Energy Sense

Your Input Matters!

Watch your inbox for member satisfaction surveys throughout the year...

Blue Ridge Energy conducts regular surveys to learn more about how members feel about our service in all areas of the cooperative.

Surveys are sent by email to a sampling of members each month. If you’re selected to be surveyed, we strongly encourage you to take time to let us know how we’re doing and if we can improve service to you in any way.

Blue Ridge Energy partners with Cooperative Insights and Data Decisions Group to conduct the survey. So, watch for an email that comes from CooperativeSurveys@ddgvips.com. Through this partnership, cooperatives across the country are able to compare satisfaction scores and learn from each other on opportunities to improve and provide the best service to our members. Over the years, Blue Ridge Energy has consistently ranked among the top for providing the best member service! We want to continue providing that excellent service as your needs change with with the times. Your survey response will help us do that!

Because these are sent by email, it’s important for us to have your most current email address on file. See this month’s Carolina Country cover wrap for a contest currently underway. When you give us your email address before December 3rd, you’ll be entered for a chance to win a $500 gift card! A postage-paid card is enclosed to make it easy for you to submit your contact information. Or, you can provide/update your email address online under My Account on BlueRidgeEnergy. com, on the mobile app, at your local district office or by calling us at 1-800-451-5474.

Visit us on the web: BlueRidgeEnergy.com

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Doug Johnson

EDITOR

Renée R. Whitener

PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR

Jacob Puckett

DISTRICT OFFICES

Caldwell Watauga Ashe Alleghany Wilkes PowerLine*

(828) 754-9071 (828) 264-8894 (336) 846-7138 (336) 372-4646 (800) 451-5474 (800) 448-2383

(PowerLine* is an automated account information and outage reporting system.) TOLL FREE

OFFICE HOURS: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Monday - Friday Kiosks available (800) 451-5474

Adopting A New Cat

5 tips to help your feline friend feel at home

Cats can make excellent pets, especially for those who live in apartments or other areas with limited green space. Cats are also an excellent option for those with limited mobility, who are in need of companionship.

If you are considering opening your home to a new cat, here are some tips to make the transition easier. For additional information on adopting a kitten or cat, visit petsmartcharities.org.

1Prep your home ahead of time. Before you pick up your new cat or kitten, make sure you’re all set up with these supplies: ■ Crate or carrier ■ Water and food dishes ■ Age-appropriate food ■ Quiet area to set up food and water ■ Litter box, litter scoop and litter

Cats are very curious, so remove breakables on shelves or tables that cats could access. Electric shock is a serious danger for cats who make try to lick power outlets or chew on cords. To avoid this hazard, install outlet covers and electrical cord protectors.

2Choose a “starting room.” Pick one room to isolate your cat for a few days so they can slowly get used to your home. It should be the same room where their litter box is kept.

After a few days in the starting room, gradually open up more rooms so your cat can explore. If you’re introducing them to other animals in your home, do so very gradually. Let them get used to each other’s smells first by swapping rooms for several days, before allowing any supervised face-to-face interactions.

3Offer them a cozy hideout. Cats love small, enclosed places where they’ll feel safe and secure. You can leave a cat carrier open or supply a cardboard box or covered cat bed. Make sure the box or carrier is big enough for the cat to stand up and move around in. Put down a soft blanket or towel to make the box comfy.

If possible, position the box or carrier so it faces the door to the room. That way they won’t be startled by people or other pets entering.

4Set up their first vet appointment. It’s always a good idea to have a new pet checked out by a veterinarian as soon as possible. You’ll want to immediately get a sense of health issues and any special care that may be required.

5Let them come to you. A new cat will likely be nervous at first. Give them time to become accustomed to their surroundings without rushing them or pushing them to be affectionate. If you’re quiet and still, they are more likely to come out and visit. Teach your children to wait patiently for the cat to come to them — and they will be rewarded over time. If your children aren’t used to cats, make sure to supervise them the first few weeks.

You can gently coax your cat to interact with a fun feather toy or tempting treats, and it won’t be too long before they’re ready to socialize.

Tame Your Time

These techniques help you make the most of it

By Meghaan Evans

Life is hectic, and it can often be challenging to complete our daily to-do lists. Practicing good time management skills can benefit us in our professional and personal lives. There are several ways you can take back your time and uncover your inner productivity, so let’s start with a few simple tips.

Break it down There are lots of tasks we can complete in one minute: watering a plant, 30 sit-ups, chopping a vegetable or tidying your home office or cubicle. Breaking down your time into bite-sized pieces can help you realize how much you can accomplish in one day, while also recognizing the value of your time.

Clock yourself doing your daily activities, then start slotting time in your schedule to accomplish these items. For example, schedule your 30-minute workout. Clock how long it takes you to make and eat your lunch, then schedule that time into your day. Scheduling every minute may seem excessive but doing so can help you move one step closer to better time management.

Identify the most important tasks Sometimes we find ourselves picking at tasks that may not be as important or bring us as much satisfaction. Instead, identify the most important tasks and make them priorities. Use your calendar A to-do list does not give you the plan for how you get your tasks done; it just grows longer and more daunting. When you schedule these tasks, schedule them like meetings. Block out the time, and only reschedule that time if it is critical.

Immediately tackle small tasks If it will take less than five minutes to complete, do it immediately. This will help you avoid a laundry list of short tasks and will allow you to spend more time focusing on high-priority tasks.

Limit “trips” to your inbox Don’t let others dictate how you spend your time. Constantly checking your inbox ensures that we spend more time doing what others ask us to do, and less time focusing on what we have prioritized and scheduled. Plus, checking your email is addictive. It’s like a game of chance … sometimes you have a new message, sometimes not. And when you do have a new message in your inbox, your brain releases dopamine making this activity addictive. Try limiting yourself to four or five email checks per day if possible.

Be ready for inspiration Ideas happen, no matter where we are. Don’t spend time trying to remember that great idea you had while walking through the grocery store! Always carry a notebook with you (or the “notes” app on your smartphone), so you can jot your ideas down.

Meghaan Evans writes for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives.

Wallpaper That Wows

Personalize your rooms using custom designs

Wallpaper has made a big comeback in interior design. Home decorators are eager to express themselves through a variety of wallpaper patterns and colors and new types of wallpaper make application and removal easier than before. For example, there are prepasted and peel-and-stick options in addition to nonpasted options.

Advanced digital capabilities mean there are thousands upon thousands of graphic designs now from which to choose. Spoonflower, based in Durham, is among the leading online companies that provide custom, print-on-demand wallpaper in the digital marketplace. With so many unique designs available and the ability to also upload your own design, you can easily use wallpaper to create your own signature style.

Spoonflower (spoonflower.com) recently challenged home decorating bloggers to “facelift” a small space using wallpaper. After successfully completing their updates, these DIY-ers shared these tips and insights.

Create a focal point Bethany Sy, the blogger behind Reality Daydream, enhanced the wall behind her mantel with wallpaper (see photo above). As she puts it, “A little color and pattern can create the perfect focal point in any room.” Wallpaper also can be used to create an accent wall in an otherwise plain room. There are no right or wrong rules per se, but large-scale patterns are typically chosen for larger rooms and small-scale patterns for smaller rooms such as bathrooms and foyers.

Think beyond walls With a little creativity, wallpaper doesn’t just have to be for walls, you can use it to update furniture too. Take a cue from Victoria Ford, the Prepford Wife blogger who recently refreshed an old dresser with the Bee Life Toile wallpaper designed by independent artist Lucinda Wei. “This dresser has lived many lives in our homes and it was time for it to get a little update with a design that was irresistible and perfectly on brand,” Victoria says. Complement your current style As Ashley Dusing of Our 1917 Farmhouse noted, wallpaper can be paired with any room’s current design elements to enhance its overall style. “We selected a wallpaper with a vintage style to complement our midcentury bedroom decor and offer a bold pop of color. It was everything this bedroom (turned office space) needed.”

Consider your decorating habits Before selecting wallpaper, think about how frequently you like to decorate. If you love to mix things up every year or every season, Charlotte Smith of At Charlotte’s House says peel and stick is the way to go. She recently wallpapered the fireplace surround in her family room, but already has sights on the future. “I used removable peel and stick wallpaper so I can easily change things up in a year or two if I want a different vibe.”

Whether you wallpaper an entire room, create an accent wall or revamp a piece of furniture, adding personality to your interior spaces can be quite rewarding with this impactful DIY project.

—Statepoint.net