MAY 2010
CLIVE’S CARS Cussler Museum displays rare collection
Publisher/Editor Associate Editor
Mona Neeley, CCC 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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BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mike Sramek Delta-Montrose Empire Grand Valley Highline Holy Cross K.C. LaPlata Mountain Parks Mountain View Poudre Valley San Isabel San Luis Valley San Miguel Sangre De Cristo Southeast United Power White River Y-W Yampa Valley Associate Members
John Porter 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 Michael Saftler Paul Erickson Mark Grasmick Jim Jaeger Bill Jordan Stuart Travis Sam Haslem Basin Electric Co-Bank Wheatland Electric
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
1957 Chrysler 300 C
Kent Singer, CREA
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Classic Cussler Cars Museum houses incredible cars from adventure books BY JULIE SIMMONS COLUMNS
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Recipes Get the skinny on cooking savory asparagus dishes BY LINH TRUONG
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Gardening Repellent sprays may be only answer for hungry deer BY EVE GILMORE
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Outdoors Don’t let your fishing vest get the best of you BY DENNIS SMITH D E PA R T M E N T S
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Viewpoint EPA regulation of carbon dioxide promises “glorious mess” BY KENT SINGER
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303-902-7276
National Advertising Rep Groups: The Weiss Group 480-860-5394 NCM 800-626-1181 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.
PHOTOS BY RONNIE B. — COURTESY OF CUSSLER MUSEUM
The official publication of the Colorado Rural Electric Association Volume 41, Number 05
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Co-op News Letters Calendar Industry News Funny Stories Discoveries
17 COVER: A 1946 FORD COUPE FROM THE CUSSLER MUSEUM IN ARVADA. PHOTOGRAPHED BY RONNIE B. — COURTESY OF THE CUSSLER MUSEUM.
Congress Needs to Act EPA regulation of greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide promises to be a “glorious mess” BY KENT L. SINGER, CREA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
here has been a lot of talk recently about climate change: Is it occurring? If so, at what pace is it occurring? Is it caused by human activity, or is it primarily attributable to natural phenomena over which we have little control? If it is caused by human activities, are there viable solutions? If there are viable solutions, who will pay for them? I certainly don’t have the answers to these questions. What I do know, however, is that this is an issue that Congress should resolve and not the Environmental Protection Agency. This issue is relevant to you because allowing the EPA to use the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gases on a regional level will raise electric rates and affect reliability while not having much affect on CO2 in our global atmosphere. Your electric distribution co-op purchases its power from wholesale power suppliers and then distributes that power to you on lower voltage distribution lines. The majority of the electricity that you use comes from either Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association (a nonprofit co-op) or Public Service Company of Colorado (an investor-owned subsidiary of Xcel Energy). Tri-State and Xcel both operate a variety of power plants to generate electricity. Some power plants use conventional fuels, such as natural gas and coal, while others use renewable resources, such as wind and solar. The power plants that use natural gas or coal as a fuel to produce electric power also emit carbon dioxide. The effect of carbon dioxide emissions on the earth’s climate is at the center of an ongoing debate in Congress and across the country. While many scientists are convinced that recent trends in climate change are directly attributable to increased CO2 emissions, others are not as certain. Given the complexity of the matter, it is probably not a surprise that the U. S. Senate has not yet reached a consensus on the appropriate approach to the
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4 Colorado Country Life MAY 2010
Urge Congress to Act Send your U.S. Senators and Representatives a message that says: I urge you to support any legislation keeping the EPA from using the Clean Air Act to regulate carbon dioxide from power plants. The Act was never intended to regulate greenhouse gases. Even its author recognizes it as the wrong tool for the job, observing that its use would result in a “glorious mess” of regulation and litigation. You can send your message at www.ourenergy.coop. Some editions of this magazine offer you postcards that can be used to send your message. I encourage you send them.
regulation of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Work in the Senate continues, however, and by the time you read this it is possible that a bill sponsored by Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), will have been introduced to regulate the emission of carbon dioxide. Despite the likelihood of this bill being introduced and debated in Congress, the EPA is moving ahead with the adoption of regulations that would require utilities to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. The issue of carbon dioxide emissions should be addressed by your elected representatives in Congress and not by an administrative agency that is not directly accountable to the public. Congress has been debating this issue for several years, and the difficulty in coming to a consensus demonstrates that this is an extremely complicated and sensitive issue. Further, the EPA is proposing to act under authority that was granted by Congress under the Clean Air Act, a piece of legislation that was originally adopted by Congress in 1972. Of course, back in 1972 Congress was not concerned about carbon dioxide emissions, and the Clean Air Act makes no mention of carbon dioxide. The CAA was enacted to control pollutants that directly affect public health on a local and regional scale. It was not designed to address worldwide carbon
Kent Singer
dioxide emissions. It is simply not the appropriate tool to regulate greenhouse gases and if Congress believes such regulations should be implemented, it should pass legislation that gives the EPA clear guidance on the substance of those regulations. One of the principal authors of the CAA, Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), recently said that using the CAA to regulate greenhouse gases would result in a “glorious mess.” The Colorado Rural Electric Association and its member electric co-ops do not oppose the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions so long as the regulations result in achievable standards that do not impair the affordability and reliability of electric power for Colorado consumers. Congress should be guided by these principles in developing any regulatory program. The EPA should not venture out on its own without congressional direction. I urge you to contact your senators representatives in Congress and ask them to support legislation that would stop the EPA from moving further down this path of regulating greenhouse gases without direction from Congress.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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Tilting Trains The article on the Pueblo Transportation Technology Center, Inc., was quite good (March ’10) but contained one inaccuracy. The author indicates that the Acela was the first tilting train design, but the facts are that tilting trains go back some years before the start of the Acela service in 2000. Spanish tilting trains ran in the 1950s. The first tilting train in North America in commercial service was the TurboTrain that entered Canadian service in 1969 followed by Amtrak use along the East Coast in the early 1970s (or maybe as early as 1968). Lots of other tilting trains are in commercial service around the world. Bruce Golden, Westcliffe
Comments on CO2 What surprised me most in the article on our changing energy future (March ’10) is that the author seems to accept the premise that carbon dioxide is a pollutant that needs to be reduced. Every mammal on earth exhales CO2 and every growing piece of vegetation consumes CO2 as food and releases pure oxygen. I wonder, after learning that the major purveyors of this now failed theory have been “fudging” the data, silencing and discrediting critics and manipulating the peer review process, how anyone can still believe in “man caused global warming.” Joseph Cascarelli, Westcliffe
Great Boat Story The feature article for the January/February 2010 issue of WoodenBoat magazine is about the same rescue by Coast Guard boat CG36500 that you featured in February. It has many photos, including one of Andrew Fitzgerald and the rest of the crew. I hail originally from Massachusetts and spend summers ocean sailing on my own 36-footer. Thanks for sharing your great article. Carl Forsberg, Tabernash
Send your letter to the editor by mail or email. You must include your name and address to be published. Letters may be edited.
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MAY 2010
Colorado Country Life 9
MAY CALENDAR May 7-8 in Durango
May 15 in Grand Junction
May 22 in Denver
June 4-6 in Telluride
Twenty-Four Pounds of Bullets & Steel: A Cowgirl Opera
Walk From Obesity
Create a Pet-Friendly Yard
Balloon Rally
Durango Arts Center, 7 p.m. www.cowgirlopera.com
Pepsi Bottling Company, 11 a.m. 140 Power Road www.walkfromobesity.com
Botanic Gardens, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. 720-865-3500 www.botanicgardens.org
970-728-4769 www.tellurideballoonfestival.com
May 8 in Loveland
May 15 in Loveland
May 22 in Georgetown
First Friday ArtWalk
Student Film Festival
Bells of the Rockies
Railroad & Mining Days
Rialto Theater, 6 p.m. 970-962-2410 www.cityofloveland.org/rialto
Handbell ensemble concert Rialto Theater, 7 p.m. www.cityofloveland.org/rialto
Pack Burro Race Georgetown to Empire and back, 11 a.m. www.laughingvallyranch.com
Bring nonperishable food Old Colorado City 719-520-9494 www.shopoldcoloradocity.com
June 5 in Colorado Springs
May 13 in Fort Collins
May 15 in Pueblo West
New Horizons Band Spring Concert
Trash & Treasure Fundraiser
May 22-23 in Gateway
Wine Festival
St. John’s Lutheran Church, 7 p.m. 305 E. Elizabeth 970-226-0436
Pueblo West Women’s League 719-547-8461 pwwlinfo@gmail.com
Vintage Motorcycle Show
Memorial Park, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. www.coloradowine.com
May 13-16 in Cortez
May 15-29 near Fraser
May 26 in Colorado Springs
Kids Fishing Derby
Ute Mountain Mesa Verde Birding Festival
Quilt Show
Picnic-N-Planes
Cozens Ranch Museum 970-725-3939
Watch Air Force Thunderbirds fly over AFA graduation Western Museum of Mining & Industry, noon www.wmmi.org
Palmer Lake, 8 a.m.–noon 719-481-3282 www.trilakeschamber.com
June 5 in Manitou Springs
Gateway Canyons Resort www.westerncovintage.com
June 5 in Palmer Lake
Cortez Cultural Center 970-565-1151 www.cortezculturalcenter.org
May 16 in Durango
Taste of Durango May 14-15 in Erie
Town Fair Balloon Festival Launches from Vista Ridge Golf Club shunter40@msn.com
Food and beer tasting Downtown, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. http://tasteofdurango.com May 16 in Loveland
May 14-16 in Rye
Farm Day at 3 Alpaca Farms
Huckleberry Finn
Deer Valley Alpacas, Spittin’ G Alpacas, Prairie Moon Alpacas, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. 970-663-3122; 970-669-1664; 970-613-1077
Musical production by Greenhorn Valley Players, 3 performances 719-251-3396 cl@ghvalley.net
May 28-29 in Gunnison
Rage in the Sage Races for bikers, runners, rock climbers Hartman Rocks Multi-Use Recreation Area www.gunnisonglory.com www.western.edu-sageburner www.gunnisontrails.com
Swap Meet & Car Show Activities for entire family, 8 a.m.–2 p.m. 970-848-2704 director@WestYumaChamber.com June 5-6 in Howard
Chili Cook-Off Town festival at fire station 719-942-4213 or 719-942-3353 June 6 in Littleton
May 31 in Howard
Concert: The Fab 4 Hudson Gardens & Event Center 303-797-8565, ext. 321
May 14-15 in Silt
May 21-23in Salida
Pancake Breakfast
Chautauqua
Wade in the Water Artposium
Silt Historical Park opens season with demonstrations 970-876-5801
Speakers, workshops on water Steamplant Event Center 303-279-5198 www.coloradoartranch.org
Howard Fire Station on Highway 50, 7:30–11:30 a.m. 719-942-4213
May 15 near Fraser
June 5 in Yuma
For more information on these activities and for more activities, visit www.coloradocountrylife.coop. Click on Events and discover what’s happening.
Mother’s Day Tea Cozens Ranch Museum, 2 p.m. 970-725-3939
10 Colorado Country Life MAY 2010
Send calendar items two months in advance to Calendar, Colorado Country Life, 5400 N. Washington St., Denver CO 80216; fax to 303-455-2807; or email calendar@coloradocountrylife.org.
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INDUSTRY
Energy Star Improvements Promised More testing, better enforcement of requirements ensure products will save energy BY M E G A N M C KOY
ou’ve probably seen the headlines in the last few months: “The Problems with Energy Star,” “Energy Star Doesn’t Always Mean Green” and others. Problems were found in the government’s Energy Star program. The Government Accountability Office, a nonpartisan congressional watchdog agency that audits federal programs, completed a nine-month investigation of the Energy Star program in March. Energy Star, a voluntary, international standard for rating energy-efficient consumer products created by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992, covers more than 60 categories of appliances and electronic equipment. As part of its study, the GAO submitted fake products, such as a gasolinepowered alarm clock, to Energy Star and listed nonexistent companies for evaluation. In the end, GAO found Energy Star to be primarily a self-certification program “vulnerable to fraud and abuse.” Those in charge of the Energy Star program reacted quickly. “We take this report very seriously,” says the EPA. “We welcome all efforts, internal or external, to improve the (Energy Star) program. That’s why we have started an enhanced testing program and have already taken enforcement actions against companies that violated the rules.” An earlier 2009 EPA review found 98 percent of products tested met or exceeded Energy Star requirements. Devices
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carrying the Energy Star logo, such as computers and electronics, kitchen and household appliances, residential lighting and windows, deliver the same or better performance and use 20 percent to 30 percent less energy on average than comparable models. “Energy Star uses a series of checks to ensure consumers are getting products that cut energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions,” explains a joint statement from EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy, a partner with EPA on the Energy Star program. “One of the reasons the system has worked … is that manufacturers have a market incentive to test competitors’ products and report violations, which supports the program’s own independent testing, verification and enforcement initiatives.” The GAO review adds to other Ener-
gy Star concerns. The New York Times revealed last October that some manufacturers of household appliances were testing products for Energy Star certification internally instead of using independent laboratories. In response, Energy Star ramped up oversight of product ratings and by the end of 2009 revoked the Energy Star label for some refrigerators while raising the bar for efficiency expected from televisions. Starting this year, Energy Star is expanding third-party evaluations and implementing a two-step internal testing process to broaden the evaluation of Energy Star-qualified products. “Consumers can continue to trust Energy Star to save energy and money and protect the environment,” say DOE and EPA. Consumers have largely embraced the 18-year-old energy efficiency program. A survey by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency — a group including members like the quasi-governmental Tennessee Valley Authority and Bonneville Power Administration, a federal power marketing administration in the Northwest — discovered 76 percent of American households recognize the Energy Star brand. Of these consumers, 73 percent purchased an Energy Star-labeled product within the last year. Federal energy efficiency tax credits for appliances and home heating and air-conditioning systems typically require qualifying products to be Energy Star rated. It’s an important rating to look for. That bright yellow label provides good information to help you decide what to buy. So, check the label, do the research, think about your specific usage and needs and then buy what is most efficient for you. The Energy Star label can still help you make the decision. Megan McKoy writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Arlington, Virginiabased service arm of the nation’s 900-plus consumer-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperatives.
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MAY 2010
Colorado Country Life 11
1928 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8 AS with Lalique mascot
Classic Cussler Cars BY JULIE SIMMONS
Museum houses incredible cars from famous adventure books
1936 Avions Voisin C 28 Ambassade
Experience all that the Cussler Museum has to offer Mondays and Tuesdays only May through September 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The museum is located at 69th and Indiana in Arvada Admission is $7 for adults $5 for seniors $3 for children under 12 The museum is also available for rent throughout the year. For more information, visit www.cusslermuseum.com.
12 Colorado Country Life MAY 2010
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hat was the last bullet. Swinging the empty rifle over his shoulder, the hero grabs the girl and runs to the closest car he can find. But it’s not just any car. The two will get away free and clear … in style. The author wouldn’t have it any other way. Clive Cussler has been recognized for his achievements as a novelist all over the world, his books have been published in more than 40 languages in 100 countries. A household name to everyone who loves action and adventure novels, his story lines have blasted their way into Hollywood and readers’ hearts. The best-known of Cussler’s books feature his famous hero, the fearless Dirk Pitt. Pitt’s work with the National Underwater and Marine Agency, for all practical purposes a marine treasure-hunting organization, leads him into many adventures against villainous smugglers, terrorists and other unwholesome figures. The reader should never fear for Pitt’s safety, however. Using his trained skills as a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Pitt always finds a way to bring himself and his loved ones to safety despite the odds. Many people have heard of Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt, but most remain unaware of the life led by the man behind the books. The author doesn’t just write about cool getaway cars. He owns them, and he gives the public a chance to see them at the Cussler Museum in Arvada. Along with all the edge-of-your-seat action, each of the Dirk Pitt novels features a rare WWW.COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.COOP
car that exists in reality as a part of Cussler’s collection. For fans of Cussler’s books, a visit to the museum represents a chance to get closer to the characters of their favorite stories, most notably the famous Pitt. Keith Lowden has been the man in charge of the restoration of the museum’s cars for almost as long as Clive Cussler has been collecting. “People find out about the museum from his website and want to see the cars his heroes drive. It’s almost like seeing Dirk Pitt by getting to see the cars,” Lowden says. Cars were always an interest of Cussler’s, a former Colorado resident and long-time author. After returning from service in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, Cussler moved to Colorado to work in advertising while raising his family. When one of his first novels, Raise the Titanic, put him on the charts as a famous writer, he put the money to good use, beginning his dream of a car collection. A warehouse in Arvada, now the museum, was bought to hold his growing accumulation of unique vehicles. The
museum now displays 70 of Cussler’s more than 100 custom cars at a time and rotates them every year, giving patrons a reason to come back again and again. Cussler found his first acquisition while driving through the Colorado countryside. He tells the story on the museum’s website: “My wife, Barbara, said, ‘Look! There’s a 1946 Ford Club Coupe like I had in high school.’ The car was sitting in front of a farm with a For Sale sign on it. I paid $400 for it and drove it home, where my son and I restored it in the street. This was the first car of my collection. It still sits among the more exceptional additions that came through the years.” “Exceptional” is an understatement when describing the cars in the collection. Every vehicle represents hours of research, purchasing and restoration work on the part of Cussler and the crew at the museum. Though some cars were acquired by coincidental discovery on one of the author’s many trips, most have required extensive effort to search out. Over the years he has acquired cars from private owners and auc-
tions all over the world. “The restoration work happens in house here at the museum,” explains Lowden. “Most of the procedure is done in the complex. I’ve been working with Mr. Cussler 26 years and as he’s given us cars, we’ve done them to his standards, what he likes. He has pretty high standards.” Though the collection began 30 years ago, the museum was created to make the cars available for public viewing only five years ago. “We had a lot of requests from people wanting to see the collection,” Lowden says. “Before, only car clubs could schedule appointments to see the cars. We got to thinking about opening the collection to fans and so pursued the idea of the museum.” The first room of the large warehouse museum is the 50s room. Brightly colored convertibles and cruisers are lined up as if they’re still parked at a drive-in movie. A plaque on a stand in front of each car gives the model, make and year, along with information about the paint job, the custom work and the history of the car. Cussler collected the cars in this first [continued on page 14]
1948 Talbot-Lago Grand Sport coupe
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MAY 2010
Colorado Country Life 13
1921 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost Touring
1925 Minerva Town Car Landaulette
1936 Duesenberg Landaulet J-577
1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham
1946 Ford Coupe
1936 Lincoln V12 Town Car
[continued from page 13] room after discovering that many limited-make convertibles were made in the 1950s. Each of the cars is one of only a few of its kind still existing in workable condition. Lowden has restored the cars to their original shine and performance, giving the visitor a precious glimpse into the past of car design. The next room features the remainder of the cars shown at the museum, consisting of extremely rare models from the early 1900s. In addition to the intriguing glimpse the vehicles provide into the history of the automobile industry, many of the cars also hold interest as examples of innovations in engineering and as representations of a society now passing from the memory of all but a few. Cussler started with a long list of rare and limited-make cars and has ended with a museum of astounding significance to the world of car collecting. He has been invited to show a few cars at the most prestigious car shows in the world, such as his 1936 Duesenberg Limousine Landaulet J 577 at the Pebble Beach Concours. The Duesenberg was celebrated at the show as the most original model still in existence, meaning that very few of the original parts had been replaced during restoration. Another famous show car, the 1928 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8AS Boattail Speedster, is only one of two such models left in existence. Even those models uninvited to prestigious shows inspire fascination in collectors and noncollectors alike for various
reasons besides their rare nature. The 1957 Cadillac Eldorado, for instance, was the most technologically advanced car of its time. It cost $400 more than a Rolls Royce, a huge sum when one considers that an expensive car cost $7,000 straight from the factory. The cars’ connections to fame also add to their intrigue. The museum has on display a 1921 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, the model that the Queen of England requested be manufactured in all silver for her personal use. King Farouk of Egypt actually owned the 1951 Talbot Lago T.26 Grand Sport that sits on the museum floor. The 1925 Minerva Town Car Landaulette, or the “Rolls Royce of Belgium,” was also the model of choice for several European kings and queens. Even without celebrity to give them mystique, the cars have plenty to offer in and of themselves. The 1957 Chrysler 300C has an innovative design and a stunning look. It was the first car ever to perform at 300 horsepower and has been restored with the original, beautiful and extremely rare green metallic paint. The museum also has a 1906 Stanley Steamer, the steampowered vehicle that was the predecessor of the gasoline-run car. The steamer could perform at a maximum horsepower, a stunning technological innovation in the days of horse-drawn carriages. The atmosphere of the museum, beyond that of the cars, has the ability to transport visitors to another time. Old gasoline and other product signs add
color and nostalgia to the warehouse. At the end of the first row in the ’50s room, Elvis Presley stands next to a classic Harley Davidson motorcycle. Elvis is, of course, made of cardboard, but the rest of the place gives you the feeling that he might just come alive. Dirk Pitt cars include the car driven in the book Sahara, which was adapted as a movie a few years back. Though the actual car was much too valuable to risk being damaged during filming, the producers used a model of the car in the movie as the heroes escaped across the African desert. Other Dirk Pitt cars include those featured in the novels Atlantis Found, Black Wind, Inca Gold, Dragon, Trojan Odyssey, Valhalla Rising, Treasure of Khan and Cyclops. Even at age 78, Cussler continues to collect cars and influence the world of adventure novels. His most recent books have been written with coauthors to help new writers launch their own careers as novelists. The cars, like the novels, just keep on coming. Cussler, now an Arizona resident, has handed over management of the Dirk Pitt series to his son, Dirk. The museum has also stayed in the family, run by Cussler’s daughter Teri. However, Cussler still reigns as the grand master of adventure. And, with the help of the tangible excitement embodied in the cars that fill the Cussler Museum, his legacy is likely to last a long time into the future.
14 Colorado Country Life MAY 2010
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Extraordinary Spears of Taste Get the skinny on cooking savory asparagus dishes
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id you know asparagus is so popular that it has its own month (May), a national festival in Michigan and an Asparagus Queen? Such tributes to this cancer-fighting* vegetable are well-deserved, considering its health benefits and the ways it complements many meals. You can find these recipes and more at www.calasparagus.com/consumer/recipes.htm. *According to the National Cancer Institute, asparagus is the highest tested food containing glutathione, one of the body's most potent cancer fighters.
Baked Asparagus With Goat Cheese and Bread Crumbs 1-1/2 pounds jumbo or extra-large asparagus, trimmed 2-1/4 tablespoons butter, melted, divided salt 2 ounces fresh white goat cheese, crumbled into bits (about 1/2 cup) 1/2 cup fresh, white bread crumbs Coat asparagus spears with 1-1/2 tablespoons melted butter, then salt lightly. Arrange in an oven-to-table shallow baking dish large enough to hold the asparagus in one layer. Evenly distribute cheese bits over asparagus, sprinkle with bread crumbs. Drizzle remaining 1 tablespoon melted butter over bread crumbs. Bake at 400 degrees F. until asparagus is tender-crisp and the bread crumbs are lightly browned, about 10 minutes.
For more extraordinary asparagus recipes, visit our website at www.coloradocountrylife.coop and click on Recipes.
BY LINH TRUONG
Asparagus Frittata With Red Bell Peppers 1 pound asparagus, trimmed and blanched salt, as needed 1 red bell pepper, julienned 1/2 cup onion, chopped 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons Italian parsley, chopped 1/4 teaspoon salt 1-4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper 8 eggs, beaten 4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (about 1 cup) 1-1/2 tablespoon butter, softened lemon wedges and sprigs of Italian parsley for garnish Reserve 6 asparagus spears. Cut remaining asparagus at an angle into 1-inch pieces and reserve. Sauté bell pepper in 2 tablespoons olive oil until soft, but not browned, about 7 minutes. Stir in onion and reserved asparagus pieces; sauté for 1 minute. With a slotted spoon remove vegetables to drain on paper toweling and reserve. Whisk chopped parsley, salt and pepper into beaten eggs. Stir in cheese and reserved sautéd vegetables. Coat the inside of a heavy, nonstick 12-inch frying pan (with a cover) with softened butter. Pour egg mixture into pan. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven, covered, until eggs are just firm, about 35 minutes. Remove cover; bake until top is lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Loosen the frittata, then cover the pan with a large, warmed serving platter. Flip frying pan over onto platter. Cut frittata into six wedges; garnish each with one reserved asparagus spear. Divide wedges among six serving plates, then put a lemon wedge and a sprig of parsley on each plate. Serves 6.
Become a fan of Colorado Country Life on Facebook. New fans will be entered in a drawing for a Clive Cussler book.
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MAY 2010
Colorado Country Life 15
Oh Deer! Where Did My Garden Go? Repellent sprays may be only alternative at some points in time BY
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’ll never forget last spring when some clients called me to tell me the deer, infamously rampant in their neighborhood, had totally devoured the new plants we had planted the season before. Knowing the reputation of these gangs of voracious deer, I had been careful to select only plants known for their resistance to deer. I had also made sure to spell out the difference between “deer resistant” plants and “deer proof ” plants to my clients, as I always do. Deer resistant plants are plants that are not generally fancied by deer and found to be completely undesirable to some populations. However, deer are known for being rather adventurous eaters, tasting just about anything green if they are hungry enough, which is why no plant should ever be deemed deer proof. These folks detailed how the deer had munched down the crocus and even the lilacs. I felt terrible for them and felt helpless as their hired professional. But ultimately, the experience led me to reflect on the realities of living in the country or mountains. No matter how deer resistant the plants are that you choose to plant, it is helpful to keep in mind the lifestyle of the plants at the nursery. A nursery’s main endeavor is to sell plants. In order to do that, it is important it has great-looking plants. It generally accomplishes this by using frequent applications of fertilizer combined
with awesome soil. Now consider how different the plants’ new digs will be. In most cases in Colorado, the soil will not be awesome, even if it is ideal for that particular (maybe native) plant. And generally, adapted, native or xeric plants do not require much in the way of fertilizer. Plants living happily in this type of environment tend to be less desirable to deer. When they are watered less and largely left to their own devices, they become rather tough and not so tasty. However, coming straight from the nursery into this more native environment, they may as well be wearing a sign in “deer” that says, “Eat me.” It will take a while — sometimes a couple of years — for all the nursery-supplied nutrients to move through a plant’s system. Until then they are tender, juicy and irresistible to our wild animal friends. What to do, you ask, since you strategically planned this extensive deer resistant landscape as to avoid the unattractive 7-foot-high fence? I know it’s laborious, and often unpleasant, but I recommend investing in your investment, sucking it up and applying one of the many deer repellent sprays on the market. I find them to be significantly more effective when used properly than all the folk methods I’ve heard of and tried. And make an effort not to replicate the nursery conditions at your home. This means choosing native, xeric and adapted
EVE GILMORE
plants that don’t require regular applications of fertilizer, richly amended soils or high doses of water. When living with nature, as most of us rural Coloradans do to one degree or another, I’d also urge you to decrease your stress by adjusting your expectations. Know that, especially at this time of year, the deer are hungry. They were here first; and they may well choose to sample the smorgasbord you’ve planted in your yard. As long as they don’t uproot the plant, give it time; chances are good that it will come back stronger and more beautiful. That is what my clients discovered. A couple of months after that first phone call, I crossed paths with them. They had not held me responsible for the deer’s behavior and to my relief, they said that their plants had fully recovered and looked healthier than ever. They had heard that grazing by deer can make the plant denser with more flowers and they now believed it to be true. Hallelujah. I was off the hook. 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 970-769-3319.
Read previous gardening columns at www.coloradocountrylife.coop. Click on gardening.
April Contest Winners: Mary O’Leary, Moutain View Electric; Donna Anderson, LaPlata Electric and Stacy Laputz, Pourdre Valley Rural Electric. Congratulations.
16 Colorado Country Life MAY 2010
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Don’t Let Your Vest Get the Best of You Filling all those pockets can lead to uncomfortable hikes to your favorite stream BY DENNIS SMITH f any accessory in the modern fly fisherman’s inventory is the subject of more marketing hype than the angler’s vest, I don’t know what it is. They’re rigged with enough D-rings, snaps, straps, zingers, pockets and secret compartments to send fly-fishing gadget lovers into fits of euphoria. But if you fly fish small, backcountry streams often enough, you’ll find yourself wondering if the trusty old fishing vest is a blessing or a curse. At some point — usually after you’ve accumulated enough gear to fill all of the pockets and compartments — you’ll notice the doggone thing’s about as comfortable to wear as a 30-pound sack of potatoes. One day, about two-thirds of the way up the trail to old Bust-a-Gut Lake, you’ll wonder: What is in this pack? Then
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you’ll remember you’re not even wearing a pack. It’s your vest. The “go light” malady eventually strikes everyone who fishes the long rod, but small stream anglers in particular (and a lot of us old guys) are more likely to consider the minimalist approach. Let’s assume for the moment, though, that you consider carrying a small day pack on your backcountry fishing expeditions. That would be smart. After all, you could fall and break a leg or some such and it’s best to be prepared. There’s weather to consider, too — particularly in the Rockies where you could encounter anything from intense solar radiation and wild temperature swings to hail, torrential rain, spitting snow, high winds and killer electrical storms (all in the same day). So you carry sunblock, a small first
aid/survival kit, rain gear and some form of lightweight jacket or vest. You see where this all is going, right? We haven’t even started with the fishing gear. Naturally there’s a rod, reel, some kind of wading “system” and, of course, the inevitable fishing vest with all doohickeys in it. The trick is to eliminate most of the doohickeys, pare the essentials to a bare minimum and leave the vest in the truck to be used on those days when the stream is less than a 5-minute walk from the truck. Otherwise you’ll feel like you’re hauling a 30-pound sack of potatoes up the trail.
Read earlier columns at www.colorado countrylife.coop. Click on Outdoors.
MAY 2010
Colorado Country Life 17
MARKETPLACE
STEEL BUILDINGS
Superior Building Systems ¡ Superior or Service
30x 30x 50x12 50x12 .......$ , , 40x72x12 40x72x12 .......$15,137 , , 50x120x16 50x120x16 .......$ 0x x 0x x .......$ , , 0x x .......$ 0x x ....... Check o our ur website for ‘Ro ‘Rock ck Bottom Botto om Deals’
ADVERTISE IN MARKETPLACE AND SALES WILL INCREASE
18 Colorado Country Life MAY 2010
Advertise in MarketPlace and everyone will know your business. Call 303-902-7276 to place your ad.
800.207.6001 1
www.PortlandSystems.net www.Port landSystems.net y et
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MARKETPLACE
Happy Mother’s Day
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MAY 2010
Colorado Country Life 19
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: 303-455-4111 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. (858-06-10)
(These opportunities have not been investigated by Colorado Country Life.)
COMPLETE RESTORATION of antique wood burning stoves. Some parts available. Free estimates. 719-924-9192. (874-510) GRANDMA’S CLOCK QUIT? Expert repair of spring and weight driven clocks. Berthoud, 970-532-3022 Email: four burros@aol.com. (126-04-10)
AVON sells — you earn money. Generous profits. Flexible hours. $10 start up. ISR. 719550-0242. (133-8-10) PIANO TUNING PAYS. Learn with American School homestudy course. Tools included. Call for info. 800-497-9793. (158-01-11)
RESTORED ANTIQUE ranch chuck wagon, restored antique sheepherder wagon, and NEW modern sheep wagons. Home: 970-243-4762; Cell: 970-7785674. (878-5-10)
RECESSION PROOF BUSINESS. Our top appraisers earn over $100,000/year appraising livestock and equipment. Agricultural background required. Classroom or home study courses available. 800-4887570, www.amagappraisers. com. (527-10-10)
ANTLERS
CARS/TRUCKS/BOATS
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)
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)
BOOKS A COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES. $12.95 Check/MO. OhlmBooks Publications, Box 125, Walsenburg, CO 810890125. www.ohlmbooks.com. (722-05-10) DOES MOM LOVE COWBOYS? Buy her 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.
30 FT 1994 FORD RAVEN MOTORCOACH. Low miles. (37,000 miles) Ford 460 engine and Workhorse chassis. Power generators (used less than 200 hours). Very good value. Located at Nathrop, CO. Pictures available. Email bacon buddie@sbcglobal.net. Ph. 806-745-5888, 806-789-4075. (890-5-10)
CLOCK REPAIR & RESTORATION DURANGO AREA. Clocks of all kinds repaired. Howard Miller service. Call Robert 970-2477729. (109-07-10)
Read the classifieds on www.colorado countrylife.coop.
20 Colorado Country Life MAY 2010
DIET FOOD
FOR SALE
HOBBIES & CRAFTS
DISCOUNT DIET FOOD. Highest quality, lowest prices. Our plan or yours. Diethighproteincom. (763-6-11)
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. (886-8-10)
AWARD WINNING LONG-ARM QUILTING — reasonable rates, quick turnaround. Karen Niemi, 303-470-9309, http;://creative. stitching.home.comcast.net. (846-08-10)
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. (851-05-10) GRANT MONEY for college, healthcare, general welfare, prescription medication and more! For more information send $1 to Grant Sources, PO Box 206, Henagar, AL 35978. (888-6-10)
FOR SALE 30x50 POST FRAME pole barn package. Complete! Top quality product at the low, low price of $6,981. Call 719-347-2023, Calhan. (857-5-10) OLATHE SWEET CORN SEED. Discount to co-op members. 970-323-5708, olathehard ware@ qwestoffice.net. (877-5-10) HEAVY DUTY CATTLEPENS. Portable or Permanent; 32x45 working pen w/ 16’ crowding tub, $3,015. Call Kenneth 580-876-3699, www.cccattle equipment.com. (882-8-10) MAGNIFICENT! “CasCade 4000” floating lake/pond fountain. Gorgeous 1 horsepower water display, 12-16-ft high & 20-25-ft wide! NOW including FREE light kit! Compare at $1,295 & up. BUY FACTORY DIRECT NOW – just $649.99! www.fishpondaerator.com, 608-254-2735. (879-8-10)
STOKERMATIC SUPER HEATER working condition $150 or BO. A 1930s Great Majestic wood cook stove condition fair $200 or BO. Call Tom 970-884-9380 or email ktstephenson@q.com. (883-5-10) TARPS – HEAVY DUTY. 16’x50’, hemmed. Expired billboard faces. $50 each or 12’x38’ $35 each. Add $15 for shipping or can pick up at Jones Sign, 1711 Scheuring Road, De Pere, WI 54115. (885-8-10)
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. (814-07-10)
HELP WANTED $400 WEEKLY ASSEMBLING PRODUCTS FROM HOME. For free information, send SASE: Home Assembly – CC, PO Box 450, New Britain, CT 060500450.
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)
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. (861-04-10)
MISCELLANEOUS PUT YOUR OLD HOME MOVIES, slides or photos on DVD. Call toll free, 888-609-9778 or www.transferguy.com. (46506-10)
POULTRY/GAMEBIRDS FREE – 5 EXOTIC CHICKS or 3 ducks with 100 frypan special @ $31.95 plus shipping. Also Cornish Cross, standard breeds, fancy chicks, ducks, geese, turkeys, bantams, guineas, pheasants, quail, supplies, video. Brochure. Cackle Hatchery – PO Box 529, Lebanon, MO 65536. www.cacklehatchery.com. (876-5-10)
REAL ESTATE ARE YOU LOOKING FOR EXTRA income? Would you like to work from home? For more information call 800-390-0364 or www.ecobusiness.com/mspeak er/extra-income. (854-06-10) MOM’S, DAD’S, ANYONE. Looking to earn some extra income working from home? Call 719783-9744.
LAND WANTED — large land buyer is seeking to purchase 500 to 50,000 acres in Colorado. Will consider bail out, bankruptcies, foreclosures and existing subdivisons. Cash buyer can close quickly. Call Joe at Red Creek Land Company 719-543-6663. (648-08-10) MILLION DOLLAR VIEWS, Horse Property, 40.76 acres, no covenants, subdividable, west of CR270 and CR280 near Mt. Princeton Hot Springs, www.hereishome.com, $195,000. 303-909-9701. (881-8-10)
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RELIGION
WANTED TO BUY
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. (441-610)
50+ INDIVIDUAL WANTS TO BUY existing Colorado business. Decades of sales, marketing, government and administrative experience. Bill Pelissier, 720-308-5961. (830-05-10)
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)
SERVICES LAKE OR POND? Aeration is your 1st step toward improved water quality. Complete systems $199 to $369!! Waterfall? 11,000 PH water pump only 3.6 amps! Only $429.99. wwwfishpondaerator.com, 608-254-2735. (970-8-10) “PAMPERED PET” HOUSE/PET SITTERS. Retired Colorado couple who love to travel will care for your pets and home. Experienced, reliable, honest — excellent references. Contact Cindy: 970-667-7290 or pampered petsitter@yahoo.com. (864-05-10)
VACATION RENTAL SOUTH PADRE ISLAND beach house for winter rental. $2,400/mo. 3 bdrm, 2.5 bath. Call for full details. Sharon 832275-2515. (884-6-10) 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. (887-5-10)
BUYING — OLD MODEL AIRPLANE engines and balsa kits. Will pay shipping. Don, 970-669-3418; drunnells2@msn.com. (866-05-10) ELK AND DEER ANTLERS in bulk quantity. Also bear traps. Phone toll free 877-400-1156. Antlers1@powellantlershop. com. (863-11-10) I WILL BUY YOUR German daggers, helmets and other military items. Don Simmons, PO Box 4734, Springfield, MO 65808, 417-8815645. DSimmons@corpranet.net. (470-06-10) NAVAJO RUGS, old and recent, native baskets, pottery. Tribal Rugs, Salida. 719-539-5363, b_inaz@ hotmail.com. (817-06-10) OLD COLO LIVESTOCK Brand Books prior to 1950. Call Wes 303-757-8553. (889-6-10)
OLD POCKET WATCHES – working or non-working and old repair material. Bob 719-859-4209 watchdoctor@hotmail.com. (870-8-10) OLD TRACTORS that don’t run. Jerry Browne, 2707 Weld Co. Rd. 19, Fort Lupton, CO 80621. 303-659-7026. (220-04-11) WANT TO PURCHASE mineral and other oil/gas interests. Send details to: PO Box 13557, Denver, CO 80201. (402-8-10) 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 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 970-7593455 or 970-585-1256. (871-7-10)
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 Wedding Magic.com. (12-10)
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 WWW.COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.COOP
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.)
Zachary, my precious and extremely honest firstgrader, came running to the van after school let out with a little pot of flowers. Zachary presented me with the cute little flowerpot that he and his fellow firstgraders had planted for Mother’s Day. Grinning from ear-to-ear he said, “Mommy, these flowers are just like you. They’re Impatiens.” Michele Prater, Black Forest
Years ago, when I was still working, there was a lady in my office who had a little girl about 4 or 5 years old. She was naughty one day and her mother told her to go sit in her time out chair. The girl folded her arms in front of herself and sat down with a heavy thump in her chair. Then she told her mother, “I may look like I’m sitting down, but in my head I’m standing up.” D.M. Steven, Dolores
My 4-year-old granddaughter Katie and I were watching the Shirley Temple movie, “The Little Princess,” the story about a little girl whose father had to go off to war and left her behind at a school for girls. Because he would not be there for her birthday, he asked his little girl to close her eyes and send him a kiss at 2 o’clock on her birthday. He promised to do the same. When the little girl’s birthday arrived, in the midst of her party she went off by herself, closed her eyes and tearfully said, “Oh Daddy, I’m thinking of you and I know wherever you are, you’re thinking of me.” My granddaughter, totally engrossed in the story, turned to me perplexed and asked, “Grandma, is that how people used to talk to each other before they had cell phones?” Sharon Crites, Dolores
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.
MAY 2010
Colorado Country Life 21