Meandering to Millmerran

Posted on September 23, 2014 by kathousekelli70

We have had a great few days at the Gold Coast, checking on the house, spending time with great friends Dug Deeper and Trixie. Beers with Mad Dog as well.

Shot a club match at Gold Coast Pistol Club on Saturday with a great bunch of cowboys and cowgirls with dinner after. Caught up with Chuckwagon and Pearl Starr! Met a couple of new faces as well and look forward to seeing them again at Chsholm Trail along with many more!

The car is loaded up and We are on our way to Millmerran, shooting Dalby this weekend and then bring on the Nationals! Woo hoo!

Will keep you updated this next week with all the goings on!

Kat xo

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North to Gold Coast

Posted on September 20, 2014 by kathousekelli70

Been through Coffs Harbour, Grafton and will be stopping in Woodburn for lunch.

We are now heading into sugar cane country but the cane fields don’t appear to be as healthy as in the past. Has the rain affected the crop? Or is it harvest time? I’m sure when we’ve taken this route before at the same time of year that it’s been a lot greener.

It’s gorgeous blue skies and warm sunshine at our lunch stop in Woodburn and the best BLT with sweet chilli sauce. A slight breeze, enough to keep the Aussie flags and NSW one flying high.

Cruising up the highway and approaching beautiful Byron Bay – looks inviting today. In the middle pic if you look hard you might see the lighthouse on the headland.

We made it into the Gold Coast, below is a glimpse of part of the Gold Coast horizon, the beaches are in behind the high rises. Went and did a few things at Pacific Fair and then landed at Dug and Trixies. A great night of catchup!!

Kat xo

19 Sept

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Cundletown Couture

Posted on September 18, 2014 by kathousekelli70

Visited with Mum and Dad for a couple of days (and Aunty Susan whilst she is staying there) on our continuation up the coast. I didn't get into Taree sorry Fiona, I'll call you this week!

So besides visiting, I needed to get Lethal Lilly's dress tried on her and check for any alterations that may be required (and to use Mums machines while I had access!) All good in that department! Got her petticoat made but still not quite happy with it and added another two extra double layered frills last night to give it the oomph I was after.

Success! Only hand stitching to go.

Now I had to laugh, Mum says “you putting a zip in that?” I nearly died as most costumers or seamstress's of period correct clothing would recoil in horror at that statement! I laughed and explained why I wasn't putting a zip in, her retort I think went a little something like “I don't have time for that s$@#!” Haa haa haa sounds about right for Mum.

Side note – zips were first invented in 1851 however didn't get into production or marketed for garment use until 1937 if I'm correct.

AND she was a good teacher, having learnt all my first sewing skills from her. She showed me a couple of new tricks for the embroidery program while I was there this trip too. She is very clever at manipulating graphics to create new embroidery designs, so there is still more for me to learn from her yet.

Well, now we have left Cundletown, had breaky at Port Macquarie turn off and now reading (shock horror) 18th Century Embroidery Techniques book, wondering if I can't recreate some of these fabulous works of art with a modern day machine and perhaps just a little hand sewing.

Have a great day wherever you may be and welcome to Australia Aspen Wrangler and Aspen Filly! They should have landed in Sydney an hour ago, see you guys in QLD.

Kat xo

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Nobbys Beach, Newcastle

Posted on September 16, 2014 by kathousekelli70

A beautiful sunny day, so we headed into Newcastle to the harbour and Nobbys Beach.

Walking gear on, we walked all the way along the break wall and saw the seals playing in the swell. They were just rolling around close to the rocks, shielding their faces with their flippers and just cruising.

Water was spectacular and clear, a little on the cool side to start with but quickly seemed nice as we ditched the shoes and walked back round along the beach!

Plenty of blue bottles washed up on the beach, you don't want to be getting stung by these that's for sure!

Oh look we were here! 🙂

Back to the lifeguard area and the flags……meant to be swimming between the flags when rips are present or the surf is choppy. The lifeguards look after people on the beach should they end up in trouble swimming.

Soooo, I was getting to the point where you know you are in Australia – over the loudspeaker one of them yells out to two women swimming out of the flags '…..the two swimmers mid way down the beach, you need to move up and swim between the flags, fair dinkum they are there for a reason…' Baaaa haaa haaa!! Classic.

Hope your day was good too!

Kat xo

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Next stop Newcastle

Posted on September 15, 2014 by kathousekelli70

We were able to catch up with a few of the Territory Regulators for dinner last night – Trail Rider, Trail Boss, Clancy, Trooper, and Red Wolf. Catch Boss and Sheriff Seth Bullock in Queensland in a couple of weeks.

Sorted a few issues in Canberra and finally got on the road for Sydney again. Time to change over hire car vehicles to a bigger one, catch up with Leisl (Brian's gorgeous daughter) and see Mister Skye (aka Tony Cohen of Illustrated Man – no, no tattoos today!)

Here's a taste of heading into the City

And here's the Sydney Harbour Bridge

(Hmm I should have thought about going to Civic while in Canberra and showing off the Nations Capital – Canberra.) I will find some of my older pics of Canberra to show our friends in the USA where we were.

On to Newcastle to play with Granddaughter Scarlett – and see Peter & Tighan of course!

Kat xo

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Canberra Bound

Posted on September 13, 2014 by kathousekelli70

Arrived in Sydney, 20C/68F clear skies and…..boom! Straight into traffic, ahh how nice (said with a hint of sarcasm), tunnel turning light lets about 8 cars through if you're lucky.

A little weird sitting in a small sedan lol! On the wrong side of the road and wrong side of the car or the right side which ever way you want to look at it. Feels strange slightly for now.

Annnnd we are in the tunnel, despite the sign saying we need to do 60kms, the trucks brake noise says it all. Moving at a tad over 0km and up to 20km, thanks Sydney it's so good to see you again 🙂

Almost into Canberra, you know it's Spring, the wattle is blooming. Looks reasonably green for this time of year and quite a bit of wind! And they say Oklahoma's windy! More here today then we had in Oklahoma in a long time, although it would be called a breeze there!

Lake George is green if nothing else! Oh and the road kill has changed from armadillo to kangaroos!

A chilly few days in Canberra, got to catch up with some work colleagues down at Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre (aka the poo farm) and went to lunch with a few of them. Thanks for the catch up guys!!

Trail Rider and Trail Boss still moving in so Saturday assisted with moving stuff from the farm. Sunday and it's another glorious sunny day, yet cool and will catch up with our some of our shooting pard's tonight for dinner before moving up the coast.

A HUGE thank you to Trail Rider and Trail Boss for your hospitality for the past few days.

Jack n Kat xo

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We Have Arrived

Posted on September 10, 2014 by kathousekelli70

Was quite a good flight, got one of them silly horseshoe pillows that aren't so silly after all?! Best sleep I've had on a long flight ever.

Our stop in DFW called for dinner and a beer, 'Harp' at the Irish pub.

Found candy that was shaped like Lego blocks and was just in awe of the selection there!

A stop in Brisbane to refuel and a bs run through security again when we haven't left airside? Bit bizarre but anyway.

Nice sunrise this morning and will be a glorious 25C/77F in Brisbane.

Soon we'll be on to Sydney and then Canberra.

Sent the man for a cappuccino in the mean time.

Kat xo

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Wizard of Aus

Posted on September 9, 2014 by kathousekelli70

We're off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz, I mean Aus.

Yes we are heading back to Australia to catch up with family, friends and sort out a few things we need to do.

At the end of September, beginning of October we have the Australian National Single Action Championships. Plenty of catch up with some great cowboys and cowgirls. More on that later.

We have thoroughly enjoyed our time here so far. There is still so much to see, do and experience. We are very much looking forward to returning!

We will keep you posted with adventures from there!

Well, better finish packing and get ready for the ride to the airport.

Take care, wherever you may be.

Kat xo

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A Day Out with Friends

Posted on September 7, 2014 by kathousekelli70

Yesterday we had rain for most of the day, first time in a few weeks or more. Was nice to be able to have the doors open, air con off and it cleared to a sunny late afternoon in time for drinks!

An early start to the day as we head to Stillwater for the last club match here for a while and it's a clear, cloudless sky!

22 shooters formed up 2 posses for 6 stages. Fast but not clean, a hell of a lot of fun and laughs to go with it though.

When we head to Stillwater it warrants lunch afterwards at El Vaquero, the busiest Mexican restaurant I've ever been in. Most head in there after where we can chat and discuss scores over lunch.

Happy Fathers Day to all the Aussie Dad's this morning, mine especially, love you Dad xo See you soon!

Kat xo

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Shootin’ In The Shade

Posted on August 31, 2014 by kathousekelli70

Hot Springs, Arkansas, home of the Mountain Valley Vigilantes and hosts of 'Shootin' In The Shade' Annual match (which was also the 2014 Arkansas State Championships).

Hot Springs is known for it's many bath houses and healing waters, it was developed as a bath house town in the 1800's. Their 8 historic Bath Houses maintained by the National Park known as Bathhouse Row on Central Avenue. (See pic below and bottom right corner is The Arlington Hotel – where Al Capone often visited!)

A few have Native American names I noticed and a little bit of research tells me that they of course knew of and used the healing waters for many years and so some of the bath houses were named after different tribes.

Labour Day weekend is also their Blues Festival so it was a very busy little town! Despite an occasional shower of rain.

Check out this marble statue in the middle island of the street.

This huge hotel, bath house looks like it is unfortunately being torn down.

And I had to get a pic of this cake shop! What an awesome name! Love it.

The MVA's range is set wayyyy out in the forest amongst beautiful trees in the Ouchita Mountains, great facades and facilities. Whilst it was extremely humid, there was plenty of shade!

So we had set off Thursday catching up with our Okie mates along the road in Alma at the Catfish Hole and later for drinks, dinner and stories (lies we would say, hey TR?!).

Friday was the Professionals match which we shot with our usual Wild Bunch guns and then the afternoon was filled with practice, speed events and a ladies 'High Tea' where Velvet Glove, Cheeka Bow Wow, Mimsy and Ima Dunnit shared secrets, shortcuts and ideas for costuming for all ends of the spectrum and budget.

Main match commenced Saturday with 6 stages under our belt and a few misses too!! The targets are smaller than we're used too and you will see by the pic's are out there! So a little more precision was required.

The evening ended with the banquet held in Hot Springs at The Regency, filled with cowboys, Victorian Ladies, Saloon Girls, Silver Screen men and ladies and Military. The band if I recall was called '1, 2, 3' and Fast Fingers Green once again picked a couple of tunes with the band!

Annie Shadows took 3rd Place, Mustang Toni 2nd and myself, Kathouse Kelli 1st Place in Best Dressed Soiled Dove.

A great night of laughing, chatting and dancing.

Sunday morning and a low mist looked like we might get rain today for the final 4 stages (we got some rain during the last 2 nights) but it stayed away until just before the awards where there was a short heavy shower and then it cleared for the drive home.

So times weren't blinding fast for this match but the stages were quite good, a nice mix of transitions and we did have a great Posse. Once again we shot with some familiar faces and met some new people with Boomstick Jay and Elle Wood, Buffalo Bill Matthewson and Longbranch Kitty, Dusty Dee and Rusty Rider, Copper Rose and Printer Doc, Kid Koo, Kowboy Koo, Rotten Shot Laura, South Paw Mike, Yell County Kid, Outrider and our Posse Marshall Dewey Cheatem. Dewey's twin cherubs came and helped pick up brass today, cute and very well behaved kids.

So this is what I remember with awards for us and some of our friends.

Senior Category – Jackaroo 2nd Place, Snake Oil George 4th Place (1st I Reckon, 3rd Place and Arkansas State Champion Just Charlie)

B Western – Flat Top Okie 2nd Place

Wrangler – Scott Wayne 3rd Place (1st Place C S Brady, 2nd Place Slick McClade)

Elder Statesman – Tail N Kid 2nd Place (1st Place Arizona Ranger, 3rd Place and Arkansas State Champ Piney Woods)

Silver Senior – Ambler 1st Place, Fast Fingers Green 3rd

49ers – Naildriver 1st Place and Arkansas State Champ

Frontier Cartridge Duelist – Bois D' Arc 3rd Place

Lady Senior – Tacky Jackie 3rd Place (Copper Rose 1st Place and Arkansas State Champion)

Lady 49er – Missouri Mae 1st Place (Mustang Toni 2nd Place)

Lady Wrangler – Kathouse Kelli 1st Place (2nd Place Ivory, 3rd Place and Arkansas Champion Cheeka Bow Wow)

A few more placed but without scores yet, can't remember their categories.

In closing, Top Overall Lady was Missouri Mae and Top Overall Man was CS Brady. Top Arkansas State Champions were CS Brady and Velvet Glove. Congratulations to all winners for this match and to all shooters in attendance.

Now it's time to head back to Oklahoma!! Night y'all!