Colorado Country Life

31/10/2024

From all the little goblins and ghouls at Colorado Country Life, we wish you a Halloween filled with sweet treats and spooky fun! 🎃👻 Happy Halloween!

28/10/2024

Our readers are sharing so many photos with the magazine! Check out all the beautiful locations CCL traveled to this month:

🇬🇷 Lewis Frank, Highline Electric Association
🦓 Cheryl Ammeter, San Isabel Electric
⛺️ Don and Carolyn Molitor, Poudre Valley REA
🐴 Nancy Mulholland, Morgan County Rural Electric Association

Thanks to everyone who submitted photos! ❤️

24/10/2024

Congratulations to San Isabel Electric members, Felix and Darlene Lopez, for being selected as the reader photo of the month! Felix and Darlene took a picture with their magazine while visiting Tampa Bay, Florida. 🌴☀️

Show us where you enjoy CCL for a chance to win! Simply take a photo of someone (or a selfie!) with the magazine and share it with us on the Reader Engagement page at www.coloradocountrylife.coop.

23/10/2024

Cooperative Month is dedicated to recognizing the vital service that cooperative businesses deliver to local economies and communities across the nation. ❤️

During this designated month, co-ops have the opportunity to educate their members about the unique structure and purpose of co-ops: They are owned and operated by their members, who share in both the benefits and the profits of the business. ⚡️

This month's story highlights how Highline Electric Association, Gunnison County Electric Association, San Isabel Electric, and Morgan County Rural Electric Association celebrate Cooperative Month all year long. You can read the full story here: https://www.coloradocountrylife.coop/celebrating-cooperative-month-all-year/

📸 Photos courtesy of Highline Electric Association, Gunnison County Electric Association and San Isabel Electric Association

22/10/2024

🌟MEET YOUR PUBLISHER🌟

This month, Colorado Country Life Publisher Cassi Gloe traveled to London, where she visited the British Museum. Here, she is pictured in front of the famous and historic Rosetta Stone, a broken slab consisting of three types of writing. According to the British Museum, this artifact was an important discovery that helped experts learn how to read Egyptian hieroglyphs.

21/10/2024

🧡OCTOBER COVER STORY🧡

Don't ask Connie Hatfield if she's ever planning to slow down. You'll hear a resounding "no!" In many ways, she's even busier today than when she worked full-time, including nearly 30 years as a corrections officer at the Buena Vista Correctional Facility.

Read the reflections on family and a fulfilling career at the Buena Vista Correctional Facility. For the full story, click here: https://www.coloradocountrylife.coop/one-tough-lady/

📸 Photos courtesy of Connie Hatfield

18/10/2024

📸CALLING ALL PHOTOGRAPHERS📸

If you are a photographer who loves to express your passion through imagery, we want to hear from you! Enter the 2025 photo contest with the theme "Home Sweet Home Colorado." This year's categories are:
😎 Hometown Views
🏡 The Homestead
🌸 Nature's Homes
💡 Leave a Light On

The winners will be announced, and their work will be published in early 2025. For official contest rules, visit:

Colorado Country Life's 2023 photo contest highlights the colors of Colorado’s beloved state flag: blue, red, gold and white.

17/10/2024

Today is National Pasta Day, and what better way to celebrate than by enjoying your favorite pasta dishes? It's the season for pumpkins and pasta, so why not treat yourself to a delicious Pumpkin Rigatoni? 🍝🎃

Check out the full recipe here: https://www.coloradocountrylife.coop/pumpkin-rigatoni/

🍝 Recipe courtesy of Mix & Match Mama Eats by Shay Shull

16/10/2024

🌟READERS' PHOTO FEATURE🌟

CCL writer Becky Jensen thru-hikes the Colorado Trail with her son, Jake. Here she stops at Taylor Lake near Kennebec Pass to get a photo with the CCL cover of the same place. Becky says, “After days of thunderstorms, we were soaked and it's a miracle I managed to keep the magazine dry for this photo. Just that morning, Jake and I hiked through frigid, sideways rain to climb and descend Indian Trail Ridge — all above 12,000 feet — just before we reached Taylor Lake. But the rain stopped as we descended, and we got the shot.” 🏔️

Their adventure began at Roxborough State Park on July 8 and ended at Junction Creek Trailhead in Durango on August 12.

15/10/2024

Whether you traveled near or far, CCL is so thankful to be a part of your adventures. Thank you to all who submitted photos for the magazine this month!

🌲Terry Wise, San Isabel Electric
🏰 Larry Painter, Mountain View Electric Association
✈️ Debi Laib, Poudre Valley REA
🚢Guy Fernandez, Poudre Valley REA

Show us where you enjoy CCL for a chance to win! Simply take a photo of someone (or a selfie!) with the magazine and share it with us on the Reader Engagement page at www.coloradocountrylife.coop

11/10/2024

🏆CCL BRINGS HOME THE GOLD🏆

Colorado Country Life magazine won two national awards at the NRECA Statewide Editors Association Institute in Louisville, Kentucky.❤️

Competing with 32 other electric co-op statewide magazines, CCL was awarded one first place prize and one Certificate of Excellence for work published in 2023.

The magazine won first place in the Best Treatment of a Technical Subject category for the “Making Money from Manure,” by Suzie Romig. Romig wrote the story about the anaerobic digester at Six Arrows Dairy near Wiggins (Morgan County Rural Electric Association territory) that turns manure into energy. CCL also took home an Award of Excellence for Best Entertaining Feature for “Learning the Bee Dance and More at Bee College,” by Joanne Palmer.🥳

10/10/2024

HANDMADE IN COLORADO - Hippie Chick Art👩🏻‍🎨

No matter what kind of day you’re having, seeing Holly Halter’s craft will bring a smile to your face. She says, “The theme of my work is whimsy both to celebrate what is good in our world and to provide an escape from what is not good in our world.”

Her whimsical art can be found on note cards, Christmas ornaments, and greeting cards. To purchase or view Holly’s handmade art visit Hippie Chick ’s page at Holly Halter or pop into the Gunnison Gallery on Main Street.🎨

Learn more about Holly Halter and her artwork, click here: https://www.coloradocountrylife.coop/handmade-in-colorado/

📸 Photo courtesy of Holly Halter

03/10/2024

HANDMADE IN COLORADO - Brush Painting🎨

One look at Leigha Nicole’s artwork will tell you that a lot of time has gone into creating it. Nicole studied her craft with teacher Dr. Ning Yeh in the Po Mo (throw ink) style of Chinese brush painting. Her work has since evolved over time, and her own style has become a combination of traditional Chinese brush painting, Sumi-e, and Western watercolor. 👩🏻‍🎨

Learn more about Leigha Nicole and her artwork, click here: https://www.crestoneartisansgallery.com/leigha-nicole

📸Photos courtesy of Leigha Nicole

01/10/2024

HANDMADE IN COLORADO👩🏻‍🎨

October 1 is World Handmade Day, and Colorado Country Life is celebrating this creative holiday by showcasing a few Colorado artisans and the treasures they create. Our first feature is tintype photography! 📸

Ever wonder what you would look like if you lived during a different time in history? Well, we know a Colorado photographer who can show you. Tim Brown uses the tintype process to create the most surreal and captivating photographs that look like one of your grandmother’s keepsakes.🌄

To learn more about Tim Brown and his photography work, click here: https://www.timbrownphotography.com

📸 Photos courtesy of Tim Brown Photography

27/09/2024

Football is finally back, and you know what that means — game day snacks are back, too! 🏈 If you need some inspiration for game day snacks, don't worry. CCL has hundreds of recipes to try out this football Sunday. Why not start with some mouthwatering cheesesteak nachos? For the full recipe, visit: https://www.coloradocountrylife.coop/cheesesteak-nachos/

Let us know in the comments below: what's your all-time favorite game-day snack? 🍗🍔

Recipe courtesy of Nachos for Dinner: Surprising Sheet Pan Meals the Whole Family Will Love! by Dan Whalen

26/09/2024

We are incredibly grateful for our readers who celebrate special occasions with CCL! ❤️

Speaking of special occasions, Doug and Bev Kilgore recently embarked on a whirlwind adventure to Chicago to celebrate an incredible 47 years of marriage! 🥳

Their trip was packed with fun, starting with cheering on the Cubs at Wrigley Field. They also enjoyed a heartwarming family reunion in Norman, Illinois, and spent two delightful days in St. Charles, Illinois, where their talented niece cooked up some scrumptious dishes. As proud Poudre Valley REA members, Doug and Bev made unforgettable memories on this special trip.

25/09/2024

Our readers are sharing so many photos with the magazine! Check out all the stunning locations CCL traveled to this month:

🇮🇪Steve and Kathleen Fulton, Mountain View Electric Association
🇨🇦Deb Atwater, Morgan County Rural Electric Association
❄️Kimberly Kraus, Mountain View Electric Association
🫎Ed Evans, Mountain View Electric Association
🇫🇷Cara Heid, Morgan County Rural Electric Association

Thanks to everyone who submitted photos! ❤️

24/09/2024

Meet Lumen! ❤️

Mountain View Electric Association member Richard Rice is a disabled Fort Carson combat veteran who served with the 2nd Infantry Division during the Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom operations. 🇺🇸

During his time abroad, he struggled with the extreme effects of PTSD. "I seldom left my home and felt as if I'd lost my empathy for people and the spark I once had for life," said Richard. Thankfully, Richard found hope and a new sense of purpose with his service dog, Lumen. 🐶

Lumen had such a profound impact on Richards's life that he decided to start a nonprofit in Germany — K9s for Veterans Abroad — where he's helped more than 13 veterans receive their own service dogs at no cost. "Seeing the impact I have made overseas, I felt now was the right time to return home to Colorado to continue my mission of helping change the lives of veterans who suffer from PTSD," Richard said.

If you or a veteran you know is suffering from PTSD and could benefit from a service dog, visit www.K9sforveteransabroad.org.

Story and photo courtesy of Richard Rice.

22/09/2024

It's the first day of fall, which means pumpkin season is here! Celebrate the season with these delicious spiced pumpkin carrot cheesecake cupcakes. 🎃

For the full recipe, visit: https://www.coloradocountrylife.coop/spiced-pumpkin-carrot-cheesecake-cupcakes/

❤️Recipe courtesy of Culinary.net

19/09/2024

Meet Meika!❤️

Mountain View Electric Association member Kayla McCullough, a disabled U.S. Navy veteran, has used a service dog for the last decade. Kayla shared how life-changing her service animals have been.🐶

"My first service dog was an imposing yet sweet sable German shepherd named Desoto. He came along at a time when life felt desperate, and I was struggling to survive. We trained the tasks he needed to perform to mitigate some of my most severe symptoms, and soon we were soaring," Kayla said.

His successor, a boisterous longhair German shepherd named Meika, has now taken over and completes over 100 commands for Kayla's needs. Read Meika's full story at: https://www.coloradocountrylife.coop/stories-of-dogs-in-service/

Story and photo courtesy of Kayla McCullough.

18/09/2024

Many readers spent quality time with family, friends, and loved ones this month. We're so thankful to be a part of these special memories. Thank you to all who submitted photos with the magazine!

🏝️The Hyson Family, Mountain View Electric Association
🇮🇪Judy Riley, Sangre de Cristo Electric Assn., Inc.
🦓The Maley Family, Poudre Valley REA
✈️Leslie Blaul, Poudre Valley REA
🏰Ken and Janie Antons, Mountain View Electric Association

Show us where you enjoy CCL for a chance to win! Simply take a photo of someone (or a selfie!) with the magazine and share it with us on the Reader Engagement page at www.coloradocountrylife.coop.

17/09/2024

Meet Ember! 🐕‍🦺

Sangre de Cristo Electric Assn., Inc. member Ginny Mays and her service dog, Ember, began working together in 2019 when Ember was just a puppy. At the time, Ginny had health issues that prevented her from walking without assistance. She was unable to leave the house, drive, or participate in social activities.

With the assistance of their service dog trainer, Ember and Ginny learned to function as a team. Ember obtained her Canine Good Citizen certification in 2022. "Over the past five years, Ember has been my constant companion. She lets me know when my medical issues arise and I need to mitigate them. She does this verbally with four levels of alert that she developed on her own during our first year together. She also helped me to start walking without assistance, once she was full grown, by providing counterbalance and stability," Ginny shared. ❤️

To learn more about Ember, visit: https://www.coloradocountrylife.coop/stories-of-dogs-in-service/

Story and photo courtesy of Ginny Mays.

16/09/2024

🥳CELEBRATING 102ND BIRTHDAY🥳

Gunnison County Electric Association members Bill and Lorie Stewart travel to Indianapolis, Indiana, to celebrate Bill's mother, Mina Stewart's, 102nd birthday. From everyone at Colorado Country Life, happy birthday, Mina!

13/09/2024

Fifteen members of the Snyder and Konecne family, many of whom are Mountain View Electric Association and Morgan County Rural Electric Association members, gathered on the veranda of a rented Tuscany villa overlooking the beautiful Italian countryside in Garfagnana with the most CCL copies ever! Thank you for taking CCL on your family trip! 📸✈️

12/09/2024

This month, Colorado Country Life traveled with a special guest.🏆

Colorado Rural Electric Association Executive Director Kent Singer enjoyed the magazine while traveling to the U.K. for the British Open. We appreciate Kent for bringing CCL with him on his trip! 🎉