AfricanKelli

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Spending a few days in the South working at a project site.

Be back soon, y’all.

xo,

K

H4 pattern numero uno: the Cody Slipper. {The Cody Slipper}

Say that 5 times fast! A sneak peek at a couple projects underway at the ranch. Or homestead. Or suburban house I wish was a wee farm:

Recipes, knitting and sewing patterns and traditions I find meaningful — all on the pending schedule for H4. Still working on a few PDFs I plan to post in the next week. If you’d like some easy gift ideas, both of the craft and food varities, check out Handmade Holidays of years past. {Here is a checklist. And here are a few fun ideas.}

~K

Denver 30 was an attempt to step back from my blog for a bit and have more time for other things. For one, I’ve been taking a writing class for the last two months that wrapped this week. It was taught by Nick Arvin, who has published a successful novel, a book of short stories and has a second novel coming out in March. As a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, you’d think he’d be a cocky, leather elbow tweed coat jerk. And you’d be entirely wrong. He is a soft-spoken, kind and generous man who led our little class through a handful of other novels with thoughtful discussion and encouragement on our own projects. I was taken by his humble presence.

There has been a sweater knitting class too. Work travel. Thanksgiving. Ignite Boulder.  And oh, that little holiday in three weeks I spend six months planning for.

Denver 30 — all 110 photos of this lovely city — was an attempt to honor my father. He, who I idolize, isn’t such a fan of what I share on the interwebs. As an an intensely private, quiet man, I’d guess he’s fairly shocked to be in in someway responsible for creating a loud-mouth, all knowing, non-stop attention sponge of a daughter.

I’ve read in several memoirs that in your early 30s, people find a self-confident swagger and stride they could have only dreamed of, say, that pimply year of high school when jeans were never quite long enough to cover awkward limbs akimbo. Or maybe that was just last year, which had decidedly clearer skin, but ankles still in full view.

To my father’s credit, I did spend November considering thoughtfully about the blog. And yet, the plan backfired. The introspection brought me to a tail-feather shaking realization that frankly, you just can’t please everyone.

Let the blog trolls do their anonymous cowardly acts of malice. Let the crowds roll their eyes at my love of Christmas — the carols, the Excel spreadsheet planning of gifts, expenses and mailing calendar, the decorations and the pure joy I find in celebrating. Let the fashionistas laugh at the fact I still have a hard time finding jeans that cover all of my socks. Let the nutritionists scorn my autopsy, which will surely show veins coursing equal parts chardonnay and Diet Coke. Let those without pets snicker how a pound pup could complete change my life for the better.

Instead, I have some gifts to wrap, a soda to guzzle, carols to sing gleefully off key and a very happy Willie Nelson Mandela to snuggle.

Shake your tail feathers, Chickens.

~K

30! We made it! 30 days of photographs, which if you’d like a stroll down memory lane can be found here.

For my final day of photographing this sweet town, I’d like to celebrate Evergreen — my favorite spot to get away. It’s higher in elevation and reminds me a bit of a tiny Flagstaff.

There is a great coffee shop, a fantastic trail around a lake, and countless elk that wander the town. The last two trips to Evergreen I’ve seen herds. This weekend? Some 30 were wandering the road. I’m pretty sure they will always startle me and make Nelson go bananas.

Deers? Elks? Did someone say D’ELKS? DELICIOUS!

Also, there are a lot of famous folk from Evergreen. Even my buddy Willie Nelson apparently had a ranch here for a bit. We have good taste.

~K

La Sandia is yet another Mexican restaurant to try. Julia and I recently grabbed lunch at the Highland’s Ranch spot.

Where: 8340 Northfield Boulevard, Unit 1690 Denver, CO 80238

Cost: $$

What: A fancier take on Mexican food. The plates are colorful and fresh. The service couldn’t have been better. And the atmosphere, so I’m guessing, would be loud and crazy during the summer when their watermelon margaritas ripen.

Recommendation: The green chile burrito, corn soup and I’m guessing the tableside guacamole — which we didn’t have but I admired from afar — are darn good.

Apparently this is a Richard Sandoval restaurant, which as a newbie to Denver doesn’t mean a whole lot. I’m guess it is like a Sam Fox restaurant in Phoenix — LGO, Chelsea’s Kitchen, etc. Nice work, Mr. Sandoval.

Tequila’s 

Where: 17635 S Golden Rd Golden, CO 80401

Cost: $

What: A Mexican restaurant in a renovated Taco Bell. Not fancy, not pretentious — simply delicious Mexican food. The staff are such nice people and the food comes out on plates the size of Christmas cookie platters. And yet somehow disappears. The serve food with traditional salsa, chips and a bowl of pickled cabbage that sounds strange but actually adds a nice tang to the otherwise salty meal.

And yes, longtime readers and family — you’ll be surprised to hear the margaritas aren’t bad either. I may have introduced this restaurant to just about every visitor:

And celebrated #32 here earlier this year. I love me some Mexican food.

Recommendation: the carnita pork platter, house margarita and a hello to the manager Alejandro. He’s a sweetheart. (But be careful. He is far too generous with the tequila!)

Euclid Hall

Where: 1317 14th Street Denver, Colorado 80202

Cost: $

What: An old brick home off Larimer Square once upon a time built by a local doctor that has since been transformed over the years from a brothel to a speak-easy to a restaurant. Euclid Hall’s theme is school. Their happy hour is “study hour.” Their wine list is organized by math topics. A large chalkboard over the entryway greets guests with the day’s message. Come to find out, Euclid was a math dude.

It’s a noisy, raucous bar with huge televisions and a steady stream of Larimer Square tourists and locals. It’s a great happy hour spot in the center of the city to meet friends coming from all over the city. I think the best feature of this spot is the staff. Their wait staff are patient, friendly and kind.

Recommendations: The s’more dessert. And if you are into hand-crafted beers — they’ve got you covered.

*

Z Cuisine + Apres Cuisine

Where: 2239 W. 30th Avenue  Denver, CO 80211

Cost: $$$

What: The best meal I’ve eaten in Denver. Before going on a recent date here, I whined to my friend BJ — “I don’t even like French food. Gah.” As is our routine, he called the next day to get all the date details — to which I happily said, “The food? Amazing. Best restaurant here.” My date ordered and started with some strange gourmand salad, that included a lot of adventurous cuts of meat. While not a fan of cow tongue, the salad was still some how good. It had slices of fruit and a lot of different types of salad that were crisp, fresh and simply good. As for my meal, I truly enjoyed the beef bourguignon. (As enjoyable to say as to eat, come to find out.)

Recommendation: Go early and have a drink at their bar next door, the Apres Cuisine. And expect to spend a couple hours enjoying one of the best meals of your life. It’s a fancy, once in a while, kinda place with a small handful of tables. The wait staff are knowledgeable and friendly. The food sounds super fancy but is made with simple, locally harvested ingredients. It is a romantic and bold dinner spot.

*Completely cheating with this photo. Who takes a camera on a first date? I’m camera crazy, but not that nuts. I don’t have photos of the meal. You’ll have to trust me. A+

The remainder of my Denver 30 photography project will feature a few of my favorite restaurants in the city. Today: Cuba Cuba. 

Where: 1173 Delaware Street  Denver, CO 80204

Cost: $$

What: A great mix of Cuban and latin food, and a lively bar. They do not take reservations, so go early if you have a group. We waited 2-plus hours from walking in the door to being served because we had a large birthday party. That said, the food is fantastic and worth the wait, and the atmosphere was a breath of fresh, tropical air on an otherwise cold mountain night. The restaurant is in two small houses that have been joined together. It is a great, tiny spot and a wonderful find in Denver. This would be a greeat place for a date.

Recommendation: Sip a Cuba libre and enjoy the steak with chimuchuri sauce. Delicioso!