Hump Day - Central Texas Electric ...

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Hump Day - Central Texas Electric ...
The joys of                                     Quick breads                 The urgency of
  pass-along planTs                                        and Muffins             blaCk HisTory MonTH

f o r e l e C T r i C C o o p e r aT i v e M e M b e r s                                      february 2021

                                                                     Hump Day
                                                                          Camels, with their plodding
                                                                           gaits and affable charm,
                                                                           still ply the Texas desert
Hump Day - Central Texas Electric ...
Hump Day - Central Texas Electric ...
contents

February 2021
                                                                                         04             Currents
                                                                                                        The latest buzz

                                                                                         06             TCp Talk
                                                                                                        Readers respond

                                                                                         18             Co-op news
                                                                                                        Information
                                                                                                        plus energy
                                                                                                        and safety
                                                                                                        tips from your
                                                                                                        cooperative

                                                                                         29             footnotes in
                                                                                                        Texas History
                                                                                                        A Name
                                                                                                        That Sticks
                                                                                                        By W.F. Strong

                                                                                         30             TCp kitchen
                                                                                                        Quick Breads
                                                                                                        and Muffins
                                                                                                        By Megan Myers

                                                                                         34             Hit the road
                                                                                                        Caddo
            08                                                                                          Monuments
                                                                                                        By Chet Garner

            Every Day   12 Putting                                                       37
            Is Hump Day    Down Roots
                                                                                                        focus on Texas
                                                                                                        Photo Contest:
                                                                                                        Saddles
            Camels add unique silhouettes     Pass-along plants spread joy,
            and affable charm to West texas
            expeditions.
                                              friendship and legacies
                                              among gardeners.                           38             observations
                                                                                                        Time To Talk
            By Pam LeBlanc                    By Sheryl Smith-Rodgers                                   About That
            Photos by Scott Van Osdol         Illustrations by Chiara Vercesi                           By Michael Hurd

            On the COver
            Doug Baum and richard,
            one of his camels.
            ABOve
            A face that only a … no,
            that anybody could love.
            Photos by Scott Van Osdol

t e x AsC O OPPOWer .COm                                                        f e B r uA ry 2 0 2 1 T E X AS C O - O P POW E R 3
Hump Day - Central Texas Electric ...
Currents

No Crapes of Wrath
J u s T a f r i e n d ly r e M i n d e r
                               to resist all temptation to commit
crape murder this month. Prune crape myrtles gently—or not at all.
   Our February 2020 story Crape Murder explains it all. Many gar-
deners drastically saw off the trees’ limbs, thinking it the proper
treatment for beautiful blooms later in the summer. Not so.          “In recognizing the
   “The prettiest ones I’ve seen have never been touched,” says
horticulturist Greg Grant. “And I mean never.”                        humanity of our
                                                                      fellow beings, we
                                                                      pay ourselves the
                                                                      highest tribute.”
                                                                      —T h u r g o o d M a r s h a l l

                                                                               end of the
                                                                               republic

                                                                                                                                      Cr APe myrtle : u kimArrO n | shu t ter stOCk .COm. Wi ne : sAs hAg Al A | Dr e Amst ime .CO m. miller: Be t tmAn | ge t t y imAges. iCe Cre Am: unPiCt | Dre Amstime .COm
                                                                               this month marks 175 years
                                                                               since the formal transfer of
                                                                               authority in texas from the
                                                                               republic to the state.
                                                                                 the u.s. Congress accepted
                                                                               the texas Constitution on
                                                                               December 29, 1845, which
                                                                               marked texas’ legal entry into
                                                                               the union. On february 19,
                                                                               1846, the last president of
                                                                               texas, Anson Jones, turned
                                                                               over the reins of government
                                                                               to gov. James Pinckney
                                                                               henderson.
                                                                                 “the final act in this great
                                                                               drama is now performed,”
                                                                               Jones declared. “the republic
                                                                               of texas is no more.”

living                    Last July, Austin became the 11th American city and fourth in Texas —
large                     joining Houston, San Antonio and Dallas—with a population exceeding
1 million. The last U.S. city to hit 1 million people was San Jose, California, in 2015.

4 T E X AS CO-OP POWER feBruAry 2021                                                                 t e x AsC O O P POW e r .C O m
Hump Day - Central Texas Electric ...
February 18
                           naTional
                           drink
                           Wine day
                           Texas has more than 500
                           wineries, according to the
                           national association of
                           american Wineries. only
                           four states have more.

finisH THis
senTenCe
YoU’RE NEvER
Too olD To ...
     tell us how you would finish that
sentence. email your short responses
to letters@texasCoopPower.com or
comment on our facebook post. include
your co-op and town. here are some of
the responses to our December prompt:
i wish i could …
                                                        Valor
find a cure for COviD-19.
sherryiOn lAne
                                                        Carries On
miDsOuth eC
huntsville
                                                        T H e n a M e o f d o r i s M i l l e r , a U.S. Navy mess attendant from
                                                        Willow Grove, near Waco, who became a hero during the Pearl
have just one more day with my dad,
Dixie Wheeler. i have so many                           Harbor attack in 1941, lives on in schools, roads and community
questions i’d like to ask him.                          centers around the country.
rODney Wheeler                                             In 11 years the USS Doris Miller will take to the seas as the first
BlueBOnnet eC
ly t t O n s P r i n g s                                supercarrier named for an African American and the first named
                                                        for an enlisted sailor.
fit into the pants i wore before                           Miller fired an anti-aircraft gun at attacking Japanese aircraft
quarantine.                                             and then pulled shipmates out of the burning water. He perished
CAryl ZimmermAn
CentrAl texAs eC                                        in 1943 aboard an escort carrier torpedoed in the Pacific Ocean.
kingslAnD

figure out what my cats are thinking
when they stare at me.                                                                           Contests and More
l Aurie l. re AgAn
BAnDerA eC
leAkey                                                                                      on TexasCooppoWer.CoM
                                                                                            $500 reCipe ConTesT
give everyone a hug.                                                                        ice Creams and sorbets
mArgAre t fOntenOt
BlueBOnnet eC                                                                               foCus on Texas pHoTos
sOmerville                                                                                  manmade vs. nature
                                                                                            Web exTra
to see more responses, read                                                                 see writer sheryl smith-rodgers divide
                                                                                            lilies and prepare plants to pass along.
Currents online.

t e x AsC O OPPOWer .COm                                                                          f e B r uA ry 2 0 2 1 T E X AS C O - O P POW E R 5
Hump Day - Central Texas Electric ...
TCP Talk
                                                                                                                                               He gave us the stars

                                                                                                                                               “The generosity and vision
C Ol l Ag e sOurC e P hOtOs: C Ourtesy m C DOnA l D O B servAtOry

                                                                                                                                                of William McDonald and
                                                                                                                                                Violet Locke McIvor is a
                                                                                                                                                great story. Wouldn’t we all
                                                                                                                                                welcome an opportunity to
                                                                                                                                                go ‘mountain shopping’?”
                                                                                                                                               gerald benneTT
                                                                                                                                               coserv
                                                                                                                                               frisco

                                                         alabama’s role                                                                        The pinnacle                                        Classic Cover
                                                         While primary control of the Interna-                                                 My husband and I took a                             Huge kudos to photographer
                                                         tional Space Station is in Houston,                        yep! And brought over      week to explore the beaches                         Kristin Tyler for the photo
                                                         Marshall Space Flight Center in Hunts-                     some delicious food        and fishing villages of South                        of the farrier on the October
                                                                                                                    [Burgs in a New Land,
                                                         ville, Alabama, also plays a vital role                    December 2020].
                                                                                                                                               Texas one year. We had heard                        2020 cover. It is a classic,
                                                         in its operation [Out of This World,                                                  about the Matagorda Island                          reminiscent of the Dorothea
                                                                                                                    k Ay l A W A l k e r
                                                         November 2020].                                            v i A fA C e B O O k
                                                                                                                                               ferry and rented bicycles for                       Lange Depression photo-
                                                            Flight controllers in Huntsville                                                   the day [Matagorda Island                           graphs.
                                                         schedule the astronauts’ daily activities                                             Lighthouse, October 2020].
                                                         and provide technical assistance as                                                      There were several others                        merry langlinais
                                                                                                                                                                                                   Bandera eC
                                                         the astronauts do experiments and                                                     on the ferry, but we had all
                                                                                                                                                                                                   medina
                                                         perform maintenance or handle                                                         day exploring the island—
                                                         emergencies related to the equipment                                                  hardly seeing a soul until
                                                         inside the space station.                                                             returning to the dock. The
                                                                                                                                               view of the lighthouse was
                                                         linda Brower
                                                                                                                                               the pinnacle of that day.
                                                         tri-County eC
                                                         keller                                                                                   Thank you for bringing
                                                                                                                                               that long-lost memory
                                                                                                                                               to life.                                                   WriTe To u s
                                                                                                                                                                                                   letters@texasCoopPower.com
                                                                                                                                               Joy Connery
                                                                                                                                               Wood County eC
                                                                                                                                                                                                   editor, texas Co-op Power
                                                                                                                                               lindale
                                                                                                                                                                                                   1122 Colorado st., 24th floor
                                                                                                                                                                                                   Austin, tx 78701

                                                                                                                                                                                                   please include your electric
                                                                                                                                                                                                   co-op and town. letters may
                                                                                                                                                                                                   be edited for clarity and length.
                                                                          nAsA .gOv

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      texas Co-op Power

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                                                         vice president, Communications & Member services martin Bevins                        our 30 sister publications in other states, contact elaine sproull at (512) 486-6251. Advertisements
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                                                         proofreader shannon Oelrich

                                                         6 T E X AS CO-OP POWER feBruAry 2021                                                                                                                    t e x AsC O O P POW e r .C O m
Hump Day - Central Texas Electric ...
We are excited to announce the release of the 2021 Texas Silver
                                                                                   Round – Revolution Series. This is the second release of a four-year
                                                                                   series commemorating the battles of the Texas Revolution. Each Texas
                                     The                                           Silver Round is one troy ounce .9999 ne silver.

                                                                                   The obverse of the high-quality mint strike features Texas’ iconic lone
                                                                                   star in the foreground. The smooth engraving of the star is framed
                                                                                   by a textured topographical outline of the state of Texas. “TEXAS”
                                                                                   arches proudly over the top of the round’s obverse in large capital
                                                                                   letters, with “Precious Metals” presented inversely along the
                                                                                   opposite side. The round’s
                                                                                   mintage year is engraved in
                                 SERIES                                            the bottom left of the round,
                                                                                   just southwest of what
                                                                                   would be the Rio Grande
                                                                                   bordering Texas and Mexico.

                                                                                   The reverse of the 2021 release
                                                                                   displays a scene from the famous
                                                                                   Battle of the Alamo. It depicts
                                                                                   two Texian soldiers including the
                                                                                   American icon, Davy Crockett,
                                                                                   attempting to fend off Mexican
                                                                                   soldiers attempting to breach the
                                                                                   walls of the Alamo.

B AT T L E O F G O N Z A L E S                                                      B AT T L E O F T H E A L A M O
 rst in the series                                                                  second in the series

The stunning 2020 Texas Silver Round depicts a scene from the Battle                The events of this famous battle took place on the days of February
of Gonzales, with three Texian revolutionaries defending the famous                 23rd - March 6th, 1836. At the end of a 13-day siege, President General
Gonzales cannon, while brandishing the Come And Take It Flag.                       Antonio López de Santa Anna and his Mexican troops reclaimed the
                                                                                    Alamo Mission, killing the Texian and immigrant occupiers.

The Texas Silver Round can be purchased in a monster box produced
exclusively for the Texas Mint. Packaged in 20 protective tubes of 25 rounds
each, the monster box holds 500 1-ounce Texas Silver Rounds. Built from
durable cold-rolled steel and nished with a matte black powder coat, the
monster box lid features an orange cutout of the state of Texas. Each sealed
monster box is secured with a unique serial number and a holographic seal
to ensure maximum product protection.

The Texas Silver Round is also available to purchase in a similarly designed
and secured mini-monster box, which contains 10 protective tubes of 25
rounds each for a total of 250 silver rounds.

             FREE SHIPPING                                   G O L D / S I LV E R / P L AT I N U M                       NO ORDER MINIMUMS

                                                              T E X M E TA L S .C O M                                             We a c c e pt:

For pre c ious m e ta l s tora g e s olutions vis it Tex a s De pos itory.c om         959 STAT E HWY 95N • SHI NE R , TX 77984 • 361.594 .3 6 2 4
Hump Day - Central Texas Electric ...
b y Pa M l e b l a n c
P h o T o s b y s c o T T va n o s d o l

d                   oug Baum strides through the prickly
                    Chihuahuan Desert of West Texas, a straw
                    cowboy hat shading his face from the
                    sun and a string of five camels sauntering
                    behind him.
   I’m perched high atop one of those camels, listening in-
tently as Baum, owner of Texas Camel Corps, points out a
canyon wren’s nest, stops to inspect a rust-colored millipede
marching across our path and then explains the role camels
played in the Lone Star State’s history.
   “Texas is perfect for camels,” says Baum, born in the West
Texas town of Big Spring. “That point was not lost on the
Army when they decided to use camels out here in the 1850s.”
   That’s when the U.S. military imported 75 camels from
Egypt, Turkey and Tunisia for use as pack animals. For
nearly a decade, the heat-resistant creatures carried water
and hauled supplies for the U.S. cavalry at Camp Verde,
south of Kerrville.

                                                                   every
   When the program ended in 1866, the army sold the ani-
mals. Some wound up in California; others hauled freight
between Texas and Mexico; a few ended up in traveling
shows; and some made their way to Austin, where they were
kept along Congress Avenue near the river and then sold

                                                                   day is
off a few at a time.
   Today Baum, who lives with his menagerie on a farm
near Valley Mills, where he is a member of Heart of Texas
Electric Cooperative, keeps the camels’ history alive by in-

                                                                   hump
troducing his cartoonish but affectionate creatures at
events around the state. I’ve joined him at Cibolo Creek
Ranch, south of Marfa, for an overnight camel-riding trek to
learn more about the role they once played in the Big Bend.
   I feel like I’m riding a rocking chair strapped to a steplad-

                                                                   day
der that’s being dragged down a gravel road. It’s both rough
and rolling, with the bonus that my camel, Cinco, swings
his neck around to give me a big goofy smile now and then.

ABOve texas Camel Corps owner
Doug Baum throws a saddle on
richard at his farm near valley mills.
right richard greets the sunrise.
Hump Day - Central Texas Electric ...
Hump Day - Central Texas Electric ...
H              e leads treks each spring and fall at Cibolo Creek
                        and delivers members of his eight-camel herd to
                        museums, parks, schools and libraries. He also
               leads treks in Egypt, where he has a second home, and if
               you need a camel for a church Nativity, he’s the guy to call.

b
            aum first fell in love with camels while working           “They teach me what I should be—patient, observant,
            as a professional musician in Nashville in the         methodical,” Baum says of his camels. “These are things
            1990s, when he played drums for country music          I recognize I lack in myself.”
            star Trace Adkins. He took a day job working at           He leads treks each spring and fall at Cibolo Creek and
            the Nashville Zoo.                                     delivers members of his eight-camel herd to museums,
   “I had zero experience with camels,” he says. “Within a         parks, schools and libraries. He also leads treks in Egypt,
week I was absolutely smitten. They’re sweet, affectionate,         where he has a second home, and if you need a camel for
playful and so, so gentle.”                                        a church Nativity, he’s the guy to call.
   They’ve also got leathery, pie-sized feet; spindly, stiltlike      Part of Baum’s mission is to dispel myths about camels.
legs; nostrils that squeeze shut to keep out blowing sand;         They’re not, he says, ornery, smelly beasts that spit at people.
and peach-sized eyes fringed in lush, 3-inch lashes.               Their humps aren’t filled with water, either, though a camel
   Baum stuck with music for a while, but eventually “the          can go 10 days or more without a drink. Camel humps—one
camel thing just won,” he says. “It was an obvious choice          for dromedaries, two for Bactrians—are filled with fat. (If
to me.”                                                            you’re riding a single-humper, you’ll sit on a padded seat
   He moved back to Texas and in 1998 bought four camels,          behind the hump. For a two-humper, you ride between the
with the idea of using them for educational programs. Two          bumps.) Camels can be downright cuddly, and they don’t
of those camels—Richard and Cinco—are with us on this              spit—although llamas, which are closely related, do.
cool September afternoon, slowing periodically to munch               I learn, when Cinco exhales on me, that the stinky part
on creosote bushes.                                                of the stereotype rings true. Camels’ awful breath is both

1 0 T E X AS CO-OP POWER feBruAry 2021                                                                         t e x AsC O O P POW e r .C O m
sweet and pungent, like grass clippings mixed with syrup—       ABOve   Doug Baum, walking behind the
                      in part because they chew their cud. They are ruminants         first camel, leads a trek through the
                                                                                      desert at Cibolo Creek ranch, south of
                      and employ three stomachs to process their food. Stand
                                                                                      marfa. OPPPOsite Author Pam leBlanc
                      next to one for a few minutes, and you’ll hear that digestive   perched atop richard.
                      system in action, gurgling and glugging like a clogged
                      drain. Also, they fart—loudly and potently.
                         Two other guests on the trek, Sue and Randy Howerter,           “Sometimes you get an attachment to animals,” Sue
                      Guadalupe Valley EC members, are equally taken by the           Howerter says. “It’s the same with camels. They have so
                      animals. Randy, who makes musical instruments, met              much personality and character.”
                      Baum at a festival in New Braunfels. Sue, a blacksmith, was        Before our two-day trip ends, we’ve lumbered a dozen
                      intrigued, too, and the Seguin couple visited Baum’s farm,      miles across a stark landscape that looks like the backdrop
                      where he lives with his family, the camels, five miniature       of a John Wayne movie, soaked in a spring-fed creek, eaten
                      donkeys, a pair of dogs, a flock of chickens, assorted sheep     a traditional Moroccan meal, sung around the campfire,
                      and goats, one horse, and “too many” kittens.                   watched shooting stars streak across the sky and listened to
                         After that the Howerters needed no convincing. They          coyotes yip as we snuggled in our tents.
trek : PAm leBl AnC

                      headed to Cibolo Creek Ranch, where we all loaded sleep-           But it’s the camels that get top billing. And that’s just
                      ing bags and pajamas into large canvas saddlebags; climbed      how Baum likes it. D
                      aboard our kneeling, straw-colored steeds; and hung on as
                      the animals rose to full height.

                      t e x AsC O OPPOWer .COm                                                                    f e B r uA ry 2 0 2 1 T E X AS C O - O P POW E R 1 1
b y s h e r y l s M i T h - r o d g e r s • i l l u s T r aT i o n s b y c h i a r a v e r c e s i

Putting Down Roots
PA S S -A L O N G P L A N T S S P R E A D J OY, F R I E N D S H I P A N D L E G AC I E S A M O N G G A R D E N E R S

P          aige Eaton faced a bare yard when she and her
           family moved into their rural home in Wood
           County in 2006. After hand-prepping her first
garden bed, she planted several varieties of daylilies dug up
from her sister-in-law’s yard down the road. Today those
daylilies and many other pass-along plants are the founda-
tion of Eaton’s diversified gardens that support pollinators
and other wildlife. Now she passes along plants from her
yard, too.
   “I love to give daylilies to friends and co-workers,” says
Eaton, an employee and member of Wood County Electric
Cooperative. “I’ve even mailed them to Mississippi and
Georgia. I feel good about sharing daylilies because they’re
hardy and can make anyone a successful gardener.”
   Sharing plants also saves lives—of the green kind, that
is. In a yard or garden, plants multiply, often where they’re
not wanted. Instead of tossing extras, most gardeners prefer
to give away what they’ve thinned out. Are those pass-along
plants? Maybe. Maybe not. Definitions vary, depending on
the gardener you ask. Traditionally, the term refers to plants
that are easy to grow, propagate and pass on as seeds, trans-
plants, divisions, bulbs or cuttings. They’re often fragrant and
rarely sold in commercial nurseries. They may also bring
back fond memories of the giver or places tied to the past.
   “Without pass-along plants, most of us would have lost                             “is not by any means my creation. I have heard it most of my
touch with our childhoods,” says Neil Sperry, a Texas                                 life, possibly at my grandmother’s knee.”
gardening expert and Grayson-Collin EC member. “There’s                                  Another custom among some Southern gardeners also
something special about being given a cutting, division or                            goes back for generations. “When you receive a pass-along,
seed from your grandmother’s favorite plant and then                                  you’re not supposed to say thank you or it won’t grow,” says
sharing it with a young person who’s important to you.                                Marcia Coffman, president of the Mountain Laurel Garden
Some of my favorite pass-alongs are tulips, oxblood lilies,                           Club in Bracketville and a Rio Grande EC member. “I’ve
autumn daffodils, resurrection lilies and hardy amaryllis.”                            actually found the custom to be true. Instead, you should
                                                                                      tell the giver, ‘Oh, this makes me so happy.’ ”

A          ccording to many sources, the phrase “pass-along
           plants” was coined by the late Allen Lacy, a
           gardening columnist and author. However, Lacy,
who grew up around Dallas, declined the credit when he
wrote in a foreword to Passalong Plants that the expression
                                                                                         If one pass-along can bring happiness, imagine being
                                                                                      surrounded by them. Tables covered with pass-alongs can
                                                                                      be found at plant sales and swaps, such as seasonal fund-
                                                                                      raisers jointly hosted by the Denton County Master Gardener
                                                                                      Association and the Native Plant Society of Texas in Denton.

1 2 T E X AS CO-OP POWER feBruAry 2021                                                                                      t e x AsC O O P POW e r .C O m
“We pot up extra plants from our gardens, like white avens,   arrived here, they’d set it under their motor home’s awning.
mealy blue sage and fall asters, and label them,” says Liz    Then they’d take it back home and keep it in their garage
Moyer, a member of both organizations. “When I go to plant    over winter.”
sales, I always look for pass-alongs because I know they’ll      Roses also rank among beloved pass-along plants. Becky
do well in our climate and soils.”                            Smith of Hungerford and fellow members of the Texas Rose
   In the Rio Grande Valley, members of the Driftwood         Rustlers preserve and share old garden roses that were
Garden Club in Port Isabel give away small potted plants in   planted by Anglo settlers at their homesteads and cemeter-
exchange for donations at a monthly market. Their pass-       ies. “We host a cutting exchange three times a year,” says
alongs usually include palms, plumerias and succulents.       Smith, the group’s chairperson. “Our mission is to encour-
   “We have a lot of winter Texans who like to take home      age others to grow these old roses, which have been time-
something unique from Texas that they can show their          tested to survive and require no spraying or fertilizers.”
friends,” says Mary Gorbell, club president and an NEC           Unlike old garden roses, not all plants make suitable
Co-op Energy member. “One Iowa couple had a Washing-          pass-alongs. “Years ago someone gave me a Chinese tallow,”
tonia palm they got from us. Every summer after they          recalls Greg Grant, a Smith County extension agent with

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“Later I divided the cacti into 15 pots and passed
 them along to my children and my sister’s
 children. It was all we had left of the land
 that our family had owned since 1889.”

 Texas A&M AgriLife Extension in Tyler. “It had lovely fall
 color, but then I learned how invasive it is. Fortunately, the
 tree later froze and died. So be careful when people pass
 along something to you. Check it out before you plant it.
 Mexican petunias can choke out other plants, but they
 don’t take over an ecosystem and spread ad nauseam like
 Chinese privets do.”
    Grant, a Deep East Texas EC member, also cautions
 against scooping up plants from public parks and private
 property. “If you don’t own the land, then you shouldn’t dig
                                                                  SHARING CACTUSES,
 up a plant unless you have the owner’s permission,” he says.
                                                                  SUCCULENTS AND NATIVES
 “In my hunts for plants, I’ve been known to knock on doors
 and offer cash.”                                                  y e a r s ag o , a friend gave my hus-
    When is the best time to plant pass-alongs? “Most are         band, James, and me a variegated
 forgiving about being dug up or divided,” Grant says. “So        agave with green and gold leaves.
 even if you do it at the wrong time of year, they don’t mind     i planted it in our adjoining vacant lot
 because pass-alongs are tough.”                                  that we call the meadow, and it pro-
                                                                  duced dozens of pups. Along the

 O           ccasional losses in her gardens motivate Lin
             Grado, a Wood County master gardener and
             Wood County EC member, to share some of her
 plants. “For instance, if something destroys my fall obedient
 plant, I know I can go to a friend that I gave some to and get
                                                                  way many other pass-alongs, includ-
                                                                  ing texas natives, have found homes
                                                                  in our gardens.
                                                                     Because they’re easy to grow and
                                                                  share, succulents, cactuses and most
 more,” she explains. “I know that’s a little selfish, but it’s    native plants make ideal pass-alongs.
 nice to know I’ve got backups.”                                  sedums, succulents also called
    Mention pass-alongs, and potted plants may come up.           stonecrops, flourish and spread in
 “I treasure my peperomia, a tropical houseplant that was         gardens. Just break off a stem and
 given to me by the late Ralph Pinkus,” Sperry says. “He’s one    stick it in a pot or in the ground. voilà!
 of my heroes and was the founder of North Haven Gardens          you’ve got a new plant. Aloe veras
 in Dallas. I’ve had that plant for 35 years.”                    also make good pass-alongs.
    Though small, a potted cactus matters greatly to Moyer,          through the years we’ve received
 a member of CoServ, an electric cooperative in Corinth.          a texas buckeye, lindheimer’s
 “Before my grandfather’s farm sold near East Sweden, I dug       crownbeard, heartleaf hibiscus, pink
 up some barrel cacti,” she recalls. “Later I divided the cacti   mint and bracted passionflower, to
 into 15 pots and passed them along to my children and my         name only a few pass-along natives.
 sister’s children. It was all we had left of the land that our   in turn we’ve gifted gregg’s mist-
 family had owned since 1889.                                     flower, fragrant mistflower, flame
    “Sometimes,” she adds, “a pass-along plant is the only        acanthus, turk’s cap and pearl milk-
 thing you have left of someone or something that you             weed vine. i’ve also shared seeds
 held dear.” D                                                    with friends.
                                                                     As for that agave and its many
                                                                  pups, those aggressive spreaders
     W e b e x T r a Our video
                                                                  are gone. lesson learned: Always
 shows writer sheryl smith-
 rodgers dividing lilies and                                      read up on your pass-along’s grow-
 preparing plants to pass along.                                  ing habits. — s s r

 1 4 T E X AS CO-OP POWER feBruAry 2021                                                                 t e x AsC O O P POW e r .C O m
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CentralTexasEC2102_ 1/11/21 12:49 PM Page 18

       Central Texas EC News

                                                                                      Deadline Approaches for
                                                                                      District Meeting Ballot

                             Youth Tour Canceled                                                                    cooperative
                                                                                      C E N T R A L T E X A S E L E CT R I C
                                                                                      members interested in running for a seat
                             Due to COVID-19                                          on the ctEc Board of Directors must
                                                                                      submit by march 15 an application and
                                                                                      petition signed by at least 10 members
                                                                                      in his or her district. that deadline is
                             I N 1 9 6 5 , E L E CT R I C C O O P E R AT I V E S
                                                                     across Texas
       MES SAGE                                                                       determined by Article iii of the central
       FROM                  joined forces to send a busload of youths to Wash-
                                                                                      texas Ec bylaws, which details the direc-
       CHIEF                 ington, D.C. There the teens met with President
       EXECUTIVE                                                                      tor selection process and implements
                             Lyndon B. Johnson, explored the capital, and
       OFFICER                                                                        several deadlines.
                             forged memories and friendships to last a lifetime.
       ROBERT A.             For more than five decades, Texas’ electric co-ops        central texas Ec members can obtain an
       LOTH III
                             carried on the legacy of that first Government-in-        application by contacting the co-op’s
                             Action Youth Tour each summer.                           headquarters office at P.o. Box 553, Fred-
                                Until the coronavirus pandemic hit. I’m saddened      ericksburg, tX 78624, or by calling 1-800-
                             to announce that, for the second year in a row, Youth    900-ctEc (2832) or (830) 997-2126.
                             Tour has been canceled.                                  copies of the ctEc bylaws are available
                                Along with the National Rural Electric Coopera-       at the co-op offices in Fredericksburg,
                             tive Association and other statewide cooperative         kingsland, Llano and mason. You also can
                             associations, the Texas Electric Cooperatives Board      find the bylaws online at ctec.coop, under
                             of Directors decided to cancel the state’s participa-    my co-op. D
                             tion in the 2021 Youth Tour.
                                This decision was made out of an abundance of
                             safety and caution for all those involved. After care-
                             fully considering the resources required to properly
                             ensure the health and well-being of more than 200
                             Texas delegates and 20 chaperones, the TEC board
                             determined that the risk was not worth the reward.
                                The cancellation comes as a big blow to all of us
                             here at Central Texas Electric Cooperative. Youth
                             Tour represents one of our most important invest-
                             ments in the future of the communities we serve.
                             The students who participate in Youth Tour travel
                             to Austin and Washington to learn about the
                             important role of electric cooperatives, meet their
                             congressional representatives, and gain a deeper
                             perspective on the history and mechanisms of our
                             democracy. Attendees often return with a renewed
                             commitment to their hometowns, and many have
                             gone on to become teachers, doctors, lawyers,
                             politicians and even co-op employees in those
                             communities.
                                Of course, the biggest loss of the cancellation is
                             felt by the young people who won’t get the chance
                             to take the trip. Many have anticipated Youth Tour
                             for years, hearing friends and family who have par-
                             ticipated call it the trip of a lifetime.
                                Rest assured, as soon as conditions are deemed
                             safe, Central Texas EC will jump on the chance to
                             send students once again on this unforgettable trip.
                                In the meantime, thank you for understanding
                                                                                                                                               Bizo o_ n | i Sto ck .co m

                             this difficult situation. D

       1 8 tex as C o-op power F EBruArY 2021                                            C e nt r a l t e x as e le Ct r i C Coop er at i ve
CentralTexasEC2102_ 1/11/21 12:49 PM Page 19

                                                                                                            Central Texas
                                                                                                            Electric Cooperative

                                                                                                            coNtact u s
                                                                                                            386 Friendship lane
                                                                                                            Fredericksburg, tX 78624
                                                                                                            local (830) 997-2126
                                                                                                            toll-free 1-800-900-ctEc (2832)
                                                                                                            email helpdesk@ctec.coop
                                                                                                            Web ctec.coop

                                                                                                            chief executive officer
                                                                                                            Robert a. loth iii

                                                                                                            Board of directors
                                                                                                            Mark Hahn, President, mason county
                                                                                                            Tim Lehmberg, vice President, Gillespie county
                                                                                                            Doylene Bode, Secretary, Gillespie county
                                                                                                            Connie Stockbridge, treasurer, mason county
    So lov yova | iSto c k .c o m

                                                                                                            James Low, San Saba county
                                                                                                            Mark A. Reeve, kerr county
                                                                                                            Tommy Duncan, llano county
                                                                                                            Allen Goodwin, kendall county
                                                                                                            Wayne W. Seipp, llano county
                                                                                                            Joseph B. Wieser, Gillespie county
                                                                                                            Scott Olguin, llano county

                           Five Ways To Stay                                                                                           To report electric

                           Cozy This Winter                                                                 24/7                       service interruptions,
                                                                                                                                       please call us.
                                                                                                            outage                     tol l- fr e e

                                                                                                            Hotline
                           B a By, i t ' s c o l d o u t s i d e !
                                                        If you're feeling chilly at home, there are sev-                               1-800-900-CTEC (2832)
                           eral budget-friendly ways you can keep comfortable without turning up
                           the thermostat.                                                                  Number
                              Here are five easy ways to stay cozy this winter.
                              1. Whether you’re experiencing extremely cold winter temps or you
                           simply “run cold,” an electric blanket can deliver quick warmth like a
                           regular throw or blanket cannot. Electric blankets can include a variety
                                                                                                            of f i ce locat i oNs
                           of features, like timers and dual temperature settings (if your cuddle buddy
                           prefers less heat). This winter, consider an electric blanket instead of turn-   fredericksburg
                           ing up the heat, and your energy bill will thank you.                            386 Friendship lane
                                                                                                            (830) 997-2126
                              2. One of the easiest ways to stay cozy at home is to keep your feet
                           warm. Our feet play a critical role in regulating body temperature, so when      llano
                           your feet are warm, your body automatically feels warmer. Try a pair of          1410 E. State Highway 29
                                                                                                            (325) 247-4191
                           comfortable wool socks or house slippers to stay toasty.
                              3. When the sun is shining, harness the sunlight’s natural warmth.            Kingsland
                           Open all curtains, drapes and blinds in your home to let the sunshine in.        Nob Hill Subdivision
                                                                                                            706 cottonwood St.
                           You’ll feel the difference.
                                                                                                            (325) 388-4542
                              4. Another way to make your home cozier is to use a humidifier.
                           Cold air doesn’t hold water vapor like warm air, so by increasing your           Mason
                                                                                                            1881 E. State Highway 29
                           home’s humidity, you can feel a little warmer. A favorable level of
                                                                                                            (325) 347-6314
                           humidity inside your home can also help clear sinuses, soften skin and
                           improve sleep.                                                                   office Hours
                                                                                                            8 a.m.–5 p.m. monday–Friday
                              5. Beyond adding visual appeal to your home, area rugs can also
                           provide extra insulation and a warm surface for your feet on cold
                           winter days. Use large area rugs in rooms where you spend the most               V i s i t u s oNl i Ne
                                                                                                            ctec.coop
                           time. You’ll enjoy the new colors and textures of the rug, and the addi-
                           tional warmth will help keep your home comfortable.
                              These are just a few ways you can stay cozy this winter without turning
                           up the thermostat. Don’t forget the hot chocolate! D

                           ct E c.cooP      •   1-800-900- ctEc (2832)
CentralTexasEC2102_ 1/11/21 12:49 PM Page 20

                                                                                                                           Turn Off the Lights
                                                                                                                           HOW MANY TIMES        do you remind your
                                                                                                                           children to turn off the lights when they
                                                                                                                           leave a room? Turning off lights saves
                                                                                                                           electricity, and it’s still one of the best
                                                                                                                           ways to cut back on energy use.

                                                                                                                           So we’ll say it again: Turn off the lights.

                                                                                                                           But lights aren’t the only items we can
                                                                                                                           turn off when not in use to help save
                                                                                                                           energy around the house. Here are other
                                                                                                                           things we should shut down to dial back
                                                                                                                           the electric bill.

                                                                                                                           Computers: Turn off laptops and desk-
      m o nke yB u SineS Simag eS | iSTo C k .C o m

                                                                                                                           tops, or at least put them in an energy-
                                                                                                                           conserving sleep mode when you’re not
                                                                                                                           using them.

                                                                                                                           Monitors: Computer and TV monitors can
                                                                                                                           be plugged into power strips to easily shut
                                                                                                                           off when you’re ready to power down.

                                                                                                                           Streaming devices: Turn off and unplug
                                                                                                                           devices that stream video when you’re
                                                                                                                           done watching. Lots of these components
                                          CTEC Scholarship                                                                 stay on in the background, even when
                                                                                                                           your TV is dark. This drains energy as well
                                          Deadline Draws Near                                                              as your internet bandwidth.

                                                                                                                           Appliances: Turn off and unplug small
                                          C E N T R A L T E X AS E L E CT R I C C O O P E R AT I V E
                                                                                       is offering 25 $1,000 scholarships
                                                                                                                           appliances like coffee makers, pressure
                                          this year, bringing the combined amount of financial aid awarded to area
                                                                                                                           cookers and countertop convection
                                          students over the program’s 24-year history to $639,000. Completed schol-
                                                                                                                           ovens when not in use. They slowly con-
                                          arship applications must be in the co-op’s Fredericksburg office by 5 p.m.
                                                                                                                           sume power for their little LCD displays.
                                          Friday, February 26.
                                             Scholarships will be awarded based upon each applicant’s eligibility and      Fans: Turn off ceiling fans when you’re
                                          will be granted to students who attend an accredited Texas institution of        not in the room. D
                                          higher education. Recipients must carry a minimum of 12 hours or be con-
                                          sidered by the registrar to be a full-time student. All scholarship funds will
                                          be mailed directly to the financial aid office of each recipient’s school for
                                          the fall 2021 semester. A scholarship selection committee, appointed by the
                                          board of directors of Central Texas EC, will choose recipients and alternates
                                          for the 25 scholarships.
                                             Applicants must be active members or immediate family of an active
                                          member whose primary residence is served by CTEC. This means the elec-
                                          tric service must be in the name of the applicant or the applicant’s parent
                                          or guardian. These scholarships are not just for high school students but
                                                                                                                                                                                    DaViD - Pr aDo | iSTo Ck .Co m

                                          for anyone of any age planning to further their education.
                                             Applicants must be of good character, as evidenced by at least two letters
                                          of recommendation from teachers, principals, counselors, etc., from the
                                          school they currently attend. For applicants returning to school after an
                                          extended absence, recommendation letters will be accepted from previous
                                          employers, supervisors, ministers, etc. Applicants must demonstrate a
                                          coherent degree plan and willingness to pursue a course of higher learning.
                                             For high school seniors, CTEC has sent information to many area schools
                                          where CTEC has meters. Applications also are available at all CTEC offices
                                          and can be downloaded from the co-op’s website, ctec.coop. Questions can
                                          be directed to Patricia Stehling in the Fredericksburg office at 1-800-900-
                                          CTEC (2832) or (830) 997-2126. D

                                          2 0 tex as C o-op power F eBruary 2021                                              C e nt r a l t e x as e le Ct r i C Coop er at i ve
CentralTexasEC2102_ 1/11/21 12:49 PM Page 21

                                                                                                                             Regular Board
                                                                                                                             Meeting Recap
                                                                                                                             December 8, 2020

                                                                                                                         M E E T I N G C A L L E D TO O R D E R   and prayer
    K atar z yn a Bial asie w icz | isto c K .c o m

                                                                                                                         offered.

                                                                                                                         REVIEWED         operations and outages
                                                                                                                                          report
                                                                                                                         A P P R OV E D   november 3–november 30,
                                                                                                                                          2020, membership list and
                                                                                                                                          membership conversions
                                                                                                                         A P P R OV E D   minutes of the regular Board
                                                                                                                                          meeting Held november 10,
                                                                                                                                          2020
                                                                                                                         REVIEWED         safety report for 10 months
                                          Stay Warm, Save Energy                                                                          ended october 31, 2020
                                                                                                                         REVIEWED         Financial and statistical
                                          YO U M I G H T A L R E A DY K N O W
                                                                          that turning the thermostat down a few
                                                                                                                                          reports for 10 months
                                          degrees and throwing an extra blanket on the bed can stave off high win-
                                                                                                                                          ended october 31, 2020
                                          ter energy bills.
                                                                                                                         REVIEWED         Preliminary Budget for 2021
                                             Here are a few simple but lesser-known energy savers that you might
                                                                                                                         A P P R OV E D   2021 employee merit
                                          consider trying this season:
                                                                                                                                          increase
                                             Turn on the ceiling fan. If you switch the direction that the fan’s
                                                                                                                         A P P R OV E D   2021 Board meeting, District
                                          blades rotate, so they slowly spin clockwise, the room could feel a bit
                                                                                                                                          meeting and annual meeting
                                          warmer. This creates an updraft and pushes warm air back into the room.
                                                                                                                                          schedule
                                          Other fans carefully placed around the house and set on low can help dis-
                                                                                                                         A P P R OV E D   Board Policy no. 15.1
                                          tribute warmth.
                                                                                                                         REVIEWED         Board Policy no. 16.0
                                             Retire your wood-burning fireplace. An open fire requires an open
                                                                                                                         REVIEWED         ceo Goals and objectives
                                          flue, and that can suck the warmth right out of your house. Consider
                                                                                                                                          for 2021
                                          replacing it with an electrical insert with realistic flames or a fun light
                                                                                                                         A P P R OV E D   workplace safety Policy
                                          show. If you get rid of it entirely but miss the ambiance, try a screensaver
                                          of a cozy fireplace on your TV.
                                                                                                                         meeting adjourned.
                                             Open the drapes during the day; close them at night. The sun is
                                          nature’s furnace, so let it shine in through south-facing windows during
                                          the day. The greenhouse effect helps warm the home without having to
                                          adjust the thermostat.
                                             Cover windows with plastic film. It’s easy to install and will reduce
                                          the amount of heat that escapes through uncovered windows.
                                             Use portable space heaters in the rooms you use most often so you
                                          can turn the thermostat down a bit and avoid heating unused spaces.
                                             Run exhaust fans sparingly. Turn on the bathroom fan before you
                                          take a shower and turn it off as soon as the steam clears so it won’t suck
                                          warm air out of your home. The same goes for using a ventilation fan over
                                          the kitchen range: Leaving it on too long takes all the conditioned air out
                                          of the living space. D

                                          ct e c.cooP   •   1-800-900- ctec (2832)                                           FeB r ua ry 2021 T E X AS C O-OP POW ER 2 1
CentralTexasEC2102_ 1/11/21 12:50 PM Page 22

      HAL F POIN T | ISTOC K .C OM

                            Get the Most Life Out of Lightbulbs
                            DOES IT SEEM LIKE     your lightbulbs are not lasting as long as         popsicle stick.
                            they should? After all, compact fluorescent lightbulbs and LEDs              6. Make sure it’s not a short circuit. If a light goes out sud-
                            are supposed to last longer than incandescent bulbs, right?              denly but not because of a burned-out bulb, there could be a
                               Not always.                                                           short circuit in the wiring. A short occurs when electricity flows
                               Many conditions affect the life span of a lightbulb, and some          outside the wiring path, causing excess current. The sudden
                            situations can cause lightbulbs to burn out prematurely.                 flow of current can make the breaker trip. The fix is to check for
                               Here are nine ways to get the most life out of your bulbs.            bad wiring or defective parts on the fixture.
                               1. Ensure that your voltage is at the right level. Residen-              7. Use the right bulb. Check the fixture for instructions on
                            tial voltage is typically 125 volts. Anything higher can cause           what wattage bulb to use. Especially with incandescent lights,
                            your lightbulbs to burn brighter and die sooner.                         it can be easy to insert a bulb with higher wattage than the fix-
                               2. Reduce vibrations in light fixtures. Ceiling fans with             ture requires, generating excess heat that can wear a bulb out
                            lights can become off balance, causing them to shake and put              faster—and possibly start a fire.
                            strain on the delicate filaments in incandescent lightbulbs.                 8. Don’t let fixtures overheat. When it comes to recessed
                            Fixing the imbalance should improve the life of the lights.              lights, check the manufacturer’s directions to determine
                               3. Make sure lightbulbs are tight in their sockets and that           whether insulation can be used above them. Using attic insula-
                            wire connections are well fitted to the fixture. Loose con-              tion can cause some recessed lights to overheat. This not only
                            nections can cause lights to flicker and eventually burn out.             wears out the bulb but could also start a fire.
                               4. Consider a change of bulb. CFLs claim to have long life               9. Verify that dimmers are right for the job. Older dimmer
                            spans but will burn out more quickly if they are switched on             switches were designed to work with incandescent lightbulbs
                            and off frequently. Switching to an LED is optimal.                       and may not function with LEDs or CFLs. If the bulbs on a dim-
                               5. Check the socket tab. There are metal tabs at the bottoms          mer switch burn out quickly, consider upgrading the rheostat
                            of light sockets that deliver electrical current to lightbulbs. If the   to a modern design that accommodates newer bulbs. D
                            tab is tamped down, a good connection might not be possible
                            anymore. To fix it, unplug the light fixture or turn off the power
                            and bend the tab upward again with a utensil such as a wooden

                            2 2 tex as C o-op power F EBRUARY 2021                                                             C e nt r a l t e x as e le Ct r i C Coop er at i ve
CentralTexasEC2102_ 1/11/21 12:50 PM Page 23

                CENTRAL TEXAS ELECTRIC C0-OP
                OFFERS UNLIMITED
                INTERNET DATA PLANS
                                                                                                                                                              FROM
                UP TO 100Mbps
                Download Speed
                                                                                                                                            $69.95
                                                                                                                                                     PER MONTH

                            L
                                                                                                                                            $
                        Local: 830-992-2240
                       Toll Free: 888-297-1340
                             www.ctesc.net
            A

            All Plans require a 24 month commitment and $9.95 monthly Lease Service Plan fee. Service not available in all Central Texas Electric Co-op areas. Offer may be changed or withdrawn at
            any time. Speeds are “up to”, not guaranteed, and will very. On the Unlimited Bronze, Silver and Gold service plans, after 40, 60, or 100 GB of data usage, respectively, Viasat may prioritize
            your data behind other customers during network congestion. Viasat is service mark of Viasat Inc. CTESC Internet Services is a subsidiary of Central Texas Electric Co-op.
Beachcombing
                                                                                                                            at home.
                                                                                                                            Texas Co-op Power presents an illustrated
                                                                                                                            Seashells of Texas poster by artist Aletha
                                                                                                                            St. Romain, 20x16 inches, suitable for framing.
                                                                                                                            Order online at TexasCoopPower.com
                                                                                                                            for only $20 (price includes tax, shipping
                                                                                                                            and handling).
                                                                                                                            Bonus offer: Get 2 posters shipped to the
                                                                                                              $20           same address for just $30.
                                                                                                             or 2 for
                                                                                                              $30
      Please allow 4–6 weeks for delivery.                                                                                  From the publishers of

                                                                               Give friends and family
                                         T OF
                                                                                   the Best of Texas.
                                 THE BES
                                                            LY
                            TY PI CA L                                              Texas Co-op Power presents a collection of best-loved recipes

                             TEXAS
                                                                                    from two of our most popular cookbooks ever, the Typically
                                                                                    Texas Cookbook and The Second Typically Texas Cookbook.
                                           OOK—
                                —C O O K B

                                                                                    This cookbook is filled with more than 700 recipes,
                                                                                    including more than 300 dessert recipes.

                                                                                    Order online at TexasCoopPower.com and put The Best of
                                                                                    Typically Texas Cookbook in your kitchen for only $29.95
                                                                                    (price includes tax, shipping and handling).
                                                                                    To order by mail, send a check or money order
                                                                                    payable to TEC for $29.95 to Best of Typically
                                                                                    Texas Cookbook, 1122 Colorado St., 24th Floor,        $29.95
                                FRO M THE
                                          PUB LIS HER
                                                        S OF TEX
                                                                 AS CO- OP
                                                                           POW ER
                                                                                    Austin, TX 78701.
                                                                                    From the publishers of
                                                                                    Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery.

2 0 T E X AS CO-OP POWER feBruAry 2021                                                                                                                t e x AsC O O P POW e r .C O m
Lower Your
Thermostat
Lower Your Bill

Conserve electricity and
avoid higher winter energy
bills. Setting the thermostat
to 68 degrees when home—
and lower when away—
saves money.

Save even more!
Turn off and unplug unused
lights and appliances.
Close shades and blinds at
night to reduce heat loss.
Open them to capture solar
heat on sunny days.
Avoid using electric space
heaters.
Change furnace filters.
Weatherstrip or caulk doors
and windows.

Your electric cooperative
encourages you to always
use energy efficiently.
❐
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         If Texas Is Your Market,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         We’ve Got You Covered.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         We know that now, more than ever, it makes sense to target
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         regional and local businesses like yours.
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Circulation 458,800 • Readership 1,055,200
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2 2 T E X AS CO-OP POWER feBruAry 2021                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       t e x AsC O O P POW e r .C O m
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