Krystal Tubbs, Author at DeckTec Outdoor Designs

Lions and Tigers and Bears in Colorado? Oh My!

August 29th, 2018|Animals Out the Back Door, Blog, Colorado Life|

You’re probably familiar with Colorado wildlife, from mountain lions and black bears to deer, elk, bighorn sheep, coyotes, moose, mountain goats and other furry creatures that share our beautiful state. But tigers? Yes, tigers. If you’re looking for something off the beaten path this summer, check out The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg at 2999 County Road 53, a wildlife refuge and educational facility 30 miles from Denver on the eastern plains. Believe it or not, this low-profile, Keenesburg nonprofit, home to more than 450 large animals, is the nation’s largest and oldest carnivore sanctuary, and the site of the longest elevated (1.5 mile) footbridge in the world. It’s one of the few places where visitors can witness prides of African lions and other large carnivores living out their lives freely in sprawling open space. In addition to “lions, tigers and bears,” the sanctuary is home to jaguars, wolves, leopards, [...]

Deck Worthy Recipes: Grilled Jerk Chicken

August 22nd, 2018|Blog, Outdoor Recipes|

Nothing says dinner "On Deck" like grilled jerk chicken! Try this deck worthy recipe this weekend. Grilled Jerk Chicken Serves 8 JERK MARINADE 3 scallions, chopped 4 large garlic cloves, chopped 1 small onion, chopped 4-5 fresh habanero chilies, stemmed & seeded ¼ c. fresh lime juice 2 tbsp. soy sauce 3 tbsp. olive oil 1½ tbsp. salt 1 tbsp. packed brown sugar 1 tbsp. fresh thyme leaves 2 tsp. ground allspice 2 tsp. black pepper ¾ tsp. freshly grated nutmeg ½ tsp. cinnamon CHICKEN 4 chicken breast halves with skin and bones, halved crosswise 2½-3 lbs. chicken thighs and drumsticks PAPAYA SALSA 1 papaya 1/4 medium red onion, finely minced a handful of fresh cilantro leaves, finely chopped juice of 1 large lime 1 hot green pepper thinly sliced, seeds and all salt and pepper to taste DIRECTIONS Blend marinade ingredients in blender or food processor until smooth. Divide [...]

Birding on Deck: Bird Feeding

August 15th, 2018|Animals Out the Back Door, Blog, Colorado Life, Outdoor Living|

Welcome to our third in a series of articles about backyard birding “On Deck!” The first thing to know when it comes to feeding your backyard birds is that there are different types of feed and feeders for different types of birds. It can, unfortunately, be a bit overwhelming for the beginner, as there’s a seemingly endless array of options and effects. There are “loose” feeders such tray, tube and house (or “hopper”) styles, suet or seed cylinders, bark butter pellets and tubs, and specialized feeders and food for birds such as hummingbirds, orioles and goldfinches. There are various placements as well. Feeders can be hung “on deck” or from trees, on the top or side of deck railings, with or without extension arms, or mounted on poles. Some feeders are squirrel proof, and all tube feeders can be made squirrel and large-bird proof with an added cage. Yup, there [...]

We Want Your Best Photos: Picture This! Contest

August 8th, 2018|Blog, Decks & Backyard Features, DeckTec News & Updates, Life On Deck|

Are you proud of your deck? Well, we’ve got some good news for you: It’s that time again – time to start sending in your best photos for our annual Picture This! contest. This is your chance to show off your deck décor, furnishings and personal touches. Got some colorful hanging plants or a lush growing garden, a beautiful sundial or other outdoor art? We’d love to see all that greenery and artistry as well as those dinner party “glamour shots” of you and your loved ones out there “On Deck” enjoying yourselves to the hilt. Show us how good it gets out there! And we’ve got some great prizes for the top submissions: Barbecue catering for 20 goes to the first prize winner, an Ace Hardware gift certificate is second prize, and third prize is your choice of an outdoor thermometer or a barbecue grill set. Winning entries may [...]

29 Years and Still Going Strong

July 18th, 2018|Blog, DeckTec News & Updates, Life On Deck|

This month, July, DeckTec officially entered its 29th year of business. It’s not a milestone anniversary like a 25th or 30th, but another year to celebrate nonetheless. Over the years DeckTec has managed to survive and grow through more than a few boom and bust cycles. However, nothing compares to the crazy demand we have been experiencing this year. In fact, after the economy tanked in 2008, my father grew concerned and asked me what I planned to do if no one wanted a non-essential home addition like a custom deck anymore. Honestly, I didn’t have an answer for him. I just couldn’t imagine doing anything other than continuing to create premium unique outdoor living environments. It turned out custom outdoor living additions are more important and essential than I could’ve ever imagined. While so many people endure jobs that they don’t really care for, I enjoy my work every single day. [...]

ktubbs

About Krystal Tubbs

Lions and Tigers and Bears in Colorado? Oh My!

Deck Worthy Recipes: Grilled Jerk Chicken

Birding on Deck: Bird Feeding

We Want Your Best Photos: Picture This! Contest

29 Years and Still Going Strong