Gardening On Deck: Dress It Up
You’re probably familiar with interior design and decorating, but did you know that you can also give your deck a makeover with “exterior” design? Container gardening is so easy. It brings the garden to you and works in whatever space you have available. You can grow anything and everything from fruits and vegetables to flowers and herbs, and there’s no better time to start planning your own “on deck” garden than now! Map It Out Deck space is finite, and you’ll want to use that space in the most effective way possible. Planning is key – step back and take a look at your deck and landscape features. Grab a pencil and paper and start mapping out different designs to get your creative ideas flowing. Potted plants for the deck, flower boxes on the railing, and hanging plants for posts and walls are just a few of the ways you can bring the garden onto the deck. Is there adequate sun for the plants you’ve chosen, or do you need more suitable options? What about shade?[...]
Corned Beef and Cabbage for St. Patrick’s Day
With St. Patrick's Day this weekend, it's time to get our Irish on! 2 celery stalks, cut into 3-inch pieces 3 carrots, cut into 3-inch pieces 1 small yellow onion, cut into 1-inch wedges (root end left intact) Onions Yellow/ Brown 1/2 pound small potatoes, halved if large 6 sprigs thyme 1 corned beef brisket (about 3 pounds), plus pickling spice packet or 1 tablespoon pickling spice 1/2 head Savoy cabbage, cut into 1 1/2-inch wedges Grainy mustard, for serving In a 5-to-6-quart slow cooker, place celery, carrots, onion, potatoes, and thyme. Place corned beef, fat side up, on top of vegetables and sprinkle with pickling spice; add enough water to almost cover meat (4 to 6 cups). Cover and cook on high until corned beef is tender, 4 1/4 hours (or 8 1/2 hours on low). Arrange cabbage over corned beef, cover, and continue cooking until cabbage is tender, 45 minutes (or 1 1/2 hours on low). Thinly slice corned beef against the grain and serve with vegetables, cooking liquid, and grainy mustard.
Get Ready for Outdoor Living
You look out over your deck every day from your family room and kitchen. What are you seeing through those back windows and doors? Is your deck neglected, or the outdoor oasis that you originally intended? I certainly hope it’s an oasis. For some folks, decorating and designing seems to come so naturally. I’m awed by the time and care that our clients invest in making their decks truly their own. I love to see the furniture, art pieces, flowers and other greenery that people have so thoughtfully arranged. It’s always an experience for me because each one is so individual, reflecting the homeowners’ personal tastes. There’s nothing that brings me more joy than seeing our carefully-crafted decks enhancing your backyard environment. For others, decorating can seem a bit daunting or overwhelming. Some people just don’t know where to start or how to approach things. Perhaps you’re looking out over an empty or, cluttered space just waiting to be spruced up? Here at DeckTec we want your deck to bring you as much joy and use[...]
How to Beat Those Winter Blues
If you find yourself feeling down lately, know that you’re not alone. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a type of seasonal depression. The most common seasonal winter depression, a serious disorder that affects about five percent of people. Another 10 to 20 percent of people are believed to suffer from “mild” winter depression – that’s one out of every five to ten of us! Winter depression typically starts in late fall and resolves in spring or summer, and symptoms will tend to come and go at the same time each year. It’s worth noting that SAD affects four times as many women as men. So how do you know when it’s time to seek professional help? If you’re seeing some of the following winter depression symptoms in yourself or someone you care about, it’s time to take action: Fatigue Oversleeping Overeating and weight gain Cravings for sweet and starchy foods Difficulty concentrating Social withdrawal or “hibernation” Possible Causes Research indicates that people with SAD may have difficulty[...]
It’s That Time Again
Colorado has long been recognized as an outdoor living and sports mecca for good reason. With the breathtaking Rocky Mountains in our backyard, our wild and scenic state can often seem like one big year-round playground for outdoor activities such as skiing, camping, hiking, hunting, and leisurely sightseeing. We are so fortunate to live in a place that offers a variety of outdoor activities that we can enjoy year-round! Well-deserved recognition of Colorado as the nation’s outdoor living and recreation capital surely contributed to Denver being able to land and secure a five-year contract to host Outdoor Retailer, a large and prestigious show. Though this event is not open to the public, its new Denver location is just further proof of the tremendously positive outdoor living reputation that Colorado has these days. Hosting a massive event like the Outdoor Retailer show has shaken up the regular schedule of consumer trade shows that usually fill the early months of the year here. This is a major industry event that took over the entire Colorado Convention Center (that’s[...]
Upcoming Events
With summer seemingly so far away, you might be wondering what to do to get out of the house. Here are a few things around town you can head to while banishing that winter boardom. Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival February 7-11 Loveland Fire & Ice Festival February 9-11 Mumbo Jumbo Gumbo Cook-Off February 10 Manitou Springs Denver Mardi Gras February 17 Boulder International Film Festival February 22-25 Denver Restaurant Week February 23 – March 4 Colorado Garden & Home Show February 24 – March 4
All Aboard the Winter Park Ski Train!
If you’re like most Denverites, you’re probably pretty tired of crawling along I-70 at a snail’s pace in dark and treacherous winter highway conditions – it’s almost enough at times to take the fun out of winter mountain sports altogether. Take heart, dear ski and snowboard traveler, there’s hope for your peace and serenity now that Amtrak’s popular Winter Park Express is up and running on a regular basis for the second year in a row. There’s no time like the present to take advantage of this opportunity to travel in proper style at high altitude. Every Saturday and Sunday morning now through March 25, the Winter Park Express train, with a capacity of more than 500 passengers, departs Union Station at 7 a.m. and arrives at a new, modern platform at the base of Winter Park Resort a mere two hours later. Return trains depart Winter Park for Denver at 4:30 p.m. The high mountain route traverses 30 tunnels, including the 6-mile Moffat Tunnel, the third-longest rail tunnel in the United States. Just imagine yourself[...]
Winterizing Your Home
The cold weather is upon us, and it’s time to get your home winterized to keep yourself, your loved ones, and your investments safe, secure and operating properly. As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Use our handy checklist to help stay warm and dry! OUTSIDE 1. Disconnect hoses and turn off water, sprinkler systems and fountains to prevent the lines from freezing and bursting. 2. Cover patio furniture and appliances, such as grills, to prevent rust. 3. Consider a fresh coat of sealer for your deck, this will help it weather the freeze/thaw cycle of winter. 4. Drain the gas from your lawn mower. 5. Clean gutters and down spouts to prevent ice buildup. Install leaf guards to keep gutters clear. 6. Have your chimneys inspected, and cleaned if needed. 7. Cover your air conditioning condensing unit. 8. Have your roof inspected and replace any loose or missing shingles. 9. Buy a good snow shovel and/or blower and ice melt before the big weather hits. INSIDE 1. Inspect wood[...]
Winterizing Your Car
As temperatures drop, we might not think about how to stay safe during winter storms. Here are vehicle maintenance and driving tips for staying safe on the road whether you’re going 5 or 500 miles away. Car Winterization Checklist: • Check battery, tire inflation, tire tread, and windshield wipers. – This will ensure that you don’t get stuck in the cold or snow, or are unable to drive because you can’t see. • Install snow tires. – Snow tires are made specifically to help you get better traction in the snow, and will work better than all-season tires. • Check antifreeze. – This one is especially important, as antifreeze not only cools down your car down in the summer; it helps to prevent the engine from freezing in the winter and is a key part of providing heat inside the car’s cabin. • Change out summer windshield washer fluid for winter windshield washer fluid. – Winter windshield washer fluid won’t freeze in the winter cold. If you don’t want to buy more fluid, add 16 oz.[...]
Coffee Beers for Around the Fireplace This Winter
There is no better pairing than coffee and beer – coffee brings rich, complex flavors to beer that you can’t get from anything else. Try one of these local brews the next time you’re looking for a little buzz with your beer. Epic Brewing: Big Bad Baptist This beer has its base in Epic Brewing’s Imperial Stout, transformed through barrel aging. The stout is transferred to three different barrels during the aging process to infuse it with unique flavors you can’t get any other way. Coffee and coco nibs are added in the last stage, when each barrel gets its own “seasoning,” resulting in rich caramel and chocolate hints with a touch of whiskey from the barrels. Fate Brewing: Moirai Coffee IPA Fate Brewing brings together its popular Moirai IPA and coffee to create a new level of beer-tasting experience. A bright orange citrus flavor complements the coffee, creating a lighter, hoppier beer sure to leave you wanting your next sip. New Belgium: La Folie Grand Reserve Geisha A combination of New Belgium’s award-winning sour beer[...]
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