Colorado Country Life November 2015 Yampa

November 2015

BOOKS that make the imagination soar

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[contents]

November 2015

[cover]

Created by Donna Wallin, associate editor.

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4 Viewpoint

21 Recipes

5 Letters

22 Gardening

Be thankful for co-op directors willing to serve on local boards

Bring flavor to the table for those with dietary challenges this Thanksgiving

6 Calendar

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24 Outdoors

Co-op News

12 NewsClips 14 Concern for Community

29 Funny Stories

Find exciting new books that will take you on new adventures

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participating co-ops involved in Operation Round Up, donating millions to worthy causes in local communities

®

A day in the wonderous outdoors can bring unexpected delights

25 Energy Tips

This cooperative principle is a year- round commitment

16 Books Make Imaginations Soar

Gardening is coming to the end for 2015 — time to tidy up

30 Discoveries

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Extra content:

x x

coloradocountrylife.coop

This month’s online extras ➤D ISCOVER more craft fairs for the holiday season ➤R EVIEW stories you missed on the electric industry ➤ L INK with advertisers and order just what you need ➤ L EARN the difference NRECA Interna- tional is making around the world ➤ F IND more book reviews to enjoy

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Colorado authors whose books are featured in this month’s issue

2010

the year New Breman, Ohio, set the Guinness World Record for the largest pumpkin pie, weighing in at 3,699 pounds

The official publication of the Colorado Rural Electric Association || Volume 46, Number 11 COMMUNICATIONS STAFF: Mona Neeley, CCC, Publisher/Editor@303-455-4111; mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org Donna Wallin, Associate Editor; dwallin@coloradocountrylife.org ADVERTISING: Kris Wendtland@303-902-7276, advertising@coloradocountrylife.org; NCM@800-626-1181 SUBSCRIPTIONS: info@coloradocountrylife.org

EDITORIAL: Denver Corporate Office, 5400 Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216; Phone: 303-455-4111 • Email: mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org • Website: coloradocountrylife.coop • Facebook: facebook.com/COCountryLife • 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.

[viewpoint]

Today’s Co-op Directors

Be thankful for those willing to serve on your electric co-op’s board of directors

BY KENT SINGER || CREA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR || KSINGER@COLORADOREA.ORG

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One of the great perks of working for Colorado’s electric co-ops is where CREA fits in. is the opportunity to get to know the fine people who serve as CREA sponsors a series of educational directors on the local electric co-op boards for our 22 member seminars throughout each year that equip co-ops throughout the state. co-op directors with the skills and knowlUnder the cooperative business model, electric co-ops are edge they need to do their jobs. Co-op digoverned by their locally elected board of directors who are also rectors are encouraged to achieve Credenmember-owners of the co-ops. This means that every member of tialed Cooperative Director (CCD) status the co-op is eligible to run for the board of directors and have a by taking certain courses and passing say in the operation and policies of the co-op. It also means that tests to demonstrate their proficiency and Kent Singer every co-op member-owner is represented by friends and neighknowledge on a variety of topics. They bors who are also personally affected by every decision made in are then encouraged to obtain their Board Leadership Certificate the boardroom.

(BLC) by demonstrating additional proficiency in leadership skills Colorado’s electric co-op directors and industry issues. Starting in January, come from all walks of life. While there directors can continue their education Co-op directors spend many hours are many farmers and ranchers on through a Director Gold program that each month in board meetings, comco-op boards, there are also accountants, keeps their knowledge of industry issues lawyers, store owners, photographers, current. mittee meetings, strategic planning bankers, energy efficiency experts, buildColorado co-ops place a high value on sessions and, in some cases, serving on ers, retired military and about every other director training and compare favorably the boards of affiliated organizations occupation and background you can to other states in terms of the percentage (such as the Colorado Rural Electric Asimagine. There is no specific expertise of directors who achieve CCD and BLC sociation). If they are paid at all for this required to run for your co-op’s board, but status. work, it is usually only a small per diem once elected co-op directors are expected In this rapidly evolving energy world, to become well-versed in issues impacting the demands on electric co-op direcand reimbursement of their the co-op and the electric industry and to tors are greater than ever. In addition to expenses, so they are not doing this do what’s in the best interest of the co-op the usual corporate decisions involving work for the money. and its member-owners. budgets and operations, directors must Co-op directors spend many hours each understand such subjects as distributed month in board meetings, committee generation, demand-side management, meetings, strategic planning sessions and, in some cases, serving automated metering and cyber-security. And today, much of what on the boards of affiliated organizations (such as the Colorado was the “norm” is changing as co-ops get more involved in local Rural Electric Association). If they are paid at all for this work, it is renewable energy resources and other distributed generation usually only a small per diem and reimbursement of their expens- projects, such as rooftop solar. Directors must grapple with how es, so they are not doing this work for the money. They are doing to navigate fundamental changes in how the utility does business it out of a sense of responsibility to their family and neighbors to while finding solutions that are fair to all of the co-op’s membermake sure that the local co-op keeps the lights on and serves the owners. It’s not an easy job. needs of their communities.

So, if you happen to see one of your co-op board directors in the While most directors have full-time jobs, their position on the community, you might tell him or her that you appreciate the time co-op board means they are also responsible for high-level overinvested on behalf of you and your neighbors. The fact that we sight of their co-op’s management as it operates a multimillion have dependable electricity throughout rural Colorado is a tribute dollar electric utility. At a typical board meeting, an electric co-op to not only the linemen and staff at the co-ops, but also to the men director is expected to provide direction to the general manager and women who make decisions in boardrooms across the state. and the staff of the co-op on a wide range of issues. These can Once in awhile, they deserve some thanks and a pat on the back. include budgets, staffing, facilities management, vendor contracts and power supply, just to name a few. Directors must have knowledge of all of these issues in order to effectively discharge their fiduciary responsibility to the co-op and its member-owners. This Kent Singer, Executive Director

From all the folks at the Colorado Rural Electric Association — Happy Thanksgiving.

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coloradocountrylife.coop

[ letters] Two Opinions on a Letter Kudos to Joseph Cascarelli for his letter (August ’15) “Taking Issue With Stories.”

His comments concerning the magazine’s progression into the “politically correct” world of pro-sustainability were spot on. This country needs to shift to “fact correctness” and leave politics out of the equation.

Brad Schier, Buena Vista

In the August issue you published a letter in which it was stated: “Where is the financial case for residential users (of renewable energy)? Many of us know that the payback, break even for solar is measured in decades.” For us, the advantage for the environment outweighs the short-term expense, which is why we have bought units in a solar farm.

Nigel A. Renton, Boulder County

Views on Clean Power Plan Please tell Kent Singer that I particularly enjoyed reading his Clean Power Plan Viewpoint (September ’15) — very understandable discussion of a tough topic.

Rich Mathias, Steamboat Springs

How upsetting to read another editorial (September ’15) indicating that Colorado’s electric co-ops want to continue to fight the EPA’s carbon dioxide limits. Instead of looking at how much (or how little) our emissions matter, it is time to look at how much will be gained if everyone reduces (emissions) by 40 percent.

Lynn Veeser, Fraser

Let’s not soft-pedal the fact that renewable energy mandates result in large cost increases for all electric customers. It is hard to understand why we are being forced to convert when the impact on global climate is so miniscule.

JoAnn Marchand, Cañon City

I take issue with Kent Singer’s analysis of the Clean Power Plan. The short-term costs borne by electricity consumers … pale in comparison with the environmental disasters our grandchildren will face if we delay the inevitable transition away from coal.

Christopher Godfrey, Steamboat Springs

GOT A COMMENT? Send your letter to the editor by mail to Colorado Country Life, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 or email mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org.

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NOVEMBER 2015

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Featured Event

[calendar]

November

November 5-8 Black Forest Arts and Crafts Fall Show and Sale Black Forest Community Center bfacg.org

November 6 Fort Collins “Nativities Around the World” Opening Gallery Walk Global Village Museum 6-9 pm globalvillagemuseum.org November 7 Akron Holiday Craft Show Washington County Event Center 9 am-3 pm • 970-345-6986 November 7 Burlington Gift Gala Burlington Community Center 9 am-3 pm • 719-346-8918 November 8-9 Drake Holiday Bazaar Big Thompson Canyon Association Building deb@peacefulridge.com November 12-14 Denver Winter Gift Market Denver Botanic Gardens botanicgardens.org November 14 Bayfield Fall Bazaar Pine River Senior Center 9 am-2 pm news@pinerivertimes.com November 14 Buena Vista Gingerbread House Holiday Bazaar Faith Lutheran Church 8 am-4 pm • 719-395-2039 November 14 Steamboat Springs Hometown Holiday Marketplace Bud Werner Memorial Library 9 am-3 pm steamboatchamber.com

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November 15 Durango Spirit Runners 5K/Fun Run Rank Park 9 am • 970-946-1751 November 15 Nationwide America Recycles Day Nationwide americarecyclesday.org November 20-21 Pueblo West Jingle Bell Boutique VFW Hall 9 am-5 pm • 719-547-2302 November 20-21 Stoneham Jolly Junk Antique and Craft Sale Primitive Junk Market 970-522-6858 November 21 Cañon City Turkey Trot Pathfinder Park 10 am • 719-275-1578 November 21 Centennial Holiday Lighting Celebration Centennial Center Park 4-6 pm • 303-754-3358 November 21 Deer Trail Elbert County Craft Fair 40144 Ridge Road 10 am-2 pm • ncfpd.us November 21 Durango Bazaar United Methodist Church 8 am-3 pm • 970-247-4213 November 21 Pueblo “Nutcracker in a Nutshell” Theater Performance Children’s Playhouse Theater 1 pm • 719-295-7200 November 22 Colorado Springs Trans-Siberian Orchestra World Arena 3 and 7:30 pm trans-siberian.com November 26 Pagosa Springs Turkey Trot Run & Walk Pagosa Lakes Recreation Center 970-731-2051 visitpagosasprings.com

World’s Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Competition November 25, Beaver Creek Village Ice Rink, Avon, 2 pm

Five finalist are competing for the title of Beaver Creek’s “20152016 World’s Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe” and they need folks to judge. The winner will be announced on the Fountain Stage and given a $1,000 cash prize. Judging is free to the public. For more information, visit beavercreek.com.

November 28 Colorado Springs Gold Assay Seminar Western Museum of Mining and Industry 10 am and 1 pm 719-488-0880 November 29 Cañon City Festival of Trees Robison Mansion 3-8 pm • 719-275-2429 November 29 Palisade Art & Chocolate Walk Downtown Palisade 10:30 am-5 pm palisadecoc.com

December

December 4-5 Aspen “Summit For Life” Charity Race Aspen Mountain 5 pm • 970-274-8111 December 4-6 Durango Holiday Arts & Crafts Festival La Plata County Fairgrounds 970-247-2117 fairandphoto@frontier.net December 4 Fraser Festival of Trees Grand Park Community Recreation Center 4-8 pm • 970-531-5003 December 5-6 Fort Collins Shop the Avery Boutique The Avery House 11 am-4 pm • 970-221-0533

December 5 Las Animas Craft Show Las Animas High School 8 am-4 pm • 719-469-9219 December 7 Holyoke Country Christmas/ Parade of Lights Downtown Holyoke 970-854-3517 www.holyokechamber.org December 8-9 Fort Collins “A Winter’s Solstice” Theater Performance Lincoln Center’s Magnolia Theatre 970-493-2113 danceexpressfc.com December 9 Cortez “Home for the Holidays” Concert First United Methodist Church 7 pm • mancosvalleychorus.org

SEND CALENDAR ITEMS TWO MONTHS IN ADVANCE TO: CALENDAR Colorado Country Life 5400 N. Washington St. Denver, CO 80216 Fax to 303.455.2807 or email calendar@ coloradocountrylife.org. Items will be printed on a space available basis. For more information on these and other events, visit coloradocountrylife.coop.

coloradocountrylife.coop

YAMPA VALLEY ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION, INC.

[YVEA News] Rounding Up Pennies Makes a Lot of Cents

BY DIANE JOHNSON || PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER || DJOHNSON@YVEA.COM

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more creative in identifying ways Ben Franklin once said, “A penny for their members and themselves saved is a penny earned.” A frugal to give back to their communities. and financially savvy man, he was Electric cooperative involvenever one to scoff at the value ment in Operation Roundup type of even one cent. At Yampa initiatives as well as cooperatives Valley Electric Association, we starting their own foundations, believe in the power of pennies, or participating in existing comtoo. That’s why we’re launching Diane Johnson munity foundations is on the rise. a community service program In addition, there is increased cooperative called Operation Roundup. participation in community development Beginning January 1, 2016, YVEA members organizations. will have their electric bills “rounded up” to Rand Fisher, CEO of the Iowa Area Dethe next highest dollar. Those extra pennies velopment Group Community Foundation, will establish the Operation Round Up fund, uses the term rural philanthropy to dewhich will be governed and administered by scribe the giving back that is taking place in an independent board of directors, made hometowns across America. Organizations, up of community members. A $37.45 bill, businesses and individuals are responding to for example, will be rounded up to $38. The local needs. average cost per year is only $6, multiplied by thousands of participants’ contributions, Community foundations provide rural that a lot of pennies. Those extra pennies areas with a unique way to ensure that are also tax-deductible. economic resources remain in and benefit All YVEA funds collected through the Opthe community at large. eration Round Up — The Council of Michigan Foundations program will be used to support We hope you choose to let us round up worthwhile your electric bill, however if you choose not social and civic endeavors to participate in this program you have several ways to contact us with your wishes: in the YVEA service terri• Look for a bill insert where you may “opt tory. Not-for-profit out” and send it back with your payment organizations in your • Call our office at 970-879-1160 community may apply for grants to • Send an email to oru@yvea.com, with fund their programs. your name, address, and account numAmong electric cooperatives, there is a ber. time-honored tradition of giving. From the As we begin the holidays, YVEA is thankdawn of the electric cooperative movement, ful to all of you for your support. Operait was all about neighbors helping neighbors. tion Round Up is one more way we work Nothing has changed in that respect. In fact, together to keep bountiful benefits. electric cooperatives have only become

coloradocountrylife.coop

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM ALL THE FOLKS AT YVEA YVEA’S OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED NOVEMBER 26 and 27.

NOVEMBER 2015

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[YVEA News] COMMUNITY CALENDAR November 28........................ Parade of Lights Craig November 6..........................Navigator Awards November 28........................ Community Tree Hayden

2015 MEMBER SURVEY SLATED FOR NOVEMBER In coordination with TSE Services and Touchstone Energy, Yampa Valley Electric has initiated a market research study to better understand how different generations and segments of electric cooperative members view their electric provider and how cooperatives can better communicate the value of cooperative membership.

Residential member interviews will be made primarily during weeknights from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Weekend calling will be limited to Saturday only. No Sunday calling is permitted. Commercial member interviews will be conducted mid-November, Monday through Friday during business hours.

Bellomy Research uses the words “Opinion Counts” as their caller ID code. All survey calls from the data collection center originate from area code 336. YVEA encourages members to participate in this study as your feedback is critical to helping your co-op improve service to all members.

WHY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES REPLACE UTILITY POLES

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You probably don’t pay much attention to the utility poles found throughout Yampa Valley Electric Association’s service territory, but did you know these tall structures are the backbone of the co-op’s distribution network?

Strong, sturdy utility poles ensure a reliable electric system, which is why we routinely inspect the thousands of poles found on our lines. Throughout the year, our crews check poles for decay caused by exposure to the elements. They know which poles are oldest and conduct inspections through a rotational process. Typically, a standard wooden distribution pole is expected to last more than 50 years.

Occasionally, poles need to be replaced for other reasons besides decay and old age. Weather disasters, power line relocation and car crashes are potential causes for immediate replacement. When possible, YVEA communicates when and where pole replacements will take place so that you stay informed of where crews will be working.

YVEA has a work in progress tab on its website to keep members informed of projects in their area, as well as posts on Facebook and automated phone calls to members if pole replacement may affect power to their homes or businesses while YVEA replaces the pole.

Here is a quick breakdown of how crews replace a utility pole When a pole needs to be replaced, crews will start the process by digging a hole, typically next to the pole being replaced. The depth of the hole must be 15 percent of the new pole’s height. Next, the new pole must be fitted with bolts, cross arms, insulators, ground wires and arm braces — all of the necessary parts for delivering safe and reliable electricity. Then, crews safely detach the power lines from the old pole. The new pole is then raised and guided carefully into position, and the lines are attached, leaving the new pole to do its job.

So, the next time you come across a YVEA crew replacing a pole, use caution and know that this process ensures a more reliable electric system for you, our members.

Safely Lighting Up the Holiday

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For many people, the holiday season just would not be the same without the bright and colorful light displays that decorate houses and city streets. Unfortunately, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that more than 12,500 people are sent to the emergency room every holiday season because of injuries sustained from lighting and decorating. Safe Electricity provides tips for those who are undertaking holiday lighting and decorating projects to help do them safely.

Begin by ensuring every strand of lights was tested and approved by an official lab and make sure the cord is rated for where it will be used: indoors or outdoors. Examine each strand for any fraying or other damage. To prevent possible electrical shocks or fires, do not use damaged cords. Typically, one extension cord should only have three strands of lights connected to it at most, but you should also check that the extension cord is rated for its intended use.

Lights and decorations that are outdoors should be plugged into an outlet with ground fault circuit interrupter protection. A GFCI protects you from electrical shock from damaged or defective decorations, or accidental electrical contact with water. GFCIs can be installed in a circuit breaker box or in an outlet and, with a portable version, can be used anywhere you need it.

Also, consider switching to LED lighting — it produces light without the heat of conventional incandescent bulbs and has more durable and shatterproof

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lenses than the glass lenses of incandescent lighting. At 25,000 hours and up, it also has an effective life span 25 times that of incandescent bulbs.

In addition, extra caution should be exercised when using a ladder as you decorate outside.

Always look up and look out for overhead power lines and always keep yourself and any tools, such as ladders, a minimum of 10 feet away.

Inattention can end in tragedy. Heartbreaking cases in which those decorating for the holidays come into contact with electrified wire are all too common.

A CPSC report found that ladders are involved in more electrocutions than any other product. Fortunately, contact with overhead power lines can be avoided if you follow the proper precautions.

By keeping these safety guidelines in mind, you can help ensure a safe and injury free holiday season for you and your family. For more safety tips, visit SafeElectricity.org.

coloradocountrylife.coop

[YVEA News]

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NOVEMBER 2015

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[YVEA News]

TO SERVE YOU BETTER ‌

In the October issue, Yampa Valley Electric Association addressed more questions regarding our implementation of Advanced Meter Infrastructure, (AMI).

Each month as we work to modernize and upgrade the electric grid, we want to give you a better understanding of the steps we are taking to accomplish this. This month we want to address a few more questions you may have regarding AMI. Is my personal account information secure?

Yes. The AMI system does not interact with or transmit personal customer information. Also, measures have been put into place to ensure that no personal identification information will be located on our AMI data portal.

Will my new meter be accurate when it is installed?

Yes. Every AMI meter is checked for accuracy before it leaves the factory. This independent verification ensures that YVEA meters are accurate.

Can you have a third party test my AMI meter if I believe it is not accurate?

Yes. YVEA has third parties that will test a meter and provide both YVEA and you with the test results. This will be done according to YVEA Service Rules and Regulations.

For-up-to-date information on this project as well as a video explaining AMI, please visit our website at www.yvea.com.

We have also created an icon on our website next to our Facebook and Twitter icons for easy access to AMI information.

SENSIBLE LIGHTING

Closets and storage areas are dangerous areas for lightbulbs. Lightbulbs could easily start a fire when clothing, boxes and other stored goods are in contact with them. Keep everything 12 inches away from surface-mounted lighting and 6 inches from other types of lighting. Do not use uncovered lightbulbs.

YVEA ENVIRONMENTAL TEAM

YVEA staff volunteers for highway clean up in Steamboat and Craig

SCHOOL SAFETY

YVEA is proud to be a part of educating kids on electrical safety. Recently YVEA participated in science night at Strawberry Park Elementary School and demonstrated how electricity works and precautions to take whenever you are around electricity.

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SEPTEMBER 2015

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[newsclips]

Co-op Supplier Adds More Solar to System

A

Another 25 megawatts of electricity from a solar project in southwestern New Mexico will be added to Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association’s system by the end of 2016.

Tri-State, the power supplier for 18 of Colorado’s electric co-ops and 26 other electric co-ops in Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming, recently announced the 25-year contract with D.E. Shaw Renewable Investments, LLC, to buy the entire output from the Alta Luna Solar Project.

This is the third utility-scale solar project that Tri-State will be buying power from.

Please Return Magazine Surveys

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Some of you received mailed surveys from Colorado Country Life in the last few weeks. Please fill them out and mail them back.

We at Colorado Country Life hired a firm to survey you, our readers. We are interested in finding out how well read the magazine is. Do you read it each month? What do you read? Who else do you share the magazine with?

We are also asking about what you are interested in. What would you like to see in the magazine? Do you use the Internet? Do you like to travel? Do you own a pet? Let us know.

We appreciate your help as we work to make Colorado Country Life an even better magazine.

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Gift Guide Colorado Country Life makes a great holiday gift A subscription in-state is $9 and out-of-state $15.

Call 303-455-4111 and we will hook you up with a great gift.

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NOVEMBER 2015

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[industry]

Electric co-op volunteers teach local workers how to safely use equipment as part of NRECA International Programs’ electrification efforts.

A Constant Concern for Community

The cooperative principle is a year-round commitment for electric co-ops

BY JUSTIN LABERGE

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We reached that time of year when jack-o’-lanterns and fun-size candy bars give way to hand-shaped turkeys drawn by children and a relentless onslaught of Black Friday ads.

The holidays are upon us, and for many that means it’s time to gather with family and friends to break bread, reconnect and reminisce.

It’s also a season when we try a little harder to be generous with our time, talent and treasure. We all do our best during the year to be kind and generous with our friends and neighbors, but the stress and bustle of everyday life sometimes keeps us from sharing the full measure of concern for community that lives in our hearts.

For Colorado’s electric cooperatives, concern for community is one of the seven core principles that guides our actions all year long.

Living our values

The most powerful way electric co-ops show concern for community is through the essential services they deliver every day.

The employees and leaders of your co-op have a vested interest in doing what’s best for the community because they are members of the same community.

In addition to their day-to-day efforts to keep the lights on, electric co-ops support the community through routine actions, like promoting energy efficiency, helping members understand 14

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their energy use and educating the public about electrical safety.

The not-for-profit business model also helps co-ops show concern for community by keeping more money in the local economy. Rather than being returned to Wall Street investors, any profit the co-op makes is reinvested in the cooperative, used to pay down debts, saved for emergencies or returned to members over time through capital credits.

These basic differences in the cooperative way of doing business are important, but they’re just the beginning of the story.

Here are a few of the many ways electric co-ops show concern for community and set themselves apart from ordinary utilities.

Operation Round Up®

Through Operation Round Up®, members at participating co-ops can elect to have their monthly bills rounded up to the next whole dollar amount. Those extra pennies are pooled and used to support community organizations in areas served by the co-op. What started as a late-night brainstorm by the CEO of a South Carolina cooperative has turned into a national program with more than 250 participating co-ops that donated millions to worthy causes in local communities over the years.

Visit nreca.coop/it-starts-with-power and see the difference NRECA International is making.

coloradocountrylife.coop

[industry]

Energy research

Colorado Youth Tour 2015 at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.

Electric Cooperative Youth Tour

Strong communities need strong citizens to prosper and sustain themselves. Nowhere is this truer than in tight-knit rural communities. As community-based organizations, electric co-ops do their part to groom our next generation of leaders through the Youth Tour program. Each year, outstanding high school students represent electric co-ops from across the country and converge on Washington, D.C., for a weeklong program that teaches the values of citizenship, democracy, leadership and cooperation.

Among the Youth Tour’s most notable alumni is Apple CEO Tim Cook. Earlier this year, Cook cited his experience from the 1977 Youth Tour as a critical moment that helped shape who he is and his sense of right and wrong.

Caring for the community means doing our best to be good stewards of our environment and natural resources while ensuring energy remains reliable and affordable. Through its membership in the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, your local electric co-op is actively involved in the development of new energy technologies and monitoring the advances of other researchers.

It might surprise you to know that America’s electric cooperatives are often leaders in the implementation of new energy technologies. For example, some of the top solar utilities in the United States are electric co-ops. The low-density rural areas served by co-ops often stand to gain the most from advances in technology and efficiency.

A co-op volunteer visits with a group of teens in Tanzania during a 2014 NRECA International project.

NRECA International Foundation

A subsidiary of Basin Electric Power Cooperative operates the only commercial-scale coal gasification plant in the United States.

At this Weyburn, Saskatchewan, injection point, carbon dioxide captured from the plant is piped underground to enhance oil recovery.

A researcher works with organic light emitting diodes, a lightweight, energy-efficient and flexible light source.

coloradocountrylife.coop

Since the 1960s, America’s electric cooperatives have shared their expertise by building electric systems in rural areas in developing nations. This effort helped bring this life-changing technology to more than 110 million people.

When a community receives power, the lives of its citizens change forever. Electricity opens up a whole world of new possibilities: better health care, better education and safer streets. It also helps communities become more self-sufficient.

Tax-deductible contributions to the NRECA International Foundation pay for materials, equipment and travel for volunteers from electric co-ops who build electric systems and train locals to maintain them. To learn more, visit NRECAInternational.coop.

Concern for community is an ongoing core principle for Colorado’s electric co-ops.

Justin LaBerge writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

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BOOKS that make the imagination soar

BY JENNIFER NELSON

The moment you find a great novel is an exciting one: your breath catches, your heartbeat picks up, everything around you falls away as you can’t wait to turn the page. It’s almost as if you take flight, ascending beyond your day-to-day into a dream world.

Even nonfiction books can bring a similar exhilaration, perhaps a little less dramatic than the reading of a novel but no less important. And it can be the same for kids, as books allow them to see beyond themselves and learn about the world around them.

No matter how you enjoy the thrill of a new read, Colorado Country Life has a wonderful collection of books for its 19th annual book review issue. Whether you’re craving fiction or nonfiction; mystery, adventure or a little romance; whether you want a gift for a child or a history buff; or whether you want to learn something new or enjoy a coffee-table book, here are books that rose above the rest. And who knows, you might just find one that makes your imagination soar.

F iction The Cadet

by Doug Beason Young Rod Simone dreamed of flying, of soaring above the clouds.

But first he had to graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Orphaned when German bombs devastated his small French village during World War II, Rod took an unlikely path to becoming a “doolie” in the 1955 inaugural class of the newly created Air Force Academy. With this book, the first of the Wild Blue U: Foundation of Honor series, the twin stories of Rod, his family and the Air Force Academy meld into an absorbing drama that provides an authentic portrayal of the military academy experience.

Written by a former cadet who is now a retired a Air Force colonel, Rod’s story takes the reader along for the ride as he and his fellow cadets meet the heavy demands and rigors this brand-new insti-

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tution requires of its cadets.

The Cadet (WordFire Press, $19.99) captures the essence of what it was like for those early cadets who established the foundation for the 47,000 future cadets who would follow them. And it launches a rich and colorful saga of an Air Force family that continues through the rest of the three-book series. Order it at online bookstores and watch for information on the rest of the series at wordfirepress.com.

Double Dare

by Michael Madigan Adventure, challenge and pushing your limits are the focus of activities at Double Dare Ranch in southwestern Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. And Serena’s challenging kayak run down a section of the Dolores River certainly meets those criteria. When her kayak flips, it becomes

obvious she’s not only trying to right herself in the water but also searching for something to “right” her life — a central theme for numerous guests at the ranch.

Blake Cutter, following his passion for the outdoors, opened the ranch after tackling his own hurdles, including adjusting to an amputated leg. Now, nearing the end of the ranch’s first year in operation, wildfires typical of the region, as well as a vindictive nemesis from Cutter’s past, threaten its success.

Suspense. Romance. History. Adventure. Revenge. Double Dare (Adventure, $12.95) by Denver author Michael Madigan has it all and appropriately received the Best Thriller/Suspense designation in the 2014 Colorado Book Awards. Follow your adventurous heart by finding this book at www.michaelmadiganauthor.com or online bookstores.

The Painter

by Peter Heller One lone afternoon has the potential to dramatically alter life. For Jim Stegner, an avid fly fisherman and well-known artist who already endured his share of trouble,

coloradocountrylife.coop

that afternoon — in which he witnessed the violent abuse of a horse — set off a chain of events that shifted his entire trajectory.

A New Mexico native who moved to the wilderness outside of Paonia, Colorado, hoping for a fresh start, Jim deals with passions that are all-consuming as he struggles to live with the grief from his past. The story delicately shifts between edge-of-your-seat suspense and deeper insight into the emotional and mental state of the main character.

In the beautifully written The Painter (Knopf Doubleday, $15.95), national bestselling author Peter Heller develops the characters so that when the story really picks up, the reader is intimately connected with each person and begins to experience life right along with them. Just beware, adult language is generous. Pick up your copy of the book at local bookstores or online.

Red Lightning

by Laura Pritchett Tess Cross knows this is a pivotal moment. As she shows up across the street from her daughter’s school on the eastern plains (which Tess dubs “Nowhere, Colorado”) and is spotted by her sister, she can’t help being afraid.

A long 10 years have passed since they last saw each other, and numerous years — Tess can’t quite remember how many — since she was actually in touch.

Will her sister, not to mention Tess’s own daughter who she gave to her sister to raise, forgive her or even speak to her?

Amid Tess’ concerns about her family also linger thoughts of the life she is leaving: her job running drugs and illegal immigrants within the United States.

Red Lightning (Counterpoint, $25) is the dramatic journey of one young woman’s

desperate struggle to find forgiveness, redemption and healing for her soul.

Find this suspenseful, engaging novel by northern foothills author Laura Pritchett at local bookstores and online.

The Bookseller

by Cynthia Swanson The first few dreams were pleasant and simple, a quaint look into an imagined alternate life. In fact, Kitty Miller looks forward to these glimpses into her other self’s life. There in 1963 she, as Kathryn, is happily married with children and spends her time in the suburbs as a doting mother and housewife.

She views these forays as she sleeps as an interesting respite of sorts from her nice yet perhaps unsatisfying life in 1962.

There she is a single, 38-year-old coowner of a downtown Denver bookshop, which she opened with her best friend.

Yet the dreams begin to feel real, and Kitty begins to question her notion of reality versus imagination.

An intriguing page-turner with wonderful descriptions, The Bookseller (HarperCollins, $25.99) packs a powerful ending that is both surprising and satisfying. Denver author Cynthia Swanson provides a stunning debut novel, which can be found at local bookstores and online.

Tom & Lucky (and George & Cokey Flo)

by C. Joseph Greaves In 1936, America witnessed the sensational courtroom trial of nine men accused of compulsory prostitution, including the notorious Charles “Lucky” Luciano, the most powerful gangster in America.

A battle ensued between prosecutor Tom Dewey, whose aspirations included a governorship, and defense lawyer George Morton Levy, personally chosen because of his impeccable reputation and unwavering determination. These three key figures along with Cokey Flo, the prosecution’s star witness who is a drug

addict and sometimes prostitute, captures the nation’s attention through weeks of testimony and cross-examination designed to uncover whether Lucky and his fellow defendants were guilty.

In 2000, newly discovered information from Levy’s personal files gave former trial attorney C. Joseph Greaves the inspiration to weave a gripping novelization of the famous courtroom drama in Tom & Lucky (Bloomsbury, $26).

Greaves’ exclusive access to the files inform this taut story that begins nearly 25 years before the trial and concludes with a summary of why the verdict continues to be a point of contention. Both those who are interested in judicial drama and those who enjoy a fascinating read from a Colorado author will want to find this book at local bookstores and online starting this month.

F iction (Murder Mysteries)

Trapline

by Mark Stevens Exposing the dark truth about two vicious attacks, one high in the mountains and one in downtown Glenwood Springs, is only a matter of time for backcountry expert Allison Coil and persistent newspaper reporter Duncan Bloom. When they each begin investigating separate but equally disturbing incidents, the stakes and the suspense are high.

Vivid imagery and dynamic plot twists dog every step of these two investigators’ journeys, one as a layperson who finds refuge from the chaos of life by escaping to the mountains, while the other — an investigative reporter through and through — charges head-on into the [continued on page 18]

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chase that unravels unthinkable evils in the beautiful mountain community.

Trapline (Midnight Ink, $14.99) author and former reporter Mark Stevens is no stranger to following a lead for a story, and he weaves a brilliant tale that makes it difficult to put the book down. Find this clever read at local bookstores and online.

with an Unexpected Life (Zondervan, $15.99), this Colorado author shares her journey to discovering that she must rely on her faith and embrace the mess.

Michele’s touching story of her unexpected life can be found at local bookstores and online.

Mountain Rampage

by Maximillian Potter Aubert de Villaine considers his position at La Romanée-Conti as a calling, a reverential task, almost as if he is a father figure to the infant vines he is gently nurturing.

And no wonder: The centuries of history and tradition that surround the vineyard — which produces Burgundy’s finest and most expensive wines — and the entire French region is astounding. So it’s no surprise that he experienced utter shock and heartache in January 2010 when he received a threatening note demanding a one-million-euro ransom or his vines would be poisoned and destroyed.

The resulting investigation was as dramatic as one could imagine for something so potentially devastating to the vineyard, to the region, to the wine industry and to oenophiles everywhere. The unfolding story and the years of culture, love and dedication that lead up to this famed vineyard are uncovered in the expertly written Shadows in the Vineyard (Bookish, $27).

Author Maximillian Potter, journalist and former senior media advisor for Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, first got hooked on this story while writing for Vanity Fair. You’ll want to drink deeply of this enthralling saga found at local and online bookstores.

by Scott Graham His new job as head of the summer archaeology field school in Rocky Mountain National Park is exactly what Chuck Bender hoped it would be. Yet, as Chuck begins to anticipate the successful completion of the field school’s first summer, his hopes of returning begin to quickly erode.

One of his team leaders, who also happens to be his brother-in-law, is accused of murder. Then Chuck stumbles upon a flock of sheep, all dead and missing their horns — clearly illegally poached. Chuck realizes he must be the one to clear his brother-in-law’s name, uncover the mysterious murderer, and right the mishaps that occurred.

In Mountain Rampage (Torrey House, $14.95), Durango-based author Scott Graham utilizes short chapters to encourage a quick read that leaves no room for a dull page in this second novel about Chuck Bender. Buy a copy at local bookstores or online.

Nonfiction Light and Life on the Plains of Colorado

by Karen Wilson-Johnson & Jon Eriksson Youngblut The original photography of the authors captures the stark and breathtaking beauty of Colorado’s eastern plains in a 240-page book you will never tire of paging through. Originally shot over a two-year time span for a photographic

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Shadows in the Vineyard

exhibition of agrarian landscapes for the new Adams County Government Center, the photos were also compiled in this beautiful coffee-table book (Wilson/Johnson Creative, $50).

With sparse but poignant prose and hundreds of photos that capture life on the plains, this book pays homage to a Colorado those who don’t look beyond the mountains can miss. There are the expansive, wide-open shots of angry skies and sweeping landscapes. And there are the detailed close-ups of crops and cows and rusting gas pumps. It’s all there.

Order the book at kwj.photoshelter.com or ask your local bookstore to order it for you.

Undone: A Story of Making Peace with an Unexpected Life

by Michele Cushatt At age 39 with three teenage boys, Michele did not consider cancer part of her planned and scheduled life.

Nor did she think that just months after her diagnosis she would bring three young children into her home. In fact, her entire life had thrown numerous things her way that went directly against her grand, “happily-ever-after” plan — like divorce and being a single parent, then remarriage and a blended family. At every bend, Michele tackled the curves with vigor and determination, certain she could turn the circumstance into the perfect life she hoped for.

In her beautiful and refreshingly honest memoir, Undone: A Story of Making Peace

Jennifer Nelson is a wife, mom and freelance writer and editor in Dallas, Texas. Her first job out of college was working at Colorado Country Life, one of the reasons Colorado holds a special place in her heart. Jennifer loves curling up with a good novel as well as reading with her 3-year-old, who has already realized the fun of diving into a good book.

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MORE GREAT READS Look for these books at local or online bookstores Contrition

by Maura Weiler Twin sisters, separated at birth, reconnect in heart-wrenching and inspiring ways in this debut novel by Denver author Maura Weiler. One is a cloistered artist who lives in silence and the other a journalist trained and eager to tell her sister’s story. (Infinite Words, $15)

Claim on Death

by C.L. Hutchins This mystery novel by Red Feather Lakes summer resident Larry Hutchins centers on a seemingly cursed ranch where Lady Meath had two husbands die in bizarre, grisly accidents. Then Lady Meath dies, a mummified body is unearthed and death claims yet another victim. (CreateSpace, $15)

Mrs. Gulliver’s Travails

By Cynthia Lee Winford The recently widowed Annah Gulliver, heiress to an historic plantation, is weary of her adult children and ready for change. She and an adventurous friend head out, only to experience a variety of travails that bring insight and growth. (CreateSpace, $12.99)

Noah

by Mark Ludy In a stunning wordless picture book called simply Noah (Plough, $19.95), artist Mark Ludy, re-creates the biblical tale of Noah, who built an enormous boat to save his family, the animals and anyone else who would join him from a massive flood.

Ludy, a former Windsor, Colorado resident, sells this book of art at markludy. com/noah-the-wordless-picture-book/ and other online bookstores.

God’s Choice

By Joseph & Katherine Comerford Subtitled A journey through high-risk pregnancy, premature birth, and one child’s fight to live, this triumphant book is about a Wet Mountain Valley couple who chose life for their baby after a devastating diagnosis at about 18 weeks of gestation. (Lighthouse Publishing, $14.95)

The Children’s Train: Escape on the Kindertransport

by Jana Zinser The remarkable story of Peter, who was among the Jewish children hurriedly put on trains out of Germany after the Night of Broken Glass, is told by Denver author Jana Zinser. Peter makes it to England, but when the Nazis also come to England, he decides it is time to return and join the underground resistance. (Boutique of Quality Books, $18.95)

Around Rocky Mountain National Park

by Suzanne Silverthorn Part of the Postcard History Series, this photo-packed book gives a visual tour of Rocky Mountain National Park, which just celebrated its 100th anniversary. Many of the postcards featured are from a private collection. (Arcadia Publishing, $21.99)

All Through My Town

by Jean Reidy illustrated by Leo Timmers Narrated in an energetic rhythm that rolls off the tongue, each page of All Through My Town (Bloomsbury, $7.99) is filled with adventure as little bunny and mommy stroll through town.

Author Jean Reidy, who writes from her home in Colorado, uses action-packed words that are naturally read in a playful tempo. The details within each of artist Leo Timmers’ vignettes are intriguing, as charming animals go about their day-today lives. Order the board book at online bookstores. [continued on page 20]

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Red Berries, White Clouds, Blue Sky

by Sandra Dallas The 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor set off a dark chain of events, including the imprisonment of 12-year-old Tomi Itano’s father and the relocation of Tomi’s Japanese family to a Colorado internment camp (based on the historical Amache camp).

This heartbreaking but also heartwarming historical work of fiction offers a glimpse for ages 9 and up into numerous powerful topics. Journey back into history with author Sandra Dallas and her book, Red Berries, White Clouds, Blue Sky (Sleeping Bear, $9.99). A 2015 Willa Literary Award runner-up, this book can be found at local and online bookstores.

Foreman Farley Has a Backhoe

by Jenny Goebel illustrated by Sebastiaan Van Doninck Join Foreman Farley (Penguin, $3.99) as he sets out on an adventure to build a new school.

Colorado author Jenny Goebel uses playful wording to bring the character and his crew to life. Bring this book home from a local bookstore or purchase it online.

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by Martha Sullivan illustrated by Cathy Morrison Author Martha Sullivan, who is passionate about connecting children with the natural world, tells the educational story of the water cycle in a clever way that will entertain kids ages 4-10 in Pitter and Patter (Dawn, $8.95). The tale is digitally illustrated

by Poudre Valley REA member Cathy Morrison of Livermore. Join these two raindrops’ journey by ordering the book online.

This Land Is Your Land

Grave Images

by Jenny Goebel Bernie is accustomed to the effects of death, at least as comfortable as a 12-yearold can be. For years she watched her grandmother comfort those who grieve a loved one and her father carve names and dates into memorials at their family monument company.

But Bernie begins to suspect something is strangely amiss when a few untimely deaths promptly occur after a drifter named Mr. Abbot Stein starts helping her father engrave headstones.

Grave Images (Scholastic, $16.99) by Colorado author Jenny Goebel is a gripping juvenile mystery recommended for grades 3-8, and has just the right amount of scary to keep the kids interested. Order your copy of this award-winning novel online.

Pitter and Patter

Cortez the Gnome

by Amadee Rickets and James Orndorf Cortez the Gnome (Canyon Largo, $8.99) is a charming picture book featuring a tiny gnome and his grand adventure to visit his brother, Winslow. Written by Durango resident Amadee Rickets, it is illustrated through tiny sets staged with great attention to detail and then photographed by the author’s husband, James Orndorf.

Recommended for ages 4-8, the delightful story and enchanting images are complemented by the gnome’s website at cortezthegnome.com. Find the book online and at Maria’s Bookshop in Durango.

by Catherine Ciocchi illustrated by Cathy Morrison From plateaus to mountains, plains to peninsulas, archipelagos to volcanoes, landforms of all shapes and sizes come to life for children ages 4-8 in This Land Is Your Land (Arbordale, $9.95).

The picture book, illustrated by Colorado artist Cathy Morrison, includes additional resources to expand a child’s understanding of the subject. Purchase this fascinating book online.

Find out more about the books featured here and read reviews of additional books at www.coloradocountrylife.coop.

Win Great Books

Check the Contest link at coloradocountrylife.coop for directions on how to win some of these great reads. The deadline to enter is November 16.

coloradocountrylife.coop

[recipes]

Grateful for Culinary Guidance

Bring flavor to the table for those with dietary challenges

BY AMY HIGGINS || AHIGGINS@COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG

Accommodate Everyone Leave shaved Parmesan on the table for guests who don’t have dietary restrictions and want to add their food.

Kousa Mahshi

(lactose-free and vegetarian) Ingredients for the zucchini and stuffing: 6 medium zucchinis 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 onion, diced 4 cloves garlic, finely minced 1 cup organic short grain brown rice 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 cups water 1/2 cup raisins, plumped 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts

The Heedful Host Ask dinner guests well in advance if they have any dietary restrictions to avoid last-minute rummaging through the cupboards or, worse, an empty dinner plate.

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Ingredients for the sauce: 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 onion, diced 2 cloves garlic, finely minced 1 teaspoon toasted ground cumin seed 2 tablespoons honey 1 (2-inch) piece cinnamon stick 1 (32-ounce) can chopped tomatoes, drained kosher salt, to taste freshly ground black pepper, to taste 1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped Visit coloradocountrylife.coop for more recipes for the food sensitive guest.

Photograph by Studio E Imaging

more oomph to

T

Thanksgiving dinner hosts have a lot to contend with: time, shopping, preparation, chopping, mashing, baking, boiling and an overcrowded oven. And to top it off, there are likely guests with special dietary needs to cater to. But don’t hassle with searching for dishes for your Thanksgiving dinner guests who are vegan, vegetarian or lactose or gluten intolerant. Use these delectable recipes created by Chef Max Hansen as your solution.

Hansen created numerous dishes throughout his prestigious culinary career and shared with us some of his favorite dishes for those with special dietary needs that all your guests will enjoy. More of Chef Hansen’s delicious recipes are posted at coloradocountrylife. coop.

To prepare the zucchini, cut stems off with a paring knife. Wash zucchini thoroughly and cut in half.

Remove the inside creating a hollow center (leave approximately 1/4-inch thick shell intact). Heat olive oil in a medium pot until hot. Add onion and cook over low to medium heat until the onions are translucent.

Add garlic and cook briefly. Add rice and stir over low heat for 3 to 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper, stir well and then add water. Bring to a simmer then reduce the heat and cook until done over low heat, approximately 45 minutes. Once the rice is cooked, let it cool slightly and stir in the raisins and pine nuts. Cool completely.

To make the sauce, heat olive oil until hot in a heavy bottomed pan. Add onion and cook until soft.

Add garlic and stir for 30 seconds or until fragrant. Add cumin and honey and stir until they start to cook. Add cinnamon stick and tomatoes. Simmer until reduced by about a third. Season lightly with salt and pepper to taste and stir in the chopped mint.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stuff zucchini halves with rice mixture. Cover the bottom of a casserole dish with half of the tomato sauce. Place the zucchini straight up on the tomato sauce and leave a little room between each zucchini so that you can ladle plenty of the remaining tomato sauce around them.

The sauce should come 3/4 of the way up the zucchini. Bake until the zucchini are tender but not soft, 25 to 35 minutes. Serve immediately.

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[gardening]

November’s Invaluable Chores

BY KRISTEN HANNUM || GARDENING@COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG

N

November brings about that woodsy, musty smell of crisp, fallen leaves on the ground. The sight of one’s breath in the air. The curls of frost on the grass. And then, the luxury of going inside where it is warm and the scent of spiced apple cider fills the kitchen.

November is the time to stop longing for green and truly look at the individual pieces of delight to be found in Colorado: the intricate geometry of a sunflower husk or the lace of ice on a pond.

Gardening is the best way I know to slow down and appreciate where I am, even in November.

While I won’t be adding pops of color to my garden, there are November’s virtuous chores. I begin with washing out pots and seed trays. Cleaning tools is an incredibly satisfying task as long as I remind myself that the tools don’t need to be showroom ready or so clean that the kids can eat with them; I’m just getting them ready for storage.

I put on a pair of utility gloves and fill a bucket with hot, soapy water. I use a putty knife (to get stuck-on dirt off), a rag, a scrub brush and some steel wool. I dry the tools and then rub a little mineral oil onto the metal parts and linseed oil onto any unpainted wooden handles.

Chores always expand once begun. This year, for me, it was the shed. I took a stab at cleaning it out so that my tools could be stored in a reasonably tidy place. I got rid of a terrarium, for instance. Where did it come from?

I also plan to make an insect hotel. I hope for ladybugs, but even if I don’t get any bugs at all, bug boardinghouses make great garden art. I’ll make mine from a decorative birdhouse that we never used. I’ll pry the front off of it and then pack it with hollow bamboo pieces that I’ll cut to about the same depth as the house. It will be a good project to do with my 5- and 6-year-old grandchildren.

I hope that the elegant little beetles will like my hotel. I never use pesticides or herbicides, so they’ll be safe in my yard. Even if the hotel stands empty, it will be fun to make and rustically pretty.

Really, aren’t Colorado autumns wonderful?

Read

previous gardening columns at coloradocountrylife.coop/category/living-in-colorado/gardening. Kristen Hannum is a native Colorado gardener.

Email or write her with wisdom or comments at gardening@coloradocountrylife.org.

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coloradocountrylife.coop

Consider a Job in Energy

Some people work for a paycheck.

We work for a

PURPOSE

America’s Electric Cooperatives

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[outdoors]

This black-billed magpie is canvassing the elk for wood ticks.

The Wondrous Woods

A day in the forest can bring unexpected delights

BY DENNIS SMITH

M WiseSavers The best furnace in the world won’t help much if your house is drafty.

Make sure that you take the time to install proper insulation and air sealing. Something as simple as adding weather stripping to your doors and windows can save you some money on your energy bill.

My 21-year-old grandson returned from an archery elk hunt earlier this fall and reported that, although he and his buddy saw plenty of game, they weren’t able to get close enough to arrow a bull elk. Still, he said, the experience was absolutely unforgettable. He told me they slept under the stars at the timberline, watched a black bear foraging for berries, had a bobcat respond to their elk calls one evening and witnessed a giant stand of orange and gold aspen trees light up at sunrise like a wildfire in the Medicine Bow Mountains.

It is precisely this kind of serendipity that draws many of us into the wild each year. We may tell ourselves we’re after Colorado greenback cutthroat trout on a secluded mountain stream or that we’re on a mission to restock the freezer with prime venison for the winter, but it is often an unexpected turn of events that proves to be the highlight of the day.

I live about 30 miles from Rocky Mountain National Park and like to wander up there as time and opportunity allow.

Sometimes I fly-fish, other times I just wander aimlessly and, in September, I watch the wild elk herds gather for the ancient ritualistic rut. The elk rut usually begins in late August and continues well into October, depending on a host of biological variables. The event draws thousands of spectators, not just from Colorado, but from around the country.

Most of us hope, of course, to see the big

bulls and get dramatic photos of them battling for mating rights to the cows.

I’m as guilty as anyone of being fascinated by the whole event, and while it’s true that hair-raising battles between bulls break out occasionally, they usually happen just before I get there or right after I leave, or they take place so far from the prescribed viewing locations that photographing them with anything less than a $10,000 telephoto lens is next to impossible.

Over the years, I learned that whether or not you bag that trophy buck or bull, or capture the highly prized wildlife photo you’re after, there are likely all kinds of other equally interesting wildlife dramas taking place right under your nose that will make your day if you just open your eyes. Last year, for instance, a yearling cow elk sauntered directly up to me, nuzzled my camera and proceeded to graze at my feet while I continued to shoot photos of the herd for nearly a half hour. The event made my trip. In the photo above, a black-billed magpie landed on the back of this cow elk, who took an apparent interest in the bird. The magpie is obviously canvassing the elk for wood ticks and is all business, but it sure looks like the two of them are having a friendly discussion.

Now, we all know animals can’t actually talk to each other, but when Mother Nature reveals something like this, it’s enough to make you wonder. Isn’t it?

Miss an issue? Catch up at coloradocountrylife.coop. Search for Outdoors.

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[energy tips]

BY LAURIE WAGNER BUYER

— for Linda Hussa

On a day of relentless wind, annoyed, tired after a long night checking heavy heifers, I curled on the sagging couch comforted by crackling fire, shoulder-draped serape and a wool afghan wrapped round my legs and feet.

My eyes droop but I read on — soaking your poetry like rain into the shrivel of my dried skin, absorbing a liquid river of lines flowing uphill from your distant desert to my mountains until I sleep.

The silent house wakes me.

The dying fire gives way to slow creeping cold.

Like an ember in hand I clutch your book as if your words alone could warm and save me.

REPRINTED FROM RED COLT CANYON — LAURIE WAGNER BUYER

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I

BY JAMES DULLEY

If you feel chilly sitting near a window in your home, you’re likely losing energy, which drives up your utility bills. This is also true during the summer when heat transfers in and forces your air conditioner to run longer. If replacement windows will exceed your budget, window shades are a reasonably priced option that will help.

Installing insulated window shades will provide the most improved comfort and energy savings year-round. When selecting insulated window shades there are important factors to consider, such as the R-value, how well they seal when closed, ease of operation and appearance.

Before you make a purchase, try to operate a sample insulated shade that’s similar in size to your needs.

If the shade is difficult to open and close, you are This insulated Roman shade is from a kit. You add your less likely to use it. made own cover fabric to match Cellular shades your decor. A magnetic seal are one of the less is sewn into the edge of the insulating shade material. expensive options and are best to use where you want some natural light to get through.

The double-cell shades create an additional air gap for better insulation. Since their width grows as they are pulled up and collapsed, side channels are not effective with this option.

The most common type of do-it-yourself window shade is a Roman shade design. The key to efficiency is to make them as thick as possible, while still being able to fold them up when opened. Include a reflective air barrier between the center layers. Reflective Mylar film is flexible and works well for this.

Photo credit: Warm Company

Like an Ember in Hand

INSULATE WINDOWS FOR COMFORT

Learn more about insulating windows at coloradocountrylife.coop. Look under the Energy tab for Energy Tips.

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le d C c y o l T OR e R ur R A Yo IGE FR E R

WiseSavers An estimated 170 million refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers are currently in use in the United States.

More than 60 million refrigerators are over 10 years old, costing consumers $4.7 billion a year in energy costs. By properly recycling your old refrigerator and replacing it with a new EnergyStar-certified refrigerator, you can save between $35 and $300 on energy costs over its lifetime.

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"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.

The important thing is not to stop questioning." 足A lber t Ein s t ein

coloradocountrylife.coop

[marketplace]

Matt Sliwkowski of Elbert was the winner of the mini iPad. Congratulations Matt!

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[classifieds] TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD Please 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 80216 phone: 303.902.7276 fax: 303.455.2807 email: classifieds@coloradocountrylife.org

ANTIQUE RESTORATION

BOOKS/CDs/DVDs

CHAIR CANING Hand caning, machine caning, fiber rush caning.

Pueblo West, 719-547-0723. chaanita@q.com (858-10-16)

FAST-PACED, LIGHT-HEARTED romantic mystery book series by Colorado author, Cricket Rohman is available at Amazon.com or www. cricketrohman.org (259-12-15)

ANTLERS ANTLER 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, giant moose paddles, and elk antlers. Showroom now open year ’round in Granby, CO. 18 years at this location, over 900 satisfied customers! Designers: We can provide you a single item or a whole houseful. Call ! (970) 6273053. (085-09-16)

BOOKS/CDs/DVDs CHANT OF A CHAMPION: Auctioneering DVD from World and International Champion Auctioneer John Korrey. Let John show you how to improve all aspects of your auctioneering chant. Order online at www.chantofachampion.com (210-11-15) “CHERRY VALLEY, 92223” – Newest book by award-winning humor writer Carol Dunn. Life really IS stranger than fiction! On Amazon. com or send $18 to POB1213, LaVeta, CO 81055 (151-11-15)

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES (These opportunities have not been investigated by Colorado Country Life.)

HEALTH FOOD STORE & DELI: Two turnkey businesses in one. Strong income/customer base. Colorado mountains (970-641-5175), leave name & number. (252-12-15)

CLOCK REPAIR & RESTORATION www.clockrepairandrestoration. com DURANGO AREA. CLOCKS of all kinds repaired. Antique and modern. Clocks bought and sold. bob.scott@usa.net Call Robert 970-247-7729. (109-12-15)

FOR SALE COVERED WAGON METAL AND WOODEN PARTS for restoration (18th century). $750. 303-772-5952.

(266-11-15) MAJESTIC woodburning cookstove with oven. Awesome condition.

Works great! $4200. 719-564-5865, 719-485-1543. Beulah. (270-11-15)

FIND HIDDEN TREASURE IN THE CLASSIFIEDS Read through the ads and FIND the CCL classified explaining how to WIN a $25 gift card. It’s easy. You could WIN. The classified ads October winner was Shawn Kerby.

He correctly counted 36 ads.

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NOVEMBER 2015

FOR SALE NORSE 290 with chains, D shaft logging 3-pt winch tree skidder. 165’ cable, barn kept, never used. $1800.

719-428-5063 (269-11-15) OXYGEN CONCENTRATORS - $380 with warranty. Also sell portable concentrators and oxygen supplies.

Repair and service of equipment.

Aspen Concentrator Repair Service 719-471-9895 (040-12-15)

FREE FREE BOOKS/DVDS. Soon the “Mark of the Beast” will be enforced as Church and State unite!

Let the Bible reveal. The Bible Says, POB99, Lenoir City, TN 37771. thebiblesaystruth@yahoo.com 888-211-1715. (814-12-15) FREE ORGANIC FOOD for Everyone!!! www.

HeadyOrganicGreens.com Free Organic Food for Everyone!!! www.

HeadyOrganicGreens.com (128-11-15) FREE TO ENTER! Win a $25 gift card.

Email the number of classifieds on this page and your address to classifieds@coloradocountrylife. org. Put Classified Count in the subject line. We’ll draw one name November 16 to win.

HELP WANTED LEGITIMATE 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 (932-02-16)

INSURANCE REQUEST A CUSTOMIZED INSURANCE QUOTE. Marketplace & Non-Marketplace Options. www.

DurangoColoradoInsurance.com 970-385-4763 Thank You. (128-11-15)

MACHINERY & PARTS www.sawmillexchange.com SAWMILL EXCHANGE: North America’s largest source of used portable sawmills and commercial equipment for woodlot owners and sawmill operations. Over 800 listings. THE place to sell equipment. 800-459-2148. (26709-16)

MISCELLANEOUS

VACATION RENTAL

DEBT RELIEF for seniors – Nonprofit. 888-779-4272 www. careconnectusa.org (213-11-15)

BAYFIELD ATTIC INN – Downtown Bayfield, Colorado. 1 bedroom, ¾ bath, tv. $75/nt or $500/wk.

970-759-6957, bayfieldatticinn.com (263-01-16)

REAL ESTATE 40 ACRES, 15 miles west of Walsenburg, CO on CR520. Fenced.

Prime grazing. Small 2bd recently upgraded trailer on property with tenant. 8-10 gal./min. domestic well. $87,500 OBO. Owner may carry. 719-251-1131, 719-989-0850, 719-738-3500, ptapia.healthtrac@ gmail.com. (207-11-15) FSBO / DURANGO – GREAT PROFESSIONAL OFFICE on Main Ave. Conveniently located downtown in modern building across from Buckley Park. Two rooms, large windows, two assigned, covered parking spaces. $155,000. Roger, 970-799-2871.

(265-02-16) HORSE RANCH, BARN, HOUSE on 6 acres or more available. NE Colorado, $380K, 970-466-1464 (257-11-15) IT’S TIME FOR YOU TO HAVE YOUR VACATION GETAWAY! 136-156 Kinnikinnik Drive, Red Feather Lakes. Two private lakefront cabins.

One lot. Enough for you and family!

Secluded, yet stroll to village shopping! Sean Dougherty, RE/ MAX Alliance, 970-402-5642, www.

HawaiianShirtGuy.com $275,000.

(261-11-15) OWN PROPERTY? NEED INCOME? We’ll rent exclusive hunting rights from you. Looking for antelope, goose, duck, coyote, & prairie dog habitat. Encourage young sportsmen by providing safe, private access. You make the rules.

303-460-0273 (069-12-15)

RELIGION BECOME 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 (44112-15)

TICKETS NFR & PBR RODEO TICKETS – Las Vegas. Call 1-888-NFR-Rodeo (1888-637-7633). www.NFR-rodeo. com A+ rated BBB Member. (91201-16)

KAUAI VACATION RENTAL, 2bdr, full kitchen. Minutes from beaches. $600/wk. 808-2456500; mokihana@hawaiian.net; kauaiweddings.com. (756-05-16)

WANTED TO BUY BUYING AUTOGRAPHS (all kinds), sports cards (pre-1980). Vintage sports and music collectibles (albums, etc.). Cash paid.

Established dealer since 1986. Mike 720-334-0206, mmunns1@hotmail. com (245-01-16) NAVAJO RUGS, old and recent, native baskets, pottery. Tribal Rugs, Salida. 719-539-5363, b_inaz@ hotmail.com (817-12-15) OLD COLORADO LIVESTOCK brand books prior to 1975. Call Wes 303757-8553. (889-02-16) 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 970-5651256. (871-01-16) OLD GAS AND OIL items: Gas pumps, advertising signs, globes, etc. Pieces, parts, etc. considered.

Also 1932-34 Ford cars and trucks, parts and pieces, too. Any condition. Brandon, 719-250-5721.

(519-11-15) OLD POCKET WATCHES – working or non-working and old repair material. Bob 719-859-4209. (87012-16) WANT TO PURCHASE mineral and other oil/gas interests. Send details to: PO Box 13557, Denver, CO 80201.

(402-03-16) WANTED: JEEP CJ OR WRANGLER. Reasonably priced. No rust buckets.

888-735-5337 (099-04-16) WE PAY CASH for minerals and oil/gas interests, producing and nonproducing. 800-733-8122 (09902-16)

coloradocountrylife.coop

[funny stories] Our family sat around the table on Thanksgiving Day, anxious to dig in. My granddaughter, who was in first grade, asked if she could say grace. Of course, we said yes. With her head down and hands folded, she said confidently, “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.” We all joined in and said her grace in its entirety.

Margie Colbeck, Keenesburg

Enjoy Colorado’s Winter Fun Call Kris at 303-902-7276 about getting your special event or winter activity in front of 217,000 Colorado Country Life readers.

I always trimmed my sons’ hair when they were little.

It was challenging to get them to agree to a haircut. Some form of bribery was often involved. When I finally persuaded them, the routine involved sitting on the toilet seat in their underwear, so the hair wouldn’t get on their clothes.

After a few years, I suggested to my middle son — whose hair was thick and long — that we go to a proper hair salon to get a cut. He adamantly refused and no amount of cajoling on my part would get him to change his mind.

“Why don’t you want to go to the hair salon?” I finally asked.

With a serious expression, he said, “I don’t want to take my clothes off in public!”

Graz Benda, Monument

On our family vacation in the Florida Keys, we saw a sign pointing out toward the ocean that read “Cuba — 90 miles.” We marveled that Cuba was so close. My sister turned to my dad and asked, “What language do they speak in Cuba? Is it Spanish or Cubish?”

Teresa Carpenter, Durango Highline Electric member Peggy Davis of Holyoke with her granddaughter Ashley Humphreys in Scotland.

Take Your Photo with Your Magazine and Win! It’s easy to win with Colorado Country Life. Simply take a photo of someone (or a selfie!) with the magazine and email the photo and your name and address to info@ coloradocountrylife.org. We’ll draw one photo to win a $25 gift card each month.

The next deadline is Friday, November 16.

This month’s winner is Peggy Davis from Holyoke. She and her granddaughter Ashley Humphreys took the magazine to Scotland.

coloradocountrylife.coop

My friend’s 21-year-old granddaughter asked her grandmother if she could borrow a tablet. Her grandmother said, “Sure. There should be at least three in the left-hand drawer of my desk.” Her granddaughter gave her a confused look as she went to get a tablet. Shortly she returned and said, “There’s no tablet in that drawer. Just three big yellow notebooks.”

Andrea Carter Celayeta, Grand Junction

$15

We pay $15 to each person who submits a funny story that’s printed in the magazine. At the end of the year we will draw one name from those submitting funny stories and that person will receive $200. Send your 2015 stories to Colorado Country Life, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 or email funnystories@coloradocountrylife.org. Don’t forget to include your mailing address, so we can send you a check.

NOVEMBER 2015

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[discoveries] Handbooks for Hobbyists

— Several hobby books made it in our arsenal of books to be reviewed this year. Jennifer Nelson, our book reviewer, evaluated these manuals, written by Colorado authors who want to share their passion. Get your hands on one of these books and turn your hobby into an obsession.

The Best Grand Junction Hikes; The Best Aspen Hikes; The Best Telluride Hikes; The Best Moab and Arches National Park Hikes; The Best Canyonlands National Park Hikes ROD MARTINEZ

Hiking in Colorado is one of those must-do, bucket-list type of activities. But nearly every square inch of the state offers something fascinating, so where do you begin? Rod Martinez, a board member at Grand Valley Power in Grand Junction, avid hiker and talented photographer, compiled three comprehensive guidebooks that can serve as a jumping-off point to exploring and experiencing the beauty of the Rocky Mountains. Two additional guides featuring hikes in Utah were recently added to the collection.

With such locales as Maroon Bells near Aspen, Blue Lake Trail near Telluride, Crag Crest Trail near Grand Junction, these guidebooks are just what every walker, hiker, snowshoer and scrambler needs, whether novice or professional. Plan your next trip with these pack guides (Colorado Mountain Club, $12.95), found at local bookstores and online.

Colorado Quilting: From Mountains to Plains MARY ANN SCHMIDT AND THE COLORADO QUILTING COUNCIL

Win a copy of Colorado Quilting: From Mountains to Plains. Email your name, address and phone number to contests@coloradocountrylife.org.

Enter “Colorado Quilting” in the subject line.

Whether you’re an avid quilter, curious about the art or simply a Coloradan interested in our state’s history, Colorado Quilting: From Mountains to Plains (Schiffer, $34.99) will both inspire and inform.

Compiled by Mary Ann Schmidt and the CQC, Colorado Quilting came to life after numerous documentation days held by the council where anyone could bring in a quilt, have it photographed and then have its details recorded by volunteers. The variety of quilts, people and organizations featured in the book are a wonderful example of the diversity of Colorado and its history. Within the 13 chapters, information can be found about the Last Chance Quilters, the state’s oldest quilting group; Men Quilters; the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum; Dorothy Brammer, a pioneer in Colorado for machine-quilting; the Capitol Quilt Show, which is held every summer; the Japanese Internment Camp; and more.

This gem is available at local bookstores and online.

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The Colorado Gardener’s Companion JODI TORPEY

Gardening in Colorado is not for the faint of heart. Jodi Torpey, master gardener and Colorado native, knows the struggle firsthand and even calls gardening in Colorado an extreme sport.

Yet she also recognizes the joys of working hard to pursue a vision for a landscape or an idea for a container garden and then seeing the gorgeous reward.

In her second edition of The Colorado Gardener’s Companion (Globe Pequot, $16.95), Jodi compiles an abundance of indispensable advice to ensure success for every gardener.

Whether you’re an experienced green thumb or you’re the friend who is never asked to water plants for vacationing neighbors, this guide will certainly be helpful. Amidst the treasure trove of information, Jodi also weaves in stories from her own gardens, bringing to life her contagious love for the pastime.

Whether you’re attempting to start your first garden, needing a bit of help in one area or wanting simply to grow your gardening library, The Colorado Gardener’s Companion is the natural place to begin. Unearth this vital resource at local bookstores and online.

coloradocountrylife.coop

[gardening] Enter CCL’s Photo Contest • Enter CCL’s Photo Contest

Enter

Colorado Country Life’s

ENTER TO WIN!

Photo Contest 1. SPRING

2. SUMMER

3. FALL

4. WINTER

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place $150

EACH CATEGORY

Rules: Please follow all guidelines carefully. All

photos and files become the property of Colorado Country Life and will not be returned. Winners will be published in the April 2016 magazine.

1. E ach photo must be accompanied by the entry form (right).

It must be signed. Do not paperclip to photo.

$75

$50

EACH CATEGORY

COLORADO COUNTRY LIFE PHOTO CONTEST ENTRY FORM

Title for entry (to appear if published)

2. Do not write any information on front or back of photo.

Name Phone

3. M aximum number of entries per photographer per category: 2

Address

4. Photographers may win no more than one first place prize.

5. Digital entries may be submitted to info@coloradocountry life.org with the form on the right scanned and signed.

Digital entries must be at least 8- by 10-inches in size and at least 300 dpi.

6. Printed entries must be at least 8- by 10-inches and printed on glossy paper. Send printed entries to: Colorado Country Life, Photo Contest, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216. Remember to include a signed entry form with each photo to be eligible.

7. P hotos printed on home printers will not be accepted.

8. Photos must be received by 5 p.m., January 4, 2016. coloradocountrylife.coop

EACH CATEGORY

City

State ZIP

Electric co-op you are a member of Email Please check the season your photo was taken ❏ Spring

❏ Summer

❏ Fall

❏ Winter

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.

Signature

Date NOVEMBER 2015

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[discoveries]

coloradocountrylife.coop

OCTOBER 2014

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