you both have published.
Dolores
Ah, John Denver. I loved his music then and I still do. Perhaps Love. One of my favorites. A simple song but so beautiful. We live in a mountainous area similar in climate to Aspen and Colorado Springs. I have quaking aspens in my yard. What a great tribute to a wonderful storyteller and musician. Thanks for taking us along on your journey.
John’s music lives on. Perhaps Love is one of our favorites, also! The quaking aspens are just beautiful!
There’s so much to love here and I’ll probably leave something out but here goes! First, I ADORE that you and Butch are blog partners and such a team. Makes me smile. Big. I love every photo, and of course, since John Denver is a favorite of mine, I love that you are at this exquisite place of peace and beauty and music. I was hoping to hear more about your trip and this certainly doesn’t disappoint. I loved every single word.
Thanks Jeanie…Butch has a unique style of writing and only wish I could talk him into doing more blog posts!
Four concerts in one day! Ofcourse you are on a “Rocky Mountain High”!!! Oh Butch, beautifully put and thank you for saying it in song and word. I have forwarded thus to lots of friends and family because it moved me so much. Also a beautiful love story. My eyes misted over.
Alice, your sweet and poignant comments made my a little eyes more than misty! Thank you for sharing and for being such a sweet friend! Blessings~
Butch and Pam, I loved this post today along with all the beautiful pictures. Melted my heart reading the words today. Music is indeed a gift. It’s the words of the song that I truly tune into. Such warmth has been felt from this post today. Thank you sharing. YES I love John Denver! Hugs and blessings, Cindy
Thank you sweet Cindy…blessings~
Gorgeous scenery captured beautifully in your photos. I was just thinking about John Denver’s song “Country Roads” this weekend when my two sisters and I had a weekend getaway to West Virginia.
Thank you so much Lisa! Sounds like your trip to WV was wonderful!
John Denver songs bring back so many memories, all good. Thanks for this post.
Thanks so much!
‘m fascinated enjoying this post. I believe that the secret of the fascination that the personality of John Denver gives us is its simplicity. He creates his music by relating his sensations and his pleasures, and to all those simple things in life he turns them into music …. He is a great poet and a great musician. Butch says that his favorite song is “Sunshine on my shoulders”, I also have it in the first place. Why? … Very simple, because besides the musical inspiration, the text is immensely beautiful. John has created a delicate and beautiful song based on what I call “The kind side of life” .. know how to see life, creation, noble feelings, in short Love, because he feels in his veins the Love of God, what good we have … which is a lot, although all this will never be news. John’s poems written in stone is a magical place … John knew how to leave us as beautiful as a being can leave: his noble feelings and his music. Congratulations Butch and Pam, great joy to see such beautiful and magical places. With love, Dolores
Dolores, ¡estábamos tan emocionados de compartir esta publicación contigo! ¡Nos conectamos desde el principio con nuestro amor mutuo por John Denver y su música! Escribió hermosas letras y melodías y fue verdaderamente un poeta! ¡Su maestría musical era insuperable! ¡Lo vimos muchas veces en concierto y nunca decepcionó! ¡Nos sorprendió la cantidad de personas que viajaron desde tantos países para estar en Aspen! ¡Conocimos a una dama realmente dulce de Australia! Bendiciones ~
I’ve said it numerous times, how music conjures up images and events for me. Thank you, Butch, for this great post. You’ve stirred many memories and images from especially those years where John was so popular, and beyond, some very bittersweet. You probably know WV adopted Country Roads as its unofficial state song after JD performed it in the new WVU football stadium in its opening game in 1980. It is amazing to see how, after a West Virginia win, so many people, especially the players and other kids who come there for their education, embrace it and WV as family. It truly is remarkable, and many of those kids remember and honor their alma mater long after for that feeling they remember so well. The stadium is like going to church when its sung by the entire crowd of 60,000. A great trip journal.
Rita, thanks for sharing about WVU! We would love to hear 60,000 people singing Country Roads!
Yes, he truly had a gift. What a beautiful post, Butch. I found myself feeling teary eyed while reading it. Your writing has a way of bringing up emotions and you brought back memories from my childhood. I grew up with many of those songs and I love how the lyrics could be found on those boulders. What a wonderful trip that must have been! Thank you so much for sharing at Take Me Away again this month!
Shelley
Shelley, thank you for sharing your personal thoughts! Beautifully said~
Pam and Butch it had been years since I’ve listened to John Denver. But once I started reading this post I put his songs on and listened to him while admiring your photography and Butch’s writing. I guess that is what you meant for all along. So much has been reawakened in my and yes, he was kind of dorky but so heartfelt. An artist that I could not fully appreciate until now. I guess you have a different perspective and appreciation of things as you get older. Thank you for that.
Mary thank you for your thoughtful sentiments! We loved our trip to recapture memories and make new ones!
What an enjoyable post and the photos…just wonderful.
Thank you Karen for your visit!
What beautiful pictures and such a wonderful story! You all must of had such a wonderful time. Thanks for sharing your trip with us. I hope you all enjoy your week!
Thank you Shannon…wishing you a beautiful week!
What a beautiful post Butch!…We have never been to the John Denver Sanctuary…what a beautiful place…will have to make a point to go there next time we are out that way…Aspen is such a beautiful place…loved exploring that area….
Thanks so much Shirley! We enjoyed our trip.
I love John’s voice and would love to see this! Colorado is a beautiful state. It reminds me a lot of my home state, UT. Music does wonders for the soul! I can’t carry a tune worth a lick, but I constantly have a song in my head and sometimes just the mention of a certain word makes me break out in song. Believe me, it’s not pretty! 🙂 Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Jann, I can hear a word and it brings to mind a song and I start singing. Funny we both do that!
Wow, so I’m a little behind on my emails and I didn’t even know this place existed. I love Colorado and I loved John Denver’s songs as well, been known to sing one or two myself. This post brought tears to my eyes especially knowing it was written by a man; a man who obviously sees the true meaning of purpose. We all have one and my heart has been touched. We miss out on so much when we don’t take the time to ‘slow down’ and listen to the music. Thank you.
Belinda
Belinda, I am so glad you commented! This was such a special post for Butch and me! We loved and still listen to John’s music! His songs have been the soundtrack of our lives together for 44 years!