New Fine Silver Pieces available for sale

I have added several new pieces to my website, Five O'Clock Somewhere. This is the beginning of my new line of Fine Silver.

Precious Metal Clay(PMC) is a revolutionary material, invented a decade ago in Japan. PMC is a clay-like material made of fine silver particles, water and an organic binder. It can be worked like a clay and when fired in a kiln, the water and binder burn off, the silver particles fuse together, leaving .999 fine (pure) silver. PMC is like no other material. In its fresh stage it acts like a clay; it can be textured, molded, formed. In its dry stage its curiously similar to wood, as it can be carved, sawed, and assembled into complex forms. Once fired, as metal, it can be hammered, filed and soldered.

Tweet

8 year Anniversary

Last night Chad and I went to The Raymond Restaurant. It was perfect for our special occasion. The food was fantastic and the service impeccable. The setting was charming, quiet & romantic. Its in a small old craftsman style house. We chose a Ojai Vineyard Grenache for our wine, and to start we had Pan Seared Maine Scallops with English pea foam, organic mushroom ragout, micro herbs. Then I had the Seared Ahi Tuna with Oven roasted tomatoes, French green beans, red beet puree, black olive tapenade - to die for! Chad had Sauteed John Dory with Pancetta Riesling sauce, Yukon Gold potatoes, roasted corn, pearl onion, spinach, black truffle - also very good. We finished off with the Crème Brûlèe 10 Vanilla bean. Every bite of our feast was flavorful and scrumptious.
We then topped off our evening with a couple glasses of Champagne & Chambourd with Kim & Pete at La Grande Orange.

Tweet

I have a crush...his name is Punkt

My new favorite horse....check out his cute belly spot! (owned by MELISSA DODDRIDGE)

Tweet

Memorial Day Weekend

I had a fun filled day today. I had a morning lesson on Kylie, she behaved, and I rode pretty good, it has been raining the past few days, so I haven't been able to ride too much this week. I delivered some custom bracelets and anklet orders I had made. Next it was off the San Gabriel Bead Company where my good friend Susan fired my PMC pieces. I also bought some cool new tools for future jewelry projects....Rawhide Mallet, Tapered Flat Nose Pliers, Stepped Pliers, 5 Step Mandrel Set, Cut Lube, Soft Brass Brush & a Brass Texture Plate.

Chad and I then took the Corvette down to the beach and had a late lunch at the Chart House in Malibu. It was excellent. We started off with a seared ahi appetizer in a soy-ginger sauce, and then each had lobster bisque and a salad. Delicious! We sat next to the window with a beautiful view of the ocean. On the way back we stopped at the European Equestrian and checked it out, cool tack shop.

Then it was off the the LAEC to watch the $15,000 Memorial Day Classic/USHJA Hunter Derby. Nicole Kane who rides at Rainbow Canyon with me competed in it, and had a very respectable round. It was fun to watch - 30 competed, and 12 came back for the handy round. I think Triple Lutz (Samantha Harrison) won, and Y2K (Natalie Rae Medlock) was second, third Coffee Talk (Nick Haness), but I may have to come back and revise. We got drinking and socializing and kind of missed the end. There were some amazingly talented and beautiful horses in the class!

Tweet

First time on her back

My good friend Laura was in town this week. Last night we went to Le Grande Orange with Kim and Chad. I had the seared tuna tacos...delicious! We also indulged in the 1997 Kalyra Cabernet Sauvignon (Buttonwood Farm Vineyard) that I had been saving for a special occasion. It was superb, and there is no one I would have rather shared it with.

This morning we went out to see Mazzy, and I got on her back for the first time!!!! It was so exciting for me, and I am so glad Laura was there to share in my excitement. Mazzy didn't seem to mind at all. I just climbed up the fence and laid over her back (like I have before), but then I swung my leg over and I was sitting on her! It was so great to finally sit on her back - the anticipation was nearly killing me.

Tweet

The Americana at Brand

The third Katsuya born from SBE Restaurant Group's partnership with master sushi chef Katsuya Uechi and super-star designer Phillippe Starck. Chic, modern design meets inventive sushi in a nouveau-mall environment that rivals the Grove. The sushi was as good as the Katsu-ya in Studio City that we go to, however, it was a completely different experience. The two story restaurant is beautiful (very trendy) and the service was great. They had an interesting twist on sushi bar seating, which was perfect for the four of us. Little tables jetted out from the sushi bar to accomodate more sushi bar seating. It is also much better for group socializing. It was a great dinner, but very pricey, of course! Pete, Kim, Chad and myself indulged in Seared Tuna w/ Japanese Salsa, Spicy Albacore Sashimi w/ Crispy Onion, Crispy Rice w/ Spicy Tuna, Special Katsuya Roll, Blue Crab Hand Roll, Salmon Sushi, Crispy Sesame Tuna, lots of Cold Saki!

We didn't have much time to explore the "Americana", but walking down the paved pathways, you almost feel as if you're strolling Boston's Newbury Street or Georgetown in Washington D.C. Or the main drag in Vegas. A 2-acre grassy knoll features an 80-foot "dancing" fountain, the centerpiece of the project, with stores and a playground curving around all sides. Some stores include: Calvin Klein, Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, Lacoste, Martin + Osa, Free People, H&M, Juicy Couture, Custo Barcelona and XXI from Forever 21, Kiehl's, Beard Papa, Barneys New York Co-Op, Kate Spade and Tiffany & Co. Can't wait to go back!

We stopped at the retro-Polynesian restaurant Damon's on the way for dangerously potent mai tai. They make a good string drink there!

Tweet

I'm Routing for Big Brown

Stud for Big Brown by Matt Stewart

BIG Brown's expected win in the Belmont Stakes in New York next month will be his swan song.

The unbeaten colt, a hero in a country that usually snubs horse racing, will be whisked off to a Kentucky stud after the 2400m Belmont. Big Brown has been sold for more than $50 million to stand at the famous Three Chimneys Farm after the the third leg of the elusive Triple Crown.
Retiring Big Brown at the peak of his powers makes sense in the volatile breeding market, but robs Americans of a much-needed racing hero, rather than a brief tease. If Big Brown wins the June 7 Belmont, he will become the first horse since Affirmed in 1978 to win the Triple Crown.
Big Brown, ridden by Kent Desormeaux, cruised to a 5 1/4-length win in the 1900m Preakness Stakes in Baltimore on Sunday. The Belmont has been a graveyard for recent Triple Crown contenders. Since 1979, 10 horses have won the first two legs but come unstuck in the Belmont.
Only 11 horses have claimed the Triple Crown of the 2000m Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont. "Everybody wants to see something great," Big Brown's trainer Richard Dutrow said.
"Maybe we're going to see that. That'd be a lot of fun. "When everybody's talking about him, he'd be in the same breath as Secretariat, Affirmed, all those good ones."

Tweet

Long Lines

I used the long lines on Mazzy yesterday and she was perfect. I am such a ditz sometimes though....I put them on while she was on the crossties, and I was going to "drive" her over to the round pen, however, she had no idea what I was trying to do, so she tried lying down - down she went on her knees!!! I thought wow that would be a cool trick to teach her, but I didn't know what I was doing to make her do it. She tryed going down twice, until I finally decided to lead her over to the round pen instead of drive her. I only walked and trotted her, one becasue I didn't want to overwhelm her the first day using them, and second becasue it was too freaking hot. I also put open fron boots on her for the first time, and she was fine, didn't seem to mind or even notice they were on. She is suck a quick learner. So far, so good. I measured her again, and she is still 16.1.

Tweet

Crown City Brewery going out of business

The former brewery-turned-restaurant on South Raymond Avenue is vacating, after losing its lease. With its brick facade, round tables and a wall full of 1,104 beer bottles, Crown City has served up food and drinks to thousands of sports and beer fans since it opened in July 1988. Inspired by a San Diego brewery, Crown City offered a "Beers of the World Passport." After drinking 100 different beers, customers got their name put on the Passport Wall. It now has 1,600 names, owner Jack Robinson said. "If you have your name on the wall, you can come and take your plaque," he said. We went with Kim & Pete, Missy & Leslie, John & Linda to get thier late bother/cousin Chip's plaque. Unfortunatly someone beat them to it, which was a big bummer. It turned into a little bit of a Blair High School reunion for all of them. The one thing I may miss about living so far from where I grew up - the chances of running into someone from High School is pretty small.
Owner, Jack Robinson plans to open a new bar, "Crown Chapter 2," he said, and wants to remain in Pasadena. But that might be difficult, considering the city's rising rents and low vacancy rates.

Tweet

Argentina Red Shrimp

Run to Trader Joe's on South Lake and get Argentina Red Shrimp...they are the absolute best little crustaceans! Almost taste like little lobsters.....yum! Kim and Pete had us over for dinner and treated us to a delicious shrimp and homemade pesto dinner! Good wine, good friends, sitting out by the fire pit....what more could you ask for?

Tweet

Monday mornings.....

Had a great weekend visiting Nana Peggy in Visalia for Mother's Day. Chad, Pat & I drove up Saturday morning after I snuck in a quick ride on Kylie Saturday morning. It took about 2.5 hours to get there, and it was warm and sunny up there, much clearer than the May grey we've been having in Pasadena. After a happy hour cocktail, we went out to KowLoon for dinner. A dive of a restaurant, but great Chinese food (hot & sour soup, salt & pepper calamari, honey walnut shrimp, kung pao chicken, chicken fried rice). Peggy's choice. We were full when we left and had lots of leftovers.
When we arrived at Pat's to drop her off Sunday, we found a teeny skunk baby in the backyard. We carried it to the wood pile for safety (from the dogs). Chad now wants to de-stink it and keep it as a pet. It was very cute, but I'd rather have a dog.

Tweet

Cinqo De Mayo

Went to Justin's for a fantastic celebration of Cinqo de Mayo. Good food, good friends, and lots of drinks.

Tweet