Colorado Country Life March 2022 Yampa Valley

GET YOUR DUCTS IN A ROW PG 6 / BETTER WITH BUTTER PG 11 / GROWING A LITTLE SELF CARE PG 22

YAMPA VALLEY ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION, INC.

MARCH 2022

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Volume 53

Number 03

March 2022 THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE COLORADO RURAL ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION COMMUNICATIONS STAFF Mona Neeley, CCC, Publisher/Editor mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org Cassi Gloe, CCC, Production Manager/Designer cgloe@coloradocountrylife.org Kylee Coleman, Editorial/Admin. Assistant kcoleman@coloradocountrylife.org ADVERTISING advertising@coloradocountrylife.org National Advertising Representative, American MainStreet Publications 611 S. Congress Street, Suite 504, Austin, TX 78704 | 800-626-1181 Advertising Standards: Publication of an advertisement in Colorado Country Life does not imply endorsement by any Colorado rural electric cooperative or the Colorado Rural Electric Association.

Colorado Country Life (USPS 469-400/ISSN 1090-2503) is published monthly by Colorado Rural Electric Association, 5400 Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216-1731. Periodical postage paid at Denver, Colorado. ©Copyright 2022, Colorado Rural Electric Association. Call for reprint rights.

EDITORIAL Denver Corporate Office, 5400 Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216 mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org | 303-455-4111 coloradocountrylife.coop | facebook.com/COCountryLife Pinterest.com/COCountryLife | Instagram.com/cocountrylife Twitter.com/COCountryLife | YouTube.com/COCountryLife1 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.

SUBSCRIBERS Report change of address to your local cooperative. Do not send change of address to Colorado Country Life. Cost of subscription for members of participating electric cooperatives is 22.5 cents per month, paid from equity accruing to the member. For nonmembers, a subscription is $10 per year in-state/$16 out-of-state.

POSTMASTER Send address changes to Colorado Country Life, 5400 Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216

“Morning Glow” by Marcy Gruber, a Mountain Parks Electric consumer-member.

4 VIEWPOINT 5 LETTERS 6 ASK THE ENERGY EXPERT 7 YOUR CO-OP NEWS 11 RECIPES 14 NEWS CLIPS

16 COVER STORY PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS 20 ENERGY CONNECTIONS 22 GARDENING 24 OUTDOORS 26 FOCUS ON 29 MARKETPLACE 29 YOUR STORIES

On the Cover MARCH 2022

Cover photo contest winner: “Staredown,”

by Frank Morgan, Westcliffe. Morgan is a consumer-member of Sangre de Cristo Electric Association.

coloradocountrylife.coop

PINTEREST SNEAK PEEK COCountryLife pinned: Have a bowl of this chili for your hungry belly! Try Epicurean Butter’s Three Bean Chili. It’s hearty, flavorsome and has just the right amount of kick.

30 DISCOVERIES

FACEBOOK CHATTER Colorado Rural Electric Association posted: Thanks to NRECA CEO Jim Matheson for meeting with Colorado electric co-op directors, managers and staff to talk about federal issues that will affect electric co-ops.

Monthly Contest Enter This Month’s Contest Enter for your chance to win this Audubon Nature pagea-day desk calendar.

Containing 313 pages, you’ll be inspired by beautiful photos of the wilderness. For official rules and how to enter, visit coloradocountrylife.coop, click on Contests.

INSTAGRAM PIC of the month Colorado Rural Electric Association posted: Outgoing CREA Board President Jeff Hauck of Mountain Parks Electric opens his final CREA Annual Meeting as president. Thanks to Jeff for his leadership over the last 2 years. # lookingforward #yearinreview COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2022

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VIEWPOINT

ARE YOU READY TO BE A LEADER?

BY STEVE JOHNSON

PRESIDENT AND GENER AL MANAGER

D

o you find yourself heeding the call to action to make a difference in your community? To make a change in your life, to better your future?

We hear that call and we at YVEA need your help with several opportunities. And as seniors are getting ready to wrap up school or undergrads are signing up for the next semester, we want to talk about our scholarship opportunities that offer students the chance to further their education.

BOARD NOMINATIONS This year, we have three seats up for reelection: District 4, Elk Springs: Dean Brosious; District 5, Hayden: Patrick Delaney; and District 7, Steamboat Springs: Sonja Macys.

Every board member serves a term of three years before coming up for reelection in their district. As a board member, responsibilities include attending the monthly board meeting, attending the annual meeting, participating in strategic planning, and completing educational and board certification programs meant to improve your understanding of the co-op world. Even if you don’t know much about the co-op world, please don’t let this deter you from submitting a nomination — we need people on the board who are passionate about representing their district and improving the quality of life and service in our communities. We need individuals who share these ideals, which align with our commitments to the communities we serve. The deadline for board nominations is April 29, 2022.

COFFEE WITH THE CO-OP We realize as a co-op we need even more engagement with our communities. One way we are committing to doing this is by featuring a board member Q&A section here in CCL every month. This is a great

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2022

way for all of our members to get to know their board members and for districts to know a bit more about their representatives. Beyond that, we will be holding a series of Coffee with the Co-op events throughout the year. These events will be held throughout our service territory and will be a great opportunity to visit with you, our member-owners. We want to hear what your concerns are with the future of power in our territory and what has been working for you when it comes to YVEA. In addition to our Annual Survey, this is a chance for you to make your voice heard, to get answers to any questions you may have and to learn more about what we bring to your communities.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR SENIORS AND UNDERGRADS YVEA recognizes the importance of our youth continuing their education so they can find a path they are passionate about.

We know the cost of schooling has increased and are proud to offer financial assistance to high school seniors or undergraduates who live within our service territory.

These scholarship opportunities are funded through unclaimed capital credits. This year we will be offering our scholarships through the Yampa Valley Community Foundation. By adding our scholarship to their platform, we are hoping to increase the visibility of our scholarship program and to also offer members a one-stop shop for many of the scholarships offered to our youth. The scholarships we award must be used for educational costs and the student must attend college in the fall of the school year in which the scholarship is given. The deadline for scholarship applications is April 6, 2022. For more details, please visit our website at yvea.com/scholarships

STEVE JOHNSON

or visit the Yampa Valley Community Foundation at yvcf.org/scholarships/ scholarships-overview/.

As the president and general manager of the co-op, I understand the need for listening to varying perspectives which can come from board nominations as well as inspired youth. I look forward seeing you at our Coffee with a Co-op events and reading the board nominations and scholarship applications. So much can be gained from all the voices of our membership, and I look forward to hearing from many of you.

Steve Johnson

President and General Manager

Rays Up Community Solar Garden Accepting Applications YVEA’s Rays Up Community Solar Garden (formerly known as the GRID array) is now accepting applications for income-qualified members.

Members participating in this program will receive a bill “off set” from the energy produced by their portion of a community solar array.

For more details, visit yvea.com/raysup-community-solar-project.

LETTERS

FROM THE EDITOR

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Green House Gas Reductions

Working together, co-ops can accomplish big things

BY MONA NEELEY

E

EDITOR

ach month your local electric cooperative sends you this magazine, Colorado Country Life. It mails the magazine to share not only fun information on all kinds of places, people and events that make Colorado unique, but also important information about what is happening within the co-op itself.

Your local co-op announces director elections in these pages, shares rate adjustments, publishes financial reports, suggests ways to save on your electric bill, urges safe practices when using electrical devices, keeps you up to date on what is happening in a quickly changing industry, and more.

By doing all that in cooperation with other electric co-ops in the state, your local co-op can send you an award-winning publication that is read cover to cover by most of you and save money at the same time.

Working together — cooperating — small organizations such as your local electric cooperative can do big things.

That’s why your co-op came together

MONA NEELEY

with the 21 other electric co-ops in Colorado and the state’s generation and transmission co-op to form the Colorado Rural Electric Association, the ultimate in cooperation among cooperatives. CREA provides your co-op with the magazine as well as safety programs, educational opportunities and a presence at the state Capitol.

CREA celebrated its 76th annual meeting this past month (see information on page 15) and used the opportunity to look back at the services it provided to its member co-ops in 2021. It was a challenging year as we all dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic, but CREA was able to continue to provide the services its member co-ops have come to depend on.

Learn more about CREA’s services and how your co-op works with others through CREA by viewing the CREA Year-In-Review at adobe.ly/3uWWxbO. Mona Neeley is the statewide editor of Colorado Country Life, which is published in coordination with your local electric cooperative. Its goal is to provide information from your local electric co-op to you, its consumer-members.

BuildingLocal with authorized builders all across Colorado

Mr. [Kent] Singer said 80% alternate power by 2030. (Viewpoint, November ’21) Make me feel good and tell me how.

Danny Shaffer, Loma Grand Valley Power consumer-member Editor’s Note: The 80% reduction in greenhouse gases is now the law and Colorado’s electric cooperatives are working with their power suppliers to meet the requirements of the law.

The Positive Side of Hydrogen

I was a fire inspector for the Denver Fire Department from 2009 to 2017 when I retired. I helped inspect the installation of a hydrogen power cell fueling station at a large food distribution center. What was wonderful is that all the electric forklifts in the facility were retrofitted for this power cell. Hydrogen’s main exhaust is water, which is perfect for a facility that handles food.

Dean Yoder, Bellvue Poudre Valley REA consumer-member

Colorado’s Fast EV Chargers

Driving EVs in winter weather, as I have often experienced, is nicely described in the February article. But a correction is needed.

Colorado has many more convenient, fast, public EV-charging locations than the 34 cited. Plugshare.com displays about 220 with about 180 that rapidly recharge the Chevy Bolt described in the article.

Jim Gano, Fort Collins Poudre Valley REA consumer-member Editor’s Note: The 34 Level 3 fast chargers mentioned in the article are part of the Colorado Energy Office’s electric vehicle corridor project. That could have been explained better.

Defending the Real Thing

Regarding your Colorado guacamole features in Recipes (February ’21) by Executive Chef Oscar Padilla, with due respect, this is NOT anywhere close to guacamole.

Please do not pass off a high-end mix, match recipe for the real thing.

Sharon Lee, McCoy Yampa Valley Electric consumer-member

SEND US YOUR LETTERS

visit www.heritagehomesofne.com or call 877-759-2782

Editor Mona Neeley, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 or mneeley@ coloradocountrylife.org. Include name and address. Letters may be edited for length.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2022

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ASK THE ENERGY EXPERT

Get Your Ducts in a Row

BY MIR ANDA BOUTELLE

F

or most people, the inner workings of the HVAC system are out of sight, out of mind. The system is ignored until something goes wrong.

Understanding the basics of how a heating and cooling system works will help you create a more efficient, comfortable living space. To get started, let’s go over how it works.

If you have a forced-air system, you have ducts. A forced-air system consists of the equipment that heats or cools the air and the ductwork that moves it around the home. Your furnace, or air handler, has a fan inside that pushes the heated or cooled air through the supply ducts into the rooms. The return ducts bring air back to the furnace

to be heated or cooled again and sent back through the home.

This continuous loop of supply and return is susceptible to inefficient practices and leakage.

Here are some steps you can take to keep your system running efficiently and maintain a comfortable living space.

Sealing ducts can be difficult because they are hidden behind the walls, floor and/or ceiling. Attics and crawl spaces can be hard places to work. You can hire a professional to test your duct system for leakage with specialized equipment and seal your ducts.

Check your vent dampers.

The filter is on the return side of the duct system. It could be in the return registers or in the furnace. Checking your system’s filter regularly and replacing it when it is dirty can help you improve your heating and cooling efficiency.

Now that you know the inner workings of your HVAC system and what it needs to run efficiently, you can improve and maintain the comfort in your home year-round.

I wish vents were made without dampers because the feature creates the misconception they should be closed. Closing registers does not save energy. It can cause your system to work harder, shortening its life span and increasing duct leakage.

Seal your ducts.

If your ductwork travels through an attic, crawl space or other unconditioned (not heated or cooled) space, it could have holes, cracks or gaps that cause duct leakage. This wastes energy and money by heating or cooling spaces you don’t use.

Change your filter.

Miranda Boutelle is the director of operations and customer engagement at Efficiency Services Group in Oregon, a cooperatively-owned energy-efficiency company. She also writes on energy-efficiency topics for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2022

YOUR CO-OP NEWS

YAMPA VALLEY ELECTRIC

YVEA BOARD Q&A

L

ast month, we featured Patrick Delaney in our Board Member Q&A, and this month, we are featuring YVEA Board Member Ken Rogers. This section is dedicated to giving our members a chance to get to know their representatives. Below is our interview with Ken Rogers, who represents District 9 — South Routt, Bond, Burns, and State Bridge area.

ASSOCIATION MARCH 2022

MAILING ADDRESS 2211 Elk River Road Steamboat Springs, CO 80487

Tell us about your professional background.

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS SERVICE CENTER 2211 Elk River Road Steamboat Springs, CO 80487

ph tf fax web

970-879-1160 888-873-9832 970-879-7270 yvea.com

CRAIG SERVICE CENTER 3715 East US Highway 40 Craig, CO 81625

ph tf fax

970-824-6593 888-873-9832 970-824-7134

Ken Rogers, Dist. 9 Representative

I owned a retail business in Boulder that had been established since 1913. I was able to grow the business into a thriving multi-location operation. I also worked as the vice president of racing for the American Motorcyclist Association Pro Racing, managing the U.S. Superbike, Motocross and Supercross Series.

Currently I am the district manager at the South Routt Medical Center in Oak Creek.

Tell us about your personal/family life.

My wife Melissa and I have been together for 35 years. We tend to adopt pets with disabilities — we currently have five special-needs dogs and two special-needs cats. We founded Colorado Comfort Canines, a nonprofit organization of certified Animal Assisted Therapy teams that will respond to communities in need following a critical incident such as a shooting or natural disaster. I am also on the board of directors for the Steamboat Running Series and help manage many of the local running races. Melissa is a critical care nurse at Yampa Valley Medical Center. I worked in pre-hospital care as a paramedic before joining the South Routt Medical Center.

What inspired you to run for the YVEA Board of Directors? facebook.com/ YampaValleyElectricAssociation

@YampaValleyElec

instagram.com/ yampavalleyelectriccoop

Yampa Valley Electric Association is a cooperative that provides value to its member-owners through technology that delivers safe and reliable electrical service in an environmentally and financially responsible manner.

YAMPA VALLEY ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNIT Y PROVIDER AND EMPLOYER.

I have always felt it important to participate in our local community whenever possible.

Ensuring that not only South Routt but the entire YVEA service area continues to have affordable and reliable power is an essential part of what I can help with.

What strengths do you bring to the YVEA board?

I have a strong understanding of what our community may need and what can be done to meet those needs. I also have a background in technology that helps me to better understand many aspects of how YVEA and Luminate can deliver power and broadband to our communities.

What major challenges do you believe YVEA will face in the next 5–10 years?

Our communities continue to grow not only geographically but also in their energy and technology needs. As a member of the board, it is my responsibility to keep looking ahead at those needs and make sure that YVEA and Luminate are positioned to meet those needs.

The year 2020 showed us the importance of being connected with reliable and affordable broadband and the reliance on this technology will continue to grow. [continued on page 8] COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2022

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YOUR CO-OP NEWS

YVEA BOARD Q&A [continued from page 7]

What are your thoughts on the status of the electric industry in Colorado?

To say that the nature of the electric industry is changing is an understatement. State and federal mandates to transfer carbonbased energy production to renewables are driving all of the power generation, transmission and distribution companies to adapt and adjust how they will be doing business. This is an industry that has been doing business pretty much the same way for more than 100 years, so, as you would expect, big changes like this can be difficult. But we will get there.

What changes do you believe will have the most significant effect on the electric industry in the next 10 years?

The most significant change will be how energy is produced. We are already seeing huge strides in technology surrounding wind, solar and hydro power. I also expect to see big advancements in storage technology.

SOLAR POWER Making the Solar Switch: Common YVEA Member Solar Installation Considerations 8

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2022

RESIDENTIAL LIGHTBULB RECYCLING PROGRAM As of March 1, YVEA is no longer a collection point for residential lightbulb recycling. Yampa Valley Sustainability Council opened a recycling depot where YVEA members can now take their residential lightbulbs to be recycled. For details on the recycling depot, visit yvsc.org/depotinfo.

When you take in your lightbulbs to be recycled, YVEA is offering a free LED lightbulb (while supplies last). And don’t forget — when you purchase new LED lightbulbs, you are eligible for a rebate through YVEA’s rebate program. To learn more about all of our rebates and to fill out a rebate form, visit yvea.com/rebates.

YVEA regularly works with co-op members and solar contractors to transition to solar power through our net metering program. As the demand for solar power increases, so does the number of calls we receive from members with concerns about solar company sales tactics, costs and logistics.

Thoroughly investigate the company. Is it backed by the Better Business Bureau?

Is it contracted to do business in Colorado? Important note: If a representative from a solar company contacts you claiming to be “with YVEA” or that they are “part of YVEA’s solar efforts,” please know that is a sales pitch (but not a 100% truthful one). YVEA does not have preferred solar installation contractors, at this time, but YVEA is working on a qualified installer program, which we will be rolling out in 2022.

Know all the costs, not just those for equipment and installation. In addition to equipment and labor, there are also pricey “soft costs” that can cost more than the system itself, according to Energy.gov. Soft costs include permit acquisition; financing charges; and “pass-along” marketing, advertising and research costs. Be cautious of companies that are making claims that sound too good to be true.

How will the installer work with YVEA to meet interconnection requirements?

Does the installer have experience coordinating and integrating solar systems with the electric grid? How much energy will the system provide and is it enough? Too much? Solar is a substantial investment and we encourage members to contact us prior to purchasing a solar system to ensure that it can fully integrate and connect with YVEA’s system. Learn more at yvea.com/distributed-generationinterconnection.

YOUR CO-OP NEWS

SUPPLY CHAIN LEAD TIMES HIGHER THAN NORMAL

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ampa Valley Electric Association is alerting contractors, builders and members that lead time on materials is longer than normal. This may impact line extension, service upgrade projects and programs in 2022. YVEA is working to maintain a healthy inventory of equipment to minimize the potential delays, yet we encourage stakeholders to review their projects estimates and timelines closely. To ensure realistic expectations, please reach out to our engineering department regarding any changes in your project timeline.

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Distributer

Severe storms can cause extended power outages.

Be prepared with food, water, and other essential supplies.

ENERGY SAVINGS TIP: Electric Resistive Heating Space heating uses more energy and costs more money than any other system in your home, typically making up about 45%–55% of your utility bill.

Follow these tips to help you manage the amount of kilowatt-hours your electric resistive heaters use: • Use programmable thermostats • Limit the use of space heaters and turn them off when you are not home

BOARD MEMBER NOMINATIONS

Would you like to represent your district on the YVEA Board of Directors? There are three seats that are up for reelection this year:

• District 4, Elk Springs: Dean Brosious • District 5, Hayden: Patrick Delaney • District 7, Steamboat Springs: Sonja Macys

• Make sure you seal all air leaks and your home is well-insulated • Install window film, honeycomb blinds or drapes on all windows • Visit yvea.com/be-energy-heroyour-home for more tips and to watch a video about space heaters.

Petitions for nominations of directors must be returned by April 29, 2022. For a nomination packet and more details, please visit yvea.com/annual-meeting-election.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2022

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YOUR CO-OP NEWS

The Incredible Benefits of LUMINATE Broadband’s Fiber Internet

W

hen it comes to selecting an internet service provider for your home or business, it can be challenging to determine which one is the best. Every service provider claims to provide fast and reliable internet, but is there truly a clear winner when it comes to how it is delivered?

The answer is YES. Fiber delivers better video picture and sound, provides incredible reliability when working from home, has the lowest latency for activities like online gaming, handles multiple connected devices with ease, and provides considerable advantages to businesses. Luminate Broadband’s fiber internet is the new gold standard. Here are just a few reasons why: AMAZING SPEED Internet travels to homes and businesses in a variety of ways: by radio waves, phone lines, cable networks, electric wiring or fiberoptics. Fiber internet uses cutting-edge technology to deliver data to and from your devices at the speed of light. Light travels through fiber-optic lines at speeds that far surpass that of cable and DSL. Our symmetrical download AND upload speeds range from 100 Mbps to 1 Gig. Now that’s fast.

DSL uses copper lines, which were originally designed to carry voice signals, and cable internet is delivered through coaxial cables. As mentioned in previous articles, DSL caps out at much slower speeds than fiber, and both cable and DSL typically have significantly slower upload speeds.

UNBELIEVABLE RELIABILITY Internet technologies such as copper, DSL and wireless can be affected by outside factors such as severe weather, temperature fluctuations and moisture. Fiber optic cables are constructed via small flexible strands of glass.

Because the signal is light instead of electricity, fiber internet is unaffected by electrical surges, moisture or cold.

Fiber also sends data further than other technologies like wireless or copper, which are

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2022

limited by distance or physical line of sight to an antenna. So whether you’re next door to your internet provider or across the county, you’ll always enjoy faster load times and higher-quality streaming with fiber internet provided by Luminate Broadband.

ENTERTAINMENT A fast internet connection is essential to enjoy 21st century entertainment. It enables the ability for super high definition and 4K video streaming, virtual reality, real-time online gaming, watching your favorite online videos, connecting via social media and video calls.

As technology continues to advance, only fiber internet has the capacity to evolve with it.

LOWER LATENCY Latency refers to how much time it takes for a signal to travel to its destination and back.

Low latency is very important for activities such as online gaming, video conferencing, stock trading, trying to get your children into summer camps, booking campsites, or any activity where a delay matters. Fiber typically has much lower latency than wireless, cable, DSL or 5G and no. one. wants. to. Face. Time. like. this…. Latency matters and it’s less of an issue with Luminate Broadband fiber.

CONNECTING MULTIPLE DEVICES The average number of internet-connected devices in the home continues to rise each year, and internet use does too. Since 2019, the average number of connected devices has more than doubled with it being estimated most homes have 25 connected devices, and gig internet is quickly becoming a necessity. While other internet technologies have already reached their limits, the potential of fiber has hardly been tapped. The unique technology of Luminate Broadband’s fiber provides the ability for it to grow with the data and speed needs of the future, so whether connecting dozens of devices, or hundreds, our fiber is ready.

BOOSTING BUSINESSES The incredible speed and reliability of fiber make it the best choice for businesses. We

know that time is money. According to research, a slow internet connection costs employees one week per year of productivity.

The bandwidth capabilities also make it the ideal way to quickly access data and applications stored in the cloud. Fiber also offers security advantages. Unlike other technologies, the only way to penetrate a fiber optic cable is to physically cut the fiber, which will cause the signal to disappear. It’s also future proof. As your technology needs grow, fiber will be ready to handle the internet needs of your business for decades to come.

If you have questions or want to sign up for Luminate Broadband, please call 970-870-4320 or visit luminatebroadband. com. We can’t wait for you to experience the fiber difference.

RULES & REGULATIONS UPDATE

As of February 15, YVEA has updated its rules and regulations, and these changes may impact contractors. YVEA will no longer supply meter sockets.

All meters installed must meet YVEA requirements. Additionally, we will no longer offer the $2,500 credit toward line extensions. For more details on these updates, please visit yvea.com/ service-rules-and-regulations or call 970-879-1160.

RECIPES

Make it Better with Flavored Butter



Colorado company will butter up guests for you

BY AMY HIGGINS

WHERE TO BUY THE BUTTER?

Order Epicurean Butter online at epicureanbutter.com.

| RECIPES@COLOR ADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG

B

utter can boost the flavor of your favorite recipes and with flavored butter you can step it up yet another notch. Whipping up flavored butter at home has been an ongoing trend for years, but Thornton-based Epicurean Butter has been mastering it for nearly two decades, offering home chefs convenience and an amazing addition to dishes. From sweet to savory, the company’s creamy butters are also great on your morning bagel, tossed in your movie night popcorn and mixed with sautéed vegetables, making the pickiest eaters more inclined to finish their plate. Put Epicurean Butter to the test with your friends’ and family’s palates with one of their newest recipes.

Boost the flavor with flavored butter

Spinach Artichoke Parmsean Dip 1 (10 ounce) box frozen spinach, thawed and drained 2 (3.5 ounce tubs) Epicurean But ter Garlic Parmesanflavored butter, divided to 8 tablespoons/6 tablespoons (some will be left over) 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese 1 cup light sour cream 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese 1 cup shredded mozzarella, divided pinch of red pepper flakes 1 (14-ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and coarsely chopped 1 loaf sourdough boule or shepherd’s bread carrot and celery sticks, sugar snap peas and sliced red, yellow or orange bell pepper, for serving Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Thaw spinach in microwave or under hot water. Grasp a small handful of the spinach and squeeze all the water out.

Repeat with remaining handfuls of spinach.

In a saucepan, combine 8 tablespoons of Butter Garlic Parmesanflavored butter, cream cheese and sour cream and melt over medium heat. Add the shredded parmesan and 1/2 cup mozzarella and heat until bubbling. Stir in the red pepper flakes, artichoke hearts and spinach.

MORE RECIPES ONLINE at coloradocountrylife.coop

It’s time to add a kick to your cornbread. Try Epicurean Butter’s Chili Lime Cornbread. The peppers in the Chile Lime Butter add a little zest to this popular bread making it a great pairing with chili.

Cut off the top of the bread (as if you were carving a pumpkin).

Use a knife to cut the bread out of the center of the loaf, leaving about 1/2 inch all around the sides and bottom. Cut the bread that was removed from the center of the loaf into cubes and place on the prepared baking sheet. Melt 6 tablespoons of Butter Garlic Parmesan and drizzle the bread cubes, then toss to coat.

Add hollowed-out loaf to baking sheet and fill with dip. Top the dip with remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella. Bake for 15–20 minutes until dip is bubbly and cheese is melted and lightly browned. Serve with the toasted garlic butter bread cubes and fresh veggies.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2022

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ELECTRIFY AND SAVE

UPGRADE TO ELECTRICITY AND SAVE IN YOUR HOME Make the switch to electricity and keep money in your pocket with more efficient household appliances and systems. From heat pumps to electric vehicles, these proven technologies have the potential to run your home and life more simply, efficiently and cost-effectively.

LEARN MORE AT WWW.TRISTATE.COOP/BE Tri-State is a not-for-profit power supplier to cooperatives and public power districts in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming.

Empowering the West for 70 years Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association and our member co-ops and public power districts have proudly connected communities for 70 years. Whether it’s your home or business, together we’ve kept the lights on since 1952 and we’re not slowing down now. Our family of electric cooperatives is dedicated to serving more than one million consumers with reliable, affordable and responsible power.

Because whatever the future holds, we’ll power it.

WWW.TRISTATE.COOP

NEWS CLIPS

Electric School Buses Get Added Spark

Top (left to right) Ginny Buczek, Joe Redetzke, Jeff Hauck

Bottom (left to right) Rod Martinez and Stephen Valdez

New Officers Lead Colorado’s Electric Co-ops During its January 27 meeting, the board of directors for CREA, the statewide trade association for electric co-ops, elected new officers for 2022.

Stepping up to lead the board as president is Ginny Buczek , who serves on the United Power Board of Directors. Buczek lives in Firestone and is deeply rooted and involved in her community. Serving on Firestone’s planning and park commissions as well as the city’s board of trustees, Buczek’s experience is well-rounded and comprehensive, as evidenced by her continued success on CREA’s board.

Sangre de Cristo Electric Association director Joe Redetzke will serve as vice president. Having served on SDCEA’s board since 2016, Redetzke brings valuable co-op board experience and perspective to the statewide association. Active in his community of Buena Vista, Redetzke advocates for reliable and affordable electricity.

Rod Martinez, a board member for Grand Valley Power, was elected as CREA’s board secretary. Martinez is a professional photographer and outdoor guidebook author who calls Grand Junction home.

Stephen Valdez, who serves on the San Luis Valley Rural Electric Cooperative Board of Directors in Monte Vista, was elected as treasurer of the association’s board. Valdez brings various board and community service experience to both SLVREC and CREA boards.

Stepping down as president of the board, Jeff Hauck of Mountain Parks Electric served CREA in this position for a unique two years. Serving during the height of the pandemic, he led online meetings and virtual conferences. As past president, Hauck will remain on the executive committee of the CREA board.

CREA is the statewide trade association representing Colorado’s 22 electric cooperatives and one generation and transmission association. Colorado’s electric cooperatives are leaders for a sustainable future working to maintain reliability and affordability; advancing innovative solutions; and enhancing community resilience.

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The move to electrify school buses across the country got a new push when the Beneficial Electrification League announced an initiative to accelerate the deployment of these buses in electric cooperative service territories.

BEL launched this coalition effort in advance of federal funds targeted to electric school buses in the Investment in Infrastructure and Jobs Act passed by Congress in 2021.

“Colorado's rural electric cooperatives are excited to partner with our schools to bring the benefits of electric school buses to communities all across the state,” said Kent Singer, CREA executive d i re c t or. “We believe these buses can bring a lot of benefits to students, the school systems and the electric cooperative community.”

In Colorado, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, CREA and three local electric co-ops are participating in the BEL initiative.

To learn more, visit be-league.org/buses or email grants@be-league.org.

An ET for the Farm It’s not an EV, but an ET — an electric tractor. And it could be ready for farming as soon as this fall. Monarch Tractor, a California-based company, plans to begin shipping its first-of-its-kind fully electric, driver-optional tractor this fall.

Monarch claims the machines will be able to run 10 hours on a full battery, recognize humans and livestock that may get in the way and be programmed to follow a human.

The Monarch starts at $58,000 and recently won a CES 2022 Innovation Award.

NEWS CLIPS

Co-ops Ask: Protect People While Protecting Sage-Grouse

Discussing resource planning for future utilities are (left to right) Mary Ann Zehr, Tri-State Generation and Transmission; Steve Beuning, Guzman Energy; Carrie Simpson, Xcel Energy; and Bryan Hannegan, Holy Cross Energy.

CREA CELEBRATES ANOTHER YEAR OF SERVICE CREA, the statewide association of Colorado’s electric cooperatives, hosted its annual meeting February 11-15 in downtown Denver.

About 150 electric co-op board members, managers and CEOs, and senior staff from around the state gathered in person for education classes, reports from affiliated organizations, annual reports from CREA and its board officers, and speakers on a variety of topics.

Speakers sharing information came from state agencies, the Colorado House and Senate, the Colorado Office of the Utility Consumer Advocate, the Colorado Chamber of Commerce, the Colorado State Forest Service, the National Snow and Ice Data Center and the Air Pollution Control Division. Jim Matheson, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, gave the group a national perspective on legislation and rulemaking that is affecting electric co-ops.

The event ended with a panel discussion looking ahead to 2030 and how utilities will continue to provide reliable and affordable electricity as the electric industry changes.

Record Renewable Growth Still Falls Short of Need About 290 gigawatts of new renewable energy generation capacity — mostly in the form of wind turbines and solar panels — was installed around the world in 2021, according to the International Energy Agency. That beat the record set in 2020.

And the Renewables Market Report predicts renewable energy generating capacity will jump to 4,800 GW by 2026, exceeding that of fossil fuels and nuclear energy combined.

However, the IEA says this record growth is still short of what is necessary to achieve net zero carbon emissions by mid-century.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is considering changes to greater sage-grouse conservation plans as it works to bolster habitat for the ground-dwelling birds that roam parts of 11 Western states, including Colorado.

These plans, supported by electric co-ops and others, have precluded the need to list the greater sage-grouse under the Endangered Species Act. However, the BLM is taking a new look at the species as drought spreads across the West.

As the BLM is looking at land-use amendments to bolster the birds’ habitat, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, which represents electric cooperatives, is asking it to consider the financial impacts of any changes to these plans on low-income communities.

“The greater sage-grouse’s vast stomping grounds include a large number of rural, persistent-poverty areas served by electric cooperatives,” said Elise Laarman, NRECA issue adviser for environmental regulatory affairs. “We urge the BLM in their early resource management planning to take into account any potential financial harm posed to these rural communities.”

In Colorado, these communities include those in the northwestern part of the state already dealing with the closure of coal-fired power plants and coal mines. The state’s greater sage-grouse habitat stretches across territory served by Grand Valley Power north of Grand Junction; White River Electric near Meeker; Yampa Valley Electric around Steamboat Springs; and Mountain Parks Electric in both Jackson and Grand counties.

The co-ops have long worked with local groups on conservation measures to assist the species, but more stringent land-use rules from the BLM could be expensive and force rate increases to cover the cost of compliance.

NRECA asked the BLM to review state land-use plans, such as the one Colorado already has in place, and give credit for the co-ops’ current best practices for land management in greater sagegrouse habitat.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2022

15

COVER STORY 1st Place Pure Enjoyment: “Silly Grands, Nacho Average Mimi” — Debby King, Pueblo West, San Isabel Electric consumer-member

M

ark Twain once said, “You can’t depend on your eyes if your imagination is out of focus.”

Colorado Country Life readers stepped up to the challenge to use their imaginations and focused their camera lenses on Life’s Expressions.

We received more than 340 photos that creatively captured the four categories of this year’s photo contest: Awestruck, Pure Enjoyment, Nostalgia and Hometown Pride.

These moments and expressions showed up in photos of faces and fun; through the vast beauty of Colorado; in gatherings; in the air and on solid ground; and in memories and scenes of days past.

Find the winning photos in all four categories on the following pages and see for yourself how these moments were brought to life.

Congratulations to all the winning photographers, including Frank Morgan, Buena Vista, who photographed an intense staredown with a curious and confident fox that graces this issue’s cover.

Check out CCL on Facebook and Instagram to view the winning photos, runners-up and many other entries that we received during the course of the contest.

1st Place Awestruck: “The Monarch” — Natalie Heller, Ridgway, San Miguel Power Association consumer-member

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2022

1st Place Nostalgia: “Days Past” — Deanna Howard, San Isabel Electric Association consumer-member

1st Pace Hometown Pride: “Palisade in Bloom” — Rod Martinez, Grand Junction, Grand Valley Power consumer-member

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2022

17

COVER STORY

2nd Place Awestruck: “Danger Zone” — Emilie Gunderson, Windsor, Poudre Valley REA consumer-member

2nd Place Pure Enjoyment: “Splish Splash” — Jessie Heath, Ovid, Highline Electric Association consumer-member

2nd Place Hometown Pride: “Halloween Stroll Steamboat” — Jennifer Summers, Steamboat Springs, Yampa Valley Electric Association consumer-member

2nd Place Nostalgia: “Going to the Movies” — Kimberly Randall, Buena Vista, Sangre de Cristo Electric Association consumer-member

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2022

COVER STORY

3rd Place Pure Enjoyment: “Head in the Clouds” — Jamison Paul, Severance, Poudre Valley REA consumer-member 3rd Place Awestruck: “American Kestrel on a Stick” — Kevin Fettig, Loveland, Poudre Valley REA consumer-member

3rd Place Hometown Pride: “La Veta Fourth of July Parade” — Jim Lambert, Walsenburg, San Isabel Electric Association consumer-member

3rd Place Nostalgia: “Years Ago” — Donnell Allen, Colorado Springs, Mountain View Electric Association consumer-member

WATCH ONLINE See a video featuring all the 2022 winners as well as some honorable mentions.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2022

19

ENERGY CONNECTIONS

Two Interesting Facts About Electricity

BY PAUL WESSLUND

E

lectricity turns dark into light, makes hot foods cold and cold foods hot, washes the dishes and searches the internet. It is essential to our everyday lives, so much so that we rarely think about it. But behind the scenes, interesting things are happening.

Here are two of many interesting facts about electricity that cause even some experts to scratch and shake their heads.

1. Electricity must be used or stored after it’s generated.

A rechargeable battery stores electricity — more on that later. But the kind of electricity you use in your home needs to be used after it’s generated.

It’s true. Electricity produced from power plants, solar panels, wind turbines and hydro dams in the U.S. needs to be perfectly timed for when you decide to cook dinner, wash clothes or watch TV. The national grid, made up of power generators, wires and substations, is an incredibly complex network that makes electricity flow smoothly.

A vast and intricate system of devices controls that power flow in a precisely balanced way so that when you flip a switch calling for additional electricity, somewhere else a power source ramps up to provide the additional electricity you require.

It’s one reason utility operators must be strategic when adding renewable energy to the nation’s fuel mix — a coal or natural gas plant can ramp generation up or down fairly quickly to meet changing energy demand. Solar energy and wind power depend more on the whims of Mother Nature, which adds an extra challenge to power management. However, technology advances are making this challenge easier to deal with, and more large-scale battery storage is also helping.

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2022

Big batteries offer another way for electric utilities to better balance the flow and timing of electricity; large-scale battery storage technology is improving rapidly. A few of Colorado’s electric cooperatives have incorporated battery storage into their distribution systems, and more storage is being planned. Wider use of large, utility-scale batteries will make it much easier to add more solar and wind energy to the grid, allowing electric co-ops and others to store energy that’s generated when it’s breezy and sunny for use at night and during calm weather.

2. Highways could charge electric vehicles in the future.

If researchers have their way, electric vehicles won’t need to plug in — they will be able to charge while they’re being driven.

“Wireless dynamic charging” projects are underway around the world. The idea is similar to wireless chargers you can buy for your home electronics, the kind you can set near a charger rather than actually plugging in the smartphone or other device.

Charging cars while they’re driving along the freeway is of course a lot more ambitious. But some developers predict that within five years, in addition to today’s special high-occupancy-vehicle lanes for rush-hour traffic in large cities, there could be stretches of vehicle-charging lanes.

Futurists expect electric trucks as the most likely users of wireless charging lanes. Wireless dynamic truck charging could keep the deliveries rolling rather than drivers having to sit for however long it might take to get trucks back to full power through a plug-in charger.

Electricity is such a basic part of our everyday life, so every now and then it’s good to think about all its benefits and mysteries.

Paul Wesslund writes for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association for the nation’s electric cooperatives.

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The Invention of the Year The world’s lightest and most portable mobility device Once in a lifetime, a product comes along that truly moves people. Introducing the future of battery-powered personal transportation . . . The Zinger.

Throughout the ages, there have been many important advances in mobility. Canes, walkers, rollators, and scooters were created to help people with mobility issues get around and retain their independence. Lately, however, there haven’t been any new improvements to these existing products or developments in this field.

Until now. Recently, an innovative design engineer who’s developed one of the world’s most popular products created a completely new breakthrough . . . a personal electric vehicle. It’s called the Zinger, and there is nothing out there quite like it.

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folding and unfolding – when folded it can be The Zinger folds to a mere 10 inches. wheeled around like a suitcase and fits easily into a backseat or trunk. Then, there are the steering levers. They enable the Zinger to move forward, backward, turn on a dime and even pull right up to a table or desk. With its compact yet powerful motor it can go up to 6 miles an hour and its rechargeable battery can go up to 8 miles on a single charge. With its low center of gravity and inflatable tires it can handle rugged terrain and is virtually tip-proof. Think about it, you can take your Zinger almost anywhere, so you don’t have to let mobility issues rule your life.

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GARDENING

Soak Up Sponge Gardening Grow your own shower buffers

BY VICKI SPENCER

MASTER GARDENER | GARDENING@COLOR ADOCOUNTRYLIFE .ORG

I

t was 50 years ago, while studying in Greece, that I first saw luffa sponges. They were displayed everywhere in Athens’ outdoor markets. I thought they were sea sponges magically transformed by water to become the perfect back scrubber, skin exfoliator or nonabrasive household sponge.

I brought my “unique” Mediterranean find home and enjoyed it for months before it wore out. This prompted a pre-internet trip to the library to learn how to replace it. To my surprise, luffa sponges come from gourds, not the ocean. This was good news in landlocked Colorado as I realized I could grow my own.

My research revealed two main species of luffa plants. Luffa acutangula grows up to 30 inches. Its slender fruit has sharp ridges that run the entire length. The more common Luffa aegyptiaca grows up to 2 feet and has a smooth skin with visible, blunt ridges.

I chose Luffa aegyptiaca which takes about 90 to 120 days to reach maturity and several more weeks to develop tough inner fibers to be dried on the vine before harvesting. That’s possibly 150 to 200 warm, frost-free days — which is hit or miss in Colorado. I decided to start my seeds indoors.

Practice makes perfect, or so they say. After several attempts, I found it best to start seeds five to six weeks before transplanting outside. First, I scarified seeds with a few light swipes of sandpaper, then soaked them in hot water a day before planting them in small pots with moist starting mix. I placed the pots on a tray, covered them with plastic wrap, and placed the tray on top of the refrigerator where it’s warm. A week later, after the seeds germinated, I removed the plastic, placed the tray in a sunny window and kept the

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2022

soil consistently moist. A couple weeks after the last frost, I transplanted them outside.

Luffa grows rigorously with six hours of sunlight. It’s not particular about soil, but it produces more if fertilized. It will climb on a chain link fence, trellis or other sturdy structure. It also grows along the ground, but climbing gourds are straighter and less susceptible to powdery mildew. Prevent this fungus by spacing plants to allow air flow, watering soil early in the day and keeping the leaves dry.

Young fruits can be harvested for a delicious stir-fry vegetable, but you’ll need mature gourds to make sponges. About six weeks before the first frost, cut the plant back to the last gourd you expect to mature. Pinch off new flowers to provide energy to existing gourds.

Gourds are ready to pick when they turn tan and feel lightweight; you’ll hear the seeds rattle inside. To prepare the sponges, immerse in hot water until the skin peels easily, shake the seeds out and remove any pulp, soak in 10% bleach solution, rinse thoroughly and hang them to dry in the sun. In a few days you will have natural, fully biodegradable sponges for personal use.

Gardener Vicki Spencer has an eclectic background in conservation, water, natural resources and more.

LEARN MORE ONLINE Read previous gardening columns at coloradocountrylife.coop. Click on Gardening under Living in Colorado.

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Sacred Stone of the Southwest is on the Brink of Extinction

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enturies ago, Persians, Tibetans and Mayans considered turquoise a gemstone of the heavens, believing the striking blue stones were sacred pieces of sky. Today, the rarest and most valuable turquoise is found in the American Southwest–– but the future of the blue beauty is unclear.

On a recent trip to Tucson, we spoke with fourth generation turquoise traders who explained that less than five percent of turquoise mined worldwide can be set into jewelry and only about twenty mines in the Southwest supply gem-quality turquoise.

Once a thriving industry, many Southwest mines have run dry and are now closed.

We found a limited supply of turquoise from Arizona and snatched it up for our Sedona C. Turquoise Collection. Inspired by the work of those ancient craftsmen and designed to showcase the exceptional blue stone, each stabilized vibrant cabochon features a unique, oneof-a-kind matrix surrounded in Bali metalwork. You could drop over $1,200 on a turquoise pendant, or you could secure 26 carats of genuine Arizona turquoise for just $99.

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OUTDOORS

Reel of Fortune

Getting lucky fly fishing — with or without a bite

BY DENNIS SMITH

WE PAY CASH for

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2022

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OUTDOORS@COLOR ADOCOUNTRYLIFE .ORG

t’s way too early in the year to seriously consider fly fishing the sagebrush lakes in North Park, but that doesn’t mean I can’t think about them.

No doubt they’re still icebound, but even if they weren’t, I wouldn’t make the trip up there. I’ve never had much luck fishing the celebrated ice-out bite in early spring anyway.

The operative theory holds that big trout, ravenous after a long, dark winter under the ice, cruise the edges of the receding ice shelf and newly exposed, sun-lit shallows in search of hatching chironomids, caddisfly larvae, leeches and whatever else Mother Nature might offer. If you’re there at the precise time those cruisers come through and you cast a reasonable fly to them, you stand a good chance of hooking the fish of a lifetime. But, as in much of life, timing is everything and where these ice-out lunkers are concerned, my timing has always been painfully, consistently, off.

No loss; it’s not my favorite kind of fishing anyway. I no longer enjoy the imagined machismo of standing around in bitter, howling winds and frigid water up to my you-know-what, smothered in collective layers of merino wool, down, and GORE-TEX just to catch a fish, though I once did. I was much younger then, of course, and hardier I suppose, eager for adventure and quite willing to endure whatever the elements demanded, no matter how harsh.

These days, I much prefer to fish the lakes long after ice out — much longer. In late summer, actually, and early fall after the mosquitoes have died off and you can make your camp so close to the water’s edge you can feel the waves lapping the shore while you sleep, and when you can sit by the fire at night with only a wool sweater and a bourbon sundowner to ward off the chill. And when, from the sunny-warm comfort of an afternoon camp chair, you can glass deer and antelope meandering the rambling acres of toast-colored sage on the hillside across the lake. And when, while the sun slips into the Medicine Bows and the wind sighs to a whispering quiet, you can launch a float tube, row your way out to where a mist-green weed bed is swaying to the mysterious rhythms of the universe in the depths below and cast a likely fly. If you time this just right, you stand to hook the fish of a lifetime.

If not, well, you won’t care in the least; there’s a sundowner waiting for you by the fire.

Dennis Smith is a freelance outdoors writer and photographer whose work appears nationally. He lives in Loveland.

MISS AN ISSUE? Catch up at coloradocountrylife.coop.

Click on Outdoors under Living in Colorado.

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FOCUS ON BUSINESS

FEEDING FOWL FAR AND WIDE In the small town of Flagler, Wagner’s, a century-old wild bird seed company, has a big presence. It’s in this town — once dubbed “the birdseed capital of the world” — where the company operates one of its production plants and where dozens of locals make a living. The company’s goal, it says, “is to provide the absolute best wild bird feeding pleasure” for its customers. The folks in Flagler are helping the company live up to that standard by staying steadfast in producing some of the finest bird seed around — something birds all over the globe appreciate.

Favorite Foods

If you want to attract the widest variety of birds to your feeder, Tom Lokitus, Vice President of sales at Wagner’s, says the company’s 100% Black Oil Sunflower Seed “is the single most popular seed for feeding wild birds.”

Because of its thin shells, birds can more easily consume these sunflower seeds, and the seeds give the birds high energy to help them go about their daily tasks. Multiple ingredient blends are also hot-ticket items, Lokitus says.

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WHERE TO BUY? Check with your local home improvement store or nursery for availability or order Wagner’s bird seed from online retailers, such as amazon.com and chewy.com.

Simple Suggestions

To improve your chances of attracting birds to your outdoor space, Lokitus suggests setting up two or three feeders and providing them with a bird bath, which additionally attracts non-seed eating birds. Place the feeders where birds can easily identify them and where they can provide cover from inclement weather conditions and wildlife adversaries. The fat and protein in seeds and nuts help wild birds survive harsh weather all year long and give them energy to build their nests and feed their young.

Wild Birds of Colorado

There are more than 400 species of birds in Colorado, according to Colorado Parks & Wildlife. Depending on where you roost in the Centennial State, you could attract visitors such as woodpeckers, chickadees, finches, nuthatches, mourning doves and more.

You can also attract squirrels, so look for feeders specifically designed to dissuade them from infringing.

Seed bag photo courtesy of Wagner’s, LLC/Shutterstock

26

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YOUR STORIES

READERS’ PHOTOS

FUNNY STORIES My daughter Jennifer lives by the railroad tracks near I-25. She has a dog, Jasper, who is good at running away, always in seconds, and up the ramp to I-25. One day he did this. Panicked, Jennifer and the rest of us were running after him, yelling.

Her sister Michelle calmly picked up the leash hanging by the door, held it up and yelled, “Jasper, you forgot your leash!” He turned around and rushed back to get his leash on.

Carol Alexander, Calhan Mountain View Electric Association consumer-member

WINNER: Morgan County REA consumer-members Randy and Rhonda Jess and Fred Ruff enjoy Colorado Country Life during their trip to Hawaii.

My 5-year-old granddaughter was upset that her older siblings had more money than she did from doing chores. She exclaimed, “I just reeeeally need to lose some teeth so I can make some money!”

Betty Kay B., Monument Mountain View Electric Association consumer-member I went to my nephew’s 5th birthday party and upon arriving, I saw that he had a large and very bruised bump on his forehead. I asked, “My gosh, Jefferson, what happened to your forehead?” His 2-year-old brother Jeremy ran up to me, planted his hands on his hips and excitedly said, “Pam, you know Jefferson only has ONE head!”

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WOW — what a catch! Grand Valley Power consumer-member Acer Rodgers brings CCL on a sail-fishing adventure off the coast of Guatemala.

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DISCOVERIES

Shop Local Arts & Crafts A variety of handmade gifts by local Colorado artists Foraging Art From the Forest Blue Horse Sculpture features artwork born from forest remains — wood pieces fallen from the surrounding trees. After a series of preparation phases, the studio’s artist, Deborah M. Candelora of Bellvue, carefully refines, finishes and mounts the pieces to create a completed work of art worthy of display.

When your artwork is derived from the forest, it’s undeniable it will be one of a kind. See and purchase Candelora’s collection at bluehorsesculpture.com.

It’s All in the Details Artisan Mark Anderson of Craig has worked with leather since the tender age of 8, and today he uses that know-how to set in motion artistic creations that lay the foundation of the Double A Connected Leatherworks’ collection. Once the leather is fashioned, Mark’s spouse Jordan goes to work with the finer works of completing the pieces: painting, beading, beautifying. Check out Double A’s graduation caps, earrings, purses and more on Etsy at tinyurl.com/ DoubleAConnected.

Rocky Mountain Muses Artist Jenny Robinson of Brush gets inspiration for her artwork from the surroundings she’s been accustomed to her whole life: the Rocky Mountains, ranches, farms, but mostly animals — horses in particular, which weave wonderfully with the Colorado landscape. Her contemporary western art is created with oil paints and features distinct details of her subjects, whether a horse, mountain range or nearby rolling river. She also offers custom paintings and animal portraits. See for yourself at jennyrobinsonstudio.com.

Bonding with Nature Alex Bond of Mancos metamorphosizes elements such as wood, stone and metal into artworks worthy of a grand display. “Carving away at wood and stone is a perfect metaphor for carving the toxic layers of life and revealing something pure and childlike — something artistic,” he says. See, for example, how Bond boosts the appearance of burls — malformed tree growths — to create stunning pieces like centerpieces, bowls and vases. Check them out at etsy.com/shop/TheBoysandBurlsClub or theboysandburlsclub.com.

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1 Subject to availability, on a total purchase of 3 or more. To qualify for discount offer, initial contact for an appointment must be made and documented on or before 3/31/22 with the purchase then occurring on or before 4/10/22. 3% cash discount for payment in full by cash or check applied at time of sale. 2No payments and deferred interest for 12 months available from third-party lenders to well qualified buyers on approved credit only. No Finance Charges will be assessed if promo balance is paid in full in 12 months. Products are marketed, sold and installed (but not manufactured) by Renewal by Andersen retailers, which are independently owned and operated under Window Warmth, LLC d/b/a Renewal by Andersen of Colorado. See complete information and entity identification at www.rbaguidelines. com. ©2022 Andersen Corporation. ©2022 Lead Surge LLC. All rights reserved.