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Wednesday of this week, Oct. 19th, Loveland 365 will be teaming up with Leadership Loveland at Henry's during the "Wednesdays 4 ATV" happy hour. Each Wednesday one of 7 restaurants (Applebee's, Henry's, Island Grill, Monroe's at Best Western, The Pourhouse, Sports Station or the Widow McCoy) hosts the group, whose class project is to raise awareness and funds for the Southern Larimer County Safehouse project. Grimm Brothers donates great giveaways every week, and in addition to donating 10% of all Grimm Brothers beer sales, each restaurant donates a portion of the sales on selected food items to Alternatives to Violence.

This week Henry's will be donating 10% of all Grimm Bros sales AND 10% of all dessert sales ALL DAY to Alternatives to Violence.

Copies of Loveland 365 will be available - check with our team members there. Proceeds will go to either Habitat for Humanity or Alternatives to Violence, which were in the #1 and #2 slots as the non-profits most chosen when people purchased their copies of Loveland 365.

That's right! You can still get a copy of Loveland 365!

Habitat for Humanity is partnering with Alternatives to Violence to build the Southern Larimer County Safehouse. Habitat is SO GOOD at building, it just seems "right" don't you think?

See you at Henry's on Wednesday, 10/19/11, 5:00 - 7:00 pm.

Tags: Henry's, Loveland
Posted in Aalternatives to Violence, Downtown Loveland, Loveland | No Comments »

Carl and Ann Bradbury of Ridge Valley Alpaca Ranch and Friend

Ann and Carl Bradbury, owners of Ridge Valley Alpaca Ranch in Loveland, welcomed their newest baby alpaca (aka cria), to their farm family on May 13th at 10 a.m. John Giroux, founder of Loveland 365, asked us to call him when the first baby came. We did and he was here, camera in hand, within 10 minutes of the birth. Right away he wondered if he could name the new cria and he did.

He thought about it for a moment and said “13 is my lucky number” and because crias are born coming out like Superman, he named him Lucky Clark.

Newborn cria "Lucky Clark" stands on shaky legs

We are grateful that John has taken an interest in our alpacas and especially in our newest cria.

Our ranch was established in 2006 and the first herd of alpacas were purchased and arrived in June of 2007. Since there was a large barn on the ranch, we knew we had to fill it up and bought 2 horses right away. We started the alpacas business with a herd of 10 and currently (including the 14 crias born on the ranch, have 26 total)…..we purchased an amazing herd sire (Jubilant) who is the sire to 9 of the 14 crias. We have a 2nd herd sire named Midnight who has sired a couple of the crias and several of ours have sires from other alpaca ranches in N. Colorado. We pride ourselves in having all 8 colors and all with beautiful fiber (what this business is all about). In addition to affording and healthy and less stressful lifestyle, alpacas offer you a unique way to diversify your financial portfolio. Alpaca livestock are tax deductable and fully insurable.

Newborn cria "Lucky Clark" has his mother's full attention

We love all our alpacas and their fiber. We have a small farm store where we sell yarn and products made from our alpacas. Last year we had many visitors to the ranch who loved the experience of meeting the alpacas and then buying products made from them.

Prior to raising alpacas, we published the Colorado Business and Lifestyle Magazine for almost 9 years. Retiring from publishing and moving to the ranch west of Loveland, we decided to enhance our life by getting into the alpaca business. The horses are a huge blessing to us as well. Ann rides (her dream since she was a teenager).

Carl and Ann both encourage everyone to follow their dreams because dreams can come true!

For more information or to schedule a free ranch visit, call 970-669-0043 or visit Ridge Valley Alpaca Ranch online.

Written by Ann Bradbury
Photos by John Giroux

Tags: Alpaca Ranch, Cria, John Giroux, Loveland, Loveland365, newborn alpaca
Posted in Ann Bradbury, Colorado, John Giroux, Loveland, Colordo, Loveland365, Ridge Valley Alpaca Ranch | 1 Comment »

Saturday was a "shirtsleeves" day! Warm and sunny, many of us headed to the hills to spend time out of doors. The Devil's Backbone Open Space is one of the most unique in our area. I happened to run across this video posted on YouTube by Loveland Chamber of Commerce SEO Brian Willims - it shows some of the great vistas you'll enjoy there.

National Geographic ran a story about the Devil's Backbone ages ago, before the area became accessible to all of us as part of Larimer County's Open Space. Now we are able to hike or ride this trail through one of the most prominent rock outcrops along the Front Range's hogbacks. Here's a downloadable map, available online through Larimer County Parks.

On their site you'll see a list of hiking trails with short descriptions and a verbal snapshot of the trail like this:

" ... Devil's Backbone Open Space has been in place since 1999. It was updated, with an extensive public process in 2004. The plan accommodates multiple-use recreation such as hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding on the 7-mile trail system. The trailhead at Devil's Backbone features restroom facilities, drinking water, horse-trailer parking and a picnic area."

If you visit soon, be watchful for the trail closure and re-route. Prairie Falcons and Ravens are nesting this time of year in the "Keyhole" area of the trail; it will open again in June when the raptors have finished nesting.

For a more complete list of hiking trails that are all only a short drive away, visit Larimer County's Parks and Open Areas. Be certain to click on the "current conditions" links - springtime in the Rockies is unpredictable.

~Maryjo Morgan

Tags: Colorado, Hiking, Loveland
Posted in Colorado, Loveland, Colordo, Loveland365 | No Comments »

The first time I ever saw the mountains I was still somewhere well east of Greeley. It had been an interminable drive across a scorching Kansas. At first I thought I was seeing low clouds. But mile upon mile westward, the mountains gradually emerged from the hazy horizon.

I can see the mountains even sitting at the traffic light in Loveland, Colorado

The mountains are visible as I sit waiting for the traffic light to change in north Loveland

Wham! Just like that, I was in love. In love with the soaring peaks. In love with the fresh air. In love with the sparkling expanse of blue sky.

I try never to take all that for granted now, so many years later. Loveland has been my home, a place where I've met many others like myself, who've made the choice to move here. To build a life different from what it would have been, had we stayed where we were born.

As one who makes her living writing, why would I be involved in this volunteer project that even has a Facebook fan page?

Nocturne by Barbara Chen in Loveland, Colorado's Benson Sculpture Garden

Nocturne by Barbara Chen seems to point the way to the path in Benson Sculpture Garden

Quite frankly, it feels good to work in concert with others who are glad to live here in Loveland. It feels good to hear someone say they appreciate the art we have here. I'm so glad I'm not the only one who drives the "long way" just to pass the Benson Sculpture Garden or stop for a quick walk in Chapungu or even go down 4th Street just to see the temporary outdoor exhibits there. Loveland 365 just feels good for my soul!

This book project, full of interesting people's interviews with lots of photos of the people, places and things I love about Loveland is giving me a hugely healthy dose of positivity. It works well to combat the economy's ubiquitous negativity.

So I'm in!

~Maryjo Morgan, Freelance Writer

Tags: Art, Loveland, Loveland365
Posted in Art in Public Places, Loveland, Colordo, Loveland365 | No Comments »