Creating an Adult Treehouse
Years ago, (I won’t say how many) when I was growing up as a young child in Maryland, our community was surrounded by wooded areas that came to form an important part of my elementary school years. When summer arrived and school was out, my three brothers, my friends and I seemed to live and play in those woods from morning until night. After playing our usual round of games several kids of all ages would invariably get together to create some kind of makeshift “Swiss Family Robinson” style treehouse. We would do this by wedging, notching and nailing whatever tree limbs we could find laying around. We made our own fun and it didn’t get much better. I think I got tuned into that unique feeling of elevation, having a private sanctuary for my friends and I that was literally above it all. Speaking of elevation, I eventually moved out here to Colorado, where of course there aren’t as many trees, and it felt really different to me. I got drawn into landscaping and creating[...]
Spinach & Artichoke Stuffed Burgers
The unofficial start of summer is here, try these delicious stuffed burgers at your next backyard party! Yields: 4 Ingredients 4 oz. cream cheese, softened 1 c. shredded mozzarella 1/4 c. freshly grated Parmesan 1/2 c. frozen spinach, defrosted 1/2 c. chopped artichoke hearts 1 clove garlic, minced pinch of crushed red pepper flakes (optional) kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper 1 1/2 lb. ground beef 4 Hamburger buns Vegetable oil, for brushing Directions In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, spinach, artichoke hearts, garlic and red pepper flakes (if using). Season with salt and pepper and mix until well combined. Separate beef into 8 thin patties. Place a large dollop of the cream cheese mixture into the middle of a patty. Place another patty on top and pinch the seams together. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Season patties with salt and pepper and refrigerate until ready to grill. Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Grease the grates with vegetable oil then add the patties. Grill until cooked to your liking, about 4 minutes per[...]
Steve in the O’Meara Lounge
Steve Sparhawk, the owner of DeckTec chatted with Willie B. from KBPI on Friday in the O'Meara Lounge. Learn a bit about DeckTec and about who we are looking to hire for carpenters and carpenter helpers!
The Joys of Birding “On Deck”
Welcome to the first in our series of articles on backyard “on deck” birding! We were fortunate to speak with metro area birding expert Scott Menough, owner with his wife, Sandy, of Wild Birds Unlimited in Lakewood since 1989. Scott is the host of BirdTalk radio, which airs Saturdays from noon to 1 p.m. on 710 KNUS and 1690 KDMT, and also hosts a podcast at BirdTalkGuys.com. Perhaps you’ve never thought about attracting more birds to your yard? Well, according to Scott, conditions here are excellent for doing exactly that. “In Colorado we’re very lucky to have a variety of habitat that is attractive to wild birds, some year-round, and some seasonally,” he said. According to Menough, feathered friends that you can commonly see year-round from your deck include the so-called “house birds” – house sparrows, house finches and house wrens as well as nuthatches, black-capped chickadees, pigeons, woodpeckers, American and lesser goldfinches, robins, doves, magpies and blue jays, among others. Juncos are more wintertime birds, while those gorgeous, almost magical hummingbirds are here generally from[...]
Time to Plant Sweet Berries and Fragrant Herbs
Berries and herbs tend to grow slowly, and because of our short growing season here, are best cultivated from starts, which are available now at garden centers, farmers markets, supermarkets and hardware stores. If you try to grow these from seed, well, it might be winter before you see anything! Keep in mind that container plants in general are considerably more exposed to the elements, (heat, cold, moisture and dryness) than plants in the ground. In Colorado it’s advisable to go with plastic pots which won’t evaporate water as quickly than the porous earthen terra cotta pots. (That being said, there’s good news for diehard terra cotta lovers – Sturtz & Copeland in Boulder, 303-442-6663, is now carrying a line of waterproof German terra cotta that will work just as well as plastic.) Herbs Herbs in general can tolerate our hot and dry Colorado summers and because of that are great for beginning gardeners. Thyme, oregano, rosemary, basil and lavender are ideally planted outside in mid-May after the last frost. These herbs (with the exception of basil)[...]
Thoughts About Birds
In our busy, nosey, electronic media dominated world, we are told to “stop and smell the roses.” I think we should, especially this time of year. However, there is something else that often gets overlooked in the hustle of our everyday – the birds that surround us. As you sit out on your deck, porch, patio, or go for a leisurely walk, take a moment to relax, breathe, and listen. You will notice the beautiful sounds and songs through the busy sounds of traffic, lawn mowers, and kids playing. Like gardening, bird watching is a stress reducing and relaxing activity. It gets you outdoors and in touch with nature without travel or leaving your home. So, get outside, quiet your mind, and open your eyes. For many people, birding is a passion, and we are happy to introduce you to one of the “Bird Talk Guys” from Wild Birds Unlimited, to share a little about attracting birds. Scott Menough is the host of BirdTalk radio, which airs Saturdays from noon to 1 p.m. on 710 KNUS[...]
Spicy Lime Grilled Salmon
Try this light salmon recipe the next time you're looking for something new to try! SPICY LIME GRILLED SALMON Serves 4 Ingredients 1 lime 2 tbsp. olive oil 1 garlic clove, minced 2 tbsp. soy sauce 1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes salt and pepper to taste 1.5 lbs. wild Alaskan salmon lime wedges (optional garnish) olive oil to coat grill Directions 1. Using microplane, zest lime into small mixing bowl. 2. Juice lime. Add juice to zest. 3. Whisk together juice, oil, garlic, soy sauce, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. 4. Lay fish in small baking dish, filet skin side up so marinade soaks in. Pour marinade over fish, turning to cover completely. 5. Cover salmon with airtight lid in fridge for 30-60 minutes, or until you’re ready to eat. 6. Heat outdoor grill (or grill pan) over medium-high heat until piping hot. Brush olive oil over grill grates with heat-resistant pastry brush to prevent sticking. 7. Place marinated salmon on hot grill or pan. Let cook – without touching it! – for 5-7[...]
Deck to Table Dining
Our March issue offered helpful tips for designing an “on deck” container garden. Now we’re ready to “get growing!” If you’re up for the container gardening adventure, the rewards are great – imagine the joys of watching plants you’ve carefully tended grow into maturity. How wonderful is a dinner party with friends and family gathered round enjoying the “fruits” (and vegetables) of your labor from the deck where they were raised? There’s just no better way to impress your guests! Salad greens such as arugula, mustard, and mesculun, sassy, baby and braising mixes as well as lettuces grow quickly and easily from seed. They do well in cool weather and ideally should be planted now, as rain and snow will aid germination. These greens are especially great for pots because they don’t take up much room, and, even better, they grow back after being cut for multiple harvests. You can cover plants a bit for insulation and to speed up the process, but it’s not required, as there’s no need to be concerned about frost with[...]
On Deck with Joe Freemyer
Lead DeckTec carpenter Joe Freemyer wasn’t born in Colorado, but he might as well have been – this guy takes to the mountains, so to speak, like a fish to water. “Colorado is where it’s at. I’m a very outdoorsy person, I just love the mountains and everything that comes with it – hiking, mountain biking, trail running, bouldering, climbing. I definitely take advantage of it all, a lot more than some people do,” Joe said. “I’m an avid mountain biker.” “Exercise is really important to me, I work out every day,” he added. “I definitely take advantage of the trails and open space.” While it may seem hard to believe, Joe actually grew up in the oh-so-flatlands of Pleasantville, Iowa, a small town of about 1,500 folks near the center of the state, and also lived briefly in Tennessee, which didn’t quite suit him. “I was in Tennessee for about three months when I was 22, and then I was like, ‘I’m outta here,’” he said. “I realized pretty quickly that I didn’t want to[...]
Spring Has Sprung!
I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to head outside, especially since we have “sprung forward” and the days are steadily getting warmer. With the Rockies home opener this Friday, I know summer is on its way. With summer comes all of the graduations, weddings, BBQs, and outdoor parties that are ideal for celebrating in your outdoor living environment. I can’t remember the start of a Colorado baseball season where the team has had such promise. Even though I’ll have many opportunities to see the Rockies play at Coors Field, I’m sure I’ll have many more wonderful evenings watching from my covered patio. With our amazing climate, there’s no better place for outdoor living than right here in Colorado. Just thinking about it gets me excited for another season. As we begin to spend more time outdoors we’re always looking for ways to enhance our pleasure and enjoyment, from deep cushioned sectionals and comfy outdoor furnishings to gathering round with wine or coffee (and I love coffee!), gas firepits, and an outdoor TV to watch[...]
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