Garden Explosion

New house with a big yard means an opportunity for a big-ass garden! It took some effort (mostly by Girlfriend, though I helped), but we now have grass, trees, and hand-built raised beds.

Before

After compost, grass seed, and a sprinkler system

Before

After compost, grass seed, tree planting, sprinkler system, 40+ hours of dandelion picking, weed barrier, mulch, and planter boxes

Baby planties, May 11

Crazy Hulk mutant plants, July 8: 3 tomatoes, 2 basils, chive, rosemary, parsley

More baby planties, plus Girlfriend's new drip irrigation system: June 16

Same plants have now exploded into this: July 8, zucchini, summer squash, cucumber, 2 more tomatoes

Come September I may need help getting rid of some zucchini...

The 5 People You Meet While Canvassing

When we first arrived in Colorado, I got three part-time jobs in quick succession: selling stuff at a large retail store, tutoring elementary school kids in reading and math, and canvassing for a city council candidate. The canvassing ended in early November with election day, of course, but as we approach the final stretch of the seemingly-decades-long 2016 presidential election, I thought I'd take this time to share my experience with anyone who's considering a career in politics.

Beware the dreaded Apartment Complex: the numbering system is incomprehensible and the residents will swear it's the "law" that political canvassers aren't allowed entry.

Parks and Recreation Nation: Maxwell Falls

I haven't posted in a while, so I'm going through the back catalog and putting up some unpublished junk from a while ago. 

We're going camping next weekend, so in honor of that: here is beautiful Maxwell Falls, a hike we took last October.

Since "Falls" is right there in the title, you're probably wondering where the waterfalls are. I have plenty of gorgeous pictures of trees...

And rocks...

So where are the eponymous falls? They're actually probably the least interesting thing about the hike. Especially in a photo, they are rather small and unassuming.

But the hike is definitely worth it for the rest of the scenery!

Maxwell Falls
Distance from Denver: about 45 minutes
Know before you go: the Cliff Trail Loop is a good route to choose
Things to do: hike, picnic, take pictures
Creature feature: mostly dogs, as these trails allow leashed pups. Pets are an excellent conversation starter if you're looking to chat with other hikers.
Plant highlights: trees and trees and more trees. Did you see the photos?

Go ahead. Your path through the trees is waiting!

Like Butta

Yeah, we made butter.

Homemade butter and some tasty beer bread

10 Reasons Colorado is Better than Louisiana

Sorry bayous, mountains are better.

1. Maxwell Falls, Arapaho National Forest

Things I Wish I Knew Before I Moved to Denver

Moving somewhere new is both exciting and soul-crushing. Since I know for a fact that about 3 billion more people will move to the Greater Denver Area in the next year, I've compiled a list of things I wish I'd known before I made the 109-hour journey.

Colorado: probably worth it. But please don't move here, we don't need housing prices driven up any further.

Jorbs

Well, so much for posting daily. Or posting every Monday-Wendnesday-Friday. After a few months of having no jobs, no money, and plenty of free time, I now have plenty of jobs, slightly more money, and no free time. By "plenty of jobs," I mean three jobs, by "slightly more money" I mean three low-paid part-time jobs, and by "no free time" I mean I have been working every weekday, evening, and weekend. The five-day work-week is for chumps!

I want a zero-day work-week, like this little asshole.

So that explains the radio silence (for all my millions of adoring readers).  But don't worry, I still want to keep you updated about Aurora awesomeness, Denver discoveries, and food fabulousness. I promise to only alliterate occasionally. One of the jobs is temporary and ends November 3rd (does that give you a hint about what sector the job is in?), so after that I'll have more time to post, and I'll give you a juicy exposé about what I learned in that line of work.

Coming soon: cast iron magic, libraries, and apartment complex nonsense!