Friday, January 1, 2016

~~ Thank God I'm a (French) Country Girl ~~

John Denver made me do it!

With his emotional lyrics about the mountains and the country and rainin' fire in the sky.
Taking me home to a place I belong. 

He was the reason I came to Colorado more than 35 years ago. 
His songs about Colorado and the Rocky Mountains spoke to me on a deep level
I didn't know I had and drew me to the mountains.


And although "Rocky Mountain High" is now Colorado's state song, it's the words 
to "The Eagle and the Hawk" that thrill me and make me hopeful for a new year to come.

"Come dance with the west wind and touch on the mountain tops.
Sail over the canyons and up to the stars.
And reach for the heavens and hope for the future
and all that we can be and not what we are."

Powerful words. Don't you think?


I've never been a celebrity worshiper but when John died in a plane crash, I cried. 
I felt like he was a close friend, not a celebrity.


His ashes were spread over the Rockies and I feel his gentle presence still. 


So, with his words in mind, we greet a new year. I don't usually make too many New Year's resolutions but this year I have some goals I hope to accomplish with my blog.
 Bringing French Country Home was born in June 2015 so it's now seven months old. 
I made two goals when I started my blog.

1.  My first goal was to get 5,000 page views. I remember how excited I was when I reached that number. Now, I can check that one off with almost 15,000 as of today. Thank you so much for reading my blog!


2.  My second goal was to connect with 100 subscribers. Still working on that but getting close with 92. I still can't believe people are actually reading my blog. Such a thrill, especially to read your kind comments of appreciation and encouragement. Thanks everyone for your continued visits!


And now. New Year. New goals.

1.  I'm reaching for 25,000 page views. Yikes! That does seem a bit lofty but I'm going for it.

2.  And 250 subscribers. With your help, we can do it!

3. I'm determined to figure out how social media works. I have a Facebook page but am still not sure how to use it to increase blog readership. Just discovered Pinterest and am working on that too.

4.  I'd like to meet some fellow bloggers in Colorado, maybe connect somehow. I invite fellow Coloradoans to contact me if you're interested. I've also read about blogging conferences and that would be fun and definitely worthwhile.

5. Oh, yes. Mustn't forget my ongoing goal--a sweet little cabin just like this one in the mountains!


So, John Denver's words carry me into a new year . . .

"And reach for the heavens and hope for the future 
and all that we can be and not what we are."




28 comments:

  1. Still love hearing John Denver songs; gorgeous photos and what a dream come true to have a sweet little cabin in the mountains!
    Thanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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    1. Thanks Cindy. Am so glad you enjoyed the pictures of my "back yard!"

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  2. Beautiful scenery that makes me long for the mountains. I'm always amazed how clear the water is in the natural pools up there. Thanks for sharing this.

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    1. Thanks so much. You sound like you appreciate the mountains too.

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  3. I so loved John Denver's music had one of his albums as a teen and loved to listen to it. Could find myself humming it. You spot in the mountains is gorgeous! Happy New YEar!

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    1. Thanks so much for visiting. It's been a pleasure hearing from all these John Denver fans. Happy New Year to you too.

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  4. Oh I love your wonderful scenic shots here! :)

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  5. I have only visited Colorado once - in the winter to ski at Keystone. It is a beautiful state.

    Congrats on your blog goals! You might consider adding Instagram if you want to grow your blog. I post just 1 picture each day.

    Thanks for Sharing Your Cup!

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    1. Thanks for visiting my blog and Colorado! I'm not that familiar with Instagram...do you have to use your phone to do it? I think I'm the only person alive who doesn't have a cell phone!

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  6. Because of John Denver's Christmas show in MT in '91 we ended up moving to MT just few months later. We were so enthralled by his music and scenery in his show we really took note. After show we went out to grocery store nearby and there were brochures about MT lands and who to contact. The next week we called, got some info about places to buy by Feb. we went to MT to buy our place. By May we had sold our place east of San Diego and off we went. Still love it there even tho haven't lived there since 99. We had 20 acres on south side of Canyon Ferry Lake south of Helena.
    I always loved John Denver's music, had one of his albums as young woman, played it to death.
    Happy New year and weekend

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    1. Thanks for visiting and sharing your story. What a dream come true to own 20 acres in MT! Happy New Year to you too!

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  7. Yes, I want to be in Colorado. The words to that song makes you feel so free.

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  8. Absolutely gorgeous photos. Hope you get that cabin in the mountains. I'll subscribe and follow you on your journey. Best wishes.

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    1. Thanks for subscribing to my blog Taryn. Hope you visit again soon.

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  9. OMGoodness, Pat--one of my all-time FAVORITE songs ever! Really, I mean it :) I'm from the Adirondacks, so I consider myself somewhat of a mountain girl--they are always calling to me. I enjoyed hearing about your past and future goals and will be rooting for you in 2016. Thanks for linking up with Vintage Charm--

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    1. OMG Diana! I just loved your comments. Really, I mean it! Ha. I knew you were a fellow mountain gal. Thanks for your rooting too! Hope you have a great year.

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  10. The pictures are gorgeous! I want a cabin like that someday too! You have some wonderful goals. One of my husband's Christmas gifts were tickets to see Jim Curry who was performing locally. He is a John Denver impersonator and he was pretty good. He kinda looked like John too. Of course he sang Rocky Mountain High and nailed it and throughout his show he had a huge screen behind him with footage of Colorado. It made me want to visit there and also remember what a great singer songwriter John Denver really was. It was a great loss to the entertainment world when he died.

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    1. Thanks for sharing your story about the concert AnnMarie. Sadly, I never got to see John perform live but he certainly lived in my heart and my home and my car! Hope you have a great new year!

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    2. Thanks for sharing your story about the concert AnnMarie. Sadly, I never got to see John perform live but he certainly lived in my heart and my home and my car! Hope you have a great new year!

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  11. You have some great pictures and adding words from John Denvers songs fits in with the pictures.
    I've always been a fan of his songs and find his songs coming to mind when I'm out in nature.
    Have a wonderful week.
    Denise

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    1. Thanks Denise. So nice to hear from another John Denver fan. Hope you have a great new year.

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  12. John Denver was a very special person. He was a favorite of my best friend and I and every time I hear him I think of her. She was killed in a motorcycle accident three years ago. Also, Country Roads takes me back to my first love. I often wonder if he thinks of me when he hears that song :).

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    1. Hi Kristyna. Dick Clark once said that music is the soundtrack of our lives. Whenever we hear certain songs, we are immediately back where we heard that song. So true. I'm sorry about your friend.

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    2. That is a good way to put it, the soundtrack of our lives. Thanks.

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  13. Beautiful mountains. Have you been to the French Alps? If you haven't, from the look of this post, you'd love them.

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    1. Hi Catherine...so nice to meet you. I briefly visited the French Alps many years ago and thought they were breathtaking. Would love to go back and spend some time exploring. I checked out your blog and saw some amazing peaks. I want to find your book and read it! Hope you visit again soon.

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