Rambling with Dona
16 oct 2012 - Part 2 (please see Part 1, 12 Oct below)
After our trip to Tanzania we had shows in Houston, Santa Ana and Tokyo. BUT....I did break away and sent Wayne and Lois to Houston and Santa Ana while I jetted off to Turkey! Again with Peter Keller and some members of the Board of Directors at the Museum, we had one of the most fascinating trips I’ve ever taken. I knew nothing about Turkey and it was never on my radar but I can’t wait to go back. We have already started planning for our trip to the eastern half of the country next year.
Wayne was then off to the St. Marie aux Mines show (read our show reports here - part 1, part 2) while I stayed behind and basically just ‘chilled’ at home. Oh, Lois and I did manage to get to the fabulous “White Nights Dinner” for a select group at the Bowers Museum in connection with the opening of a Faberge exhibit which is still at the museum - go see it! Wonderful items.
July 4th was ‘girl’s night’ at our house in Laguna Beach (Wayne still in Europe running around with Ian Bruce buying collections) - a beautiful night with five different fireworks shows going on in front of the house.
In August the Lloyds arrived from England and we began preparations for the upcoming Springfield and Denver shows. Springfield is still one of my favorite shows and we found one of the best restaurants ever there.
Just before leaving for Denver we took a very quick trip to the booming town of Hyattville, Montana (pop. 70) to gather with the fossil dudes to celebrate Kirby Siber’s 70th birthday!! The Siber family, including the late Hans Siber, have been part of our lives for over 30 years. It was a fun evening.
Kirby Siber cuts his cake
The Denver show (still my favorite show) was a good one for us and you can read Diana’s show report in our section on shows (part 1, part 2). During the Denver show it was the 50th wedding anniversary for our long-time friends, Doug and Teri Wallace (Mineral Search) and of course, a party was in order! Doug asked for my assistance in bringing together a small group of their closest friends as a surprise for Teri and I’m happy to say that we pulled off the surprise. With only a few days notice I managed to arrange for a venue, flowers, photos and an impossibly good meal at Texas de Brazil. The champagne and wine was flowing and everyone had such a good time toasting two very special people in the mineral business.
One of the events we look forward to each year is the annual Crystal Cove Gala. For those of you not familiar with my favorite place in the area visit this website: www.crystalcovestatepark.com. Each year this party is held either right on the beach or on the bluffs overlooking the beach. I am a member of the Crystal Cove Alliance which helps to keep this area a true step back in time in California. The theme this year was “Ocean Treasures” which we all took to heart.....just look at these photos!!! The Lloyds and Hackers stayed on after Denver as they always do just to attend this party, of which we were 'the life of....'
Lizzy prepares our costumes
A mermaid in my garden! Lois and Dave Lloyd
The Crystal Cove bus
Which brings me right up to date now! Our shipment has gone off for the Munich show and we will be leaving in a couple of weeks for the show. Stay tuned for our show reports - the theme for this year’s show is “African Secrets” so this should be a dandy....So what’s up before we leave? You’ll never guess this one: sitting down to dinner with former Secretary of State Madeline Albright (o.k., I promise to behave and pretend she’s not a democrat). The Bowers is exhibiting her famous pin collection beginning on October 20. I’ll get some photos....
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12 Oct 2012 - Part 1
It has been a while since I ‘rambled on’ for you...thanks to all of you who tell me you actually enjoy this section of our website!
I see the last thing I posted was just after the Tucson show about our gold collection going on display at the wonderful, 'must visit' Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, California. It was a huge success and Wayne’s two lectures were well received. The exhibit closed on September 9th.
Since Tucson we were all over the globe, beginning with a much needed R&R (with our two male friends that we meet up with almost every year after the show) in Punta Penasco, Mexico. I spent my days collecting shells on a beach completely devoid of people while Wayne lazed around the pool.
(photos coming soon)
Shortly thereafter we were off to Bogota, Colombia with Peter Keller from the Bowers Museum. We were there to coordinate with the Museo del Oro for their exhibit at Bowers coinciding with our gold exhibit. BUT....you know....those emerald mines were ‘ a callin...’ so we hoped on a helicopter and headed out to the LaEspanol mine near the LaPita mine. While Wayne stayed above ground, I headed into the mine to take a look and bang around a bit. Damn grueling, hot work and these guys work hard for their money! By the end of our quick trip to Bogota we were able to pack a few specimens.
Our favourite piece from the Museo del Oro
Dona digging for emeralds
Shortly after this we hosted Maria Uribe Villegas, Director of the Museo del Oro, and her assistant at our house for an informal dinner with Peter and Signe Keller and some Bowers staff members.
Dinner for the visiting directors of Museo del Oro at our house, whilst they were visiting to set up the display at the Bowers Museum.
The lovely ladies from the Museo del Oro with Peter Keller and myself, and a wonderful Laguna sunset.
A couple of weeks later we were off to my favorite place in the whole world: Tanzania!
This was a trip for our ‘team’ and ten of us met up with the greatest guides in the country, Nigel Perks (www.nigelperksdiscovery) and Andrew Urona (www.safaritrackstanzania.com). For 12 days we roamed all over and saw every animal in residence - so many lions and elephants we stopped counting. Three times during our trip we had lions at our camp and our favorite Masi, Jackson, was busy herding them away from my tent. This was my 7th trip to Tanzania and I never tire of it.
After our trip to Tanzania we had shows in Houston, Santa Ana and Tokyo (part 1) (part 2) and you can read my show reports for these.
Part 2 coming shortly with tales of Turkey, Hyattville, Denver and more.....
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1 April 2012
Last night we attended the opening of the gold exhibit at Bowers - Sacred Gold Pre-Hispanic Art of Colombia - what a sight! Check out this video with my good friends, Peter Keller, and Maria from the Museo del Oro in Bogota. http://www.nbclosangeles.com/ (click on All that Glitters......)
Wayne and I have our own personal gold collection on display at the Bowers as well for the Californian Gold exhibit, and for those of you in our area his lecture at the museum will be April 21.
Be sure to read our article on the exhibit - the Bowers Museum did a wonderful job on the display.
We're off to Tanzania - Kwaheri kwa sasa!
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9 Jan 2012
Wayne and I had been to Yellowstone a few times, mostly in the summer when it is a complete mad house of people, BUT the bears are out to play. The winter is a different story… few people, the bears are asleep, the bison have drifted off to the valley, and only a few brave four footed creatures venture out to say hello. The entire week was a visual feast from beginning to end…..our happy party crew consisted of me, Wayne, Lois, Tana and Robbie – can you just see it? Wayne and ‘his girls’ off on the snow mobiles.
The South Entrance sign
Wayne and Tana hopping into the snow coach which took us to the lodge (about 2.5 hours)
The Old Faithful Snow Lodge – within walking distance to Old Faithful geyser and the new wonderful Visitors Center
How beautiful is this?
At every turn there are geysers and in the winter the water spray makes for some beautiful icy trees
It’s a magical place
Was it cold? What do you think? A balmy -11 degrees one day!
I got caught in the spray of this particular geyser and ended up with frozen hair!
There she blows….Old Faithful does its number yet again.
So cute you want to cuddle with them.
I’ve grown rather fond of elk, particularly the loin section – not to worry, these guys are in a protected area.
Tana takes a nap at the airport
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3 Jan 2012
Happy New Year to you all, and hope that everyone had a wonderful and safe festive season. The USA branch of the 'Dream Team' celebrated a white Christmas together at Yellowstone... here are a few photos, watch out for a full Ramblings soon!
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7 Dec 2011
Isn't this a beauty from my friend Ted in Sedona? He was up in his small plane and never without his camera.
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1st Nov 2011
Each year we attend a Gala event at one of my favourite places - Crystal Cove - a lovely beach just north of Laguna Beach off Highway 1. Each year the Gala has a special theme, and this year was Surf, Sand and the Silver Screen. This is to celebrate the fact that Crystal Cove was the setting for the movie 'Beaches' featuring Bette Midler, and the 'Beaches' cottage is being renovated into a museum to open soon.
The Kristalle and Crystal Classics team were able to attend the event, just after the Denver show in Sept this year, and all dressed for the occasion.
To see my full Ramblings and lots of photos from this special night, please click here.
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28 Oct 2011
| Well...my ‘rambling’ recently took me to Beverly Hills to drool and gaze jealously at the magnificent jewelry collection of Elizabeth Taylor. Ah...yes, I could see myself wearing even the gaudiest among them. Let’s just call this field trip a ‘flight of fancy’...Here are some of the items that caught my eye. |  |
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Kunzite and Amethyst - that lavender to match the eyes keeps showing up in her jewelry, her handbags and her clothes.
Estimate for the auction???? |
Diamonds, diamonds, diamonds! And, of course, the REALLY BIG famous ‘KRUPP’ diamond ring - $305,000 in 1968….today??? the sky is the limit I’d say….sigh…..
Is there ANYTHING in here I can afford??????
I really loved this diamond pin.....
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Emeralds and Diamonds - has the earrings, bracelet and ring to match!
A nice little engraved yellow diamond dating back to 1621, a gift from Shah Jahan to his favorite wife, Mumtaz (the inspiration of the Taj Mahal)
The very famous "La Peregrina" pearl discovered in 1513 - it started out as a pendant but soon found some rubies and diamonds by Cartier.... |
Sapphires and Diamonds
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25 Oct 2011
After the Denver show Wayne and I took a trip up to Montana. Wayne was invited to give a talk on Gold at the Montana Crystal Collectors one day Symposium in Butte. We had such a great trip meeting many wonderful people, and saw some great scenery on the road trip. Please see my article for all the photos and full travel details by clicking here.
Berkeley Pit, Butte
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8 Oct 2011
Sad news….
World renowned pianist, Roger Williams, died today after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. And why should I mention this??? As many may know, and those of the ‘younger’ group of mineral dealers may not, Roger was a collector of minerals. Although he sold his collection more than 25 years ago, we still maintained contact and he would occasionally pop into the shop when he had gigs at the Crystal Cathedral nearby. I had visited with him years ago at his house in Encino and every now and then he would call me with that distinctive voice.
He had visited our house and at the time we had a piano. Our son was about 8 or 9 and he proceeded to tell THE Roger Williams that his father was a great piano player and did he (Roger) know how to play?…..Roger was gracious about that.
A lovely, lovely man …I’m happy to have all that beautiful music on my iPod.
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26 Sept 2011
Here is another just stunning photo from my friend Ted...wow...it is quite humbling.
Sunset
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16 Sept 2011
Whilst mineral show can be a lot of hard work, we still make time for some fun and each year at the Denver show, the girls go shopping - check out the fun we had by clicking here!
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13 Sept 2011
We are now at the Denver show and our "team" members have all arrived in a warm, sunny Denver. We are set up at Marty Zinnʼs show at the Holiday Inn with our retail room in 133, and our wholesale room in the Charolias Ballroom.
There is lots to see and many people to greet - too much to post here, so please see my Rambling article by clicking here.
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12 Sept 2011
This morning my friend Ted sent me one of his daily photos from Sedona and this one I just have to share with you....there is a family of mother and three cubs in his area. This is one of the adorable little bobcats.
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11 July 2011
This is a photo of Ed Loye's last day with Crystal Classics and Kristalle...we will miss him terribly. Ed has gone off to live in Cornwall, England and go back to university for his mining degree. We're hoping he will take a break and join us in Tucson and in the future he just might come back to us! Good luck Ed!!
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11 July 2011
My friend Ted in Sedona just sent me this photo of a beautiful young bobcat that turned up in his yard....enjoy!
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25 Feb 2011
I think Wayne and I run the most 'social' business around, beginning back in the 1970's with our famous 'pre-Tucson' parties in Laguna Beach. In those days Tucson was still a one week show experience (oh, those were the days) and just about everyone in the 'who's who' of the mineral world showed up for a full day of partying, talking minerals and buying and selling. Unlike today's mineral business where it is sometimes a cut-throat operation, we encouraged our other dealer friends to bring their best to our parties and many a deal was made in the parking lot, the garage and over dinner. One year when Perkin Sams was in attendance mention of the "swank Laguna Beach party" was in an article about him in the Wall Street Journal. Perkins was the best guest - he sent us a case of fine scotch later!
We still try to keep the social aspect going, and in Tucson this year we hosted yet another party with a gold rush theme. All of our team members were dressed in period costume but I never expected our guests to 'get with the program' but they did! It was a fabulous evening and it would be hard to say what the best part of it might have been, but certainly the live mules were a constant source of amusement.
The Dream Team - Gold Rush Style
We have so many great photos from the Party that we have created a news article with them - you can see them by using the following link:
http://www.kristalle.com/news-story.php?id=88
Enjoy!
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21 Feb 2011
My friend Ted in Sedona has a wonderful cat named "Q" and the full moon last night inspired him with this photo. "Q" is a grown up version of our own cat Mischief. Gosh, Ted is so talented!
He also included this magnificent photo of the American Bald Eagle which landed in one of the canyons near Sedona. A rare and wonderful sight.
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30 Nov 10
Update on the Explorer’s Club dinner…..
Wayne and I were so proud that our friends Peter Keller, Angela Fisher and Carol Beckwith were recently honoured with the Lowell Thomas Award from the Explorers Club.
Here are a few photos to give you the feel of the Club and the presentation.
Photos are courtesy of the Explorers Club.
Explorer’s Club headquarters in New York City:
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20 Nov 2010
At the recent Munich Mineral show - Mineralientage, we were proud to host in our booth a party for the University of Bonn Mineralien Museum to promote their special exhibit 'Gold Rush', now open at the Poppelsdorfer Schloss in Bonn, Germany from 7 Nov 2010 to 10 July 2011.
Renate Schmucher, the curator at the Museum, plus her husband Winfried, and team member Steffi, were there in full Gold regalia, ready to serve custom labelled Kristalle wines and champagne (with real gold flakes!)
Here is some of the frivolity that ensued.....
Steffi, Renate, Winfried, Dona
Renate, Dave Lloyd, Winfried and Steffi
Ed joins the party with Steffi applying some gold face paint
Ed
The gold hat continues the rounds with Dave Spiller - no photos please!
Dona
Australian dealer Rob Sielecki and Renate
Ian joins the dress up
The Lady in Gold checks out the Gold on display.
Renate and Robin with the custom wine
Lloydy - the perfect promotion for the special exhibit.
To read all about the exhibit opening party, please see our article by clicking here.
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26 Oct 2010
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25 Oct 2010
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18 Oct 2010
After the show continues....
Here is just a tease as to what the team was up to next.
More to come!!!
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15 Oct 2010
Erica Van Pelt's Suprise Birthday Party
| It is so hard to keep secrets but all of us managed to do so for this party and Erica had no clue!! Even her husband Van was clueless! (I think their kids probably correctly figured Van could not keep the secret). It was up to Peter and Signe Keller to get Erica to the spot with a brilliant rouse about meeting some important Chinese customers about Van’s carvings, but having to drop off their grandson first at Yvonne’s workplace; i.e., the party venue!  Forgive me Erica, but this is the only shot I could get of your surprise reaction.... |
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The party just happened to coincide with that day's newspaper article on Van's exhibit at the Bowers Museum! (for more info on his wonderful exhibit please read our article by clicking here)
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12 Oct 2010
People are curious about our special 'team', often remarking on the frivolity that surrounds our booth and wondering how well we all get along. Be assured that this continues even after the show is over and done. Here are a few shots of our special group 'at play' after the Denver show. Enjoy!
Time to close - the martini flag has been hoisted!!!
At our nearby hotel we settle in for one of our 'take away' dinners, sometimes in our jammies....the hotel graciously gives us a nice size suite so the long table is set up ready for our very informal dinner parties.
Dinner in the room
Dave Hacker
Dona and Liz
Liz and Robin
Lois, Robbie and Tana
Wayne particularly seems to enjoy our get-togethers!
The Girls with Wayne
25 August 2010
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To read Ian's show report on Springfield, click here
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One of my dearest friends, and great travel companion, Dr. Peter Keller has been awarded the prestigious “Lowell Thomas Award” from the Explorers Club! He will be honored at a dinner at the Explorers Club headquarters in New York this coming October. Way to go Peter!!!!
Peter, Wayne and I have been friends for over 30 years or more. One of our fun ‘friendship’ items is the fact that Peter and I share the same birthday. It is our tradition that IF we are both in the same county (he lives just a few miles from us) on that day we meet for dinner. If not, a phone call from someplace in the world. One year Peter called and I asked him where he was.....”on the steps of the Portola Palace in Tibet”, another year the call came from a boat off Papua New Guinea.
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Opening on 17 July 2010 and running to 3 Jan 2011 is an extra special exhibit at the Bowers Museum of Santa Ana, CA.
Gemstone Carvings: The Masterworks of Harold Van Pelt
Everyone in the mineral business knows the name of Harold and Erica Van Pelt, a couple who are considered the best Mineral and Gem Photographer in the world. The Van Pelts have been the photographers for Kristalle for over 30 years (as well as close friends), and our advertisements such as on the inside cover of the Mineralogical Record are famous for their work.
Carving by Harold Van Pelt, photo courtesy of Bowers Museum.
We will shortly be posting pictures of the grand opening held on Saturday 17th which coincided with Harold's 80th birthday.
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18 July 2010
I've mentioned that my friend Ted in Sedona is a wonderful photographer. For those of you in cold, rainy climates this photo won't make you feel any better, but it is a wonderful southwest scene.
9th July 2010
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Recently, in May/June 2010, I had the opportunity to travel with Dr. Peter Keller and members of the Board of Directors of the Bowers Museum (California, USA) to explore the Silk Road in China. Bowers currently has one of the most important exhibits ever launched in the States - see: http://www.bowers.org/index.php/art/exhibitions_details/35 I had the most amazing trip through Bejing (including a visit to the Geological Museum to see the display by Collector's Edge), Urumgi to see were the mummies that were found in the Tarim Basin/Taklamakan Desert (Discovered in the late 1980's these perfectly preserved mummies are 4,000 years old! The famous "Beauty of Loulan" is currently at the Bowers Museum), Turpan, Hotain for more mummies and the Jade Market, Dunhuang along the Silk Road for the Yu Ming Gate and Great Wall of Han Dynasty; and the famous Mogao Buddhist Caves and Xian to mingle among the famous Terra Cotta Warriors. To see pictures and read more tales from China, please read my article on the whole trip by clicking here. |
19 May 2010
This is another stunning photo from my friend Ted....look at those colors!
28 April 2010
Wayne and I recently returned from a two week trip ‘down under’ to one of my favourite countries - Australia. It reminds me of how the U.S. ‘used to be’ and the folks are just as funny and accommodating as can be. We started our trip in Brisbane and took in