LOCAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE EDITION MAY 2004

NobleNoble ScholarsScholars ofof thethe UILUIL

PLUS:

Texas Bird Year Shrimply Delicious Strawberry Festival Did you know that people who hunt or fish from boats have one of the highest boat fatality rates? Or that more people die from falling off small boats (16 feet and

ONON BOARDBOARD Boating under) than larger ones? Here are some tips for accident-free boating: WITHWITH Safety Rules for Boating: • Be weather wise. Bring a portable radio to check BOATINGBOATING weather reports. • Bring extra gear you may need. A flashlight and extra batteries, matches, map, flares, first aid kit, sunglasses and sunscreen SAFETY!SAFETY! should be kept in a watertight container or pouch. • Tell someone where you’re going, who is with you, and how long you’ll be gone. • Ventilate after fueling. Open the hatches, run the blower, and carefully sniff for gasoline fumes in the fuel and engine areas before starting your engine. • Anchor from the bow, not the stern. Use an anchor line at least five times longer than the water depth. • Know your boat’s capacity. Don’t overload it or put an oversized motor on it.

Have fun on the water. Boat safely!

This public service message is brought to you by your local electric cooperative. For more information, visit your local co-op. MAY 2004 In This Issue

A MAGAZINE ABOUT TEXAS LIVING

A Salute to Scholars

Our May issue gives an apprecia- tive nod to those “Most Noble Schol- ars,” the competitors in the University Interscholastic League (UIL).The com- petitions stimulate the minds and broaden the horizons of thousands of Contestants in UIL Texas public school students each year. Rural Junior Declaimers Our “models” for the story are contest, 1922. UIL contestants from Wimberley High Courtesy of UIL School. For our cover, senior Ben Bond, who was named “Best Actor” in district one-act play competition, Noble Scholars of the UIL ...... 6 donned a period costume designed By Louie Bond, Photos by Geno Esponda and produced by Wimberley theatre The University Interscholastic League academic students. Our six models have com- program is sometimes the only outlet for peted in a total of more than 25 UIL students who choose to flex their brains academic events this spring, earning instead of their biceps. their school a district sweepstakes title. Birds are the subject of two addi- tional May features. “Mark Adams Mark Adams and His VeryBig Year . . . 14 and His Very Big Year” recounts how By Jane P.Marshall, Photos by Roy Hamric Adams, an astronomer at the McDonald Neither hail, nor speeding tickets, nor Texas’ vast Observatory, became a superstar among reaches could stay this astronomer from his quest Texas bird-spotters and counters. For two-thirds of their lives, to see a record number of birds in a single year. There’s also an article on “Backyard 6-year-olds Annie McGinnis Birding” for those of us who want to and Madi Boedeker have been Backyard Birding ...... 18 view a little wildlife from the patio. best friends.The McGinnis By Jane P.Marshall In Texas Living, shrimp recipes and and Boedeker families are the Pasadena Strawberry Festival should members of Grayson-Collin Encourage a natural habitat in your own backyard stimulate the palate. We have a wonder- EC. For more photos of best if you want to sip a cool one and watch birds ful variety of “Best Friends” photos in friends, turn to page 43. from a patio chair. Focus on Texas, and Bandera is the subject of Texas, USA. Texas Living ...... 34 Enjoy! Shrimply delicious recipes. 31st Annual Pasadena Strawberry Festival. Focus on Texas ...... 43 Peg Champion There’s no friend like a best friend. Vice President, Communications/ Publisher Texas, USA ...... 46 By Gail M. Denkhaus Bandera—Nature Is My Sustenance

COVER PHOTO BY GENO ESPONDA LETTERS

V OLUME 60 MAY 2004 NUMBER 11 Buy More Bait and that I was still part of the same Texas Co-op Power is published by your electric coopera- My mother forwarded me the link “hometown” company.Yippee! I like tive to enhance the quality of life of its member- to the February issue of Texas Co-op Power your magazine so much that I actually customers in an educational and entertaining format. (www.texascooppower.com) as there considered subscribing to it until I TEXAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES BOARD OF DIRECTORS was an article about a shrimper [“Bay found out that I still get it every Bill Harbin, Floydada, Chair Shrimper Blues”]. I thought it was a month as part of the co-op’s commit- Debbie Robinson, Quitman,Vice Chair great article. I am a Marine stationed in ment to service. Mark Rose, Giddings, Secretary-Treasurer Gerald W.Lemons, Itasca Virginia and have visited my mom To Mid-South, thanks for all the Audie Morris, Decatur whenever my travels take me close to years of great service.To Bluebonnet, Leroy Skloss, Karnes City Carl Thompson, Roby Texas. I have fished the bay for several here’s to many more years of great years and really enjoy being with the service.To Texas Co-op Power, thanks for PRESIDENT/CEO Mike Williams, Austin folks down there. It upsets me that the a great magazine, issue after issue!

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS fishermen and shrimpers work so hard Julie Wienke, Bluebonnet EC ADVISORY COMMITTEE to make a living and enjoy such meager Rick Haile, McGregor, Chair Charles Castleberry,Tulia,Vice Chair benefits. I wish there was some way I Many Pleasant Hours John Q. Adams, Bellville could help out—guess I’ll just have to We sold our rural property several Barron Christensen, Douglassville keep coming down and buying bait! years ago, but my husband, Harold, Kim Hooper, Bluegrove Larry Oefinger, Hondo Dave Murray,Virginia enjoyed the connection to his rural Roland Witt, Coleman past so much that he continued to sub- Audie Morris, Decatur, Board Liaison Courthouse Clocks scribe to your magazine. He passed COMMUNICATIONS STAFF I always enjoy reading your maga- away in September. I just wanted to Peg Champion,Vice President, Communications/ Publisher zine and found the article on the Hood thank you for the many pleasant hours Kaye Northcott, Editor County Courthouse clock in your Janu- he spent reminiscing with Texas Co-op Carol Moczygemba, Managing Editor ary issue to be very interesting. How- Power and marveling at all the new Suzi Sands, Art Director Martin Bevins, Advertising Director ever, I thought it might interest you to developments in country living.We Louie Bond, Copy Editor/Writer know that it is not the only courthouse both liked the many articles and per- Andy Doughty, Production Artist Sandra Forston, Communications Assistant clock in Texas wound by hand.The sonal stories of your readers.Thank Karen Nejtek, Production Coordinator courthouse clock in Colorado County you for an informative and enjoyable Shannon Oelrich, Food Editor/Proofreader is also hand-wound weekly.The clock magazine. Tracy Paccone, Communications Assistant Carol Powell, Graphic Designer was inoperative for several years but Lelah F.Sosebee, Portland,Texas Cheryl Tucker, Field Editor/Website Manager was later refurbished, leaving the clock Subscription price: $15 per year for individuals ($3.72 per year to in the top of the courthouse while its A Touch of Texas in Baghdad member organizations of Texas Electric Cooperatives). $3 for individual “workings” were brought down to the I wanted you to know how much I copies of issues. Periodicals Postage Paid at Austin,TX and at additional first floor, where it is a popular display appreciate your magazine. My husband mailing offices. and is wound weekly by County Judge sends it to me while I am participating Texas Co-op Power is published monthly by Texas Electric Cooperatives, Inc., the statewide association that represents 75 Al G. Jamison. in Operation Iraqi Freedom. I am cur- electric cooperatives. Texas Co-op Power’s website is Valerie Graves, San Bernard EC rently attached to Fort Hood’s III Corps www.texascooppower.com. Call (512) 454-0311 or e-mail stationed in Baghdad. I miss Texas so [email protected]. Same “Hometown” Company much,but reading your magazine POSTMASTER Send address changes to Texas Co-op Power I recently moved from Montgomery, makes me feel as though I am there. (USPS 540-560), 2550 S. IH-35, Austin, TX 78704. Please where my electric service was provided Susan Luker, Comanche County EC enclose label from this copy of Texas Co-op Power showing old address and key numbers. by Mid-South Electric Co-op. For seven years, I received outstanding service When Plennie Came to Town ADVERTISING Advertisers interested in buying display ad space in Texas Co-op Power and/or in our 30 sister publications in and repair from them. Upon moving I am almost 82 years old, and I dis- other states, should contact Martin Bevins at (512) 486-6249. to Cedar Creek, I was told that my tinctly remember the day that Plennie Advertisements in Texas Co-op Power are paid solicitations. electricity would again be provided Wingo came to our school [“Back- The publisher neither endorses nor guarantees in any manner any by a co-op, Bluebonnet Electric, so I wards Around the World Plennie product or company included in this publication. Product satisfac- tion and delivery responsibility lie solely with the advertiser. Ques- had high expectations. Wingo Walked,” February 2004]. I tions or comments about advertising in this publication should be When my February issue of Texas really had forgotten the year until I directed to Martin Bevins,Advertising Director. Co-op Power arrived in the mail a few read your story. It sure brought back © Copyright 2004 Texas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. Reproduction weeks ago, I just assumed that my last pleasant memories. I shall never forget of this issue or any portion of it is expressly prohibited without issue from Mid-South had gotten stuck the day that Mr.Wingo stopped at our written permission.Willie Wiredhand © Copyright 2004 National in the postal system while being for- school in Mankins,Texas. Rural Electric Cooperative Association. warded to my new address. How glad I certainly enjoyed the article and I I was when I realized that the issue always enjoy Texas Co-op Power magazine. was addressed to my new address It’s the best magazine I get, with good

4 TEXAS CO-OP POWER • MAY 2004 recipes every time. Keep up the good 2004] featured Nacogdoches and for work with a most enjoyable magazine. just a little bit, I was back home can- We want to hear from our readers. Send My security light went out the other ning pears as a little girl with my letters to: Editor, Texas Co-op Power, day and United Cooperative Services grandmother.This article has a special 2550 S. IH-35,Austin,TX 78704. Please got it fixed promptly.Thank you for a meaning for me not only for child- include the name of your town and electric very good magazine and for a very hood memories, but because I am a co-op. Letters may be edited for clarity and wonderful co-op. ninth-generation Y’Barbo.The article length and will be printed as space allows. Mrs. Huey F.Goodman, reminds us of where we came from as United Cooperative Services we head into the future. And you’re right—little remains of our Spanish Dad Was on the Last Big Herd Drive Editor’s response: The article heritage, except the Old Stone Fort I was more than a little surprised referred to in this letter did not appear located on the Stephen F. Austin State to see the article “The Last Big Herd”

/7/ 04 3: 00 PM in all local editions of Texas Co-op Power. L Page in the January 2004 magazine since University campus. O C A L E 1 L E C T R IC CO O P ER AT IVE ED ITION A P R I L 2 Read these and other articles you There you can 0 0 4 the author, my father, had been dead might have missed on our website, once again step so many years. It was no mystery,

PLUS: Happy Trails to You www.texascooppower.com. back to a time Panhandle P however, since Jeff Sargent, who sub- lains W East Texas Forest Trailildlife Trail National Parks long forgotten. in Texas mitted the article, is my nephew. I’m Written Just for Her There you’ll find sure he has heard many of the same I always enjoy reading your maga- countless pic- stories passed down to me through zine, but the April issue had to be tures of my fam- the years. Dad was raised in the brush written just for me. I’m a Master ily members country near Alice and was a lifelong Gardener interested in xeriscape and who helped to friend of author Frank Dobie. I heard native plants. G. Owen Yost’s “Ten shape Nacogdoches many more stories about the Old West Tough Plants That Look Good Even in into the town it is today, not to men- from my dad’s father, Samuel Preston Bad Times” featured some of the same tion artifacts ranging from weaponry Turner. I was at first named after him, plants our Lamar County Master Gar- to clothing. but my folks heard that my Uncle dener organization has been focusing Not many people know that Nacog- Charles had a son in California the on this past year.Then “Drive Yourself doches is the Oldest Town in Texas, same day and had named him Sam Wild” writer Elaine Robbins wrote and most can’t fathom the legend of Preston, so they changed my name to about how the Panhandle Plains the two [Indian] brothers [who are Leo Jr. I never had the pleasure of Wildlife Trail is helping not only to said to have founded Nacogdoches and meeting the man who stole my name. “open up new recreational opportuni- Natchitoches]. Maybe this article has My great-grandparents were killed ties for wildlife watchers” (that would enlightened some and reminded others by Indians just outside of Bandera. include me), but she also told how the not to forget where you come from. My grandmother, who was a baby trail is providing a “much-needed Michele Liston Lookingbill, Deaf Smith EC at the time, was slashed on her back boost to rural economies,” a subject I and carried the scars to her grave 60 used in my Paris News gardening col- Even Older Than We Thought years later. umn recently.And on top of that, she “Into the Woods” [April 2004] by My grandfather was my very best wrote about a rail-trail that starts in Stephan Myers was a nice read, but I buddy when I was a lad and had many Caprock Canyon State Park.That piqued find it misleading in one respect. San stories to tell. He was close friends my interest since Paris is presently in Augustine, being the oldest Anglo with a number of Texas Rangers, as the process of developing a new Trail town in Texas, or nearly so, has a his- well as the well-known cattlemen of de Paris for hikers and bikers. tory older than indicated in the article. the time. He related stories of cattle Plus all that, you included some Myers’ history was mostly about the drives he had been on—complete with places in East Texas that I haven’t vis- churches.The oldest building in use stampedes, singing to the cattle, and ited yet, as well as Avery that I’ve been by a church is the Episcopal Church, seeing lightning dancing off the cattle through lots of times. But best of all Christ Church, built in the 1850s.The horns. He told about being captured were the photos of some “big hair” beginning of Presbyterianism in Texas by the Indians and taken all the way to that looked suspiciously like my wed- was in the 1830s when many Cumber- the Indian territory, now Oklahoma. ding day coiffure! land Presbyterian ministers came here. He was later released and found his Thanks for a fun issue of your great Before the end of the 1840s, Presby- way back to Texas. He was a young boy magazine. terian and Methodist congregations during the Civil War and told many Betty P.Lyke, Lamar EC were established in San Augustine. stories of the hardship of that time. Wesleyan College was established We enjoy our copies of Texas Co-op Don’t Forget Where You Come From there in 1842. Power to the utmost. Your article “Into the Woods” [April Thomas J. Mowlam, Pedernales EC Leo Turner Jr., San Antonio

MAY 2004 • TEXAS CO-OP POWER 5 B Y L OUIE B OND elementary/junior high schools) in P HOTOS BY G ENO E SPONDA Texas who participate in everything from drama to physics, math to he school bus is hardly visible current events. in the pre-dawn drizzle as we “Participating in UIL changed my T pull into the high school parking life,” my daughter Sarah, now a col- lot on a Saturday morning. Annie, a lege junior, says about her experience. freshman, is still in her pajamas, “Competing in speech and drama clutching a pillow, her backpack helped me overcome my shyness and stuffed with “nice” clothes and gave me confidence in myself. My makeup. Ben’s a senior and success in journalism helped me can’t be bothered with chang- choose a career I might never have ing clothes in a strange bath- considered otherwise.” Armed with a room, so he’s ready to go in fistful of state medals in journalism his suit and tie. and drama events, Sarah was able to No fanfare, no cheerleaders, no finance her college career from direct banners along the highway that leads and indirect scholarships garnered out of our small town, just the rumble through UIL experience. of the bus and a straggling herd of Although UIL gains a good deal of quietly determined students heading press coverage as the organizing entity off to pit their brainpower against of athletics and band competition their peers across the state. Some across the state, you don’t hear much will stand nervously before a judge about UIL academics. But it is some- to recite; others will sit at a desk times the only outlet for students who trying to decipher questions choose to spend their free time flexing tougher than most college exams. their brains instead of their biceps. We’ve set the alarm for 4 a.m. “We’re not very visible—we don’t on many a Saturday morning get 20,000 to show up for an account- during the past decade or ing contest,” said Bobby Hawthorne, so, as my four children have who has been with UIL since 1977, competed in University serving as director of academics since Interscholastic League (UIL) 1996. “There are not a lot of pep academic contests, like rallies, and the newspapers don’t cover students at 5,400 schools us, but UIL is part of a small-town (1,150 high schools, 4,250 public school’s DNA. We’re the gifted

CURRENT EVENTS Which statement about Medicare reform legislation is not true? A. It’s the biggest transformation of Medicare in almost 40 years. B. It provides private health organizations a new role in Medicare. C. It provides a prescription drug benefit for seniors. D. The plan is expected to save the U.S. almost $400 billion over the next 10 years. [Answer: D]

6 TEXAS CO-OP POWER • MAY 2004 and talented program in many district level go on to one of small schools. It’s as much as four regional contests in anything they get in classrooms.” each conference. It’s the At the high school level, the league last step before the state offers contests in journalism (news finals in early May.The writing, editorials, features and head- regional meets also lines), debate/speech (Lincoln- include an afternoon of the Douglas, cross-examination, infor- six top one-act plays that have mative and persuasive speaking, advanced through two or poetry and prose interpretation), three levels of competition. English (ready writing, spelling and “Riding back from the contests, I vocabulary, literary criticism), math feel satisfied knowing that I spent the (accounting, calculator, computer day doing something worthwhile, not science/applications, number sense), just wasting the day watching television science (biology, chemistry, physics), or playing on the computer,” said social issues (social studies, current Tyler Smith, a Wimberley High events) and one-act play. School junior who swept three jour- To even the playing field, UIL splits nalism events in a recent district public schools into conferences based meet. His twin brother, Clay, is on enrollment (1A through 5A, with also an enthusiastic UIL compe- 5A being the largest). After months titor who has even taken on of practice at invitational meets, the coaching the computer team at competition begins in earnest in this 3A school. February and March with district “If you aren’t motivated, meets.The academic competitors then you cannot succeed at who have made the team, usually UIL,” Clay said. “My goal is to three students per event, compete at make it to the state finals and the district level against the same four place in the top six. Even if schools they play in football and band that never happens, it would contests, schools that are roughly their still be worth it.” size and located somewhere in a big To make it to the UIL Texas “neighborhood.” finals takes many hours of The top three finishers (or in team self-discipline outside of contests, four students who qualify the regular school day, said together as a first-place team) at the Wimberley High School

SCIENCE The primary function of the endosperm in a seed is A. protection B. to produce pollen C. to produce plant growth hormones D. water storage E. food storage [Answer: E] Powers Boothe (playing Algernon Moncrieff) and Millijon Smyth in Snyder High School’s UIL One-Act Play, Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest,” at the 1965 state meet. Smyth was named to the All-Star Cast; Boothe wasn’t.

science teacher Ron “Doc” Richards, taskmaster, forcing us to be disciplined, who has had five state champion but that discipline really paid off for science teams in his 20 years of UIL me. Only now do I see her kindness, coaching. “UIL students enjoy learning taking so much time out of her life on their own—they study because for us.” they want to learn,” Richards said. Dean thought her life was virtually “After they take a test, they don’t put over when her family moved twice their heads on their desks and go to during her high school career, once Courtesy of UIL sleep—they open a book.” from Southern California to Lubbock, The rewards for that hard work and then again just before her senior come in the form of college scholar- year to the West Texas town of Happy, Notable Texan UIL ships for many competitors who population 588. qualify for the state finals.The Texas “It was a great irony that I thought Interscholastic League Foundation life had ended when we moved to Competitors (TILF) will award over $1 million in Happy,” Dean says. “But instead, I scholarships this year to more than wound up having opportunities that I articipation in UIL events 500 college-bound seniors who were wouldn’t have had at a larger school.” has been a first step toward state qualifiers. Comfort won the Texas Institute of Those UIL scholarship opportu- Letters award for best young adult success for many notable nities provide the motivation for fiction in 2003 and will be released Texans throughout the past the teenaged protagonist of Comfort in paperback this summer. Dean also century, including a U.S. (Houghton Mifflin Company), a novel has written a 63-page teacher’s guide by New Mexico author Carolee Dean to accompany the paperback release. president, an Academy that is excerpted on page 13. Like The UIL program is the largest Award-winning actress and the Kenny Willson, her fictional 17-year- interschool organization of its kind director of NASA. Here’s a short list old poetry interpretation contestant, in the world, and has been used as Dean’s only chance at a college career a model for other state programs. In of a few former UIL competitors was to become eligible for a scholar- whose names you might recognize. ship by qualifying for state in at least one event. Even though her school Powers Boothe (actor, pictured above) couldn’t afford to send her to the state John Connally (Texas governor) competition, qualifying as an alternate in poetry interpretation provided Dean Barbara Smith Conrad (mezzo-soprano) with enough scholarship money to Robert Crippen (NASA director) attend college. Horton Foote (author) Although Dean had hardly been aware of the academic competition in Pat Hingle (actor) her previous, larger schools, the high Lyndon B. Johnson (U.S. president) school junior was immediately recruited by her journalism Barbara Jordan (U.S. congresswoman) teacher, Ilona Smith. “At the Tom Landry (football coach) time, I thought she was a Don Meredith (football player) Bill Moyers (journalist) Sandra Day O’Connor (U.S. Supreme Court justice) Jane Pauley (journalist) Ann Richards (Texas governor) Sissy Spacek (actress) Sherry Stringfield (actress)

8 TEXAS CO-OP POWER • MAY 2004 vides young peoplewiththeskillsthat a ticipated inaUILevent (academics, ev T virtually every in school By 1932, enrollment tolevel thecompetition. intoclassesbasedon the schools andtheleague divided participate, UILwas born. in1912.The sports with asimilarUTorganization for held itsfirst meetin1911andmerged league State TeachersAssociation.The of Texas withtheapproval ofthe Texas theDebating formed Shurter League Public Speakingprofessor E.D. Mezes. a idea ofanorganizational league that withthe Lomaxreturned officials, T w to gather ideasforcountry aframe- setoutacross the a musical archivist) Jo University of Texas1909, registrar ppealed toUTPresident Sidney thletics or music) prior tograduation. thletics ormusic) prior exas was amember.Today, oneof Afterinterviewing university exas. ork for educational competitionin hn Lomax(wholater found fame as ery twoery seniorshaspar- highschool “The UILacademicprogram pro- girlswere allowed to In 1914, Although fashionshavechangedsincethis A 97poo UILcontestantsstillgatherin 1927 photo, ustin eachspringtotesttheirbrainpower against thebestmindsinstate. mo We UILfights that. not cool[tobesmart]. selves down becausethey thinkit’s phenomenon where kidsdumbthem- aself-defeating education andsociety, culture “There in is acertain says. r fully a help you grow up and become … that willhelpthemfind amate lege, pass theircoursesoncethey getincol- that willhelpthem college, in theright that willgetthem will getthemhired, aie ua en, Hawthorne ealized humanbeing,” all thethingsthat to are necessary

re say excellenceiscool.You cando ;y ucnd etr Andifyou ou candobetter. Ase:B hleah shillalah] shillelagh, B, [Answer: majolica E. D. C. gynandrous B. shillalagh coelacanth A. Which wordismisspelled? SPELLING obte,maybe you can do better,

ecumenism be thebest.” F rsm,beingthe or some, as UILcoordinator for Lindsay High f tooktheclasstostate his teacher b UIL competitionsincesecondgrade, and science. mathematics oratory, modern act play, but may also beginone- these events, students continue in toparticipate Atthejuniorhighlevel, oral reading. ready and writing spelling, memory, music leveltary events includeart, Otherelemen- andstorytelling. writing withcontestsincreative second grade, beginsasearlyUIL participation as young.best comesfrom starting inals ofone-actplay anddebate.Today, ut gothooked inseventh gradewhen Craig Hertel had participated in hadparticipated Craig Hertel MAY 2004 • TEXAS CO-OP POWER 9

Courtesy of UIL School in Cooke County help better prepare them near the Oklahoma for college and careers. border, he leads a “The coordinators team of teachers and coaches are the and students with best teachers in the one of the most impressive records state—they’re the most motivated and in Texas—winning sweepstakes the most dedicated,” Hawthorne says (highest total points) in state of Hertel and his peers. “They spend academics for eight of the ungodly amounts of time and in some past 12 years and placing cases money before school, during second the other four school, after school and weekends. years. Quite a feat from They’ll spend four hours on a bus to a tiny 1A school. get to a meet and then they’re there Fifteen years ago, all day, eating bad food.” Hertel, then an UIL coordinators, the heart of the athletic coach, program at each school, spend a lot of decided to time recruiting coaches and participants switch to UIL from a small pool of candidates, often academics coaching several events. Like Hertel, and sent out many are former UIL academic com- dozens of petitors themselves, passing on their resumes. Lindsay passion to new generations. was one of only two Wimberley High School’s Lydia schools to offer him a Miller-Wyatt, who recently won the job.The once-strong UIL UIL’s highest honor, the UIL Sponsor program there had struggled Excellence Award, has spent five in recent years, and administra- decades competing and coaching tors who were looking for a in UIL academics. Students consider boost found one in Hertel. her and her husband/co-director, “I was really enthusiastic,” J. Gary Wyatt, a second set of parents. Hertel says. “I didn’t know that The couple teaches their students a much,but I had enthusiasm.” lot more than how to win a contest— Hertel says it’s actually “kind they learn teamwork, self-discipline of cool to some degree” to be and how to lose (and win) graciously. part of Lindsay’s championship “The real reward is the success of academics team. With only 160 the kids,” Miller-Wyatt says. “Success students to work with, he sought is not measured in winning; it is out students without “A” aver- measured in personal achievement. ages. Even if they didn’t always The proudest I have ever been of a bring home the big trophy, he student is one I had many years ago discovered, they found motiva- who had been considered ‘stupid’ tion and higher standards to but competed anyway—his smile of

MATH One of the factors of 20mn < 15m < 6 + 8n is: A. 4n + 3 B. 2m < 4n C. 3m - 2 D. 5m + 2 E. m - 6 [Answer: D]

10 TEXAS CO-OP POWER • MAY 2004 Don’t let a safety accident spoil your boating fun. Remember these important rules and make sure that others observe them, too:

Sailing Safety Rules for Sailing: • Before you put your boat in the water, take time to visually survey your marina or favorite launching area. Note any overhead wires and share the information with others. SMOOTHSMOOTH • Stepping your mast or sailing anywhere near an overhead power line is dangerous! Masts, fishing poles or tall radio antennae could SAILING! contact overhead wires. SAILING! • Make a habit of looking up to check for lines before moving or rigging your vessel. • Check navigation charts for the location of any underwater cables, and don’t take the chance of disturbing these cables by anchoring your boat near them.

And always stay out of the water—whether boating or swimming—during a storm. If you’re already in the water when a storm threatens, get out as quickly, and safely, as possible. Follow these rules when boating and you’ll always have more fun.

This public service message is brought to you by your local electric cooperative. For more information, visit your local co-op. Your safety is a top priority at your electric co-op. And it’s even more important when it comes to our kids. They don’t always know—or remember— what can be dangerous, so it’s up to all of us to watch out for their safety. ree Climbing T Safety Rules for Tree Climbing: • Don’t plant trees or install tall playground equipment under or near power lines. • Don’t build tree houses in trees near electric lines. • Don’t allow children to climb trees growing near electric lines. • Teach your children to always look up to check for power lines before climbing trees or any tall objects. • Keep children away from any DON’TDON’T GOGO ladders, poles or work equipment that may be near power lines. • Set a good example by following these rules yourself. OUTOUT ONON And the Number One safety rule for everyone to remember is this: Don’t touch a power line or anything that’s touch- ing the power line. No one can A LIMB! tell simply by looking at a line A LIMB! whether it is energized or not, and contact with a power line can be deadly. Remember, electricity always seeks the eas- iest path to reach the ground, and, unfortunately, human beings are good conductors of electricity. Look up and live!

This public service message is brought to you by your local electric cooperative. For more information, visit your local co-op. self-satisfaction at the a cousin or a Lorca’s tortured story of passion and end of the contest was friend of a cousin.” betrayal, “Blood Wedding.” For them, the most beautiful sight The sense of family it’s more about the acting than any- I’ve ever seen. It is still in the town of 400 thing else. During regional compe- with me 25 years later.” grew as “Opal,” the tition at a small San Antonio theatre As in any competition, story of a precocious last spring, Kari Davenport, who the best UIL stories are those French orphan, advanced played the young French orphan in of the underdogs, the unlikely through zone, district, area “Opal,” could see front-row audience heroes. Hawthorne will never and regional competition. members crying. “You know how forget the young current events Fundraisers helped provide people say they’re a good actor if contestant who had lost her sight a sound system and the students they can make themselves cry? Miss and long-term memory due to a pooled their money for picnic Marsh told us you know you’re a head injury, but seemed to have an suppers to squeeze rehearsals into good actor if you can make other enhanced ability to retain recent their busy schedules. Prom Night people cry.” input. Amazingly, she became was postponed due to a con- For my family, there will be many the state champion that year. test conflict.The ag depart- more Saturday morning bus rides. 2003 was a Cinderella ment at Milano High Sometimes the kids will bring home year at Milano High School built a unit medals and trophies; sometimes, it School, a tiny 1A school set, the multipurpose, will be a quiet ride home empty- with about 200 students. oversized white build- handed. Either way, my children (and Director Mollie Marsh ing blocks used to thousands of others across the state) and her one-act play stage the play.The prin- are all winners, thanks to UIL. students had no stage, no cipal filled in as third lights, no costumes and a co-director/bus driver. Louie Bond is a copy editor and writer at miniscule budget.The students T-shirts were designed and Texas Co-op Power. juggled softball practice and home- sold to support the students’ efforts Special thanks to our UIL “models”for this work with rehearsals. Marsh showed on “Opal,” and the competition for feature—Wimberley High School UIL academic light technicians Daniel Evans and Erik the limited tickets to the state finals competitors Ben Bond (cover, in a costume Westbrook how to pantomime move- was as intense as the contest itself. designed and sewn by cast/crew members), ments on a diagram; they never put “It’s a lot better to see a production Julia Trinidad (page 6), Brandon Land (page 7), their hands on a light board until go so much further because the further Annie Bond (page 10) and Tyler and Clay Smith competition. you go, the better you get,” Milano (pages 8-9). “We really don’t have any technical student Joey Scarpinato says. “If you stuff,” says Marsh, who grew up in don’t get the chance to go that far, nearby Caldwell. Marsh’s mother is you don’t even get to see what kind of one of the most revered one-act play production it might become.” adjudicators in the state, Lou-Ida Marsh, The Milano students, many of and as a student, Mollie worked as a whom will graduate this month, are “techie” or technician in competitions proud of their new cafetorium stage, at Caldwell High School. “When we though they still worked without say family here, it’s in more ways than lights and with borrowed costumes one. Just about everybody is either on this year’s play, Frederico Garcia

“I walked up to the podium when they called my name, gave my introduction for my Words of Inspiration poems, and recited my selections by Frost and Shakespeare. Then I did something I’d never dared to do before. I looked out at the audience. They were on the edges of their seats, leaning toward me. Listening to me. Me. A scrawny kid from Comfort, Texas. I looked back at the empty pad in my notebook and realized that the future was a blank page. Anything was possible.”

From Comfort,a novel by Carolee Dean about a 17-year-old UIL contestant.

MAY 2004 • TEXAS CO-OP POWER 13 Blue mockingbird. MARKADAMS ANDHISVERYBIGYEAR dams opened the e-mail from Would the jaeger wait for him? Should Long-tailed jaeger. Barry Zimmer on a Friday he turn around and try again on Satur- morning.The bird, an extra- day when an entire day was available? The magical words ordinary rarity in Texas, had This is a classic story of obsession been spotted at the Fort Bliss and perseverance—a landlubbing jumped from Mark sewage ponds. Obsession, Captain Ahab and small, feathered Adams’ computer A like a poison ivy rash, cloaked Moby Dicks. It’s the story of the rare Adams. He wanted to see it. He wanted black-throated blue warbler that got to be there. Now. away. It’s the story of rising at 4 a.m., screen like a But the astronomer and assistant driving nearly three hours, searching director of the McDonald Observatory for a specific bird for an hour, then neon sign in the couldn’t miss two scheduled meetings driving back to begin the work day. Chihuahuan Desert. that morning. No matter how itchy It’s the story of chasing birds across his feet, how distracted his brain, how Texas using every means possible— B Y J ANE P. M ARSHALL ravaging his hunger to see the bird, plane, ocean-going boat, canoe and he had to wait. 4-wheel-drive vehicle. P HOTOS BY R OY H AMRIC By mid-afternoon Adams was head- When Adams moved to Texas in AND T EXAS P ARKS & WILDLIFE ing toward El Paso, a three-hour drive 1994, he took several expeditions into D EPARTMENT from the observatory in the Davis Big Bend National Park to learn about Mountains of West Texas. A rainstorm the geography of his new home state. hit, but he didn’t stop to put the One was a birding seminar. Bird, he top on his Jeep. A 6-foot piece of learned, could be a noun or a verb. It metal flew off the windshield, could also be an obsession. but he drove on without it. A By October 1999, Adams’ obsession patrolman gave him a ticket for had progressed to the point where doing 80 mph; that cost him he began to consider trying for, in $105 and 20 minutes. birder jargon, a “Big Year.” In a Big Could he make it before dark? Year, a birder records—by sight and

14 TEXAS CO-OP POWER • MAY 2004 Roy Hamric sound—as many species as possible in 450 birds perhaps. But making the An unsuccessful 380-mile drive a geographic area. record book was something he never through far West Texas looking for a A Big Year would add structure and considered. black-legged kittiwake around reser- a sense of competition to the year’s On January 1, 2000, Adams worked voirs was part of the chase. So was a birding. Adams liked that, too. But all night to ensure Y2K didn’t spawn three-hour journey into the Gulf of there were bigger issues, like extensive an attack on the observatory’s comput- Mexico searching for pelagic birds traveling and blocks of time to pursue ers, so his Big Year began late (and rarely visible from land, and a rainy leads. Adams enjoyed traveling, and rather inauspiciously) in his own slosh through the Anahuac marsh to luckily, his job was flexible and he backyard. By January 9, he’d birded in flush yellow rails. had built up weeks of time off. On the Rio Grande Valley, compiling 158 “Self-inflicted torture,” Adams

exas Parks & Wildlife Department & Wildlife exas Parks the downside, some of the chase birds on his list.The chase was on. lovingly calls it. T At remote Imperial Reservoir in Long-tailed jaeger. Pecos County, he got stuck wheel-deep in muck while searching for a Eurasian wigeon he never found. About a fruitless trek to Marathon, Adams wrote: “Out of light and time … I reluctantly started my Jeep and drove home without a painted redstart.This was only the first indi- vidual of this species to torture me in the year 2000.There would be others.” Endurance and patience are as vital to a Big Year as a good pair of binocu- lars. By the end of May,Adams had listed 435 species. He adjusted his goal up to 475 and looked at new strategies for locating 47 possibilities. “For each of these, I considered when and where it was most likely to be found, and how much time and travel would be needed,” he recalls. “Some I could confidently find myself.

exas Parks & Wildlife Department & Wildlife exas Parks Others would require research and T

would involve flying, and the nearest He was a gambler on a winning Whooping crane. airport was nearly three hours away streak: Each bird he spotted fed his in Midland. hunger for more. A varied thrush Adams would need statewide was sighted in an El Paso yard, so contacts who would help find tricky Adams grabbed camera, scope and birds like the crissal thrasher or the binoculars, jumped in his Jeep and blue mockingbird. He had none, drove 300 miles to pursue a species but Texas has a famously friendly seldom seen in Texas. and diligent birding community “Yes, I’d call it an obsession,” he ready to share support, 4-wheel- confesses. Admittedly, he’s prone to drive vehicles and hot coffee with obsessions, like playing ragtime and fellow birders. classical music on the piano, reading, With his decision made to under- and his newest fascination, butter- take a Big Year, Adams’ scientific mind flies. “So many things interest me,” plotted a strategy. He analyzed the he says. problem—how to find the most birds A Big Year is not for the faint- in the least time. He must have a flex- hearted. ible plan and some luck. He had to Many birds thrive where humans be at the right place at the right time. do not.There were times when ex- When a rarity was reported on the treme heat, humidity, cold or wind exas Parks & Wildlife Department & Wildlife exas Parks Rare Bird Alert website or on the conspired to block Adams.The size T TEXBIRDS listserv (an Internet birding of the state proved both friend and consultation with more knowledgeable discussion group), he must join the foe. Due to its diverse habitat,Texas birders. I built several two- to four- chase immediately. has more bird species living or visiting day birding trips into my schedule How many of the state’s 621 than any state within the continental for the remainder of the year, each species on the official Texas State List U.S. It also has longer roads and bigger with the goal of adding one or more could he see? He might find 400 or spaces. new species.”

MAY 2004 • TEXAS CO-OP POWER 15 He maintained a strategic plan on a less search along the coast from spreadsheet on his personal computer, Quintana Jetty to Galveston’s East updating it whenever new information Beach brought no new additions to Roy Hamric presented itself. Organization paid off Adams’ list. December 29 … Finally, as he slowly, one by one, added fly- he saw a black scooter near Rollover catchers, warblers, a colorful slate- Pass on Bolivar Peninsula. On Decem- throated redstart and others to his list. ber 30, Adams was hot on the trail of As the clock counted down the final a blue bunting that he finally saw at hours of the year, Adams intensified a trailer site in Bentsen-Rio Grande the chase. December 27 … Adams Valley State Park. spotted a rare white-winged scooter One day left. How would he spend in the rain at a Fort Bend power plant it? After checking hotlines and friends, cooling pond. December 28 … A fruit- he decided his surest bet was to get a

SEVERESEVERE Lightning strikes kill more Americans than tornadoes or hurricanes. Don’t take WEATHER!WEATHER! chances with this deadly force of nature. Adams spotted 489 birds in his travels. Lightning ARE YOU Lightning Safety long-eared owl in the Panhandle. He ARE YOU Rules: flew from the Valley to Lubbock, which was recovering from a blizzard, to • Move to low ground. search the two sites where the owls READY?READY? • Avoid open fields. had been reported recently. He found • Do not seek shelter under a tree. Trees are targets for lightning. fog, ice and a menacing black dog, but • At the beach or in a swimming no long-eared owl. Adams would later pool, get out of the water. chuckle painfully when he remem- • Go inside a building and stay bered this as the most expensive bird away from windows and doors. he didn’t see. • Stay away from metal objects. At midnight on December 31, • Avoid electric appliances and Adams’ Big Year was over. metal plumbing. He had seen or heard 489 species, • Get off the phone. a whopping 92 percent of the total • Do not touch metal objects, number reported in Texas that year. such as golf clubs or bicycles. Adams’ list tied the record held by • Inside a car is relatively safe, but Brush Freeman and Petra Hockey, who don’t touch interior metal. were among the many birding experts • If your hair stands on end, you who helped him during his Big Year. may be a target. Crouch low on A book grew from the scientist’s the balls of your feet and try not careful, detailed records.Texas A&M to touch the ground with your University Press published Chasing Birds knees or hands. Across Texas in 2003. Stay aware and play it safe The book is an odd adventure story, during thunderstorms. Don’t one that those who love birds and be a lightning rod. Texas geography will savor. Adams continually used his scientific instincts and knowledge to report his obser- vations. “On many days, the image degradation caused by solar heating can be horrendous,” he wrote. He’s also a master of understatement. “Had the Jeep gone off the road just 30 feet further north, it would have This public service message is brought tumbled into a steep arroyo with sig- to you by your local electric cooperative. nificantly less benign consequences” See your local co-op for details. PHOTO ©ALAN MOLLER was how he reported his slide off an icy Texas highway en route to catch a

16 TEXAS CO-OP POWER • MAY 2004 plane for his final birding trip along obsession with birding is contagious. Will he go for a Big Year there? the coast. Competitive counting is part of bird- Adams hasn’t decided yet, but he is The finish line crossed, Adams felt ing’s spell. certain that birding is in his blood both happy and sad. He had added at In 2003, the Big Year total for to stay. He is also certain to miss his least one bird to his list on 111 of the Texas flew past Adams’ number to new friends and this birding paradise 174 days he spent birding. He birded set a state record. Eric Carpenter of called Texas. for a total of 1,050 hours. He traveled Austin listed 505 species. “It was far 30,000 miles by car and 18,000 by in excess of even the wildest high Chasing Birds Across Texas can be ordered plane, for an average of nearly 100 count I and many others thought from Texas A&M University Press: 1-800- miles per bird. possible,” he says. 826-8911 or www.tamu.edu/upress. He did not record the countless Adams moved to Virginia at the end blisters, cups of cold coffee or new of January to work with the National Jane P.Marshall, a Houston-based freelancer, tires. Although he never found a tun- Radio Astronomy Observatory. is an avid birder. dra swan or a black-billed cuckoo, his passion did not pale. Obsession’s bounty transformed Adams into a recognized state birding expert, an author and an appreciative Texan. “I trekked many miles around Don’t mess with floods. my own ‘backyard,’ the Davis and Flooding is the leading Chisos mountains of Trans-Pecos Texas,” SEVERESEVERE cause of weather-related Adams says. “Here, in one of the few fatalities in Texas. The frontiers remaining in the continental simple decisions you make

WEATHER! Flooding United States, I have been privileged to WEATHER! can mean the difference explore the heart of these fascinating between life and death. ‘sky islands.’” The biggest find of his Big Year, AREARE YOUYOU Flood Safety Rules: Adams says, was not birds, but new friends. “People who had never met or • Never drive through water on READY? a road. It can be deeper than talked with me went out of their way READY? to assure that whatever time I devoted it appears. Floodwaters can to their part of Texas would be maxi- damage roadways. mally productive,” he said. • Quickly leave your car if it stalls In Austin, new friends showed in water. It takes only 2 feet of Adams an eastern screech owl. In water to push a 3,000-pound return, he showed them Betelgeuse, car downstream. • Don’t attempt to walk through the bright red star on Orion’s shoulder. rapidly running water. As little How many others can identify constel- as 6 inches can knock adults lations hundreds of light years away, off their feet. as well as birds at 20 paces? In the • Keep an emergency kit in your Hill Country, he traded an astronomy car, including a flashlight with lecture for a night’s lodging. extra batteries, drinking water Like laughter and the measles, and a battery-operated radio. • If you have a cell phone, program the number for police or fire department rescue.

Take the high road when it comes to flood safety. Your life depends on it. exas Parks & Wildlife Department & Wildlife exas Parks T

This public service message is brought to you by your local electric cooperative. See your local co-op for details. Painted bunting.

MAY 2004 • TEXAS CO-OP POWER 17 BACKYARDBirding More than 71 million Americans call themselves birders or bird- watchers, and most let the birds come to them rather than chasing them through the woods or into the wetlands. B Y J ANE P. M ARSHALL

ith three- ■ Fruits from mulberry, black fourths of cherry and beautyberry trees are Wall American favorites of songbirds. birds repre- ■ Broken nuts and acorns sented somewhere in Texas, from trees such as oaks, hickories no one needs to go into the and walnuts are eaten by a variety field to see them. An alterna- of birds.

tive is to create a mini-habi- Department & Wildlife exas Parks T ■ Shrubs near feeders make tat on your own property. birds feel secure, but if at all Melinda Parmer and P.D. possible, don’t provide easy Hulce have recorded 111 access routes to feeders for species of birds in the yard squirrels and cats. of their Houston home. Most people, however, don’t fashion an urban refuge as Mail order houses such elaborate as Parmer’s and Gray catbird. as The Backyard Bird Com- Hulce’s, whose backyard pany (www.backyardbird .com) can give you an idea birding gusto earned an locals to set up housekeep- plant flowers, trees and official Backyard Wildlife of the countless varieties of ing and raise their families. shrubs that produce seeds houses and feeders that are Habitat certificate from the First, learn food preferences or fruit, the main diet of National Wildlife Federation. available.You’ll need to of the birds you want to many birds. Other plants decide what kind of birds Plants and feeders attract attract.Texas boasts the in your backyard habitat, hungry birds, enticing mi- you want to attract and how largest number of migrating such as conifers, grasses and you’re going to keep com- grating species to linger for species in the country—from legumes, shelter and protect dinner and encouraging peting critters at bay. Buy hummingbirds to whooping birds. Ample winter rains feeders that are easy to fill, cranes. Don’t expect whoop- should guarantee good large enough to avoid con- ers at your feeder but you feeding this spring and tinuous refilling and easy can bribe hummers to summer. Check with your to assemble and clean. return year after year. local nursery or extension Remove moldy seeds or Using native agent to learn more about droppings that may pose a varieties when what meal tickets for birds health hazard. possible, grow best in your area. Offer a variety of food in the appropriate feeders: Here are some specific sunflower seeds in tube, suggestions: hopper or platform feeders; ■ To attract cardinals, robins thistle in tube feeders; and other winter birds, plant Mex- peanuts in peanut feeders; ican plum and yaupon. Cardinals suet in suet cages; and mix also like to live in bamboo. seed on platform feeders or ■ Purple coneflower, sun- on the ground. flowers, scarlet sage and redbuds beckon to finches and other Some specific feeding seed-eating birds. suggestions: ■ You may be able to double ■ Black-oil sunflower seeds the number of species in your are popular with the greatest yard by providing water. A small number of bird species. pond or birdbath will do, but ■ Cardinals like safflower moving water, such as a slow seeds; cardinals, grosbeaks, drip, is better. jays, chickadees, titmice and Tufted titmouse. nuthatches like thick-shelled pink, nasturtium, penstemon, gray-striped sunflower seeds. petunia, salvia, flowering tobacco, ■ Buy birdseed with little scarlet runner pole bean, scarlet or no millet, the small yellow trumpet creeper, wild blue phlox seeds that are good in bread and zinnias. Nectar-producing but attract “undesirable” birds plants also attract orioles. (such as house sparrows and ■ Hang at least two feeders grackles) to feeders. to prevent an aggressive male ■ Remove seeds and drop- from taking over. pings near feeders to reduce ■ Fill feeders with a solution potential for disease. of sugar water. Boil together 1 ■ A brush pile near your cup water and 1/4 cup granu- feeder makes towhees, wrens lated white sugar (or any 4-to-1 and other shy birds feel at home. ratio of water and sugar). Cool and fill feeder. Do not add red More than a dozen food coloring. Keep leftovers in species of hummingbirds the refrigerator and change every visit Texas every year.To few days. attract hummers, dish up ■ Avoid using insecticide their natural diet—flower around flowers and shrubs that nectar, tree sap, and small attract hummingbirds, which dine insects and spiders. on the small insects. Here’s how: ■ Keep feeders clean to ■ Select red flowers, espe- prevent harmful mold. cially red tubular flowers, and feeders with red on them. Red Many cats hunt birds, seems to be a favorite color. which can be particularly ■ Consider these trees problematic if your area and shrubs: coralberry, weigela, is overrun with feral cats. rose-of-Sharon, honeysuckle, You can bell domestic pets beauty bush, currant, gooseberry, to give the birds a little flowering crab, hawthorne, horse extra warning that a preda- chestnut, tulip tree and black tor is nearby. locust. Buy a good field guide. ■ Plants that attract Many birders carry the hummingbirds are: American National Geographic guide. columbine, bee balm, blazing Two fairly new and lauded stars, butterfly-bush, clematis, are National Audubon coral bells, day lily, foxglove, Society’s The Sibley Guide to garden phlox, gladiolas, hardy Birds (Knopf) and Kenn fuchsia, hollyhocks, honeysuckle Kaufman’s Birds of North trumpet and hybrids, hosta, moss America (Houghton Mifflin). The more portable Kaufman book uses computer- enhanced photographs instead of paintings of birds. Last, find birding buddies. A buddy can join you on the patio with a pair of

exas Parks & Wildlife Department & Wildlife exas Parks binoculars and a glass of T iced tea. Maybe you’ll grad- uate to field trips, then weekend trips to a refuge or state park.

Jane P.Marshall, a Houston- based freelance writer, is an avid Ruby-throated birder. hummingbird. exas Parks & Wildlife Department & Wildlife exas Parks T MAY 2004 • TEXAS CO-OP POWER 19 ELECTRIC NOTES

Prepare Your Central Air Conditioner for Summer

pring is a good time for maintain- is probably dirty, too. Cleaning the Sing your air conditioner. If you indoor coil is usually a job for profes- keep the coils of your air conditioner sionals, unless you have easy access, as clean, it can improve your comfort with a central heat pump.To help keep and reduce your electricity costs this your indoor coil clean, make sure your summer. filter fits well, is easy to change, and Start by inspecting the outdoor that you change it regularly. Have your condensing unit.The large outdoor air conditioning contractor make coil—it looks like a car radiator—is improvements to the filter, if needed, where heat is dissipated from your your cooling season is four months so it will be easy to get to. Change the home.The fan in the condensing unit or more, annual cleaning is an excel- filter often to help keep your indoor has to move a whole lot of air through lent idea.Turn off the power to the air conditioner coil clean and reduce the coil, so make sure that there are no unit, and remove any visible grass energy consumption. airflow restrictions around the con- and lint from the fins and louvers densing unit. Cut nearby grass, shrubs with an old hairbrush or whisk and tree branches so they are at least 3 broom.Then put on a pair of rubber feet away at the sides and 5 feet away gloves and spray biodegradable out- Kids and overhead. door coil cleaner into the coil. Wait Most condenser coils are loaded five or ten minutes and flush the coil Electrical Safety with pollen and dust even when you with a gentle water spray. can’t see it.The longest a condenser Your indoor coil might also need alk to your children about the should go without cleaning is two or cleaning, even though you can’t easily Tdangers of playing near electrical three years, depending on how much see it. If your air conditioner’s filter or substations, high-voltage equipment it operates during the summer. If blower is dirty, then your indoor coil and power lines. Here are some tips to pass along: • If something that belongs to your child touches a power line, neither you nor your little one should try to Work at Home? Plan for Safety retrieve it. Instead, call your electric cooperative for help. f you work out of a home office— • Choose adjustable office chairs • Tell your children that a “high Ieven one day a week—you don’t with good supporting backrests. voltage” sign means “keep out.” have a safety expert looking over your • Locate your computer in a spot • If a ball or toy winds up behind shoulder as you would if you worked where glare from windows and the fence of an electricity substation, in a big office. lighting can’t distract you. Place the leave it there.Your child—or you— Be your own safety coordinator; monitor at a comfortable height that should not enter. Call your electric take a few easy steps to make sure doesn’t cause neck or back strain. cooperative if the toy is worth your home office is a safe place to Position your keyboard so you don’t retrieving. work. Here’s how to start: strain your wrists. • Create a fire evacuation plan— • Install good lighting and strategi- and practice it—so you can follow it cally place lights to avoid glare on the in case of an emergency. work surface. • Check your smoke detectors reg- • Connect all electrical equipment ularly and replace their batteries once to grounded outlets. Happy a year.There’s no smoke detector in • Don’t overload electrical circuits. your office? Install one today. Doing so can start a fire. Mother’s Day • Place a fire extinguisher in or • Keep power cords away from SUNDAY, MAY 9 near the office. Check the charge the path between the door and regularly. your desk. • Computers are heavy. Place them • Power down your computer at on sturdy, level, well-maintained the end of the day and unplug it dur- furniture. ing a thunderstorm.

22 TEXAS CO-OP POWER • MAY 2004 May Is National Electrical Safety Month

ccording to a recent estimate, fied by a nationally recognized inde- item to an authorized repair center Aapproximately three people die pendent testing lab, such as Under- or cut the cord and dispose of it each day in residential electricity- writers Laboratories (UL), CSA safely. related incidents in the home. A great Group, ETL and MET Labs. GFCIs and AFCIs many of those are related to problems • Extension cords should only be • Make sure your home includes with outlets, power cords and exten- used on a temporary basis; unplug ground-fault circuit interrupters sion cords.To help reduce those num- and safely store them after every use. (GFCIs), which prevent accidental bers, the Electrical Safety Foundation • Do not place power cords and electrocution by shutting off the cir- International (ESFI) and your electric extension cords in high traffic areas cuit if they sense a “leak” of current cooperative encourage consumers to or under carpets, rugs or furniture, off the circuit, and arc-fault circuit “plug into electrical safety.” and never nail or staple them to the interrupters (AFCIs), which help pre- Recent statistics show that be- wall or baseboard. vent fires by shutting off the circuit if tween 1994 and 1998, an average of • Never remove the ground pin they sense arcing where electricity 165,380 electricity-related home (the third prong) to make a three- has to jump a gap. Consider installing structure fires accounted for an prong plug fit a two-prong outlet. GFCIs and AFCIs on all circuits except annual average of 910 deaths, nearly • Make sure extension cords are those serving major appliances, 7,000 injuries, and nearly $1.7 bil- properly rated for their intended use, which may cause nuisance tripping. lion in property damage. In 2000, indoor or outdoor, and meet or • Test your GFCIs monthly and there were an estimated 150 acciden- exceed the power needs of the appli- after every major electrical storm. tal electrocutions related to consumer ance or tool being used. For more electrical safety tips, products, down from an annual aver- • All electrical items and extension contact your electric cooperative or age of approximately 173. cords should be kept in good condi- visit ESFI’s website at www.electrical- “The key to preventing potentially tion. If damage is discovered, take the safety.org. fatal, destructive and traumatic elec- trical fires, shock injuries and electro- cution is awareness,” says ESFI Execu- tive Director Michael G. Clendenin. Prepare for Spring Emergencies “Before plugging into electricity, plug into electrical safety.” our household needs a outside of your neighbor- Following are some tips to help Yplan in case there’s a hood, in case you have to keep you safe: fire, flood, hurricane or evacuate the area. Outlets other disaster, says the Fed- • Practice evacuating your • Have a qualified, licensed electri- eral Emergency Manage- home twice a year. Drive cian inspect your outlets and electri- ment Agency. Here’s how to your planned evacuation cal system. put one together: route and plot alternate • Plugs should fit fully and se- • Assign emergency routes on a map. Know the curely into outlets, but should not be responsibilities to everyone location of shelters in your forced. in the family.At least one area. • Make sure there are safety covers person should know first • Update your list of emer- on all unused outlets to protect aid and CPR. Each adult should know gency phone numbers and make sure children. how and when to turn off electricity, at least one phone in your house is • If an outlet or switch wall plate gas and water, and how to use a fire not cordless. is hot or discolored by heat, shut off extinguisher. • If someone in your family relies the circuit and have it professionally • Create a disaster kit that contains on electrically powered medical checked. enough bottled water, nonperishable equipment, make arrangements for a • Have additional outlets installed food, clothing and personal items for back-up power source, such as a bat- where you need them instead of rely- each person for at least three days. tery or generator, and contingency ing on extension cords and power Review supplies and replace water plans to transport that person to strips. and food every six months. another location. Power cords and extension cords • Choose two places to meet after • Keep a battery-operated radio and • Check that all electrical items, a disaster: one right outside of your extra batteries on hand so you can including extension cords, are certi- home, in case of fire, and the other keep up with emergency bulletins.

MAY 2004 • TEXAS CO-OP POWER 23 FOOTNOTES IN TEXAS HISTORY

Cabeza de Vaca Discovers ‘Ill Fortune’ B Y S PIKE G ILLESPIE lvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca was 37 The Indians, already put off by the suit. However, being naked was not Ayears old in 1527 when the king cannibalism, grew more suspicious of particularly practical in the freezing of Spain sent him as royal treasurer the white men when several of their winters or broiling summers. on an expedition to the New World. tribe died of illnesses brought by the Of the original 300 explorers who Though he and the other explorers did Spaniards. Some wanted to murder the landed in Florida, only four survived not find riches, Cabeza de Vaca found remaining Spaniards to prevent any the voyage.These four, including Cabeza a place in history. Purely by happen- more of what they considered to be de Vaca, were eventually enslaved by stance, this intrepid accountant is said deadly black magic. But Cabeza de Indians and forced to work in tuna to have been the first European in Vaca’s host dissuaded them, saying (prickly pear) fields southeast of what what is now Texas. He relates his eight if the Spaniards were magic they is now San Antonio. Besides having arduous years of wandering the area in wouldn’t have allowed so many of to deal with the plants’ razor-sharp his journal, La Relación. their own to perish. spines, the Spanish slaves also had to Spanish ships delivered the contend with swarms of mos- expedition to modern day quitoes and the smoke and heat Florida in April 1528 and then of smudge fires lit to fend off sailed away.When hostile natives the bugs. convinced the explorers that a With Cabeza de Vaca as their hasty retreat by sea was in order, leader, they escaped in September they lashed together crude barges 1534 and traveled by foot for to make their way around the a year and a half until they Gulf Coast. After various mishaps encountered other Christians of both man and nature, all but on the West Coast of Mexico. one barge, carrying Cabeza de Cabeza de Vaca eventually made Vaca and other survivors, had his way back to Spain to write disappeared. about his adventures. The barge washed up on an According to his accounts, the island on November 6, 1528. four escaped slaves became the Gerald Ashford, in his now first white men to see buffalo. out-of-print book, Spanish Texas, They also revived their faith- Yesterday and Today (Jenkins Book healing routine, which lent them Publishing Co. Inc., 1971) states celebrity status with each new that the island was Galveston. tribe they encountered. Accord- The Handbook of Texas speculates ing to Ashford, “In one case

that the island was San Luis Jim Anderson Cabeza de Vaca administered his (now known as Follets Island). spiritual treatment to a man who Since Cabeza de Vaca was the first to Next the Indians pressed the Span- was supposed to be already dead, and describe the territory, the lack of accu- iards to assume the role of doctors, so later it was reported the man had racy is understandable—no place he the castaways adopted a faith-healing returned to life.” visited had yet been given a European ritual that involved making the sign Based on what they could piece name so he had only the local people, of the cross over the sick while breath- together from Cabeza de Vaca’s account, flora and fauna to describe. Whatever ing on them and praying over them. historians believe the party did reach island they landed on, the Spanish named “All of those for whom we prayed, the Guadalupe Moutains.Two members it Malhado, which means ill fortune. as soon as we crossed them, told the (though not Cabeza de Vaca) also took Cabeza de Vaca offered beads and others that they were cured,” Cabeza a side trip to what was probably the other trade goods to the island’s Indians, de Vaca recounted with relief and a Rio Grande River. At some point they who fed the Spaniards in return. It was little puzzlement. encountered a group of villages, which a rough winter on the island, and to The healings worked well enough some later inhabitants of Northern fend off death by starvation, some of until Cabeza de Vaca himself fell ill, at Mexico insisted were the mythical the Spaniards engaged in cannibalism. which point the Indians lost faith in Seven Cities of Gold. Given all the other As Cabeza de Vaca put it, they “were his alleged powers. By now, he was amazing adventures Cabeza de Vaca’s driven to such an extremity that they living on the mainland where, once small group experienced in Texas, this ate each other up until only one re- he regained his health, he became a doesn’t seem like much of a stretch. mained, who being left alone, there trader. He traveled from the coast was nobody to eat him.” inland, exchanging shells and cockles Spike Gillespie’s second book of essays, Ultimately, 65 of the 80 Spaniards for animal hides, flint, glue and red Surrender (But Don’t Give Yourself Away), who remained on the island succumbed ochre. Having assimilated, he con- was published in the fall by the University of to various unpleasant deaths. ducted these duties in his birthday Texas Press.

24 TEXAS CO-OP POWER • MAY 2004 Lightning Can Cause Power Surges his month, our heroes are trying Tto use their lightning lasers to fend off giant vampire chickens, but something is going horribly wrong. The darn chickens are soaking up the power and growing bigger! Even in real life, we have to be concerned about the effect of power surges. A lightning strike is the strong- est kind of power surge, but it’s not the only cause of sudden surges of electricity.About half of all power surges come from inside your home when household appliance motors cycle on and off, like in a refrigerator or an air conditioner. Over time, these small surges can ruin many of the appliances and other electronic equip- ment you use every day.That’s because appliances like washing machines, stereos, desktop computers, VCRs and DVD players are very sensitive to any change in electric current. Besides lightning, there are other power surges that can come into your home from the outside.These surges can travel through telephone, cable or electric lines. And just like a surge zapped Electrillo’s electro-copter last month, large power surges can instantly ruin electronics. Power surges can be prevented from damaging electrical appliances if you have a defense system called a “surge suppressor.”There are many different kinds of surge suppressors. Some pro- tect the whole house from outside power surges; these should be installed by an electrician. Other surge suppres- sors protect individual appliances from power surges inside the house and must be installed at each electric appli- ance. If one appliance is not protected, it can send a power surge to other appliances! Have a grownup call your electric co-op to learn more about protecting your home and your electric appliances from lightning and other power surges. It might be too late for the electro- copter, but it’s not too late to protect your prized possessions!

Cartoonist Keith Graves is a popular artist and author of children’s books.

MAY 2004 • TEXAS CO-OP POWER 25 BOOK HEAVEN

B Y S PIKE G ILLESPIE P HOTOS BY R ICK P A TRICK comes to RoundTop Stepping into the library in Round Top (population 84) is enough to fill a bibliophile with awe and joy. Vast vaulted ceilings, towering windows illuminating pressed tin walls and stained wood floors evoke a sense of reverence. Fitting, considering this structure originally was a church. Now it’s a sanctuary for those who worship words.

30 TEXAS CO-OP POWER • APRIL 2004 ntil five years ago, Round library has eight computers.) Top residents had to drive “It’s a fun place to hang U20 miles to La Grange to out,” Bobby Schwarz says, check out a book.Techni- pausing to look up from a cally, the new library is this Central book to offer his opinion. Texas town’s second in just three years. Bobby’s 12-year-old bro- The first opened in 1999, when the ther, Emile, engrossed with a town leased the Rummel House from nearby computer, concurs. the Bybee Foundation. “It’s very cool,” he says. Two years later, Houstonites Sterling “They do all sorts of new and Marianne McCall paid $700,000 to things.They do programs. purchase and move a church from the They let you play on the town of Buckholts to the Rummel computers. They have new House site, and to renovate it to serve things every day.” as a bigger library. Round Top, which The place is exceedingly draws upwards of 50,000 people for kid friendly, right down to antique and craft sales some weekends, the “Little People’s” rest- and the adjacent arts community of room with its scaled-down Winedale seem to attract benevolent sink and toilet.The tops patrons. of the library shelves are Formerly the Hope Lutheran Church adorned with ceramic fig- of Buckholts, the building was con- urines depicting fictional structed in the 1920s for less than characters, including Flopsy, $20,000 and served its congregation Mopsy and Peter Rabbit; Lit- tle Red Riding Hood; and an as-yet-to-be-identified story It took another year to involving a mother wolf with a plate reassemble and renovate the of chicken, a father wolf eating building.Though a sign a chicken leg, and three baby wolves identifies the building as a begging for food.This collection “children’s” library, Kathy was donated by Karin Ramsey of Madere, the original librarian Houston, whose father was a cerami- and current programs man- cist in Germany. ager, says the library actually A great opportunity to see the entire contains more adult books. library requires a trip up to the former “To be a member of the choir loft, now the reference section. Central Texas Library system, Looking down provides a feeling of you need to have a phone, be having ascended to Book Heaven. open 20 hours a week, and Outside, the path leading folks to for nearly half a century.Time and have at least 7,000 books,” says Madere. (and reluctantly away from) the splen- termites took their toll, however, and In the beginning, the library fell short did library includes a number of in 1975 the church was sold to a of that figure by 6,850 books. But the bricks engraved with the names of farmer named Svetlik, who moved it collection has grown with the facility, donors and their favorite book quotes. to a pasture and used it to store hay. and now boasts over 12,000 books. Among them, While some might question using There are so many books, in fact, Children who love to read such a beautiful old building as a hay that the overflow is now stored in the Hold a special kind of magic … barn, it actually proved to be a bles- Rummel House out back.This is also The power to enrich their entire lives. sing since the hay preserved the floors. where children’s art classes are held, Enter now, child. Magic awaits. Architect Chris Travis, who has an the children’s choir rehearses, and interest in preservation and owns adults take pottery classes. Rather than Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative serves the homes in Round Top and New Mexico, functioning solely as a book Round Top area. convinced Svetlik to sell the church. lender, the Round Top Library Spike Gillespie’s second book of essays, As illustrated on a large flat-screen serves as a community center Surrender (But Don’t Give Your- TV near the pulpit, moving the build- as well. Nearly any day of the self Away),was published in the fall ing was quite a chore. Under Travis’ month, there are by the University of Texas Press. direction, it was dismantled into seven activities for all pieces, then trucked in to Round Top ages, from book over the course of a week. Bobby clubs to teen Schwarz, now 10, was 7 years old drawing classes, when he saw the procession. “We adult yoga and thought it was the Astrodome, it was computer so big,” he says. lessons. (The

MAY 2004 • TEXAS CO-OP POWER 27 TEXAS LIVING

RECIPES IN REVIEW BY SHANNON OELRICH Shrimply Delicious or Christmas each year, my family Fpicks a theme for the food we’re making.This past Christmas, we decided on a Cajun theme, so I turned to Terry Thompson-Anderson’s classic book, Cajun-Creole Cooking (Shearer Pub- lishing, 1-800-458-3808) for recipes. We had a wonderful repast of Blue Crab-Stuffed Mushrooms, Cajun Corn- bread Dressing, Mixed Greens With Turnips and Tasso, and Orange-Glazed Pork Roast.The book, now in its third edition, is a wealth of information and recipes. It covers the nuts and bolts of great Louisiana cooking, from detailed directions for making a traditional roux and seafood stock to time-tested recipes for all of your Cajun favorites. Below are two tasty shrimp recipes from the book—you’ll have to buy the book to try our Christmas menu! © FoodPix 1/2 teaspoon red (cayenne) pepper Creole Barbecue Shrimp Salt to taste 1 cup unsalted butter 3 fresh bay leaves, minced, or 2 dried bay leaves, 1 cup canola oil crumbled 1 can (12 ounces) bock beer 1/2 teaspoon celery seed 1 cup seafood stock or bottled clam broth 2 pounds raw peeled and deveined small shrimp 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 4 green onions, chopped, including green tops 1 tablespoon tomato paste Cooked white rice 1 1/2 teaspoons red (cayenne) pepper Heat olive oil in a heavy 12-inch 1 tablespoon finely ground black pepper Dutch oven over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon minced fresh basil flour all at once and stir to blend. 1 teaspoon dried leaf oregano Cook, stirring constantly, to form a 1 teaspoon paprika rich, peanut-butter-colored roux. Add 2 teaspoons filé powder onions, garlic, bell pepper, celery and 6 green onions, chopped, including green tops parsley. Cook until onions are wilted 6 pounds raw unpeeled medium-to-large shrimp and transparent, about 8 minutes. Stir Combine all ingredients except Shrimp Creole occasionally.Add tomatoes and their shrimp in a heavy 6-quart pot over 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil liquid, lemon juice, and all seasonings medium heat. Stir well to blend. Bring 1/4 cup all-purpose flour except Worcestershire sauce. Stir to to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes 2 medium onions, chopped blend well. Bring to a full boil to to form a flavorful courtbouillon. 3 medium garlic cloves, minced thicken. Reduce heat to low and Stir the shrimp into the sauce, 1 large green bell pepper, chopped cover pan. Simmer 30 minutes. coating well. Cook, stirring often, 1 large red bell pepper, chopped Stir in shrimp and Worcestershire until shrimp turn a rich coral-pink 2 celery stalks, chopped, including leafy tops sauce. Replace cover and cook an addi- color, about 25 minutes.To serve, 1 tablespoon minced flat-leaf parsley tional 30 minutes. Remove cover and spoon shrimp into soup plates and 2 cans (16 ounces each) stewed tomatoes, diced, stir in green onions; cook 5 minutes. top each serving with a portion of liquid reserved Remove from heat and serve over rice. the spicy sauce. 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice Makes 4 to 6 servings. Makes 4 to 6 servings.

34 TEXAS CO-OP POWER • MAY 2004 HOME COOKING RECIPE CONTEST WINNERS

ugust’s recipe contest subject is 12 leaves fresh basil, chopped or torn like a burrito.To make eating less AIce Box Pies. I make a lemon ice 3 tablespoons chopped, fresh mint leaves (about messy, roll final product in wax box pie twice a year without fail for 4 sprigs) paper. For presentation, slice each my father: one for Father’s Day and 1 tablespoon sesame seeds wrap in half on the diagonal. Makes one for his birthday. Do you have a 2 teaspoons sugar around four large wraps, depending recipe for an ice box pie that is a 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar or white wine on the size of tortilla used. family favorite? Send it in by May 10. vinegar Serving size: 1 wrap. Per serving: 477 calo- The winner will receive a copy of Salt ries, 18 grams protein, 22 grams fat, 54 grams carbohydrates, 3,043 milligrams sodium, 55 the Texas Co-op Power Cookbook. Be sure Combine first 7 ingredients. Mix milligrams cholesterol to include your name, address and together sugar and vinegar and toss phone number, as well as your co-op with vegetable mixture. Season with Shrimp Dip affiliation. Send recipes to Home salt to taste. 1 1/2 cups sour cream Cooking, 2550 S. IH-35, Austin,TX Shrimp Filling: 1/2 cup mayonnaise 78704.You can also fax recipes to 24 medium fresh shrimp, shelled and deveined 1/2 cup chili sauce (512) 486-6254 or e-mail them to 2 tablespoons soy sauce 2 teaspoons yellow [email protected] 1-2 teaspoons grill seasoning blend prepared mustard Who knew shrimp was so versatile? (recommend Montreal seasoning) or Few drops Tabasco We received many—and varied— salt and pepper 1 teaspoon Worcestershire shrimp recipes, which were hard to 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon horseradish narrow down. We tested a number 3 cloves garlic, crushed 1 tablespoon cut chives of them, and our top three are below. 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes 1 teaspoon sugar The winner is Cathy Miller, a mem- Toss shrimp with soy sauce and 2 tablespoons dry sherry or lemon juice ber of Pedernales Electric Coopera- seasoning blend (or salt/pepper). 1 pound boiled shrimp, finely chopped tive, for her fantastic Spicy Shrimp Heat oil in skillet; when hot, add Combine first 10 ingredients. Wraps, perfect for the hot summer garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté Blend well and chill. Add chopped, months ahead. Cathy says, “This for 30 seconds. Add shrimp and sauté boiled shrimp that have been chilled. seems like a lot of steps, but each for 2-3 minutes (don’t overcook). Makes about 10 servings. Serve with step is easy, and the finished product corn chips. is worth the effort!” We agree. She For each wrap, blister a tortilla Serving size: 1/2 cup of dip. Per serving: 209 will receive a copy of the Texas Co-op on each side in a hot skillet, then fill calories, 11 grams protein, 17 grams fat, 3 grams Power Cookbook. with shrimp and salad mixtures, and carbohydrates, 230 milligrams sodium, 108 mil- top with spicy peanut sauce. Wrap ligrams cholesterol Spicy Shrimp Wraps Emma Hamil, Mid-South Synergy 4 large tortillas (thin whole wheat or other SAFE LIVING flavored tortillas designed for wraps) Spicy Peanut Sauce: ‘Temporary’ Means ‘Temporary’ 1/4 cup chunky peanut butter (at room ot enough cord for your lamp or radio to reach the nearest outlet? temperature) Stop plowing through the junk drawer for an extension cord.This may 2 tablespoons soy sauce N not be a good idea.The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar or white wine suggests you follow these tips: vinegar 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or more to taste) ■ Do not substitute extension cords for permanent wiring. 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or more to ■ Do not run cord through walls, doorways, ceilings or floors. taste) ■ Do not use an extension cord for more than one appliance. 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (can be reduced) 1 teaspoon sesame oil (optional) If an extension cord is needed for a longer period, temporary power Whisk together peanut butter, taps (multiple plug outlets) can be used when insufficient electrical recep- soy sauce, vinegar and seasonings. tacles are available.These devices may have three to six electrical receptacles, Continue to whisk while streaming a circuit breaker, a 6- to 15-foot cord and a surge protector, and should in oil. bear the mark of a certified testing organization. ■ Multiple plug outlets must be plugged directly into mounted elec- Salad Filling: trical receptacles.They should not be connected together. 1/2 seedless cucumber, peeled, halved lengthwise ■ and thinly sliced on an angle Make sure the extension cord or temporary power strip you use is 2 cups fresh sprouts rated for the products to be plugged in and is marked for either 1 cup shredded carrots indoor or outdoor use. 3 scallions, sliced on an angle ■ Never use a cord that feels hot or is damaged in any way.

MAY 2004 • TEXAS CO-OP POWER 35 TEXAS LIVING

AROUND TEXAS

Willow City, (830) 685-3225 George West, (361) 786-3334 1. Cinco de Mayo Festival, Athens, 5. Cinco de Mayo Celebration, Huntsville, May (903) 676-2277 (936) 295-0223 April 30-May 2. General Sam Houston Folk 1. Senior Quilt Show, Bastrop, (512) 321-7907 5-8. Lions Club Rodeo, Jasper, (409) 384-2555 Festival, Huntsville, (936) 295-8113 or 1. Indian Springs VFD Barbecue/Auction, 7-8. Maifest, Brenham, (979) 836-3695 or www.SamHouston.Memorial.Museum Livingston, (936) 563-2615 www.BrenhamTexas.com April 30-May 2. Birdfest, Chappell Hill, 1. Arts and Crafts Day, Kyle, (512) 396-2054 7-9. Bluegrass Festival, Flomot,(806) 469-5278 www.chappellhillbirdfest.com 1. Mesquite Tree Festival, Coolidge, 7-9. Greek Festival, Clear Lake,(281) 326-1740 April 30-May 3. Texas Songbird Festival, (254) 786-4814 7-9. Texas Crab Festival, Bolivar Peninsula, Lago Vista, 1-888-328-5246 1. Homecoming, Henly, (512) 858-4214 (409) 684-3345 1. Ice Cream Festival, Brenham, 1-888-BRENHAM 1. Extreme Edge Kayak Fishing Tournament, 7-9, 21-23. Chicken House Flea Market, or www.BrenhamTexas.com Rockport, www.extremeedgefishing.com Stephenville, (254) 968-0888 1. German Sausage Dinner, Pattison, 1. Airing of the Quilts, Huntsville, 8. Market Days, Georgetown, (512) 868-8675 (281) 934-8218 (936) 295-2150 or www.discovergeorgetowntx.com 1. Ole Time Music, Pearl, (254) 865-6013 1. Cove Country Opry, Copperas Cove, 8. Blackjack Grove Day Festival, Cumby, 1. Market Day, Wimberley, (512) 847-2201 (254) 547-5966 or www.covecountryopry.com (903) 994-2892 1. Puttin’ on the Ritz, Blanco County Courthouse 1-2. St. Joseph’s Bazaar, Livingston, 8. Market Days, Burnet, (512) 756-4297 or Gala, Johnson City, (830) 833-2211 (936) 967-8385 www.burnetchamber.org 1. Nativescapes Garden Tour, Fredericksburg, 1-2. Central Texas Airshow, Temple, 8. Garden Tour, Wimberley, (512) 847-2201 (830) 685-3811 (254) 298-5770 or 8. Johnson County Lawn and Garden Show, 1. Tall Pines Airing of the Quilts Show & Sale, www.centraltexasairshow.com Cleburne, (817) 556-6370 or www.jcmga.org Huntsville, (936) 295-8322 1-2. George Paul Memorial Bullriding, Del Rio, 12. Kolache-Klobase Festival, East Bernard, 1. Kite Fest, Kyle, www.cityofkyle.com/parks (830) 775-9595 (979) 335-7907 1. Garage/Bake Sale, Uhland, (512) 396-2355 1-2. Gullo Kidzfest, Conroe, (936) 788-KIDS 12-16. Texas State HOG Rally, Conroe, 1. 40 Head Bull Riding and Dance, Harper, 1-2. Vintage Auto Club Spring Fever Tour, (936) 441-3375 (830) 864-4912 Graham, (940) 549-2783 13-14. Community Garage Sale, Kirbyville, 1. Karnes County 150th Anniversary parade 1-2. 50th Annual Village Fair and Texas Music (409) 423-5827 and festival, Karnes City/Kenedy, Festival, League City, (281) 332-4651 14-15. World Championship Bison Cook-Off, (830) 583-0128 or www.thecountywide.com 1-2. Mayfest, Calvert, (979) 364-3884 or Santa Anna, (325) 348-3826 1. Old-Fashioned Flea Market and Pancake www.discovercalvert.com 14-15. Quilt Show, Bluegrove, (940) 895-3731 Breakfast, Mount Vernon, (903) 379-2185 2. St. Stanislaus Festival, Bandera, 14-15. Mini Grand Prix Race, Waxahachie, 1. Trades Day and Swap Meet, west of Conroe, (830) 460-4712 (972) 938-9617 (936) 447-1922 3-8. Mayhaw Festival, Daisetta,(936) 536-6695 14-15. Treasure Trails, 30 miles of treasures, 1. Cinco de Mayo Festival and Dance, Weimar, 4. Flower Show & Plant Sale, Brenham, Cass County, (903) 639-2351 1-888-3WEIMAR (979) 421-9212 14-16. Trade Days, Livingston, (936) 327-3656 1. VFD and Rescue Department Fundraiser, 4. Brush Country Music Jamboree, or www.cityoflivingston-tx.com/tradedays

FESTIVAL OF THE MONTH BY JIM GRAMON 31st Annual Pasadena Strawberry Festival: May 14-16 was neither the fastest nor the most productive berry • Outstanding Carnival I picker in my family. But I always loved walking bare- • Children’s Pavilion foot in that sandy East Texas soil to round up some berries, • Texas State Mud Volleyball Championship (who knew?) carefully dodging big red ants and goathead • Lots of Clowns stickers. Knowing that, it will come as no • Teen Battle of the Bands surprise that strawberry festivals are • Barbecue Cook-Off among my favorite events. • Truckloads of Fresh Strawberries Pasadena (just east of Houston) What could make this whole thing even better? will host its 31st Annual Straw- Well, all the proceeds go to the San Jacinto Day Foun- berry Festival May 14-16. dation, which provides scholarships for students and All the events are held at books for college libraries, and preserves and promotes the spacious Pasadena Texas history. Fairgrounds at the inter- section of Fairmont For more information, contact the San Jacinto Day Parkway and Red Bluff. Foundation/Pasadena Strawberry Festival; phone: They’ll have all the fixin’s (281) 991-9500; e-mail: [email protected]; for a whole lot of fun: website: www.strawberryfest.org. • The World’s Largest Strawberry Shortcake Jim Gramon is the author of several books on Texas festivals and •Four Entertainment Stages storytellers. [email protected], www.JimGramon.com.

36 TEXAS CO-OP POWER • MAY 2004 14-16. Trade Days, Fredericksburg, www.burnetchamber.org www.threesidesfarm.com (830) 990-4900 or www.fbgtradedays.com 29. Cowboy Breakfast, Leakey, (830) 232-5199 29-30. May Festival, Ellinger, (979) 378-2311 15. Legends of Texas Swing Music Festival, 29. Tour d’Temple Bike Tour, Temple, “Alamo” movie set, Dripping Springs, (254) 791-2747 or www.visittemple.com Event information can be mailed to Around Texas, (512) 826-4707 or 29. Founders Day, Richards, (936) 851-2444 2550 S. IH-35, Austin, TX 78704, faxed to (512) www.legendsoftexasswing.com 29. Hay Day Community Festival and Parade, 486-6254, or e-mailed to [email protected]. 15. Zingha-Wee-Thay Powwow, Springtown, Gordonville, (903) 523-5982 or www.hay- It must be submitted by the 10th of the month (972) 285-3847 day.us two months prior to publication. E.g., July sub- 15. Art Splash on the Square, Graham, 29-30. Lone Star Championship Chuck Wagon missions must be received prior to May 10. 1-800-256-4844 Races, DeKalb, (903) 278-6151 or Events are listed according to space available. 15. Spring Festival and Car Show, Gun Barrel City, (903) 887-3152 or www.cclake.net 15. Blanco Bonanza Bulls and Barrels, Blanco, (830) 833-4418 15. Annual Freeze-Off, Clarksville, FOUR STAR FARE forfor thethe LONE STAR STATE (903) 427-2645 or www.red-river.net 15. Pioneer Round-Up, Plainview, ★★★★ (806) 293-8283 15. Bubble Day, Beaumont, (409) 833-5100 Mouthwatering recipes from the heart of Texas 15-16. Highland Lake Barbecue Cook-Off, Burnet, (512) 756-8080 or www.burnetchamber.org 15-16. Live Oak Antiques Show, Columbus, (979) 865-5618 15-16. Fine Art and Wine Trail, Spicewood, (830) 798-2020 or www.texasfineartandwine.org 15-16. Farming and Ranching Heritage Festival, Richmond, (281) 343-0218 or www.georgeranch.org 18. Farm and Ranch Tour, Athens, (903) 675-5181 19. Gazebo Music Fest, Kyle, www.cityofkyle.com/parks 21. Victoria Country Opry, Victoria, (361) 552-9347 21-23. Big Thicket Wildflower Exposition, Kountze, 1-866-BIG THIC 22. Power of the Past Tractor Show, Paris, (903) 784-7182 22. Texas Steak Cook-Off, Beef Symposium and Tourist Trap, Hico, 1-800-361-HICO or

www.texassteakcookoff.com W A F F L E I R O N 22. John Wesley Hardin Days, Comanche, C O R N B R E A D eal (325) 356-9558 1 egg 1 cup milk 1 cup flour 1 cup cornm 22. Texas Natural and Western Swing Festival, 3/4 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons sugar San Marcos,1-888-200-5620 or 4 teaspoons baking powder 2 tablespoons melted fat www.sanmarcoscharms.com Beat egg together with milk. Add dry ingredients, mixing 22. Trade Day, Coldspring, (936) 653-2009 well. Stir in melted fat. Cook in pre-heated, lightly greased waffle iron just as you would regular waffles. 22. Hunter Road Market Days, New Braunfels, Cindy Walton, Big Country EC (830) 708-8878 22-26. U.S. Open Windsurfing Regatta, Corpus Christi,1-800-766-2302 or Order Form www.corpuschristi-tx-cvb.org Please send me cookbooks at $18.75 each for a total of $ . 23. Lions Club Fish Fry, Llano, (325) 247-1470 24. Country Music Show, Lockhart, (512) 281-3854 Name 28. Old Fiddler Reunion and Contest, Athens, Address (903) 675-2325 28-30. National Polka Festival and 5K Run, City State Zip Ennis,1-888-366-4748 or www.nationalpolkafestival.com Make checks payable to Texas Electric Cooperatives 28-30. Memorial Weekend Rodeo, Bandera, Send your order to: (830) 796-7207 or www.banderarodeo.com 28-31. Roadrider’s Hill Country Tour and Trade Cookbook, Texas Electric Cooperatives, 2550 S IH-35, Austin, TX 78704 Show, Burnet, (512) 756-4297 or

MAY 2004 • TEXAS CO-OP POWER 37 FOCUS ON TEXAS “BEST FRIENDS” PHOTOS BY CO-OP MEMBERS

No Friend Like a Best Friend fter looking through a couple hundred “best friends” photos, we decided that Texas is aptly named—the Indian word Atejas means “friend.” In fact, there were enough entries to split the photos into two categories: humans and animals (with humans and/or other animals). We decided that “animal friends” could be a separate topic for our September 2004 issue, so you still have time to submit friendly animal photos if you wish! Meanwhile, enjoy these Texas-friendly shots of human pals from our readers. The topic for July is “Family Fun.” Send your photos with your name, address, daytime phone, co-op affiliation and a brief description to Family Fun, Focus on Texas, 2550 S. IH-35, Austin,TX 78704 before May 10. For digital photo require- ments and e-mail instructions, go to www.texas-ec.org/tcp/digital.html. We regret that we can no longer return photos that are not accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope.

Clay Johnson gives his best friend and dad, Eric, plenty of help. Clay’s grandparents, Jamie and Debbie Baumgart, are Trinity Valley EC members. Five-year-old Laythen Adams always walks his brother, Taylor Thompson, off the field after a game. The best friends are sons of South Plains EC mem- bers Heath and Mitzi Adams and grandsons of Gene and Sandra Taylor.

Houston County EC member Melba J. McGhee snapped this shot of her son, Jonny MacNaughton, and her grand- daughter, Jessica, when she noticed that Jessica had a piece of hay in her mouth, just like her dad!

Cousins and best friends Jared Kimminau and Emily Bromley explore the nature trail at Grandpa’s farm. South Plains EC member Jane Bromley submitted the photo.

UPCOMING in Focus on Texas Then and now: Subject Issue Deadline Jane Aly Waldrop and Charlotte Family Fun July May 10 Dykes Pigg have Fish Story August June 10 been best friends Animal Friends September July 10 since 1949. Chow Time October August 10 Jane is a mem- On the Farm November September 10 ber of Bryan School Plays December October 10 Texas Utilities.

MAY 2004 • TEXAS CO-OP POWER 43 TEXAS,USA BY GAIL M. DENKHAUS ★ Bandera—Nature Is My Sustenance he imaginary Alpine lakes T appear before me again, nestled serenely between these hills that I wistfully call moun- tains.The phenomenon only occurs in early morning when the dew point meets ambient temperature. Briefly, my spirit is elevated 10,000 feet, and I am the lone visitor to a mystic place. I must force myself to refocus on Highway 16 and my commute to San Antonio.The lakes return to vapor masses that will soon disappear as the temperature rises. Not all morning scenes carry me far away.There are days when the atmosphere is so clear that the undulating folds of the hillside reveal their most intimate details. I can make out the game trails of white-tailed and axis deer, and the sage color of the juniper is easily distinguished from Wyman Meinzer the sharper greens of the oak A Hill Country highway shrouded in mist. and mesquite. The Hill Country feeds my instead of an inconvenience or intru- of the cave appeared to be in motion soul. I discovered Bandera two years sion, a welcome sharing of habitats. as harvestmen, or daddy longlegs, ago when I was searching for a home Local natural areas host an even marched beside the crickets. A blacktail for me and Skitzo, the old family dog. richer variety of flora and fauna, and, rattlesnake moved silently toward the We moved into a limestone house in turn, they enrich me. Once, when cave in search of frogs and mice as behind the 1891 courthouse. It is a a light rain fell and all else was hushed, Mars rose in the southeastern sky. I peaceful place where I can feel the a pair of muskrats glided almost imper- hiked out, recalling a night last winter words that Enos Mills, father of Rocky ceptibly through the tributary that when I hugged the cavity’s opening Mountain National Park, wrote a hun- drains into the Sabinal River. One for warmth as a light snow fell. dred years ago: “Nature takes mind hotter, dryer day, the endangered Skitzo doesn’t visit the natural areas and body and puts them at their best. golden-cheeked warbler appeared with me anymore. Instead, as I step Here one comes to know himself and more interested in its bath in a trickling onto the porch, he welcomes me home to be the self he would like to be.” seep than it was in my presence. I am and tells me about his day sharing his I receive frequent visits from the grateful that these creatures allow me water dish with the sparrows or his natural world that surrounds the old to observe their private world. evening watching deer graze on our house. In the backyard before daylight, Nature extends an invitation, a neighbor’s favorite plants.Together a baby possum cautiously crawls up promise that every visit has potential we go inside as the lizards evade the skeletal remains of an old live oak for adventure. As dark settled in one our footsteps. tree covered by the dense vines of the summer evening, I watched and Like a cup of morning coffee, trumpet creeper. I feel privileged to waited at the mouth of one of the these daily experiences awaken me witness this recluse, who shows no Hill Country’s natural sinks, a rocky- and let me know I am alive. Like the haste to retreat. lined hole in the surface of the breakfast that follows, they nourish In the front of the house, humming- ground. Cave crickets emerged en me. Here, in the Hill Country, I am birds fly in the open door and nearly masse, like a wave of soldiers suddenly the self I want to be. transparent lizards with large dark eyes appearing across a distant horizon. scoot over the sill. Skitzo is a complicit Hundreds became thousands, and I More of Gail Denkhaus’ essays are scheduled conspirator in these acts as he relaxes could hear a light rustling as they to appear in How I Got To Bandera 2, to without stirring. Our unintentional reached the dry ground litter.Turning be published this summer by Pallafox-Calli practice of inviting the outdoors in is, on my headlamp, I saw that the walls Publishing Company.

46 TEXAS CO-OP POWER • MAY 2004