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June 2015

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[contents]

June 2015

[cover]

Photo of the BrainStormers crew of Elbert, courtesy of The Weather Channel.

4 Viewpoint

20 Recipes

5 Letters

22 Gardening

CREA bridged the partisan divide this legislative session

Sizzlesteaks on the barbecue this Father’s Day

6 Calendar

24 Outdoors

Co-op News

12 NewsClips 14 Solar Gardens

Herbs flourish in Colorado while spicing up gardens and savory dinners Quiet time spent in the woods pays off as turkeys strut

Community solar gardens are taking root 25 Energy Tips in Colorado and across the nation 29 Funny Stories 16 BrainStormers 30 Discoveries

Go behind the scenes of a reality show with these Elbert inventors

Extra content:

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This month’s online extras ➤ FIND more information on events around the state ➤ L EARN more about the co-ops’ Legislative Conference ➤W ATCH teasers of the BrainStormers TV episodes ➤ E NTER to win prizes given away by Colorado Country Life

398MW 80 million

solar energy currently installed in Colorado — Solar Energy Industries Association

cards exchanged annually on Father’s Day — Hallmark.

80%

of all U.S. households own a grill or smoker — Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association

The official publication of the Colorado Rural Electric Association || Volume 46, Number 06 COMMUNICATIONS STAFF: Mona Neeley, CCC, Publisher/Editor@303-455-4111; mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org Donna Wallin, Associate Editor; dwallin@coloradocountrylife.org ADVERTISING: Kris Wendtland@303-902-7276, advertising@coloradocountrylife.org; NCM@800-626-1181 SUBSCRIPTIONS: info@coloradocountrylife.org

EDITORIAL: Denver Corporate Office, 5400 Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216; Phone: 303-455-4111 • Email: mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org • Website: coloradocountrylife.coop • Facebook: facebook.com/COCountryLifw • Twitter: @COCountryLife Colorado Country Life (USPS 469-400/ISSN 1090-2503) is published monthly for $9/$15 per year by Colorado Rural Electric Association, 5400 N. Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216. Periodical postage paid at Denver, Colorado. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Colorado Country Life, 5400 N. Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216 Publication of an advertisement in Colorado Country Life does not imply endorsement by any Colorado rural electric cooperative or the Colorado Rural Electric Association. Editorial opinions published in Colorado Country Life magazine shall pertain to issues affecting rural electric cooperatives, rural communities and citizens. The opinion of CREA is not necessarily that of any particular cooperative or individual.

[viewpoint]

Bridging the Partisan Divide

CREA works with both sides of the aisle this legislative session BY KENT SINGER || CREA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR || KSINGER@COLORADOREA.ORG

“C

“Colorado’s divided session leaves a legislative graveyard of bills.” That was a recent headline in The Denver Post describing the challenges of passing legislation in Colorado in 2015. Currently in the Colorado General Assembly, the Republicans have a majority in the Senate and the Democrats have a majority in the House of Representatives. Having to pass both houses proved fatal for much of this year’s proposed legislation. But, I’m happy to report that the Colorado Rural Electric Association avoided the Grim Reaper on most of the bills it supported. CREA’s legislative agenda was alive and well at the end of the 2015 legislative campaign. We initiated Senate Bill 15-046, a bill that passed through the entire legislative process without a single no vote in any committee or on the floor. SB 15-046 allows electric co-ops to count the output of community solar gardens as retail distributed generation for purposes of complying with the renewable energy standard. It also allows co-ops to exclude sales from industrial customers in calculating the requirement. CREA and its member co-ops appreciate the cooperation of a large group of stakeholders in reaching a compromise on SB 15-046 and we are also extremely grateful for the assistance of Sens. Kevin Grantham (R) and Kerry Donovan (D), as well as Rep. Dominick Moreno (D) for their sponsorship of the bill. Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) signed the bill May 1 and we believe it will help our members comply with the requirements of the renewable energy requirements in a more cost-effective manner. A bill that was essentially a spinoff of SB 15-046 was introduced late in the session and eventually passed on the last day. House Bill 15-1377 expands the types of renewable energy gardens that co-ops can count toward their retail distributed generation obligation to include all renewable resources and not just solar energy. CREA worked with the primary proponents of the bill (the Colorado Cleantech Industries Association and the Distributed Wind Energy Association) to address parts of the bill that would hurt co-ops and we were able to agree on compromise language that addressed our concerns. The common theme between SB 15-046 and HB 15-1377 is 4

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maintaining flexibility for co-ops to determine how best to incorporate Kent Singer new renewable energy projects that are proposed in electric co-op service territory. A third bill that we worked hard on this session is HB 15-1364, a bill that clarifies the authority of the state electrical board as it relates to the inspection and approval of small hydropower projects. In a couple of instances, proposed micro hydropower projects were not approved by the state electrical board because the equipment used by the developers was not UL approved. Working with the state electrical board and other parties, we developed a bill that will enable these projects to go forward while making sure the projects are safe for the developers and the public. Another bill that CREA supported in the 2015 legislative session was SB 15-258. This bill established a state review process for the development of a plan for carbon emission reductions as contemplated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan. CREA supported this bill to give the Colorado Public Utilities Commission and the Colorado legislature a formal role in reviewing the state plan that will be developed by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. If Colorado electric utilities are required to make significant investments in new infrastructure to comply with the Clean Power Plan, our legislature and Public Utilities Commission should have a role in determining how those expenses will affect Colorado electricity consumers. SB 15-258 passed the Colorado Senate with bipartisan support, but it was killed in the House State Affairs Committee in the last days of the session. We believe this is an incredibly important issue for our electric co-op member-owners and we will carefully review the final Clean Power Plan rules when they are announced this summer to determine if we will seek legislative review again in the 2016 legislative session. And, finally, after a lot of wrangling, a bill to continue the Colorado Office of Consumer Counsel was approved by the legislature. We believe the Office of Consumer Counsel plays an important role in advocating for residential, agricultural and small-business consumers in Colorado and in reviewing the proposed rates of Colorado’s investor-owned electric utilities. We were glad to see the office continue and support its efforts. So, with all due respect to The Denver Post, our 2015 legislative session was anything but a graveyard, and we look forward to equal success in 2016 and beyond.

Kent Singer, Executive Director

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[ letters] Longtime Readers I enjoy Colorado Country Life very much. My late husband and I have gotten power from Highline Electric since 1954. I am still on the farm, but love to dance country-style, play games on the computer and have fun. Keep up the good work.

Darlene Weis, Holyoke

I always read the classified ads because I found a vacation rental on Kauai. We stayed at the cottage for a week last year and loved it.

Kathy Roberts, Cotopaxi

Freedom and Tolerance It is amazing how easily some people get offended. We are living in a country where anything that makes somebody uncomfortable should not be allowed. What happened to the founding principles of freedom and tolerance? For criticism of including hunting and fishing topics in your magazine to be valid and lifestyle consistent, the complainant should also protest the inclusion of a meat department in the local food market or the raising of livestock by local farmers.

Being a child at home alone in the summer is a high-risk occupation. If you call your mother at work 13 times an hour, she can hurt you. — Erma Bombeck

Wayne Grabow, Monument

How can you live in Colorado and not want to ski, hike, hunt and fish? Thanks for your special magazine. We enjoy all your articles.

Anita Voegtli, Windsor

Articles That Bring a Smile I loved Kristen Hannum’s article “The (Crab) Apple (Tree) of My Eye” (April ’15). There are few trees as beautiful as the crab apple. I’ve been known to drop my neighbors a note telling them how much I appreciate their crab apple tree in bloom during my daily walks. I also appreciated the Chinese quote: The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. Thanks for a laugh of the day.

B. Burch, Monument

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

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JUNE 2015

[calendar]

June

June 5-6 Calhan Summer Rummage Sale Whittemore Hall at the Fairgrounds 8:30 am-3:30 pm • lynn_ anderson32@yahoo.com June 6 Durango Civil War Ball La Plata County Fairgrounds 6:30-10 pm • 970-385-8451 June 6 Flagler Wheatland Legacy Festival Downtown Main Avenue 8 am-5 pm • 719-740-6872 June 6 Steamboat Springs Cowboy Music and Poetry Steamboat Springs Library 1-4 pm • wmacolorado.org June 12 Virginia Dale Country Dance and Pie Auction Virginia Dale Stage Station 7-11 pm • 970-495-1828 June 13 Akron Charity Motorcycle and Car Poker Run 551 W. 2nd St. 970-554-0117 • johnnree@ netcommander.com June 13-14 Buena Vista Collegiate Peaks Stampede Rodeo Rodeo Grounds buenavistacolorado.org June 13-14 Grand Lake Arts & Crafts Fair Town Park 10 am • 970-627-3402 June 13 Longmont Home on the Grange Altona Grange 10 am-7 pm • 303-709-0334 June 13 Peyton Open House Meadow Lake Airport 9 am-4:30 pm • www.eaa72.org 6

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June 13-14 Rye American Indian Festival Rye Home United Methodist Church 719-676-3741 June 13 Swink Barn Dance Swink Sugar Factory 8 pm-12 am • 719-469-0872 June 13 Walsh Art and Craft Show Gem Theater 9 a.m.-4 pm • 719-324-5477

Featured Event

Cut The Diamond Colorado State Square Dance Festival June 12-14 at The Crowne Plaza DIA, Denver Folks from all around the state and beyond will attend the Cut The Diamond Colorado State Square Dance Festival this year. Do you have the right stuff to get in the mix? If so, sign up for this sensational event and kick up your heels with hundreds of guys and gals who are also ready to get their moves on. Visit colorado squaredance.com or call 719-647-8894 to find out more and to register.

June 14 Sterling High Plains Music Fest & Poker Run Northeastern 18 3:30-10:30 pm • 970-521-9020

June 20 Loveland Garden Tour and Art Show Various Loveland Locations 8 am-3 pm • 970-669-7182

June 18-21 Durango “Always … Patsy Cline” Theater Performance Durango Arts Center durangoarts.org

June 21 Pagosa Springs Summer Solstice Sunrise Program Chimney Rock National Monument 5 am • 877-444-6777

June 19-20 Pueblo Bands in the Backyard Music Festival 23344 Highway 50 East bandsinthebackyard.com

June 22-25 Grand Junction Stillwater Cowboy Rodeo Bible Camp Mesa County Fairgrounds stillwatercowboychurch.org

June 19 Trinidad “The Music Man” Theater Performance Famous Performing Arts Center scrtheatre.com

June 26-27 Durango Arts & Crafts Show Buckley Park 970-247-2117 • fairandphoto@ frontier.net

June 20 Bayfield Bayberry Jam Festival Eagle Park 1 pm • jennast@yahoo.com

June 27 Durango Gardens on Tour Various Durango Gardens 970-749-5642

June 20 Fort Collins Tea on the Avery Lawn Avery House 10 am-1 pm • 970-221-0533

June 27-28 Estes Park Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Bond Park 9:30 am • 303-449-9596

June 20 Holyoke Dandelion Daze Family Event Courthouse Lawn 970-854-3517 • www.holyoke chamber.org

June 30 Creede “Guys & Dolls” Theater Performance Creede Repertory Theatre 7:30 pm • 719-658-2540

July July 3 Meeker Milk Creek Battlefield Park Tour White River Museum Garrison 10 am • rioblancocounty.org July 4 Durango All American Breakfast Rotary Park 7:30-10:30 am • 970-946-4856 July 4-5 La Veta “Scrappy Stars” Quilt Show La Veta Community Center 10 am-4 pm • nsoderb@aol. com July 5 Salida Square Dance Salida Community Center 7-9:30 pm • 719-539-7877

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

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SAN ISABEL ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED

[Between the Lines] Capital Credits … the Cooperative Difference

BY REG RUDOLPH | | GENERAL MANAGER

The biggest difference between being an electric conwho don’t have a vested interest in Southern Colosumer of a cooperative versus any other form of utility rado. is capital credits. One of the seven cooperative principles is economic A cooperative is different than a municipal or invesparticipation. Economic participation means sharing tor-owned utility because the cooperative consumers in the advantages of cooperative membership. You are of electricity share in the economic advantages of a contributing to the future generations of the coopnonprofit utility. Cooperatives operate at cost, and any erative, like past generations contributed to today’s margin above the financial requirements are allocated members. This continual rotation of equity from back to those same members who generated the excess past to current members is the cooperative way. It is margin. stewardship in its finest form. It is also the reason that Reg Rudolph Every year, San Isabel Electric Association allocates San Isabel Electric Association not only survived, but to each member their portion of the margin. This margin acts thrived in Southern Colorado since 1938. as the equity required to operate the cooperative for the next generation. As financial stability dictates, the Board of Directors then retires that equity to the membership on a first-in, first-out In accordance with its bylaws, San Isabel Electric Association, Inc., is publishing a list of basis. members whose Sweet Reward checks, issued in 2014, remain unclaimed. If your name Even though this equity is retired over a period of 20 to 30 is on this list, please contact the office at 800-279-7432 or 719-647-6267 and ask for the years, every member will eventually receive his or her portion of capital credit department. You may also contact SIEA by email at capitalcredits@siea. margin back over time. com. You may be required to provide proof of identity before claiming capital credits. Last fall, San Isabel Electric offered the Sweet Rewards DisThe following list is for amounts of $10 or more. You may also view the complete SIEA counted Capital Credit Retirement for all members to cash in list on the website at www.siea.com. Look for the Sweet Rewards icon. their capital credits on a discounted basis. The Sweet Rewards Aldretti Anthony G Donna L Mitchell James R Dunn Jeffry P Hodges Stephen R participation put nearly $2.5 million of the members’ equity Spencer Lynn L Allgire Robert L Mobile One Earnest John P Johnson Eleanor P back in their pockets where it belongs. As the financial strength Baldwin Paul A Taylor David F Montoya Mary F Egan John P Juan Anna M of San Isabel continues to grow, more capital credits will be Montoya-Furia Thornton Joseph C Barker Mary A Fillmore Wade W Keeling Oil Co Jacque R Thorp Michael O Baros Sharon Fosdick Ranches Klipfel Shirley E coming your way. Morgan Michelle Trujillo Ben Black Bear Ranch Llc Franklin Darrel K Knights Inn In the next few months, San Isabel Electric will be sending Morris Greg United Church Of Bronken Richard F Galpin Glenda Knights Inn out 2014’s capital credit allocation statements. These statements Apartments Murphy John Walsenburg Brooks Dave E Garbiso John haven’t been sent for several years, so it will be a new experience Calvert Kenneth A Garcia Elfego G Koutnik Vince Myers Duane Valdes Robert A for the Members. The allocation statements will include imporLandree Lori L Neilly Michael W Valerio Michael Cannon Margaret R Gardner Rodeo B Lee Victoria L O'donnell Janet L Verdin Tammy Gomez Monica tant information that you should familiarize yourself with. First, Carochi Lori Lloyd Andrew Patrick Donna M Vigil Arlene J Coca Joe Gonzales Naomi L the statement is going to indicate the amount being allocated Lopez Carol A Pineda Alison Vigil Gail L Cooper Samuel Grace Clyde in the form of equity for 2014. Second, it will show what your Lucier Linda M Poliakiwski Colleen Vigil Jerriann Corsentino Jessica N Grine Tammy L account accumulated in total equity yet to be retired since you Mackenthun Arthur Pugel Robert J Vigil Jerriann Coy Heather R Guara Cathi C became a Member. Mancilla George H Renner Lorraine C Walsen Clinic Llc Craft Edward E Hall N T Maniscalco Janet Sanchez Larry S Wells E D Cramer Allan M Hastings Charles Fjr This statement is an important document that demonstrates Martel Melissa A Seba Marjorie L West John L Dague Lonnie R Hecht Margaret the cooperative difference over other types of electric utilities. Martinez Marcos L Shafer Leah M Wolf Sid C Dallaguardia Susan D Heggie Andrew P The Board of Directors’ commitment to cooperative principles Masse Barbara A Shelton Hank Young Larry Davis Robley W Heiney Richard J was validated by their desire to become more aggressive with Mc Cartney Thomas F Silipo Klara L Young's Dillon Janet Hockett Albert retirements of capital credit in the coming years, a desire to get Singleton James D or Manufacturing Miller Sandra L Dolick Thelma M Hockett Albert G your money back in your pocket, not the pockets of investors

Attention SIEA Members

coloradocountrylife.coop

JUNE 2015

[Between the Lines] San Isabel Electric Association Gives Back to Some of its Youngest Members

The Huerfano School District RE-1 received a substantial contribution from San Isabel Electric Association, Inc. The Electric Cooperative recently presented the District with funds that will provide technology to some of the youngest Members in the SIEA service territory. The funds will benefit 530 students in the School District. Huerfano School District RE-1 received the contribution via SIEA’s Community Donation Program. The SIEA Board of Directors not only approved the original request for $5,000, but also obtained matching funds from Basin Electric Power Cooperative to double the donation for a total of $10,000. Funds will be used to aid in purchasing educational iPads and accessories. It is not what the funds have provided, but what they will contribute to the student’s education that really makes a difference. “Being able to provide extended learn-

ing opportunities at home, during the week and weekends are fantastic ways to get students to become engaged in reading, writing and math activities that perhaps they normally would leave at the school door on a Thursday and Left to right: Members of the SIEA Board of Directors, Debbie Rose, not reengage in until Doris Morgan, Jacque Sikes, Don Keairns, Joseph Costa, Huerfano School District RE-1 Superintendent Michael Moore and Ray Garcia. school on Monday”, said Huerfano School District RE-1 Superintendent, Michael youth by empowering some of the youngMoore. “Our children are also learning est Members enhancing their education vital 21st century technology skills, as they and promoting state-of-the-art learning use the iPads for various types of learning methods. That’s the Cooperative Differactivities and presentations they create.” ence. By granting donations, SIEA gives back San Isabel Electric Association, Inc. is an to the Member-communities. In this case, equal opportunity provider and employer SIEA is making an investment in our serving southern Colorado since 1938.

2015 Firecracker Demolition Derby Dash Join your family and friends for a night of food, fun, fireworks and fender benders! The 4-H Foundation is hosting the 2nd Firecracker Demolition Derby Saturday, July 11, 2015 Colorado State Fair Grounds For more information please contact Chris Cude, president at 719-240-2452 or cjcude@earthlink.net

Cuchara Hermosa Annual Art Show Cuchara Recreation Center July 17-18 • 10 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information email Pmarten47@gmail.com or call 719-742-3010 8

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coloradocountrylife.coop

[Between the Lines]

SAVE THE DATE FOR THE SAN ISABEL ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING The nominating committee will meet at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 1, 2015, at the San Isabel Electric Association headquarters located at 781 E. Industrial Blvd., Pueblo West, CO 81007. Nominations by petition must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, August 5, 2015.

Director districts up for election are: District 3: Gardner, Trinidad east and vicinity District 5: City of Walsenburg District 7: Aguilar, Trinidad west and vicinity District 8: Pueblo West (vacancy, one-year term)

The following is an excerpt from the bylaws regarding nominations for the board of directors: Article III, DIRECTORS, Section 4, Nominations: It shall be the duty of the board of directors to appoint not less than 70 days, nor more than 90 days, before the date of the meeting of the members at which directors are to be elected, a committee on nominations consisting of not less than five, nor more than 11, members who shall be selected so as to give equitable representation on the committee to the geographical areas served by the cooperative. No officer

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or member of the board of directors shall be appointed a member of such committee. The committee shall prepare and post at the principal office of the cooperative at least 60 days before the meeting, a list of nominations for directors, but any 15 or more members may make other nominations in writing over their signatures, duly acknowledged, not less than 45 days prior to the meeting. The secretary shall post the same at the same place where the list of nominations made by the committee is posted and print said names on the ballot. Nothing contained herein shall, however, prevent additional nominations to be made from the floor at the meeting of the members. At least one member of the nominating committee shall be appointed from each district from which a board member is to be elected.

San Isabel Electric Association, Inc. Annual Membership Meeting Saturday September 19, 2015 John Mall High School 355 W. Pine St. Walsenburg, Colorado

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[Between the Lines]

$21,000

IN SCHOLARSHIPS FROM SIEA

San Isabel Electric Association held its 25th annual scholarship awards dinner honoring valedictorians and salutatorians from high schools in the SIEA service area. San Isabel Electric, in conjunction with its power suppliers, is proud to announce awarding $21,000 in scholarships. The $2,000 Basin Electric Power Cooperative and San Isabel Electric Association San Isabel Electric Association 2015 Scholarship program recipients (top scholarship was awarded to Elicka Rauber row left to right) Ariana Coca, Conor of La Veta High School. Tri-State GeneraOrr, William Lane, Sean Lutz, Jacob tion and Transmission awarded $500 scholarships to Jaqueline Juarez of Branson School and Sloan, and Austin Johnson; (middle row left to right) Elicka Rauber, Rena Jacob Sloan of Pueblo West High School. SIEA contributes $1,000 to the Tri-State scholarships, Trujillo, Bailee Jones, Curtis Dunford increasing the value to $1,500 each. and Kendra VanMatre; (front row Additionally, the San Isabel Electric Association Board of Directors awarded scholarships valleft to right) Khayla Garrison, Alyssa Sandoval, Amber Arline, Bryna Burns, ued at $1,000 each to the other students as follows: William Lane and Ariana Coca, Aguilar High Niccole Cordova and Cecily Begano. School; Kendra VanMatre and Bailee Jones, Hoehne High School; Cecily Begano and Niccole Not pictured: Jaqueline Juarez and Cordova, Holy Trinity Academy; Conor Orr and Alyssa Sandoval, John Mall High School; Rena James Lujan. Trujillo, La Veta High School; James Lujan and Sean Lutz, Primero High School; Amber Arline, Pueblo West High School; Bryna Burns and Austin Johnson, Rye High School; and Khayla Garrison and Curtis Dunford, Trinidad High School. Scholarship recipients from Swallows Charter Academy and Southern Colorado College for Early Learning will be determined at a later date. Parents, principals and counselors were on hand to celebrate with the winners. Reg Rudolph, general manager of SIEA, gave the address for the evening and congratulated the academic standouts on their achievements. The banquet was held on April 30, 2015, at John Mall High School in Walsenburg with catering provided by the La Plaza Restaurant and Inn of Walsenburg.

WHEN LIGHTNING STRIKES The best way to stay safe from the threat of lightning is to stay inside and avoid interacting with appliances, electrical outlets, wires, cables, phone lines and water. If you are outdoors when a lightning storm hits, find shelter immediately.

JUNE 2015

coloradocountrylife.coop

MARCH 2015

[newsclips]

Governor Signs Co-op Bill

When Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) signed Senate Bill 15-046 May 1, he helped electric co-ops add more renewable energy by allowing electricity from community solar gardens to count toward their retail distributed generation requirement. The bill, which was the result of the electric co-ops’ representatives working with members of the environmental community and legislators, passed unanimously by the Colorado Senate and House and showcased what can be accomplished when all affected parties work together. SB 15-046 also allows electric co-ops to deduct their unpredictable industrial sales from their total retail sales when it comes to calculating their retail distributed generation obligations. Both of these fixes were needed after Senate Bill 13-252 passed in 2013 without co-op input. The electric co-ops thank bill sponsors Sen. Kevin Grantham (R) and Rep. Dominick Moreno (D), as well as Sen. Kerry Donovan (D), who convened stakeholder meetings to help the parties involved find common ground. Before the 2015 legislative session closed, House Bill 15-1377 also passed to allow community renewable resources other than

Get Ready to Pedal the Plains

Mark your calendars for Pedal the Plains, this fall’s annual ride across Colorado’s eastern plains. The threeday bicycle tour is set for September 18-20 in northeastern Colorado. The ride will start in Julesburg and offer two options to Holyoke. One will be 63 miles and venture a bit into Nebraska. The shortcut will be 33 miles and head straight south with a short jog about midway there. Day two will take riders 63 miles from Holyoke to Sterling just in time to celebrate Sugar Beet Days in downtown Sterling. Day three will head back to Julesburg on roads that run parallel to Interstate 76. Colorado’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives will sponsor the Powering the Plains bike team, riding to raise money for Energy Outreach Colorado. Read the July issue of Colorado Country Life for information on how and where to sign up for the team, which is open to all riders.

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With Gov. John Hickenlooper (seated) as he signs SB 15-046 are (left to right) Sen. Kevin Grantham; Jeff Ackermann of the Colorado Energy Office; CREA Executive Director Kent Singer; United Power Director of External Affairs Troy Whitmore; Rep. Dominick Moreno; Rebecca Cantwell of Colorado Solar Energy Industry Association; CREA Director of Government Relations Geoff Hier; and Andrew Sand of the Colorado Energy Office.

solar to also be included as retail distributed generation. The Colorado Rural Electric Association worked with Conservation Colorado, the Distributed Wind Energy Association and Colorado Cleantech Industries on this bill.

CO-OPS CHEER WATER HEATER ACTION IN D.C.

Electric co-ops across the country can continue to utilize large-capacity electric water heaters for demand response programs thanks to the passage of the Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015 by Congress. Collectively, electric co-ops can now continue to reduce demand for electricity by an estimated 500 megawatts, according to the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. This decreases the pressure to build additional peak power resources and saves co-op members hundreds of millions of dollars. The large-capacity water heaters used in these demand-reducing programs were set to be replaced by heat pump technology — which does not work for demand response programs — in a separate U.S. Department of Energy water heater efficiency standard that went into effect in April. This would have left more than 250 electric co-ops in 35 states, including Colorado, unable to run their demand response programs. In these programs, the water heater acts like a battery, with its water being heated at night or during off-peak times by wind power or other less expensive resources. Then, during high-demand peak periods, the water heater can be remotely turned off for short periods of time with no noticeable impact on water temperatures. But, in mid-April, the U.S. House joined the U.S. Senate in approving the new efficiency standard for largecapacity water heaters deployed for demand response programs.

coloradocountrylife.coop

[newsclips]

ELECTRIC CO-OP REPRESENTATIVES VISIT D.C.

Nearly 75 representatives of Colorado electric cooperatives were among the almost 2,000 electric cooperative leaders who met in Washington, D.C., recently to press lawmakers on key co-op issues as part of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s annual Legislative Conference. With a focus on a host of new environmental rules, NRECA CEO Jo Ann Emerson told participants they are in an ideal position to explain the impact of these new mandates to members of the Senate and House. The May 3-5 conference armed co-op CEOs, directors and staffers with insights for their visits with legislators and their staffs. Colorado’s co-op representatives met with Sens. Michael Bennet (D) and Cory Gardner (R) prior to meeting with staffers from the offices of Reps. Diana DeGette (D), Scott Tipton (R), Ken Buck (R), Doug Lamborn (R), Mike Coffman (R) and Ed Perlmutter (D). (The U.S. House was not in session when co-op leaders were in Washington.) During the meetings, the Colorado electric co-ops asked their congressional delegation to

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support the Ratepayer Protection Act, a bill that would postpone the implementation of the Clean Power Plan until after all legal challenges to the rules are resolved. Colorado also asked for support of legislation that would make the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s nonhazardous waste designation for coal ash a permanent designation. In another request, the co-op group asked for support of legislation that would require the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reconsider the proposed Waters of the United States rules that could impact co-op operations. Colorado’s co-op leaders also thanked lawmakers for their support of water heater legislation that became law April 30 and will benefit demand response programs at many electric co-ops.

Sen. Cory Gardner

Sen. Michael Bennet

JUNE 2015

[industry] United Power, a Colorado co-op, launches its Sol Partners Cooperative Solar Farm in May 2009 as the first cooperative solar farm in the nation.

Solar Gardens Budding Brightly

Community solar projects are taking root across the nation BY ANNE PRINCE

Interest in solar options for consumers is growing and electric co-ops across the country are meeting the demand through community “solar gardens.” This increasingly popular strategy means that the utility installs its own solar system and interested members purchase shares. This arrangement allows member-owners who could not otherwise install solar at their homes to take advantage of the solar offering afforded by their electric co-op. For co-ops, this community solar garden format offers the advantage of fulfilling customer demand while diversifying their fuel portfolio and cultivating new community partnerships.

Solar gardens take root

To date, not-for-profit electric co-ops have either installed or are planning 240 megawatts of solar capacity in 34 states. And this footprint is growing. In fact, more solar was installed in the United States during the last 18 months than in the previous 30 years. While co-op community solar projects vary widely, each begins with collaboration. Electric co-ops partner with farmers and ranchers, schools, military bases, large industrial members, local governments and sister co-op organizations. Some community solar arrays are accessible through leasing programs, while others are owned jointly.

JUNE 2015

Some are large with capacity measured in megawatts. This diversity points to one of the advantages of the community solar model: flexibility. The partnerships themselves illustrate the cooperative principles in action: cooperation, education, independence and concern for community.

“In the grand scheme of things, a 29-kilowatt solar farm serving six to 10 families is a small project. But I like to think that this is a big idea. One that can be replicated at utilities across the state and the nation.” Tom Walch, Grand Valley Power general manager

In 2009, Brighton-based United Power was among the first electric co-ops in the nation to offer consumers the opportunity to lease solar panels. Participants in United Power’s solar garden received credit for their portion of the array on their monthly electric bill. In 2013, Vermont Electric Cooperative, located in northern Vermont along the Canadian border, announced the first-in-thenation federal partnership for Next Genera-

tion Solar Energy. Once on line it will result in Vermont’s largest utility-scale solar project, making solar energy an option for more VEC customers and providing a model for cooperative utilities and their customers across the country. When announcing the partnership, Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin said, “This is exactly the kind of innovation we need as Vermont leads the country in renewable energy development. We’re helping to address climate change, creating jobs and spurring economic development, and helping to bring down the cost of solar power in our state and across the country. This project is a win on all fronts.”

A grand idea

On May 29 and 30, Grand Valley Power in Grand Junction hosted volunteers who helped build its new GRID Alternatives community solar array during a Community Solarthon dedication ceremony. The 29-kilowatt solar garden was created specifically for low-income consumers and will provide clean renewable power to six to 10 families in the area. Participants of the program each put in 16 hours of sweat equity during the construction of the solar garden and will pay 2 cents per kilowatt-hour for electricity produced by the array. The solar panels can generate

coloradocountrylife.coop

[industry] In North Dakota, Verendrye Electric Cooperative created a solarpowered stock well leasing program that exploits the unique characteristics of solar energy to solve a specific problem raised by members with cattle ranches: how to power remote wells used only occasionally. Other co-ops across the country, including several in Colorado, have had similar programs for their agricultural members for years. This collaboration is in keeping with the cooperatives’ member-driven business model and the co-ops’ historic connection to farmers and ranchers.

Energy security Chuck Watkins, executive director of GRID Alternatives (left), shakes hands with GVP General Manager Tom Walch for the GVP solar farm expansion. Standing in the background (left to right) are Lou Villaire, Alasta Solar, and Eldon Krugman, executive director of Housing Resources of Western Colorado.

enough renewable energy to slice families’ electric bills in half. “In the grand scheme of things, a 29-kilowatt solar farm serving six to 10 families is a small project,” said GVP General Manager Tom Walch. “But I like to think that this is a big idea. One that can be replicated at utilities across the state and the nation. If this does happen, our GVPGRID Alternatives partnership could indeed have a transformative impact for many downstream consumers and utilities.”

Several co-ops serving military bases, including Mountain View Electric, which serves Peterson Air Force Base near Colorado Springs, help their federal co-op members meet mandated energy goals, including energy independence and security through partnerships on community solar gardens or solar arrays. For example, Sussex Rural Electric Cooperative in New Jersey is building a 750-kW solar array at Picatinny Arsenal. Sussex will own the solar facility and the base will receive the power and renewable energy credits. In the bluegrass state of Kentucky, Pennyrile Rural Electric Cooperative is working with Fort Campbell to install a 5-MW solar photovoltaic system sited on a landfill.

Spreading across the land

Across the country, often in places once written off as unsuitable for solar development, consumer-owned electric co-ops bring the benefits of solar energy to In Hammond, Wisconsin, St. Croix Electric their members. Southern Maryland Electric brought its 103-kW community solar project Co-operative, a distribution cooperative, on line in the spring of 2014. Plans for the looked to the National Renewables Coopera206-panel Sunflower 1, built at the electric tive Organization for help with its long-term co-op’s headquarters, were in response to plan to deploy 60 MW of solar. NRCO’s member demand for a solar option. In fact, mission is to facilitate the development and member support surpassed the original goal purchase of renewable resources, particularly and resulted in the expansion of the project for co-ops in regions with few options. NRCO, by an extra two rows of panels. “We’re very excited about it which includes Colorado’s Tri-State Genera “Members who subscribe to a local, rebecause being in the organic tion and Transmission as a member, helped the newable energy project receive energy credits business, we like the idea of co-op locate a solar developer and finalize an for the electricity their unit or units generate, using renewable energy.” agreement. SMECO will purchase all generated but the overall membership base is not burRyan Miller, energy, capacity and solar renewable credits of dened with the construction and ownership Farmers Hen House, Iowa the solar installations for the next 20 years. costs,” said SCEC member services manager Jerry Van Someren. The community solar model is growing. By accessing community solar arrays through their local co-ops, members realize the best of both worlds: They own their own solar Farm fresh and made in the U.S.A. system without the burden of installation and maintenance and they In Iowa, Farmers Electric Cooperative-Kalona set a goal of meeting 15 are can to access a renewable source of energy. Co-ops expect solar percent of the co-op’s power needs using renewable energy by 2025. to become a far more useful and valuable resource as technologies Despite FEC-Kalona’s small size, the co-op built the state’s largest evolve and the industry’s knowledge and understanding increase. True solar farm, the 800-kW Eagle Point 2 in Johnson County. The installato their tradition of cooperation and service to members, co-ops tion, financed by the co-op through a third party, was built using all U.S.-made components. More than 10 percent of the membership par- will play a unique role in this evolution by deploying, researching and sharing knowledge and experience with consumers, co-ops and the ticipates in the co-op’s community solar garden, including the Farmers Hen House egg facility. Ryan Miller, one of the Hen House owners, was industry. enthusiastic about the benefit of the solar power investment. “We’re very excited about it because being in the organic business, we like the Anne Prince writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National idea of using renewable energy,” he said. Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

St. Croix’s sunflower

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JUNE 2015

BEHIND THE SCENES

Left to right: Ryan Parker, Poppy Parker and Bill LeVasseur.

B R A INS T O R M E R S 16

JUNE 2015

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Photos courtesy of The Weather Channel

ON BY GAYLE GRESHAM

a sunny Colorado spring day I drove my pickup truck along the dirt roads near Elbert, on my way to interview the latest television stars of the new Weather Channel show, “BrainStormers.” Pulling up to the workshop, I saw an older man with a snow-white beard and wearing a straw hat tinkering in the shop. I recognized him as Rob Parker, known as “Poppy.” He walked over and greeted me with a quizzical look. “Can I help you?” I smiled, realizing that with the giant bale of hay in my truck I looked more like a rancher who lost her cows than a reporter. “My name is Gayle and I am here to interview you for Colorado Country Life.” He threw back his head and laughed a hearty laugh as we shook hands. I already liked this guy.

coloradocountrylife.coop

BrainStormers Ryan Parker and Bill LeVasseur test a new invention.

And then, he started telling me a story. “My first invention came about after my wife broke the axle of our new 1970 half-ton truck when she brought home a big load of hay for our horses. I figured out how to put on an axle for a one-ton truck by changing the driveshaft and putting on larger wheels,” he said with a twinkle in his blue eyes. “That truck is sitting in the shop, still ready to go.” I couldn’t have a better introduction to the world of “BrainStormers” and Poppy, his son, Ryan Parker, and Ryan’s best friend, Bill LeVasseur — three men who made it their mission to solve problems by recycling and repurposing old stuff and to share their inventions and inspire others through their reality television show.

MEET THE BRAINSTORMERS

What problem do you need to find a solution to? Affordable air-conditioning? Here’s a swamp cooler in a five-gallon bucket. Snow-making machine? Here’s a repurposed air compressor and pressure washer. How about a honey extractor? Here’s a washing machine tub and motor that will work for $200 instead of $4,000. These are some of the inventions made from repurposed items featured on “BrainStormers.” Each of the men brings his own special set of skills and personality to the team. Poppy worked as a can tech specialist at Coors Brewing Company for 35 years. Welding is his specialty, a skill that he also developed while operating his ranch in Jefferson County and Iron Horse Stables in Douglas County. Poppy spent his life inventing things and figuring out how to make things work better for other farmers and ranchers. According to Ryan, Poppy is like the wise old owl with life experience. Bill (who calls Poppy “Padre”) added, “Padre was able to stop myself and Ryan at times and say, ‘OK, this looks great on the board, but have you thought about this and this?’ And Ryan and I realize he knows because he’s been there and done that stuff.” Bill served as a U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter crew chief during Operation Desert Storm. His technological experience and creativity show up in difficult build situations. And his on-camera experience as an actor makes him a natural for the voice-over work on “BrainStormers.” However, his innate ability for finding just the right piece of junk to complete a project is noticed by his friends. “Bill has a knack for grabbing things and saying, ‘Hey, what about this?’ and it turns out to be the one thing we were missing,” Ryan said. “I like to call it ‘accidentally perfect.’” [continued on page 18] JUNE 2015

The team works on the motorized honey extractor, repurposing a variety of spare parts. [continued from page 17]

Building the honey extractor exemplified this. After repurposing a washing machine tub and the motor to become the extractor, the guys still needed something to attach the honey frames to at the bottom. Bill walked over to the old truck and happened to see the worn-out clutch plate lying there that had been replaced. He picked it up realizing it was the perfect size to set in the bottom of the tub for the honey frames to be attached to. Another moment of serendipity happened when Bill set a piece of Lexan (Plexiglas) he planned to use to make a lid for the honey extractor on the back of the truck. And while he was there, he noticed

process with Poppy and Bill. In talking about the skills they each bring to the show, Ryan said, “Poppy is the tinkerer, Bill is the techie and I am the artist. I like to decorate stuff and make it look pretty.” Poppy tells the story of the waterwheel: “Bill and I had it finished at 10 that night and we were elated that it worked. And then Ryan said, ‘I’ve got to do something with this.’ And I said, ‘What do you mean? It works!’ And he said, ‘No, it has to look pretty.’” That night Ryan stayed up until 1 a.m. using a torch to burn the wood to give it a “flair.” Bill and Poppy may kid Ryan

venting, along with a passion for sharing that interest through reality television. Ryan and Bill created a video blog eight years ago and began traveling the country spotlighting inventors and showing a slice of America and American ingenuity. The videos evolved when they added Poppy as a technical expert. The three men started a company, Backyard Genius (BackyardGenius.com) five years ago to come up with inventions that would be helpful to others and to inspire others to be creative in repurposing old items. Through Backyard Genius, the video blog changed from spotlighting other people’s inventions to helping

“We try to utilize the skills of each of us and complement each other,” Ryan said. “I call Bill ‘the human tornado.’ He has so much energy — you’d better step in or step out. Give him a time frame and he’s off and running. My father and I are more methodical, so initially this was more of a challenge.” a round lid to a grill. “I picked it up and gasped, thinking ‘No way is this going to fit.’ And then I placed it on the honey extractor and it fit perfectly.” Ryan has a passion for helping people. He is a real estate agent and a volunteer firefighter for the Larkspur Fire Protection District. On the television show, he lifts and carries items and is jokingly called a “mule” by Bill. But Ryan is often the point of contact for people looking for a solution to a problem or a way to improve a project. He’s the one who stands in front of the white board, mapping out a problem and starting the brainstorming 18

JUNE 2015

about his need to make things look pretty, but they appreciate the results. “Ryan comes in and does the finishing polish on a project, which is nice,” Bill said. “And on camera it really pops!” Poppy added.

THE ROAD TO “BRAINSTORMERS”

The sparks for a reality television show started when Ryan and Bill met 12 years ago and became friends. The two men had a mutual interest in building and in-

people improve their inventions. The Syfy channel offered a contract three years ago for a television series, but the project fizzled before the pilot was even filmed. Last year, Outpost Entertainment contacted the men about filming a series that would be weather related after seeing the Backyard Genius video blog. The company filmed the pilot, and Ryan, Bill and Poppy received the call on the Fourth of July that the show was picked up by The Weather Channel. Once “BrainStormers” was picked up, filming started in the fall and the challenges began. The team did 27 builds in coloradocountrylife.coop

Ryan Parker works on “prettying up” projects in the Elbert workshop.

12 weeks. According to Bill, “We would tell the filming crew we needed four days for a certain build and they’d say, ‘Great! You’ve got one day.’” The time constraints pushed the men to figure out how best to work together. “We try to utilize the skills of each of us and complement each other,” Ryan said. “I call Bill ‘the human tornado.’ He has so much energy — you’d better step in or step out. Give him a time frame and he’s off and running. My father and I are more methodical, so initially this was more of a challenge.” Filming lasted sometimes until 2 a.m. and then resumed at 7 a.m. “As an inventor, you have to fail forward,” Ryan said. “You can’t just come out of the gate with the perfect invention. It evolves. You think, this works well, the concept, but in actual execution there are some hang-ups. Building this stuff takes time, but with the network, there isn’t time.” Trying to figure out how to get things done from the drawing board to the finished product in a short amount of time took its toll on the guys by the second week of filming. Finally, Bill said, “Ryan, we can sit here and cry and complain about not being able to do something or we can figure out a way.” And, according to Ryan, that’s the essence of “BrainStormers” and Backyard Genius — it’s all about finding a way.

“BRAINSTORMERS” SERIES PREMIERE

The show premiered in late March and the “BrainStormers” team saw it for the first time with 200 of their closest friends and family at the ViewHouse restaurant in Denver. Everybody laughed while

watching the show and shared their thoughts. “We heard time and time again ‘My dad/brother/aunt does this stuff — rebuilds old things to make new things,’” Bill recalled. Ryan admitted he was anxious about watching the show, but it was better than he hoped it could be. “I went home after the screening and watched it again in the privacy of my own home and I was honestly entertained.” The only negative comments they heard concerned Poppy’s line about Mother Nature in the “BrainStormers” intro and some of the other PG-13 language used during the show. To friends and family it seemed out of character for Poppy, but it was part of the show. Bill expressed his trepidation earlier of seeing it for the first time with other people. “Am I going to be the Chumlee ‘Pawn Stars’ of the show and the only audio they’re going to use of me is me going, ‘Ugh?’” But he need not have worried as Bill appeared articulate and interesting on the show, although he does have a propensity to shout out “Whoa!” at an exciting moment (usually right before a commercial break — as requested by the production company). “The screening party was amazing with a packed house,” Bill said. “Lots of friends

and family were there and also inventors from various episodes. I could not be happier. It’s exactly what we hoped it would be — fun, silly, educational, motivating, frustrating and inspiring all at the same time.” With the premiere over and the first season airing, the men are looking to the future. Poppy talked about their plans by saying, “If we get another season …” and Bill interrupted, “When we get another season.” The team is making preproduction plans with the producer and the network with an eye on season two of “BrainStormers.” The initial viewership for the show was good and the Weather Channel is promoting it well through advertising, a website with do-it-yourself instructions for some of the builds and social media. And whether or not there will be another season of “BrainStormers,” you know the backyard geniuses will continue to do what they love — inventing new things out of old stuff, helping others improve their inventions and showcasing what others have done. Gayle Gresham is a writer who lives in Elbert, Colorado and feeds cows in her spare time. This is her fourth article for Colorado Country Life.

Get a taste of BrainStormers at weather.com/tv/shows/brainstormers/video/good-deeds-modified-utv. You’ll find more teasers at www.weather.com/tv/shows/brainstormers/video/one-treacherous-turbine.

coloradocountrylife.coop

JUNE 2015

[recipes]

Sizzling Sustenance With Substance Kick up grilled foods for dad with a punch of flavor BY AMY HIGGINS || AHIGGINS@COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG

If the meat or skin sticks while grilling, it’s not ready to be turned. Wait for another minute or two to flip.

The decision about what gift to give dad on Father’s Day can be a real dilemma. But when you peek out on the patio at the grill, one thing is clear: dad loves to barbecue. For the carnivorous dad, create a fusion of flavor in his favorite meat and take the reins at the grill (if he lets you, of course). With a satisfied belly and time with those he loves most, dad will have a fantastic Father’s Day. This year, please your pop with one of these delicious recipes.

T-Bone Steaks With Steak Rub 1 teaspoon whole cumin 1 teaspoon whole coriander 4 tablespoons coarse sea salt or kosher salt 1 tablespoon coarse ground black pepper 1 tablespoon coarse dehydrated onion flakes 1/2 tablespoon coarse dehydrated garlic 1/2 tablespoon crushed red pepper 1 teaspoon whole dill seed 1 teaspoon dried whole thyme 4 T-bone steaks 2 tablespoons cooking oil

Father’s Day June 21

Safe Temperatures A safe internal temperature for ground beef is 160 degrees; medium steak is 140 degrees.

Place cumin and coriander in dry pan over medium heat. Shake pan about 2-3 minutes until seasonings start to brown. Crush using bottom of pan on cutting board or with mortar and pestle. Combine with salt, pepper, onion flakes, garlic, red pepper, dill seed and thyme; mix well. Heat grill on medium. Blot dry steaks with clean paper towel then brush each side with cooking oil. Generously season both sides of steaks with rub. Grill steaks to desired doneness.

Heat poultry to 165 degrees and whole cuts such 170 degrees. Medium pork should be 150 degrees. Seafood should be 145 degrees.

Photo Credit: Omaha Steaks

as breasts to

Photo Credit: United Sorghum Checkoff Program

Flip or Flop

Spicy Sorghum Chicken Breasts 4 chicken breasts 1/2 cup canola oil 2 tablespoons sorghum syrup 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 jalapeño peppers, minced Juice of 1 lemon Salt Pepper Put chicken breasts between sheets of waxed paper and gently pound to about 1/2-inch thickness. Pierce both sides several times with fork and set aside. In large resealable bag, combine canola oil, sorghum syrup, garlic, jalapenos and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add chicken breasts to bag, seal and refrigerate 2-10 hours. Heat grill to high. Remove chicken breasts from marinade and cook for 6 minutes. Turn on other side and cook for another 6 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.

Visit coloradocountrylife.coop for more fantastic barbecue recipes. 20

JUNE 2015

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MARCH 2015

[gardening]

Herbs Are Nice for Spice and Bee Life Planting a variety of herbs in your garden benefits all

BY KRISTEN HANNUM || GARDENING@COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG

Colorado and herbs make for a good marriage. A lot of herbs — arguably the best herbs — love Colorado weather. After learning about horrors like “melting out” (herbs dying from the inside out from hot, humid weather) from Southern herbalists, Karin Winans, founder of the Rocky Mountain unit of the Herb Society of America, became even more appreciative of our state’s climate, from Paonia to Lamar and beyond. Herbs provide elegant and homey beauty, herbal health cures and culinary bounty, but it’s quickly obvious that Winans does her gardening with that last category first in mind. Basil is the most rewarding herb in her garden and cinnamon basil is her favorite of all the different varieties she grows. Her rule is to hold off planting until after Memorial Day because putting it in the ground when the soil is less than 50 degrees will stunt its growth. June is perfect for planting basil in most Colorado zones. Winans uses her basil so frequently in recipes that it’s not a hardship to keep it well pruned. She advises cutting at least the top leaves off with any flowering tops to encourage growth. Harvesting basil is key to healthy plants, and you can harvest as often as every three weeks during the summer heat. Always make the cuts just above new leaves. While humans love basil, tomato hornworms hate it, so you might want to plant basil next to your tomatoes if you’re troubled by hornworms. Then again, hornworms become those fantastical, heavy-bodied “hummingbird” moths, so you might want to encourage rather than discourage them. Basil, like most herbs, needs full sun. Winans warns to go easy on the water with basil, as well as just about every other herb, and grow it in a container or a spot with good drainage. Another of Winans’s favorites is tarragon, which has the virtue of being a hardy perennial. A typical dinner with Winans reveals why she loves herbs, specifically tarragon. She’ll layer buffalo mozzarella (that’s from domestic water buffalo, not bison), chopped tarragon, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, pitted Gaeta olives, quartered artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers and shaved Parmesan. Then she’ll tosses that with some herbed olive oil, Pinot Grigio vinegar and, usually, some freshly ground pepper. My own most rewarding Colorado herb is pungent Greek oregano, which I heartlessly cut back every spring. It seems to love the scissors. The bees love it even more than I do. I put bowls of rocks and water out for the fuzzy, buzzy workers and can never bring myself to harvest too many of the flowery branches. Other great herbs for Colorado gardens include sage, thyme,

Read

Tarragon Basil

Chives Oregano

Thyme

cilantro, parsley, mints, garlic and chives. Winans suggests giving chocolate mint a try. She’s famous for her chocolate mint and raspberry-flavored vinegar. And then there’s lavender. Most Colorado gardens are in hardiness zones 5 through 7, perfect for any one of the prettiest and most fragrant lavenders. Lavender, including the classic Hidcote and Munstead types, are gorgeous plants that are trouble free and worth every inch of space you give them. I bought herbes de Provence at the grocery store for years, never realizing that lavender flowers are the essential ingredient that makes this herb mix different than the jar of Italian herbs. Other ingredients can include thyme, savory, oregano, sage, rosemary, bay leaf, chervil, fennel, basil, dill and marjoram, depending on the cook or the packager. Winans says she always puts it in stuffing; that hint of lavender is a perfect counterpoint to the sage and other herbs. Bon appétit and happy gardening!

previous gardening columns at coloradocountrylife.coop. Search for Gardening. Kristen Hannum is a native Colorado gardener. Email or write her with wisdom or comments at gardening@ coloradocountrylife.org.

JUNE 2015

Cilantro

Lavender

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MAY 2015

[outdoors]

Zooming in on Wildlife Antics Quiet time spent in the woods pays off as turkeys strut BY DENNIS SMITH

August 8-9, 2015

Featuring: Host Band: Sons and Brothers

✷ Don Edwards ✷ Cowboy Celtic ✷ ✷ Barry Ward ✷ Yvonne Hollenbeck ✷ Syd Masters and the Swing Riders ✷ Bill Barwich & Sons of Tumbleweed ✷

Saturday August 8th

National Chuckwagon Cookoff 9am-5pm Music 10am-5pm & 7pm-? Chuckwagon Dinner 5pm (Tickets Limited)

Sunday August 9th

Cowboy Church 10am-11:30am Music 11:30am-3pm To order tickets visit www.

WetMountainWesternRoundup.com or call

719-783-9100

!!Present this ad for a Special Gift! 3115 County Road 160 Westcliffe, CO 81252 24

JUNE 2015

Derek and Dawson huddled anxiously and my heart was still pounding wildly. behind a flimsy blind of camouflage netWhew! What a rush. ting, cattail stalks and sticks of scraggly That was nearly two months ago, but I dead cottonwood limbs thrown together can’t think of that encounter without getin a hasty panic. I hid several yards away ting a residual twinge of excitement at the with just the lens of my camera peering wonder of it all. In fact, it’s a constant reout from a similar heap of netting and minder of all the wildlife drama that goes swamp rubble. Twenty yards away, two on around us every day, and not just in turkey decoys wobbled seductively in a the deer or turkey woods. Much of it hapswath of bright green marsh grass. The pens in our own backyards, right under boys called softly, making the sounds of a our noses, but goes unseen or unnoticed lonesome, lovesick hen. because we’re preoccupied with the more Within minutes, three gobblers appressing realities of our workaday lives. peared: two jakes and a young tom. Piercing, dark brown eyes were set in featherless, buzzard-like heads with warts and wattles that constantly changed in color from brilliant red to white to blue, and then some marvelously bizarre combination of all three. Their tail feathers erupted in circular, buff-tipped fans of brown, black and tan fiery. Wing coverts and puffed-up breast feathers flashed iridescently in the sunlight, a hundred nameless shades of black, blue, gold Writer Dennis Smith photographs a wild turkey as he struts his and rusty bronze. Black- and stuff for a female wild turkey decoy. white-striped wing primaries flared from their sides and reached all the Recently, I took some time to watch way to the ground. They strutted, fussed and I now have photos of a raccoon and pirouetted around the hen decoys for family that raids our bird feeders and what seemed like an eternity, but there digs worms out of our lawn every night. was no way either of the hunters could And though I never saw him make a kill, draw their bows without spooking the every now and then I spot a telltale clump wary gobblers. I, on the other hand, fired of feathers under the pine tree where a off about 50 shots with the camera before sharp-shinned hawk that hung out here they finally grew suspicious of the indifate a dove or flicker. And I frequently ferent hen decoys and wandered back find patches of rabbit fur in the junipers into the cottonwoods where the neighborhood fox dined on When it was clear they weren’t coming a cottontail. One snowy day this past Febback, I crawled out from under my blind ruary, the fox actually caught the hawk and clambered to my feet. I shook from and dragged him flapping and screaming the effects of an industrial strength jolt across the yard and into the bushes where of adrenaline that started racing through he promptly ate him for dinner. I have my veins the minute those turkeys photos of that too, but they aren’t very stalked into view a half hour before, pleasant. Hence the turkey photo. Miss an issue? Catch up at coloradocountrylife.coop. Search for Outdoors.

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Summertime BY BURT BALDWIN, IGNACIO

A time for ice tea drink

and fishing tips,

and watermelon pink,

for county fairs

for ice cream floats

and ripened pairs,

and lake water boats,

for drive-in dreams

for barbecue smoke

and high mountain streams,

and neighborly folk,

for dragon cloud forms

for fledgling flight

and lightning storms,

and firefly light,

for backyard tents

for cut grass smells

and wildflower scents,

and campfire spells,

for outdoor chores

for ball bat cracks

and

and crackerjacks,

especially,

for vacation trips

charcoaled s’mores!

No Tablet or Smartphone?

Wishing you could scan the magazine pages and bring them to life?

Then enter to

WIN

***Contest rules at coloradocountrylife.coop Winner will be drawn

***

June 15

an iPadMini Send your name, address and phone number via the U.S. mail to:

iPad Contest Colorado Country Life 5400 Washington St. Denver, CO 80216

ENTER NOW

One entry per month will be accepted. Drawing will be June 15. coloradocountrylife.coop

[energy tips]

EFFICIENT CONSTRUCTION METHODS

BY JAMES DULLEY

You have options if you’re building a new home with efficiency in mind. Wood- and steel-framed homes are two methods to consider. If you decide on a wood-framed house, use staggered, double-stud walls on 24-inch centers. This construction method not only provides double the insulation value, but by staggering the wall studs, it also minimizes thermal bridges (direct uninsulated heat flow paths from indoors to outdoors through the wood studs). Photo credit - Deltec Homes For a wood-framed home, install rigid foam wall sheathing on the exterior so that all the lumber’s thermal mass This is a superefficient double-stud is inside the wall panel with staggered studs. insulation envelop. Cover it with any type of exterior finish, such as siding, brick or stucco. Use a square or circular shape to minimize the exterior wall and roof area. With similar insulation levels, a wall that is twice as big as another will lose about twice as much heat. Generally, square- and circularshaped homes resist the forces of storm winds best. Steel-framed construction is an excellent construction method if strength is the goal. Steel is strong. It does not burn or change shape over time as lumber does, and each steel piece is nearly identical. Also, much of the steel used today in home construction is recycled from scrap materials. From an efficiency standpoint, steel is superior to most other framing materials. Although steel is not a good insulator, its strength allows for thinner studs and wider spacing. This leaves much more room for additional insulation inside the walls and fewer thermal bridges.

Learn more about building more efficiently at coloradocountrylife.coop. Look under the Energy tab for Energy Tips.

JUNE 2015

[travel]

THWARTING THIEVES Steps to take before taking that summer vacation BY AMY HIGGINS

Setting off on an exciting road trip can be an adventure, especially when you’re planning to have a vacation to reminisce about for years to come. To make sure the memories are all good, be mindful of those with bad intentions who could quickly ruin your trip.

Vehicle Theft

Your vehicle is usually close by when you’re on a road trip, so the idea that it could be stolen probably isn’t a concern. It should be. Think of how often your vehicle is unattended: stops at rest areas, convenience stores, historical sites or amusement parks. And it’s not just the vehicle itself; on a road trip, often your car is full of personal necessities that can lure thieves. “Wherever your car is parked, whether at a hotel, in a gas station parking lot, or even at your own home, you need to take precautions, especially during warmer weather,” advises Troy Sandberg, owner of Signal 88 Security in Denver. “Leaving your windows cracked, even slightly, can be an invitation for theft.” “There are a variety of items that are attractive to thieves: electronics, gas, metal and even the car itself,” says Sandberg. Park in well-lit areas and keep your windows rolled up and doors locked at all times when away from your vehicle. If you have an alarm system, use it, even if you’re only planning on leaving the vehicle for a short time.

Home Theft Being away from your home means it is vulnerable. Every 10 seconds an American home is burglarized, according to Farmers Insurance. And you don’t need to be wealthy to tempt thieves. All modern conveniences, such as televisions, computers and cameras, can lure thieves. Farmers Insurance suggests you not alert potential burglars to your absence, but instead take these precautions: ❏ Suspend delivery or make sure mail and newspapers are picked up. As these items overflow, your home appears to be unoccupied. ❏ Arrange to have your lawn mowed.

JUNE 2015

❏ Ask a neighbor to park a car in your driveway. ❏ Put lights, television and stereo on timers that turn on and off randomly. ❏ Don’t advertise your absence with notes, or announcements on your voicemail, email, Facebook page or Twitter account. ❏ Turn your house phone’s ringer down or off. ❏ If possible, install a motion detector on outside lights.

Identity Theft Today more than ever, identity theft is a great concern. According to the Javelin Strategy & Research 2013 Identity Fraud Report, identity fraud affected 12.6 million consumers in 2012. Becoming a victim of identity theft while on vacation, especially far from home, can be traumatic to say the least. Kiplinger suggest you inform your credit card company of your travels, especially if you’ll be out of the country. Financial institutions are cracking down on unusual spending behaviors, and your account could be frozen if the company identifies spending activity outside your normal region. If you receive an alert about suspicious credit card activity on your cell phone, don’t call the number provided or reply by text. Instead, call the number on the back of your credit card. Rid your wallet of unneeded credit cards or other personal information, such as your Social Security card, and store them in a secure location. Make copies of the items you leave in your wallet in case it is stolen. Don’t leave personal information in your hotel room. Lock computers and tablets in the room safe and make sure each device is password protected. Don’t use unsecured Wi-Fi networks. Furthermore, check your accounts regularly to ensure you’re the only one accessing them.

Line Up Your Defenses Vacations are a time to relax, relish life and revive. Becoming a victim of theft will thwart those plans. Don’t be an easy mark: safeguard your vehicle, identity and home and enjoy the summer.

Amy Higgins, a freelance writer for Colorado Country Life magazine, finds travel a lot more fun when she takes a few safety precautions for her family.

coloradocountrylife.coop

[marketplace]

WISESAVERS If you are looking into making upgrades in your home or purchasing a new major appliance, consider efficiency as you browse the market. coloradocountrylife.coop

JUNE 2015

[classifieds] TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD Please type or print your ad on a separate paper. Indicate how many months you would like your ad to run and which month to start. There is a minimum of 12 words at $1.63 per word/ month. Be sure to include your full name and address for our records. Check MUST accompany this order or call to pay by credit card. Send your ad before the 10th of the month to: mail: Colorado Country Life 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 phone: 303.902.7276 fax: 303.455.2807 email: classifieds@coloradocountrylife.org

ANTIQUES

BOOKS/CDs/DVDs

ANTIQUE GERMAN GRANDFATHER CLOCK (Kieninger), circa 1940’s. Beautiful oak case with beveled glass; 3 weight, Westminster chimes; good running condition; one-yr. warranty. Free delivery-setup within 100 miles. $1,600. East Park Ave. Antiques (across from Jenny’s), Empire, CO. 303-569-3210 (244-06-15)

CHANT OF A CHAMPION: Auctioneering DVD from World and International Champion Auctioneer John Korrey. Let John show you how to improve all aspects of your auctioneering chant. Order online at www.chantofachampion.com (210-07-15)

LOVE ANTIQUE TRUCKS? Come see. Meet hobbyists. 4th Saturdays, 10:45am, Nevada & Fillmore, Colorado Springs, 719-660-6796. (221-06-15)

ANTIQUE RESTORATION ANTIQUE RESTORATION STUDIO — Antique conservation. Quality craftsmanship since 1974. Bayfield, CO, www.antiqueresdurango.com 970-884-1937. (988-08-15) CHAIR CANING Hand caning, machine caning, fiber rush caning. Pueblo West, 719-547-0723. chaanita@q.com (858-10-15)

ANTLERS ANTLER CHANDELIERS made only from REAL antlers. We are the manufacturer and we sell all of our products at wholesale prices; save as much as 60% from store prices. Many other antler products and mounts, including 56” elk mount, giant moose paddles, and elk antlers. Showroom now open year ’round in Granby, CO. 17 years at this location, over 900 satisfied customers! Designers: We can provide you a single item or a whole houseful. Call ! 970-627-3053. (085-09-15)

THE MINER’S CAP: the vivid story of the 1914 Ludlow Massacre. A novel for young people and adults. Available at bookstores, museums, and online. (199-08-15)

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES (These opportunities have not been investigated by Colorado Country Life.) $ SIMPLE SYSTEM TO CREATE WEALTH $ Visit http://www. morningstar3777.com. Dial 719-4177000. Listen. (224-08-15) BEST ANTIQUE SHOP in downtown Prescott, Arizona. Over 20 dealers and total sales set-up, lease intact. Call for details. 928-445-2804. (225-06-15)

CARS/TRUCKS/BOATS 1974 CHEVY 350 4x4: EXCELLENT TIRES, small rust on cab, runs good, starts best warm, 350 crate motor with 23k, bench seat, windshield cracked. $3500 OBO, Colorado Springs, csvern@comcast.net or leave message 719-231-9252 (23708-15)

CLOCK REPAIR & RESTORATION www.clockrepairandrestoration. com DURANGO AREA. CLOCKS of all kinds repaired. Antique and modern. Clocks bought and sold. bob.scott@usa.net Call Robert 970-247-7729. (109-08-15)

EVENTS FREE ANNUAL MOFFAT COUNTY HOT Air Balloon Festival, August 1-2, Craig, Colorado. Free concert, family activities, car show, food & craft vendors (booths available). www.mcballoonfestival.com mcballoonfestival@gmail.com (242-06-15)

HELP WANTED

REAL ESTATE

LEGITIMATE WORK AT HOME opportunity. No sales, investment, risk. Training/website provided. Monthly income plus bonuses, benefits. Call Carrie 303-579-4207, www.workathomeunited.com/ ourabundance (932-02-16)

BIG PRICE REDUCTION – Beautiful 30 acres in SW Colorado: canyon, pond, live stream, irrigated pasture. Large 3bd, 2ba home, garage, outbuildings. Deck overlooks canyon, C21 WSR, Joyce Bowles, 970-560-1650 (230-06-15)

NEBRASKA’S JUNK JAUNT®, September 25-27, 2015. Over 300 miles of garage sales and fun in central Nebraska. Shopper Guides $10 showing 35 town maps & 600+ vendors. Order online or by mail. www.junkjaunt.com, POB 21-cclf, Burwell, NE 68823. Mail orders filled Sept. 10. Digital guide available Sept. 12. 308-346-5151 (241a-06-15)

MACHINERY & PARTS

CORTEZ, CO. 40.3 ACRES. Back side of Mesa Verde. Electricity, water tap reserved, surrounded by BLM land. Beautiful. No HOA. $119,500. See at www.forsalebyowner.com. Listing ID: 23972652. 970-764-5886. (238-06-15)

SAWYER BROWN, DIESEL TRACTOR TRUCK PULL, CPRA rodeo, carnival, much more coming to Meeker, Colorado, July 2-4, 2015. For more information see MeekerRangeCall. com or call Jackie 320-223-9642 (247-06-15)

MISCELLANEOUS

FOR SALE

FREE COLOR CATALOG. 193 varieties, Cornish Cross, standard breeds, fancy chicks, ducks, geese, turkeys, bantams, guineas, pheasants, quail, supplies, video. 417-532-4581. PO Box 529, Lebanon, MO 65536. www.CackleHatchery. com. (876-08-15)

1905 SCHILL WOODBURNING STOVE/oven with all plates. Excellent condition. Unrestored. Contact Lesa, tobyandjane@gmail. com (246-06-15) OXYGEN CONCENTRATORS — $380 with warranty. Also sell portable concentrators and oxygen supplies. Repair and service of equipment. Aspen Concentrator Repair Service 719-471-9895 (04008-15) RUSTIC COLORADO WOODS – Sawmill, logs, woodcrafts. Black Forest – Westcliffe. www. greenleafforestry.com. 719-2357876, 719-429-4404 (219-07-15) STACKED STOCK BRAND. Bar backwards F lazy V. $1200. 303-9365503 (240-06-15) FREE FREE BOOKS/DVDS. Soon the “Mark of the Beast” will be enforced as Church and State unite! Let the Bible reveal. The Bible Says, POB 99, Lenoir City, TN 37771. thebiblesaystruth@yahoo.com 888-211-1715. (814-08-15)

www.sawmillexchange.com SAWMILL EXCHANGE: North America’s largest source of used portable sawmills and commercial equipment for woodlot owners and sawmill operations. Over 800 listings. THE place to sell equipment. 800-459-2148. (26709-15)

COFFINS: Individually handcrafted of solid wood. Designed to return to earth naturally. Call 505-2869410 for brochure or visit www. theoldpinebox.com (220-07-15)

POULTRY & GAMEBIRDS

REAL ESTATE 5 ACRES, 3bd, 2ba, large covered deck, 2-car garage, large metal building, 4 small storage buildings, well, septic. Meeker, $295,000. 303274-7584 (239-08-15) 35 ACRES, Huerfano County. Great views of Spanish Peaks. Will sell or trade for land in Weld County. OWC. 303-883-4835 (209-06-15) 40 ACRES, 15 miles west of Walsenburg, CO on CR520. Fenced. Prime grazing. Small 2bd recently upgraded trailer on property with tenant. 8-10 gal./min. domestic well. $89,500 OBO. Owner may carry. 719-251-1131, 719-989-0850, 719-738-3500. (207-06-15) BAYFIELD / VALLECITO – Beautiful mountain retreat, 4bd, 3ba, approximately 3436sf on 1.2 acres, well water, septic, 5 minutes from Vallecito Lake. $467,900. 970-884-9324. Can be seen at HouseForSaleByOwner.com ID# 23024900 (163-08-15)

OWN PROPERTY? NEED INCOME? We’ll rent exclusive hunting rights from you. Looking for antelope, goose, duck, coyote, & prairie dog habitat. Encourage young sportsmen by providing safe, private access. You make the rules. 303-460-0273 (069-08-15)

RELIGION BECOME AN ORDAINED Minister by correspondence study. Founded in 1988. Free info. Ministers for Christ Outreach, 7558 West Thunderbird Rd, Ste 1 - #114, Peoria, AZ 85381. http://www.ordination.org (44112-15)

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

VACATIONS CELEBRATE RMNP 100th Birthday, experience Wilderness, Wildlife & Wonder, in Grand Lake, Colorado’s authentic mountain town! Our unique lodging properties are central to lakes, marinas, hiking, horses… and on site: roasting marshmallows, picking herbs & berries, fishing, paddle boating, canoeing. Make memories at Mountain Lakes Lodge and North Shore Resort ! Kitchenettes, private baths, views, fireplaces, WiFi. Pet-friendly! 970-627-8448 www.grandlakelodging.net www. grandlakerentals.net (232-07-15)

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

The classified ads May winner was Dustin Bertagnoli of Colorado Springs. He correctly counted 43 ads. 28

JUNE 2015

coloradocountrylife.coop

[funny stories] WANTED TO BUY

WANTED TO BUY

BUYING AUTOGRAPHS (all kinds), sports cards (pre-1980). Vintage sports and music collectibles (albums, etc.). Cash paid. Established dealer since 1986. Mike 720-334-0206, mmunns1@hotmail. com (245-09-15)

OLD GAS AND OIL items: Gas pumps, advertising signs, globes, etc. Pieces, parts, etc. considered. Also 1932-34 Ford cars and trucks, parts and pieces, too. Any condition. Brandon, 719-250-5721. (519-11-15)

OLD POCKET WATCHES — working or non-working and old repair material. Bob 719-859-4209 watchdoctor@hotmail.com. (87006-15)

NAVAJO RUGS, old and recent, native baskets, pottery. Tribal Rugs, Salida. 719-539-5363, b_inaz@ hotmail.com (817-06-15)

YOU FOUND THE TREASURE. Send an email with the number of classified ads on pages 28-29 to classifieds@coloradocountrylife. org. Subject line MUST say “Classified Contest.” Include name, mailing address and phone number in email. We’ll draw one name on June 17 from those who enter. Winner gets a $25 gift card.

OLD COLORADO LIVESTOCK brand books prior to 1975. Call Wes 303757-8553. (889-08-15) 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. (871-07-15)

OLD MODEL AIRPLANE ENGINES, unbuilt airplane kits. Cash. Will pick up or pay shipping. Don, 970-6693418. (233-07-15)

FIND HIDDEN TREASURE IN THE CLASSIFIEDS Read through the ads and FIND the CCL classified explaining how to win a $25 gift card.

VINTAGE FISHING TACKLE. I buy rods, reels, lures, creels, etc. Gary, 970-222-2181 (170-10-15) WANT TO PURCHASE minerals and other oil/gas interests. Send details to: PO Box 13557, Denver, CO 80201. (402-03-16) WANTED: JEEP CJ OR WRANGLER. Reasonably priced. No rust buckets. 888-735-5337 (099-04-16) WE PAY CASH for minerals and oil/gas interests, producing and nonproducing. 800-733-8122 (09902-16) WE PURCHASE MINERALS and royalty interests— honest, fair offers. Bridget, 720-723-2771. (24309-15)

It’s easy. You could WIN.

JUNE WINNER David Franzel of Steamboat Springs brought copies of Colorado Country Life to the Hawaii Supreme Court where he stands holding the magazines in front of the King Kamehameha statue.

Last summer my wife and I joined our oldest son and his family on a mini vacation to Colorado Springs. Before leaving, I suggested to my three grandchildren that they go to the bathroom before we started our drive. The two oldest grandchildren informed me that they already went. The youngest, who was 2 years old and not potty trained, stuck his hand in his diaper and announced, “I think I did, too.” Bruce K. Gouldey, Windsor

My 2-year-old son and I planned to meet my husband, an officer in the U.S. Air Force, for lunch. We arrived at my husband’s building on the Air Force base and approached the long hallway where his office was located. Another officer walked toward us in the same battle dress uniform as my husband’s. My son immediately yelled, “Daddy!” and ran toward the gentleman. The man stopped cold in his tracks. His face flushed as he looked intently at me. I giggled and said, “Don’t worry. He’s not yours.” He breathed a sigh of relief and ducked into a nearby office. Cari Haag, Colorado Springs

A preacher said to his congregation, “There is no such thing as a perfect person. If you ever knew a perfect woman, please stand up.” Nobody stood up. “Those who know of a perfect man, please stand up,” he said. One elderly man stood up. “Are you honestly telling me you know an absolutely perfect man?” the preacher asked. “Well, I don’t know him personally, but I heard a great deal about him,” the elderly man responded. “He was my wife’s first husband.” Lila Taylor, Stratton

I volunteered at a nearby elementary school where a boy in kindergarten was obsessed with my age. On several occasions he asked how old I was — probably guessing I was 100. One day, he asked again, “How old are you?” I figured I would finally give the boy an answer, so I asked if he had a grandmother. “Yes,” he said. “Well, how old is she?” I asked. “Twenty-six,” he replied. “So am I!” I said enthusiastically. And that was the end of that. Ramona Miller, Fort Collins

We’re Looking for photos of readers and their copy of Colorado Country Life. Got a great picture of you or your family member with the magazine at some fun place or maybe just at home? Send it and a name and address to info@coloradocountrylife.org. We’ll post it on our Facebook page and on June 17 we’ll draw a winner from the submissions and send that winner a $25 gift card. coloradocountrylife.coop

$15

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

JUNE 2015

[discoveries]

Man Crates Adventure Time Sometimes the best Father’s Day gifts don’t come with handsome wrapping paper. Instead they are bound by an experience dad will not soon forget. A Yellow Wood Guiding summer photo safari, for example, is full of captivating surroundings in and around the Rocky Mountain National Park and is sure to charm dads of all dispositions, whether they are novice or professional photographers. First, visit the website at ywguiding.com where you will find photos from past excursions and numerous safari options; the main categories are wildlife, waterfall, flower fields, sunrise, sunset and macro tours. Once you narrow down the experience you feel dad will enjoy most, simply book a date. Safaris last four, six or eight hours and cost between $180 to $365; $45 to $85 for additional guests.

When you want to give dad an assortment of amazing gifts but don’t want the froufrou packaging, Man Crates are your solution. Man Crates come packaged in crates, ammo cans or Jerkygrams and are bursting at the seams with product. Choose from an excellent array of “manly” gifts like the Grill Master Crate, Slaughterhouse Crate, Outdoor Survival Crate, Bass Whisperer Crate or even a Zombie Annihilation Crate. Yes, Man Crates has the equipment to fight the evil dead. What it boils down to: These are terrific gift collections you have to see to believe. Prices range from $24.99 to $199.99. Call 866-902-7260 or visit mancrates.com to find out more.

Gone Fishing The fish are biting and there’s no doubt dad wants in on the action. Hook him up with a tool that will help reel in his limit with an Eagle Claw® Trailmaster® Complex Composite combo. This series is lightweight and consists of four- or six-piece rods in spinning, fly or spin/fly combinations. Opt for the medium action four-piece rod and reel combo and you get a soft padded travel case to boot. Eagle Claw®, headquartered in Denver, sells these sets for $84 to $115. For more information, call 303-321-1481 or visit eagleclaw.com.

Brew a Winner Put that “#1 Dad” mug to use and fill it with a delicious serving of Peet’s Coffee. Dad is sure to be overjoyed as the fragrance wafts down the hallway, providing a perfect pick-me-up on Father’s Day morning. And with the Peet’s Coffee Travel Gift, he can take and make his own java on the road. Cost is $34.95. For more information, visit peets.com. Visit Contests at coloradocountrylife.coop to find out how to win a Father’s Day packet from Peet’s Coffee. 30

JUNE 2015

coloradocountrylife.coop

MAY 2015

[discoveries]

coloradocountrylife.coop

OCTOBER 2014