Colorado Country Life August 2010

AUGUST 2010

GLIDING OVER AMAZING LANDSCAPES A Bird’s Eye View of Colorful Colorado

The official publication of the Colorado Rural Electric Association Volume 41, Number 08

Publisher/Editor Associate Editor

Mona Neeley, CCC

Editorial/Digital

Carissa Sheehan

Donna Norris

OFFICERS President Vice President

Chris Morgan, Gunnison

Secretary

Bill Midcap, Fort Morgan

Treasurer Executive Director

Don Kaufman, Sangre De Cristo

Bob Bledsoe, Tri-State

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Kent Singer, CREA

F E AT U R E

BOARD OF DIRECTORS John Porter Empire Grand Valley Highline Holy Cross K.C. LaPlata Mountain Parks Mountain View Poudre Valley San Isabel San Luis Valley Sangre De Cristo Southeast United Power White River Y-W Yampa Valley Associate Members

Sylvia Spangler Jim Lueck Michael Glass Dan Mills Tom Compton Stan Cazier B.D. Paddock Jack Schneider Joseph Costa, Reg Rudolph Mike Rierson, John Villyard Paul Erickson Mark Grasmick Jim Jaeger Bill Jordan Stuart Travis Sam Haslem Basin Electric Co-Bank Wheatland Electric

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Gliding Over Landscapes Get a bird’s eye view of colorful Colorado BY BOB

THOMPSON

COLUMNS

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Gardening Easy ways to add life and color to your flower beds BY EVE GILMORE

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Recipes Delicious dishes that use locally grown ingredients BY LINH TRUONG

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Outdoors Choosing the right bait brings in the “smallies” BY DENNIS SMITH

EDITORIAL Denver Corporate Office 5400 N. Washington Denver, CO 80216 Phone: 303-455-4111 Email: MNeeley@coloradocountrylife.org Website: coloradocountrylife.coop Facebook: Colorado Country Life Twitter: @COCountryLife ADVERTISING Kris Wendtland NCM

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Energy Tips Home security options don’t have to be expensive BY JAMES

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DULLEY

D E PA R T M E N T S

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Viewpoint Smart grid costs need to balance with benefits BY KENT SINGER

303-902-7276 800-626-1181

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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.

Co-op News Letters Calendar Funny Stories Discoveries

24 COVER: A GLIDER SOARS THROUGH THE SKY SOUTH OF LIZARD HEAD PASS NEAR TELLURIDE. PHOTO BY BOB THOMPSON.

How Smart Should We Make Our Smart Grid?

Balancing costs and benefits is the intelligent way to proceed

BY KENT L. SINGER, CREA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

any of you may have been hearing a lot of talk recently about the need for Colorado to have a “smart grid” to distribute electric power to end-use consumers. Sounds pretty straightforward, right? We must currently have a “dumb grid” and so it must be better to move toward a “smart grid,” right?

Before we can answer that, we need to define exactly what a smart grid is.

Is it the ability of electric utilities to integrate distributed generation into the grid? Is it intended to improve the reliability of service by immediately identifying the location and cause of an outage?

Is it a platform for two-way communication between you and your electric co-op?

Is it a system of data management that enables you to control your electric usage and ultimately your power bill? Is it the ability of your electric co-op to shut off your power in times of peak usage?

The answer is a resounding “maybe.”

There are many components to the notion of a smart grid, and there are many different philosophies about how or whether the development of a smart grid will be beneficial to electric co-op customers.

Some of the basic components of a smart grid have been employed by your electric co-op for years. Many co-ops and other utilities have agreements with their customers that allow the utilities to discontinue service to certain meters for a short period of time in exchange for a payment from the utility. These arrangements allow the utilities to reduce demand when the overall electric system is being taxed during peak usage periods.

These “load control” agreements are common and are part of the whole smart grid concept.

There are additional types of meters and equipment that are available these days that would enable your electric co-op to more directly access information

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about your electric usage. These meters would give your co-op the ability to more directly control that usage.

The electric co-ops are cautious about the installation of these devices for two reasons. First, the cost of purchasing and installing the new equipment will be paid by you, the co-op member-owners. Second, the amount of data that can be collected by these new meters is astounding, and co-ops want to make sure that your privacy is protected.

But co-ops aren’t the only ones involved. The development of a smart grid is on the minds of both Colorado regulators and legislators. During the past legislative session, the Colorado legislature passed SB 10-180, a bill that creates a Smart Grid Task Force. The task force is charged with developing policy recommendations that it must deliver to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission and the state legislature no later than January 20, 2011. The electric co-ops have a representative on this study panel, and we will make sure that the interests of rural electricity consumers are considered and protected.

On the regulatory side, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission has approved

a plan by Public Service Company of Colorado to install a smart grid pilot project in Boulder. There have been problems with the installation of that system, including a cost overrun of many millions of dollars. It is unclear at this point whether the potential benefits of that system will justify the expense of its installation.

In another recent case, the Maryland Public Service Commission rejected an application by Baltimore Gas and Electric Company to impose a surcharge on customers to pay for the installation of a smart grid system in BG&E’s service territory. The Maryland commission found that the proposal would result in increased costs to ratepayers “in exchange for savings that are largely indirect, highly contingent and a long way off.”

And that is the dilemma your electric co-op faces: when do the benefits justify the additional expense of even further development of a smart grid in Colorado?

It is likely that most of what you have read about the development of the smart grid paints a rosy picture. The stories are all about adding new technology that will give you additional flexibility in your energy usage and enable you to adjust your behavior and enjoy associated savings on your electric bill. This may be true, but like any new technology, the benefits must be evaluated in conjunction with the costs.

You can be assured that Colorado’s electric co-ops will be cautious in their approach to going further with a smart grid. They want to make sure that the benefits exceed the costs and that the privacy of co-op member-owners is protected.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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Historic trails Great story on the Pony Express and early trails for the pioneers crossing the West (June ’10). There is an effort to create another National Historic Trail for Zebulon Pike, the young officer dispatched from St. Louis, Missouri, to map the Arkansas River after the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.

Pike was the first American to explore and map the south central area of Colorado.

Volunteers are gathering support letters asking the U.S. government to recognize this historic mission by indicating auto routes along the Pike route as a National Historic Trail. You can write a letter of support to Stew Brown, 14080 County Road 261-H, Nathrop, CO 81236 or email them to stewspot@chaffee.net.

They will be added to our presentation to Congress.

Stew Brown, Nathrop

Look forward to magazine Each month we look forward to receiving Colorado Country Life in order to keep abreast of all that our elected official are doing to insure we continue to have the type of service we are now getting and at a cost that is still reasonable.

Not only is this magazine full of valuable information, but we also are treated to in depth reporting on Colorado happenings such as the great article on the Pony Express (June ’10). We also get a variety of other informative articles and recipes.

That’s why we need “our” magazine.

D.L. Nuss, Fort Morgan

Rodeo memories I got your rodeo book. It has a lot of good

pictures about rodeo and the people. I rodeoed out of Grover from 1947 to 1964 and knew a lot of people. I’ll enjoy this book. Thanks to all who put it together.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is taking steps to regulate greenhouse gases using a law never designed for that purpose.

Even the Clean Air Act author predicts the results will be …

Bob Keirne, Grover

Editor’s Note: Colorado’s Rodeo Roots to Modern-day Cowboys by Kathryn Ordway was published by Colorado Country Life. Order your copy for $25 at 5400 N. Washington, St., Denver, CO 80216.

Send your letter to the editor by mail or email it to mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org. You must include your name and address to be published. Letters may be edited.

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URGE your elected officials to co-sponsor legislation to prevent this from happening.

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Colorado Country Life 5

AUGUST CALENDAR August 9 in Lamar

August 14 in Leadville

August 20–22 in Durango

August 28 in Black Forest

2010 Sand and Sage Roundup

Leadville Trail 100-Mile Mountain Bike Race

World Fast Draw Championship Annual Celebrity Shoot Out and Fast Draw Balloon Elimination Championships

Celtic Ceilidh

Includes the Josh Abbott Band, 8 p.m.

Prowers County Fairgrounds Arena August 11 in Denver

2010 Summer Concert Series Marc Cohn with guest Kathy Mattea 7 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.)

Denver Botanic Gardens 888-440-9568 www.concerts.botanicgardens.org August 13 in Pueblo

50-mile out-and-back race 6th Street Gym 719-486-3502 www.leadvilletrail100.com

September 4 in Red Feather Lakes August 14 in Crested Butte

August 20–24 in Durango

Fire Day

“Farm to Table” Dinner

Railfest

A gourmet menu prepared from area ingredients Timberline Restaurant 970-349-6438

Celebrate narrow gauge railroading 970-385-8801 www.durangotrain.com

Craft fair, barbecue, silent auction, bake sale and book sale 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Eclectic Art Show Through September 24 Mineral Palace Park 719-543-2455 www.puebloartguild.com August 13–15 in Cortez

August 14 in Pagosa Springs

Pagosa Farmers Market Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through September Ponderosa Lumber & Hardware 2435 Eagle Drive 970-264-0430 www.sospagosa.org

September 8–12 in Meeker August 21 in La Veta

24th Annual Meeker Classic Sheepdog Trials

August 14 in Drake

Stonewall Century Ride

Craft Fair/Duck Race

Bicycle ride benefits local nonprofits Starts at 6:30 a.m. www.spcycling.org

970-878-5342 www.meekersheepdog.com

August 21–22 in Leadville

Buena Vista Artist Studio Tour

Leadville Trail 100-Mile Ultra Marathon

719-395-8372 www.avacgallery.com

Big Thompson Canyon Volunteer Fire Department fund-raiser 970-203-0348 www.btcvfd.org

Run to the Ruins Car Show 24 classes, awards, cash prizes 970-565-6259 http://runtotheruins.org

970-385-8801 www.durangotrain.com

11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Wonderland Ranch 719-495-4641 www.wonderlandranch.com

August 15 in Colorado Springs

Celebration of Culture and Diversity Festival Free family event America the Beautiful Park 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. www.cospdiversityforum.org

September 10–11 in Buena Vista

“Race Across the Sky” is a 50-mile out-and-back running race 6th Street Gym 719-486-3502 www.leadvilletrail100.com

September 4–5 in Leadville

24 Hours of Leadville Mountain bike race 719-486-3502 www.leadvilletrail100.com

August 27 in Buena Vista

Leadville Trail 10K

Arkansas Valley Art Center’s Open Awards Show

Bayfield Farmers Market

Out-and-back course using first, last 3.1 miles of Leadville Trail 100 6th Street Gym 719-486-3502 www.leadvilletrail100.com

Runs through September 7 Old Courthouse Museum (East Main Street) 719-395-8372 www.avacgallery.com

Saturdays 8:30 a.m. to noon through October 16 U.S. Highway 160 Roadside Park

August 18 in Durango

August 27–29 in Beulah

September 11 in Akron

Fall Concert Series

Weekend Yoga Retreat

National Radial Engine Exhibition

“Asleep at the Wheel” A mix of big band, country and dance music, 7:30 p.m.

Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College 970-247-7657 www.durangoconcerts.com

With Nancy Thousand; for all levels Horseshoe Lodge 719-485-4444 adminmpec@hikeandlearn.org

Air show, World War II reenactment, radio-controlled planes, model rockets, motorcycle show www.nationalradialengineexhibition.com

August 14 in Bayfield

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 @coloradocountry life.org.

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August 15 in Leadville

September 11 in Crested Butte

Fall Festival of Beers & Chili Cook-Off Beers, chili, live music and fun run Noon to 4 p.m.

970-349-6438 www.cbchamber.com

For more information on these activities, visit www.colorado countrylife.coop. Click on Events and discover what’s happening.

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Director’s Testimony Favors Bill to Help Electric Co-op Members Save Energy “

his is a good energy bill that we can all get behind; it is good for electric co-ops, good for coop members and good for the electric industry.”

That was the message from Colorado Rural Electric Association Executive Director Kent Singer as he Kent Singer testified before a U.S. Senate subcommittee chaired by Colorado’s Sen. Michael Bennet (D) Thursday, June 17, in Washington, D.C. Singer spoke in support of the Rural Energy Savings Program Act (RESPA) before the Senate Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy, Science and Technology, noting that this bipartisan bill is one that will save money for rural electric cooperative members.

“CREA supports the RESPA bill because we believe there are co-op members in Colorado who would benefit from energy efficiency improvements on their homes and who cannot afford to make the up-front investment in those improvements,” Singer said. “By providing low-interest loan funds, RESPA would benefit rural Colorado by making

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homes and businesses more comfortable and energy efficient, and it would also create much-needed jobs in rural communities.”

Sen. Bennet, an original cosponsor of RESPA, is supporting the bill because it promotes energy efficiency while creating jobs in rural communities. It will spur new investments in energy efficiency by providing rural electric cooperative customers access to lowinterest loans through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service, according to a news release from his office.

“For my first hearing, I wanted to highlight this important bill. This legislation would benefit rural Colorado by lowering electric costs for families and small businesses, create jobs here at home and help the environment,” Bennet said.

The program will help create jobs in the domestic manufacturing and construction industries, as energy efficiency products are almost exclusively manufactured in the United States and installation jobs cannot be exported. The program builds on the existing electric co-op infra-

structure that has strong community ties and a demonstrated 75-year history of financing of consumer loans paid back through surcharges on the monthly electric bill.

“This is a great program for our electric co-ops,” Singer noted later. “It is completely voluntary, with those co-ops that believe it will benefit their members able to decide whether or not to participate.

And it is a great program for their members because all approved upgrades will save enough energy to cover most of the cost of the loan provided through RESPA. Once the loan is repaid, members will continue to save on their energy bills.

That will amount to hundreds of dollars annually for many families.

“CREA is excited about the possibilities that this bill provides,” Singer said.

The Colorado Rural Electric Association is the statewide service organization representing Colorado’s electric cooperatives. CREA provides a variety of services for its members, including legislative representation, risk management, educational seminars, youth programs and a communications program that includes this magazine.

STUDENTS LEARN WHILE TOURING NATION’S CAPITAL or more than 40 years, electric cooperatives have sent high school students from across America to the nation’s capital to give them a firsthand glimpse of the democratic process and to help them gain the skills necessary to become tomorrow’s leaders. This summer, Colorado’s electric co-ops sponsored 22 young people on the annual weeklong Youth Tour.

There may be no better example of the cooperative principles — Education, Training and Information and Commitment to Community — than this Electric Cooperative Youth

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Tour. Participating students had an opportunity to meet their members of Congress, they toured the memorials throughout Washington, D.C., they met with other students from around the country and they listened to motivational speakers.

The 22 Colorado participants, mostly high school students heading into their senior year, were selected by their local electric co-op on the basis of applications, essays, community involvement and high school participation. The trip is coordinated each year by the Colorado Rural Electric Association.

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LED Lighting Innovation is on the Horizon he Edison bulb, take CFLs and other types still a cherished of lights in many applicalight source in tions. Light emitting diodes many homes, may finalare being hailed as the ly be entering its twinext great innovation in light years after well lighting, promising long over a century of domlife, great light quality and inating the lighting super efficiency. However, market. The drive for A 7-watt LED bulb shows promise. the ultimate promise of efficiency is pushing LED technology has yet to major changes in the world of lighting. be reflected in the current reality.

Compact fluorescent lighting boasts four The Arlington, Virginia-based Cooptimes the efficiency of the Edison bulb and erative Research Network partnered with has made a “splash” over the past few several electric cooperatives throughout years. But even though the quality, relia- the United States to test a variety of LED bility and versatility of CFLs continue to lamps as alternatives to conventional rise, consumer acceptance has been slow. lighting or CFLs. CRN and many electric Many peoples’ opinions were formed by co-ops are cautiously optimistic about early CFLs, renowned for poor light qual- LED technology because of the following ity and unreliable performance. consumer benefits: A new lighting product quickly mak• LEDs could last longer, perhaps for ing gains in the market may one day overdecades

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• The energy needed to use LEDs could be substantially less than that of CFLs or other fluorescents • With no mercury content, LEDs are more environmentally friendly • The products are rugged and more resistant to breakage • LEDs perform well in cold climates, especially in outdoor applications • LEDs can be dimmed and produce a more pleasing light As promising as the technology appears, the path to seeing store shelves stocked with reliable and affordable LEDs may be a long and rocky one. Obstacles such as limited light output and high initial prices are barriers to widespread LED use. In the current economy, consumers will not purchase LED lighting until manufacturers bring down costs significantly.

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INDUSTRY

Reaching Out and Powering Communities

BY JOHN BRUCE

ecuring funds for a hospital or giving money to a family who lost a home to flames may seem fitting efforts for a church or some nonprofit agency. But do you expect this from a power company? For hundreds of rural communities, the resounding answer is “Yes.” Electric cooperatives deliver much more than safe, reliable and affordable electricity. Cooperatives push past the traditional role of a utility and take on roles as active partners in local communities, rebuilding lives and spreading opportunities. Concern for Community — a core cooperative business principle — weaves a common thread among electric cooperatives and sets them apart from other types of power suppliers.

Case in point: Highline Electric Association in northeastern Colorado has supported construction of two major local infrastructure projects — the $18.5 million critical access Melissa Memorial Hospital located in the co-op’s headquarters town of Holyoke, along with the nearby Crook Firehall and Community Building. The co-op did so with $1.3 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Economic Develo p m e n t L o a n a n d G r a n t Pr o g r a m .

REDL&G uses cooperatives as “passthroughs” to make zero-interest loans and grants to rural businesses for expansion and job creation purposes. Since approval of the first REDL&G applications in 1989, more than $430 million has been provided to 1,400 projects nationwide, creating more than 42,000 jobs.

“We take our commitment to local communities very seriously and do what we can to ensure their continued growth and vitality,” explains Mark Farnsworth, Highline Electric general manager.

The Melissa Memorial Hospital, which put various specialty clinics under one roof, offers residents much greater convenience. The Crook Firehall and Community Building allowed the Crook Fire Protection District to combine its fire station with a much-in-demand recreation facility and meeting center.

Co-op community focus takes many dynamic forms, from economic develop-

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Registered nurse Naomi Newman stands in front of the nursery at Melissa Memorial Hospital in Holyoke, which was made possible through financing secured by Highline Electric Association, the local electric cooperative.

ment initiatives to giving students a chance to succeed.

Change — changing lives But electric co-ops don’t act alone. The generosity of members — those who receive electricity from the co-op — remains key. A growing number of co-op consumers contribute each month into various “helping hand” programs, including Operation Round Up®, where consumers agree to round up their monthly electric bills to the next whole dollar amount.

The extra pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters then flow into a fund managed by individual electric cooperatives that assists worthy community organizations as well as fellow members who fall on hard times. Some 250 local electric co-ops nationwide currently run Operation Round Up programs, which have raised more than $100 million since 1989.

Through Operation Round Up and other initiatives that follow a similar model, a monthly electric bill of $82.73 is rounded up to a flat $83, with the additional 27 cents going into the fund. On average, a co-op member donates roughly $6 each year. Cooperatives generally appoint a board of volunteer members or community advocates to allocate the money to groups or individuals in the co-op’s service area.

Sherrill C. Oram-Smith, chair of the

Operation Round Up board of Mountain View Electric Association based in Limon, has been amazed by the program’s ability to raise money for local programs.

“Our MVEA Round Up members have been able to make a difference for many individuals families and organizations right here in our Mountain View area,” Oram-Smith said. “We have given away over a million dollars by collecting just a few cents each month from the Round Up participants. The great success of this program is a tribute to the generosity of our members.”

“We are a not-for-profit organization and we exist for one reason and one reason only—to meet the needs of our members,” asserts Jim Herron, Mountain View Electric general manager. “Our Operation Round Up program meets the needs of our members in very real ways on a continual basis. We could not be more proud of the program’s success. The overwhelming success of this program speaks volumes about the generosity of the members living on our lines.”

Creative caring Empire Electric Association also responds to community needs creatively. The Cortez-based distribution co-op helps men and women — often single parents — gain the training and education necessary to find jobs and advance life skills.

“In today’s economy, many adults are WWW.COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.COOP

INDUSTRY looking for work or switching careers and require more education or training to move ahead,” comments Neal Stephens, general manager. “We are here to help.”

The cooperative awards up to six adult scholarships each year to members who are pursuing education after being out of school for a while. These scholarships are in addition to 25 traditional scholarships awarded to area high school seniors.

Both programs are funded through unclaimed capital credits — margins credited each year to cooperative members based on their electric use. Capital credits, also called equity capital or patronage capital, are used by the cooperative for a period of time, then returned to individual members.

However, sometimes members move without providing a forwarding address, leaving their capital credits behind.

Empire Electric scholarship grants offer a creative way to transform these funds into opportunities.

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“The scholarship program lets us return unpaid patronage capital to the community, helping members receive a better education—often during a time of great need,” Stephens relates.

Most of Colorado’s other 21 electric co-ops offer similar scholarship programs using their unclaimed capital credits.

Thousands of students across the state have been able to further their education through this assistance from the local electric cooperative.

Powering communities with services other than electricity provides one more way consumer-owned electric co-ops improve the quality of life in the communities they serve.

John Bruce is a freelance writer based in South Carolina. He writes for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Arlington, Virginia-based service arm of the nation’s 900-plus consumer-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperatives.

Are you a member of a knitting, weaving, crocheting or crafting community?

Advertise your business in the October Colorado Country Life.

We are featuring knitting and how it builds community.

Call Kris at 303-902-7276

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Colorado Country Life 15

STORY AND PHOTOS BY BOB THOMPSON

Welcome to Colorful Colorado — those words greet travelers as they drive in to the state of Colorado. It would be hard to find a more appropriate slogan for our beautiful state.

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nfortunately, people earthbound in cars miss a bounty of incredible color the state has to offer. The best way to see Colorado’s awesome scenery is to fly high above it in a smooth, quiet glider. From above, one can see more clearly Colorado’s vast color palette.

It is powerful air currents rising from the Earth’s surface that provide the means for glider pilots to silently soar above the landscape. These rapidly rising air masses, called thermals, are thought of only as turbulence by pilots of more typically powered aircraft, but they provide the lift needed to keep gliders aloft.

Getting aloft requires a tow from another powered aircraft, unless the glider is one of the few with a motor. Once up in the air, the glider can fly circular paths up the thermals in a smooth ascent to amazing heights. Gliders riding these thermals can climb to altitudes as high as 17,900 feet above sea level.

From that high up, there is a spectacular view of the land below and enough altitude to safely glide across large areas with no need for an engine. With no engine noise to distract those in the glider, they can fly effortlessly for hours savoring the striking scenery below, all viewed through a wraparound panoramic Plexiglas canopy.

Flights of 200 to 300 miles over Colorado and into New Mexico, Utah and Arizona are commonly flown by glider pilots

in southwestern Colorado. Worldwide, the distance record for gliders is now over 1,800 miles. That’s a lot of miles filled with bursts of color best viewed from above.

A particularly colorful section of Colorado is found in the San Juan Mountains, which occupy more than 12,000 square miles of the southwestern part of the state. Often referred to as the “Swiss Alps of America,” the San Juans have more than 100 peaks that rise higher than 13,000 feet above sea level. There are also a handful more, known by ardent hikers as Fourteeners, which top 14,000 feet above sea level.

A section of a southwestern Colorado highway, known as the San Juan Skyway, runs in a loop through an especially colorful area. It passes through some former mining towns that have adapted to tourism and recreation as the mines played out. Running from Durango to Silverton to Ouray to Ridgway to Telluride to Rico to Dolores to Cortez and back to Durango, this popular route is driven by more than a million people each year.

There are also a series of rough, rocky, four-wheel-drive roads, called the Alpine Loop, which traverse the backcountry of the San Juans that thousands of people chug across each year.

Earthbound drivers get a taste of the scenery but miss much of the incredible color within the skyway and the loop. From the air you get to see much of what they see and also so much more [continued on page 18] of what they miss.

Rust-colored Rolling Mountain, with gray Twin Sisters to its right, A glider climbs a thermal above Red Mountain 1 between Silverton stand out against the green forest and tundra. and Ouray in southwestern Colorado.

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[continued from page 17]

Red Mountain 1 and Corkscrew Pass

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PHOTO BY STEVE WALTERS

Virtually every kind of geological feature and rock type imaginable, along with a varied biology, provide the magnificent colors found in the San Juans. With their rich geologic history, including intense squeezing, violent volcanic eruptions, massive ore body emplacement, several periods of glaciation and eons of erosion, the San Juan Mountains provide a visual feast for pilots, along with great flying conditions for gliders. With the snow mostly melted, and the sun high in the sky, the best colors are seen when flying from mid-July through late August.

Many areas of the mountains contain mineralized deposits, some of which were oxidized by underground solutions before the mountains were eroded into their present shapes. The result is a plethora of colors including intense crimson, coral, chestnut, citrine, tangerine, saffron, champagne, burgundy and amber from the iron-containing minerals. Much of this color is what attracted prospectors to the area more than 100 years ago, giving it its rich mining history. Silver Mountain, Gold Hill, Vermillion Peak, Sunshine Peak, Red Mountain, Cinnamon Pass, Author Bob Thomson is towed aloft in his Ventus glider at Val Air Green Peak, Yellow Mountain and Graysill Mountain are all Gliderport north of Durango. appropriately named.

Lakes also add color to the view below. They run the gamut own their own sailplanes. Anyone daring enough to experience from the azure blue of Lake Hope, to the cornflower blue of the beauty and thrills that come with the sport of soaring glidColumbine Lake, to the steel blue of Clear Lake and the pea- ers can do so by dropping by a glider port or local airport to cock green of Island Lake, with the variety of color due to dif- take a ride. Or visit www.colorado.com/GliderSoaring.aspx for ferences in clarity, depth, glacial rock flour and mineralization. information on where to catch a ride on a glider.

In the summer, a wide variety of green hues are produced by From up above the clouds, you’ll gain a new perspective on a diverse plant life that includes ground-hugging alpine tundra colorful Colorado. Right now, you’re only seeing a portion of the vegetation and lush forests, standing tall. As fall arrives and pallet from the window of your earthbound vehicle. chlorophyll production ceases, aspens and oaks bring forth a rainbow of yellows, golds, oranges and reds over a few weeks. The Bob Thompson (soaring19@earthlink.net) is a retired college professor lush green alpine tundra turns a golden brown overnight after who splits his time between Arizona and Bayfield, Colorado. In January, he was the opening speaker at the 2010 Soaring Society of Amerithe first frost has set in.

Viewing this ever-changing kaleidoscope of colors from the ca’s national convention, sharing his best aerial photos of colorful silent serenity of a glider is not just reserved for the few who Colorado with pilots from around the world.

Each winner recieved 4 tickets to Elitch Gardens.

Thanks to all ot the artists who entered the contest.

We will post the first three winners in each category at www.coloradocountrylife.coop click on “Contest.”

Li Hong Sweet-Seip, age 6 San Isabel Electric

Miguel Sanchez, age 7, San Isabel Electric

Tate Hinger, age 10 La Plata Electric

Sydney Malarchick, age 14 Empire Electric Association

Colorado Women’s Task Force

WIN THIS BEAUTIFUL QUILT Drawing set for October 20, 2010

1 ticket = $2 3 tickets = $5 Proceeds will go to the electric co-ops’ Energy Camp; the Washington D.C. Youth Tour; and the Employee Burn Fund

Send checks for tickets to: Shelly Grantham % Morgan County REA PO Box 738 Fort Morgan, CO 80701 Send a self-addressed stamped envelope, and return address labels with phone number along with your check. (Make checks payable to CWTF Raffle.)

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AUGUST 2010

Colorado Country Life 19

HANDY THINGS TO HAVE WITH YOU WHEN YOU TRAVEL WITH KIDS • Frisbee: Great for some quick exercise at a rest stop. Also can be used for a handy tray for eating on.

• Plastic Boxes: One for each child, to hold their supplies — the lid makes a great desk. Fill with crayons, mechanical pencils, highlighters (great for word search games).

• Clean Water: Several bottles of water for drinking, a quick wash up, cleaning a scrape and so on.

• Lightweight Blanket: Child's blanket for cuddling with at nap time, blocking the sun or using as a pillow.

• Paper Towels: For quick clean ups.

• Compass: Fun for the kids if they want to help navigate.

• Map: Kids can learn how to read a map and get an idea of where they are going.

• Zip lock bags: Bring several different sizes. These come in very handy for collecting items (pinecones, rocks), storing food and wet clothes.

• Trash bags: For storing laundry, wet items or for keeping the car clean.

20 Colorado Country Life AUGUST 2010

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Spice Up Your Garden Easy ways to add life to your flower beds BY

EVE GILMORE

f you find yourself looking at your garden, reviewing its performance over the season and wistfully sensing it could be more, do more and perform better but don’t know how to do it, read on.

The following introduced into a garden can really spice things up and perk up its performance.

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Vertical accents So many of our beloved garden plants have a rounded, mounding form — often wider than they are tall. To add plants that are taller than they are wide, and often strikingly upright or narrow, can go a long way to adding interest in a garden setting. Ornamental grasses rule the roost in this arena. The well known feather reed grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora “Karl Foerster”) stands out for being tall, narrow and exclusively upright. My favorites are the natives: big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and the giant sacaton (Sporobolus wrightii), aptly named because it grows 8 to 10 feet tall.

Vines trained up trellises are another way to achieve verticality.

Significant pots Make an impact. Use large, striking containers that make a statement. One large pot does so much more than any number of small ones could ever do. Luckily, there are now planters and pots I can heartily recommend that will happily endure Colorado winters. They are all-weather resin pots that are made by a company called Crescent Garden (www.crescentgarden. com). They are single-walled and doublewalled, the latter providing the insulation needed for perennials to survive the winter.

Yard art As in any other venue, “art” in the garden is in the eye of the beholder. Garden art ranges from the contentious pink flamingos to artfully placed rocks. In between, there are reclaimed materials forming rustic sculptures, modern-looking shiny metal sculptures with moving parts, birdbaths, antlers, bamboo stakes, those shiny 22 Colorado Country Life AUGUST 2010

These three photos show good sized containers artfully placed in gardens, adding year round structure, interest and color among the foliage and flowers.

metallic balls the size of bowling balls and, alas, those terrible boards, cut and painted to look like the behind of a portly woman, bending at the waist, as if working in her garden. (The latter were shockingly common in the part of the Midwest where I was reared, and I honestly can’t say I miss them at all.) My point is to think in broad terms when planning to add art to your garden.

Bulbs In my humble opinion, bulbs are earth’s gift to gardeners. They are the easiest and, generally, most affordable, way to get

loads of color coming back in your garden year after year. For more information visit www.coloradocountrlife.coop, click on gardening and re-read April’s column, which is posted following this column online.

If budget is an issue — which, let’s face it, it is for most of us — I’d recommend choosing just one of these additions to add in multiples. If the idea of planters tickles your fancy, introduce three or more of them this fall. If bulbs do it for you, plant in masses, maybe a dozen per plant you choose to gain a notable effect.

With grasses, again, three at minimum will make a statement. One of almost anything (except a tree) won’t do much to transform a space. When the budget allows, choose the next element to introduce or add more of the first you chose.

Enjoy the results now, next spring and for years to come.

Eve Gilmore is a landscape designer and garden coach and owner of Gardens by Eve in Durango. You can reach Eve at www.gardens byeve.buzztown.com or by calling 970-7693319.

Read previous gardening columns at www.coloradocountrylife.coop.

Click on Gardening.

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Great Finds at the Farmers Market Try these delicious dishes that use locally grown ingredients

BY LINH TRUONG

his is the peak time for farmers markets when the majority of Colorado crops are in season. Visit any of the dozens around the state to find fresh beets, bell peppers, carrots, chili peppers, herbs, squash, sweet corn and much more. In addition to buying wonderfully fresh produce, you’ll be supporting nearby farmers and ranchers.

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Zucchini Fritters 1 pound zucchini (about 2 medium) 1 tablespoon fresh lemon zest 10 sprigs fresh parsley, finely chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 2 large eggs, lightly beaten 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons olive oil Fresh lemon wedges (optional) Grate zucchini in a medium bowl. Add lemon zest, parsley, garlic, salt, black pepper and eggs. Mix well to combine. Slowly add flour, stirring so no lumps form.

Heat olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat.

Carefully drop 2 tablespoons zucchini mixture into the pan.

Repeat, spacing fritters a few inches apart. Cook fritters until golden brown on both sides, about 2 to 3 minutes each side.

Continue until mixture is gone. Serve with fresh lemon wedges, if desired.

Spinach Salad with Ginger Dressing Fresh Salsa 1 cup fresh tomatoes, diced 1/2 cup corn kernels, fresh or frozen 1/2 cup onion, diced 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, finely chopped Salt to taste Combine all ingredients. Serve with fresh veggies or corn chips or on top of tacos.

Spinach 1 medium beet 1 medium turnip Dressing: 1 large carrot (peeled and roughly, chopped into small chunks) 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger 1/2 tablespoon soy sauce 1 tablespoon rice vinegar 2 tablespoons sesame oil Wash spinach thoroughly and trim off unnecessary stems. Place spinach in large salad bowl. Peel the beet and grate over the spinach.

Peel and thinly slice the turnip and add to the spinach. Set aside.

Dressing: Place all dressing ingredients into a food processor. Liquefy. Serve on the salad. The dressing is best if made at least an hour in advance. The longer it sits, the more flavorful it will be.

For more fresh vegetable recipes, visit our website at www.coloradocountrylife.coop and click on Recipes.

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AUGUST 2010

Colorado Country Life 23

Horsetooth “Smallies” Choosing the right lure makes all the difference BY DENNIS SMITH he United States Geological Survey’s water resource statistics for the last three decades show typical daily June flows for the Big Thompson River range from 89 to 251 cubic feet per second. In comparison, the Cache la Poudre, which drains a much larger watershed, generally carries anywhere from 560 to 910 cubic feet per second that time of year. But this year, late spring snows followed by a freakish heat wave and a week of unrelenting heavy rains triggered an unusually rapid and intense snowmelt that Mark Zehr knows how to catch a pan full of “smallies.” increased flows in both rivers to the heaviest recorded in 30 years. With the Big Thompson raging along at 1,500 cubic feet per second and the Poudre ripping through its namesake canyon at 4,500 cubic feet per second, you’d have to have been dumber than a box of hammers — or have a death wish — to even think about fly-fishing either of them.

Given the above conditions, I had no intention of flirting with a wild, white-water death ride through the canyon in my waders for the sake of a 13-inch brown trout. So even though I had only the vaguest idea how to go about it, I accepted an invitation from a friend to fish rubber worms for smallmouth bass on the tranquil shoals of Horsetooth Reservoir from the comforting safety of his tricked-out bass boat.

“I’ll show you how,” Mark Zehr said. “It’s a whole lot simpler than flingin’ them silly little flies around all day, and you’ll catch a lot more fish. You can even keep a couple for the frying pan if you like. Nothing beats a ‘smallie’ rolled in cornmeal and deep fried in peanut oil.” He was right on all counts.

Zehr is a tournament-class bass fisherman. He chases around the pro circuit in a Hemi-fired Dodge pickup towing a 20-foot fiberglass rocket sled powered by a massive Mercury outboard that generates more than 250 horsepower. It’s fast, and when it gets up on plane you have to squeeze your eyes shut to keep the wind from sucking them out of your sockets. I was beginning to wonder if wading the Thompson might have been a bit safer.

Zehr pours his own worms from a concoction of molten plastic powders, color dyes and table salt. He’s tailored a recipe specifically for the smallmouth bass in Horsetooth based on years of personal experience and trial and error. While that might seem a bit eccentric, it’s actually the fly fisherman’s equivalent of tying one’s own flies.

Using his cinnamon-and-olive-colored worm, we began catching fish immediately and continued to do so throughout the day. At odd times, I’d change to various commercially manufactured worms out of curiosity, only to find Zehr’s home-brewed formula far more reliable. I suppose that proves that whether fishing plastic worms for bass or casting flies on a mountain stream for trout, proper lure selection and adapting to changing conditions can be the difference between success and failure.

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Gallop Through Time Buy a book about the Wild West.

Now on sale for $25.

Colorado’s Rodeo Roots to Modern-Day Cowboys.

Call 303-455-4111 to order yours today.

24 Colorado Country Life AUGUST 2010

Read earlier columns at www.coloradocountrylife.coop. Click on Outdoors.

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HOME SECURITY Low-cost safety tips

BY JAMES DULLEY

any people feel more comfortable with brighter lights and better home security but don’t like higher electric bills. What are some good, inexpensive home-security options?

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While a well-lit yard provides a good deterrent against break-ins, outdoor lighting can be expensive to install and operate. At an average rate of 11 cents per kilowatthour, the electricity for two 150-watt floodlights on 10 hours per night costs about $120 annually. If you choose outdoor lighting, put in fixtures only where you feel security could be a problem.

In most cases, motion-sensing lighting and solar-powered units can help cut electric bills even further and they help keep light pollution to a minimum by only coming on when someone is out there. Also use directional lighting that keeps the security lights from spilling up into the night sky. Install lighting fixtures that focus the light down, into those corners where security is an issue.

Sometimes simple improvements are quite effective. Using good dead bolt locks on doors and keeping window locks tightly closed are two of the best — and most inexpensive — ways to keep would-be intruders out. With dead bolt locks, select a bump-resistant dead bolt.

Other security options include outdoor wireless video cameras. Prices on these are reasonable. In addition, affordable sensors can be mounted on windows and doors.

Although they aren’t monitored, a burglar might not know this when their loud alarm goes off. And if you don’t have a dog (one of the most time-proven protection systems), barking-dog devices sensitive to vibration can be hung on the inside of doorknobs.

Have questions? Send inquiries to: James Dulley, Colorado Country Life, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com.

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For more information on energy use visit www.coloradocountrylife.coop and click on Energy Tips.

AUGUST 2010

Colorado Country Life 25

MARKETPLACE

July Winners The winners received a package of “Summer Fun” stuff: Camping rack, flying pocket disc, Don’t Bite Me! bug repellent patches and Xtenex shoe laces.

Barbara Wanderlingh — member of Southeast Colorado Power Association Steve Miller — member of La Plata Electric

26 Colorado Country Life AUGUST 2010

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MARKETPLACE

Follow us on Facebook and win weekly prizes. www.facebook.com/COCountryLife

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AUGUST 2010

Colorado Country Life 27

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 $1.42 per word/month. Be sure to include your full name and address for our records. Check MUST accompany this order or call to pay with a credit card. Send your ad to: mail: Colorado Country Life 5400 N. Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216 phone: 303-902-7276 fax: 303-455-2807 email: classifieds@coloradocountrylife.org

ANTIQUES

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

CHAIR CANING, hand caning, machine caning, fiber rush caning. Pueblo West, 719-5470723. chaanita@aculink.net.

(858-10-10)

K-LAWN – LAWN FERTILIZING business opportunity. Part-time seasonal work. Be your own boss. NOT a franchise. It’s YOUR business! Training by turf professionals. Superior quality products. Protected territory.

Low startup costs. www. k-lawn.com. 800-445-9116 (914-11-10)

GRANDMA’S CLOCK QUIT? Expert repair of spring and weight driven clocks. Berthoud, 970-532-3022 Email: four burros@aol.com. (126-08-10)

ANTLERS ANTLER CHANDELIERS made only from REAL antlers. Wholesale, as much as 60% off store prices. Many other antler products and mounts, including giant 5’ moose mount!

970-627-3053. (105-02-11)

BOOKS DOES YOUR FAMILY LOVE COWBOYS? Buy a book about the Wild West. Now on sale for $25. Colorado’s Rodeo Roots to Modern-Day Cowboys. Call 303-455-4111 to order yours today.

LEARN HOW YOU CAN work at home mailing postcards in your spare time. Dept. 7507, www.easymoneyathome.com/5 00aday, 800-242-0363 Ext. 1405 (911-08-10) PIANO TUNING PAYS. Learn with American School homestudy course. Tools included.

Call for info. 800-497-9793.

(158-01-11) WHAT IF THE MONEY you spend on groceries could help improve your family health AND fatten your wallet? http: //tinyurl.com/minerals4life (913-10-10)

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

AVON sells — you earn money.

Generous profits. Flexible hours. $10 start up. ISR. 719550-0242. (133-08-10) BEGIN YOUR OWN BUSINESS! Mia Bella Candles/Gifts/Beauty. Try the best! www.natures best.scent-team.com. Free weekly drawing. Great income potential. (831-09-10) FOR SALE (Business Only) — Country Craft Store, leased 1800 sq. ft. in the ‘Heart of the Rockies.’ 7000’ elevation at the base of Colorado’s ‘fourteeners’ mountains. $80,000, OBO, 719-942-3836, 8a.m.7 p.m. (902-10-10)

CARS/TRUCKS/BOATS 1985 CADILLAC ELDORADO Barritz Conv., mint condition, collector’s dream, $15K, 970522-4600 (899-10-10)

FARM MACHINERY & PARTS 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. (267-08-10)

FINANCIAL SERVICES EARN BETWEEN 7% - 8% guaranteed in an income retirement account — Guaranteed Lifetime Income; Tax Deferred; No Risk. Call Town & Country Financial Services at 877-887-3131. (851-09-10) GREAT RATES on mobile/modular home insurance. Colorado licensed agent. Allen 719-6416713. (905-08-10)

FOR SALE

HOBBIES & CRAFTS

RX – SAVE 50-90% on monthly meds! Hundreds of brand name and generics from licensed pharmacy partners shipped to your door. 90/180 day supply. Prescriptions required. Advair – Symbicort – Zyprexa – Abilify – Risperdal – Lantus – Humalog – Plavix – Actos – Nexium – Lexapro – Crestor – Lipitor – Alphagan – Xalatan – Timolol – many more! Call 800-288-9526 for free info today. (886-12-10)

ARTS ON PARK AVENUE 970531-0139, 1117 Park Avenue, Grand Lake, CO, offers art classes: Kids 10am-12pm Wed., Thurs., Friday, Saturday, Sunday $10 per person. Adults welcome. (892-09-10)

STOKERMATIC SUPER Heater working condition $150 or BO, Vogelzang Mod# BXT6E box wood stove new $75 BO, triple wall stovepipe jack new $50 BO. Will trade for snowplow that fits 1/2 ton ’78 Chevy truck. Call Tom 970-884-9380 or email ktstephenson@q.com.

(883-08-10)

NEW GALLERY OPENING, Grand Lake, CO. Looking for new artists. Karen, 970-5310139 (892-09-10)

FOR SALE ANTIQUE 1930’s GREAT MAJESTIC wood cook stove condition fair $200 or BO, Silver Oak 215 parlor type stove $100 BO, King Stove and Range Co pot belly type stove $50 BO. Will trade for snowplow. Call Tom 970-884-9380 or email ktstephenson@q.com.

(883-08-10) HEAVY DUTY CATTLEPENS. Portable or Permanent; 32x45 working pen w/ 16’ crowding tub, $3,015. Call Kenneth 580-876-3699, www.cccattle equipment.com. (882-08-10)

TARPS – HEAVY DUTY. 16’x50’, hemmed. Expired billboard faces. $50 each or 12’x38’ $35 each. Add $25 for shipping or can pick up at Jones Sign, 1711 Scheuring Road, De Pere, WI 54115 or 800-5367446. (885-08-10)

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. thebiblesays truth@yahoo.com, 888-2111715. (814-12-10)

HELP WANTED $400 WEEKLY ASSEMBLING PRODUCTS FROM HOME. For free information, send SASE: Home Assembly – CC, PO Box 450, New Britain, CT 060500450.

1995-2009 — SUBARUS, Foresters, Outbacks, Imprezas, WRXs and Tribecas! Great Prices! One-Year Warranty!

Dealer: 719-510-2212 or 303-870-2212. (574-08-10)

HOBBIES & CRAFTS CLOCK REPAIR & RESTORATION DURANGO AREA. Clocks of all kinds repaired. Howard Miller service. Call Robert 970-2477729. (109-11-10)

DIET FOOD

Next month in Colorado Country Life magazine we are featuring unique educational opportiunities in Colorado.

DISCOUNT DIET FOOD. Highest quality, lowest prices. Our plan or yours. Diethighprotein.com.

(763-06-11)

Learning doesn’t stop once you’ve reached a certain age or academic achievement. Learning is a lifelong endeavor.

28 Colorado Country Life AUGUST 2010

ADULTS: PAINTING CLASSES, 1pm–5pm, water color, oil, acrylic $60 with supplies; $30 without. Beginners/intermediate, 970-531-0139, Grand Lake.

(892-09-10)

AWARD WINNING LONG-ARM QUILTING — reasonable rates, quick turnaround. Karen Niemi, 303-470-9309, http://creative. stitching.home.comcast.net.

(846-08-10)

SPINNING, WEAVING, KNITTING, crochet, felting, dyeing, books, patterns, classes. Table Rock Llamas Fiber Arts Studio, 6520 Shoup Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80908, 866-4957747. (791-11-10)

HOUSE HELPS ARE YOUR BASEMENT WALLS bowing and cracking? We can stabilize them without any outside digging. We use a Manta Ray anchor system. www.lastchanceservices.com.

(900-10-10)

IN-HOME CARE IN-HOME MEMORY CARE PROGRAM. Greater Colorado Springs Care agency provides warm companion care to comprehensive personal care, twice a week or 24 hours a day. Call us for a FREE in-home assessment. Call Jeff or Pennie at HomeWatch Caregivers, 719358-8659. (861-08-10)

LIVESTOCK FOR SALE OREO CATTLE. Black Belted Galloways. Loveland, CO. Registered and crossbred. 970667-5333. DonAten@mesanet works.net (694-09-10)

MISCELLANEOUS PUT YOUR OLD HOME MOVIES, slides or photos on DVD. 888609-9778 or www.transfer guy.com. (465-12-10)

Read the classifieds on www.coloradocountrylife.coop.

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MISCELLANEOUS

SPECIAL SERVICES

WANTED TO BUY

Jacob addresses the man behind the counter:

WORLD’S MOST EFFICIENT, fastest coating system for restoring commercial metal, rubber, flat ponding roofs. Hotels, factories, schools, offices, barns, trailers. Free details 573-489-9346. (856-08-10)

LAKE OR POND? Aeration is your 1st step toward improved water quality. Complete systems $199 to $369!! Waterfall? 11,000 GPH water pump only 3.6 amps! Only $429.99. wwwfishpondaerator.com, 608-254-2735. (879-08-10)

I WILL BUY YOUR German daggers, helmets and other military items.

Don Simmons, PO Box 4734, Springfield, MO 65808, 417-8815645. DSimmons@corpranet.net.

(470-12-10)

“Are you the owner?”

The pharmacist answers, “Yes.” Jacob: “We’re about to get married. Do you sell heart medication?”

Pharmacist: “Of course we do.”

Jacob: “How about medicine for circulation?”

Pharmacist: “All kinds.”

Jacob: “Medicine for rheumatism?”

Pharmacist: “Definitely.”

Jacob: “How about suppositories?”

Pharmacist: “You bet!”

Jacob: “Medicine for memory problems, arthritis and Alzheimer’s?”

Pharmacist: “Yes, a large variety. The works.”

Jacob: “What about vitamins, sleeping pills, Geritol, antidotes for Parkinson’s disease?”

Pharmacist: “Absolutely.”

Jacob: “Everything for heartburn and indigestion?”

Pharmacist: “We sure do.”

Jacob: “You sell wheelchairs and walkers and canes?”

Pharmacist: “All speeds and sizes.”

Jacob: “Adult diapers?”

Pharmacist: “Sure.”

Jacob: “Great. We’d like to use this store as our bridal registry.”

— Anonymous

REAL ESTATE 35-ACRE PARCELS, overlooking North Sterling Reservoir, ideal for custom home, exc. hunting, 970522-4600. (899-10-10) ANTERO RESERVOIR ONLY 20 minutes away! Small home, 37 acres.

Off the grid, 10 gpm well, solar, propane, 4 horse stalls + small barn. $135,000. 720-308-5961.

(830-08-10) LAND WANTED — large land buyer is seeking to purchase 500 to 50,000 acres in Colorado. Will consider bail out, bankruptcies, foreclosures and existing subdivisions.

Cash buyer, can close quickly. Call Joe at Red Creek Land Company 719-543-6663. (648-08-10) LOT FOR SALE $46,800. Gravel road frontage on 3+ miles of private fishing. Includes water and utilities. Between Taylor Reservoir and Tincup. Call 573-368-2711.

(909-08-10) MILLION DOLLAR VIEWS, Horse Property, 40.76 acres, no covenants, subdividable, west of CR270 and CR280 near Mt. Princeton Hot Springs, www.hereis home.com, $195,000. 303-9099701. (881-08-10)

TICKETS 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. (91211-10)

VACATIONS JOIN US! BRANSON TOUR November 1-8! Includes transportation, lodging, insurance, most meals and spectacular Branson shows!

Prices for singles, or double up and save! Visit corteztravel service.com for more information, call (970) 565-9295 or email info@corteztravelonline.com.

WE’RE SAVING A SEAT FOR YOU!!

(904-10-10)

VACATION RENTAL GREEN SNOW OASIS CABINS -Housekeeping log cabins with fishing, hiking, hunting. Near Telluride, 505-632-6828, 970-562-7669.

(908-10-10) KAUAI VACATION RENTAL, 2bdr, full kitchen. Minutes from beaches. $600/wk. 808-245-6500; makanacrest.com; kauai weddings.com. (756-05-11)

MOUNTAIN CABIN 3bdr 2ba between Taylor Park Reservoir and Tincup. Information 719-275-2431.

(898-09-10)

TELLURIDE VACATION RENTAL. On lift 7 and the San Miguel River. True ski in/out, mountain bike, hike, fly fish, festivals. Enjoy a great getaway. Very affordable, nice. Sleeps four. 970-946-9416. (887-08-10)

RELIGION

WANTED TO BUY

BECOME AN ORDAINED Minister by correspondence study. Founded in 1988. Free info. Ministers for Christ Outreach, PMB 207, 7549 W Cactus, #104, Peoria, AZ 85381. http://www.ordination.org. (44112-10)

ELK AND DEER ANTLERS in bulk quantity. Also bear traps. Phone toll free 877-400-1156.

Antlers1@powellantlershop.com.

(863-11-10)

LOOKING FOR A SUPER ADVERTISING SOLUTION? Call Kris at 303-902-7276 to place a classified ad

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NAVAJO RUGS, old and recent, native baskets, pottery. Tribal Rugs, Salida. 719-539-5363, b_inaz@ hotmail.com. (817-12-10) OLD COWBOY STUFF–hats, boots, spurs, chaps, Indian rugs, baskets.

ANYTHING OLD! Don’t throw it away until you call us! We’ll buy whole estates before you have yard sales. We’ll come to you! Call 970-759-3455 or 970-565-1256.

(871-11-10) OLD GAS AND OIL items: gas pumps, advertising signs, globes, etc. Pieces, parts, etc., considered.

Also 1930-40 Ford cars and trucks, parts and pieces too. Any condition. Brandon, 719-250-5721. (51911-10) OLD POCKET WATCHES – working or non-working and old repair material. Bob 719-859-4209 watchdoctor@hotmail.com. (87008-10) OLD TRACTORS that don’t run.

Jerry Browne, 2707 Weld Co. Rd. 19, Fort Lupton, CO 80621. 303659-7026. (220-04-11) WANT TO PURCHASE mineral and other oil/gas interests. Send details to: PO Box 13557, Denver, CO 80201. (402-08-10) WANTED: JEEP CJ OR WRANGLER. Reasonably priced. No rust buckets. 888-735-5337. (227-09-10) WE PAY CASH FOR minerals and oil/gas interests, producing and nonproducing. 800-733-8122.

(227-09-10)

WEDDINGS DO YOU WANT TO CREATE a magical, romantic, unforgettable wedding on the beach? The NEW Beach Wedding Planning Guide and Workbook shows you how.

Download now at www.Beach WeddingMagic.com. (12-10)

A few years ago we moved from a small town to an area where we could have chickens and a garden.

One day my 7-year-old son came to me and said, “Mom, I’m gonna kill that old rooster ’cause he keeps jumping on the hens and fighting them and I don’t like it.”

“Now, son,” I said, “he’s not hurting them. He’s only doing his job. Actually, he’s fertilizing the hens so the eggs they lay can be hatched and make baby chickens.”

Satisfied with this explanation, he ran out to play.

Two or three days later I heard him screaming, and I rushed outside to see what had happened. When I asked him what had happened and between sobs he blurted out, “I’ve just been fertilized.”

—Nellie Dixon, Colorado Springs

Recently our young granddaughter, Fiona, was visiting us from Las Vegas. As we were driving to see Garden of the Gods, she said, “I know this place. Isn’t this where Adam and Eve lived?”

—Diana McCarthy, Colorado Springs 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. Send your 2010 stories to Colorado Country Life, 5400 N. Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216 or email them to funnystories@coloradocountrylife.org.

AUGUST 2010

Colorado Country Life 29

Koshare Indian Museum 115 W. 18th St., La Junta 719-384-4411 www.kosharehistory.org

he Koshare Indian Museum in La Junta is a bit unusual compared to other museums. It was built in 1949 by a troop of Boy Scouts. The museum — a registered state historic site — houses a collection of Native American art and artifacts considered one of the best in the country. You can also find a selection of authentic Native American arts and crafts for purchase at the Koshare Trading Post.

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FRED HARMAN ART MUSEUM

Overland Trail Museum U.S. Highway 6 and I-76, Sterling 970-522-3895 www.sterlingcolo.com/?page_id=145

n the mood to unplug from the present and experience a little of the past? At the Overland Trail Museum in Sterling, your family can travel back in time and see what life was like for the early pioneers.

The museum, built in 1936, was named after the heavily traveled Overland Trail stage route that followed the South Platte River. Explore historic buildings, including a one-room schoolhouse, a church, a general store, a granary barn and a blacksmith shop.

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85 Harman Park Drive, Pagosa Springs 970-731-5785 www.harmanartmuseum.com

ans of Western American art will enjoy the Fred Harman Art Museum in Pagosa Springs.

Harman was one of the country’s foremost artists of the American West and the creator of the nationally syndicated comic strip “Red Ryder and Little Beaver” (1938 to 1964).

The museum displays original Fred Harman paintings, “Red Ryder and Little Beaver” comic strips and rodeo, movie and western memorabilia.

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Museum of Western Colorado: Dinosaur Journey 550 Jurassic Court, Fruita 970-858-7282 www.museumofwesternco.com/visit/ dinosaur-journey

o you have a “dino”-lover in the family?

Check out the Museum of Western Colorado’s Dinosaur Journey, which tells the story life in prehistoric Colorado with fossils, skeletons and robotic reconstructions of dinosaurs. The interactive museum, located in Fruita, includes a working laboratory where dinosaur bones are prepared, a collections room where scientists study dinosaurs, a simulated earthquake ride and a quarry where kids can uncover actual dinosaur bones.

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Win one of two packages of travel stuff that includes a water bottle, a deck of playing cards, Colorado Curiosities, a map of Colorado and a game for the kids. Find out how by visiting our website at www.coloradocountrylife.org and clicking on Contests. Deadline is August 16. We will also be giving away Pocket Discs on Facebook throughout August. You’ll find us at www.facebook.com/COCountryLife.

30 Colorado Country Life AUGUST 2010

WWW.COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.COOP

romote your handmade items — or the m at e r i a l s , t o o l s , a n d instructions to make handmade items in the October issue of Colorado Country Life.

Our cover story will be on knitting and the goodwill that Colorado knitters are generating around the world. But goodwill isn’t limited to yarn.

You’ll want to take advantage of this advertising opportunity to promote: • Classes, videos and manuals to tickle your inventive spirit • Supplies for helping people from 8 to 80 express their creativity

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• Websites and physical locations where handmade gifts are available.

Practical crafts can quickly become “must have” items when customized for schools, boutiques, nursing homes, country clubs, or athletic facilities Handmade items make great gifts for any occasion. Advertise in the October issue of Colorado Country Life. The deadline for display ads (which may include borders, art, and/or color) is September 1.

The deadline for classified ads (words only) is September 10.

ADVERTISE IN THE GIFT GUIDE Place your ad in our November or December Gift Guide pages and see why Colorado Country Life is called “one of the best-read little gems in the state” Every retail business in Colorado would benefit from Gift Guide exposure since our readers are some of the most devoted visitors to other parts of the state and they love to buy Colorado products.

Call Kris Wendtland at Colorado Country Life at 303-902-7276

or email advertising@coloradocountrylife.org Display ads are due October 1 (November issue), and November 1 (December issue) Classified ads are due October 11 (November issue) and November 10 (December issue).

Call Kris Wendtland at Colorado Country Life at 303-902-7276 or email advertising@coloradocountrylife.org