Liesa Malik, Author at DeckTec Outdoor Designs

It’s About Time

November 1st, 2014|Life On Deck, Outdoor Living|

Daylight Savings Time Ends If you've been out late trick-or-treating, don't worry. This is the weekend to re-energize from your Halloween parties, and enjoy a little extra snooze. Daylight savings officially ends at 2:00 Sunday morning (November 2, 2014), so you'll want to reset your clocks to an hour earlier Saturday before falling back into bed. An hour extra sleep is yours. And for your trivia file, did you know Daylight Savings (DST) was first observed in the United States as part of the World War I? Yes, although designed in concept by Ben Franklin, it was first implemented during the war as an effort to reduce energy use by making better use of summer's longer daylight hours. DST was dropped after that war, but reinstated by President Franklin Roosevelt in World War II, where it became known as "War Time." Generally speaking, Daylight Savings Time begins on the second [...]

Forever Living with California Redwoods

October 25th, 2014|Blog, Deck Design Tips & Trends, DeckTec News & Updates, Outdoor Living|

As a member of the DeckTec community you have, no doubt, heard about our love affair with California redwood. This wood is strong, long-lasting, bug and disease resistant, and one of the finest building products ever discovered. And chances are if you have a DeckTec deck, you have it right under foot. But is redwood's existence going to be there when I need a new deck? We don't tend to talk in terms of the wood's natural state, unless there is something in the news that might affect either the quality or the price of the great wood we use. Lately, the drought in California has been frequently mentioned on television and in magazine articles, so we thought we'd check in with the California Redwood Company (a subsidiary to the Green Diamond Resource Company) to see if there is cause for concern. Gary Rynearson, Manager of Forest Policy and Communications, [...]

Mule Deer, Icons of the West in Decline?

October 18th, 2014|Animals Out the Back Door|

For many people, one of the great attractions to Colorado is our abundance and wide array of beautiful wildlife. Some of us with homes in the foothills have the added advantage of being able to watch that wildlife from the comfort of our backyard decks. And this time of year is a great time to get out the binoculars for a glimpse at the magnificent wild mule deer. What is a mule deer? There are two main species of deer in our region—the whitetail and the mule deer. Both animals weigh between 130 and 280 pounds, support large antlers or "racks," and are seen in abundance throughout the year. The whitetail tends to be found more on the eastern plains of our state, while the mule deer or "muley" is scattered throughout Colorado and the entire west. The big visual differences between the two species are in the tails and [...]

Keeping Cats Indoors

September 27th, 2014|Animals Out the Back Door|

Once, at a local veterinarian, I saw a cartoon that read, "When you call a dog, he comes right to you for a treat… But when you call a cat, he'll take a memo." You have to love these independent, self-content creatures that wander in and out of our lives and who allow us meager humans to service their needs. But should you keep your cat indoors for 100% of its life? Shouldn't Fluffy enjoy the exercise and fresh air of a life outdoors? Isn't it inhumane to curtail such independent tendencies and hunting instincts? This is a topic that sparks debate at any time, and at every cocktail party. We love our pets and want what's best for them, yet our neighbors don't necessarily appreciate our intentions nor the "presents" of dead birds, mice, or poo left in their yards. Beyond the impact on neighbors and friends, there are [...]

Fall is Time to Play in the Dirt

September 20th, 2014|Garden & Lawn Care, Gardening|

The first cold of the autumn hit recently, and with it comes the desire to pack everything into the garage and snuggle up under your nearest blanket. But for gardeners everywhere, this change in weather is all part of the rhythm of life. There is still plenty of work to do at this time, and plenty to enjoy about being outside. Right now is a great time to be thinking about next spring. We gardeners can run to our garden shops and catalogs and picture great color for when the last of the snows melt away, even if we haven't experienced the first touch of winter yet. Now is a great time to amend the soil for next year's gardens. Betsy Kelson, staff horticulturalist with Jared's Nursery spent a little time with us to review this past summer's challenges and getting the ground ready for next spring. "The problem this [...]

Liesa

About Liesa Malik

It’s About Time

Forever Living with California Redwoods

Mule Deer, Icons of the West in Decline?

Keeping Cats Indoors

Fall is Time to Play in the Dirt