Colorado Country Life November 2010

NOVEMBER 2010

WILD ABOUT BOOKS A round up of great reads

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE : Holiday craft fairs

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A turkey solution

21

Giving for the season

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The official publication of the Colorado Rural Electric Association • Volume 41, Number 11

Publisher/Editor Associate Editor Editorial/Digital

Mona Neeley, CCC Donna Norris Carissa Sheehan

OFFICERS President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Executive Director

Chris Morgan, Gunnison Bob Bledsoe, Tri-State Bill Midcap, Fort Morgan Don Kaufman, Sangre De Cristo Kent Singer, CREA

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Empire John Porter Grand Valley Sylvia Spangler Highline Jim Lueck Holy Cross Michael Glass K.C. Dan Mills LaPlata Tom Compton Mountain Parks Stan Cazier Mountain View B.D. Paddock Poudre Valley Jack Schneider San Isabel Joseph Costa, Reg Rudolph San Luis Valley Mike Rierson, John Villyard Sangre De Cristo Paul Erickson Southeast Mark Grasmick United Power Jim Jaeger White River Bill Jordan Y-W Stuart Travis Yampa Valley Sam Haslem Associate Members 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 NCM

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FEATURE Wild About Books

Find great reads in our 2010 book

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reviews BY JULIE SIMPSON

COLUMNS

A perfect turkey solution: a salty, sugary brine BY LINH TRUONG

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Gardening

Savor the end of the growing season in your garden BY EVE GILMORE

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Outdoors

Best-laid plans thwarted when life gets in the way BY DENNIS SMITH

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Energy Tips

Make your bathroom lighting more energy efficient BY JAMES DULLEY

DEPARTMENTS

Are feed-in tariffs the right way to expand renewables? BY KENT SINGER

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303-902-7276 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.

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Recipes

Viewpoint

Letters Calendar Co-op News NewsClips Industry Story Discoveries

COVER: A WILD HORSE COMES UP OVER A RISE IN ONE OF THE PHOTOS FROM CAROL WALKER’S BOOK “WILD HOOFBEATS: AMERICA’S VANISHING WILD HORSES.” PHOTO BY CAROL WALKER.

Looking for the Right Way to Expand Renewables Are feed-in tariffs worth the cost to electric cooperatives’ member-owners?

BY KENT SINGER, CRE A E XECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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here has been a lot of talk recently about feed-in tariffs and how they are a good idea if you want to stimulate more generation of electricity from renewable sources.

Many advocates of renewable sources for electricity production argue that feed-in tariffs are the most Kent Singer effective way to promote the development of more solar and wind facilities. A recent report by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory notes that feed-in tariffs have led to 75 percent of all solar photovoltaic and 45 percent of all wind development worldwide.

But what, exactly, are feed-in tariffs?

We need to know that before we can determine whether or not feed-in tariffs make sense for electric co-op consumers.

A feed-in tariff or FIT is a mechanism whereby an electric utility is required to sign a long-term contract with a renewable energy generator to purchase power at a rate or tariff established by a regulator, such as a utilities commission or a local government. The rate is set at a level that will ensure that the renewable energy generator can make a profit on the energy produced. In other words, the FIT creates a guaranteed rate of return for the renewable energy generator, eliminating any development risk to the generator.

In the report referenced above, the National Renewable Energy Lab found that since FITs establish a guaranteed profit for developers, investors are more likely to provide financing for renewable energy projects.

Feed-in tariffs have been adopted in many European countries and in a

4 Colorado Country Life NOVEMBER 2010

few places in the United States. In Vermont, for example, a FIT (also called a standard offer program) was recently adopted and tariffs were established for various types of renewable energy. The Vermont FIT program requires utilities to pay 30 cents per kilowatt-hour for solar photovoltaic power produced by renewable generation developers.

In Gainesville, Florida, the municipal utility currently pays 32 cents per kilowatthour for energy from photovoltaic systems of less than 25 kilowatt capacity and 26 cents per kilowatt-hour for photovoltaic systems of 25 kilowatt and larger. Each of these FIT programs has limits on how much total renewable energy capacity the utility must purchase.

While many advocates of FITs praise them as the best tool for promoting renewable energy development, the downsides of FITs are sometimes overlooked. In some countries, FITs have had a negative impact on the economy because they have driven energy-intensive industries to look for more affordable electricity rates. In other cases FITs have been set at such high levels that they have simply become a profit-making mechanism for developers. There are also complicated legal issues about whether a FIT program violates certain federal laws giving the federal government jurisdiction over wholesale power sales.

But setting aside those issues, do feed-in tariffs make sense for electric cooperatives and their member-owners?

Clearly, a FIT law or regulation would require co-ops to pay more for part of their power supply than they pay today.

Colorado’s distribution co-ops purchase their wholesale power supply at 6-7 cents per kilowatt-hour. (Your retail rate is higher due to the costs of operating the distribution system.)

You can see that a requirement that your utility pay in the range of 30¢ per kilowatt-hour for renewable power is a significant increase over the current cost of wholesale power. These are costs that would have to be passed on to all co-op consumers.

It really comes down to how far we want to go in subsidizing the integration of renewable energy into the power supply mix of Colorado’s electric utilities.

Colorado’s electric co-ops are already working to integrate renewable energy into their power mix to meet the state’s renewable portfolio standard or RPS requirement.

The co-ops agreed to a 10 percent RPS during the 2007 legislative session and, with the help of their power suppliers, they will meet that goal by 2020. Many co-ops have extensive energy efficiency and rebate programs that encourage their member-owners to use power more wisely.

The bottom line is that Colorado’s electric co-ops have the ability today to determine how much of their member-owners’ money should be spent on renewable energy and energy efficiency incentives and programs.

They don’t need a statewide mandate like a feed-in tariff to continue these efforts.

Executive Director

WWW.COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.COOP

Youth Tour memories I just read the article regarding the sponsorship of students to the nation’s capital.

(August 2010). I was thrilled to see it because I was one of those students who won a trip in 1965. I must have been among the first.

I won my trip out of eastern South Dakota. It was a wonderful trip and opportunity for the rural students to see something of true importance.

I still have my slides from the trip and a scrapbook. This article made me think about digging them out and enjoying them again.

Congratulations to the organization for continuing to make this possible.

Janice Hogue, Grand Junction

Calendar of ideas Our family attended the Limon Heritage Festival this summer. We saw your article about the festival and, on a whim, drove up that morning. We had such a great time.

What a wonderful community.

We were also impressed with the museum and the restored depot — such fantastic exhibits. I also had the best slice of coconut cream pie ever.

Thank you for putting in articles about the local communities so that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy them.

Dolly Rick er m a n, Monument

Popular landscapes There has been a good reception to my article “Gliding Over Amazing Landscapes” (August 2010). I was surprised at the diverse areas of the state that emails have come from thanking me for the article. You obviously have a wide readership.

The leadership of the Soaring Society of America was pleased to see the article and planned a short note commenting on the article in the October issue of Soaring Magazine.

Bob Thompson, Bay field

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end your letter to the editor by mail to 5400 S N. Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 or by emailing it to mneeley@coloradocountrylife. org. You must include your name and address to be published. Letters may be edited.

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NOVEMBER 2010 Colorado

Country Life 5

NOVEMBER CALENDAR November 5–13 in Pueblo

November 13–14 in Colorado Springs

November 20 in Kersey

November 28 in Salida

Handwoven Holiday

Pikes Peak Studio Tour

Walden Chamber Music Society

Handwoven tapestries, rugs, more for sale. Vail Hotel, 217 S. Grand Ave. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

719-242-8803 www.facebook.com/Handweavers GuildOfPueblo

Visit artists’ homes, studios 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. www.pikespeakstudiotour.com

Family Holiday Festival and Craft Show

November 12–14 in Pueblo

Cowboy Action Shoot Rifle range north of fairgrounds 970-565-8960

November 25 in Grand Junction

Festival of Trees

5K Turkey Trot Starts at Connected Lakes State Park, 9 a.m.

970-263-4079 www.gjturkeytrot.org

View decorated trees, wreaths; buy raffle tickets to win one.

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Train Museum, 1 to 6 p.m.

970-259-2464; www-cci-colorado.org

November 26 in La Junta

December 3–4 near La Junta

Parade of Lights

Bent’s Old Fort Holiday Celebration

November 14 in Cortez

Christmas House Boutique Nichols Rd and McCulloch 719-547-7477 PWWLInfo@gmail.com November 13 in Briggsdale

Community Library Fundraiser Antiques, crafts, bake sale, silent auction. Harry Greene Gym, lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

970-656-3828 jhemrudd@msn.com November 13 in Buena Vista

Arkansas River Crafts Holiday Sale Routon Mountain Quilting, 27630 CR 339, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

719-395-6013 November 13 in Elbert

Christmas Bazaar Lunch, craft sale . Russell Gates Mercantile Community Hall, Elbert School, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

303-648-311; 303-841-1047

November 17-21 in Grand Junction Alice In Wonderland Performance, 7:30 p.m.

MSC Moss Performing Arts Center 970-248-1604 www.mesastate.edu November 19–20 in Leadville

Holiday Arts & Crafts Show National Mining Museum & Convention Center; 117 W. 10th St.; Friday, 4 to 8 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

719-486-1314 carter.muse@gmail.com November 20 in La Junta

Maltese Falcon 7:30 p.m.

Picketwire Center for the Performing and Visual Arts, 802 San Juan www.picketwireplayers.org November 20 in Fort Collins

Santa Arrives

November 13 in Falcon

Noon, Old Town Square www.downtownfortcollins.com/events

Christmas Craft Fair and Holiday Bake Sale

November 20 in Drake

Patriot Learning Center, 11990 Swingline Road; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. beverlyordon@q.com

November 13 in Fruita

Rim Rock Marathon 26-mile run through Colorado National Monument.

Start at east entrance.

970-274-1232

Steamplant Theater, 220 Sackett Ave., 3 p.m.

719-395-2097 www.waldenchambermusic.org

Free admission, door prizes, pictures with Santa. Poudre Valley Middle School Field House, 700 Hill St., 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m, 303-257-0252; 970-590-2788

Storm Mountain Area Holiday Bazaar

Downtown, 6 p.m.

719-384-7411 November 27 in Colorado Springs

The Gold Assay Process: Magic or Chemistry?

Discover how ore is processed to extract gold. Western Museum of Mining and Industry, 225 North Gate Blvd., 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Reservations: 719-488-0880 or RSVP@wmmi.org www.wmmi.org November 27 in Winter Park Tree Lighting Village at Winter Park 970-726-1590 Through November 27 in Cortez Between Fences Smithsonian exhibit, Cortez Cultural Center, 25 N. Market St. 970-565-1151

November 26–28; December 3–5 in Durango

Reservations: Candlelight tours 719-383-5026 www.nps.gov/beol/planyourvisit/ events.htm December 3–5 in Westcliffe

Library Christmas Arts & Crafts Fair Hope Lutheran Church’s Fellowship Hall, 312 S. Third St.; 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

719-783-9138 December 4 in Grand Lake

Grand Chorale Christmas Concert Community Building, 7 p.m. www.grandchorale.org December 6 in Holyoke

Parade of Lights www.holyokechamber.org/events/ events.html

Big Thompson Canyon Association Building, Highway 34, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. deb@peacefulridge.com

November 28 in Fort Collins

Chestnut Pops

December 11 in Sterling

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Foothills Pops Band performs familiar tunes. St. John’s Lutheran Church, 305 E. Elizabeth, 2 p.m.

970-221-6730

A Child’s Christmas on the Prairie

6 Colorado Country Life NOVEMBER 2010

F or more information on these activities, visit www. coloradocountrylife.coop.

Click on Events.

Children experience an old-fashioned Christmas. Overland Trail Museum.

970-522-3895

WWW.COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.COOP

WWW.COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.COOP

NOVEMBER 2010 Colorado

Country Life 11

Projections Call for Moderate Increases in Home Heating Bills With Winter Weather

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lightly warmer weather and adequate fuel inventories could add up to only moderate increases in the costs of heating homes in the United States this winter.

That’s according to analysts at the U.S. Energy Information Administration who released its latest seasonal forecast in October. The Short-Term Energy and Winter Fuels Outlook examined fuel cost projections and long-range weather forecasts for the October 1 to March 31 period.

Officials from the Department of Energy unit relied on heating degree day projections from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

While the Northeast is expected to be about 5 percent colder than last winter, the South is projected to be 15 percent warmer. Overall, NOAA expects the lower 48 states to be 3 percent warmer over the six-month heating period compared to October 2009 through March 2010.

“Average household expenditures for space-heating fuels will total $986 this winter,” said EIA in its published report. Analysts are projecting higher costs for all fuels with the exception of electricity, which is expected to be about 2 percent below last winter’s levels.

Highlights of this year’s Outlook: • Natural gas: About 52 percent of U.S. households depend on natural gas as the primary heating source. Costs are expected to be about 4 percent higher than last winter.

• Heating oil: As the primary heating source of 7 percent of U.S. households, prices are projected to rise about 22 cents per gallon over last winter’s levels. That means the overall average cost will be about $220 more than last winter.

• Propane: Households heating primarily with propane are expected to spend an average of $136 more this winter. That means the 6 percent of U.S. households relying on the fuel will see an 8 percent increase in heating costs.

• Electricity: A 4 percent decline in consumption is expected to offset a 2 percent increase in prices. This will lead to an overall cost reduction of 2 percent for the 37 percent of U.S. households that use electricity as their primary source of space heating.

Source: www.coop

Co-ops Raise Money for Ronald McDonald House

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or the third year in a row, Tri-State Generation and Transmission — in conjunction with its 42 Touchstone Energy cooperative members in the region — is teaming up with KOSI radio in Denver to help present the annual Ronald McDonald House Charities radio-thon.

This year’s event will air live on KOSI (101.1 FM) as well as stream on the station’s website Thursday, November 18 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. The non-profit Ronald McDonald House provides lodging and food for families living at least 60 miles outside the metro-area who have children being treated for serious illnesses and injuries at Denver-area hospitals.

Prior to the November 18 broadcast, 60-second vignettes featuring the stories of families who have personally been supported by the Denver Ronald McDonald House will run on 15 sister radio stations throughout Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming and Nebraska over a twoweek period, along with numerous promotional announcements that tie in the support of the Touchstone Energy co-ops as they help to give back to the communities they serve.

A total of approximately $167,000 was raised in the radio-thon’s previous two years, which has included $3,000 in direct contributions from the co-ops as part of the sponsorship investment, as well as $500 last year from the Colorado Rural Electric Member Services group — all of which was easily matched by listeners who called in during the afternoon’s “Touchstone Energy Power Hour.”

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SUPPORT FOR RENEWABLES LAGS AS COSTS GO UP

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eople want more renewable energy, but they aren’t willing to pay significantly more for it. That is according to the latest Financial Time/Harris poll.

Adults in the U.S., France, Germany, Great Britain, Spain and Italy were surveyed in September. The results show that big majorities in all six countries favor the building of more wind farms. And most people are willing to pay up to 5 percent more for renewable energy.

However, when asked if they would be willing to pay $220 more each month, which is the amount estimated by the European Union as needed to cut greenhouse gas emissions, large majorities of people in all countries except Italy said they would not pay that much.

The survey also showed that opinions on building more nuclear power plants are more mixed and vary by country. The public is about equally divided in the U.S., Britain and France.

Clear majorities oppose nuclear power in Italy, Spain and Germany.

WWW.COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.COOP

ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES ESSENTIAL FOR COUNTRY’S RURAL ECONOMY

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he cooperative business model is essential for rural America’s longterm economic health, according to Farm Credit Administration board member Jill Long Thompson, who spoke to the Cooperative Finance Corporation Board of Directors in October. She cited the ongoing success of electric cooperatives and their role as catalysts for economic growth.

Long Thompson also pointed out how CFC, known as the co-ops’ bank, is part of that cooperative support for rural America through its 40-year history of helping provide capital to rural electric utilities.

“Think of all the improvements in rural America that are due to CFC making capital available for infrastructure projects,” she said. “Thank you for being leaders in rural communities, for helping to ensure that rural America has access to capital.”

Long Thompson said that cooperatives must play an important role in an economic recovery in the United States, especially in rural America where cooperatives have deep roots. She is “optimistic” about the economy but she said, “we have to be realistic. It is going to take some time.”

When asked about national energy legislation and what might eventually pass Congress, Long Thompson noted that a “moderate, balanced policy” will be the end result. Calling herself a strong proponent of clean coal technology, Long Thompson said coal was vital as a transitional fuel.

Magazine Features Co-op Father, Son

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wo Colorado electric co-op workers, a father and son, were recently featured in Transmission & Distribution World, a national utility industry magazine.

Doug Cook, a serviceman with Morgan County Rural Electric Association headquartered in Fort Morgan, was featured as part of a September article on co-op linemen who make a difference in their communities.

Cook, who lives in Prospect Valley southwest of Fort Morgan, serves as fire chief for the local fire department, president of the local youth athletic association and coach for softball and T-ball teams.

Cook’s father, Mel Washburn of Fort Morgan,was featured in the July issue of the same magazine.

Washburn, an area supervisor for Tri-State Generation and Transmission line crews, talked about his 42-year career and its challenges.

The articles can be viewed at www.tdworld.com.

Click on the appropriate back issue.

Source: CFC Solutions News Bulletin

WWW.COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.COOP

NOVEMBER 2010

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INDUSTRY

Utilities prepare to repave America’s electric highway

BY MEGAN MCKOY- NOE , CCC

Utilities Power plants Miles of transmission lines

Imagine a major highway with vehicles all going one way.

It’s rush hour — rows of impatient cars try to merge, pushing to reach a final destination. Exits for cities appear, and a steady stream of cars spreads into the countryside.

In the past, electricity has traveled across the nation in much the same way — moving from power plants along major transmission arteries until off-ramps deliver it to a local electric cooperative and, finally, your home.

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here’s a national push to change this setup — repave the electric highway, so to speak — to allow for the two-way traffic of information. The two-way system is already being used to some extent by many of Colorado’s electric co-ops, but often it is still operating on the old one-way system.

Upgrading the system would be accomplished through two steps: improving the physical network of poles and wires to bolster reliability and security, and deploying digital “smart grid” technologies that allow utility staff and equipment on power lines and substations to talk to each other. The ultimate goal: allow electric systems to operate at top efficiency and help consumers make better energy choices to keep bills affordable.

“Modernizing America’s electric system is a substantial undertaking,” stated the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in its report, “Grid 2030.” “The nation’s aging electromechanical electric grid cannot keep pace with innovations in the digital information and telecommunications network. America needs an electric superhighway to support our information superhighway.”

Earth’s largest interconnected machine The challenge for utilities is how to transform a largely mechanical power network into a digital smart grid.

North America’s electric grid may be the largest interconnected machine on earth, consisting of power plants, high-voltage transmission lines, smaller transmission lines, substations and distribution facilities. But it wasn’t built with a master plan in mind. It was created as needed, one section as a time. As the nation’s electric needs grew, so did the grid.

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WWW.COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.COOP

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INDUSTRY

Today, the electric grid is split into three parts: the Western Interconnection, which reaches from the Pacific to the Rockies; the Eastern Interconnection, which continues to the Atlantic; and the Texas Interconnection, which covers most of the Lone Star State. Plans are under way in Clovis, New Mexico, to connect all three segments, but today they remain fairly isolated.

The grid includes approximately 3,000 utilities and other entities operating 10,000 power plants, according to DOE. More than 1 million megawatts of energy courses over 300,000 miles of transmission lines nationally. Most of this vast network was designed at least 50 years ago — thus the need for a major upgrade.

Grid of the future What will tomorrow’s grid look like? Paving a new, smarter grid calls for unprecedented cooperation and communication, since everyone has a different idea of what our future power network should be. Colorado’s electric co-ops believe there should be three main goals behind grid improvements: affordability, efficiency and reliability.

To keep electric bills affordable, a smarter grid will provide tools to help members manage their electric use, while automation devices and tools help reduce operational costs. And since electric co-ops are not-for-profit, any money saved on day-to-day

WWW.COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.COOP

operations will ultimately be returned to members.

Technology focused on boosting efficiency could shrink a community’s carbon footprint by letting members reduce their electric use during demand peaks and lowering line losses. Finally, a smarter grid should be more secure and can help co-ops restore service following an outage much faster and safer than before.

While it’ll still take the same amount of time to remove a tree that’s fallen onto distribution lines, a utility would be able to pinpoint the location remotely rather than having an employee walk a line to find the problem.

As with all construction projects, these improvements will require study to make sure consumer benefits outweigh costs.

Electric cooperatives, as consumer-owned and -governed utilities, take a sensible approach to technology investments. This means the co-op business model, combined with DOE research funds, make cooperatives an excellent testing ground for exploring the value of smart grid for members and how these new technologies might be able to help keep bills affordable.

To learn more, visit www.smartgrid.gov. For updates on how electric co-ops are leading the way with smart grid innovations, visit www.ect.coop.

Megan McKoy-Noe writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

NOVEMBER 2010

Colorado Country Life 15

BY JULIE SIMPSON

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hen it comes to nature, we have a beautifully wild state full of snow-capped mountains, golden plains, roaring rivers and that endless, blindingly blue sky.

The landscape isn’t the only thing that’s wild about Colorado, however. Majestic horses thunder through waves of grass.

Ghosts are seen lurking in the corners of hotels in old mining towns. And, once upon a time, outlaws ruled the West with the law of the six-shooter, bringing chaos with them wherever they went. You can find these and other wild stories in this year’s book selections. We’ve read and reviewed each so that you don’t have to gallop blindly into your nearest bookstore to look for a good read. Just pick up a book you find here or at www.coloradocountrylife.coop to begin a wild ride into Colorado’s crazy past and present

Wild Hoofbeats: America’s Vanishing Wild Horses

By Carol Walker (Painted Hills Publishing, $29.95) The thunder of hooves rumbles across the sagebrush-spotted landscape as wild horses revel in their freedom to run. For most, this image is just a picture of the imagination. For Carol Walker, this is her life, dedicated to capturing these stunning creatures on camera.

Readers of Wild Hoofbeats get the exciting privilege of looking through Walker’s

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lens at the wild horses that roam Wyoming’s Adobe Town Herd Management Area.

Along with the amazing photos, the text of the book tells heartwarming stories of the family groups Walker followed during her four-year study of the horses. Readers, whether horse lovers or not, will find themselves growing attached to the horses described in the stories and gorgeously depicted in the photographs.

While the photos are by far the highlight, the book is also extremely informative.

Walker makes clear her position against

the roundups of wild horses conducted by the Bureau of Land Management and supports her opinion with observations and research. She also explains why healthy wild horse populations are at risk. Ten percent of book proceeds go toward supporting the Cloud Foundation, an organization dedicated to the preservation of healthy wild horse herds.

Walker lives in Colorado, where she runs a photography business, Living Images by Carol Walker, specializing in photographing horses. Her Independent Book Publishers

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Association Benjamin Franklin Awardwinning book Wild Hoofbeats is available in local bookstores and online at www. wildhoofbeats.com.

Keepin’ the Peace: Early-Day Justice on Colorado’s Western Slope

By Judy Buffington Sammons (Western Reflections, $12.95) The marshal faces down the felon in the middle of dusty Main Street. A quick draw, two shots and the marshal lies face down in the dirt.

Another lawman is dead, the first of three to be gunned down during the first few years of the town’s existence. You might assume this scene comes straight out of a Hollywood western. But think again: This story is Colorado history.

Gunnison author Judy Buffington Sammons takes her readers into the dangerous world of Colorado’s young and wild Western Slope, a time when sheriffs were sometimes the outlaws and the wanted posters really did say “dead or alive.” Funny and frightening, the stories are sure to make any reader more appreciative of modern law enforcement.

Though grammatical errors and repetitive information and chapter structures sometimes bog down the reader, Keepin’ the Peace is a wonderful book for anyone who loves Colorado history. It is available at select locations on the Western Slope and at www.westernreflectionspublishing.com.

Tales From the Trappers’ Trail

By Kay Beth Faris Avery (Western Ref lections, $18.95) Angry locals have finally reached the end of their rope.

Surrounding the new A mer ic a n governor’s home, they manage to break through the front door. The governor and his family are just escaping through a hole they’ve dug through the back of the

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fireplace. Will they be able to escape? Or do they deserve their fate at the hands of the vigilantes?

This might sound like the climax of a novel, but it’s actually history. From the unstable days after the Mexican-American War to the seemingly hopeless meanderings of Zebulon Pike, amazing, factually based stories from the Wild West come alive in Kay Avery’s new book.

For an exciting and informative glimpse into the past of the West, find Tales From the Trappers’ Trail online at www.west ernreflectionspublishing.com.

Weird Colorado

By Charmaine Ortega Getz (Sterling Publishing, $19.95) Decorated coffins race down the mountainside to the finish line. Huge metal dinosaurs play instruments on a neighbor’s lawn. Carvings of aliens are etched into cave walls. What do all these strange events have in common? They’re all in Colorado.

These and many other curious attractions, legends, history and locations fill the pages of the book Weird Colorado. If you’ve ever wanted to know more about the unique side of your state, then this guide is for you. Full of colorful present-day and vintage photographs, the book is written by a Colorado resident who travelled the state looking for the strangest, spookiest and just plain weirdest that Colorado has to offer. She found what she was looking for.

Weird Colorado makes for a great coffee-table book to show out-of-state friends or even a creative road trip guide for the adventurous. You’ll find this book at most major retailers and online bookstores.

Barbed Wire: The Fence That Changed the West

By Joanne S. Liu (Mountain Press, $14.00) Think a fence is just a fence? Think again.

The invention of barbed wire fencing did more than just keep the cows out of the corn; it changed the history of the West.

Before barbed wire, homesteaders on the frontier were in a quandary: no wood

for plank fencing, no rocks for stone walls. Free-ranging cattle, allowed to roam in the country without restraint for decades, invaded and destroyed crops. Then came barbed wire: relatively cheap, easy and quick to install. But also easy to cut, which was what many angry cattlemen decided to do.

Packed with maps, photographs and detailed historical information, Barbed Wire tells the story of the American frontier and its chaotic transformation from an open prairie to the farming center of a nation. This interesting history is available at most major retailers and online bookstores.

COLORADO HISTORY Crested Butte Stories … Through My Lens

By Sandra Cortner (Wild Rose Press, $39.95) Crested Butte — most Colorado residents and tourists know it as a skiing town and a popular mountain destination year-round. Writer, photographer and Crested Butte resident Sandra Cortner sees the community as more than just a place to go. She sees the residents who have stuck around long enough to give the town traditions, a history and a heartbeat all its own.

Readers of Crested Butte Stories get a unique glimpse at the faces and lives of the “old-timers” of Crested Butte, those interesting people who remember the mining days before the ski resort, the tourists, the bank or the paved roads. In their stories lays something priceless, a depth of experience that can only be recorded in part by the superb photographs and the [continued on page 18] essays by Cortner.

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Colorado Country Life 17

[continued from page 17]

And Cortner has captured something more important than just a few funny anecdotes about residents of a mountain town. She reminds readers of the beauty of ordinary people and that even a quiet life lived well is too precious to go unnoticed.

A retired newspaper and magazine editor, Cortner writes eloquently enough to rival the excellence of her photographs. The combination of both makes for a captivating book that is well-worth the read. Crested Butte Stories is available at select Gunnison County retailers, by calling 970-641-1654 or online at www.crestedbuttestories.com.

The Walls Talk: Historic House Museums of Colorado

By Patricia Werner (Filter Press, $16.95) Thir t y-seven historic homes.

Thir t y-seven family stories. Get to know those stories from across the state and learn some of Colorado’s history.

The late Patricia Werner gathered the stories for this book through extensive interviews with family members and research into letters and diaries. She was passionate about this history and had a curiosity about what life was like for our early pioneers.

There are several of the more wellknown historical homes in the book such as the Byers-Evans House in Denver, the Baca House in Trinidad and the Tabor Home and Matchless Mine Cabin in Leadville. Their stories are more familiar, but handled well. But, what is even more fun are the stories from the families who lived in the homes that are well-known only locally such as the Cozens Ranch and Stage Stop near Winter Park, the Hedlund House in Hugo and the Mayer House in Fairplay.

Use this book to learn more of Colorado’s history and as a map to the state’s historic homes where you can walk the rooms where these families lived our history. The Walls Talk is available at www. filterpressbooks.com.

18 Colorado Country Life NOVEMBER 2010

The Irrepressible David F. Day

By Duane A. Smith (Western Reflections, $16.95) In this present age of bankrupt newspapers and Internet news stories, it can be hard to remember a time when a newspaper was the only source of information in town. In fact, for mining towns like Ouray, the newspaper once also served as the voice of the people to the outside world, calling for reform and recognition. When the newspaper died, the town died.

David F. Day, the intrepid editor of The Solid Muldoon, was the voice of Ouray when the town began to grow. Daring, humorous and occasionally offensive, Day used his unique, witty rhetoric to shape Ouray into the thriving community it remains today. Through clips from Day’s writing, Durango author Duane Smith captures the voice of this interesting man. In the process, he also reveals the story of a town in progress.

A great read for history buffs, newspaper enthusiasts and anyone who loves Colorado, The Irrepressible David F. Day provides an entertaining and insightful glimpse into the life of an unforgettable persona.

Smith is a professor at Fort Lewis College in Durango. All his books, including this one, are available online at www.western reflectionspublishing.com.

Smaldone

By Dick Kreck (Fulcrum Publishing, $24.95) When most people think about organized crime families, images of big cities like Chicago and New York likely come to mind.

Denver might get overlooked, but it had its organized crime, too: the Smaldone family.

Retired Denver Post columnist and awardwinning Denver author Dick Kreck tells

the story of the family that once held power in Denver crime circles. He particularly focuses on one man, Clyde Smaldone, who began his career by smuggling moonshine as a teenager during Prohibition and eventually became the leader of most major Denver area criminal operations.

This book isn’t full of the expected concrete shoes or deadly shoot-outs with tommy guns, however. Kreck takes a unique look at the private lives of the Smaldones their loyalties, dysfunctions and generous contributions to the community. With an occasionally rose-colored perspective, he gives the reader a glimpse of the “nice side” of Denver’s most infamous crime family, arguing that many of the motives for illegal activity stemmed from the desire to provide for those in need.

Whether you agree with Kreck’s perspective or not, this book provides an interesting glimpse into an often-forgotten part of the history of our capital city. This book is available at most major retailers and online at www.fulcrum-books.com.

GREAT NOVELS Whiter Than Snow

By Sandra Dallas (St. Martin’s Press, $24.99) The residents of Swandyke are no d i f fer ent t h a n the residents of any other small Colorado mining t ow n; ke epi ng their secrets and scandals to themselves, they try to carve a decent life out of the cold, hard rock of the mountains. But when their children are swept away by an avalanche on April 20, 1920, the people of Swandyke must together face the struggles that have shaped them, both past and present.

This ninth book of Denver author Sandra Dallas is another example of her uncanny talent for brilliant creation of character.

Each story she relates could be its own novel, given the depth and breadth of emotion, experience and personality with which she paints every individual. This highlight, in addition to the well-rounded and satisfying ending, makes for a moving novel that is

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worth the read. For a can’t-put-it-down book, find Whiter Than Snow at major retailers and online bookstores.

The Scent of Rain and Lightning

By Nancy Pickard (Ballantine Books, $25.00) On one stormy night when she was 3, Jody Lindner’s life changed forever. Since then, she has been trying to gather the pieces of her innocence that shattered when her father was murdered and her mother disappeared. But when her parents’ killer is released from prison and allowed to return to her small town, her tedious attempts at normalcy threaten to fall apart.

At first, Jody is outraged and confused.

Billy Crosby was a no-good drunk, fought with her father and uncles and grandfather at their ranch and beat his wife. Everyone believes he killed her parents … don’t they?

Billy’s son Collin thinks his father is innocent, and the more that Jody searches, the more questions she uncovers about the facts of that fateful night. But if Billy didn’t destroy her family, who did?

Though the story is set in a Kansas ranching town, this compelling novel accurately captures the dynamics of any small Western town. While the style can be rather dry and journalistic at times, slowing the story in the beginning, the plot takes many interesting turns that keep the reader interested until the end.

The 20th book by award-winning Kansas author Nancy Pickard, The Scent of Rain and Lightning can be found at major retailers and online bookstores.

Wild Laws: A Bryson Coventry Thriller

By Jim Michael Hansen (Dark Sky Publishing, $13.95) Shady characters, an erotic woman and overall sus-

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pense keep the reader turning the pages in this ninth book by Colorado attorney Jim Michael Hansen featuring Denver homicide detective Bryson Coventry. The action starts on the first page when a mysterious meeting in the Egyptian night goes horribly wrong. Shots are fired, a man is killed, money is lost and questions arise.

The story quickly moves to Jamaica where there is another murder. Then it is on to Denver where Coventry receives a cryptic message from an old nemesis. The hunt is on, and Coventry is drawn to Tokyo where this international killer lurks and several lives and stories converge.

Those who have read the previous book in the series, Ancient Laws (published last year) will be ready for the action and the suspense this book holds. The Bryson Coventry series is available at local retailers and online bookstores.

MISCELLANEOUS 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles

By Kim Lipker (Menasha Ridge Press, $17.95) Colorado has some of the best hiking trails in the nation, but without a lot of research, it can be difficult to find trails that fit your level of expertise. However, 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles can help point you in the right direction.

T he w el l- or g a n i z e d i n for m a tion in this book presents all a hiker needs to know about Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs and Rocky Mountain National Park area trails.

Longtime Colorado resident author Kim Lipker includes her own clearly written, step-by-step description of what hikers will see and do while on a particular trail so they can know what to expect even before reaching the trailhead.

The book is available at major retailers and online bookstores.

The Great Book of Denver Sports Lists

By Joe Williams and Irv Brown (Running Press, $14.95) Irv Brown and Joe Willia ms have been the voices of Denver sports radio for over 25 years. As cohosts of The Fan 104.3 FM, they ask fans to give their opinions about everything Denver sports, from who’s the best to who’s the worst. This book compiles their own lists of bests and worsts in Denver sports and everything in between.

To see which players, games and random items made the lists, find The Great Book of Denver Sports Lists at most major retailers and online bookstores.

Grillin’ & Chili’n’

By Kate Fiduccia (Lyons Press, $14.95) Pull the venison from the freezer and get grilling.

This compact cookbook is packed with 80 easy recipes for delicious grilled venison this summer and savory venison chili come fall.

For the purpose of this recipe book, venison is defined as all those game meats you might have stocked in the freezer: deer, elk, moose and caribou. And, with taste buds salivating as I’m reading the recipes, it is apparent that they all can be prepared deliciously.

For those who don’t have a hunter in the family to fill the freezer, the book offers a listing of mail-order sources for venison.

Look for the book at your local bookstore or visit www.cookinginkateskitchen.com. [continued on page 20]

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Want more book reviews? Visit our website at www.coloradocountrylife. coop and click on Book Reviews.

NOVEMBER 2010

Colorado Country Life 19

[continued from page 19]

KIDS BOOKS Artsy-Fartsy

By Karla Oceanak, Illustrated by Kendra Spencer (Bailiwick Press, $12.95) A ldo Zelnick doesn’t like to draw.

Or at least, that’s what he tries to tell Tommy Geller, who makes fun of him for being artsy-fartsy.

In reality, Grandma has given Aldo a notebook so he can draw and write about his summer vacation. Aldo enjoys filling the pages of the book, but when he finds out a girl has been secretly contributing, he and his best friend Jack are on a |mission to find the culprit.

This journal-style, comic-illustrated book is not only hilarious, but also educational. Part of a 26-book alphabetical series, this first installment creatively uses large “a” words that are explained both in the context of the text and in a glossary, or “gallery,” at the end of the book. Young readers of all ages will love the comically honest and believable character of Aldo, who lives in northern Colorado. As an added plus, this entertaining, educational book also has a great message: do what you love to do and don’t be ashamed of what you’re good at.

Artsy-Fartsy, along with the pending remainder of the series by Fort Collins residents Karla Oceanak and Kendra Spencer, is available through major retailers, baili wickpress.com and at online bookstores.

Star in the Forest

By Laura Resau (Delacorte Press, $14.99) When Zitlally’s father is deported to Mexico, nothing seems right anymore and she feels alone. But then Zitlally finds Star.

The white dog is chained to the rusty hood of a car in the junkyard “forest,” starving 20 Colorado Country Life NOVEMBER 2010

and thirsty, a black star on the back of his neck barely visible through the dirt.

As Zitlally cares for him, she makes a new friend, her next-door neighbor Crystal, who offers to help. Zitlally and Crystal believe that Star and Zitlally’s father are connected. If they can help Star, then won’t Zitlally’s father be able to return to the United States?

Fort Collins author Laura Resau accurately and yet sensitively captures the situations of many poor illegal immigrants living in Colorado. A heartwarming story with realistic depth, Star in the Forest is a kids’ book with grown-up political and societal implications. This book is available through most major retailers and online bookstores.

Badger’s Busy Day

By Barbara K. Tyner and Laura K. Johnston, Illustrated by Gail Ross (Mother’s House Publishing, $16.50) Badger the dog is always busy. He lives on a farm, where there are always things to do and learn. Readers of this book are brought along for the ride as this loveable blackand-white pooch teaches them everything he knows about his home.

Badger’s Busy Day is the second book in an educational series produced by the Colorado authors, illustrator and publisher.

The book comes with a glossary and fun activities and worksheets. It can also be purchased with an audio CD. To find out more about Badger and his adventures, go to www.thebadgerbooks.com.

How to Clean a Hippopotamus

By Steve Jenkins and Robin Page (Houghton Mifflin, $16.00) Everyone knows there are many strange and interesting animals in the world, but did you know that some of them help each other out? In How to Clean a Hippopotamus, kids can learn about the odd, mutually beneficial partnerships animals form, called symbiotic relationships.

Did you know that an oxpecker eats

parasites off of animals in Africa and even warns them of approaching predators? Or that a badger and a coyote will hunt prairie dogs together?

All these strange pairings and more are described and illustrated with colorful pictures in this book. The comic book-like style of organization keeps young readers interested even while it educates them about symbiotic relationships between unlikely animals.

How to Clean a Hippopotamus, by Boulder authors Steve Jenkins and Robin Page, makes a great addition to any classroom, school library or child’s home bookshelf.

Find this book at most major retailers or online bookstores.

The Midnight Ride of Blackwell Station

By Mary Peace Finley (Filter Press, $8.95) The exciting beginnings of Lamar, Colorado, come alive in this new young reader novel by Colorado author Mary Peace Finley.

The story takes place in 1886 when the railroad company wanted to build a town up around its isolated, prairie station. The landowner balked so, in the middle of the night, the railroad company came in and loaded the station and its outbuildings onto flat cars and moved everything to a new town site, present day Lamar.

The exciting move is seen through the eyes of curious 9-year-old Raephy McDowell, one of four children who lived in the railroad station her parents ran. Older elementary students will identify with young Raephy and enjoy her story while learning a bit of Colorado history.

The book is available at www.filter pressbooks.com.

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The Perfect Turkey Solution Soak this year’s bird in a salty, sugary brine for a delicious main course

BY LINH TRUONG

T

urkey — whether roasted, deep fried or on a rotisserie — is a favorite for many holiday family gatherings. But often the cook would like to try a new way to prepare that dependable main course. Why not try brining it?

Brined Whole Turkey Brining procedure 1 15-pound whole turkey (not self-basting or kosher), thawed, giblets and neck removed 2 cups table salt (do not substitute equal amounts of kosher salt) 2 gallons ice-cold water 4 cups brown sugar * 1/2 cup dried rosemary leaves 1/2 cup dried thyme leaves Rinse turkey in cool water. In a large clean container (non -corrosive pan or stockpot, such as stainless steel, glass or a food-grade plastic container), mix salt and water together until salt dissolves. Stir in brown sugar and spices, mix well until sugar dissolves. Totally submerge poultry in solution and store, covered, in refrigerator for at least 6 hours and up to 8 hours. Since brining does not preserve meat, the turkey must be kept below 40˚ F throughout the entire brining process. Ice packs may also be used to keep turkey at a safe temperature of below 40˚ F. Remove turkey from brine. Discard brine. Thoroughly rinse the interior and exterior of the turkey by placing it on a wire rack and setting both rack and turkey in a clean, empty sink.

Use cool water from the spray hose and rub gently to release the salt and sugar from the turkey. Pat skin and both interior cavities dry. * Other combinations of herbs may be added, including 6-8 bay leaves, 3 cloves garlic and 2 teaspoons black peppercorns. Or a spicy flavor may be achieved by the addition of 1 cup small dried red chili peppers.

Roasting procedure 1 small onion, peeled and quartered 1 carrot, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks 1 small stalk celery, cut into 1-inch chunks 4–6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted Fresh fruit as needed for garnish In the cavity of turkey, place onion, carrot and celery. Brush turkey with melted butter.

Roast turkey, breast side down, in a preheated 325˚ F oven for 2 hours. During this time, baste legs and back twice with melted butter. Remove turkey from oven and — protecting your hands — grasp turkey with several layers of clean paper WWW.COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.COOP

towels at both ends and turn turkey, breast side up.

Return turkey to oven and continue to roast, basting twice with pan drippings. Continue to roast until internal temperature reaches 170˚ F in the breast and 180˚ F in the thigh.

Note: A brined turkey cooks slightly faster than an unbrined turkey, so check the internal temperature frequently.

Remove turkey from the oven and allow to stand for 20 minutes before carving. Transfer to a platter and garnish with fresh fruit.

Visit www.eatturkey.com to learn the latest recipes, cooking tips, holiday serving ideas and fun trivia from the National Turkey Federation.

THE SAFEST WAY TO THAW A TURKEY To safely thaw a turkey, use either the refrigerator method or the cold water method. If you use the refrigerator method, keep the turkey in its original wrapper and place it in the refrigerator for one to two days. If time is limited, use the cold water method. Wrap the turkey securely, then submerge it in cold tap water. Change the water every 30 minutes. Cook immediately after thawing.

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F or more turkey recipes, visit our website at www.coloradocountrylife.coop.

Click on Recipes.

NOVEMBER 2010 Colorado

Country Life 21

Savoring the End of a Season Here’s the best ways to use the few remaining days of gardening in Colorado

BY EVE GILMORE

I

n my neck of the woods — in southwest Colorado at 6,500 feet — we have had many perfectly gorgeous early November days. I hope we have such luck this year. In the event that we do, there are some good garden tasks you can do for a more abundant and beautiful season next year.

A good rule of thumb when preparing perennials for winter is to cut back the foliage once it has turned more brown than green; however, there are a few exceptions.

One is guided by personal aesthetics. If you are still enjoying the sight of particular dry flowers or seed heads, then allow them to remain until late winter or early spring, removing them just before new growth comes on. On the other hand, if you think the dead plant is a hideous sight and a disgrace to your garden, cut it back immediately. Another factor to consider is disease. Even if you like the look, cutting back plants that show signs of bacterial or fungal problems is highly recommended to control the spread of these problems to next year’s plants.

Yarrow (Achillea spp.) provides a nice example of a dry flower head that many gardeners think looks lovely when snow collects on it. Blue mist spirea (Caryopteris spp.) is also quite showy when snow gathers on the spent flowers. So before deadheading a plant for the last time, try to imagine what it will look like in a much sparser winter landscape with a little snow dusting the top. This exercise will help train your creative eye and enable you to find new ways to enjoy your garden yearround. And remember, if you decide not to cut back a plant you later deem ugly, it can always be cut back at that time.

Aesthetics aside, there are a few plants that endure winter better with their foliage intact. If you have neglected to cut back your plants thus far into the fall season, some of your plants will actually thrive because of your procrastination tactics.

The list includes lungwort (Pulmonaria spp.), anise hyssop (Agastache spp.), coral bells (Heuchera spp.), mums (Chrysanthemum spp.), burnet (Sanguisorba spp.), Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) and 22 Colorado Country Life NovemBER 2010

Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia), left intact, will make it safely through the winter.

Coral bells (Heuchera spp.) may need to be divided and are prone to winter heaving so mulching is recommended.

For mums (Chrysanthemum spp.), keeping the foliage on until spring and mulching the plants heavily increase winter survival.

red hot poker (Kniphofia spp.). Red hot poker does best not only when its leaves are left intact, but also when they are tied up, which helps shed water from the core of the plant to prevent rotting of the crown.

Ornamental grasses fit both categories.

They look great through the winter season by providing a sense of movement in an otherwise still landscape, and they maintain a higher level of health when not cut back until just before spring growth begins.

In general, cleaning up dead foliage and plant matter is a good idea. It helps prevent the spread of disease and pests and makes your garden look better right away once

the snow melts in the spring. That way, you can enjoy the cheerfulness of your bulbs, hellebores and other early spring delights without having to endure the sight of the dead, drab clumps of leaves and old flower stalks from this year’s bounty. With that in mind, get a little sun, get your hands dirty one last time and enjoy the November gardening days while you can.

Eve Gilmore is a landscape designer and garden coach and owner of Gardens by Eve in Durango.

You can reach her at www.gardensbyeve.buzz. town.com or at 970-769-3319.

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C

The Helmet liner pattern in last month’s magazine was incomplete.

You can find full instructions at http://denverlibrary.org/category/ fresh-city-life/knitting-our-troops

itizen Support for America’s Military has announced that the military is now issuing helmet liners made of a special wicking material as its standard. As of November 1, the Army cannot accept the hand-knitted liners. The website www.citizensam.org offers other projects that still benefit our troops. You can also check these other websites for ways to warm and brighten our world: KnittingforNoggins.com; Women4Women-Knitting4Peace.com; Knitting forCharity.org or call your local yarn store for a nearby charity knitting group.

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NOVEMBER 2010 Colorado

Country Life 23

Nature Calls the Shots Best-laid plans thwarted when life at camp gets in the way

A

lthough John Lennon is said to have created the line, “Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans,” the Yale Book of Quotations says otherwise. According to the tome, Allen Saunders actually originated the phrase in a piece he wrote for Reader’s Digest in 1957, long before anyone ever heard of the Fab Four. Regardless of its creator, the statement is dead-on. My boys and I just returned from our 15th annual weeklong hunting, fishing, camping and fourwheeling expedition to North Park and, well, life happened while we were making our plans.

Our bow hunting elk in the North Michigan Creek drainage goes back to September of 1995 and we enjoyed a few years of near success. While we didn’t bring any meat home from those early hunts, we certainly had a number of close encounters with the local elk herd.

One hair-raising episode starred a young cow elk that came to our calls so fast she nearly ran over me as I sat hidden in a copse of tiny aspen trees. I heard what sounded like the beat of horse hooves pounding down the hill behind me and turned just in time

BY DENNIS SMITH

to see her skidding to a panicked halt not 5 feet away, showering me with rocks, sticks and bits of forest duff.

But when the elk herd migrated out of the area, we switched to rifle hunting for deer. Three years ago my oldest grandson joined our ranks and took his first deer up there with This is a shot of our deer camp before the pine beetles laid waste an old open-sight- to the forest. Now barely a tree remains. The place now looks like a ed . 30 -30 lever moonscape or a nuclear wasteland. g un. This yea r, we invited his 9-year-old brother to my son’s truck, necessitating a 20-mile run camp, but because we failed to draw to the nearest town in our backup vehicle deer tags, we opted to hunt grouse, for a replacement part. While he was on call coyotes, fish the lake and ride the that mission, my youngest grandson was network of trails on our four-wheelers. ticketed by a park ranger for underage riding The idea was simply to spend quality time on a state trail. He was fined $52.50 and together in the outdoors. It almost went as and the ranger threatened to impound his planned … but then life happened. four-wheeler, which pretty much ruined We’d barely gotten our gear stowed in the the trip for him — and us. (Oddly, he’s been cabin when an ignition relay burned out in riding his own quad on state and national forest trails and at the North Park and Rock Springs sand dunes without incident since he was 5. Go figure.)

Shortly after that, one of our other four-wheelers threw its main drive belt.

A trip to Laramie, Wyoming, for the part and several hours of repair work ate up most of the next day.

But it was the disturbing lack of wildlife that proved to be the final horror. The entire region seemed utterly devoid of wild, living things. Despite seven days and countless miles of earnest searching we saw only two Steller’s jays, one gray jay, two pine squirrels, no grouse, no elk, two deer and a flock of crows. We suspect the vast pine beetle infestation may have driven the animals from the once lush forests of North Park.

Whatever it was, life happened and it wasn’t all that pleasant.

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Read outdoor columns at www.colorado countrylife.coop. Click on Outdoors.

24 Colorado Country Life NOVEMBER 2010

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BATHROOM LIGHTING Remodel with energy savings in mind BY JAMES DULLEY

W

Planning efficient and effective lighting for a master bathroom can be complicated. Use the basic lighting design technique called layering. This is the same design technique professionals use for every other room of a house.

The three basic lighting layers are task, ambient and accent. Bathrooms are relatively task oriented (showering, shaving, applying makeup, general grooming, etc.), so adequate task lighting is most important. Task lighting at the mirror and vanity is most often used.

Ideally, place lighting on both sides of the mirror and perhaps also on top for threedirection lighting to eliminate shadows. If the mirror is not too wide, wall-mounted vertical fluorescent tube lighting on each side of the mirror is best and efficient.

For over-the-mirror task lighting, Kichler offers a new decorative rail light design. It is similar to track lighting, with three or four directional fixtures mounted on a rail that hangs down a couple of inches from the ceiling. Several of the rail fixtures use superefficient, long-lasting, white light-emitting diode bulbs.

For the bath and shower area, recessed overhead task lighting works well. BroanNutone offers recessed light fixtures with built-in exhaust fans. These are efficient because excess moisture is drawn from the shower stall before it enters the room.

If you are remodeling a child’s bathroom, the lighting can be much simpler. A basic overhead Energy Star-qualified fan with a compact fluorescent bulb will be adequate.

And for the kids, select a vent fan with a motion or humidity sensor to automatically shut it off at the right time.

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

BY SPENDING A FEW MINUTES I’M SAVING A LOT!

I’m saving $82 a year by changing my home’s air filter regularly.

What can you do?

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hat is the best and most efficient lighting for bathroom remodeling projects?

TOGETHERWESAVE.COM

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F or more information on bathroom lighting, visit www.coloradocountrylife.coop and click on Energy Tips.

NOVEMBER 2010 Colorado

Country Life 25

MARKETPLACE

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I SET MY THERMOSTAT TO CHEAP. Follow us on Facebook and win weekly prizes. www.facebook/COCountryLife

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TO G E T H E RW E SAV E .CO M

PROMOTE YOUR EDUCATONAL OPPORTUNITIES in the February issue of Colorado Country Life.

All Coloradans are students.

Many will want to learn from you once they know your specialty.

Is your specialty a particular topic or field of study? An especially successful teaching method?

Is your student body particularly adept at developing its own successful beginnings?

Share the good news!

Advertising Deadline: December 23 Contact Kris at 393-902-7276 or email advertising@coloradocountrylife.org

26 Colorado Country Life NOVEMBER 2010

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MARKETPLACE

Dawn Shelstad is the winner of CCL’s October contest. We sent her the Fearless Knitting workbook and a $25 gift card to buy yarn for her project.

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NOVEMBER 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

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RESERVE YOUR ARTS AND CRAFTS space at the December 4th Greenhorn Valley Players 10th Annual Holiday Bazaar to be held at Valley Community Church Recreation Center. Spaces are $35 on first-come, first-serve basis.

No commercial vendors. Deadline is November 20. For more details or reserve form, call 719-251-3396 or 719-489-3349.

Send to GVP, P.O. Box 424, Rye, CO 81069 (930-11-10)

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

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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.saw millexchange.com. (267-03-11)

FINANCIAL SERVICES TIRED OF STOCK MARKET volatility? Low rates of return on your CD’s? Now you can earn 8% guaranteed with no risk to your principal, ever, as well as tax-deferred growth, guaranteed lifetime income, and liberal withdrawal benefits.

For more information, please contact Thad Scholl at Town & Country Insurance at 877-8873131 or thad.scholl@gmail.com.

(851-01-11)

BOOKS

1985 CADILLAC ELDORADO Barritz Conv., mint condition, collector’s dream, $15K, 970-522-4600 (899-10-10)

DO YOUR KIDS love animals?

Just published: three fun books by Cecilia Sanders, illustrated by Maria Bush, are based on real wildlife behaviors. 719-784-3214 or 719-4853883.(932-11-10)

1995-2010 — SUBARUS, Foresters, Outbacks, Imprezas, WRXs and Tribecas! Great Prices! One-Year Warranty!

Dealer: 719-510-2212 or 303-870-2212. (574-02-11)

FOR SALE

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

2005 40 FT. ALFA GOLD motorhome, diesel, loaded, 2 slides, non-smokers, new $400K, now $145K, 970-522-4600 (899-02-11)

AVON sells — you earn money.

Generous profits. Flexible hours. $10 start up. ISR. 719-550-0242. (133-12-10)

CLOCK REPAIR & RESTORATION

HEAVY DUTY CATTLEPENS. Portable or Permanent; 32x45 working pen w/ 16’ crowding tub, $3,015. Call Kenneth 580-876-3699, www.cccattle equipment.com. (882-12-10)

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

BEGIN YOUR OWN BUSINESS! Mia Bella Candles/Gifts/ Beauty. Try the best! www. naturesbest.scent-team.com.

Free weekly drawing. Great income potential. (831-01-11)

GOOSE AND DUCK decoys, Magnums, standard silhouette, includes stakes, also heavy duty bullet trap on legs, 719-495-0461. (921-11-10)

FREE BOOKS/DVDS. Soon the “Mark of the Beast” will be enforced as Church and State unite! Let the Bible reveal. The Bible Says, POB 99, Lenoir City, TN 37771. thebiblesaystruth@ yahoo.com, 888-211-1715.

(814-12-10)

HEALTH LONG TERM CARE free shoppers guide, 303-898-9121, 866-499-7076, Ext. 150, watts. david@planadvisorsllc.com (915-12-10)

Thankful for family.

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) VISION OF TREES Annual Celebration, December 3, 4, & 5, Champion Community Center, Champion, NE. Visit Santa Friday evening 5 to 8 p.m.

Saturday 10 to 4 enjoy traveling carolers, potato bake, 9th Street Singers. Sunday noon to 3 homemade soup luncheon, Christmas Play, raffle, silent auction, homemade goodies, handcrafted items for sale. See beautifully decorated trees and Christmas displays. For more information, call 308-882-5667 or 308-882-2930. (928-11-10)

PROTECT YOUR SKIN and health from harmful chemicals.

MIESSENCE certified organic products. www.organicvision. mionegroup.com 719-380-7873.

(133-12-10)

MISCELLANEOUS

HELP WANTED

COLORADO CATNIP TOYS specializes in handmade organic catnip toys. Great selection of handmade washable cat blankets. www.coloradocatniptoys. etsy.com. (931-11-10)

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

AWARD WINNING LONG-ARM QUILTING — reasonable rates, quick turnaround. Karen Niemi, 303-470-9309, http://creative. stitching.home.comcast.net, creative.stitching@comcast.net (846-02-11)

ELECTRIC LAMP and heater repairs – All types, Ft. Collins area. For further information, call 970-204-1644. (926-11-10)

28 Colorado Country Life NOVEMBER 2010

FREE

HOBBIES & CRAFTS

DURANGO AREA. Clocks of all kinds repaired. Howard Miller service. Call Robert 970-247-7729. (109-11-10)

EARN A LITTLE OR A LOT! We can help you achieve your goals. www.GreatDayProfits. com. (924-01-11)

WORK CLOTHES – good clean rental type, 6 pants and 6 shirts $44.95. Lined work jackets $10.95. Denim Jeans $6.00. Call 1-800-233-1853. www.usedworkclothing.com.

100% satisfaction guaranteed.

(610-04-11)

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

PETS

REAL ESTATE 35-ACRE PARCELS, overlooking North Sterling Reservoir, ideal for custom home, exc. hunting, 970-522-4600. (899-02-10) DURANGO AREA – 160 acres bordering BLM. 6% OWNER FINANCING AVAILABLE. $450K, Mountain Land Properties, LLC, 719-783-0563. (920-11-10)

e

Read classified ads at countrylife.coop.

Click on Classifieds.

WWW.COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.COOP

REAL ESTATE

VACATION RENTAL

WANTED TO BUY

After we signed the contract to have our new

LAND WANTED — large land buyer looking to purchase 500-20,000 acres in Colorado. Will consider bail outs, foreclosures, joint ventures, condo/commercial projects. Will close quickly. Call Joe @ Red Creek Land 719-543-6663. (648-02-11)

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

(756-05-11)

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.

(519-11-10)

home built, everyone in our family was extremely excited about the start of construction. On the longawaited day when the hole for the basement was dug, my husband drove us to the site. He, our daughter, and I all walked quickly down into the hole, not noticing our 4-year-old son hadn’t followed us. I finally looked up and saw him staring down into the hole with a frown on his face, and I asked him what was wrong.

“This is our new house?” he asked.

Sharon Hunter, Buena Vista

RELIGION 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. (441-12-10)

SPECIAL SERVICES CHIMNEY CLEANING. Gas, wood, and pellet stove installations/ service. Factory trained. Serving Custer and Fremont County.

719-942-3880 (929-02-11) CUTTING BOARDS and trivets – hardwoods and sizes, for brochure, details, call Ft. Collins Area, 970-204-1644. (926-11-10) LAKE OR POND? Aeration is your 1st step toward improved water quality. Complete systems $199 to $369!! Waterfall? 7,000 gph super Hi-Efficiency waterfall pump, just 3 amps! $399.99! wwwfishpond aerator.com, 608-254-2735. (87912-10)

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

Call 1-888-NFR-rodeo (1-888637-7633) or www.NFR-Rodeo. com. *BBB Member; Since 1990.

(912-11-10)

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND beach house for winter rental. 3 bedroom, $2,100/mo. Call for details.

Sharon, 832-275-2515. (884-11-10)

WANTED TO BUY 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.

(470-12-10) 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, etc. ANYTHING OLD! Mining & railroad memorabilia, ore carts!

We buy whole estates. We’ll come to you! Call 970-759-3455 or 970-565-1256. (871-11-10)

OLD POCKET WATCHES – working or non-working and old repair material. Bob 719-859-4209 watchdoctor@hotmail.com.

(870-12-10) 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. (402-02-11) WANTED: JEEP CJ OR WRANGLER. Reasonably priced. No rust buckets. 888-735-5337. (227-09-11) WE PAY CASH FOR minerals and oil/gas interests, producing and nonproducing. 800-733-8122.

(227-09-11)

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)

Don’t let sales fall …

Advertise in Colorado Country Life and put your product in front of 188,000 readers.

Call Kris at 303-902-7276 WWW.COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.COOP

Our family, including our grandson who recently graduated from kindergarten, attended the high school graduation ceremony of our oldest grandson.

After the ceremony was finished I asked the younger one, “Would you like to graduate like this someday?”

He replied, “I already did. I don’t know what took him so long.”

Betty Schneider, Joes

Newly retired, I found myself available to pick my granddaughter up from preschool. As we were walking toward my truck, I asked her what she had learned in school. “Everything,” was her reply.

I was impressed with the progress she had made since she started preschool, but I thought I would test her, since she had learned everything.

I asked her the age old question, “Why did the chicken cross the road?”

Without hesitation her reply was, “Because there were no cars coming.”

Joe Mahaney, Pueblo West

Driving to my cousin’s wedding in Chicago, my husband, five children and I became lost. At the church, my mother, the godmother, was sitting close to the front and was worried we hadn’t arrived yet.

The ceremony started just when we arrived and we tried to slip quietly into our seats toward the back of the church. But, when the traditional ringing of the bells began, my 5-year-old daughter Cathy, cried out in her loudest voice, “The popsicle man is coming!”

My mother, way up in front, recognized Cathy’s voice, and told my dad, “Oh, good, they’re here!”

Carol Piehl, Julesburg 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.

NOVEMBER 2010

Colorado Country Life 29

Let’s All Tie One On

E

veryone loves a homemade treat, especially when there’s love baked in. EllynAnne Geisel, a Pueblo resident, figured this sort of love deserved its own special day.

Otherwise known as “the apron lady,” EllynAnne decided to start delivering fresh loaves of bread wrapped in aprons to her neighbors the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

Her idea, known as National Tie One On Day, has spread across the nation, and you have the opportunity to participate. Just bake something yummy, wrap it in an apron with an encouraging note and drop it by the home of someone you know who needs it. Don’t be surprised if you find something on your doorstep once the joy begins to spread in your community.

For more information, visit EllynAnne’s website, www.apronmemories.com/ tie-one-on-day.

The Opportunity Next Door

D

o you want to start volunteering in your community but don’t know where to start? GenerousColorado.org makes it easy to find and connect with all kinds of nonprofit organizations right next door. The site includes a search engine that lets you type in your ZIP code to discover nearby volunteer opportunities.

If you’re looking for a way to help out but don’t have the time, GenerousColorado.org also has links where you can donate money to organizations online with a couple of clicks.

Don’t let another Thanksgiving of “wishing you could do more” go by. Find a way to give back at www.GenerousColorado. org today.

Sending Out Smiles

S

ometimes just a smile is enough to brighten even the worst days. One website, www.helpothers.org, has created a national network of smiles just for that purpose. Its site features stories of random acts of kindness meant to inspire others to spread the love. It also provides “smile cards” you can give to strangers or friends to give them a little encouragement.

For more information and a free smile, visit www. helpothers.org.

ADOPT A SOLDIER

W

hile most of us will be enjoying turkey and stuffing with family and friends this Thanksgiving, there are servicemen and women all over the world who will be far from home come November 25. We can honor their commitment and sacrifice for our freedom by reminding them that we care through www.adoptaussoldier.org.

Created by Englewood resident and military mother Ann Johnson, Adopt a US Soldier started as a group of volunteers sending letters, snacks and other pieces of home to soldiers in Iraq. Now the organization includes thousands of volunteers across the nation reaching out to military men and women in more than 100 countries. To learn more about getting involved, visit www.adopt aussoldier.org and support our troops this Thanksgiving.

Nominate a Family in Need

I

nspired to give back this holiday season? Through this month’s contest, we at Colorado Country Life are providing an opportunity. We’re giving away four gift baskets containing an apron, instant potatoes and gravy and a $50 gift card to go toward purchasing a turkey. We’ll be picking one family from each quadrant of the state. Find out how to nominate someone you know by visiting www.coloradocountrylife.coop and clicking on Contests.

30 Colorado Country Life NOVEMBER 2010

WWW.COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.COOP

2010 Gift Guide Give a Colorado Country Life

Great gifts for Christmas

subscription.

It’s only $9 in state, $15 out of state.

It’s a great inexpensive gift idea for friends and family.

Call 303-455-4111 for more information.

Gallop Through Time Get the cowboy on your Christmas list a leatherbound wild west rodeo book.

Call 303-455-4111 to order yours today.

WWW.COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.COOP

NOVEMBERER 2010 Colorado

Country Life 31