Quote for the day

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

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Blockhead Radio Artisans Challenge

My Sunshiny Days Citrine Earrings are in this weeks Blockhead Radio Artisans Challenge!!! Please go on over and vote for me! Voting will close for this weeks Challenge at 9:13 am Monday, April 6th. Winners for the respective categories will be entered into the Weekly Challenge! Where twelve very different items will go toe to toe in hopes of garnering the title of The Weekly Challenge winner as well as a 30 second ad spot on Blockhead Radio replete with a banner, that when clicked, will lead to my shop/site! This ad will play for an entire week (until the next Weekly Challenge winner is announced.)

So click on the link below and please vote for me!!!!

http://blockheadradiolive.com/jewelry

Thanks!!!

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What to do with all your ribbons?

Currently most of my horse show ribbons are in a storage boxes except a few of the most important ones I have on rack (below). They have so much sentimental value. I have the very first ribbon I ever won almost 30 years ago. I can recall so many hours practicing, late nights cleaning my tack, waking up at the crack of dawn to start the show day, and all the excitement of hearing my name being called for awards.

Here are some cool ideas of what to do with all those hard earned ribbons...

Ribbons clipped onto a simple grapevine wreath:One of Sarah Boudreau's ribbon quiltsPillow made by Show Throw Tenzing Frames frames photographs, ribbons, medals and other keepsakes
Francine Zaslow via design is mine
Mark Lund

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Sunshiny Day

I had a great day with Chad, the dogs and my horse Mazzy. We found a beautiful meadow right above the beach in Malibu. Mountains on one side, ocean on the other....I could easily live in that exact location! The weather was perfect.

The dogs had fun exploring.



We then stopped at Neptune's Net for lunch.
Then went by to see my baby horse, Mazzy on the way back home
I stopped in the yearling pasture to visit with the babies and Buddy the donkey.

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Equestrian Classic Treasury

Equestrian Classic - Enduring Style



Please go on over to Etsy and check out the beautiful treasury Artwolf created featuring my Equestrian Coin Necklace.

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Please vote for me!!!

Blockhead Radio Artisans Challenge is here!!! Every week 60 different artisans face off in 12 different categories to see who has the best handmade item. Winners for the respective categories will be entered into the Weekly Challenge! Where twelve very different items will go toe to toe in hopes of garnering the title of The Weekly Challenge winner as well as a 30 second ad spot on Blockhead Radio replete with a banner, that when clicked, will lead to your shop/site! This ad will play for an entire week (until the next Weekly Challenge winner is announced.)

The winner is decided by you. So launch a player and get your votes in.

Here is the link to cast your vote:

http://blockheadradiolive.com/cbb

My Super Moisturizing Solid Lotion Butter Bar - Body Balm (submitted by Five O'Clock Somewhere) is in the Candle, Bath and Beauty category!

Voting will close for this weeks Challenge at 9:10 am Monday, March 30^th.

Thanks!

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A few new things

Faceted Prehnite Drops on sterling earwires $28

Parchment Necklace $35

Long Multi Gem Necklace with Sterling Links

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Pasadena Marathon

On Sunday there was an inaugural marathon in Pasadena. The race attracted more than 9,100 runners, walkers and cyclists who signed up for Marathon, Half-Marathon, Bike Tour and 5K and Fun Run/Walk, which went through city neighborhoods and business districts, including Old Pasadena, and passed such landmarks as the Colorado Street Bridge, City Hall, Caltech, the Rose Bowl, Tournament House, and went just one street away from our house. We braved the rain and took the dogs out to route our friend Dave on! We cheered him on at mile 24 and gave him some GU Energy Gel to help him on the home stretch. Go Dave! Not only did he finish a very impressive 101st, he worked a 24 hour shift before the marathon and got off that morning. He amazes me.

After the marathon we took the train down to see a movie (to avoid the marathon traffic). We stopped at Heritage Wine Bar for a glass of wine since we had a bit of time to kill before the movie started. I had the spanish flight, which was average. I'm not impressed with the new ownership of Heritage. Chad chose the movie "I Love You, Man", which was so bad we left half way through! How do movies like that make it to the big screen?

I took some photos on the way to the train.

We finished off the day with a wonderful dinner over Chad's mom's. Her cooking is always out of this world! Fresh oysters, a salad with baked fig goat cheese, Red Snapper with a creme fresh mustard sauce, asparagus, fresh strawberries. It was tres delicious!!!

View of San Gabriel Mountains

Town HallTown Hall

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Horse Show

After a long break from competing I decided to get back in the ring this weekend. It was a fun day. I'm glad to say Kylie remembered the drill. I had to get up at 4:30am, to go pick her up. She was better behaved than my trainer or myself expected and the day was a success. I even won one of my classes. I compete in "medal" classes which are a type of equitation with tests. Throughout the show year points are accumulated for winning classes that qualify you to compete in year end "finals". Equitation is basically judged on the rider's style and on their ability to jointly execute harmonious course of jumps that is well balanced, and make every aid or change seem effortless. After an initial round, the top riders are asked to come back into the ring for further testing which is usually an abbreviated version of the original course with some tests such as trotting a jump, counter cantering, halt, hand gallop, jump without stirrups, change horses, etc.

Horse showing for me is more of a mental challenge than physical. If I can focused and stay calm I can usually put in a good round. My horse is extremely sensitive. She needs a confident ride, but it can't be too demanding or she gets frazzled, and it can't be too reserved or she doubts me. This is not quite as evident at home because she is comfortable and familiar with her surroundings, so I can only hone these skills in a strange environment where everything changes for her. There is a very fine line to her formula, and luckily I was able to tune into it today.

I almost forgot, that I also "catch rode" a horse for my trainer in a class and won! I can't really take much credit because it was a very fancy hunter that knew his job.



“Riding a horse is not a gentle hobby, to be picked up and laid down like a game of Solitaire. It is a grand passion. It seizes a person whole and, once it has done so, he will have to accept that his life will be radically changed.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Computer Genius

I am fortunate to have a very computer savvy brother. He was able to recover all my pictures from my hard drive that crashed. Yippee! I am so grateful!!! This is not the first computer problem he has solved for me. He sets up all my computers (which are usually his hand-me-downs), fixes my system when it isn't working, set up a wireless network, and finds all the new gadgets to make my computer life easier. He is my own personal help desk. I can't imagine what I would do without all of his help.

I take for granted how nice it is to have my computer working smoothly, because when something goes bad it is so frustrating! I've become so dependant on having the internet I can't imagine living without it!

Do you have a "computer friend" or family member? Who is that person for you? How do you show your appreciation for that person?

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Rainbow*

Ok, I guess I have a few words about my "Wordless Wednesday" post. The beautiful pinto stallion is Mazzy's (my three year old horse) sire Rainbow*.

RAINBOW is the only Pinto stallion to be honored as "Elite" BEFORE being imported to the United States.

He is the only Pinto stallion to be 100-day tested in his Homeland at Merigen Testing Station. Under the watchful eye of Burkhard Wahler, he scored a phenomenal 121.74 points, earning a KLASS I Licensing.

He is the only Pinto stallion in the world to be approved in Germany for EIGHT Breeding Verbands.

He is the only Pinto stallion in the United States today to have ever competed in the rigorous M levels in both Dressage/Materials and Jumping with huge successes and scores.

Here are some of his "kids":

Mulcahy's RainbowRaindanceAndrews Rainbow Rijn Beau

Lombard

Ishmael

I hope Mazzy grows up with some of this talent!

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Wordless Wednesday

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Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

I hope the luck of the Irish is with you today!

May you always have
Walls for the winds,
A roof for the rain,
Tea beside the fire,
Laughter to cheer you,
Those you love near you,
And all your heart might desire!

Soda Bread (irish Whisky Soda Bread)

Ingredients:
BREAD
4 c Flour, all purpose
1 ts Baking Soda
1 c Raisins or currants (option)
1 1/2 c Buttermilk
1/2 c Honey, liquid
1 ts Salt 1/4 c Butter, chilled
1/4 c Irish Whisky or buttermilk
GLAZE
2 ts Irish Whisky
2 ts Milk

Instructions

BREAD: In large bowl, combine flour, salt and baking soda. With pastry blender or two knives, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in raisins or currants (if using). In separate bowl, combine buttermilk, honey and whisky. Add all at once to dry ingredients; stir just until no dry spots remain. Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface. Knead lightly 1 minute (too much handling will toughen loaves, while too little will inhibit rising.) Divide dough in half and shape each half into an 8 inch (20 cm) round. Place in two greased 8 inch (1.2 L) round cake pans. With floured knife, cut a cross 1/2 in deep in each loaf.

GLAZE: In small bowl, combine whisky and milk. Brush loaves with glaze. Bake in 350 degrees F (180C) oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until loaves sound hollow when tapped on bottoms. Remove from pans; let cool on wire racks. Cut into wedges.

Best served warm with lots of butter. For softer, plumper raisins soaked them in additional Irish whiskey for about 15 minutes then drain and pat them dry prior to adding to the dough.

You don't have to be Irish to partake in a little wearing o' the green or a tasty Irish beverage.
Homemade Bailey's Irish Cream

1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 pint whipping cream
3 eggs
3 tablespoons chocolate syrup
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tsp. instant espresso
10 oz. Irish whiskey (suggested Jameson)

1. Mix all of the ingredients in blender and refrigerate.
2. Shake before using
3. Serve straight up or shake up in your favorite cocktail. Your liqueur will keep for about a month in the fridge.

Traditional Irish Coffee

1 cup hot coffee
1 ounces Irish Whiskey
3 sugar cubes
whipped cream for garnish

Instructions: In order to make this recipe properly the whiskey has to be heated to a high temperature. Pour the coffee in a cup with the desired number of sugar cubes. Then use a spoon turned upside down and pour the HOT whiskey over it so it flows down gently. Top it all with the whipped cream.

When served, true Irish coffee always has three distinct layers. When served, you first use a straw and sip (a very small amount as it is HOT) a little of the whiskey. Then stir all the ingredients together.

St. Paddy Appletini

Ingredients:
1 part(s) Absolut Pears Vodka
1 part(s) DeKuyper Pucker Sour Apple Schnapps
1 splash(es) Sweet and Sour Mix

Instructions: Shake with ice and strain into a martini glass.

Jameson and Ginger

Ingredients:
1 1/2 part(s) Jameson's Irish Whiskey
1 squirt(s) Lime Juice
Ginger Ale

Instructions: Pour Jameson into an ice filled highball glass. Fill with ginger ale and garnish with a squeeze of lime.

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