Author Archives: kathousekelli70

Pawnee Station Vindicators

Posted on by kathousekelli70

The Colorado State Championships were held once again at Pawnee Station in Nunn, Colorado over the July 1-3 weekend.

Jack and I arrived there after a couple of nights at the Cowboy Hotel with friends Aspen Filly and Aspen Wrangler (and brown dog). (Thanks again for having us guys and the first hand viewing of the new place!)

All checked in at Fort Collins and we are ready for more action!

Friday was Wild Bunch day. 4 stages to start the day rolling, then a couple cowboy warm up stages followed by speed events. Jack was Posse Marshal so walk through for him late afternoon while I was back at the motel finishing a corset.

 

Saturday saw the commencement of 6 main stages. Hmmm pistol decides to give up working properly on first two stages. Thankfully that didn't occur during End of Trail!! Anyway focus, persistence and calm win over and I carry on using one of Jack's for the rest of the match.

We had a great posse and although our original Posse Marshal, Wild Horse John, couldn't be with us, we had Bulldog Ric, Bulldog Red, Bulldog Taz, Lady Bulldog, Wildcat Cliff, Flinch Lock, Smokewagon Bill, Dynamite Mary, Your Nemesis, Captain George Baylor, Dusty Buckboard, Casper Kid and John Mosby, Jackaroo and Kathouse Kelli make up the Posse 1 detail.

Everyone worked and we moved through pretty swiftly, catching up to the next Posse a few times.

 

The stages were good, the facades are always good and the few new additions added to the match! An outstanding effort to all involved.

Saturday night at the range under the big tent (which I must say, even for lunch was a much pleasant addition this year, keeping shooters out of the hot sun!) was casino night. Side match awards were handed out before the pot luck dinner and rest of the evening got underway.

Ric-a-d Split was the singing, guitar playing entertainment. A Soiled Dove and Bar-Fly costume contest was part of the evening and then it was on to Black Jack, Texas Hold Em and Faro.

 

Sunday we continued with the final 6 stages. After lunch there was an all in shootout. Whoever wanted to participate. Congratulations to Mesa Belle for the Ladies and Waterloo for the Men's.

 

The VFW venue hosted the awards and banquet that evening. Captain George Baylor and myself judged costumed cowboy's and cowgirl's for the Best Dressed.

Jack finished 20th overall and 2nd in Silver Senior category. Congratulations to Bulldog Ric, your Colorado State champion in 1st place and Whiskey Rick in 3rd.

 

I finished 11th overall and 1st in Lady Wrangler category. Congratulations to Allen Street Contessa in 2nd and Turquoise Queen, your Colorado State champion in 3rd place.

 

The overall winners this year were Cobra Cat and Hey You (10th overall, 1st lady) with overall Colorado State Champions being Cobra Cat and the lovely Lefty Jo! Congratulations!

 

Cheers

Kat xo

http://www.pawneestation.com

 

“Molly” Brown House

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Whilst in Denver for a day I took it upon myself to see what we could find to visit. Something new and different as we like to do when passing through different places.

This time I chose The Molly Brown House. A 120year old Victorian home on Pennsylvania Street, a stones throw from the Capitol.

Do you remember your Titanic history or the movie at the very least?

The Unsinkable Molly Brown, she became better known as, after she passed away. Margaret “Molly” Brown was so much more when you learn about her life.

 

If you go by what the movie says and you look at how she came to be rich, indeed “Molly” was of new money. (Not inherited family money).

She was from very humble beginnings of Irish immigrants. Working in a cigar making factory at age 18, her brother who had been mining in Leadville, CO sent her a train ticket and basically told her to get on it, come out and marry someone rich! At age 19, courted by one of the least wealthy men out there Margaret married J J Brown.

Luck however was soon to change! Whilst mining for silver, the finding of a large vein of gold and some copper took them from middle to high class overnight.

Now let's skip back to the Titanic bit. When we entered the back part of he house at the start of the tour, the whole “Molly” Brown and the Titanic was visited.

She had boarded the Titanic, on JJ's advice, to go back to the UK as a grandson had fallen ill.

Whilst on the White Star Line's impressive ship when the iceberg incident occurred, Margaret was quick to get on deck to find out what was going on. Staff advised her to go back to her cabin and that everything was okay.

Knowing what catastrophes could happen with mining, the quick thinking Margaret put on about 12 layers of clothing, shoved money into her pockets and disregarding the advice to stay in her state room, went to help others.

Of course by this time it was evident the ship was going down. “Molly” using her 5 different languages, assisted many immigrants with finding their way out and getting them into life boats. She almost didn't make it off until someone man-handled her, threw her into the life raft and had it lowered down.

Still thinking of others, Molly gave some of her clothing to other women in the boat who wore only night dresses and ordered them to row to keep warm.

Once back on dry land she was instrumental in helping immigrants get word back to their relatives that they had survived. Helped get them reestablished and assisted others with insurance claims.

…..skip forward or in reverse. Margaret “Molly” Brown even went up against the Rockefeller's in gaining rights for miners. She was influential in socialist reform for Denver – schooling, public bathrooms, parks etc. Womens rights were also high on the agenda and she loved self education. She would even let her servants sit in on her tutorials. She ran for senate 3 times, drove an ambulance for the Red Cross during World War I and helped found the juvenile court system (damn good thing as it meant 4 year olds for stealing could be kept separate from murderous criminals).

Despite rumours that Molly was not allowed in society, she had driven most of it and was only barred from one so called societal organisation.

 

Now let's get back to the house! This home was purchased by the Browns in 1894. Architecturally designed by William A Lang, it was purchased from Isaac and Mary Large for $30,000.

Photo: down left hand side of house from the back.

 

Skip forward again and after years of changes, made into a dormitory, falling in to disrepair and almost being knocked down for a car park! The house was saved by a group of historians and bought for a mere $5,000.

The house over the time has been lovingly restored – to my surprise and I guess to a historians absolute dream – Margaret had photographed and documented every detail of every room, and they have been able to restore much of it back to the original ceilings, colours, tapestries, crown mouldings etc.

Some pieces are original to the home but most are the same style that would have been used then.

Photo: restoration of tile work on the front verandah entrance.

 

So coming in from the back verandah area, the first room was JJs office that flows into a gorgeous library and music room. Beautiful lace curtains over a 3 bay window, ornately trimmed in timbers throughout. The bookshelves are beautiful with glass front covers. Items from overseas trips, a piano and reading chairs for this room.

Through to the right we entered the dining hall with its ornate artistic conservatory ceilings with palm trees in pinks and green edging (uncovered during restoration). The furniture is very ornate carved timber. Painted and textured dado walls.

Another gorgeous dress in layered lace fabrics from soft shell colours through to pink's and burgundy. A 1910 Edwardian dinner dress.

The Belgium tapestry was a huge piece that she had cut in half and mirrored and framed split on the wall to allow for a beautiful cabinet to display her glassware.

Into the left, the main entrance hall is richly embellished with anaglypta paper – looks like pressed tin – on the walls and the ceiling. It was painted gold to pay homage to their coming to money. The entrance has the only original light fixture in the house.

There is Turkish influence in the front room from her visits to Turkey. The original statues, retrieved from antique stores, held trays so if no one was home they could leave a calling card. I like that old style notion.

Besides the home being one of the first to have electricity, central heating and plumbing. They also had the first phone.

Photo: side window, can't see the stained glass properly, this is in the stairway first floor to second.

 

The formal parlour held the most expensive items where visitors were entertained, if you were 14years old you could enter the room and would play piano or recite poetry to show how well rounded you were and your suitability for suitors.

The ornate timber railing leading to the upstairs is all original to the house.

The second floor and sunroom are again all lined in the gold painted paper. Beautiful stained glass windows held a view to the Rocky Mountains no longer seen due to the buildings in the city now. There was also a small balcony that Margaret would have a band play for her visitors.

Photo: the arch windows were the sitting room and the small balcony to the left is where the band would play.

 

Servants quarters were on the third floor and a room used for women's suffrage gatherings etc. not open to the public as yet.

The first bedroom was the daughters, the bed is original to the home.

The second green bedroom was Margarets. Across the hall was JJs bedroom.

The other room to the right was her parents room and the last room was the son's bedroom.

The bathroom is still all original.

Down the servants stairs, very narrow and not much wider than my shoulders. Servants, like children in that era, should be seen not heard. If you went up you carried stuff up and if coming down you would bring down laundry or tea trays etc.

There was no railing and therefore they were narrow to use your elbows to stabilise yourself.

An 1889 annunciation exists in the kitchen, the bell would go, an arrow would point up to indicate which room required a servant.

The kitchen has been done as a 1910 kitchen, the butlers pantry just off the kitchen also has a door into the dining room. Beautiful cabinets exist in the butlers pantry and also a hidden canned and appliance pantry like those of today that are now coming in to many homes.

 

That my friends concludes the hurried note taking of The Molly Brown House visit. My mind or imagination goes wild when in these places, picturing the dress, entertaining visitors, the gatherings with servants for tutorials, Christmas but I'm sure it wasn't all roses! 😉

Kat xo

P.S. We had brunch at City Bakery and Cafe beforehand, divine toasted panini sandwiches and cibbati bread that we were given for first time visit. Fabulous food, coffee and baked goods, worth a visit, Sandy was very friendly!

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molly_Brown_House

http://www.mollybrown.org

http://www.citybakerydenver.com

 

Rough Riders Museum and through Trinidad

Posted on by kathousekelli70

What a start to the day with a trip to Charlie's Spic & Span, Bakery and Cafe on Douglas Ave. Famous for their cream puffs!! But all their food is good.

 

The pastry cabinet was so inviting and I thought when we left the hotel I might over indulge in a cream puff. Ahhh, no, these things are bigger than your fist! And the chocolate eclair you would need four people to get through 1!

 

Many other biscuits and donuts, drinks, coffee (they serve Starbucks coffee in here) and of course a great selection of Mexican meals. Serving all day, Charlie's has been operating since 1960 and is decorated in all its 50's diner style.

 

I'll just have a short stack she says, holy moly!

 

…..and then there were more!

 

Onto the Rough Riders Museum, finally we get there after many attempts in previous years.

 

We met a gentleman named Brian who says he was the great, great, great grandson of Teddy Roosevelt. He grew up on Long Island not far from Theodore Roosevelt's house. What a character he was!

 

The museum is small but packed with information about the Rough Riders, their reunions and the life of Theodore Roosevelt. There are other items pertaining to the Harvey Houses, the railway era, the churches, west and east Las Vegas (when it was two towns separated by the Guadallupe River, and general life in New Mexico.

There are some 800 historical buildings and homes in this little town of Las Vegas, NM……not so little after all!

 

And so it's time to continue North.

We made stop for lunch and then a short stop in Trinidad, CO. There are some gorgeous buildings here as well.

 

The Museum was closed but we did duck into the Mt San Rafael hospital lobby and checked out the beautiful 28' X 12' ceramic mural depicting Trinidad life and history. Designed and made by Sister Augusta Zimmer, S.C.

 

Continuing on we will call in to the Cowboy Hotel (aka Aspen Filly and Aspen Wrangler) for a couple of nights before all of us head in to Fort Collins and Nunn for the Colorado State Championship.

See you at Pawnee Station!

Kat xo

 

Diary of Desire Part 8

Posted on by kathousekelli70

After many hours of trimming, beading (1,216 to be precise) and hand stitching embroidery I finally finished 'the' gown, culminating in the most exquisite piece I have yet produced.

For one very happy client, Texas Flower is in love with her gown to which I am extremely pleased.

The McDowell Drafting Machine and its book of instructions were indeed true. It states that, if correct measure is taken then a gown should be produced and ready to ship to your client without inconveniencing the wearer with numerous fittings.

Despite my misgivings, I now believe every written word in that book! Having made the gown in Australia and finishing it here, Flower had not once tried the gown on until we met in Moriarty last Tuesday. It fit perfectly!

I had a minor conniption when I realised I had not bought any boning with me to add stays to the bodice but am happy to say it did not require it.

This makes it even more like the original really where it was noted (in an article by Peaches O'Day and Miss Tabitha, SASS Chronicle 2012) unusually, did not have any.

Finally, on Friday evening all hand stitching was done and I could hand the gown over to one very excited and happy lady.

The 'Diary of Desire' was worn to the banquet Saturday night and to all our delight Texas Flower was EOT 2016, 1st Place, Best Dressed Lady.

Under the evening lights of the Belle Union Saloon those little Czech glass beadlettes shone bright like stars and the smile on Texas Flower's face!

 

True satisfaction from a yesteryear seamstress.

Kat xo

 

Las Vegas, NM

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Said our final goodbyes to Rooster and Trooper (aka Constable Nelson) this morning with a hearty breakfast at Lisa's Truck Centre in Moriarty.

We are on the road to Las Vegas, NM where we will spend the night and visit the Rough Riders Museum tomorrow. (It's always closed on a Monday when we travel through)

We did a quick trip up the road through Lamey but like most, the history and Railroad Museum are closed today.

 

On through Eldorado and Pecos with much of the housing around here of adobe structure. They are nestled into the surrounding environment and at times it is hard to pick out the houses until you concentrate and find them, realising their is a ton of them secreted away.

 

Going into Pecos we did actually see this roadside marker for the 'Gettysburg of the West'. That was worth the side trip off the highway just to see that and learn something new.

These are all small towns so back onto the I25 we went, heading North.

Into Las Vegas we arrived and wandered around the old town plaza. We actually went into the Plaza Hotel this time for a look. They have been renovating and are still working on it. Some of the press tinned ceilings are still there. It is beautiful and they have taken advantage of some of the space for housing beautiful New Mexico artworks.

 

Also this old travelling trunk was on display and the original safe from the hotel so beautifully ornate in its own right.

 

Some of the buildings to the left of the hotel were still being restored when we were here last in 2013 so it was nice to see the square almost completely renovated now.

We found a room for the night and headed further North to Watrous, to visit the Fort Union National Monument.

Wow! Fort Union was a military post from 1851 – 1891. It was the largest fort in the southwest frontier. I guess the best way to describe Fort Union is that back in the day it was a huge distribution centre. Not only did they have supplies come in for them but they distributed to other states and smaller fort's from the one area.

The Fort was actually built 3 times in different spots on the same land. The buildings were of Adobe construction but they did have a kiln not too far where they would make some of their bricks. Others for the fire boxes were highly aluminised and were brought in from St Louis, Missouri.

 

The hospital was run with 2 doctors, a few nurses a few matrons and many untrained civilians. On the video we watched (before doing the 1 mile walk) it was mentioned that in the whole time the fort hospital operated only 17 patients died. I think that's pretty sensational odds for that time period!

 

The decline of the Fort occurred with the coming of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway.

This leads me to one of the more romantic sides of the west and I explored this before when doing the CASS Bulletin in Australia. With the AT&SF's arrival came the Harvey Houses. An entertaining idea of Fred Harvey's to serve travellers at train stop hotels (1870's to mid 1940's) with style and class unknown in the past to most coach stops.

Briefly, the Harvey girls were all single, dormed together usually above or with or within the establishment, had strict rules and curfews and wore a suitably black and white uniform, although at one point the New Mexico Harvey girls wore the traditional colourful dress of the culture. The Fred Harvey standards were not to be taken lightly. For many of these girls, it was a way out of their struggling existence. Travelling across the country to new places they may never have gotten to see.

Las Vegas was no different. The Castenada was the Harvey House stop opposite the railway depot. Still standing in its faded glory today. Was I disappointed? Hell yes!. Soon remedied with a visit to the Rough Riders Antique store across the road!

 

The Castenada Hotel is apparently being refurbished by the same guy that did the Winslow Harvey House. A couple of years and it should be open. During The Cowboy Reunion, held every August, it will be open for tours and some functions.

Whilst in the Rough Riders antique store what should I find but some beautiful La Mode Illustree fashion plates framed. Now if I had a sewing room getting set up then these were to die for. At $220 per pic (and there were 4 of them) they had to stay BUT actual Fred Harvey silver ware and memorabilia?! That I could not pass up and managed to acquire a knife and some registration cards. All from the Castenada Hotel. Thank you very much!!

 

That concludes a busy day in what we always saw as a very small town that we had always just passed through.

Cheers

Kat xo

 

End Of Trail Cowboy Action World Championships 2016

Posted on by kathousekelli70

As the saying goes…come for the shooting, stay for the people….its End Of Trail 2016, the 35th Anniversary of cowboy action shooting.

Last Tuesday was warm up day and the start of 6 days of fun. Well for some they could do warm up Monday as well but we were still wild bunching it!

Wednesday I assisted as an instructor in the Doily Gang ladies clinic along with Shamrock Sadie, Two Sons, Sass Kicker and Half-a-hand Henri.

 

We had around 18 ladies that we shared information with and coached through a stage giving them tips for working on or improving their transitions. I hope all the ladies enjoyed it as much as I did, working with 4 other World Champions, all sharing their knowledge.

 

It was on to the official Opening Ceremony that same afternoon. Jack and I had worn our Aussie outfits and I was honoured to carry the Australian flag as part of the ceremony recognising the countries participating this year. Australia, Austria, Netherlands, New Zealand, Italy, Germany and USA participated this year.

 

The 2016 class of new Regulators were announced with many friends recieving the accolade! Top Hand award went to Blackjack Zac. Congratulations to all!

 

Thursday, Friday and Saturday were main match days. 4 stages a day, 36 posses going through 3 waves per day.

We were on Posse 32 – Buck Skunk, Deadeye Colt, Deadeye Jake Maas, Cat Ballou & Tex, Texas Mac & Texas Flower, Doc Neilson, G.W. Wade, Hands, Louie, Ranger McDuffie, Tijeras Pete, Timbercrick Mick, Tooth Ache, Whiskey Rick, Wyatt H. Ristl, Yellowstone Vic, Jackaroo and myself and of course our Posse leader Half-a-Hand Henri. (Was great shooting with – now – a 10 times World Champion and all won in different categories! What an inspiration this lady is!)

 

Saturday night was party and Best Dressed Costume contest. Lots of entrants fronted up for best dressed in different categories but the main one I was concerned about was Texas Flower in the 'Diary of Desire' gown. Doc Barium also showed up in her Seaside gown and hat I had made for her last year! So now I had two entries in the costume contest.

Grin from ear to ear when both ladies with their exceptional stories, were announced as 1st Place for Texas Flower!! 2nd place for Doc Barium and the lovely EZ GeeZee 3rd place for her Mexican civil war gown.

 

To round out the night the Top 16 Mens and Ladies were announced. Made it to the shootout!

Men's – Missouri Lefty, Waterloo, Matt Black, White Lightning Jack, Cobra Cat, Cody James, Creek County Kid, Ranger McDuffie, Roy's Creek Dan, Deuce Stevens, Austin Black, Damascus Jon, Duke Skywalker, Lead Ringer, Nick Nitro, Pecos Nick

Ladies – Shamrock Sadie, Echo Meadows, Kathouse Kelli, Sass Kicker, Slicks Sharpshooter, Bonnie Macfarlane, Panhandle Cowgirl, Two Sons, Spinning Sally, Texas Tiger, Whirlwind Wendy, Diamond Kate, Belinda Belle, Hey You, Little Red Sure Shot, Morguns Ann Ammo

Sunday to finish off a top week of action the shootouts were held for both Wild Bunch and Cowboy. Had a couple of fumbling runs through cowboy, shootout sure gets you going! Congratulations to Slicks Sharpshooter and Cody James for winning the shootout.

For main match awards – well, Jack got a buckle finishing 10th in Silver Senior category, much to his surprise after a 5 round rifle jam on a stage. Aside that, he shot extremely well during the match. Jack's back! Congratulations to General Jubal Early this years Silver Senior World Champion and to all other buckle winners.

 

To all my fellow Lady Wrangler competitors including another Aussie, Ex Sighted in 6th place and to my main competitors finishing 2nd place Echo Meadows (only 9secs between us again but rank points change that), Dew R Dye in 3rd place, a big congratulations to all buckle winners. This is one happy cowgirl taking a back to back world champion win!

 

A huge congratulations to the 2016 Overall Champions – Missouri Lefty and Sass Kicker!

 

What a day, what a week and a half!!

Leaving the dusty trail for another year,

Kat xo

June 26, 2016

 

EOT Wild Bunch 2016

Posted on by kathousekelli70

We arrived into Moriarty a fortnight ago on the Thursday afternoon and got ourselves ready for a huge week!

The Wild Bunch World Championships commenced on the Friday with warm up and side matches.

Saturday, Sunday and Monday were the main match days. Now I managed to convince Jack not to over do it, so he sat this one out. He still came to the range every day with me and was helpful in loading mags and the loading strip while I was listening to stage instructions. (thanks man, love ya)

 

I was with a great Posse, some new faces, some I already knew and have shot with before. A good mix of modern and traditional shooters. Thanks to Texas Jack Morales, Last Chance Morales, Goatneck Clem, Capt Sam Evans, Mojave Mick, Boggus Deal, Lady Jane, Idaho Sixgun Sam, Big Casino, Big Iron Patnode, Colorado Jackson, Beaver John, Claudia Feather, Czexican Dave, Hipshot, Fast Hammer, Marshal Stone, Poke and Tumbleweed Thom.

 

The stages were great, a tough match but a whole lot of fun. The average number of pistol rounds was 25, some had 20 and some had 30 but generally the 30 round only had rifle or shotgun, not both.

 

As you can see from the photos there were a whole lot of knockdowns which made it interesting and I still think I'm getting used to having a front sight again. In short I need to practice on some smaller targets!!

 

Didn't get to do the BAM Match (Bolt Action Military rifle) or long range this time as Jacks rifle sort of fell apart the weekend of the OK State WB shoot. Next time!

Anyway at the end of 3 days……and a week of cowboy in between……I got a neat little badge for 2nd place wild bunch shooting costume. Had a run in the Wild Bunch shootout, AND finished 3rd in Ladies Traditional with two fabulous ladies Lady Jane in 2nd place and the lovely Lacey Doyly the 2016 World Champion Wild Bunch Ladies Traditional!

 

From the one handed shooter!

Kat xo

 

She’s ‘Armless

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Well she won't be for long I guess we are at Diary of Desire Part 6?

I'm cutting it fine but something take careful thinking and consideration. Some might call it procrastination ……in the quest of getting it right.

This morning I've completed all the hand cutting out of the embroidery and now a day of hand stitching and beading!

Just look at her! She's beautiful. The gold thread changed colour when I washed the soluble backing from it (note to self – ask Mum why) but it is delicate and going to look sensational once beaded.

 

20 hours just in embroidery and trimming to this point.

Soon she will be ready to hand over for her first reception.

Happy cowgirl seamstress

Kat xo

P.S. I haven't forgotten the sleeves, just want to do the triple/quadruple check again.

 

Red Dirt Wild Bunch

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Oklahoma State Wild Bunch Championships are done and dusted for another year. It was a hot, hot day Saturday and a little kinder today.

The Red Dirt Company of Rough Riders got together for a pic today (all those dressed in their Rough Riders outfits) but there were a couple of others yesterday that I wish had have been in today's picture.

 

Ten stages in all, a Fastest Pistol side match – that was a hoot, man on man shootout, and a BAM Match (Bolt Action Military).

 

Thanks to Hondo Tweed as Match Director and all the Territorial Marshals that helped set up, paint and tear down. John Elder and his wife for the fantastic food both days.

 

Stages were great and reasonable on rounds. Was a great primer for End Of Trail and Colorado State Champions coming up.

 

Men's Modern and 1st overall went to Shell Stuffer from (southern) Illinois, Ladies Modern and 1st overall was Missouri Mae, who along with Capt Sam Evans won the shootout.

Jackaroo placed 2nd in Modern Mens Senior! I placed 1st in Ladies Traditional, won the Ladies Fastest Pistol and Ladies BAM match.

A whole bunch of fun with a great bunch of people. Will see some at End of Trail or next on the range in Arcadia. Congratulations to all other winners, I remember some but without the scores cannot submit here correctly.

Happy shooting!

Kat xo

 

Lincoln County Cowboys

Posted on by kathousekelli70

In the morning light a posse of 16 cowboys and cowgirls rolled into the Crossroads Gun Range of Cushing, Oklahoma.

The sun beat down from a bright blue sky, later giving way to an Oklahoman breeze. With a tip of the hat and the pledge of allegiance, a six stage shoot out got under way.

 

They listened for how the shootout would take place, gathered their guns and ammo to take down the targets as the stage was set.

 

There was laughter, disappointment, cussing and messing with some.

 

At the end of the day, the cowboys and cowgirls came together for dinner and regaled each other with their tales – all the while with smiles on their faces and looking forward to the next time they came together at the next corral.

I'll be your huckleberry.

Kat xo