colorado country life november 2014 mountain view
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Colorado Country Life November 2014 Mountain ViewTRANSCRIPT
November 2014
Love ofBooksColorado authors capturing hearts
The
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The official publication of the Colorado Rural Electric Association || Volume 45, Number 11COMMUNICATIONS STAFF: Mona Neeley, CCC, Publisher/Editor@303-455-4111; [email protected] Wallin, Associate Editor; [email protected] Higgins, Editorial Assistant/Writer; [email protected]: Kris Wendtland@303-902-7276, [email protected]; NCM@800-626-1181SUBSCRIPTIONS: [email protected]
[contents]
November 2014
EDITORIAL: Denver Corporate Office, 5400 Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216; Phone: 303-455-4111 • Email: [email protected] • Website: coloradocountrylife.coop • Facebook: facebook.com/COCountryLifw • Twitter: @COCountryLife
Colorado Country Life (USPS 469-400/ISSN 1090-2503) is published monthly for $9/$15 per year by Colorado Rural Electric Association, 5400 N. Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216. Periodical postage paid at Denver, Colorado. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Colorado Country Life, 5400 N. Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216
Publication of an advertisement in Colorado Country Life does not imply endorsement by any Colorado rural electric cooperative or the Colorado Rural Electric Association. Editorial opinions published in Colorado Country Life magazine shall pertain to issues affecting rural electric cooperatives, rural communities and citizens. The opinion of CREA is not necessarily that of any particular cooperative or individual.
®
Cover illustration by Donna Wallin.
4 Viewpoint CREA’s Energy Innovations Summit promotes new technologies
5 Letters
6 Calendar
7 Co-op News
12 NewsClips
14 The Cowboy Cooperative Electric co-ops continue working to improve community lifestyles
16 The Love of Books Discover books to fall in love with this fall
16
16 BILLION QUARTS 91% 1782amount of popped popcorn
Americans consume each yearpeople surveyed by the Pew Research center who
said they read printed books in 2013year the bald eagle was chosen as the
symbol for the United States
21 Recipes Pass the popcorn, enjoy these tooth- some, corny snacks
22 Gardening Use cold frames to grow vegetables all winter long
24 Outdoors Duck hunting turns magical with birds from up north
25 Energy Tips
29 Funny Stories
30 Discoveries
4
[cover]
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This month’s online extrascoloradocountrylife.coop
4SEE: calendar events come to life, great Halloween party ideas4LEARN: the electric cooperative story4GET: instruction in building a cold frame for winter gardening4EXPERIENCE: the fun of a Little Free Library
Exp lor e on lin e
21
[viewpoint]
coloradocountrylife.coop4 NOVEMBER 20144
DDiscoveries, arguments, challenges and new ideas were all part of the conversation Monday, October 27, when the Colorado Rural Electric Association hosted its fifth annual Energy In-novations Summit in Denver. And it was exciting.
CREA created the Summit back in 2010 as way for the elec-tric co-op family to stay on top of the latest developments in the evolving electric industry. It has grown into one of the best one-day energy conferences in Colorado and a great network-ing and information-sharing opportunity among many differ-ent stakeholder groups. The Summit is open to anyone who is interested in energy issues, and attendees include utility reps, regulators, policymakers and folks from the environmental community, in addition to electric co-op directors and staff.
This year’s event featured experts from across the country discussing the latest de-velopments in rooftop solar, net metering, energy efficiency, carbon sequestration and storage, small hydropower, the U.S. Envi-ronmental Protection Agency’s greenhouse gas rules, and energy storage, just to name a few of the topics.
One of the highlights of the conference was the “world premiere” of our Colorado Co-op’s “Energy and Innovation” video. The video highlights many of the innova-tive and groundbreaking projects that were developed by Colorado’s electric co-ops as part of their mission to integrate local renewable power resources. The video also demonstrates that Colorado’s electric co-ops are leading the way in the deployment of new energy technology and are poised to continue that development in the future.
Another highlight was the luncheon speaker. We often fea-ture someone who has a unique perspective on the generation of electricity, and this year the focus was thorium, a little-known element on the periodic table. Richard Martin with Navigant Research talked about how thorium can be used in nuclear power production with less waste and lower cost than with conventional nuclear fuels. He made the case for increased research and development for this particular fuel. Given the recent proposed EPA rules requiring reductions of carbon di-oxide from the power sector, an innovative approach to nuclear may be one of the solutions.
Speaking of carbon reduction, the Summit featured one of the best panels on the technology of carbon capture and sequestration that you will see anywhere. Some of the foremost CCS experts in the country are working in Colorado to develop
technologies that will eventually bring down the cost of CCS to a point where it may become eco-nomically feasible. The electric co-ops’ power suppliers have long been members of the Electric Power Research Institute, and EPRI is also doing important work in this area.
Of course, the “holy grail” that many are seeking in terms of integrating more renewable energy into the power grid is a system of energy storage that is affordable and reliable. At the Summit,
experts from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, RES Americas and Eos Energy Storage explored this topic and talked about the potential for storage in the years to come. There are many exciting technolo-gies in the works, but none that appear to provide the reliability we expect today. As utilities, we have the obligation to keep the lights on 24/7, and perhaps as storage tech-nology improves, we can do that with more intermittent sources of power such as wind and solar.
Finally, the Summit wrapped up with a terrific panel of experts taking a look at
the EPA’s proposed Rule 111 (d) greenhouse rules. These rules require that carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants be reduced 30 percent by the year 2030. The panel discussed the feasibility of the rules and whether they will be effective in reducing global carbon emissions. The EPA rules have the potential to dramatically impact the power genera-tion resources used by co-ops and other utilities when they are adopted next summer and, ultimately, the rates paid by co-op member-owners.
Electric co-ops are constantly evaluating power supply resources and efficiency practices to provide the greatest value to member-owners. With increased interest in member-owned distributed generation and a push toward more renewable power supply, co-ops have to stay on top of the latest technol-ogy. The CREA Energy Innovations Summit helps CREA’s member co-ops stay ahead of the game.
Kent Singer, Executive Director
LOOKING TO THE FUTURECREA’s Energy Innovations Summit promotes discussion of new technologies BY KENT SINGER || CREA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR || [email protected]
Kent Singer
It has grown into one of the best one-day energy conferences in
Colorado and a great networking and information-sharing
opportunity among many different stakeholder groups.
coloradocountrylife.coop
[letters]
5NOVEMBER 2014
GOT A COMMENT? Send your letter to the editor by mail to Colorado Country Life, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 or email [email protected].
Gold Star SupportIt was with great interest I read the article on the Gold Star Mothers gathering in Steamboat Springs. Our family lost my 18-year-old brother in 1942 and I still remember the day. I was 5 years old when my mother received the telegram inform-ing us of his death.
Five years ago while working at a quilt shop in Durango I was approached by a Blue Star Mom about donating a quilt for a raffle that was planned during the week-
end. I gave her a small quilt of mine, then thought I would love to donate a quilt for one of the moms.
Since then the La Plata Quilter’s Guild and I have asked many quilters in
Colorado for quilts to be donated dur-ing the weekend. Eighty quilts have been made and donated by the quilters of Colorado. The families are so grateful that we remember their sons and daughters and their heroic efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Colorado quilters interested in making a quilt may contact me for the in-structions on what we require. We have to be sensitive toward the families regarding designs and colors.
When the quilt is completed, the quilter can contact the local Blue Star Mothers group or mail it to me. (I will reimburse postage.) My goal is to present every mother and father of Colorado and New Mexico with a quilt so they know we do care for these sons and daughters and ap-preciate the sacrifice of these heroes.
Pat Akers, LPQG [email protected], 970-884-0144
[calendar]
coloradocountrylife.coop4 NOVEMBER 20146
November 8-9LovelandStorm Mountain Holiday BazaarBig Thompson Canyon Association [email protected]
November 13-15Denver“Arcadia” Theater PerformanceMSU Denver Studio Theatre7:30 pm • 303-556-3073
November 14-15ElizabethChristmas at The Carriage ShoppesThe Carriage Shoppes10 am-5 pm • 303-646-4672
November 14-15Pueblo WestJingle Bell BoutiqueVFW Hall9 am-5 pm • 719-489-3774
November 15DenverA Symphonic Tribute to Comic Con v2.0Boettcher Concert Hall7:30 pm • 303-623-7876
November 15DurangoOrlando Dugi Fashion ShowBallroom at Fort Lewis Collegeswcenter.fortlewis.edu
November 20-22WigginsGift Source Craft Show717 E 3rd Ave970-483-7732
November 21Denver“Beatles to Bach, Too” ConcertTrinity United Methodist Church7 pm • trinityumc.org
November 21-22StonehamPrimitive Junk Market SaleDowntown Stoneham970-522-6858
November 22-23Black ForestAlpaca Holiday ExtravaganzaBlack Forest Community Club719-495-6693
November 22DurangoChristmas BazaarFirst United Methodist Church8 am-3 pm • 970-247-4213
November 22DurangoThe Polar Express™ Opening NightDurango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad888-872-4607 • durangotrain.com
November 28-29Estes ParkCatch the Glow Holiday Parade & CelebrationDowntown Estes Parkvisitestespark.com
November 28GreeleySkate Your Turkey OffGreeley Ice Haus12-5 pm • 970-350-9402
November 29Kiowa CountySand Creek Massacre 150 Year Remembrance Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site719-438-5916 • nps.gov/sand
November 29PuebloChristmas Parade of LightsDowntown Pueblo719-543-7155
December 1HolyokeCountry Christmas/ Parade of LightsDowntown Holyoke970-854-3517 • www.holyoke chamber.org
December 4-6WestcliffeWinter Arts and Crafts FairHope Lutheran Church719-783-9138
December 5-6CraigHoliday Home TourVarious Craig Locations970-629-8817 • [email protected]
December 5-7DurangoHoliday Arts & Crafts FestivalLa Plata County Fairgrounds970-247-2117 • [email protected]
December 5-6DurangoOld Fashioned Christmas BazaarAnimas Museum970-259-2402 • animas museum.org
December 5FraserFestival of TreesGrand Park Community Recreation Center4-8 pm • 970-726-2424
December 6BurlingtonCraft FairBurlington Community Center9 am-3 pm • 719-346-8918
December 6DurangoNative American Winters Arts MarketDurango High School9 am-5:30 pm • 970-946-1197
December 6La JuntaDickens FestDowntown La Junta9 am-7 pm • snippetsshoppe.com
December 6La Veta“Colorado Table” Moving FeastVarious La Veta Galleries719-742-3074 • spanish peaksarts.org December 6TrinidadCraft ExtravaganzaFisher’s Peak Community Church9 am-3 pm • 719-846-6018
December 8Genoa, Hugo and LimonChristmas Home TourVarious Genoa, Hugo and Limon Locations3:30-7:30 pm • lakecreek [email protected]
December 9Cortez“Home for the Holidays” ConcertFirst United Methodist Church7 pm • mancosvalleychorus.org
SEND CALENDAR ITEMS TWO MONTHS IN ADVANCE TO:CALENDARColorado Country Life5400 N. Washington St.Denver, CO 80216Fax to 303.455.2807 or email [email protected]. Items will be printed on a space available basis. For more information on these and other events, visit coloradocountrylife.coop.
November
Capture the extra layer of content on this page. See pg. 2 for instructions on how to connect to websites and videos or visit Community Events on the website.
Featured Event
November 15, 11 am and 2 pm at the Arts Center Theater, Pueblo
Children and adults will revel in this hilarious spin on Robin Hood and his adventures. Performed by Visible Fictions.
Tickets cost $8. For more information, call 719-295-7200 or visit sdc-arts.org.
The Adventures of Robin Hood
December
coloradocountrylife.coop 7NOVEMBER 2014
MOUNTAIN VIEW ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION
OLEARNING THE COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLESBY JIM HERRON || CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER || [email protected]
One of my favorite bumper stickers is, “If you can read this, thank a teacher.” From my earliest memories, my parents and my grandmother drilled into me the impor-tance of education. It is no accident that we educate children from an early age while their young minds are still dry sponges willing to absorb so much.
The original seven cooperative principles set forth in 1844 contained the simple phrase, “Promotion of Education.” Today the fifth principle states that all co-ops should promote “Education, training and information.” This is intended for the employees, members and the community at large.
It is based on the simple premise that if people know more about the cooperative business model, they will be in a much better po-sition to understand the benefits and promote better use of the co-op and its resources.
While there are almost one mil-lion people in the United States who work for cooperatives of all types (agriculture, housing, credit unions and many others in addi-tion to electric co-ops), few of us learned about cooperatives in school. I remember reading only one paragraph about cooperatives in my college business course. This creates a real challenge when trying to explain the cooperative difference. People understand an investor-owned business is designed to make a profit
or that a non-profit, like the Red Cross, is designed to serve the community. Co-ops have both an eco-nomic and social purpose. We operate on a not-for-profit basis so that we can pass along the best price for our goods and ser-vices to you, the member-
owner. This can also be explained as “providing services at cost.”
You, as a member, own a portion of the business. And one benefit of that
membership involves the allocation of excess revenue, called margins, in the form of capital credits. As a mem-ber, you have a share in the margins of your not-for-profit rural electric cooperative.
The board approved, at the Sep-tember board meeting, capital credit retirements in the amount of $3.6 million for the years of 1998 and a portion of 1999 and 2012. Capital credits are equally allocated to all participating members based upon annual total dollar billing and usage. If
you were a member during any of these years, look for your refund check this month.
Consumer surveys by Touch-stone Energy and others consis-tently affirm that people prefer to do business with a cooperative if given a choice.
Congratulations. You are already taking a huge step in learning
more about your cooperative, simply by taking an interest through reading this publica-tion, perhaps checking out our website at www.mvea.coop, participating in MVEA’s annual meeting, stopping by the office or talking to your fellow co-op members. Each of these are all good ways to better under-stand the cooperative model you are a part of.By knowing more about how
cooperatives operate, you are in a better position to participate as member-owners. We always welcome your questions and com-ments to help us promote the cooperative way of doing business.
Jim Herron
MOUNTAIN VIEW ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION
coloradocountrylife.coop4 NOVEMBER 20148
THealth & Human Service Information and Referral — Call 2-1-1 or call 866-488-9742 Pikes Peak United Wayppunitedway.orgPikes Peak Community Action Agency Eastern El Paso County Calhan office.............................................719-347-2976 Toll free..................................................... 866-347-2976Fountain area Walt Fortman Center............................719-382-8515 Northern Churches Cares (Mercy’s Gate)Eastern Colorado Springs................................719-277-7470 Hours: Monday 4-7 p.m., Wednesday 9 a.m.-noon., Thursday 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-4 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-12 p.m.Tri-Lakes CaresTri-Lakes area.........................................................719-481-4864 Hours: Monday and Thursday 12-3 and 6-8 p.m,
by appointment and Monday-Thursday by phone
Salvation Army......................................................719-382-1182 Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.Silver KeyPersons over 60 (El Paso County)...................719-632-1521 Monday-Friday, 9-noon and 1-3 p.m. Army Emergency Relief.................................719-526-4590Douglas/Elbert County Task Force .........................................................................................303-688-1114 9-noon and they take the first 20 in lineColorado East Community Action Agency Lincoln and Elbert counties...........................719-775-8586 Monday through Thursday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.Elbert County Coalition for Outreach .......................................................................................303-621-2599 Monday through Friday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m.-3 p.m.The Home Front Cares......................................719-434-1501 Southern Colorado Assistance Program .......................................................................................719-578-9092Ecumenical Social Ministries (ESM)..................719-636-1916 Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Black Forest Cares...............................................719-495-2221Parker Task Force................................................303-841-3460 Serves Elizabeth, Franktown and ParkerThe Gatherings......................................................719-785-0118Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pueblo ......................719-544-4233 toll free 800-303-4690
Need Help Paying Your Utility Bill?The Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) is designed to help low-income households with winter home heating costs.
It is not intended to pay the entire cost of home heating.Following are phone numbers for your county LEAP offices. Applications will be
accepted at these county offices from November 1 through April 30.
For more information, visit the LEAP website at colorado.gov/cdhs/leap or
call 866-432-8435.
ADDITIONAL EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE AGENCIES
GGive a gift that can be used and appreciated this holiday by everyone on your list — the gift of electricity. MVEA’s gift certificate program makes it easy for you to provide a credit on a friend or relative’s MVEA electric account. Simply fill out the following form and return it, along with your check, to either MVEA office or in an MVEA drop box. To simplify things even more, call MVEA with the information and MVEA will charge your credit card. How easy is that for holiday shopping?
• The recipient’s electric account will be credited in the amount of your gift.• The recipient will receive a certificate listing your name and the amount of credit
he or she receives (you can remain anonymous if you wish).Give us a call for more information. An MVEA gift certificate can be given any-
time throughout the year.
Give the Gift of Light
I/we would like to provide the following person(s) a credit of $ on their MVEA electric account.
Recipient’s name:
Account number (if available):
Property address:
Your name: Phone:
Address:
Please check one of the following:
q Enclosed is a check for the above amount. q Please bill my credit card.
Name on card: Credit card:
Expiration date: Signature:
Please make gifts in $5 increments, i.e. $5, $10, $15, etc. q I wish to remain anonymous
El Paso .................................................................866-432-8435Elbert ..................................................................... 719-541-2369Kiowa ......................................................................303-621-3195Douglas ......................................303-688-4825 — option 3Lincoln.................................................. 719-743-2404 ext. 150Washington ........................................................970-345-2238Pueblo ......................................... 719-583-6160 — option 4Crowley .................................................................719-267-3546Arapahoe ....................................303-636-1130 — option 4
MOUNTAIN VIEW ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION
coloradocountrylife.coop 9NOVEMBER 2014
WWe are pleased to announce the 2015 MVEA Photo Contest Calendars are now available. We have a limited number of calendars (please limit one per household), which can be picked up at either Mountain View Electric Association of-fice. Thank you to all the members who sent in photos this year. There are 36 photos featured in this calendar. “Employ-ees have a harder time each year narrowing down the best images,” says Sarah Schaefer, member services specialist. “This year there were 160 entries from members and they were all amazing.” The 2016 contest entry period will begin in January, so watch your Colorado Country Life magazine for the details and check out the MVEA website for submission guidelines at www.mvea.coop (click on the Community tab and select the Photo Calendar Contest from the pull down menu). Thank you for your participation.
Photo Contest Calendars Available at Offices
We love hearing from members, and when I’m out and
about in our service territory I often hear about recipes
that are enjoyed. Thank you for taking the time to share
your recipes. It’s truly a joy to try new tips and tricks in the
kitchen. Here’s one from Barb Angell of Peyton that’s easy
and perfect for fall as we get out our crock-pot!
“I enjoy reading Colorado Country Life and often cut
out a recipe or two. Here is a recipe that I got from my
niece in Hawaii. It has been a huge success with my fam-
ily, even my mother-in-law. I’ve made it for several large
groups also. The best part — super easy.”
If you have a recipe you would like to share, please
send it to MVEA, Attn: Sarah Schaefer, 11140 E. Woodmen
Road, Falcon, CO 80831 or send it by email to schaefer-s@
mvea.org. If your recipe is selected and published you will
receive a $10 credit on your electric bill the month your
recipe appears in Colorado Country Life magazine.
Maria’s Hawaiian Pork1 pork loin or roast, 4-6 pounds1 cup brown sugar1 cup soy sauce1 cup honey1 can crushed pineapplePlace pork in crock-pot and pour rest of the ingredients over, ending with the pineapple. Cook on high for 3-4 hours until pork is tender. Enjoy.
Country Kitchen
YOUTFIT YOUR OUTLETSYoung children may put
fingers or other small
objects in outlets without
understanding the dangers
of electricity. It is up to you
to understand the dangers
of electricity and prevent
accidents. Tamper resistant
outlets provide a permanent
solution. TROs have shutters that stay closed unless a plug with
two prongs is plugged in. TROs should be professionally installed.
Another option is simple outlet plugs.
Happy Thanksgiving from all the folks at MVEA.
Our offices will be closed November 27.
MOUNTAIN VIEW ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION
coloradocountrylife.coop4 NOVEMBER 201410
The lucky winners will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., in June or to the Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp near Steamboat Springs in July. The first place essay contest winner will head to Washington, D.C., and join 1,600 other high school juniors touring historical sites, meeting legislators and having a fantastic time in our nation’s capital. The second and third place winners will meet with approximately 100 students from Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Wyoming in beautiful Clark, Colorado, to improve their leadership skills, set up and operate a cooperative, participate in legislative forums and enjoy a slew of activities set in the beautiful Rocky Mountains.
TO ENTER: 1. Parents or guardians must
receive electric service from MVEA.
2. You must be at least 16 years of age by January 1, 2015.
3. You must submit a 500-word essay on “Power Lines: Underground vs. Overhead Installation — Advantages and Disadvantages to Members of the Cooperative.”
Entries must be postmarked or hand delivered to either MVEA office by Novem-ber 18, 2014. For an entry form, go to our website at www.mvea.coop. For more information, call member services at 719-494-2670.
At tention High School Juniors It’s time for the annual MVEA essay contest
High school seniors and their parents have a lot of decisions to make. Whether or not to attend college is one of them. To help ease the burden for members, MVEA offers 14 college scholarships.
To qualify for these scholar-ships, students must:• Have parents or guardians receiving
service from MVEA• Be a graduating high school senior• Meet ACT or SAT and GPA
requirements (these vary depend-ing on scholarship)
• Return the application by January 15, 2015
Scholarships available 10 — $1,000 MVEA 1 — $1,000 MVEA vocational and technical 1 — $1,000 Tri-State Generation and Transmission 1 — $1,000 Basin Electric Power 1 — $1,000 E.A. “Mick” Geesen Memorial
Scholarships are awarded by lottery.
Applications are available on MVEA’s website at www.mvea.coop or by contacting member ser-vices at 719-494-2670.
It’s MVEA Scholarship Time
MVEA ESSAY CONTEST ENTRY FORMWrite a 500-word essay on the following topic:
“Power Lines: Underground vs. Overhead Installation — Advantages and Disadvantages to Members
of the Cooperative.”
Student’s name:
Address:
City: State: ZIP:
Phone:
Email:
Parent or legal guardian:
MVEA account #:
High school:
Graduation date: Date of birth:
coloradocountrylife.coop 11NOVEMBER 2014
coloradocountrylife.coop4 NOVEMBER 201412
[newsclips]
M
TCo-op Team Rides to Help Pay Heating Bills for Less Fortunate There were 26 bicyclists sporting Colorado’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives bike jerseys in late September’s Pedal the Plains bike tour. The co-op riders pedaled 174 miles from Wiggins to Fort Morgan to Sterling and back to Wiggins in northeastern Colo-rado.
It was all part of a bike tour designed to bring attention and visitors to the eastern plains of Colorado. As the electric provid-ers for most of the rural communities on the plains, the electric co-ops have participated in the bike ride the last three years under the Powering the Plains banner. And, as part of the effort, the bike team rides to raise money for Energy Outreach Colorado.
This year, the sponsors and riders together raised nearly $4,000
for EOC, a nonprofit, independent organization that helps provide home energy assistance to low-income Coloradans.
Special thanks goes to the sponsors who made participation in Pedal the Plains possible this year. For 2014, those sponsors were Tri-State Generation and Transmission, Colorado Country Life, Colorado Rural Electric Association, Highline Electric, Holy Cross Energy, K.C. Electric, Lewis Roca Rothgerber LLP, Morgan County REA, Mountain View Electric, Poudre Valley REA, San Isabel Electric, San Miguel Power, Southeast Colorado Power, United Power, White River Electric, Wright & Williamson LLC and Yampa Valley Electric.
More than 60 representatives of Colorado’s electric cooperatives recently returned from Omaha, Nebraska, and the regional meeting of the co-ops’ national organiza-tion, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
Gathering with electric co-op directors, managers and staff members from Alas-ka, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming, Colorado’s representatives explored issues facing today’s co-ops. These included working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean
Power Plan, joining with other co-ops to push joint goals, keeping communications with co-op members vibrant and always there and meeting the many challenges to keeping the power on.
Attendees also learned how electric co-ops look beyond our borders and volunteer for the NRECA International Foundation, helping rural communities around the world achieve safe access to affordable and reliable electricity.
Delegates also helped set policies and priorities for the national organization, which will be implemented during
the coming year. NRECA represents 900 electric co-ops throughout the United States.
Regional Co-op Meetings Emphasize Networking
$
Today’s average Energy Star refrigerator uses less energy than a con-tinuously lit 60-watt lightbulb.
With an Energy Star refrig-erator, save between $200 and $1,100 in a lifetime of energy costs.
2014NRECAREGIONALMEETINGS
coloradocountrylife.coop 13NOVEMBER 2014
[newsclips]
PhotoContest
Enter CCL’s Photo Contest • Enter CCL’s Photo Contest
1. Colorado Landscape 2. Colorado Animals
1st Place $150
2nd Place $75
3rd Place $50
Rules: Please follow all guidelines carefully. All photos and files become the property of Colorado Country Life. Original print photos will not be returned. Winners will be published in the March 2015 magazine.
1. Each photo must be accompanied by the entry form (right). It must be signed.
2. Do not write any information on front or back of photo.
3. Digital entries may be submitted to info@coloradocountry life.org with the form on the right scanned and signed.
4. Digital entries must be at least 8- by 10-inches in size and at least 300 dpi.
5. Photos printed on home printers will not be accepted.
6. Photos must be received by 5 p.m., December 1, 2014.
Enter Colorado Country Life’s
Title for entry (to appear if published)
Name Phone
Address
City State ZIP
Signature Date
By submitting this photo, I am giving Colorado Country Life permission to use the submitted photo in the magazine and/or on its social media sites.
COLORADO COUNTRY LIFE PHOTO CONTEST ENTRY FORM
ENTER TO
WIN !
EACH CATEGORY EACH CATEGORY EACH CATEGORY
Send entries to: Colorado Country Life, Photo Contest, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 or info@ coloradocountrylife.org. Remember to include a signed entry form with each photo to be eligible.
coloradocountrylife.coop4 NOVEMBER 201414
[industry]
CowboyCOOPERATIVE
BY TOM TATE
The
It’s difficult to imagine what life was like outside urban areas back then, especially through the lens of our 21st century existence: news taking days to reach you, dirt roads, manual labor and no electric-ity. Life for a large portion of the Ameri-can population was, for all intents and purposes, a frontier life.
Rugged people made a living from strength, persistence and hard, often crushing, work. They relied on their neighbors when times were tough — a way of life alien to many people today, although a few are still around who remember when the lights first came on. While 95 percent of urban dwellers had electricity, only one in 10 rural Americans was so blessed.
It was in this same year, on May 11, when President Franklin Delano Roos-evelt signed Executive Order 7037 creat-ing the Rural Electrification Administra-tion. Immediately, “cowboy cooperatives” took the bit in their teeth and organized electric cooperatives all across America.
Some might think that these cowboy co-ops were restricted to the West, but the case can be made that every coopera-tive was formed because of the cowboys of its area. They were tough, self-reliant, hardworking, honest, resilient men and women willing to take bold action to serve their interests and create a better life for their families. But working in your
In October we celebrated National Co-op Month, so it seems fitting to look back to our beginnings and reflect on the reasons for the creation of electric cooperatives. This is a remarkable story that demonstrates the exceptional nature of the Americans who populated rural America, then and now.
1935
coloradocountrylife.coop 15NOVEMBER 2014
self-interest should not be confused as selfish. They worked together for their neighbors and communities.
The term “cowboy” conjures up Hol-lywood images of hard-fighting, hard- drinking, rugged individuals fighting injustice against great odds. Today, it can also be a pejorative term describ-ing people who are unpredictable and unsophisticated in their actions.
The actual character of the cowboy cooperative didn’t reflect the Holly-wood image, but the cooperative model matched the cowboy ethic perfectly. A book written by a retired Wall Street executive, James Owen, captured this ethic and boiled it down to the follow-ing 10 points:
1. Live each day with courage. 2. Take pride in your work. 3. Always finish what you start. 4. Do what has to be done. 5. Be tough, but fair. 6. When you make a promise,
keep it.7. Ride for the brand.
8. Talk less and say more. 9. Remember that some things
aren’t for sale.10. Know where to draw the line.
Cowboys and cooperatives were a nat-ural fit. These cowboys got busy orga-nizing electric cooperatives and worked intently to bring light to rural America. Most of us have seen these poignant sepia images of remote places with men scrambling to light the rural landscape. They gathered their picks, shovels, lad-ders and whatever else was handy and dug holes by hand and walked the poles up in place to carry the electric lines. Wires were manhandled into place on the poles and cross arms. Creating the proper tension and securing the con-ductors to the insulators were all done by strength and might, and when the lines were damaged, either by man or nature, it all was redone the same way. Safety equipment was nonexistent.
Over time, the hard hat was gradu-ally introduced, and the first job site
to mandate its use was the Hoover Dam, where falling debris caused many deaths. Fire retardant clothing wasn’t even a glimmer in anyone’s eye and climbing poles often involved ladders rather than spikes and safety belts. Many of these cowboys gave their lives to bring the benefits of electricity to their homes and communities.
Once power was flowing, members reported how much they used, and the cooperative sent them a hand-prepared bill by regular rural free delivery or RFD mail. There were no automatic meter reading systems or computer-ized billing options; ledgers formed the permanent record of transactions.
Today these tasks are completed using digger and bucket trucks assisted by mechanized tensioners. Smart de-vices control distribution systems, and cooperatives provide more consistent levels of service and quality at a much lower cost. The work remains dangerous and arduous, but modern safety tools, clothing and practices reduce the risk substantially. Technology continues to improve our ability to control system operations and costs while continu-ously improving quality and member service, and automated systems improve the accuracy of bills and simplify data management.
Given all that happened over the decades, some might think the cowboy cooperative is a thing of the past. But the truth is, the cowboy cooperative is needed just as much in 2014 as it was in 1935. Changes are sweeping through the electric utility industry and if the coop-eratives are to retain the benefits that electrification brought to rural America, bold, decisive action by a new breed of cooperative cowboy is required.
A new generation of members is com-ing onto cooperative lines. Members who saw electric co-ops as “saviors” by turning on the lights are fading into
memory; the benefits of light, refrigera-tion and warmth are now an old hat for most. We now wrestle with the percep-tion of being just another utility. Quite a fall from the savior ranks.
Today we separate ourselves by being actively involved in numerous outreach programs, educational endeavors and community events. We work to improve where we live and work beyond the simple provision of power.
As these efforts continue, we recog-nize that community for many of our new members exists on the Internet where members meet and interact with electronic communications rather than meeting in person. New members ex-pect immediate responses and limitless information. It is a challenge worthy of a cowboy response.
Engaging our membership in the future will be challenging, but so was bringing electricity to rural America. While the tools differ, the cowboy cooperative mind-set and ethic is un-changed. Think about the points Owen identified. They reflect values still consistent with the seven cooperative principles and underscore the relevance of the cowboy co-op in facing today’s challenges.
The frontier life of today is differ-ent indeed. In the 21st century, co-ops continue to work in their self-interests. This means employees and members pitching in and doing whatever they can individually and collectively to ensure that the interests of our community are well-served and that electricity remains affordable and reliable. Just as it was in the 1930s, working in our self-interest won’t be selfish. It will be for the benefit of the families in our communities, the people we serve.
Tom Tate writes on cooperative issues for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
2014
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Stars Go BlueLaura PritchettBen Cross knows he is losing himself. His mind is washing away, fading into the nothingness he knows will come with his advancing Alzheimer’s disease. A rancher all his life, Ben also knows that the greatest kindness one can offer a suffering creature, and those who have to watch its suffering, is to put it out of its misery. He can’t stand the burden his illness has placed on his wife, on his daughters, on his grandchildren. Ben is determined to end it all, before his mind leaves him completely, with a clean syringe and the bottle of pink medicine stolen from the vet.
But then his daughter’s killer, the man who shot her in Ben’s own kitchen, is released from prison. Ben sees the pain this brings back to those he loves and decides he needs to perform one last duty as a man.
Stars Go Blue (Counterpoint, $25) is a poignant, emotional, elegantly written novel by Colorado author Laura Pritchett. Find this wonderfully heart-wrenching novel at counterpoint press.com.
The SacrificePeg BrantleyThe horrific murder of his family at the hands of a vicious drug cartel haunts Mex Anderson during every minute of every day, despite his attempt to escape the darkness by moving from Mexico to the quiet Colorado town of Aspen Falls. When Vincente Vega, the leader of that same cartel, comes to ask for Mex’s help, the ghosts of the past begin to turn Mex’s life into a living nightmare.
Vega’s daughter has disappeared, most likely taken by a dangerous cult called Santeria. In exchange for Mex’s help, Vega offers the most valuable of rewards: the name of the man who ordered the killing of Mex’s pregnant wife and young children. Will Mex’s desire for justice once again lead to the suffering of those he loves? And, more importantly, will he be able to find the girl in time to save her?
For yet another thrilling read by Colorado author Peg Brant-ley, look up The Sacrifice (Bark, $12.99) at pegbrantley.com.
Railway AvenueBob PuglisiYoung Tommy DiNardo falls in love with Nickie Fiore the instant he catches sight of her brilliant blond hair the day his family moves to Railway Avenue. From riding bikes and holding secret club meetings as kids to being tumultuous adolescents getting into fights and loving the wrong people, Tommy and Nickie are always there for each other. Then Nickie gets preg-nant and marries the father, and Tommy tries to forget his love for Nickie by going off to war in Vietnam.
But even war can’t get her out of his mind. He returns to
Rob Taylor loves to write and decided to turn that passion for writing into a book. A busy energy advisor and key accounts executive at Mountain Parks Electric in Granby, Taylor spent his evenings, weekends and other spare moments writing a story filled with love and laughs, then sent the manuscript off to publishing companies and waited. The result is Love By George, a romantic comedy that was published this past May.
It is one of many great Colorado-connected books recom-mended in this year’s list of best books. With riveting mysteries, heartwarming romances, adventur-ous stories, kids books and more included, there is at least one book for everyone to love this fall.
Love by GeorgeRobert TaylorEvery single person wants to find that special someone with whom to spend the rest of his or her life. But if everyone is looking, why is romance so hard to find? Hope is a young woman who certainly knows the frustration and disappointment of a long, unbroken string of bad relationships. So when the online dating company, Love by George, hires her to teach the site’s “unmatchables” how to find true love, she thinks they surely made a mistake.
George, the wealthy founder of Love by George, doesn’t have any better ideas for teaching the “unmatchables” how to attract a mate. Embarrassingly, he himself has yet to find a woman who can look beyond his net worth to the man he really is. When the beautiful Hope is hired, he sees a glimmer of possibility for that love that he longs for.
Hilarious and heartbreaking, Love by George (Black Rose, $15.95) is a novel primed and ready for a movie adaptation. A classic romantic comedy in the line of “You’ve Got Mail” is sure to have you laughing and crying by the end. For a fun and heartwarming read, find this book at blackrosewriting.com.
BOOKSof
TheLOVE BY JULIE SIMPSON
Scan this page with the Layar app (see page 2) and watch a video of author Rob Taylor sharing ideas for book club discussions of Love by George.
coloradocountrylife.coop 17NOVEMBER 2014
[continued on page 18]
Railway Avenue and rescues her from her abusive husband. Their love finally has a future … until tragedy strikes.
A moving tale of tragic star-crossed romance, Railway Avenue is a story about love, loyalty and growing up. Find this book by Colorado author Bob Puglisi (CreateSpace Independent, $12.99) at major online retailers.
Canyon SacrificeScott GrahamA trip to the Grand Canyon is just what Chuck Bender’s newly blended family needs to solidify their bond. Chuck gets to show his wife and stepdaugh-ters his work as an archaeologist, and the girls get to enjoy their
first experience of the park’s natural won-ders. But when stepdaughter Carmelita is kidnapped, Chuck must think about his past as well as his future.
A gripping page-turner, Canyon Sacri-fice (Torrey House, $14.95) is an exciting debut novel by Colorado author Scott Graham. Dig up this book at online or local bookstores.
Monument RoadCharlie QuimbyLeonard Self has come to the end of everything. His beloved wife of many decades was taken by cancer. His horses were sold. His land was parceled, ready to go to developers. No children, no busi-ness, no life except for memories of what once was.
It’s time for him to fade out completely. A year from the day of his wife’s death, Leonard fulfills his promise to take her ashes to Artist’s Point on Monument Road and scatter them to the wind, intending to scatter himself along with them. But Monu-ment Road is treacherous for more than just its sharp turns and steep drop-offs; it’s a trail of memories, covered with land-marks of the past.
For a well-written, award-winning read (Torrey House, $16.95) that addresses the changing face of western living, particularly on Colorado’s Western Slope, find this book online and at local retailers.
Colorado Noir: Stories from the Dark SideJohn Dwaine McKennaTwo homeless men die in an icy river under a bridge. A
man’s life is destroyed by the irresistible temptation of a beautiful emerald green car. A cat seems to predict who will die next in a lonely nursing home. All these stories and more fill the pages of Colorado Noir (Rhyolite, $16.95).
In this short-story collection, Colorado author John Dwaine McKenna sets his fictional characters in the real places of downtown Colorado Springs. Some tales are gritty enough to be horribly true, depicting the difficult lives of those scratching out an existence on the frozen streets. Others are too fantastical to believe, but still succeed in capturing the evil in the hearts of all men. For a glimpse into the dark side of Colorado, find this book at johndwainemckenna.com and at major retailers.
The Dragon BusinessKevin J. AndersonKing Cullin didn’t grow up in a castle like his son, Maurice. Where Cullin spent his early youth begging for food and try-ing to find a warm place to sleep, Maurice insists on staying inside all day reading silly books sold to him for exorbitant pric-es by clever con men. So Cullin decides it’s time for Maurice to learn about the dragon business.
Funny and enter-taining, The Dragon Business (47North, $14.95) is a classic and engaging tale from best-selling Colorado author Kevin J. Anderson. Though some adult humor and language make it inap-propriate for younger children, this book makes a fun read for a wide age range of teens and adults. Find this laugh-out-loud fairy-tale twist online and at local bookstores.
The All You Can Dream BuffetBarbara O’NealThe Foodie Four, a group of food bloggers and close friends, have each been through a lot. Val, the wine expert, lost almost all of her family in a plane crash and is now trying to bring her remaining daughter out of a shell of grief. Vegan recipe master Ruby had her boyfriend leave her for another woman, only to find out she’s miraculously pregnant. And Ginny, the cake lady, had never left Kansas, where she was stuck in an unsatisfying marriage. The fourth member, Lavender, decides they all could use a vacation at her beautiful Lavender Honey Farms in Oregon.
But Lavender has an ulterior motive: She’s getting old, and she wants one of the Foodie Four to take over her legacy of organic farming.
A lovely story of love, friendship and finding happiness, The All You Can Dream Buffet (Bantam, $15) is an uplifting read about womanhood and the healing powers of nature by a Colorado Springs author. Find this easy-to-read book online or at local retailers.
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Lost ContactJoan CarsonLauren Reese hasn’t seen Jack Kelly since their dating days in college. He is as handsome as ever when she catches sight of him in the airport, but he seems agitated and preoc-
cupied, unlike the carefree young man she once knew. She starts to understand why when his small plane reportedly crashes and he is presumed dead. Then he shows up on her doorstep, very much alive, and asking for her help.
Dramatic and steamy, this action-ad-venture romance by Colorado author Joan Carson keeps readers frantically turning pages to the end. Look up Lost Contact (Crown Peak, $17.95) at crownpeak publishing.com.
Rope BurnBruce W. MostNick DeNunzio is running away from his past without a destination in mind. He only stops in Wyoming because his car breaks down. But then the locals discover he’s a former cop and is recruited to stop the latest wave of cattle thefts.
Nick takes the job, though he knows nothing about ranch-ing. What he does know is that he needs to get to the bottom of the cattle-rustling story before the community shuts him out … or be-fore the ghosts from the past track him down.
Rope Burn (Custom Book, $21.95) is an
entertaining neo-Western complete with riding and romance mixed with a classic police mystery. This book is available at major online retailers.
Wings For My FlightMarcy Cottrell HouleWhen Marcy Cottrell Houle became a wildlife biologist, she never imagined that her work would make her one of the most hated people near Chimney Rock,
Colorado. Her first project as a gradu-ate student tasked her with watching the peregrine falcon pair that nested on the rock.
In a candid, funny and heartbreaking memoir, Houle pro-vides an intelligent and balanced per-spective on species conservation and the value each creature holds beyond economic interests.
Beautifully written, this true story not only entertains but also teaches readers about the history and amazing comeback of the American peregrine falcon. Learn more about Wings for My Flight (Univer-sity of New Mexico, $24.95) at unmpress.com.
Despite This We Stay, Volume One: Critters, People and the LandCarol DunnOnly locals can know how difficult it is to live in a place. And only lo-cals can complain about these difficulties, yet still love that place with all their hearts.
That place for Carol Dunn is Huerfano County, Colorado. This aptly-named collection of Dunn’s columns in the Huerfano World Journal documents that her area has its share of difficulties.
A delightful, humorous record of how those who most love a place often com-plain about it every day, Despite This We Stay (Morris, $12.50) is a must-read for anyone who loves (and occasionally hates) their own piece of our beautiful state. Find this book at major retailers.
Law of the Desert Born: A Graphic NovelBased on the short story by Louis L’AmourAdapted by Charles SantinoScript by Beau L’Amour and Katherine NolanIllustrated by Thomas YeatesA cowboy rides into a small dusty town. He finds the house he’s looking for, knocks on the door and shoots the man who answers the door dead on the spot. Thus begins the epic pursuit story of Law of the Desert Born, originally written by famous Western writer Louis L’Amour and now adapted into an entertaining graphic novel.
After Shad Marone murders Jud Bowman over a water and cattle dispute, the sheriff must assemble an unlikely band of heroes to track the fugitive down. But the desert is deadly, and the men less than trustworthy.
This book (Bantam, $25) is a work of art as well as literature, with large, beauti-fully crafted illustrations that make the story an engaging reading experience. For more information, track it down at lawofthe desertborn.com or buy it from an online or local bookstore.
coloradocountrylife.coop 19NOVEMBER 2014
From a Dead SleepJohn A. DalyThe residents of Winston, Colorado, never liked Sean Coleman. A drunk and a troublemaker, Sean is the town laughingstock for his overblown imagi-nation and hero complex. So when he tells the sheriff ’s office that he saw a man kill himself on Meyer’s Bridge and then drop into the river, he’s front page news again for all the wrong reasons.
Sean knows what he saw, though, and he’s not letting it drop, even if no one is taking him seriously. But Sean doesn’t realize just what kind of danger he is in until it is too late and his search for answers turns into a fight for his life.
An epic thriller with a memorable, unorthodox main character, From a Dead Sleep (BQB, $19.95) is the first novel by Colorado author John A. Daly. For a rivet-ing read, find this book at bqb publishing.com or major retailers.
And Life Comes BackTricia Lott WillifordWhen Tricia Williford imagined her life in the future, she pictured happy years with her husband and two sons and decades of peaceful, ordinary living in Colorado. But when her husband dies suddenly, she has to find a way to adapt to her drastically different horizons.
Painfully honest and open, Tricia records her poignant story of tragic loss, grief, anger and recovery of purpose and hope after dreams have been shattered. For readers who are suffering through their own tragedy, this book provides hope without requiring those mourning to move past their grief as if nothing was ever lost.
This book is also a wonderfully insightful read for those close to someone hurting, teaching them what to do and what not to do and say to someone beset by tragedy. For a story of faith in the midst of grief, find this book (WaterBrook, $14.99) at waterbrookmultnomah.com and major retailers.
Tough Men in Hard PlacesEsther GreenfieldHistoric photos take readers back to a time when men and machines battled unforgiving terrain and unknown challenges to bring electricity to southwestern Colo-rado.graphicartsbooks.com
Really Important Stuff My Dog Has Taught MeCynthia L. CopelandLife lessons from man’s best friend for dog lovers everywhere. workman.com
Super Broncos: From Elway to Tebow to ManningWoody Paige and Mike KlisTwo sportswriters look back at the Denver Broncos’ last season and at one of football’s most beloved fran-chises. amazon.com
Around GranbyPenny Rafferty HamiltonA history of this Grand County community, complete with historic photos, this book is available at local stores and at arcadiapublish ing.com.
The Spirit TreeMarilee J. RossA special tree cut down in a right-of-way being cleared by the electric co-op finds its way back to its special spot in the forest. amazon.com All Are Family
Marissa Bloom Matt Kaufman A sweet picture book that shows how all families are unique but still share love, respect and empathy. A worksheet at the end lets young readers add a picture of their own special family.marissabloombooks.com
New, exciting, interesting books are published year-round and that means there are always books we wish we could include in this review issue, but were published after our deadline. Here are a few that look enticing and worth the read.
HOT OFF THE PRESS — DON’T MISS READS
Read expanded book reviews plus reviews of additional books at coloradocountrylife.coop. Also download book club disscussion questions for Love By George by Rob Taylor.
Check the Contests link at coloradocountrylife.coop for directions on how to win some of these great reads. The deadline to enter is November 17.
Book reviewer Julie Simpson is a Colorado native who now reads under the Texas sun. A former intern at Colorado Country Life, she now has her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in English literature.
coloradocountrylife.coop4 NOVEMBER 201420
Playing NiceRebekah CraneMartina Hart has a perfect life. Good grades, nice clothes and involvement in all the right clubs — she’s on a life track that has been set for her by her parents. And she never questioned that life … until Lily Hatfield comes to school.
Lil likes wearing black, smoking cigarettes and swearing, yet despite their differences, Marty can’t seem to write the new girl off as a troublemaker.
An edgy and uplifting story of friend-ship and growing up, Playing Nice (In This Together, $11.99) captures the time-less story of a teenager trying to shape her identity in a world determined to tell her who she should be. Great for older teens and adults, this book by Colorado author Rebeka Crane is available online and at local bookstores.
The Miner’s CapAnn N. BlackThe coal mining town of Tabasco, Colo-rado, is home to Joe Mantonio and his Italian immigrant family. Joe loves base-ball, hangs out with his best friend Eddie and has a crush on the pretty Welsh girl in his class. He also has a front row seat to the hardships faced by the coal miners of Colorado.
When the miners strike, Joe, his family and all the other strikers’ families are sent to live at Ludlow, little more than a freezing, muddy tent colony. As the strike stretches on, tensions grow and shots are fired.
The Miner’s Cap (Pinehaven, $13.99) is an educational and yet entertaining retell-ing of the true story of the Ludlow Mas-sacre. Realistic without being too grisly, this book is appropriate for a wide range of ages. Look it up at major retailers.
Insects in the InfieldNancy OswaldBuster loves baseball — maybe a little too much, by the look of his math grade. But how can he care about division when his team, the Cougars, needs to concen-trate on beating those no-good bullying Pirates?
It doesn’t help that Buster’s little sister
Maggie is a complete “brainiac” and keeps bugging him with her … well, bugs. Her insect zoo is a real pain, until she helps with the team fundraising carnival and the tiny critters make a big impression.
The classic boyhood baseball story takes a unique and educational turn with the addition of an insect zoo. For a great book about sibling support, look up Insects in the Infield (Burro Books, $8.95) at online and local bookstores.
The Secret of Ferrell SavageJ. Duddy GillFerrell Savage has a secret: He really wants to eat meat. For his strictly vegan family, though, this would be a crime next to murder. He’s never questioned this dietary rule much … that is, un-til he finds out why his family might be so afraid of a nice rare steak.
It turns out that Ferrell is the descen-dant of the infamous Alferd Packer, a Colorado man who ate his fellow travel-ers when their group was trapped in the mountains. Not only that, but it turns out his best friend and secret crush, Mary Vittles is, descended from one of guys Packer ate.
A meaningful story about how our
identities are not predetermined by the past, The Secret of Ferrell Savage (Ath-eneum, $15.99) is a hilarious book sure to be enjoyed by all ages. Find this book at online and local retailers.
Survival on Green MesaTim DealThe worst-case scenario happened: Ter-rorists attacked the United States power grid, and the whole nation collapsed. And for two families in Colorado, it means a fight for survival.
When they’re separated from their families in the wake of the disaster, teen-agers Colin, Gannon and Tye must find food and water and avoid the bad guys while trekking through the mountains toward their summer cabin. But the cabin is destroyed, and they decide to continue to Mesa Verde.
Though this book is written for young adults, disturbing and violent content might not be appropriate for some read-ers. Find this first novel (CreateSpace, $12.50) by Colorado author Tim Deal at major online retailers.
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[recipes]
TPopping Up in Colorado
Boulder, Cascade, Centennial, Colo-
rado Springs, Lamar and Sterling are a
smattering of gems in the Centennial State where you
will find popcorn in numerous varieties
and tastes. These companies pop up
sweet and savory assortments you can purchase to
suit your personal tastes or buy as
gifts in handsome boxes or tins.
Find links to these companies at
coloradocountry life.coop. Click on
the Recipes tab on the home page.
Please, Pass the PopcornToothsome, corny recipes to be thankful for BY AMY HIGGINS || [email protected]
3 cups popped popcorn 1 cup mini marshmallows1 cup chopped pecans 1/2 cup o-shaped crisp cereal1/2 cup salted and shelled pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds1/2 cup dried sweetened cranberries1 teaspoon pumpkin spice mix2 packages (6 ounces each) white baking chocolate, chopped Line a large baking sheet with foil and spray lightly with cooking spray; set aside. In a large bowl, combine popcorn, marshmallows, pecans, cereal, pumpkin or sunflower seeds, dried cranberries and pumpkin spice mix. Place chopped chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and heat in microwave 1 minute. Stir to melt; microwave an additional minute. Stir until chocolate is melted and smooth. Pour melted chocolate over popcorn mixture. Mix until well coated then spread in an even layer into prepared pan. Cool at room temperature until firm (or refrigerate). Cut into squares to serve. Store in an airtight container.
Courtesy of the Popcorn Board
This month, we’re thankful for popcorn. Whether it’s caramel, cheesy or simply buttered, popcorn is a snack we love to indulge in by the handful. In fact, it is beloved by so many that culinary enthusiasts are finding more ways to enjoy the fluffy kernels in all types of recipes. While nothing quite holds a candle to a bucket of buttery pop-corn when watching a good flick, these recipes are worth passing around during any occasion.
3 eggs1/2 teaspoon vanilla2 cups flour, plus more for shaping1 cup sugar1 teaspoon baking soda1/8 teaspoon salt3 cups popped popcorn1/2 cup raisins, currants or chopped, dried apricots, optional
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Spray two baking sheets with cooking spray; set aside. Beat eggs and vanilla together in a large mixing bowl. Sift together flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Stir flour mix-ture thoroughly into egg mixture. Stir in popcorn and raisins. Lightly spread flour on a work surface.
Turn dough out onto work surface and divide into 3 equal pieces. Sprinkle flour over dough as needed to prevent stick-ing and roll each piece of dough into a log about 8 inches long and 2 inches wide. Transfer logs to baking sheets, allowing space between for spreading. Bake 30 minutes and remove from oven (do not turn oven off). Allow cookie
logs to cool about 5 minutes and transfer to cut-ting surface. Cut logs diagonally into 1/2-inch slices. Place cookies back on baking sheets in a single layer. Return cookies to oven and bake 20 minutes, turning cookies over after 10 minutes. Cool cookies on racks and store in an airtight container.
Courtesy of the Popcorn Board
Popcorn Biscotti
Pumpkin Pie Spice Popcorn Bark
Scan this page for popcorn ideas or
visit coloradocountrylife.coop
for more fall snack recipes.
coloradocountrylife.coop4 NOVEMBER 201422
[gardening]
RGrowing Lettuce for the New YearUse cold frames to garden all winter longBY KRISTEN HANNUM || [email protected]
Rick Visser’s 17 raised beds, small greenhouse, mini orchard, compost bins and shed are all important to the garden at his Longmont home, but it’s his cold frame — a 10-foot-long, 30-inch-wide bottomless box with a tilted and hinged window cover — that gets him really animated.
Part of that, no doubt, is the joy of serving Sierra crisp lettuce from his garden for a New Year’s feast. November, he says, is a great month to get a cold frame started.
Visser built his cold frame based on master gardener Eliot Coleman’s design from the book Four-Season Harvest: Organic Vegetables from Your Home Garden All Year Long. Coleman wrote that the Parisian gardeners of the 19th century were his inspiration for building cold frames. The maraîchers (market garden-ers) fed all of Paris and exported to buyers as far away as London with up to eight crops a year. Lettuce in February! Cucumbers in May! Their secret? A variety of cold frames and cloches, those bell-shaped glass covers for plants, plus a lot of manure.
Whether you want to get an early start on summer for your vegetables, to over-winter your tender perennials or to truly harvest vegetables all year round, a cold frame may be in your future.
The first step is deciding on its south-facing location. A decidu-ous tree shades Visser’s cold frame in the summer and offers sun in autumn, winter and spring. His cold frame is tucked against a cream-colored shed that reflects heat toward it for warmth.
Once you know where your cold frame will go, prepare the bed it will sit upon. Visser dug down 8 inches, carted off that layer and then broke up the dirt another 8 inches down. He laid compost on top of that, and then topped the bed with about 3 inches of potting soil. Some gardeners also advise laying drainage gravel below the cold frame’s soil bed.
Visser takes care to continually build and work his soil, figuring that the soil can yield vegetables about 40 percent of the time, with the balance for resting. That means only planting half his cold frame as he enriches the soil on the resting side.
If you build your cold frame yourself, don’t be tempted to think that taller is better. Too much height makes for too much air to keep warm under its window-like lid.
In addition to his long cold frame, Visser also makes use of an inexpensive, store-bought one. “We ate a lot of food out of that two-by-four frame,” he says. “It’s a good fallback for someone just getting started with the idea.”
With cold frames, take into account the necessity to keep them, well, cold. Or cool. Left unvented, temperatures inside a cold frame can soar to 100 degrees and your plants will die as fast as they would if left abandoned in the car on a summer day. Automatic temperature-sensing vents are inexpensive, but Visser vents his cold frame manually.
“Life calls for attention,” he explains. “Daily, caring attention. When I go out in the morning to open the cold frame, it’s a delightful thing. It’s no different than taking care of a child or a pet. You don’t say, ‘Oh, I don’t feel like milking the cow today.’ And there’s a deep feeling in that.”
Read previous gardening columns at coloradocountrylife.coop. Search for gardening. Kristen Hannum is a native Colorado gardener. Email or write her with wisdom or comments at [email protected].
Whether you want
to get an early
start on summer
for your vegeta-
bles, to overwinter
your tender peren-
nials or to truly
harvest vegetables
all year round, a
cold frame may be
in your future.
Shades protect winter plants.
coloradocountrylife.coop 23NOVEMBER 2014
[outdoors]
coloradocountrylife.coop4 NOVEMBER 201424
IIf all goes well, by the time this issue goes to press I should be back from a 10-day road trip to Manito-ba with both of my sons and two of my three grandsons. Ostensibly, we’re going duck hunting, but that’s hardly the whole story. Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Minnesota, the Dakotas and parts of Montana lie at the core of what was once the largest expanse of grassland in the world. Today it is known as the great North American Prairie Pothole Region, and 50 percent of all the waterfowl in North America hatch there.
At 276,000 square miles, the PPR is the largest waterfowl nesting ground in the Western Hemisphere and the staging area for an annual waterfowl migration of staggering enormity — on a par with the renowned wildebeest migrations of eastern Africa, only with feathers and beaks instead of hooves and hair. Mal-lards, pintails, blue- and green-winged teal, American widgeon, scaup, shovelers, redheads and canvasbacks converge here by the millions, as do sandhill cranes and Canada, snow and speckle-bellied geese. It is affectionately referred to by conserva-tionists and wildlife lovers as “The Duck Factory.”
So what’s the Colorado connection? It’s simple, really, if a bit convoluted. In 2004, on a bitterly cold December morn-ing along a quiet little stretch of the Saint Vrain River a few miles east of Longmont, the boys and I were hunting ducks. A Canadian cold front pushed through the night before, blanketing the cottonwoods, cattails and riverbanks with snow and glistening hoarfrost. We plopped a few
decoys into the creek and crept into our
little makeshift blind. Minutes
after legal shooting light, our black Lab began quivering
and whining, a sure sign ducks were circling overhead even though we couldn’t see them (bird dogs never fail to amaze me).
Derek blew a few soft quacks on his call and suddenly, out of nowhere, they were right
there in front of us: mallards, 15 or 20 of them, feet down, wings fluttering, ready to land. They looked as if someone hung them there, suspended against the rising red sun and snow-covered cottonwoods. We took four drakes from the flock and marveled at their incomparable beauty. These were “Northern” birds, no doubt: late-season migrators just down from Canada, easily distinguished by their plump, heavily feathered bodies and ex-quisite plumage heads of iridescent green, blue and purple; fiery chestnut breasts; bright yellow bills; and impossibly orange feet.
My drake wore a United States Geologi-cal Survey leg band that I promptly sent in. I also had the bird mounted to hang in my little office as a constant reminder of that magical morning. When the certificate came back from the USGS, we learned that the bird hatched in 2003 near Fairview, Alberta, Canada. I said to the boys, “We’ve got to go there someday to see that migration.” So we did. Only this time I did most of my shooting with a Canon and a 400 mm lens instead of a shotgun and 3-inch shells.
BY DENNIS SMITH
Miss an issue? Catch up at coloradocountrylife.coop. Search for Outdoors.
The Duck Factory DeliversA duck hunt turns magical thanks to birds from up north
ENERGY WISEIf you’re preparing Thanksgiving dinner at your home, try turning the thermostat off to save en-ergy. The heat from the oven and other cooking appliances, as well as your guests’ body heat, should warm your home sufficiently.
This drake is a reminder of a magical morning.
coloradocountrylife.coop 25NOVEMBER 2014
[energy tips]
D
Learn more about energy-efficient fireplaces at coloradocountrylife.coop. Look under the Energy tab for Energy Tips.
During the winter, a warm fire can be quite comfortable. Radiant heat from the flames and coals keeps you warm when you are sitting directly in front of an open fireplace. But un-fortunately, most fireplaces lose more heat than they produce. These tips will help you preserve indoor heat.
Avoid using the fireplace in extremely cold weather. All of the warm indoor air gets lost up the chimney and drawn outdoors.
Crack open a window in the room by the fire-place and close doors leading to the room. Much of the excess air being drawn up the chimney will be cold outdoor air from the open window.
Install high-quality glass doors. These doors control the amount of indoor air that escapes up the chimney when a fire is burning and also when one is not.
Burn only well-seasoned wood or no more than one unseasoned log to three seasoned ones.
Purchase a heat-circulating grate. Select a model with a blower that has several speeds and a thermostat with an on and off switch. This switch shuts off the blower when the fire burns down.
Buy a heat exchanger that mounts at the top of the fireplace opening. This cre-ates a tremendous amount of heat output. These models work with gas or wood-burning fireplaces.
When your fireplace is not in use, in-sert an inflatable chimney pillow or bal-loon in the fireplace flue. This seals much better than the chimney damper.
EFFICIENT FIREPLACESTips to stay warmer and safer with your fireplaceBY JAMES DULLEY
Heat-circulating fireplace grates heat indoor air. Some grates use fans, and others rely on natural convection circulation.
Phot
o by
Nor
tline
Expr
es
Did you know that you could get a Colorado Country Life
subscription for $9 in-state and $15 out-of-state? Just call the nice
folks at CCL at 303-455-4111.
Thanks, my sister is in Arizona and always wants the news from home. I’ll
get her a subscription for Christmas.
Colorado Country Life magazine makes a great holiday gift.
coloradocountrylife.coop 27NOVEMBER 2014
Happy Thanksgiving
coloradocountrylife.coop4 NOVEMBER 201428
[classifieds]
ANTIQUE RESTORATIONANTIQUE RESTORATION STUDIO – Antique conservation. Quality craftsmanship since 1974. Bayfield, CO, www.antiqueresdurango.com 970-884-1937. (988-12-14)
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ANTLERSANTLER CHANDELIERS made only from REAL antlers. We are the manufacturer and we sell all of our products at wholesale prices; save as much as 60% from store prices. Many other antler products and mounts, including 56” elk mount, gi-ant moose paddles, and elk antlers. Showroom now open year ’round in Granby, CO. 17 years at this loca-tion, over 900 satisfied customers! Designers: We can provide you a single item or a whole houseful. Call ! (970) 627-3053. (085-09-15)
BOOKSTHE MINER’S CAP, by Ann N. Black — the Ludlow story. Colorado Book Award Finalist in Juvenile Fiction. Available: bookstores, museum shops, libraries, Amazon, and Kindle. (199-12-14)
RURAL COLORADO — sometimes charming … sometimes NOT! Despite This We Stay: 2 books by award-winning humor writer Carol Dunn. Amazon.com or $15.50 Vol1; $17 Vol2, POB 1213, LaVeta, CO 81055 (151-12-14)
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES (These opportunities have not been investigated by Colorado Country Life.)
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIESLEGITIMATE WORK AT HOME opportunity. No sales, investment, risk. Training/website provided. Monthly income plus bonuses, benefits. Call Carrie 303-579-4207, www.workathomeunited.com/ourabundance (932-02-15)
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CLOCK REPAIR & RESTORATIONwww.clockrepairandrestoration.com DURANGO AREA. CLOCKS of all kinds repaired. Antique and modern. Clocks bought and sold. [email protected] Call Robert 970-247-7729, (109-11-14)
ENERGYHOT WATER SOLAR panel systems repair service. Free estimates. Contact Granite Installations, 719-250-2675. (204-12-14)
FINE ARTNAVAJO RUGS, QUILTS, other weavings, wrought iron or Aspen textile display racks. Custom wall-mounted or freestanding. www.TwinRavenz.com “Made in a good way.” (184-11-14)
FOR SALEFIREWOOD — Limbed to 51” length — $50.00 per 8’ pickup. Blocked to 17” by request - $65.00. You pick up. West Loveland. 720-352-3580 (939-02-15)
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FOR SALEOXYGEN CONCENTRATORS - $380 with warranty. Also sell portable concentrators and oxygen supplies. Repair and service of equipment. Aspen Concentrator Repair Service 719-471-9895 (040-12-14)
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HEATINGCENTRAL BOILER outdoor wood, corn, pellet furnaces. Clean, efficient heat. Kingdom Timber & Frame Inc. 575-756-2705 (194-12-14)
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MACHINERY & PARTSwww.sawmillexchange.com. SAWMILL EXCHANGE: North America’s largest source of used portable sawmills and commercial equipment for woodlot owners and sawmill operations. Over 800 list-ings. THE place to sell equipment. 800-459-2148 (267-09-15)
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SAVE — BUY OR SELL. 30% back to you at closing. Larimer, Weld, & Boulder counties. 970-663-7355 www.LovelandValleyRealty.com (198-11-14)
RELIGIONBECOME AN ORDAINED Minister by correspondence study. Founded in 1988. Free info. Ministers for Christ Outreach, 7558 West Thunderbird Rd, Ste 1 - #114, Peoria, AZ 85381. http://www.ordination.org (441-06-15)
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TOYSHAND LAUNCH GLIDERS — Tough and suitable for children. Easy to assemble. Models come pre-balanced. Excellent wing profile ensures long flights. Can be converted to radio control. www.flyingfunco.com (201-01-15)
VACATION RENTAL KAUAI VACATION RENTAL, 2bdr, full kitchen. Minutes from beaches. $600/wk. 808-245-6500; makana crest.com; kauaiweddings.com. (756-05-15)
KONA, HAWAII, Paradise Villa condo located on the 18th fairway of Kona Country Club with sweep-ing ocean views; 3bdr, 2ba specials. www.konacondo.info; (503) 369-2638 (116-11-14)
WANTED TO BUYMOSS ROCK, Colorado or Wyoming Moss Rock -– I will buy your moss rock or sell it for you. All types, colors, and sizes considered; the more moss the better, the more unusual the better. Call Tim for details, 303-588-5021 (208-02-15)
NAVAJO RUGS, old and recent, native baskets, pottery. Tribal Rugs, Salida. 719-539-5363, [email protected] (817-12-14)
TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED ADPlease type or print your ad on a separate paper. Indicate how many months you would like your ad to run and which month to start. There is a minimum of 12 words at $1.63 per word/month. Be sure to include your full name and address for our records. Check MUST accompany this order or call to pay by credit card. Send your ad before the 10th of the month to: mail: Colorado Country Life 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216phone: 303.902.7276 fax: 303.455.2807email: [email protected]
Read through the ads and FIND the CCL clas-sified explaining how to win a $25 gift card.
It’s easy. You could WIN.
FIND HIDDEN TREASURES IN THE CLASSIFIEDS?
The classified ads October winner was Priscilla Smith of Pueblo West
coloradocountrylife.coop 29NOVEMBER 2014
[funny stories]
We’re Looking for photos of readers and their copy of Colorado Country Life. Got a great pic of you or your family member with the magazine at some fun place? Send it and your name and address to [email protected]. We’ll post it on our Facebook page and on November 17 we’ll draw a winner from the submissions and send that winner a $25 gift card.
Send us photos of you with Colorado Country Life
A lady was picking through the frozen turkeys at the grocery store but couldn’t find one big enough for her family. She asked the stock boy, “Do these turkeys get any bigger?” He replied, “No, ma’am. They’re dead.”
Lila Taylor, Stratton
It is rare to be offered a meal at an airline these days,so I was surprised to hear the flight attendant ask the man sitting in front of me, “Would you like dinner?” “What are my choices?” he asked. “Yes or no,” she said.
Kervyn Dimney, Peyton
My 4-year-old son, Tyler, was very excited when his grandpa from Pennsylvania came to visit. He talked his ear off with questions and stories. One question was, “Grandpa, how old are you?” Grandpa chuckled and said, “Older than dirt.” Tyler, puzzled, thought for a moment and then asked, “Grandpa, how old is dirt?”
Tracy Spencer, Craig
The local Department of Motor Vehicles was packed. After waiting nearly an hour, one man finally got his license. He inspected his photo and said to the clerk, “I stood in line so long that I ended up looking pretty grouchy in this picture.” “It’s OK,” the clerk said. “That’s how you’ll look when the cops pull you over anyway.”
Paul Vohs, Fort Collins
During a crisp fall recess my 1st grade students delighted in piling up huge mountains of leaves and diving in. Lisa jumped into the tallest mountain of leaves, covering her entire body. Peering out from the fall colors, her face and hair were absolutely swallowed by the leaves. She giggled in delight screaming, “I’m the MONA Leaf-Ah!”
Susanmarie Oddo, Steamboat Springs
WANTED TO BUY OLD COLORADO LIVESTOCK brand books prior to 1975. Call Wes 303-757-8553. (889-02-15)
YOU FOUND THE TREASURE. Send an email with the number of classified ads on pages 28-29 to classifieds @coloradocountrylife.org. Subject line MUST say “Classi-fied Contest.” Include name, mailing address and phone number in email. We’ll draw one name on November 17 from those who enter. Winner gets a $25 gift card.
OLD COWBOY STUFF–hats, boots, spurs, chaps, Indian rugs, baskets, etc. ANYTHING OLD! Mining & railroad memorabilia, ore carts! We buy whole estates. We’ll come to you! Call 970-759-3455 or 970-565-1256. (871-11-14)
WANTED TO BUYOLD GAS AND OIL items: Gas pumps, advertising signs, globes, etc. Pieces, parts, etc. consid-ered. Also 1932-34 Ford cars and trucks, parts and pieces, too. Any condition. Brandon, 719-250-5721. (519-11-14)
OLD POCKET WATCHES — work-ing or non-working and old repair material. Bob 719-859-4209 [email protected]. (870-06-15)
WANT TO PURCHASE minerals and other oil/gas interests. Send details to: PO Box 13557, Denver, CO 80201. (402-03-15)
WANTED: JEEP CJ OR WRANGLER. Reasonably priced. No rust buckets. 888-735-5337 (099-04-15)
WANTED TO BUY WE PAY CASH for minerals and oil/gas interests, producing and non-producing. 800-733-8122 (099-02-15)
Jim Gibson is this month’s winner. Note that the article in Colorado Country Life has this rafter’s full attention; he is oblivious to the dangers ahead.
$15We pay $15 to each person who submits a funny story that’s printed in the magazine. At the end of the year, we draw one name from those submitting jokes and that person will receive $150. Send your 2014 stories to Colorado Country Life, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 or email [email protected]. Don’t forget to include your mailing address, so we can send you a check.
PLACE AN AD IN THE CLASSIFIED
SECTION. CALL KRIS FOR INFORMATION
303-902-7276
coloradocountrylife.coop4 NOVEMBER 201430
[discoveries]
I
IInside the pages of a new book, The Prairie That Nature Built, lies a viva-cious world in the prairies where nature and wildlife collude and collide (and move!). “I want children to understand how very alive and interconnected a prairie system is from the soil on up, just like the levels of a rain forest,” says author Marybeth Lorbiecki. “Too many North Americans think that prairies are dull, boring places.”
Lorbiecki refutes that misconception by sharing with children an interesting and intimate interpretation of how life on the prairie functions underground and all around, and demonstrates how Mother Nature affects these areas as well.
A key highlight to this children’s book is its illustrations, created by Colo-rado’s own Cathy Morrison, which come to life with augmented real-
ity using a smartphone or tablet. Simply search “Pop-Up Prairie That Nature Built” in your app store, download the free app and point your device at the pages to see
and hear the hustle and bustle in the prairie ecosystem. You can even touch the animals to watch them move.
Download the Layar app on your smart device and then scan this page to get a sneak peek at the action within The Prairie That Nature Built.
Watch The Prairie Come to Life
In a world where everything is digital, from time to time it’s nice to get back to the basics and flip through the pages of a real-life book. The Little Free Library promotes this type of love of reading and offers a genuine sense of community through free book exchanges. In 2009, as a tribute to his departed mother, former schoolteacher Todd Bol built a tiny schoolhouse, filled it with books and presented it on his yard with a “Free Books” sign. Delight and positive feedback followed, so Bol set in motion the Little Free Library. Today, approximately 15,000 Little Free Library creations are all over the globe inviting passersby to take a book, return a book, leave a book or all the above. It resembles a full-size library but in a petite package without the need for a library card. For $200 to $1,000, you can purchase a Little Free Library at littlefreelibrary.org. Or, gather some supplies, put a little elbow grease into it and create your own. When you finish, make it an official Little Free Library for $34.95. The nonprofit organization will send you a Little Free Library placard, and the location of your Little Free Library will be designated on the World Map.
By Marybeth LorbieckiIllustrated by Cathy Morrison(Dawn Publications, $8.95)
Colorado Springs
Denver
Ignacio Get all the information you need at littlefreelibrary.org.
A Novel Approach to Neighborliness
coloradocountrylife.coop 31OCTOBER 2014
[discoveries]
coloradocountrylife.coop 31OCTOBER 2014
[discoveries]