#fort collins co

[housefullofnuns]

First shows of the year for me!! A bunch of my friends are playing First Friday in deep ellum at trees and then I'm seeing tx2 at RBC a couple weeks later!! Come hang!!

Song recs for you:

[kimberlyharrisus]

https://seniorsbluebook.com/seniorhousing/directory/location/fort%20collins/colorado

Are You Searching for the Best Senior Living Options in Fort Collins, CO? Call Seniors Blue Book.

Seniors Blue Book invites you to explore top-notch Senior Living in Fort Collins CO options. Discover vibrant communities, services, and resources tailored for seniors. Start your journey toward a fulfilling lifestyle today!

[volkinsurancebenefitsco]

Reasons To Consult a Colorado Insurance Broker in Fort Collins and Windsor, CO

Being fit and healthy is a compulsion for all individuals, regardless of their age. Unfortunately, the body begins to decline with each passing year, making it difficult for the concerned individual to be active after a certain age. No worries! One may try to protect their health with the aid of appropriate health care. Yes! Medical expenses have been spiraling of late, making it impossible for an ordinary citizen to afford the right care all the time. Well, it helps to enroll in Medicare insurance in Loveland and Greeley, CO, and obtain the care required without paying too much. ​ It suffices to know that Medicare is a federal health insurance program that includes a wide range of health care services. There are a few limitations and the aspiring Medicare user must be well informed about the regulations before attempting to enroll in the program. Some of the noteworthy facts related to the Medicare Program include the following: -

The Medicare Plans are available to senior citizens aged 65 or older. Younger people battling several health conditions may also choose to enroll.

There are four distinct parts of Medicare. It is most important to consider the coverage, cost, and exclusions carefully before enrolling in Medicare. The distinct Medicare Parts are referred to as the following: -

Part A: Hospital Insurance

This part will pay for hospital stay costs and also includes admission to specific medical facilities. Besides, it helps to know that this part may also cover the following:

l Partial cost of home health care services l Hospice care for terminally ill patients

Part B: Medical Insurance

This part pays the doctors’ bills, outpatient care at facilities, and home health care that is not covered by Part A. The coverage also includes the following: 

l Ambulance costs l Diagnostic and laboratory tests such as X-rays and blood tests l Medical equipment such as use of wheelchairs and hospital beds l Orthotics (devices that support joints) and prosthetics (artificial body parts) l Mental health care l Preventive benefits and screenings A combination of Part A & Part B is known as the original Medicare Plan

Part C: Medicare Advantage

Individuals may opt for this part instead of enrolling in the original Medicare plans. This type of Medicare service is provided by private companies. It helps to know that the individual enrolled in part C will have to pay a trifle more than the original Medicare services. The user is free to choose the type of service by opting for one of the following:

l Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) l Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) l Private Fee-for-Service plans (PFFS) l Special Needs Plans (SNPs) l Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs)

The user has to pay for the original Medicare Part B and the private services to obtain the desired coverage. This Part also provides additional services that are not included in the original Medicare. The extras include:

l Vision Care l Dental Care l Hearing Care

Enrolling in Part D helps one obtain prescription drug coverage as well.

The individual plans and coverage as well as exclusions seem confusing. It is best to discuss the requirements with an experienced Colorado insurance broker in Fort Collins and Windsor, CO, before enrolling in a suitable Medicare Plan.

[benjerryfortcollins]

Savor Unique Ice Cream Flavors at Ben and Jerry's Fort Collins, CO

Step into Ben and Jerry's in Fort Collins, CO for a unique ice cream adventure. Located in Old Town Square, we offer a diverse menu of flavors, from vegan delights to classic favorites. Enjoy a cone, plan a party with a custom cake, or let us cater your next event. Make your day sweeter by visiting us today!

[treecarefortcollins]

Preparing Your Trees for Winter: 6 Expert Tips

As temperatures drop and winter approaches, it’s essential to prepare your trees for the colder months ahead. Winter can be hard on trees, with harsh winds, freezing temperatures, and heavy snowfall threatening their health and structure. Here are six expert tips to help your trees survive—and even thrive—through winter.

1. Water Thoroughly Before the Ground Freezes

One of the best ways to prepare your trees for winter is to ensure they’re well-watered before the ground freezes. Watering deeply in the late fall helps trees absorb and store moisture in their root zones.

Focus on Young Trees: Newly planted and young trees are especially vulnerable to drying out in winter. Give them extra attention with a deep soaking.

Water Around the Drip Line: Watering around the drip line (the outer edge of the tree’s canopy) encourages deep root growth, which is critical for winter survival.

Hydrating your trees before winter helps them withstand dry winter winds and prevents “winter burn,” a condition that causes browning or drying of foliage.

2. Apply Mulch to Protect the Root Zone

Mulching in late fall helps insulate the soil, regulates temperature fluctuations, and protects tree roots from extreme cold.

Spread a 2-4 Inch Layer: Apply mulch around the base of the tree, keeping it a few inches away from the trunk to prevent moisture buildup and rot.

Use Organic Mulch: Materials like wood chips, bark, or straw work well and break down over time, adding nutrients to the soil.

A proper layer of mulch keeps the ground around the roots warmer, giving your trees a better chance of weathering winter conditions.

3. Wrap Trunks to Prevent Winter Damage

Tree bark can crack in response to extreme temperature shifts, a phenomenon known as “frost crack.” Thin-barked trees, such as young maples, cherry trees, and some fruit trees, are especially susceptible.

Use Tree Wraps or Burlap: Wrapping the trunks in tree wrap or burlap can protect them from sudden temperature drops.

Remove Wraps in Early Spring: Be sure to take off the wraps in early spring to prevent moisture buildup, which could lead to rot.

Protecting tree trunks helps prevent both frost crack and sunscald, where the bark is damaged from sudden warming in the winter sunlight.

4. Prune Carefully Before Winter Hits

Pruning before winter can benefit your trees by removing weak or damaged branches that may not withstand the weight of ice and snow. However, timing and technique are key.

Prune in Late Fall or Early Winter: Pruning in these cooler months minimizes the risk of disease transmission and allows wounds to heal gradually.

Focus on Dead or Diseased Branches: Remove only dead, damaged, or diseased branches to strengthen the tree’s structure. Avoid heavy pruning in winter, as it can stress the tree.

Proper pruning reduces the risk of branch breakage under the weight of snow, keeping your tree’s structure intact through the winter.

5. Shield Trees from Harsh Winds and Sunlight

Winter winds and intense sunlight can sap moisture from evergreens and expose young trees to winter burn. Creating physical barriers can reduce this damage.

Use Burlap Screens for Protection: Erecting burlap screens around trees, especially evergreens, can shield them from wind and intense sun.

Stake Young Trees Carefully: For newly planted or small trees, stakes can add stability against heavy winds, but be sure they’re loose enough to allow slight movement, which encourages root growth.

By shielding your trees from winter elements, you can prevent moisture loss and reduce the risk of winter burn, which can be damaging to needles and foliage.

6. Inspect for Pests and Disease Before Winter

Pests and diseases can weaken trees, making them more vulnerable to winter stress. A thorough inspection before winter helps you catch any issues early.

Check Leaves, Bark, and Branches: Look for signs of insect activity, fungal growth, or areas of discoloration on bark and leaves.

Treat As Needed: If you spot signs of pests or disease, consider treating the tree with an appropriate pesticide or fungicide, following professional guidelines.

Identifying and treating issues before winter gives your trees a better chance of staying healthy through the season.

In Conclusion: Proactive Winter Care Sets Your Trees Up for Success

Taking these steps to prepare your trees for winter is an investment in their health and longevity. From watering deeply to shielding against winter winds, these expert tips from a tree care expert can make a big difference in helping your trees endure harsh conditions and emerge ready for a new season in spring. With a little preparation, your trees can stay strong, resilient, and beautiful all winter long.

[eliteconstruction]

All the reasons not to leave food in the truck on a jobsite.

All the reasons not to leave food in the truck on a jobsite.

[hwgcolorado]

Transform Your Bathroom: Expert Remodeling Services in Fort Collins, CO

https://www.hwgcolorado.com/bathrooms/ - HWG Services Remodeling and General Contractor is your go-to choice for bathroom renovations near Fort Collins, CO. We specialize in all types of bathroom remodeling, from small bathroom renovations to master bathroom makeovers. Our expert bathroom remodel designers create stunning and functional spaces. For professional bathroom renovation services, contact us at (970) 893-9006. We're one of the best bathroom remodeling companies near Fort Collins, CO, offering top-notch bathroom home improvement.

Contact Us: HWG Services Remodeling and General Contractor 502 E Pitkin St, Fort Collins, CO 80524, United States (970) 893-9006 contact@hwgcolorado.com

[justofficefurniture]

Explore Premium Office Furniture in Fort Collins, CO

Discover top-tier office furniture in Fort Collins with Commercial Interiors by JOF. Explore a variety of desks, chairs, and storage solutions designed to enhance productivity and workplace comfort. Visit us today for stylish, functional office upgrades.

[gallusrostromegalus]

Move To A Darker Place

This is a story of Man Vs. Machine.

---

Last March, my father attempted to file his Taxes.

My beloved father is a Boomer. Unlike most Boomers, my father is rather handy with technology because he was one of the people that had a not-insignificant hand in Developing a hell of a lot of it. He was studying Computer Science at Cal Poly before the computer science degree existed. I have many fond childhood memories of skipping through the aisles of various electronic and computer part warehouses while Dad described something that either terrified the staff or made them worship him as a God.  He taught himself how to use his smartphone.  Internationally.

So when he saw the option to file digitally with the IRS through the “ID.me” program, he leapt at the chance to celebrate the Federal Government finally entering the Digital Age.

It was all going swimmingly for about six hours, until he was ready to file and the system told him that it needed to verify his identity. 

“Very Well.” said my father, a man unafraid of talking to himself and getting something out of the conversation. “It wouldn’t do for me to get someone else’s return.”

The System told him that it needed him to take a “Digital Image ID”.

a.k.a: A Selfie.

“A-ha!” Dad beams. Dad is very good at taking selfies. He immediately pulled out his phone, snapped one, and tried to upload it.

Please log into your Id.me Account and use the provided app to submit your Digital Image ID. The System clarified.

“Oh. You should have said so.”  Dad pouted, but used his phone to log onto the ID.me account, do the six security verification steps and double-checked that the filing looked the same as it did on the desktop, gave the IRS like nine permissions on his phone, and held up the camera to take his Federal Privacy Invasion Selfie.

Please align your face to the indicated grid. Said The System, pulling up a futuristic green-web-of-polygons approximation.

“Ooh, very Star Trek. Gene Roddenberry would HATE this!” Dad said cheerfully, aligning his face to the grid.  My father is a bit… cavalier, when it comes to matters of personal information and federal government, because he’s been on FBI watchlists since the late 60’s when he was protesting The Vietnam War and Ronald Regan before he’d broken containment. Alas.

Anyway, there is very little information the federal government does not have on him already, but he’s as good at stalking the FBI as they are at stalking him, and had worked out a solution:  He has something approaching a friendship with the local Federal Agent (Some guy named “Larry”. Allegedly), and got Larry hooked on Alternative Histories and Dad’s collection of carefully-researched “there is very likely buried treasure here” stories, and Larry is loath to bother his favorite Historical Fanfiction author too much.

But I digress.

After thinking for a minute, The System came back with an Error Message. Please remove glasses or other facial obstructions.

And here is where the real trouble began.

See, my father wears glasses that do substantially warp the appearance of his face, because he is so nearsighted that he is legally blind without them. His natural focal point is about 4 inches in front of his nose.  While Dad can still take a selfie because he (approximately) knows where his phone is if it’s in his hand, he cannot see the alignment grid.

He should ask someone to take it for him! I hear the audience say. Yes, that would be the sane and reasonable thing to do, but Dad was attempting to do taxes at his residence in Fort Collins, while his immediate family was respectively in Denver, Texas and Canada.  He tried calling our neighbors, who turned out to be in Uganda.

He looked down at the dog, Arwen, and her little criminal paws that can open doorknobs, but not operate cell phones.

She looked back at him, and farted.

“Well, I’ll give it a try, but if it gives me too much trouble, I’ll call Larry, and Larry can call the IRS about it.” Dad told her. 

She continued to watch him. Arwen is an Australian Kelpie (a type of cattle-herding dog), going on 14 years old, deaf as a post and suffering from canine dementia now, but she still retains her natural instinct to Micromanage. She was also trained as a therapy dog, and even if she can’t hear my dad, still recognizes the body language of a man setting himself up for catastrophe.

So, squinting in the late afternoon light next to the back door, Dad attempted to line his face up with a grid he could only sort-of see, and took A Federal Selfie.

The System thought about it for a few moments.

Image Capture Failed: Insufficient Contrast. The System replied. Please move to a darker place.

“...Huh.” Dad frowned. “Alright.”

He moved to the middle of his office, away from the back door, lit only by the house lighting and indirect sunlight, and tried again.

Image Capture Failed. Please move to a darker place.

“What?” Dad asked the universe in general.

“Whuff.” Arwen warned him against sunk costs.

Dad ignored her and went into the bathroom, the natural habitat of the selfie. Surely, only being lit by a light fixture that hadn’t been changed since Dad was attempting to warn everyone about Regan would be suitably insufficient lighting for The System.  It took some negotiating, because that bathroom is “Standing Room Only” not “Standing And Holding Your Arms Out In Front Of You Room”.  He ended up taking the selfie in the shower stall.

As The System mulled over the latest attempt, Arwen shuffled over and kicked open the door to watch.

Image Capture Failed. Please Move to a Darker Place.

“Do you mean Spiritually?” Dad demanded.

“Whuff.” Arwen cautioned him again.

Determined to succeed, or at least get a different error message that may give him more information, Dad entered The Downstairs Guest Room.  It is the darkest room in the house, as it is in the basement, and only has one legally-mandated-fire-escape window, which has blinds.  Dad drew those blinds, turned off the lights and tried AGAIN.

Image Capture Failed. Please Move To A Darker Place.

“DO YOU WANT ME TO PHOTOGRAPH MYSELF INSIDE OF A CAVE??” Dad howled. 

“WHUFF!” Arwen reprimanded him from under the pull-out bed in the room. It’s where she attempts to herd everyone when it’s thundering outside, so the space is called her ‘Safety Cave’.

Dad frowned at the large blurry shape that was The Safety Cave.

“Why not?” he asked, the prelude to many a Terrible Plan.  With no small amount of spiteful and manic glee, Dad got down onto the floor, and army-crawled under the bed with Arwen to try One Last Time. Now in near-total darkness, he rolled on his side to be able to stretch his arms out, Arwen slobber-panting in his ear, and waited for the vague green blob of the Facial grid to appear.

This time, when he tapped the button, the flash cctivated.

“GOD DAMN IT!” Dad shouted, dropping the phone and rubbing his eyes and cursing to alleviate the pain of accidentally flash-banging himself. Arwen shuffled away from him under the bed, huffing sarcastically at him.

Image Capture Failed. Please move to a darker place.

“MOTHERFU- hang on.” Dad squinted.  The System sounded strange. Distant and slightly muffled.

Dad squinted really hard, and saw the movement of Arwen crawling out from under the bed along the phone’s last known trajectory.

“ARWEN!” Dad shouted, awkwardly reverse-army crawling out from under the bed, using it to get to his feet and searching for his glasses, which had fallen out of his pocket under the bed, so by the time he was sighted again, Arwen had had ample time to remove The Offending Device.

He found her out in the middle of the back yard, the satisfied look of a Job Well Done on her face. She did not have the phone. 

“Arwen.” Dad glared. It’s a very good glare. Dad was a teacher for many years and used it to keep his class in order with sheer telepathically induced embarrassment, and his father once glared a peach tree into fecundity.  

Arwen regarded him with the casual interest a hurricane might regard a sailboat tumbling out of its wake. She is a force of nature unto herself and not about to be intimidated by a half-blind house ape.  She also has cataracts and might not be able to make out the glare.

“I GIVE UP!” Dad shouted, throwing his hands in the air and returning to the office to write to the IRS that their selfie software sucks ass. Pleased that she had gotten her desired result, Arwen followed him in.

To Dad’s immense surprise, the computer cheerfully informed him that his Federally Secure Selfie had been accepted, and that they had received and were now processing his return!

“What the FUCK?” Dad glared. “Oh well. If I’ve screwed it up, Larry can call me.”

---

I bring this up because recently, Dad received an interesting piece of mail.

It was a letter from the IRS, addressed to him, a nerve-wracking thing to recessive at the best of times.  Instead of a complaint about Dad’s Selfie Skills, it was a letter congratulating him on using the new ID.me System.  It thanked him for his help and expressed hopes he would use it again next year, and included the selfie that The System had finally decided to accept.

“You know, my dad used to complain about automation.” Dad sighed, staring at the image. “Incidentals my boy!  My secretary saves the state of California millions of dollars a year catching small errors before they become massive ones! He’d say. Fought the human resources board about her pay every year.  I used to think he was overestimating how bad machines were and underestimating human error, but you know? He was right.”

He handed me the image.

My father was, technically, in the image.  A significant amount of the bottom right corner is taken up by the top of his forehead and silver hair.  Most of the image, the part with the facial-recognition markers on it, was composed of Arwen’s Alarmed and Disgusted Doggy face.

“Oh no!” I cackled. “Crap, does this mean you have to call the IRS and tell them you’re not a dog?”

“Probably.” Dad sighed. “I know who I’m gonna bother first though.” he said, taking out his phone (Dad did find his phone a few hours after Arwen absconded with it when mom called and the early spinach started ringing). 

“Hey Larry!” Dad announced to the local federal agent. “You’re never gonna believe this. My dog filed my taxes!”

Larry considered this for a moment. “Is this the dog that stole my sandwich? Out of my locked  car?” he asked suspiciously.

“The very same.” Dad grinned.

“Hm. Clever Girl.” Federal Agent Larry sighed. “I figured it was only a matter of time before she got into tax fraud.”

---

I'm a disabled artist making my living writing these stories. If you enjoy my stories, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or Pre-ordering my Family Lore Book on Patreon. Thank you!

[kimberlyharrisus]

Top-Rated Senior Living Facilities in Fort Collins, CO

Grace Pointe Senior Care Community in Fort Collins, CO, features top-rated senior living facilities offering exceptional care and enriching experiences. Enjoy a supportive environment designed for comfort and well-being. For more information, visit at gracepointegreeley.com.

[volkinsurancebenefitsco]

https://www.volkib.com/

Volk Insurance Benefits is your Colorado insurance broker in Fort Collins and Windsor, CO, specializing in Medicare insurance in Loveland and Greeley.

[benjerryfortcollins]

Dive Into Flavor at Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Shop in Fort Collins, CO

Come to Ben and Jerry's in Fort Collins, CO, and dive into an array of exciting ice cream flavors. Whether you're looking for vegan options or a classic cone, we have something to satisfy your sweet tooth. Located in Old Town Square, we offer everything from personalized ice cream cakes to event catering. Visit us today for a truly delightful ice cream experience!

[ronexmark]

https://sportaboutfoco.com/embroidery/ - Add a touch of elegance to your wardrobe with custom embroidered clothing from Sport About in Fort Collins, CO. Ideal for businesses, teams, and personal gifts, our embroidery services offer quality and style. Visit us at Sport About.

[eliteconstruction]

Looking for a new color? This SW color of the month is great!

Looking for a new color? This SW color of the month is great!

[hwgcolorado]

Fort Collins Deck Installation & Repair

Discover top-tier deck installation and repair services in Fort Collins, CO with HWG Services Remodeling & Construction. Enhance your outdoor space with durable, custom designs that add value and beauty to your home.