Colorado Country Life April 2022 Yampa Valley

YAMPA VALLEY ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION, INC.

APRIL 2022

LEAP TO STARDOM

PLUS 12

EGGS FOR EASTER

22

FOCUS ON FIT GARDENERS

30

PET GOODS FOR THE “RUFF” LIFE

Stauer

®

Impossible Price ONLY

39

Praise for DiamondAura®

 “So much sparkle and the play of light on DiamondAura® beats any diamond!”

— D.D. from Columbus, OH

How to Win at Love

A classic tennis bracelet serves up over 10 carats of sparkle for a guaranteed win

I

t was the jewelry piece that made the world stop and take notice. In the middle of a long volley during the big American tennis tournament, the chic blonde athlete had to stop play because her delicate diamond bracelet had broken and she had to find it. The tennis star recovered her beloved bracelet, but the world would never be the same.

From that moment on, the tennis bracelet has been on the lips and on the wrists of women in the know. Once called eternity bracelets, these bands of diamonds were known from then on as tennis bracelets, and remain the hot ticket item with jewelers.

Join more than 1 million thrilled diamondAURA® customers We’ve captured this timeless classic with over 10 total carats of DiamondAura®, our signature diamond alternative stone. This sparkling marvel rivals even the finest diamonds (D Flawless) with its transparent color and clarity, and both are so hard they can cut glass. Don’t believe me? The book “Jewelry and Gems – The Buying Guide,” praised the technique used in our diamond alternative DiamondAura®: “The best diamond simulation to date, and even some jewelers have mistaken these stones for mined diamonds,” it raved. For comparison, we found a

similarly designed 10 carat tennis bracelet with D Flawless diamonds from another company that costs $57,000!

Want to look like a million bucks without stressing over losing or damaging something that cost you a fortune? The Love Wins Tennis Bracelet is a simple strand of glittering gems in precious sterling that epitomizes elegance.

The first time we offered this bracelet, we sold out literally in minutes. It was our fastest selling product of 2021. It took six months to get it back in stock — Get yours before we run out!

Jewelry Specifications: • 10 ¾ ctw of the Ultimate Diamond Alternative®, DiamondAura® • Rhodium-finished .925 sterling silver setting • Fits wrists to 7 ½" Love Wins Tennis Bracelet (10 ¾ ctw) $399 $39* + S&P *Special price only for customers using the offer code.

1-800-333-2045 Your Offer Code: LWB185-01

Stauer, 14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. LWB185-01, Burnsville, MN 55337 www.stauer.com

Stauer® |

AFFORD THE EXTRAORDINARY

®

Volume 53

Number 04

April 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

“Sunrise Greeting” by Cindy Kallechy, a San Isabel Electric Association consumer-member.

4 VIEWPOINT 5 LETTERS 6 ASK THE ENERGY EXPERT 7 YOUR CO-OP NEWS 12 RECIPES 14 NEWS CLIPS

16 COVER STORY Doggone Amazing Stars 20 ENERGY CONNECTIONS 22 GARDENING 24 OUTDOORS 26 FOCUS ON 28 CREATIVE CORNER 29 YOUR STORIES

On the Cover APRIL 2022

Dog Toro takes a flying leap for his trainer Jack.

Photo by Sara Carson.

LEAP TO STARDOM

PINTEREST SNEAK PEEK COCountryLife pinned: Egg muffins are easy, delicious and freezer friendly! Try Egg Casserole Muffins created by Colorado Proud and Chef Jason K. Morse, C.E.C., 5280 Culinary and Ace Hardware Grill Expert.

30 DISCOVERIES

Monthly Contest Enter This Month’s Contest Enter for your chance to win a SodaPup Enrichment Lick Mat (see page 30). For official rules and how to enter, visit coloradocountrylife.coop, click on Contests.

FACEBOOK CHATTER Colorado Rural Electric Association posted: Ouray is now completely green thanks to San Miguel Power Association! Joining Ridgway, Ouray County and the city of Ouray, government is now 100% renewable energy through the cooperative’s Totally Green Program.

Learn more about their program: https://smpa.com/ content/sign-totally-green

INSTAGRAM PIC of the month Colorado Country Life posted: @coloradoreindeerranch shared this great photo with us: Two hungry reindeer coming in for morning feed.

coloradocountrylife.coop

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

3

VIEWPOINT

RAIN, SHINE, SLEET OR SNOW — OUR LINE CREW IS READY TO GO!

BY STEVE JOHNSON

PRESIDENT AND GENER AL MANAGER

A

pril 18 is Lineman Appreciation Day, but I celebrate them every day.

Without their willingness to go out in any weather, in any situation to maintain over 2,840 miles of lines, we would be unable to keep our promise of providing you with safe, reliable and affordable electricity.

What does a lineworker’s job look like? First, they will spend almost four years working as an apprentice before they become a lineman. During this training, they will gain the specialized skills it takes to work with our high-voltage system.

Not only are they required to climb poles anywhere from 30 to 120 feet tall, linemen also need to haul equipment and tools that weigh up to 50 pounds. This is laborious work and our crews are dedicated to this difficult work because they know keeping the lights on is important to every single member.

And speaking of challenging conditions, I want to take a moment to reflect on a few recent times when our crews had to head out in unpredictable weather and restore power to our members. They were committed to getting the power back on in a challenging situation and we appreciate them.

CHRISTMAS 2021 Most recently, we had a winter storm hit just before Christmas which required all hands on deck and crews working to restore power on Christmas Eve. They were faced with high winds, blowing snow and snow totals that were quickly piling up. It seemed they were tasked with playing Whack-aMole. They would restore an outage, only to have another one, two, three pop up. We saw broken poles and downed lines in remote locations. It took them 14 days to replace a broken pole on Baker’s Peak, and they were met with several challenges, including wind speeds reaching over 50 miles per hour that prevented them from safely replacing the

4

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

broken pole. The crews worked tirelessly throughout the storms all weekend to help restore power to all affected members, and their efforts were greatly appreciated. I appreciate their hard work and the sacrifices they made to spend Christmas restoring power to our communities.

SEPTEMBER 2020 WIND STORM The storm that followed Labor Day weekend in September 2020 was a rude welcome back for many people after beautiful weather during the long break. There were unconfirmed reports of gusts reaching 100 miles per hour at the ski resort, and we saw many old, established trees uprooted from the strong winds. This, in turn, caused damage to our lines, poles and systems, and many members were out of power.

We were thankful to be assisted by public works employees who helped clear roadways, making it possible for us to deal with outages safely. We had approximately 3,400 members without power during this storm. Our crews were working with high winds, downed lines and falling trees. Most of our members had their power restored by the end of the day, thanks to our crews having the skill and willingness to show up in the time of need.

During the pandemic, utilities around the country were declared essential, and we couldn’t agree more: Linemen are essential.

We would be unable to provide you electricity if it were not for their hard work and dedication to their profession. Next time you are out and you see one of our linemen, please join me in thanking them for their hard work. No matter the time, day or weather, they will be out there making sure we continue to deliver you safe, reliable and affordable electricity.

Steve Johnson

President and General Manager

STEVE JOHNSON

Broken pole on Baker’s Peak.

Crews work to restore an outage on Lynx Pass.

Steamboat line crew: (Left to right) Perry Baker, Tom Kitsos, Jake Perkins, Dave Stevenson, Kolby Ginter, Jordan Kainz, Dave Srite and Jacob Grogg.

(Not pictured: Justin Hogue and Rex Stafford).

Craig line crew: (Back row, left to right) Jake Hockett, Todd Greenwood, Levi Schnackenberg, Brent Juergens, Trent Parrott, Travis Cox, James Lougee; (Front row, left to right) Brayden Peterson, Chase Westberg. (Not pictured: Saul Hernandez).

LETTERS

FROM THE EDITOR

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The Real Thing

Eagle-Eyed Readers Clear Up Identification

BY MONA NEELEY

EDITOR

A

bird is a bird…right? Wrong!

MONA NEELEY Every bird species has its own special colors and markings and many of our readers know that.

Reader Kevin Fettig enjoys photographing wildlife, including birds, as well as natural landscapes. That’s what led him to a Hawk Quest birds of prey photo shoot in Bear Creek Park in Lakewood where he got his award-winning shot of a bird. It won 3rd place in Colorado Country Life’s annual photo contest.

When CCL’s photo contest winners were published last month, we immediately got emails about Kevin’s photo. He had identified the bird as an American kestrel when he sent in his photo.

Turns out, the bird was said to be an Aplomado falcon when he was at the photo shoot, but several people told him it was a kestrel. He checked it out and, not being a bird expert, called it an American kestrel.

CCL readers disagreed and they were right.

Turns out it was a misidentified Aplomado falcon in the care of Hawk Quest, captured in a beautiful photograph by an award-winning photographer.

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.

DR® Power Grader

SIGN UP TODAY

CO N G R ATS Kim Carlton of Peyton, a Mountain View Electric Association consumerm e m b e r, w o n a n Audubon Nature page-a-day calendar containing 313 pages of beautiful photos of the wilderness.

EVs Versus Gas-Powered Vehicles

Regarding the letter in the February issue, hydrogen delivers absolutely zero pollution when it burns — just water. We already have infrastructure for safe, abundant, convenient, economical natural gas. Natural gas is very low pollution compared to coal, although coal keeps the lights on.

The standard of living of the entire world is immeasurably higher due to oil and gas.

Uncountable lives have been saved and lengthened due to oil and gas. Most all modern medical appliances are made from plastics derived from natural gas.

J.N. Burkhalter, Grand Junction Grand Valley Power consumer-member

Support for Marshall Fire Victims

We in Boulder County appreciate Viewpoint from Kent Singer (February ’22) about all the trauma and loss in the Marshall Fire; tell him thanks.

Josie Heath via email

Colorado’s Changing Demographics

Get exclusive content, extra recipes, upcoming contests and more straight to your inbox twice each month.

Use your smartphone camera to scan the QR code.

In regard to your Colorado guacamole recipe by executive chef Oscar Padilla, with due respect, this is NOT anywhere close to guacamole. Do not pass off a high-end mix-match recipe for the real thing.

Sharon Lee, McCoy Yampa Valley Electric consumer-member

Make Your Driveway Like NEW! • Fill in potholes and smooth out washboard • Loosen & redistribute existing material • Tow with your ATV, UTV, or tractor

The demography of the U.S. and Colorado shows a growing population, one of changing complexion. By most estimates the state has over 6 million residents: • 84% are white with 21% of those being Latino.

• A bit more than 4% are black.

• “Other” ethnicities comprise 3.8%.

• Asians are at 3.2%.

• Native Americans make up less than 1% Just curious — how many Asians does San Isabel Electric serve?

John Morris, Pueblo West San Isabel Electric consumer-member EDITOR’S NOTE: Asians make up an average of 1.1% of the population of Pueblo, Heurfano and Las Animas counties, according to census.gov/quickfacts.

SEND US YOUR LETTERS DRpowergrader.com E!

L SA

FREE SHIPPING

SOME LIMITATIONS APPLY

FREE Catalog!

Call Toll-Free 888-213-0339

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 APRIL 2022

5

ASK THE ENERGY EXPERT

Four Questions Field & Brush to Ask Your Home Inspector America’s Original

Mower

• MOW FIELD grass up to 8' high • CUT BRUSH up to 3" thick • Engines up to 22 HP • Decks up to 34" wide • Power steering

USA

ENGINEERED AND BUILT Assembled in the USA using domestic and foreign parts.

PLUS ALL-NEW: Commercial Grade XD Series with hydrostatic drive!

DRfieldbrush.com !

LE

SA

FREE SHIPPING

SOME LIMITATIONS APPLY

FREE Catalog!

Call Toll-Free 888-213-0339

Trim & Mow the EASY Way!

DR® Trimmer Mower

USA

ENGINEERED AND BUILT Assembled in the USA using domestic and foreign parts.

BY MIR ANDA BOUTELLE

I

t can be difficult for a homebuyer to know how efficient a home is when viewing the listing online or taking a tour, but a home inspector can help you identify potential energy costs and energy-efficiency upgrades.

Some homes may already be efficient, while other homes may need improvements.

There’s nothing wrong with buying an inefficient home, but you will want to know what you’re getting into and that you can afford the energy costs once you get the keys.

Here are four questions to ask your home inspector:

1. What is the condition of the electrical panel and wiring throughout the home?

A panel upgrade or rewiring can be a costly endeavor. An older panel and wiring aren’t inefficient, but it can delay or make some energy-efficiency projects more expensive.

I’ve worked on several homes where older wiring had to be replaced before insulation could be added.

Make sure the panel can accommodate any new appliances you might want to add, such as air conditioning or an electric vehicle charger.

2. How old is the HVAC system and how efficient is it? Has it been maintained?

• MOW waist-high grass & weeds

The typical life span of an HVAC system is 15 to 25 years. Since HVAC is the largest energy user and often the most expensive equipment in the home, you will want to know the energy, maintenance and replacement costs.

• 5X the power of handheld trimmers

3. How old is the water heater?

• Self-propelled models

The life span of a storage water heater is about 10 years. The cost to replace a water heater ranges from $400 to $3,600, depending on the unit type and installation costs. If an older water heater is in a finished space or on a second floor, replace it before it fails and potentially causes water damage.

• TRIM fencelines & perimeters

• Gas- or battery-powered

DRtrimmer.com !

LE

SA

FREE SHIPPING

SOME LIMITATIONS APPLY

6

FREE Catalog!

Call Toll-Free 888-213-0339

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

As the largest energy user and often the most expensive equipment in the home, you’ll want to know the age and efficiency of the home’s HVAC system’s age and efficiency is important.

Photo Source: Mark Gilliland, Pioneer Utility Resources

4. What are the levels and conditions of insulation in the attic, walls and floor?

If your new home needs insulation and air sealing, make this your efficiency priority.

The sooner you do it, the more energy you will save over time. Recommended insulation levels vary by location. You can find information about insulation and air sealing at energy.gov.

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.

LEARN MORE ONLINE For more tips when considering a new home, visit coloradocountrylife.coop and click on Energy Tips under the Energy tab.

YOUR CO-OP NEWS

Get the Broadband Speed You Need

W

hen first ordering broadband service, most people are excited about the speed boost they’re going to experience. They dream about spending less time waiting on downloads and video buffering or dealing with unexpectedly being disconnected from the internet.

But, for some people, that excitement turns to frustration when they discover they’re still experiencing lagging or buffering issues — the very things they wanted to get away from. What’s up with that?!

UNDERSTANDING BANDWIDTH The important thing to remember is that, while fiber bandwidth is not shared among neighbors, it is shared within your home.

To make that a little clearer, let’s use a 25 megabits per second plan as an example.

If you have a family using five different

internet-connected devices in your home at the same time, and the bandwidth required to operate those devices averages out to 5 Mbps each — you just maxed out your internet plan. Connecting even one more device will hinder your internet experience on all your devices. You may experience lag and buffering, or the device may disconnect from the internet.

In this case, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with your internet speed. Your plan promises 25 Mbps delivered to your home, and that’s what you receive. It just gets used up quickly by the devices you use.

What you need is a faster plan that offers greater bandwidth — Luminate can help with that!

ADDING IT UP How fast should your internet be? That depends on three key factors: the number of devices you have in your home, their

bandwidth requirements, and the number of these connected devices that use the internet simultaneously.

It’s worth noting that the average home currently has 25 internet-connected devices, including phones, laptops, tablets, smart TVs and smart speakers (like Amazon Echo).

See below for a quick guide to how much each of your devices might be using.

When you consider the number of your internet-connected household devices — and how and when they’re used — you can make the smart choice about whether you have the bandwidth speed you need.

At Luminate Broadband, we’re happy to help you determine which speed is right for you. Contact the friendly, hometown staff at 970-870-4320 with your questions. We’d love to hear from you.

Feature

Devices/Apps

Bandwidth

Streaming Video

Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Apple+, YouTube TV, Sling, -Fubo

Low-Def: 1.5 Mbps Standard: 3 Mbps HD (1080p): 5 Mbps 4K: 25 Mbps

Streaming Music

Spotify, Pandora

HD: 2 Mbps

Online Games

Xbox, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch

2 – 10 Mbps

Video Calls

Skype, Zoom, GoTo Meeting, Facebook

Standard: .5 Mbps HD: 1.5 Mbps

Large Downloads

HD movies, music, video games, photos, documents, torrents

Slow: .5 Mbps Fast: 50 Mbps

Email, Browsing, Social Media

Gmail, Google, Facebook, ShapChat, TikTok

.5 – 5 Mbps COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

7

YAMPA VALLEY ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION APRIL 2022

MAILING ADDRESS 2211 Elk River Road Steamboat Springs, CO 80487

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

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 incomequalified members. Members participating in this program will receive a bill offset from the energy produced by their portion of a community solar array.

For more details, visit yvea.com/rays-upcommunity-solar-project.

RATE CHANGES AND ADDITIONS Effective April 1, YVEA’s board of directors made changes and additions to Colorado and Wyoming electric vehicle charging rates and Wyoming’s net metering rate.

For more details, please visit yvea.com/yvea-ratescolorado-and-wyoming.

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

ph tf fax

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

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.

8

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

SPRING & SUMMER CONSTRUCTION This spring and summer, you will see YVEA and Luminate crews working on various construction projects.

From Lynx Pass to North Routt, and in Hayden, Craig and Baggs, teams and contractors will work to improve the reliability of service you receive.

We know construction can be frustrating, and we thank you for your patience as we make improvements throughout our territory. Please give crews space while they are working and contact YVEA at 970-879-1160 with any questions about the ongoing construction.

YVEA begins a capital work project running from Tamarack to Steamboat Blvd. on May 1.

This project will be a combination of excavating and boring roads and driveways to run underground conduit to improve reliability.

YOUR CO-OP NEWS

YAMPA VALLEY ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION BOARD Q&A

T

his section is dedicated to giving our members a chance to get to know their representatives. Below is our interview with Sonja Macys, who represents District 7 — Steamboat Springs.

Tell us about your professional background.

I’ve been involved in natural resource management for the past three decades, starting with migratory bird and sea turtle conservation on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Since moving to the Yampa Valley 15 years ago, I’ve worked to connect youth to the outdoors through environmental education at a nonprofit organization and served two terms as a city council member. I currently work for the Division of Water Resources.

Sonja Macys, Dist. 7 Representative

Tell us about your personal/family life.

My husband, Chuck Willard, and I live on what we call an “urban farmstead,” growing produce in our greenhouse and raised bed gardens. We love to hike, camp, ski and generally enjoy the outdoors year-round. I grew up riding horses competitively but have settled into trail riding and just having fun with my horse Tango Joe.

seen throughout the service territory and the significant growth and change in land use patterns. In addition, we need to lead the charge on beneficial electrification, including electrification of vehicles and homes, to ensure that the addition of this load has a positive impact to the distribution system.

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

Many of Colorado’s member-owned electric cooperatives, like YVEA, have stepped up to meet the infrastructure needs of their member-owners. We are no longer just an energy provider, having helped launch Luminate broadband to bring high-speed fiber internet to our service territory. As energy sources change, we must continue to innovate and collaborate with like-minded cooperatives in Colorado to provide affordable clean energy.

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

What inspired you to run for the YVEA Board of Directors?

In the next 10 years we will see many of our coal-fired power plants retired, creating uncertainty as to what our future energy sources will look like. The cost of renewable energy has gone down to the degree that it makes financial sense to invest in it, but we need more than just renewables. As we navigate this transition, energy users will need to become more engaged in understanding their electrical use and making informed choices about how much electricity they need during what times of the day and night.

YVEA has grown and changed over the last decade and the pace with which it will need to grow and change will only continue to accelerate. I embrace change and have enjoyed helping YVEA seize the opportunities that change has presented.

What is the greatest concern you have for the electric industry and how it will impact our service territory?

What strengths do you bring to the YVEA board?

Throughout my career I have consistently demonstrated my commitment to fiscal responsibility, transparency, good governance and local control. These are important qualities for a board member. In addition, my experience with energy, public policy and community outreach has prepared me to help YVEA negotiate the rapidly changing world of energy.

My greatest concern is how YVEA will become more resilient and less subject to fluctuations in energy costs, given the unpredictable weather events we see nationwide. Who would have thought that a storm in Texas could cost little old YVEA $6.4 million dollars? This represents 30% of what we budget annually for our purchased power.

We are pushing to put rules and regulations in place to try and prevent something like this from happening again. But for now, we are contractually obligated to continue to purchase power from the source that “surprise-billed” our member-owners $6.4 million.

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

YVEA will need to invest in its distribution system to ensure continued reliability, given the influx of renewable energy we have COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

9

YOUR CO-OP NEWS

SUPPLY CHAIN LEAD TIMES HIGHER THAN NORMAL

Y

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 potential delays, yet we encourage stakeholders to review their project estimates and timelines closely. To ensure realistic expectations, please reach out to our engineering department regarding any changes in your project timeline.

Dem

Log

and Raw Materials

isti

Consumer

cs

Logistics

Logistics

Log

Manufacturer

isti

Log

cs Distributor

SOLAR POWER Making the Solar Switch: Common YVEA Member Solar Installation Considerations 10

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

isti

cs

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

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

PCA Line Item on Monthly Bills

Supplier

Retailer

BOARD MEMBER NOMINATIONS

As a not-for-profit cooperative, YVEA does not collect margins on certain costs. Instead, we pass them through directly to our members. One of these costs is the Xcel Power Cost Adjustment (PCA). These PCA costs charged to YVEA by Xcel can and do frequently fluctuate in response to market pricing conditions.

Instead of changing our members’ base rates throughout the year in response to these dips and rises, the differences are reflected in the Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) line item on your bill, which can be a positive or negative rate. Historically, YVEA has accrued these fluctuations over several months before passing them on. Beginning April 1, YVEA will keep this line item on member bills to make member bills as consistent and predictable as possible.

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 will be rolling out later this year.

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

RECIPES

Get Egg-cited for Eggs!

Take a step outside ordinary eggs

BY AMY HIGGINS

| RECIPES@COLOR ADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG

MORE RECIPES ONLINE at coloradocountrylife.coop

Orange Eggs Benedict

makes the perfect brunch dish. Get the recipe online at coloradocountrylife.coop.

P

erhaps it’s that annual bunny visit that gets us enthusiastic about eggs around Easter.

Or maybe it’s simply the sweet smell of spring that conjures a desire for eggs and a fresh glass of orange juice or a hot cup of coffee. Whatever the reason, egg purchases soar during this joyful season and it can be intriguing beyond whipping up the simple scrambled variety. Colorado Proud of Colorado’s Department of Agriculture sent us this recipe and we couldn’t wait to share it with our readers. You’ll find that the piquant flavor of apple cider vinegar and mustard combined with the tangy twist of barbecue sauce and the somewhat buttery essence of eggs provides a splendid twist to the everyday deviled egg.

Get enthusiastic about eggs!

Colorado Smoked Deviled Egg Recipe Provided by Colorado Proud and Chef Jason K. Morse, C.E.C., 5280 Culinary and Ace Hardware Grill Expert

1 dozen eggs, extra large, washed 4 tablespoons mayonnaise, heavy duty 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar 1 1/2 teaspoons yellow mustard 1 teaspoon Oink Rub (5280culinary.com/product/oink-7oz/) 1 tablespoon High Altitude BBQ Sauce (5280culinary.com/product/high-altitudebbq-sauce/) 1 tablespoon roasted green chiles, minced Low country BBQ sauce mixed in coleslaw, to taste BBQ pulled pork, chopped fine, as needed Coleslaw, shredded, as needed Preheat pellet grill to 180 degrees on smoke setting. Place 3 cups of water in a large saucepan; bring to a boil. Slowly add the eggs and return to a boil. Adjust water if needed to ensure eggs are covered. Remove from heat and place eggs into a deep ice bath; chill for 5-7 minutes. Peel eggs, place on a plate and store in refrigerator until time to smoke.

Place the chilled whole, hard-boiled eggs into the pellet grill on the top shelf. Close the lid and smoke for 30-45 minutes, depending on desired smoke level.

Once the eggs are smoked, place on a plate, cover with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator to chill for one hour. (Note: It’s normal for the eggs to have a yellow color after being smoked.) Once fully chilled, remove eggs and gently slice in half lengthwise. Pop out the yolks into a smaller bowl and arrange the egg white halves onto a plate. Cover and chill the whites until time to fill.

Take a fork and mash yolks into fine crumbles. Add the mayo, vinegar, mustard, Oink Rub, High Altitude BBQ Sauce and green chiles; mix using a rubber spatula. Place the mixture into a large resealable bag and place in the refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes minimum.

Mix the slaw and low country BBQ sauce; mince the pulled pork; chill in refrigerator.

Snip off the tip of the resealable bag and squeeze to slowly fill the egg white halves until all the mixture is evenly divided between all of them. With a wet spoon, lightly tamp down the peaks of the yolk mixture. Top with the chilled pulled pork and slaw mixture. Dust with Oink Rub and served chilled.

12

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

ADVERTISEMENT

ALL-NEW mobility technology

Introducing the world’s lightest mobility scooter with anti-tip technology The So Lite Scooter is easy to transport and almost impossible to tip over.

TM

Like millions of older Americans, I struggle with mobility.

For years, I watched my quality of life slip away, as I was forced to stay home while friends and family took part in activities I’d once enjoyed. I thought I’d made some progress when I got a mobility scooter, but then I realized how hard it was to transport. Taking it apart and putting it back together was like doing a jigsaw puzzle. Once I had it disassembled, I had to try to put all of the pieces in the trunk of a car, go to wherever I was going, and repeat the process in reverse. Travel scooters were easier to transport, but they were uncomfortable and scary to drive, I always felt like I was ready to tip over. Then I found the So LiteTM Scooter. Now there’s nothing that can hold me back.

Years of work by innovative engineers have resulted in a scooter that’s designed with seniors in mind. They created Electronic Stability Control (ESC) that makes it virtually impossible to tip over. If you try to turn too quickly, the scooter automatically slows down to prevent it from tipping over. The battery provides powerful energy at a fraction of the weight of most batteries. With its rugged yet lightweight aluminum frame, the So LiteTM Scooter is the most portable scooter ever—but it can hold up to 265 pounds—yet weighs only 40.8 pounds without the battery! What’s more, it easily folds up for storage in a car seat, trunk or even on an airplane. It

Why a So Lite Scooter is better: TM

• Latest “No-Tip” Technology • Lightweight yet durable

• Folds and locks in seconds • Easier to operate

folds in seconds without tools and is safe and reliable.

Best of all, it’s designed with your safety in mind, from the newest technology and superior craftsmanship. Why spend another day letting your lack of mobility ruin your quality of life? Call now and find out how you can get a So LiteTM Scooter of your very own.

The So Lite Scooter TM

Call now Toll-Free

1-888-720-0304

Mention promotion code 116668. © 2022 Journey Health and Lifestyle

85671

Exclusive Electronic Stability Control helps prevent tipping

NEWS CLIPS

NASHVILLE COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT

T

housands of people representing electric cooperatives across the country went to Nashville, Tennessee, at the beginning of March for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s annual meeting. More than 100 of them, including co-op directors from Colorado, took time prior to the meeting to volunteer in a nearby community.

Electric co-op directors, managers and staff members spread out to five different locations in Murfreesboro, serving area schools and families.

About 40 volunteers, including Kohler McInnis of La Plata Electric in Durango, sorted and prepped 25,000 pounds of food that was then loaded into the vehicles of 300 families, who arrived to pick up the muchneeded food. The group also packaged

More than 100 individuals representing electric cooperatives across the country sort and prep 25,000 pounds of food, package 16,000 meal packets and assemble 5,000 dental hygiene packets for families in need while in Nashville, Tennessee, for the NRECA Annual Meeting.

16,000 meal packets and 5,000 dental hygiene packets for families in need.

Other volunteers worked on upgrades in several schools as a part of the service day.

Holloway High School got a face-lift to its entryways; Wee Care Daycare got its playground cleaned up; and Bradley Academy had 200 light fixtures converted to LEDs.

Electric co-ops added this community service program to NRECA's annual meeting in 2006 when the meeting was held in New Orleans, Louisiana, the year after that city was devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

New Authority Oversees Transmission Development Throughout Colorado

T

he new Colorado Electric Transmission Authority, created by a 2021 law focused on modernizing the state’s electric transmission infrastructure, is identifying who will sit on the board and get ready to begin work.

The new board will serve as a “transmission builder of last resort” when a specific transmission line is needed in a particular place where utilities have not built transmission. It will also assist in transmission necessary to integrate electric resources into a regional transmission organization and help small utilities that do not have the capacity to build necessary transmission.

The board will consist of: • Two members appointed by the governor • The director of the Colorado Energy Office • Three members appointed by the Senate president • Three members appointed by the speaker of the House

14

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

Leaders for a Sustainable Future

A

s part of a statewide goal to be leaders for a sustainable future, more than 150 electric co-op directors, managers and CEOs, and staff gathered in Denver February 12-15.

They came together to attend educational classes, hear from experts in the electric industry and share information on what each of the state’s 22 electric co-ops are doing to move co-ops into the new energy future.

Eighty-six co-op directors attended industry classes Saturday and Sunday. Then, 46 co-op representatives reviewed the high-voltage transmission of electricity with Chris Pink, vice president of engineering at Tri-State Generation and Transmission.

Also on the program was Cindy Schonhaut of the Office of Utility Consumer Advocate; Dr. Jeffrey Deems of the National Snow & Ice Data Center; Michael Ogletree of the Air Pollution Control Division of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment; the national trade association’s CEO, Jim Matheson; Matthew McCombs of the Colorado State Forest Service; and Dr. Will Toor of the Colorado Energy Office.

NEWS CLIPS

CONSIDERING A HOME WIRING PROJECT? Don't be a weekend warrior Home wiring projects may sound easy — and even look easy on YouTube tutorials — but tackling wiring projects without the proper knowledge and expertise could result in a fire. Those qualified to work on electrical components are armed with the following:

SKILLS They can demonstrate their skills in all aspects of electrical work.

KNOWLEDGE They have the knowledge to complete projects safely and successfully.

TRAINING They are trained in proper installation and know how electrical systems work.

EXPERTISE They can identify hazards and reduce risks when it comes to home wiring.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) defines a qualified person as: "One who has demonstrated skills and knowledge related to the construction and operation of electrical equipment and installations and has received safety training to identify the hazards and reduce the associated risk" (NFPA 70E).

When in doubt, hire a licensed contractor to do the work.

More than 150 Colorado electric co-op directors, managers and CEOs, and staff gather in Denver February 12-15 for the CREA Annual Meeting.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

15

COVER STORY

Shazam performs his high-flying act with The Canine Stars’ co-owner Ethan Wilhelm. Photo by Keri Caraher.

E

than Wilhelm and Keri Caraher spotted something unusual in early 2014 as they drove down a Macon, Georgia, interstate highway — a dog was running down the median strip separating the divided roadway. The couple turned around at the next exit and drove back and found the mutt, still alive, lying on the side of the road with gashes and wounds all over her body.

Bootzilla grabs the flying disc thrown by Ethan Wilhelm.

Photo by Sara Carson.

16

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

Using a bowl of food and a slip lead leash, Wilhelm coaxed the stray animal into their car. A deputy sheriff advised them to not look for its owner. An animal shelter told them it would euthanize the dog. Instead, Wilhelm and Caraher adopted the hound and made her a “canine star.”

The mutt they named Whoopie Pie remained depressed for a long time, Wilhelm recalls. Then, “after about six months she wagged her tail for the first time, and now she is one of the happiest, goofiest dogs in our household,” he says. “She does dock diving and amazing belly flops and cannon balls,” as one of The Canine Stars, a stunt dog company the couple founded in Fort Collins in 2012.

Whoopie Pie is one of 13 dogs the couple owns — most of them rescue animals they adopted and trained to be among their Canine Stars’ regular cast of characters. The show dogs entertain audiences at county fairs, theme parks, half-time shows, and corporate events all over the world, including the Virgin Islands, The Netherlands, South Korea and throughout the United States. In Colorado, The Canine Stars have performed at the Jefferson, Larimer, Adams and Boulder

county fairs, as well as at the National Western Stock Show.

Caraher, a former website developer, grew up with dogs and began training pooches in 1999 to compete in dog sports. She drove across the country for national championship events. Wilhelm worked at an animal shelter as a teenager where he noticed some breeds were deemed “unadoptable” and were often euthanized, particularly pit bulls. The two animal lovers met each other while working part time for other dog show companies, some of whom promoted pure-bred breeding.

Both Caraher and Wilhelm, however, have a soft spot for mixed breeds — mutts — who, the couple contends, not only make good pets but also, with proper training, excellent athletes.

The Canine Stars run agility relay races, catch high-flying frisbees, dive off docks into water and do flyball racing — a team sport where four dogs compete head-to-head with four other canines, jumping over hurdles and snatching a tennis ball from a box at the end before returning with the ball to the start.

Caraher and Wilhelm work with 15 other trainers and their dogs — subcontractors like LeRoy Golden of Texas — who join them for various performances worldwide. Golden dedicated his life to rescuing pit bulls from shelters, Wilhelm says.

COVER STORY “We always wanted to do our own thing and promote rescue/adoption as our main mission; that’s why we went out on our own,” Wilhelm says. “Dogs can be trained to be companions; all dogs have personalities. With training, you can have your best friend.”

Plus, they wanted to work with dogs full time, Caraher adds.

“Our lives revolve around the dogs,” she says. “We’re having a lot of fun; the business pays for the dogs. We’re happy traveling and doing what we do.”

AMERICA’S GOT TALENT 2019 was Canine Stars’ busiest year with shows in Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and in cities across the United States, including Alaska. They were on the road all but one month that year.

“We were crazy busy,” Wilhelm remembers. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic emerged and touring slowed, which gave The Canine Stars team time to work on a skit for NBC’s television series “America’s Got Talent.”

After viewing videos of their acts, the AGT producers contacted The Canine Stars, inviting them to audition for its televised competition show. The team was too busy touring, however, to take the time to develop a skit — until 2020.

“We came up with an idea that’s kind of a spoof of the show,” where four of their dogs appeared to be mimicking the four celebrity The Canine Stars’ Riesen and Opal wait backstage at “America’s Got Talent.” Photo by Keri Caraher.

The Canine Stars’ dogs mimic “America’s Got Talent” judges on the TV show in 2021.

Photo by Keri Caraher.

AGT judges, Wilhelm says. Each animal was dressed in an outfit created to look like what the judges had worn the previous season.

During the act the dogs and their trainers sat inside custom-made chairs with armholes for the humans, plus holes for the dogs’ heads, with past seasons’ recordings of the judges’ voices seemingly coming from the dogs’ mouths.

“Each dog did something different,” says Brighton resident Jo Crickenberger, who began traveling with The Canine Stars team five years ago with her chocolate Labrador named Riesen. Crickenberger and Riesen also participated in the “America’s Got Talent” competition.

“We dressed up each dog based on previous shows right down to the nails — and the judges caught it. They recognized themselves,” Crickenberger recalls. Riesen portrayed “Simon Howel,” a parody of executive producer and judge Simon Cowell.

Crickenberger remembers Cowell’s telling the team, “The dogs acting like the judges, judging your act, while we are judging you is absolute genius.”

The Canine Stars team traveled to Los Angeles to audition for the show a year ago, in April 2021, before performing the skit live in August at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood.

Their audition took place in Pasadena and was aired June 1, 2021, on the program’s season premier.

Although The Canine Stars didn’t make it to the final competition, “We got a standing ovation from the judges,” Wilhelm says.

“Comedian Howie Mandel was one of the

judges. He said it was ‘one of the best animal acts he’s ever seen on the show.’”

“Britain’s Got Talent” contacted The Canine Stars team about auditioning for its own reality show, although Caraher and Wilhelm haven’t yet found the time to pursue that opportunity.

“We got a standing ovation from the judges (comedian Howie Mandel was one of the judges). He said it was ‘one of the best animal acts he’s ever seen on the show.’”

— Ethan Wilhelm, The Canine Stars

OUR DOGS ARE PETS FIRST During regular competitions and shows, Canine Stars trainers share stories about the dogs they’ve rescued, adopted and trained to be these “amazing pets and performers,” Caraher says. “There are so many homeless dogs out there. Our goal and purpose of the business is to encourage people to consider adopting their next dog.”

Crickenberger has five dogs, one of which is a rescued terrier mix named Crouton that she began training along with her chocolate lab, Riesen.

“I’m his fourth home,” she says. “He had been locked in a closet, was emaciated, had lost his hair.” She adopted the pup after he had been fostered and rehabilitated.

“After four different owners, and at 3 years old, he’s finally in his forever home,” Crickenberger says.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

17

COVER STORY

UPCOMING SHOWS Apr. 9-10 – The Lincoln, Cheyenne, WY Aug. 26-Sept. 5 – CO State Fair, Pueblo

The Canine Stars’ team prepares for a performance. Photo by Sara Carson.

When not working at her “real job” as a medical coder, Crickenberger travels as often as she can with The Canine Stars. Typically, that means two or three times each summer, with trips ranging from four days to three weeks, depending on the show. She and Riesen have attended the National Western Stock Show, the Calgary (Canada) Stampede, the Alaska State Fair, and, most recently, a show in Kentucky.

If you’re wondering if it’s humane to make dogs perform — a question Wilhelm says he is asked a lot — Wilhelm explains that they never force a dog to do anything it doesn’t want to do. Trainers use positive reinforcement, trust-building exercises and treats to encourage the dogs to participate in what they like to do naturally, he says.

“If you watch the dogs, you see we don’t force,” he says. “They do what they love. It’s just like how a dog plays frisbee in the park.

They like it even better before an audience. If they don’t want to join in, they can hang out.

We look for dogs with extra energy to burn.

Whatever they’re doing in the show is their favorite thing to do. They love the sound of a live crowd cheering for them — they’re little performers just like people.”

“All of our dogs are pets first,” Caraher adds. “We started training them because it’s fun. Dogs want to interact with their humans. A relationship with a dog is awesome, especially for kids.

We want them to have relationships with dogs instead of their phones.”

While they have a house in Fort Collins,

18

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

Caraher and Wilhelm train the dogs on an 8-acre property in Pine Bluffs, Wyoming, where they stay in what was once a car shop that’s been converted into a big, roomy home.

The couple’s 13 dogs all sleep in their bedroom, where the hounds stay in 5-feetby-5-feet pens, except for the three to five mutts who take turns sharing their bed each night, Caraher says.

A DREAM COME TRUE In 2020, The Canine Stars launched a youth mentorship program to teach kids ages 12-18 how to train their own dogs and help raise awareness of the need for pet adoption. To apply to the yearlong online program, young dog owners worldwide submit videos of themselves working with their pets.

All of this year’s applicants happened to be girls from Canada, Bosnia, the United Kingdom, Hungary, South Carolina and three from North Carolina. Participants meet biweekly via Zoom where students share videos of their dogs doing tricks; they also give feedback to one another.

“We give an assignment, say, throwing a frisbee,” Wilhelm says. “We teach proper techniques for throwing, different types of throws, sequences. Then we watch videos together on Zoom. Every two weeks there’s a special assignment for which they have to train.”

Seventeen-year-old Meghan Wilcox, who lives near Greensboro, North Carolina, graduated in December from the 2021 Canine Stars youth program. She works

The Canine Stars’ co-owner Keri Caraher encourages Whisp during a performance.

Photo by Ken Gee Photography.

with her dog Sawyer, an Australian-Shepherd mix she rescued four years ago. “I found him when he was 6 months old in a river behind my house; it was January and cold,” she recalls. “He had been abandoned in the woods. I took him inside, gave him a warm bath; he laid down by the fire like he’d always lived there. We’ve been close ever since.”

While enrolled in the youth mentorship program, Wilcox and Sawyer were invited to audition with The Canine Stars for the “America’s Got Talent” show. “They needed a pretty, fluffy dog” for the skit, she says.

They also wanted a dog who could sit still wearing a costume (Sawyer had been through obedience training). Although the AGT routine itself lasted only a couple of minutes, Wilcox remembers it took a lot longer to practice and shoot the scene.

Thirteen dogs plus their trainers came to Los Angeles for the two-week, all-expensespaid trip. They all stayed in motor homes at a campground on the beach.

“It was a dream come true for me,” says Wilcox, whose family is originally from Divide, near Colorado Springs. “When I was 13, I watched all the ‘America Got Talent’ acts with dogs. I remember watching it as a family and telling my mom, ‘I’m going to do that someday.’”

Sharon Sullivan is a freelance writer for Colorado Country Life from Colorado.

ADVERTISEMENT

Giant Grab Bag of 200 U.S. Stamps G

Only $1.00

iant Grab Bag of over 200 used US stamps includes obsolete issues as much as 100 years old. Also historic airmails and commemoratives.

Each Grab Bag is different and yours is guaranteed to contain at least 200 used stamps. Satisfaction guaranteed.

Perfect to start or add to a collection. Strict limit of one Grab Bag per address.

Send $1 for your Grab Bag today and also receive special collector’s information along with other interesting stamps on approval.

Selections Will Vary

Giant Grab Bag of 200 U.S. Stamps

✔Yes! ❏

Send me the Giant Grab Bag of 200 used US Stamps. Enclosed is $1.

Shipping and guaranteed delivery are FREE. Strict limit of one My satisfaction is guaranteed.

Quick order at MysticAd.com/5H135 Name _________________________________________________ Address _______________________________________________ City/State/Zip __________________________________________

NY State residents add sales tax.

❏ Check or money order ❏ Visa ❏ MasterCard

Exp. Date ___/___

Please send payment to: Mystic, Dept. 5H135, 9700 Mill St., Camden, NY 13316-9111

Elvis Presley 85th Birthday U.S. Half Dollar Tribute

Yours for Just $2.95 N

ow is your chance to get a genuine US half dollar honoring the King of Rock ’N’ Roll for only $2.95. A $12.95 value, you’ll save $10.00 plus get FREE shipping and guaranteed delivery.

The coin has the official logo authorized by Elvis’s estate to honor his 85th birthday. The logo recreates one of his most memorable moments – dancing in the 1957 hit movie Jailhouse Rock.

This high-quality coin is a meaningful keepsake and powerful reminder of the impact Elvis Presley has had on generations of music fans around the world.

Act now and this coin will be yours for just $2.95.

Shipping and guaranteed delivery are FREE. Limit of five.

You’ll also receive other interesting coins on approval.

Elvis 85th Birthday Coin

✔Yes! Send me the Elvis 85th birthday half dollar. ❏

Enclosed is $2.95 and shipping and guaranteed delivery are FREE. Limit of five. My satisfaction is guaranteed.

Quick order at MysticAd.com/VP129 Name _________________________________________________ Address _______________________________________________ City/State/Zip __________________________________________

❏ Check or money order ❏ Visa ❏ MasterCard

NY State residents add sales tax.

Exp. Date ___/___

Please send payment to: Mystic, Dept. VP129, 9700 Mill St., Camden, NY 13316-9111 COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

19

ENERGY CONNECTIONS Basin Electric Cooperative’s Dry Fork Station in Wyoming is located near a site being developed for a large-scale carbon storage project.

XPRIZE finalists built labs at this Wyoming power plant where they tested beneficial uses of carbon dioxide.

Capturing Carbon Storing, recycling CO2 keeps it from the atmosphere

BY KATHERINE LOVING

P

roviding reliable, affordable electricity is the top priority for Colorado’s electric cooperatives. Co-ops and other electric utilities continue to incorporate additional energy generated from renewable sources, but until these technologies fully mature, fossil fuels remain a part of our overall generation mix to ensure power reliability.

As the U.S. moves forward with carbon reduction goals, electric cooperatives are also looking for ways to provide clean energy and offset the carbon that’s generated during power production. Capturing carbon emissions at their creation source is one of those approaches.

The federal government is making carbon capture a funding priority in 2022.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed in 2021 provides $927 million for large, commercial-scale pilot projects as well as $3.5 billion for six demonstration projects at coal and natural gas plants.

Carbon capture involves a series of steps to remove carbon dioxide from its original source to prevent it from reaching the Earth’s

20

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

atmosphere. During the capture step, CO2 is removed either before or after combustion.

Post-combustion capture is the most common method used at existing power plants. After electricity is generated, the CO2 is removed from the gas mixture found in a plant’s flue.

In pre-combustion capture, the fuel sources are heated with pure oxygen (or steam and oxygen) to release CO2.

Once captured, the CO2 is transported to its next destination. Typically, CO2 moves as compressed gas in pipelines but can also be transported by tanker trucks or ships.

Captured CO2 can be injected into geological formations or recycled for other uses.

One appeal of carbon capture is the abundance of underground natural storage locations, such as deep aquifers, porous rock and unproductive coal mines. The U.S. Geological Service estimates the U.S. has the potential to store 3,000 metric gigatons of CO2, the equivalent of centuries worth of emissions.

Research on how to recycle CO2 is ongoing, but established practices include

using the gas in enhanced oil recovery, growing fish food from lab-grown bacteria that feed on CO2, and creating carbon-negative concrete or other carbon-based materials.

As promising as carbon capture sounds, the costs and risks limit the technology’s ability to be implemented on a larger scale. Postcombustion capture often requires expensive retrofitting of power plants. Pre-combustion capture, while more effective than post-combustion, has been limited due to high costs of equipment and pure oxygen.

In addition to these costs, the processes require a large amount of energy.

Transportation of the gas increases in cost for longer distances between the source and destination, making plants located far away from sequestration locations less feasible.

Sequestration also carries the concern of CO2 leaks, which would negate the effort to remove it from the atmosphere.

Despite these hurdles, carbon capture is seen as an important technology in reducing emissions.

In 2015, XPRIZE, a technological development competition, kicked off with the goal

ENERGY CONNECTIONS of awarding $20 million to develop new and emerging technologies that utilize CO2. The competition was based on how much CO2 was converted and the economic feasibility of the project.

XPRIZE concluded in 2021, and the winning project was a carbon-negative concrete created by a team of UCLA researchers called CarbonBuilt. The research team conducted tests at Basin Electric Power Cooperative’s Integrated Test Center in Wyoming to turn flue gases and fly ash into carbon-negative concrete. The process reduces the carbon emissions of concrete production and traps additional carbon long-term within the final product.

There will be more emphasis from the federal government in 2022 on carbon capture and storage. In addition to the demonstration projects from the infrastructure bill, the Slowing CO2 and Lowering Emissions (SCALE) Act was introduced in

Carbon capture involves a series of steps that removes carbon dioxide from its original source to prevent it from reaching the Earth’s atmosphere. Above is a carbon capture plant, an important tool in reducing C02 emissions generated from fossil fuel use.

2021 to provide funding to overcome expansion barriers. The SCALE Act aims to reduce costs by financing scaling projects for pipeline infrastructure, creating regional storage infra­ structure, and providing grants for creating products derived from large-scale capture.

Capturing carbon is an important tool in reducing CO2 emissions generated from

fossil fuel use. When this emerging technology can be deployed on a larger scale, the future of carbon capture will look much more promising.

Katherine Loving writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

Post-Combustion Carbon Capture

4

Post-combustion is the most common method used for capturing carbon before it is released into the atmosphere. The diagram below shows how carbon is extracted using membrane system technology. Post-combustion capture often requires expensive retrofitting of power plants, which limits large-scale adaptability.

1 2

Coal combustion creates heat, gases (including CO2) and particulate.

Blower

Flue gas

2

Primary CO2 capture

Primary membrane separates CO2 from the flue gas.

3

A secondary membrane further separates out CO2.

4

Flue gas, with nearly all CO2 removed, is released.

5

Pure, liquified CO2 is used to create beneficial products.

3

1 Boiler

Coal

Flue gas Source: Membrane Technology & Research (MTR)

CO2

Flue gas stack

Membrane

Secondary CO2 capture

Vacuum pump

Membrane

Vacuum pump

CO2-depleted flue gas

Compressor

CO2 recycle

CO2 condensation column Liquid CO2

5 COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

21

GARDENING

Focus on Fit Gardeners A PBS series couples fitness with gardening

BY VICKI SPENCER

MASTER GARDENER | GARDENING@COLOR ADOCOUNTRYLIFE .ORG

T

hanks to a current PBS television series called “GardenFit,” gardeners with aches and pains caused by the repetitive motions of digging, weeding, pruning, stooping and kneeling can learn how to care for their bodies while also caring for their gardens.

Produced by Madeline Hooper and Jeff Hughes, the series emerged from Hooper’s extensive public relations work with top American and European designers, over 20 years of gardening experience, and a broad

network of gardening colleagues. Aches and pains led Hooper to Hughes, an awardwinning fitness trainer.

Hooper was impressed by Hughes’ philosophy that you “train the mind and the body will follow.” As their friendship developed, they decided to take Hughes’ fitness program to gardeners across the country. In selecting gardens to feature, diversity was the main criteria so that gardeners could envision their own gardens and create their own fitness routines.

Colorado Country Life readers may be particularly interested in episode 7 airing May 4 at 1 p.m. on Colorado PBS 12.1. It will feature a 5-acre garden sitting along the northern Colorado prairie as it rises to the foothills. Horticulturalist/designer Lauren Springer says her “inspiration — whether home, client’s or public — is the beautiful and resilient natural landscapes of drier regions.”

Producers of the PBS television series called “GardenFit,” Madeline Hooper, left, and Jeff Hughes, right, stands with Lauren Springer, middle, in the northern Colorado foothills.

22

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

Train the mind and the body will follow.

— Jeff Hughes

Springer aims “to capture the romantic essence of those special places and also support a wide range of creatures through plant diversity and creating appealing habitats.” The program shows how Springer cares for hundreds of native plants, trees and bushes while remedying wrist and leg pains with simple “do anywhere” exercises that Hughes designed.

Another episode of the 13-episode program shows how Jim Martinez, an expert on native plants throughout Texas and the Southwest, created a unique environment that flourishes in the desert. His garden features diverse natives and exotics situated

GARDENING Be sure to tune in for episode 7 airing May 4 at 1 p.m. on Colorado PBS 12.1 for the 5-acre Colorado prairie garden. in five distinct areas, just as they grow in nature. Tending nearly 100 species daily has taken a toll on Hughes’ shoulders and flexibility; his stretches target these concerns.

In Connecticut, a gardener developed a Japanese garden with minimalist design characteristics based on principles of asymmetry and balance. Natural rocks and waterfalls representing life force provide the basic structure. Seasonally-changing plants provide an unique aesthetic in harmony with the traditional tea house. Although the environment was relaxing, the gardener had knee pain that Hughes helped alleviate.

In Middleburg, Virginia, Elaine Burden created an enchanting private garden nestled in a pastoral setting against the Blue Ridge Mountains. The self-taught gardener

adjusted traditional garden designs to fit her own style. The result is a unique combination of English borders, formal gardens, and a French parterre on uneven ground. Hughes taught Burden simple movements to counter single directional movements that caused back pain. They are already becoming lifelong pain relief habits.

All of us could benefit from seeing Hughes’ approach to remedying the aches and pains caused by gardening’s repetitive motions. It’s exciting to learn that new movements can become habits after just four weeks and gardening can become less painful. An added bonus for viewers is seeing the magic of diverse gardens featured in the show.

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

PBS television series “GardenFit” producer Madeline Hooper kneels in front of a garden in the northern Colorado foothills.

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

Plant Faster, Easier With NEW SUPER PLUGS!

Pre-cut plugs are 10x bigger!

SAVE OVER 50%

THE ONE-TIME, LIFETIME LAWN SOLUTION

OR...Plant Your Way With FREESTYLE PLUGS!

Cut any size plugs from sheets!

Stays lush and green in summer

7 Ways Our Amazoy Zoysia Lawn TM

Saves You Time,Work and Money!

1 – CUTS WATER BILLS AND MOWING BY AS MUCH AS 2/3 2 – NO GARDENING EXPERIENCE NEEDED – NO DIGGING UP OLD GRASS 3 – GROWS IN POOR, ROCKY, SANDY OR CLAY SOIL – IT DOESN’T MATTER 4 – FOR SLOPES, PLAY AREAS, BARE SPOTS AND PARTIAL SHADE 5 – STAYS GREEN IN SPITE OF HEAT AND DROUGHT 6 – STOPS CRABGRASS AND MOST SUMMER WEEDS FROM GERMINATING 7 – ENDS COSTLY RE-SEEDING AND NEVER NEEDS REPLACEMENT

Zoysia Farm

NURSERIES

Improving America’s Lawns Since 1953

GUARANTEED TO GROW Or We’ll Replace Plugs FREE!

Zoysia-Colorado CountryLife halfpg April2022 Dept5968.indd 1

NOW 3 WAYS TO START YOUR AMAZOY ZOYSIA LAWN! 1. New Super Plugs come in handy trays, pre-cut as individual 3"x 3" plugs ready to plant. Enough for 60 sq. ft. from $25.95 + shipping.

2. Freestyle Plugs come in uncut sheets with up to 150 - 1" plugs. Or for less cutting and planting, make each plug bigger and plant them farther apart – your choice. Enough for 300 sq. ft. from $32.50 + shipping.

3. Amazoy-Approved Seed – As the Zoysia Experts for 60+ years, we finally have a Zoysia seed that meets our standards and homeowners’ expectations. Available in 2-lb. bags, enough to cover over 1,000 sq. ft.

ORDER YOUR WAY TODAY!

www.ZoysiaFarms.com/mag 410-756-2311

Promo Code

5968

Harvested Daily From Our Farms And Shipped To You Direct!

Amazoy is the trademark registered U.S. Patent Office for our Meyer Zoysia grass.

© 2022 Zoysia Farm Nurseries, 3617 Old Taneytown Rd, Taneytown, MD 21787

23

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE 3:35 PM 12/11/21 APRIL 2022

OUTDOORS

A Tale of Yesteryear Reminiscing how times have changed

BY DENNIS SMITH

OUTDOORS@COLOR ADOCOUNTRYLIFE .ORG

S

top me if you’ve heard already this story.

It was 46 years ago this month that we moved to Colorado with our two small boys from a tiny mountain town in upstate New York and bought a little fixer-upper on what was then the extreme southwestern edge of Loveland. This was a two-bedroom farmhouse that had been moved in from out on the plains and plopped down on concrete blocks over a hand-dug, dirt-floor cellar housing a gas furnace and water heater. Twenty-four thousand bucks! Boy, those were the days.

Big cornfields swept away to the south and an old, concrete irrigation ditch rambled through the tall grove of cottonwoods on the west. There were owls, woodpeckers and magpies in the trees and muskrats in the

ditch. Rodents, raccoons, foxes and rabbits left tracks through the underbrush and some nights we could hear coyotes howling. The boys loved it, as you might imagine.

I did too, but it was the Big Thompson Canyon and the headwater streams in nearby Rocky Mountain National Park that really intrigued me, and I wasted no time getting up there to see what it was like to fly fish the Rockies. I don’t recall the exact date, but I do remember exploring Fall River for the first time on a chilly, lightly-overcast day in April.

Snow was receding from the lower slopes of the Mummy Range and lay melting in random patches between the rust-colored clumps of willow and alder thickets along the banks of the creek, but the high peaks were still capped in white. It was stunning and so

completely different from the Catskills I grew up in that I was just kind of awestruck by the raw beauty of it all.

And then there were the trout! Brookies.

Stacked up in almost every hole, under the cutbanks, nymphing in the deep riffles, laying up against edges of the turn pools… and not another soul in sight. I was so taken with the scene I’d almost forgotten I’d come to fish.

I went back to the car, broke out my fly rod — a homemade fiberglass 7-footer — and tied on a wet fly of some sort. I also remember that CODOW (Colorado Division of Wildlife at that time) encouraged anglers to keep as many as 10 extra “bonus brook trout,” 8 inches or smaller, in addition to the regular daily limit of eight to help reduce stunting due to overpopulation. So I took a wicker creel with me, too. I caught a bunch, I promise you, but kept only a handful. After all, brook trout taste best when they’re so fresh they flip themselves into the pan and there’s no way we could eat 18 of them, even if they were little ones. Besides, I figured I could always come back and catch a few more if I wanted to, but that was 46 years ago.

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.

BuildingLocal with authorized builders all across Colorado

visit www.heritagehomesofne.com or call 877-759-2782 24

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

ADVERTISEMENT

Bad to the Bone Full tang stainless steel blade with natural bone handle —now ONLY $79!

T

he very best hunting knives possess a perfect balance of form and function. They’re carefully constructed from fine materials, but also have that little something extra to connect the owner with nature.

If you’re on the hunt for a knife that combines impeccable craftsmanship with a sense of wonder, the $79 Huntsman Blade is the trophy you’re looking for.

The blade is full tang, meaning it doesn’t stop at the handle but extends to the length of the grip for the ultimate in strength. The blade is made from 420 surgical steel, famed for its sharpness and its resistance to corrosion.

The handle is made from genuine natural bone, and features decorative wood spacers and a hand-carved motif of two overlapping feathers— a reminder for you to respect and connect with the natural world.

This fusion of substance and style can garner a high price tag out in the marketplace. In fact, we found full tang, stainless steel blades with bone handles in excess of $2,000. Well, that won’t cut it around here. We have mastered the hunt for the best deal, and in turn pass the spoils on to our customers.

But we don’t stop there. While supplies last, we’ll include a pair of $99 8x21 power compact binoculars and a genuine leather sheath FREE when you purchase the Huntsman Blade.

Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed.

Feel the knife in your hands, wear it on your hip, inspect the impeccable craftsmanship. If you don’t feel like we cut you a fair deal, send it back within 30 days for a complete refund of the item price.

Limited Reserves. A deal like this won’t last long. We have only 1120 Huntsman Blades for this ad only. Don’t let this BONUS! Call today and beauty slip through your fingers. Call today! you’ll also receive this

Huntsman Blade $249*

genuine leather sheath!

EXCLUSIVE

FREE

Stauer® 8x21 Compact Binoculars -a $99 valuewith purchase of Huntsman Blade

What Stauer Clients Are Saying About Our Knives



“This knife is beautiful!”

— J., La Crescent, MN



“The feel of this knife is unbelievable...this is an incredibly fine instrument.”

— H., Arvada, CO

Offer Code Price Only $79 + S&P Save $170

1-800-333-2045

Your Insider Offer Code: HUK755-01

You must use the insider offer code to get our special price.

Stauer

®

Rating of A+

14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. HUK755-01 Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.stauer.com

shown *Discount is only for customers who useNot the offer code versus the actual size. listed original Stauer.com price.

California residents please call 1-800-333-2045 regarding Proposition 65 regulations before purchasing this product.

• 12" overall length; 6 ¹⁄2" stainless steel full tang blade • Genuine bone handle with brass hand guard & bolsters • Includes genuine leather sheath

Stauer… Afford the Extraordinary.®

FOCUS ON WEEKEND FUN

Photo by Br8on Duncan Photography

“ANTIQUE CAPITAL OF COLORADO” On the eastern range of the Rocky Mountains along the Arkansas River you will find the charming town of Florence. Here visitors can enjoy rich history, breathtaking views and big adventure.

This friendly community marks the start of the historic Gold Belt Scenic Byway, a railroad and stagecoach route leading to North America’s greatest gold camp, three world-class fossil sites and numerous historic sites along the way.

An antique-lover’s paradise, Florence, Colorado, is home to more than a dozen antique shops and various co-ops, making it a great destination for treasure hunting.

Head downtown to check out the great shops, art galleries and dining establishments and visit the town’s many original sites and historic buildings that still remain today.

“We’re right off the interstate and have 30 antique stores and phenomenal restaurants serving everything from sushi to steaks — lots of variety. The bustling downtown shops and Junktique help to keep our small town thriving,” says Rena Pryor, president of the Merchants Association and manager of Loralie Antique Mall.

So, kick off your summer early and hit the road to Florence for the Junktique Antique Show & Flea Market and 20th Annual Florence Car Show, May 13-15.



WHERE IS FLORENCE?



Weekend Overview: Junktique Antique Show & Flea Market and 20th Annual Florence Car Show Friday, May 13

The area’s biggest antiquing event of the year, Junktique & Flea Market begins at 8 a.m. on Main Street and the historic Rialto Theater. The extravaganza features more than 40 vendors, evening shopping until 8 p.m., and street dancing with live music.

This event brings hundreds of people to this small community with rich history and is truly fun for all ages.

26

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

Saturday, May 14

The Junktique & Flea Market continues for a second day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. At 11 a.m., the Florence Brewing Company’s Sixth Anniversary Party kicks off with food trucks and live music by Six Bucks and a Flight on stage from 12 to 3 p.m., followed by Mark’s Midnight Carnival Show from 4 to 7 p.m. The brewery will be releasing some exclusive sixth anniversary T-shirts and more.

Sunday, May 15

Finish the weekend with more than 300 cars lining Florence’s Main Street at the 20th Annual Florence Car Show. This non-judged event is fun to see, Pryor says, as it shows a 100-year span of vehicles (everything from Model Ts to modern cars).

For more information about the event, visit finditinflorence.com and florencecoloradocarshow.com

ADVERTISEMENT

N OR TH AMER I CA’S

SP E

CI A

LO

1 Selling Walk-In Tub

#

Featuring our Free

FFE

R

Shower Package

Now you can finally have all of the soothing benefits of a relaxing warm bath, or enjoy a convenient refreshing shower while seated or standing with Safe Step Walk-In Tub’s FREE Shower Package! ✓ First walk-in tub available with a customizable shower ✓ Fixed rainfall shower head is adjustable for your height and pivots to offer a seated shower option ✓ High-quality tub complete with a comprehensive lifetime warranty on the entire tub ✓ Top-of-the-line installation and service, all included at one low, affordable price

Now you can have the best of both worlds–there isn’t a better, more affordable walk-in tub!

Call today and receive a

FREE SHOWER PACKAGE PLUS $1600 OFF FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY

Call Toll-Free 1-800-378-3473

www.BuySafeStep.com With purchase of a new Safe Step Walk-In Tub. Not applicable with any previous walk-in tub purchase.

Offer available while supplies last. No cash value.

Must present offer at time of purchase.

CSLB 1082165 NSCB 0082999 0083445

Call Today for Your Free Shower Package

1-800-378-3473 FINANCING AVAILABLE WITH APPROVED CREDIT

CREATIVE CORNER

READER POETRY April Day

My Dog Louie

Springtime

I went outside today and paused — for there was something different in the air.

I inhaled dirt and budding green and hints of times of lightness and easy, mellow hours.

I heard the merry songs of meadowlarks unlike the winter bird notes of “We will persevere and hold our ground.”

The grief I feel since losing my companion has consumed me like a dark cloud swallowing up a once bright sky.

Many awakenings coming alive Ready to burst, ready to take flight.

Feelings, emotions unexpectedly thrive Like many fuses ready to ignite.

The sun tracing its path across the sky Gliding upon time; equaling day to night Ever moving; shining above on high Wanes as the day reaches its longest light.

Nature strokes her winter white canvas Dripping droplets from the heavens above Dabbing the blades of the fresh green grasses Splashing color into the flowers we love.

In the midst of the landscape not always seen A symphony of creatures for every scene From the mountain tops to the lowest ravine Nature’s concertos; harmonies unforeseen.

How do you cast yourself in springtime play?

Do you plunge in and flounder and flail about Or gracefully dive and swim a medley relay?

No doubt, a part of both is in each new tryout.

I breathed an essence in that clarified my inner space like shaking out a sodden cloth to flutter in the wind and dance its way to a softer place of fluffy, unencumbered ease.

My whole self blinked and looked around.

It was the old familiar place — but not.

For it was new. A season born.

A dormant core was stirred again.

Then I awoke, revived.

And I remembered Who I’d been.

Jean Bayles, Mancos Empire Electric Association consumer-member

It’s the only place we couldn’t go together and it hurts so damn bad.

I know he’s in my heart his spirit is with me but it’s impossible not to miss his ever presence in my life.

He made me feel safe He made me feel needed He made me feel loved and losing those feelings has broken me.

The pieces will eventually find their way back together in the spirit of peace, love, + joy until we meet again.

Larry Woody, Buena Vista Sangre de Cristo Electric Association consumer-member

Linda Morrow, Bellvue Poudre Valley REA consumer-member

DO YOU WRITE POETRY? Submit your best works via email to: info@coloradocountrylife.org

MARKETPLACE Wanted: Jeep CJ or Wrangler.

Reasonably priced.

No rust buckets.

888-735-5337 1-800-889-1096

Buying anvils—blacksmith tools— cast iron (Griswold & Wagner). Old toys – colored pyrex – cowboy hats, boots, & spurs. Will come to you & we buy whole estates!

970-759-3455 or 970-565-1256

WE PAY CASH for

minerals and oil/gas interests, producing and non-producing.

800-733-8122 Stop feeding prairie dogs.

We’ll rent hunting rights from you.

Seriously looking for duck & goose habitat.

Encourage young sportsmen by providing safe, private access. You make the rules.

303-460-0273

28

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

I want to purchase mineral and other oil/gas interests.

Send details to: PO Box 13557, Denver, CO 80201

YOUR STORIES

READERS’ PHOTOS

FUNNY STORIES It was Palm Sunday and, because of a sore throat, 6-year-old Johnny stayed home from church with a sitter. When the family returned home, they were carrying palm branches.

Johnny asked what they were for. His family told him that people held them over Jesus’ head as he walked by. “Wouldn’t you know it?”

Johnny said in frustration. “The one Sunday I don’t go, He shows up.”

Lila Taylor, Stratton K.C. Electric Association consumer-member

Douglas Greenspan and Priscilla Milliren, Poudre Valley REA consumer-members, bring their copy of CCL to see the Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi Sweden.

WINNER: CCL readers Sue and Chris Langseth of Fort Garland, visit the Walt Disney Boyhood Home Museum in Marceline, Missouri. They are consumer-members of San Isabel Electric Association.

Justin Stamps and Mary Hajojlou of Grand Junction stand at the entrance of Epcot in Florida.

Mary and Justin are consumer-members of Grand Valley Power.

I was getting a pedicure at the salon. Next to me was a lady with the cutest redheaded granddaughter, around 5 years old. The grandma asked her granddaughter to go to the car and get her a Life Saver (the candy) in the console.

A couple minutes later, the granddaughter came back and told her grandma she couldn’t find them. Her grandma asked her to go back because she knew they were in there. This went on about three times when the little girl came back upset and told her grandma, “I just can’t find the medicine that will save your life!”

Louise Montano, Trinidad San Isabel Electric Association consumer-member Driving the high school women’s basketball teams to their away game, the bus driver notices that the bus’s temperature gauge was in the red.

She radioed school mechanics and pulled off the highway. The school superintendent, who was following the bus, also pulled over and got on the bus.

“You’re overheating,” the mechanic radioed.

“Take off your bra, sit for a few minutes and you should be fine.” The flabbergasted players, coaches and superintendent gazed at the driver in disbelief. The driver got out and went to the front of the bus. As she removed the radiator cover (also known as a bra) from the front grill of the bus, everyone laughed.

Bernice Molter, Denver Mountain Parks Electric consumer-member

Colorado Country Life takes an Alaskan dog sled ride at Chena Hot Springs in Fairbanks, Alaska, with Donna Elmore, a Southeast Colorado Power consumer-member and daughter Carrie Clark, a consumer-member of San Isabel Electric Association.

Kathy and Wolyn Paul, San Isabel Electric Association consumer-members, stand with their copy of CCL in front of Hadrian’s Wall in northern England.

Take Your Photo with Your Magazine and Win! It’s easy to win with Colorado Country Life. Simply take a photo of someone (or a selfie!) holding the magazine and email the photo and your name, address and your local co-op to info@coloradocountrylife.org. We’ll draw one photo to win $25 each month. The next deadline is Friday, April 15. Name, address and co-op must accompany photo. See all of the submitted photos on Facebook at facebook.com/COCountryLife.

We pay $15 to each person who submits a funny story that’s printed in the magazine.

At the end of the year we will draw one name from published funny stories and that person will receive $200. Send your 2022 stories to Colorado Country Life, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 or email funnystories@coloradocountrylife.org. Don’t forget to include your mailing address and the name of your electric co-op, so we can send you a check.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

29

DISCOVERIES

The “Ruff” Life Colorado canine luxuries keep furry friends begging for more Boredom Busters

Fashion for Fido

Sometimes keeping your canine occupied is an overwhelming task, especially if they are assassins of the typical stuffed toys. Longmont-based SodaPup concentrates on this market of mischief-makers with its superdurable chew toys and, as of last year, lick mats. Simply smear soft foods onto the mat and your pup can be occupied for up to 45 minutes, the company touts. The licking summons soothing effects that help with anxiety, boredom and bad behaviors. More information and great recipes at sodapup.com.

GoodDogCouture of Colorado Springs makes it fun to dress up doggies with its custom costumes, dresses, vests, shirts and headbands. Peruse the variety of fabrics, ribbons and embellishments you think your pooch will drool over and she’ll soon be the talk of the town. Just send designer Mary Burger your pup’s measurements and she’ll customize the couture to fit your furry friend’s form flawlessly. See some design options at etsy.com/shop/digginitdesigns.

Keep Your Creatures Cool As warmer days intensify, pets can use a little reprieve from the heat.

Here’s a refreshing solution: a water-activated cooling mat that stays cool for days, not just hours. Just soak the bed, roll it to remove excess water and the cool bed is ready for relaxation. Lyons-based CoolBeds4Pets and Kevin Harrington of “Shark Tank” will be promoting the product this summer on “As Seen On TV,” so stay tuned. For information, visit coolbeds4pets.com.

The Secret to Success Pueblo-based Timberwolf Pet Products’ one-of-a-kind machinery is the secret to its durable, double-braided leashes, collars, harnesses and accessories that withstand years of use — up to 20 years, the company touts. Just select your favorite product, send Timberwolf your doggy’s dimensions, and then choose from the company’s wide inventory of designs and your pooch will be ready for a fun walkabout in no time.

They even have a couple of kitty collars for the adventurous feline.

Find out more at timberwolfpetproducts.com.

30

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

ELECTRIFY AND SAVE

IS A HEAT PUMP WATER HEATER RIGHT FOR YOU? Heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) are available in multiple sizes to fit any household, or commercial application and have fast recovery to keep hot water flowing. HPWHs use electricity to move heat from one place to another rather than generating their own heat like a traditional electric water heater. This makes them 2-3 times more efficient when properly installed. + ENERGY SAVINGS WITH MORE CONTROL HPWHs can offer up to 4 modes of operation including an auto-mode for daily use, a vacation mode to maximize energy savings when you are gone, and a high demand to boost heat recovery when you have a large number of guests overnight. Whether you want to save or need a little extra hot water, you are in control.

+ A SAFE ALTERNATIVE FOR YOUR HOME HPWHs are all-electric and combustion-free, removing a source of carbon monoxide and potential gas leaks in your home. Also, HPWH’s do not generate heat, so they remain cool to the touch.

+ A HPWH COSTS LESS TO OPERATE THAN PROPANE WATER HEATERS Water heating makes up about 18 percent of U.S. residential energy use. HPWHs can use up to 70 percent less energy than traditional electric water heaters when installed correctly.

VISIT US 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.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

31