Colorado Country Life December 2013

[December 2013]

Gingerbread

DELIGHT

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[contents]

December 2013

[cover] Cover photo by Brent Ward at .brentwardphoto.com. Gingerbread house by Donna Wallin. Scan the cover for additional information with

4 4 5 6 7 12 14

16

Viewpoint

16

Letters Calendar Co-op News NewsClips Extreme Efficiency Makeover

20 Recipes

Electric co-op support for community is evident during the holidays

Gingerbread Delight

How to build a gingerbread house and start a family holiday tradition

20 22 Gardening

Give plant containers as gifts this holiday season

24 Outdoors

Christmas cookies and kids conjure holiday memories

New ‘toy’ brings visions of sausages to this old hunter

25 Energy Tips

Fill the gaps for a more energy efficient home

29 Funny Stories 30 Discoveries

Wrap your home in savings with an extreme efficiency makeover

29

$40

the amount you can save in energy costs using an Energy Star-qualified CFL over its lifetime

1870

the year Christmas was declared an official holiday in the United States

150,000 the number of spectators expected at the 2013 Parade of Lights in Denver

COMMUNICATIONS STAFF: Mona Neeley, CCC, Publisher/Editor@303-455-4111; mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org Donna Wallin, Associate Editor; dwallin@coloradocountrylife.org • Amy Higgins, Editorial Assistant/Writer; ahiggins@coloradocountrylife.org ADVERTISING: Kris Wendtland@303-902-7276, advertising@coloradocountrylife.org; NCM@800-626-1181

The official publication of the Colorado Rural Electric Association || Volume 44, Number 11

OFFICERS: Bob Bledsoe [Tri-State] President; Bill Midcap [Fort Morgan] Vice President; Don Kaufman [Sangre de Cristo] Secretary; Jack Schneider [Poudre Valley] Treasurer; Kent Singer [CREA] Executive Director BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Bill Patterson [Delta-Montrose]; John Porter [Empire]; Don McClaskey [Grand Valley]; John Vader [Gunnison]; Jim Lueck [Highline]; Megan Gilman [Holy Cross]; Dan Mills, Tim Power [K.C.]; Jeff Berman [La Plata]; Stan Cazier [Mountain Parks]; B.D. Paddock [Mountain View]; Debbie Rose [San Isabel]; Eleanor Valdez [San Luis Valley]; Dave Alexander, Kevin Ritter [San Miguel]; Randy Phillips [Southeast]; Jim Jaeger, Ron Asche [United Power]; Bill Jordan [White River]; Stuart Travis [Y-W]; Scott McGill [Yampa Valley]; Basin Electric, CoBank, Moon Lake Electric, Wheatland Electric [Associate Members]

EDITORIAL: Denver Corporate Office, 5400 Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216; Phone: 303-455-4111 • Email: mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org • 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.

[viewpoint]

The Spirit of Giving Electric co-op support for community is evident especially during the holidays

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

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If you are a regular reader of this column, you probably have an understanding of what we do here at the Colorado Rural Electric Association. We are a trade association that promotes the interests of Colorado’s electric co-ops. We do that by working with the legislature, publishing this magazine, educating our directors and Kent Singer staff and providing safety and regulatory compliance training to hundreds of co-op employees all across the state.

We provide these services with a fairly small group of employees, 16 people to be exact. We can provide such a wide range of services with so few employees for a simple reason: we have extremely dedicated, highly motivated and hardworking employees. We all believe in our hearts that the electric co-op program is essential to the ongoing viability of many rural Colorado communities, and we are committed to our member co-ops’ success.

But ultimately, the success of the electric co-op program is determined by the commitment to community demonstrated by the staff members of Colorado’s individual electric co-ops.

This community support is on display year-round, but during the holidays the co-ops reach even further to be a positive force in the lives of their member-owners. Here are just a few examples: • San Isabel Electric Association in the south-central part of the state adopts several families each year to provide a package of clothing, food and toys that is delivered by Santa and his elves in the week before Christmas. (Appropriately, the SIEA Santa is also skilled at running a dispatch center!)

• Grand Valley Power out in the Grand Junction area allows Toys for Tots to use the co-op’s old office and warehouse facility as its Western Slope collection and distribution center, and it also collects toys at its headquarters building.

• Morgan County Rural Electric Association collects money from employees and members throughout the year for the Salvation Army’s giving tree. The co-op selects four to six families off the tree and donates groceries, gifts and electric bill offsets to these needy families.

• La Plata Electric Association down in southwestern Colorado works with the local chapter of the International Brother-

hood of Electrical Workers in a “Fill the Bucket” food drive for Archuleta County.

• Empire Electric Association in Cortez is a co-sponsor of “Stuff the Bus,” an event that takes place just prior to Thanksgiving to help local families in need over the holidays. An empty school bus is set up at a preannounced location, and the bus is then filled with donated food and gifts to be distributed to local nonprofit organizations.

• Holy Cross Energy contributed $55,000 to Energy Outreach Colorado to help those in need pay their electric bills.

• Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association team members contribute to the Weld and Larimer county food drives as well as the Larimer County toy drive. This is in addition to the coop’s support of several other community programs.

• White River Electric Association in Meeker participates in the community tree lighting and parade of lights at Christmas, and its employees adopt several worthy families through the community “Giving Tree” program.

• Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association funds the eastern Colorado mobile pantry program and also raises funds for the Food Bank of the Rockies. Tri-State also supports the United Way through voluntary payroll deductions and its employees have held a “coat drive” for the past two years.

Many of our co-ops have also adopted a “roundup” program that allows their member-owners to round up their bills to the next nearest dollar amount and the money is then spent in the community to help co-op member-owners. Other co-ops sponsor scholarships for students attending college, they support students who want to attend the Leadership Camp and Youth Tour, and they support local scout troops, FFA organizations, sports teams and more.

And these are just a few of the myriad ways all of Colorado’s electric co-ops support their communities beyond simply being the local power supplier. It’s no wonder that all of us at CREA are proud to work on behalf of Colorado’s electric co-ops.

Kent Singer, Executive Director

FOLLOW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KENT SINGER’S BLOG AT COLORADOREABLOG.WORDPRESS.COM. ColoradoCountryLife.coop 4 December 2013

[letters] Differing Opinions Your letter writer (September ’13) is out of touch with reality (regarding the willingness to pay more for electricity to finance renewable resources). There are many customers of co-ops who are on Social Security or fixed income. I’m glad she’s independently wealthy, but that does not mean the rest of us are.

Newt Burkhalter, Grand Junction

Big change will come to our children and especially our grandchildren when coal and natural gas become scarce and population and climate change continue to expand. The fact is, power in the future will cost a lot more. We support smaller, energy-efficient homes, increased solar applications and moving on to group solar gardens.

Don’t discourage this by raising the base rate on our electric bills, and thanks for the stimulating article.

Marilyn Nagler, Durango

Enjoy the Sheepdog Trials We thoroughly enjoyed being in Meeker for the Meeker sheepdog trials. The dogs and handlers are amazing, people are friendly and those ornery Meeker sheep are just extra special in their own right.

I’d enjoy your magazine doing yet another story on this competition.

Susan Smiley, Westcliffe Love the Co-op Connections Card We recently refinanced our home through Quicken Loans and got a $500 rebate after closing (because of the Co-op Connections Card). We’ve also used the card for a discount on equipment rental from Grand Rental.

Doris and John Noard, Trinidad

Batting 1,000 Thank you for the article on bats — so informative and well written. Shortly after I saw the article, I stumbled across a show about bats fighting white nose fungus.

We are losing many beneficial creatures, like honeybees. Please continue to publish more articles in this vein.

Deborah Wolbach, Peyton

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. You MUST include your name and full address. The full address will not be published. Letters may be edited for length.

HAVE AN OLD-FASHIONED CHRISTMAS Amy

Mona

Donna

& HAPPY NEW YEAR Life y r t n u o C orado l o C m o r F ColoradoCountryLife.coop December 2013 5

[calendar]

[December] Through January 4 Durango The Polar Express™ Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum 888-872-4607 • durangotrain. com Through January 1 Fort Collins Garden of Lights Gardens on Spring Creek 5-9 pm • 970-416-2486 Through January 1 Littleton Trail of Lights Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield 5:30-9:30 pm • botanic gardens.org December 10 Cortez Concert: “Countdown to Christmas” First United Methodist Church 7 pm • mancosvalleychorus. org December 10 Pueblo Cooking Class: Winter Soup Sangre de Cristo Arts Center 6-8 pm • 719-295-7200 December 11 Granby Founding of Granby Celebration US Bank Lobby 12-3:30 pm • 970-725-3939 December 12 Pagosa Springs Potluck Dinner Chimney Rock National Monument 5:30 pm • 877-444-6777 December 13 Grand Lake Free Family Holiday Movie Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre 7 pm • 970-627-3421 December 13-15 Longmont Rock & Mineral Show, Model Railroad Show Boulder County Fairgrounds 303-774-8468 ColoradoCountryLife.coop 6 December 2013

December 14 Bayfield Frosty’s Fabulous Holiday Craft Fair Old BMS Gym 9 am-3 pm • 970-903-4294

December 19-21 Pueblo Musical: “A Christmas Carol” Sangre de Cristo Arts Center Theater 719-295-7200 • sdc-arts.org

December 28 Telluride Concert: Oh Hellos Sheridan Opera House 7:30 pm • sheridanoperahouse. com

December 14 Wiggins Holiday Craft Show Wiggins Elementary Gym 10 am-3 pm • 970-380-1888

December 20-22 Evergreen Theater Performance: “A Christmas Carol” Center/Stage evergreenplayers.org

December 31 Denver White Rose Gala Hyatt Regency DTC 720-936-2999 • whiterosegala. com

December 21 Burlington Breakfast With Santa Burlington Community & Education Center 9-11 am • 719-346-8918

December 31 Grand Lake New Year’s Eve Celebration 407 Pitkin St 10 pm-12 am • 970-627-9644

December 14 Granby Book Signing: Around Granby Country Ace Hardware 10 am-2 pm • 970-887-3395 December 14-15 Beulah Holiday Cookie Extravaganza Mountain Park Environmental Center hikeandlearn.org December 14-15 Buena Vista Holiday Art Walk Main Street buenavistacolorado.org/ holiday-art-walk December 14-15 Georgetown Georgetown Christmas Market 6th Street historicgeorgetown.org/ Christmas_Market.html December 14-15 Grand Lake Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre Home for the Holidays Show 7:30/2 pm • 970-627-3421 December 14-January 5 Throughout the Americas Christmas Bird Count Various Locations birds.audubon.org/christmasbird-count December 18 Pueblo Musical: “Beauty and the Beast” Pueblo Memorial Hall 7:30 pm • 719-295-7200 December 19 Fort Collins Holiday Concert: The Hollands Old Town Library 7-8 pm • 970-221-6740

December 21 Sedalia Concert: Rachael Lampa Cherokee Ranch & Castle Great Hall 6:30-9:30 pm • 303-688-5555 December 23 Denver Performance: Top Hogs History Colorado Center 11:30 am and 1:30 pm 303-447-8679 December 23 Lake City Bake Sale and Craft Show Lake City Armory 10 am-4 pm • 970-944-3015 December 24 Monarch Santa Skis Monarch Mountain 10 am-12 pm • 719-530-5081 December 24 Winter Park Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade Base of Winter Park Resort 5:30 pm • winterparkresort. com Capture our extra layer of content on this page. See page 2 for instructions on how to enhance your reading experience.

[ January] January 2 Grand Junction Center for Independence “Color” Presented by Carol Viner 6 pm • mesafiberartsguild.org January 3-5 Copper Mountain Burton Mountain Festival Copper Mountain Resort coppercolorado.com January 4-9 Steamboat Springs MusicFest Steamboat Ski & Resort 970-879-6111 • steamboat.com January 5-11 Breckenridge Ullr Fest Town of Breckenridge 888-251-2417 • gobreck.com January 7 Denver Western Art Exhibit & Sale Red Carpet Reception National Western Complex Expo Hall 5:30-10 pm • coorswesternart. com

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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 December 2013 11

[newsclips] CREA Executive Director Kent Singer (left) introduces the panel of utility executives who talked about the future of the electric industry.

Joe Roy-Mayhew of Vorbeck Materials explains how graphene may change our energy future.

Innovative Solutions Highlighted at Co-op Summit

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Attendees at CREA’s Energy Innovations Summit Monday, October 28, got a peek into the future of energy via a variety of high-caliber speakers and diverse panels. Topics for the day-long conference included solar projects, geothermal options, the future of natural gas, possible breakthroughs in energy storage, clean technology, micro grids and more.

The event opened with an update on the energy industry from a panel that included Dr. Cheryl Martin, deputy director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy. She was joined by Mike Miller from the Electric Power Research Institute and Jim Spiers from Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association. The three explained projects their organizations are working on and talked about what is still needed to bring some of these new technologies to the marketplace.

The opening panel was followed by breakout sessions that highlighted electric co-op renewable programs in Colorado and expertise available from other Colorado specialists, such as the Colorado Geological Survey, the School of Mines, the National Renewable Energy Lab, Rocky Mountain Institute and others.

At lunch, attendees learned about graphene. Joe Roy-Mayhew of Vorbeck Materials talked about how this “wonder material” might change our energy future.

The afternoon brought more breakout sessions and a final panel that looked at what is ahead for the electric industry.

CREA’s annual Energy Innovations Summit is open to the public and shares a variety of energy information with attendees. Watch CREA’s website at crea.coop for information on the October 2014 summit.

ONLINE GAME TEACHES KIDS ELECTRIC FACTS

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Students in grades 3-5 have a new, online, fun way to learn about electricity in their classrooms.

The Power Up energy game is the result of a joint effort between Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, which supplies electricity to 18 of Colorado’s 22 electric co-ops, and the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. The game, located at myamericanfarm.org/games/power_up, is part of the Farm Bureau Foundation’s My American Farm website.

My American Farm was created to teach agricultural literacy to the public through interactive computer games and now features more than a dozen options.

Each game focuses on a different aspect

ColoradoCountryLife.coop 12 December 2013

of farming.

Power Up teaches users about the vital role electricity plays in supporting agriculture.

It also explains how different resources have to work together to create a constant source of power.

That is done as game players work to deliver full power to the energy grid in particular regions of the United States. When choices are made, the game responds with approvals or restrictions.

The game also comes with resources to help teachers use the resource in the

classroom and fun family activities.

Access the games directly or find the link at crea.coop. Click on News & Events and then on Other Interesting Links.

Mountain View Electric Director Elected to National Co-op Board

J ELECTRIC CO-OPS REACH OUT TO THE PHILIPPINES

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The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association has launched a fundraising campaign to help restore electric power in areas of the Philippines devastated by Typhoon Haiyan November 8.

At least 30 of the 119 electric co-op in the Philippines have been affected. These co-ops need poles, conductor, insulators, transformers and financial assistance to get back on their feet. The National Electrification Administration has mobilized more than 250 linemen from cooperatives throughout the archipelago to contribute to restoration and recovery.

NRECA International is collaborating with the NEA to determine short- and long-term goals for restoring power. But all of this needs money.

Visit nreca.coop/what-we-do/international-programs/country-projects/ philippines/philippine-typhoon-relief/ and click on the Donate button to give a tax-deductible donation.

Joseph Martin of Limon was elected to represent Colorado’s electric co-ops on the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Board Joe Martin of Directors during the Colorado state membership meeting in Denver October 29. He will take his seat during the NRECA Annual Meeting March 3-5 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Joe, who has served on the Mountain View Electric Association Board of Directors since 1988, replaces Edward “Ray” Garcia of Gardner. Garcia, who serves on the San Isabel Electric Association Board of Directors, has served on the NRECA board since 2000.

Co-ops Help Student Teams Match Wits

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Students won when Colorado’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives across the state sponsored the recent Matchwits tournament in Pueblo. This academic competition among 16 top schools was filmed in early November by Rocky Mountain PBS. The results will be aired on PBS Sundays at 6:30 p.m. beginning January 5 and running through the finale on April 13, when the winning team will be revealed.

The competition started earlier this year with 70 high schools throughout Colorado participating. Teams from Grand Junction, Windsor, Fruita, Colorado Springs, Estes Park, Manitou Springs, La Veta, Denver, Pueblo, La Junta, Del Norte and Delta all made the finals in Pueblo.

Matchwit contestants from Pikes Peak Christian (left) and La Junta battle for placement.

This is the first year this competition has been offered statewide and the first year it has been sponsored by Colorado’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives.

ColoradoCountryLife.coop December 2013 13

[industry]

EXTREME EFFICIENCY MAKEOVER Wrap your home in energy and financial savings

BY MAGEN HOWARD

Extreme home makeovers can update your living space, but an energy efficiency makeover will ensure your home performs at its peak. Everything from “low-hanging fruit” like swapping out lightbulbs to “bigger ticket” items, such as replacing appliances with newer, energy-saving models, is fair game.

Energy Hogs

Sealing up cracks and joists in your attic will help your insulation do its job.

But if an infrared scan reveals heat loss through the roof, additional or a different type of attic insulation might be necessary.

A tube of caulk and a roll of weather stripping can go a long way toward saving money on your electricity bill. Caulk around windows, dryer vents and fans, and weather strip around doors.

There are also some not-so-obvious places for air to flow in and out of your home, notably outlets and behind switch plates. To see if you have air flowing through your outlets or switch plates, light a stick of incense, hold it in front of outlets and switch plates and watch for the smoke to be disrupted. You can find special sealing kits for outlets and switch plates at home improvement stores.

And don’t forget about applying weather stripping around your attic hatch or pull-down stairs. You may also want to install an insulator box to place over the opening. A kit costs around $40.

Sealing up cracks and joists in your attic will help your insulation do its job. But if an infrared scan reveals heat loss through the roof, additional or a different type of attic insulation might be necessary.

Air leaks

An Energy Starqualified compact fluorescent lamp uses about 75 percent less energy than a traditional incandescent bulb, lasts up to 10 times longer and can save about $40 in energy costs over its lifetime. Light-emitting diodes can last even longer. Costs are still high but they keep dropping as the technology becomes less expensive to produce.

A word of warning when purchasing new types of bulbs:

Lighting

ColoradoCountryLife.coop 14 December 2013

Source: Boone Electric Cooperative

If you’re ready to take on a home efficiency makeover, the first step is to call your local electric cooperative about an energy audit.

Your electric co-op or a qualified, licensed contractor can conduct blower-door tests or even imaging tests with an infrared camera. Blower-door tests find out how much air your home loses every hour, while infrared cameras can more accurately pinpoint where your home loses air. Common culprits include windows, doors and roofs, but air loss can occur in small and innocuous places like recessed canister lights and outlets, too.

Next, evaluate your appliances, heating, ventilating and air-conditioning system; and landscaping for more opportunities.

You generally get what you pay for.

“Some manufacturers exaggerate claims of energy savings and life spans, and cheaper models probably won’t last as long as higher-quality bulbs,” says Brian Sloboda, senior program manager for the Cooperative Research Network. “If you look for the Energy Star label, that means the bulb exceeds minimum efficiency standards as tested by the federal government.”

He adds: “The best way to benefit is to purchase a more energy-efficient lightbulb the next time you need one.”

To learn about lighting options, visit energysavers.gov/ lighting.

cantly less efficient than newer models; Energy Star-certified washers use about 20 percent less energy and 35 percent less water than regular washers.

Energy Star.gov lists dozens of appliances and electronics that exceed efficiency standards; check there for more information.

Planting a tree or climbing vine not only adds a little flavor to your home’s landscape, it also can cool down your house when the sun beats down.

Trees in the right spot can decrease your home’s energy use by up to 25 percent, according the Department of Energy.

Plant deciduous trees — those that lose their leaves every year — to the south and west of your home, and you’ll gain shade in the summer and sunshine in the winter. According to DOE, a 6-foot, 8-inch deciduous tree will begin providing shade the first year. And it only gets cooler after that, reaching your roofline in five to 10 years.

If you want shade all the time or need to block wind, choose evergreens. But when you’re preparing to choose your greenery, keep in mind that trees should never be planted underneath a power line. Call your electric cooperative to find out how far from lines you should plant, and then check out ArborDay.org to learn about the types of trees that are best for your home’s landscape.

Landscaping

A programmable thermostat could help you save big bucks if it fits your lifestyle. This device will turn your temperature up or down automatically during times of the day you specify. But if you purchase one, it’s important to take the next step and program it — a step many people fail to take.

“A programmable thermostat is an excellent tool to improve your home’s energy efficiency, but you have to actually program it and then you have to leave it alone,” Sloboda explains. “Fiddling with the settings won’t help, but getting the settings to where you’re comfortable when you’re home and then forgetting about it will really help with energy savings.”

Programmable thermostats are best for people who regularly leave their homes (without pets inside) for at least eight hours at a time.

Programmable thermostats

Ductwork could be the most important piece Ductwork of equipment to seal.

If it’s exposed, you can seal it yourself with a paintbrush and mastic, which you can purchase at any home improvement store. If not, hire a professional HVAC contractor.

Leaky ductwork will make your HVAC system work a lot harder than it should have to, which drives up your electric bills and wears out HVAC equipment more quickly.

“Ductwork is one of the first places you should look if you’re trying to lower your energy costs,” Sloboda stresses.

“Sometimes, ducts aren’t even properly joined at all. That wastes a huge amount of energy. Sealing them up goes a long way to improving your home’s energy efficiency.”

Appliances more than 10 years old don’t work Appliances as efficiently as newer Energy Star-rated models. For example, Energy Star-qualified refrigerators are 15 percent more efficient than unqualified models and are 20 percent more efficient than models that simply meet the federal minimum standard for energy efficiency, according to EnergyStar.gov.

Clothes washers manufactured before 1998 are signifi-

Colorado’s conditions for planting trees are governed by fire mitigation practices.

Magan Howard writes on energy issues for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

View videos on how to make your home more energy efficient by scanning page 15 using the Layar app. See page 2 for details.

ColoradoCountryLife.coop December 2013 15

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BY HELEN WILLIAMS

The architectural wonder of the Christmas baking world is the gingerbread house.

Built, frosted and fully decorated, it is a festive, colorful, attentiongetting addition to any holiday table. Actually building one, however, can seem like an overwhelming task if you’ve never done your own gingerbread house before. It doesn’t have to be.

Gingerbread DELIGHT ColoradoCountryLife.coop 16 December 2013

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Cathy Addoms is willing to share her secrets. She is well known in Jackson County for her cooking abilities, and her gingerbread houses are beautiful and popular. Each November she demonstrates how to put them together at Walden’s Harvest Craft Festival.

Cathy has been using the same recipe for the gingerbread since she made her first one from her old Pillsbury cookbook.

“I made my first gingerbread house after we moved to Colorado in 1971,” she said. “Our kids were 8, 9 and 10 and I thought it would be fun for all of us. My mom was visiting then. I got all the stuff out, made the frosting and we started putting it together, and my mom suggested I go to my room and they would finish because I was getting pushy about how it was going to be done.”

Cathy may have left the kids to finish that first house, but by her conservative estimate, she has created about 2,000 gingerbread houses in the 42 years since then.

Cathy and her husband, Sam, moved from Denver to North Park in 2003. “I knew very little about Jackson County,” she said, “and had been here once or twice in 30 years. Sam wanted to put a teepee up; he likes teepees. We went on a road trip to find the perfect spot.

This was our first stop and, for me, the last one. I’ve come to think that the Park, and Connor Creek where we live, draws who it wants.

“After we looked at this lot, we went all around the state to the back mountains, all the way down to Durango, down to Taos and back to Denver. I never wavered. At Montrose, Sam said, ‘This is a really nice place.’ I said, ‘Hah, doesn’t even get a start.’ It turned out that teepees are not allowed in the covenants at Connor Creek, so we had a house built. I’ve never regretted moving to North Park, and I’m not leaving unless I don’t know I’ve left — if I got dementia or something. It’s like being home and it’s so strange, because I’d never really been here before.”

The North Park community welcomed Sam and Cathy wholeheartedly, and not just for Cathy’s excellent cooking and baking skills.

They are both community-minded and serve on various boards, while enjoying their retirement to the fullest.

They have two beautiful golden retrievers, Spirit and Jackson (named for Jackson County).

Sam and Cathy are originally from Wisconsin.

After Sam finished college, he went to work in a bank in Chicago. He was the Chicago banker, for Ken Monfort of Monfort Colorado’s Inc., a correspondent banker. Ken wanted a new person on his financial team at Monfort Packing. Sam said he wouldn’t be his accountant but would be vice president of finance, and eventually he became president and CEO. The Addams moved to Greeley and Sam stayed nine years at Monfort. After that, he became president of Frontier Airlines in 1992 and was due to retire October 1, 2001. After the September 11 attack on the Twin Towers in New York, he stayed another six months.

“I was 19 when Sam and I married. I knew from the time I was 17 that I wanted to marry him,” Cathy said, looking back. “I would say to myself, if I had to live the rest of my life without Sam, what would that be? And I thought,

unbearable. We are very different but we are very well-matched.

We’re just lucky.”

Her cookie cutter collection started the first Christmas after they were married. “We didn’t have enough cash for more than the stand and the Christmas tree,” Cathy said, “so I bought a few cookie cutters and we decorated the tree with cookies. That started the cookie cutter collection.

“We were kitty-corner from a hardware store in Hinsdale, the Chicago suburb where we lived in an apartment in a Victorian house.

I went over to the hardware store often. I didn’t know anyone and the people in stores have to talk to you. There’s hardly anything less expensive to collect than cookie cutters,” Cathy said. Today she has more than 1,000 cookie cutters in her collection.

“I have some from Hammer Song Company that are real collector’s items,” she noted.

“Then my mom gave me all her cookie cutters.

A friend in Arizona sent me two cookie cutters that had been a bakery’s cookie cutters, really old ones. I have one of the horse, Steamboat, from the Wyoming license plate. That’s a collectible because they don’t make them anymore, and they probably sold only a thousand. My oldest purchase was 52 years ago this Christmas.”

Cathy likes to decorate her gingerbread houses thoroughly with little Christmas trees at the corner of the house, gingerbread animals around the base, and lots of Christmas candy.

She uses some of her smaller cookie cutters and the leftover gingerbread to create some of the decorations. She frosts and decorates them before adding them to her house project. And she finds other candies and sprinkles to add.

“There’s no such thing, in my opinion, as overdoing it,” Cathy said. [continued on page 18] ColoradoCountryLife.coop December 2013 17

[continued from page 17]

Pillsbury Gingerbread House Dough 1 cup sugar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Do

1 cup solid shortening

not double this recipe but it may

(margarine or Crisco)

be cut in half. Combine all the

2 teaspoons salt

ingredients except the flour in a

2 teaspoons soda

large mixer bowl and blend for

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 minute.

l tablespoon ginger

Gradually add 5 cups of flour

2 teaspoons cinnamon

to the mixture. Makes a firm but

1 teaspoon allspice

sticky dough. Refrigerate dough

2/3 cup buttermilk

for at least 3 hours, but overnight is better.

1 cup molasses or honey 5 cups of flour

Roll dough on a floured surface to Âź-inch thickness. Cut patterns for the house using a small pizza cutter or pastry cutter.

Bake for 8-10 minutes. Larger pieces will take longer. Cool on racks.

Patterns for Cathy’s gingerbread house and the house on the cover are online at coloradocountrylife.coop.

This recipe makes 1 large house and extra cookies or 4 small houses and cookies.

Royal Icing 6 egg whites at room temperature 1 teaspoon cream of tartar 2 pounds of powdered sugar (7 1/2 cups) Place egg whites in large bowl of mixer and add cream of tartar. Whip to combine. When frothy add the sugar. Blend on low speed, then on high speed for 5-7 minutes or until a firm frosting forms. Store in glass or metal bowl, not plastic. Keep a damp towel over the bowl while using the frosting.

You may also use dried egg whites or meringue powder. Follow the directions on the box. [continued on page 19]

ColoradoCountryLife.coop 18 December 2013

[continued from page 18]

Cathy’s tips: • Use a pastry cloth to roll the dough. This dough is soft, so it’s easy for children to use. The directions say not to double the recipe. Make the dough one day and put it in the refrigerator overnight and cut it the next day. Don’t try to do it all in one day. When making cookies to eat, mix half flour and half sugar on the pastry cloth. If you open a new can of baking powder, reduce what the recipe calls for so they don’t rise too fast. Put the cookies in the refrigerator for an hour after you cut them out, so they hold their shape when they bake.

• Always make extra parts for the house, in case some break.

• Put similar sizes on the same sheet so they bake evenly and the smaller ones don’t overbake.

• The nice thing about the recipe is that it doesn’t have eggs in it. Ginger is a preservative like sugar, so the house will last for years. If little kids are helping, it doesn’t hurt them to eat the dough.

• Cathy uses meringue powder to make the frosting. Keep the frosting in a metal or glass bowl, then whip it again; it doesn’t have to be refrigerated.

One year she froze it and it worked OK. • It’s a good idea to have a wet cloth in hand.

• For a pastry bag, you can use a zip top bag (for children use a freezer bag, because they squeeze so hard); cut off a corner to push out the frosting.

• Use caramel where the walls join if you don’t want the line to show.

• You don’t have to be accurate, when putting cookies on the house landscaping. Just stick them wherever you want.

• Whenever you want to put something on, add a little more frosting to make it stick.

To assemble the house: • It only takes about 30 minutes to do the whole thing, once the gingerbread and frosting are prepared.

• First, frost your base — you can use a plate, a cutting board or Styrofoam (a piece of Styrofoam is best) to hold the house. Put the base on a piece of waxed paper so you can turn the house without touching it. Put frosting all over the base for snow in a thick enough layer to hold the sides of the house.

• Start with one house wall and frost the edges. Just set it down lightly — if you push too hard it will crumble.

• After the walls are up, put the roof on. Some people frost the roof and some people just decorate it. Don’t press too hard. Put a lot of frosting on both edges and press lightly.

• Then start adding the decorations.

Have on hand: • All kinds of colored sprinkles.

• Cathy likes little red hots; they’re not too heavy so they don’t fall off.

• Don’t use the silver dragées; they tarnish. The gold ones don’t tarnish.

• Little M&M’s are good.

• Christmas candy of various kinds — Cathy likes the old-fashioned pinwheels.

Helen Williams is a writer from Jackson County and a member of Mountain Parks Electric.

ColoradoCountryLife.coop December 2013 19

[recipes]

Christmas Cookies and Kids Conjure up holiday memories through the simple act of baking cookies

BY AMY HIGGINS || AHIGGINS@COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG Chill Before Shaping

Most types of cookie dough benefit from some time in the fridge before it is formed and baked. The cold temperature will help firm up the dough, making it easier to slice rolled dough; plus, cookies that require cutters will hold their final shape better.

Chilling also allows ingredients to fully meld, creating better flavor and texture.

Fresh Ingredients

Be sure your ingredients are fresh and of the finest quality. If your recipe says the ingredients must be at room temperature, then make sure they are at room temperature before proceeding.

H

Holidays have a way of generating magical memories. One of my favorite childhood memories was baking Christmas cookies with my mom. I recall the big red-and-white Better Homes and Gardens recipe book that collected oily blemishes from our greasy fingerprints that guided us along the way. But Mom always had her own technique to making dishes more delightful. “Butter is essential,” she said about her jam thumbprints cookies. Time somehow fast-forwarded and now I have a child of my own. And while I may not have my mother’s Christmas cookie recipes down to a science, I feel I’ve come up with a couple versions of her classic recipes that will spark special memories for my son. Give them a go and let me know what you think.

Pecan Sandies 1 cup salted butter, softened 2/3 cup vegetable oil 1/2 cup white sugar 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 cup powdered sugar 2 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 4 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon cream of tartar 2 cups chopped pecans parchment paper 1 cup powdered sugar In a large bowl, cream together the butter, vegetable oil, white sugar, brown sugar and powdered sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Stir in vanilla extract. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and cream of tartar; mix in with the creamed mixture. Mix in pecans. Chill in refrigerator for 20 to 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper. Spoon out chilled mixture and roll in to 1-inch balls. Bake for 10 minutes or until bottoms are slightly browned. Remove from cookie sheets and cool on wire racks. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

ColoradoCountryLife.coop 20 December 2013

Jam Thumbprints 1 cup butter, softened 2/3 cup white sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups all-purpose flour parchment paper 1/2 cup jam of choice (seedless) 1/2 cup powdered sugar 3/4 teaspoon almond extract 2 teaspoons milk Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, cream together butter and white sugar until smooth. Mix in vanilla extract. Mix in flour until dough comes together. Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Make a small hole in the center of each ball, using your thumb, and fill the hole with jam. Bake 14 to 18 minutes, or until lightly browned. Let cool 1 minute on the cookie sheet and then transfer to wire rack. Let cool completely.

In a medium bowl, mix together the powdered sugar, almond extract and milk until smooth.

Drizzle lightly over cookies.

For more holiday recipes, go to coloradocountry life.coop and click on Recipes.

ColoradoCountryLife.coop December 2013 21

[gardening]

Keep it Contained this Christmas

Unique and useful garden containers can carry holiday wishes

BY EVA ROSE MONTANE || ABUNDANTEARTHGARDENS.COM || GARDENING@COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG

D

Deciding on the perfect gift for your friends, colleagues and loved ones isn’t always an easy task, especially if you strive for originality and usefulness. And while I don’t have suggestions for your entire “nice” list, I do have an idea for green-thumb recipients: gardening containers.

Many fruits and vegetables thrive in containers, allowing gardeners to grow their own food in the smallest of spaces. Not only is container gardening convenient, it is also more accessible, often eliminating the need to bend over or kneel while doing garden work.

Today, windowsill and rooftop container gardens are popping up in every town and city. As the popularity of container gardens grows, more companies are offering new and creative products to help make growing your own food easier than ever.

The unique containers listed below help simplify the gardening process and can support a surprisingly large harvest in a tiny space.

Let it grow, let it grow, let it grow The UrBin Grower™ is a compact, self-watering organic growing system that’s perfect for any Colorado household. It can be used almost anywhere — a patio, porch, balcony, backyard, greenhouse or sunroom — to grow healthy produce, herbs or flowers.

The innovative design of the UrBin Grower™ allows for portability and a bountiful harvest. With careful planning, you can extend your growing season with three plantings, such as an early spring planting of peas, a summer collection of salad greens and a late fall harvest of kale or broccoli. Instructions include how to grow vegetables vertically, including squash, cucumbers, beans and peas, in addition to strawberries and ornamentals. For more information on the UrBin Grower™, visit naturesfootprint.com/ urbin-grower-hgg.

A new patio garden makes vegetable growing as easy as planting by the numbers. The GrowBox™ container garden fits neatly on any patio or deck and features a cutout planting guide that

shows “newbie” gardeners exactly where and what to plant. The GrowBox™ then automatically adds the right amount of water and fertilizer 24/7. Best yet, the entire system can be set up and The UrBin Grower kit provides a water reservoir, a soil separator and minerals for your plants. growing in about 15 minutes.

The heart of the GrowBox™ system is the patented Nutrient Patch™ cover that automatically adds fertilizer as the plants need it. Developed by commercial tomato farmers, the home gardener simply lays a Nutrient Patch™ on top of the soil and plants tomatoes, peppers, beans, salad greens or any other plants at the numbered slots. Inside the planter, a four-gallon water well adds water at the correct rate so there’s no guessing about maintenance.

With today’s skyrocketing food costs, even a small garden can save hundreds of dollars per year in grocery bills. The GrowBox™ planter was designed for busy homemakers, seniors, individuals with disabilities and people who just want a convenient home vegetable garden without all the work. The GrowBox™ planter can be purchased at agardenpatch.com or by calling 800-5191955.

Both of these innovations come surprisingly complete with nutrient rich soil mix, fertilizer or amendments and even aeration. This gardener learned early on as a Colorado resident that I was better off letting the community supported agriculture farmers grow my food and felt it was the closest I was going to get to homegrown. But these clever systems make me think again, just in time, about the perfect gift for the holidays.

The visible reservoir allows you to monitor the water as the planter’s soil wicks the moisture up to the plant roots.

ColoradoCountryLife.coop 22 December 2013

Find us on facebook.com/COCountryLife

ColoradoCountryLife.coop December 2013 23

[outdoors]

Visions of Sausages Dance in My Head A new toy brings anticipation of a tasty hunting season

BY DENNIS SMITH

I

Gift Givin g G 7U 7I 7D 7E

It’s a beautiful morning in late October as I write this, but I have Christmas on my mind. Most of the leaves in the high country have already fallen, but the maples, ash and cottonwood trees are still blazing with autumn color down here in the foothills, mid-day temps are hovering in the 60s, and Halloween is still 10 days off, yet here I sit thinking about Christmas. I know; weird, right?

I can explain: A few months back, the boys and I treated ourselves to an industrialstrength professional-grade meat grinder, a pile of stored up credit card club points, some secretly tucked away mad money and the crazy desire to make our own game sausages, salamis and snacks.

Processing our own game has always been something of a big deal for us; a ritual as critical to the total hunting experience as the hunt itself and another excuse to get our families together on fall or winter evenings. Assuming a successful hunt, we’ll set up a big white table covered with butcher paper, assemble the tools and packaging supplies, put on some tunes and get to work cutting and wrapping. We’ve become pretty efficient at cutting our own steaks, roasts and stew meats, but always relied on the services of a local professional game processor to convert the trim cuts into ground meats and a variety of gourmet-grade links and patties. The stuff is incredible. No wonder we got hooked on it. We also get hooked on the idea of making our own. Hence: the meat grinder. We decided it would be an early Christmas gift to each other.

The only thing missing was the venison. Oh, and a few other “incidentals” such as a meat mixer, holding tubs, packaging tools and dispensers. And some miscellaneous supplies: natural and synthetic sausage casings, meat storage bags and freezer papers. Not to mention special seasonings, brines, spices and – well, you get the idea. The Christmas gift got bigger.

We’ve already filled two of the nine big game tags in our family and have until January to fill the remaining seven. The prep table is set up and we’ve started processing the major cuts. The tenderloins, back straps and hindquarters have been converted to steaks and roasts and the sausage and burger tubs are filling quickly. Assuming our good luck holds — a foolish assumption, I know — it looks like the Christmas meat grinder could get quite a workout in the weeks ahead.

I’m almost consumed by the anticipation of smoked elk sausage, venison brats, jalapeno-cheese links, spaghetti with homemade Italian-venison sausage, venison chili, eggs with venison kielbasa or breakfast patties, German sausage links made with venison, venison salami, venison pepperoni sticks and summer sausage, venison burgers…

It occurred to me, though, that in purchasing the grinder, attachments and supplies, we’ve probably depleted our families’ Christmas gift budgets. So guess what everyone’s getting for Christmas this year? I’ll give you a hint: It’s hand made with love and comes from the great outdoors.

Miss an issue? Catch up at coloradocountrylife.coop. Click on Outdoors.

ColoradoCountryLife.coop 24 December 2013

[energy tips] making beautiful memories and sharing special gifts. Give your family the gift of a safe celebration.

Follow manufacturer’s instructions on cooking appliances and all decorative items that use electricity.

Outdoors, use only decorations and cords rated for outdoor use.

Never throw lights up into trees near power lines.

Give your family TLC. Teach what you know Learn what you need to Care enough to share it with those you love.

Visit SafeElectricity.org for help with making your home a safer place this season.

FILLING THE GAPS

Insulation is important for energy efficiency

BY JAMES DULLEY

W

Will adding more insulation make you feel warmer and cut utility bills?

The actual amount of utility bill savings for each home depends upon several factors: the current level of insulation, your climate, efficiency of your heating and cooling system and your utility rates.

Various types of insulation can be used to reduce conductive heat loss and/ or radiant heat loss — the kind of heat transfer that travels through materials like drywall, studs and bricks — such as standard fiberglass batts, blown-in fiberglass, cellulose, rock wool and foam.

Radiant heat transfer can be described as how you feel heat standing next to a raging fireplace even though the hot air is going up the chimney. Radiant barrier types of insulation, often an aluminum foil film, are effective for blocking this heat loss. Some standard insulation batts include a foil facing to reduce both types of heat loss.

There really isn’t one “best” insulation to use in all locations in your house. For example, some effective attic insulation will settle if it is used in vertical walls.

Even if there is just a slight amount of settling, the relatively small, uninsulated void in a wall will permit heat loss.

What is important when selecting insulation is its installed RFiberglass insulation is encapsuvalue, not just lated in a poly vapor barrier cover to make it easy to install and miniits thickness. mize itching while working with it.

Some types of insulation have twice the R-value per inches thickness as others. Also, blown-in insulation can be fluffed up when installed, which results in less true R-value.

Source: Owens Corning

The holidays can be a time for

For more information on insulation, visit colorado countrylife.coop. Click on Energy Tips.

ColoradoCountryLife.coop December 2013 25

[marketplace] Did you know that you could get a Colorado Country Life subscription

Thanks, my sister is in Arizona and

for $9 in-state and $15 out-of-state?

always wants the news from home.

Just call the nice people at CCL at

I’ll get her a subscription

303-455-4111.

Happy Holidays from all the folks at Colorado Rural Electric Association

ColoradoCountryLife.coop 26 December 2013

for Christmas.

[marketplace] Scan these pages to better connect with these advertisers.

See page 2 for instructions.

WiseSaver Properly installed shades are very effective for energy efficiency. Raise your shades during the day to warm your home and lower them as the sun goes down to maintain the warmth indoors.

ColoradoCountryLife.coop December 2013 27

[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

CARS/TRUCKS/BOATS

ANTIQUE RESTORATION STUDIO – Antique conservation. Quality craftsmanship since 1974. Bayfield, CO, www.antiqueresdurango.com 970-884-1937. (988-12-13)

50 SUBARUS! (1995-2014) Outbacks, Foresters, Imprezas, Tribecas & more! Great prices! Warranties available! Dealer: www.Monument Motors.com 719-481-9900 (57408-14)

CHAIR CANING, hand caning, machine caning, fiber rush caning. Pueblo West, 719-547-0723. chaanita@q.com (858-10-14)

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES (These opportunities have not been investigated by Colorado Country Life.) ***$$$*** BUILDING, maintenance, restoration professionals are needed. New start / add-on.

AztecCoLLC@socket.net 573-4899349 (856-12-13) GREAT FAMILY BUSINESS — 36-yr-old Grand Junction service business. Van, equipment, customer lists, training, $54,900. Call Tim, Caldwell Banker, 970-244-1229 (142-01-14) 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 (932-02-14) PIANO TUNING PAYS. Learn with American School home-study course. Tools included. Call for info.

800-497-9793. (158-01-14) REALISTIC HOME BUSINESSES – HOW TO SELECT, start, operate.

Over 80 businesses detailed from actual owners. www.patsbookshop. com (075-12-13)

CLOCK REPAIR & RESTORATION DURANGO AREA. CLOCKS of all kinds repaired. Antique and modern. Clocks bought and sold. Call Robert 970-247-7729, bob.scott@ usa.net (109-01-14)

ENERGY SAFELY, CONVENIENTLY, BURN wood fuel pellets in potbelly stoves, fireplaces, BBQ’s, and campfires. See www.pelletlogkits. com. (098-12-13)

FOR SALE FIREWOOD – Blocked 15-17” (not split). Average load $50. You pick up, West Loveland area. 720-3523580 (939-01-14) GRASSFED YAK AND BISON MEAT for sale. Delicious and nutritious.

Delivery available. Fourth, half, or whole. 720-256-3364 (029-03-14) HARLEY DAVIDSON, ’04 Softail FXSTI, well kept, low miles, fuel injected, HD 6spd transmission, V&H pipes, red pearl color, many extras, $9,495, pictures on request, Monument area, 719-337-8861 and agin55553@mypacks.net for details.

(117-12-13) OXYGEN CONCENTRATORS - $380 with warranty. Also sell portable concentrators and oxygen supplies.

Repair and service of equipment.

Aspen Concentrator Repair Service 719-471-9895 (040-12-13)

FOR SALE

MACHINERY & PARTS

RELIGION

SNOW BLAST ROTARY SNOW PLOW. Powered by two Cummins diesel engines. 1965 model, $6,500.

719-868-2513 (139-02-14)

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 www.sawmill exchange.com . (267-09-14)

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 (44106-14)

MUSIC ACOUSTIC GUITAR, BASS, ELECTRIC; dulcimer, violin, cello, harp, banjo; Repair, rebuilding, construction. Call 970-799-7959. (136-12-13)

NFR & PBR RODEO TICKETS – Las Vegas. All seating levels available.

Call 1-888-NFR-rodeo (1-888-6377633) or www.NFR-Rodeo.com. *BBB Member; Since 1990. (912-11-14)

QUILTS

VACATION RENTAL

AWARD WINNING LONG-ARM QUILTING Services - Karen Niemi, 303-470-9309, http://creative. stitching.home.comcast.net, creative.stitching@comcast.net (846-02-14)

HISTORIC WALDEN Rock House, 413 Lafever, Walden, CO. One day/ short stay. 970-723-4736 www. waldenrockhouse.com (138-02-14)

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, POB 99, Lenoir City, TN 37771. thebiblesaystruth@yahoo.com 888-211-1715. (814-12-13)

HEALTH I LOST 20 POUNDS and 25 points off my cholesterol in six months.

Send five dollars, cash, check, money order, for information. D. Brown, PO Box 1154, Grand Junction, CO 81502. (140-03-14) OPTIMIZE LIVING from the inside — out ! Nutrition. Beauty. Experts.

From local, small business owners — Jongema Enterprises 866-3921981, www.JongemaEnterprises.com.

(132-01-14)

HELP WANTED $500 WEEKLY ASSEMBLING PRODUCTS FROM HOME. For free information, send SASE: Home Assembly – CC, Box 450, New Britain, CT 06050-0450.

HOBBIES & CRAFTS BOOKS, CLASSES, CROCHETING, weaving, spinning, natural dye extracts, Jacquard and Gaywool dyes. www.tablerockllamas.com Colorado Springs, 866-495-7747 (791-01-14)

HOUSEHOLD HELPS LOOKING to replace AMWAY products? Lose your distributor?

I can ship to your home. No hassle, no salesman. Monika Cary 970-7242912 (982-01-14)

INSURANCE ARE YOU PAYING TOO MUCH? Insurance policy review: • Health • Life • Medicare • Complimentary Service . 970-385-4763 Would you like to keep more of your $$$?

ColoradoLifeInsurancewJCC.com.

(128-01-14)

REAL ESTATE COLORADO SPRINGS – 20 acres fenced, 3bd, 2ba, 2200sf, 30x30 metal barn, well water, 2.5 mi. from Hanover School. 17 mi. from Scheiver AFB. Ready to move in. Deb Henmann, 719-338-7092.

(141-12-13) CUCHARA, COLORADO CONDO. Southern front range 9000+ elevation. 2bd, 1ba, 2 decks. $65,000.

Great views, hiking, fishing, hunting. cbohaty@kc.rr.com for photos, details. (137-12-13) GRAND JUNCTION HORSE FARM, 3130 A 1/2 Rd, 3550+ sq. ft. home on 14 acres. Newly remodeled, new central air, new boiler, new water heater, new roof, half brick ranch w/new vinyl siding. 5 bedroom, 3 1/2 bath, living room, dining room, large kitchen, large family room.

New carpet/tile/wood floors.

Full horse barn w/indoor stalls & outside runs. All steel fencing, arenas, loafing sheds on large pastures. Additional fencing around home & in-ground heated pool. RV building (50x28’), two large ponds, etc. $625,000. Ginny 970-260-9629, Terry 970-261-3001, Gtraudt@ edbozarth.com 3% to 6% to any REALTOR w/buyer (946-12-13)

Happy Holidays from the folks at CREA ColoradoCountryLife.coop 28 December 2013

TICKETS

KAUAI VACATION RENTAL, 2bdr, full kitchen. Minutes from beaches. $600/wk. 808-245-6500; makana crest.com; kauaiweddings.com.

(756-05-14) KONA, HAWAII, Paradise Villa condo located on the 18th fairway of Kona Country Club with sweeping ocean views; 3bdr, 2ba specials.

(503) 369-2638; www.konacondo. info (116-05-14)

WANTED TO BUY AMERICAN FLYER MODEL TRAINS manufactured 1950s to present.

Interested in locomotives, freight/ passenger cars, etc. Monument area, 719-337-8861, agin55553@ mypacks.net (117-12-13) COIN-OPERATED VIDEO ARCADE GAMES and pinballs, pre-1980’s preferred. Condition not important. Call/text 970-231-1842 or e-mail dhanes@mesanetworks.net (142-12-13) NAVAJO RUGS, old and recent, native baskets, pottery. Tribal Rugs, Salida. 719-539-5363, b_inaz@ hotmail.com (817-12-13) OLD COLORADO LIVESTOCK brand books prior to 1975. Call Wes 303757-8553. (889-02-14) 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. (871-05-14)

[funny stories] WANTED TO BUY

I decided to scrap the rest of my to-do list and spend some time making cookies with my 4-year-old son, Sawyer.

Some of the cookies were in the shape of snowmen. Just as we were about to frost them, I could see the lightbulb go on over his head. He said, “Oh, that’s what that song is about: frosting the snowman!”

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. (519-11-14) OLD POCKET WATCHES – working or non-working and old repair material. Bob 719-859-4209 watchdoctor@ hotmail.com. (870-12-13) VINTAGE FISHING TACKLE. I buy rods, reels, lures, creels, etc. Gary, 970-222-2181. (960-02-14) WANT TO PURCHASE minerals and other oil/gas interests. Send details to: PO Box 13557, Denver, CO 80201.

(402-03-14) WE PAY CASH for minerals and oil/gas interests, producing and nonproducing. 800-733-8122 (099-02-14)

Win a $25 Gift Certificate

Don’t Be Left Out in the Cold You have spent a lot of time developing your product. Now advertise where it’s going to be seen.

Colorado Country Life has a circulation of more than 190,000 — they are interested in what you are doing. Call Kris at 303-902-7276 for information on advertising.

Karen Micheli, Pueblo

A man told his blond friend that Christmas falls on a Friday in 2015.

“Oh,” said the blond friend. “Let’s hope it’s not the 13th!”

Lila Taylor, Stratton

I’m a school crossing guard at a local elementary school and often chat with some of the youngsters while waiting to take them across the street. Two days before Christmas break I was chatting with a fifth-grader.

I told him, “You only have two days of school left this year and then you’ll come back next year.”

The young man looked confused.

“It will be a new year,” I explained.

He asked, “Will I still be in fifth grade?”

I bit my tongue and walked him across the street.

Steve Schlageter, Durango

Send us photos of you with Colorado Country Life We’re Looking … for photos of readers and their copy of

See page 2 for instructions on how to enhance your reading experience.

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 info@

Last Christmas, grandpa was feeling his age and found that shopping for Christmas gifts had become too difficult. So he decided to send checks to everyone instead. In each card he wrote, “Buy your own present!” and mailed them early.

He enjoyed the usual flurry of family festivities, and it was only after the holiday that he noticed that he had received very few cards in return. Puzzled over this, he went into his study intending to write a couple of his relatives and ask what had happened. As he cleared off his cluttered desk he got his answer. Under a stack of papers he was horrified to find the gift checks, which he had forgotten to enclose with the cards.

Anonymous We 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. The winner for

coloradocountrylife.org. We’ll post it on our Facebook page.

2013 is Laurie Schroder of Campo. Send your 2014 stories to Colorado

And on the last day of each month we’ll draw a winner from

Country Life, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 or email funnys-

the submissions and send that winner a $25 gift card.

tories@coloradocountrylife.org. Don’t forget to include your mailing address, so we can send you a check.

ColoradoCountryLife.coop December 2013 29

[discoveries] WIN THIS SNOWMAN!

ad o color Go to ntr ylife. u o on c Click coop.ntests.

Co

Bag a

I

Swag

for Someone Special

In Monument, artist Loretta Mertz uses wire and metal designs to complement her colorful stained glass. Products include swags, sun catchers and bouquets and come in a variety of themes, such as Christmas, Valentine and springtime — all of which make great gift ideas.

Swag-It Glassworks items start at as little as $17. Check out Mertz’s collection at swagit glassworks.com. You can also enter our December contest for a chance to win a Christmas swag of your own. Find out how at coloradocountrylife.coop.

Sip on Cider Fixins

T Spread on the Cheer

C

Colorado Cherry Company puts a juicy twist on butters, spreads and condiments that will make your mouth water. Using cherry, apple, peach, pumpkin and other tasty fruit flavors, this Colorado company’s products will liven up your next meal with tantalizing flavor. For example, mix in a little cherry butter with cream cheese and spread on your favorite bagel or drizzle some chokecherry syrup on your pancakes for a dose of oomph.

This holiday season create delicious holiday baskets with Colorado Cherry Company products. Prices start at $2.95. You can purchase products at one of its stores in Loveland or Lyons or visit coloradocherrycompany.com to order online.

ColoradoCountryLife.coop 30 December 2013

The Fixins Kitchen in Steamboat Springs is fragrant with the heavenly aroma of cider.

But the extra spice added to creations in this kitchen comes in the form of reindeer, moose and bears — using cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ground sugar and allspice in a citrus rind.

Heather Philmon and Sandi Nelson brought this cute concept from Texas to the Centennial State three and a half years ago and have had great success. A single mulling spice costs $6; an assortment of four costs $22. To get your hands on these tasty mulling spices, visit ciderfixins.com or call 970-879-6686 to inquire about stores that carry these spices in your area.

RAGAN TRUNKS

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In his Fort Collins-based workshop, Hamilton “Hank” Ragan builds quality trunks that are as beautiful as they are well-built. He constructs his trunks with sturdy oak or cherry wood and then adds cedar lining. Then come the finishing touches: custom draw bolts, face locks, leather and more. “I also build a very special one completely covered with hand-tooled leather,” he says. From start to finish, it takes Ragan about two weeks to build the perfect polished piece.

Call 970-568-3039 for more details and pricing information or visit ragancamelback trunks.com.

The PEAK of

CLEANLINESS

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Cotney Peak Body & Bath, based in Fort Collins, sells aromatic soaps and all sorts of other sensational products, such as lotions, mosquito repellent, exfoliants and even pet products. Soaps feature fantastic fragrances, such as almond cocoa butter, cinnamon apple, peppermint and patchouli rose. Starting at a reasonable price of $4, Cotney Peak Body & Bath products are ideal items for holiday gift baskets. For more information, call 970-493-0254 or visit cotneypeak.com.

The Blue Snow

BY MARVIN HASS

It started on a Thursday night two feet by break of day.

Another two came Friday; my wife would get her way.

We’re lying now how cold it was or how high the banks did get.

The records all have crumbled.

It’s a badge to show true grit.

“I hope it’s white for Christmas.”

Now there ain’t no doubt it was.

Had four feet on the level, almost froze up Santa Claus.

You can throw a fit or stoke the stove, wring your hands or bake a cake.

This winter of the Old Blue Snow – it could hang on mighty late.

We thought that it was easing off when the wind had a tale to tell.

The pines gave us another foot when their frosty treasure fell.

The preachers all are gathering to search the Good Book high and low.

There may not be another flood, but how ‘bout forty days of snow.

The snow was blue like glacier ice or Babe the ol’ blue ox.

A shovel full was frozen lead when you squared it up in blocks.

Well, I’m turning philosophical.

There’s a lesson we must learn: “You’ve got to shovel out the wood pile if you want some wood to burn.”

The first month there was humor; folks knew it soon would quit.

The mountain sun would have its way and make short work of it.

It’s time to stop our whining.

Let’s proclaim a holiday, build snowmen in the city park, join our kids in winter play.

But the skies grew angry every night; strange winds would howl and blow.

You’d shovel out a path to walk; by noon it was filled with snow.

Moms and dads and youngsters, grandfolks just like me, celebrating winter’s special gifts, making snow angels for all to see.

I met a friend along the road – asked, “You’re blue, do you need a lift?”

Said, “Let me be until the spring.

At least I won’t be shoveling drifts.”

Now I see some brand new snow flakes, each unique without a flaw.

We are blessed with such a wonder … but we sure could use a thaw.

Folks are getting kinda edgy when you meet ‘em passing by.

They’re wrapped up in twelve layers, keeping one eye on the sky.