Yee haa, car's packed and in the morning we will be heading off to Hot Springs, Arkansas for the annual known as 'Shootin' In The Shade'.
We haven't been to this one before but have heard it's a good'un!
I've got car projects coming out the whazoo so should keep me entertained for the 6hr drive and then some.
Well it's midnight so I'll say goodnight and wish you all a great weekend. Some we will see there and others will just have to live vicariously through another adventure!
Kat xo
Howdy y'all!
It's been a little slow in the shooting department this month. We had the Territorial Marshal's club match here at OKC Gun club both Cowboy and Wild Bunch, did a Sunday up at Stillwater club and went to Texas last weekend for club match.
We were invited last week to the Friends of NRA banquet and WOW! What an eye opener that was.
625 odd people packed the National Cowboy Museum for this event with raffles, silent auctions and a huge auction to the highest bidder. Love trying to understand the auctioneers and flabbergasted at some of the prices people paid!
BUT it was all for a good cause. The banquets fund program's for youth in various disciplines, as well as women's day program's and other events.
This weekend there is a gun show on at the fairgrounds so we will head out to that and check it out, looks massive!
Sunday we have cowboy club match and then next week we head up to Hot Springs, Arkansas for Shootin' In The Shade. Looking forward to that!
Hope everyone has a great weekend coming up, wherever you may be.
Jack n Kat xo
Now you might say, well it's a 'skinny' recipe but seriously?!
You gotta laugh, I don't have a lot of pans here so thought this would do but now I really DO have skinny fudge brownies!!!
I left out the vanilla – only because I forgot – I'm sure they will taste okay just the same.
120 calories per piece. Would look better thicker but anyway all goes down the same!
Bona petite!
Kat xo
Friday and we are heading down to English, TX, for a club match shoot at the Bar 3 Ranch tomorrow and drop off a new guncart for 'Lightning Striker'.
We go past Tinker Airforce Base on the I-40 where they have a display of old planes. Must make a Walkabout Wednesday trip out there to have a look. That wasn't what caught my eye though but an FA18 landing and taking off again, practicing manoeuvres! Very cool.
This is the only photo I managed to get haa haa haa can you find it?
Wasn't quite quick enough!
Four hours later, down highways, through small towns in the very south eastern corner of Oklahoma, we have entered Texas and soon would be making a stop in New Boston to check out T-Bones 'Cowboy Guns' store which will soon be a pawn shop as well. If you ever get down – or up that way go check it out.
It's neat. They've done a great fit out, and besides the guns and other accessories you can buy saddles, guitars and see the antique displays.
Back to Bar 3 and within 10minutes I'm the brand new owner of a fixer upper!! This will be perfect for my bicycle costume! Yee haaa! Watch me ride this one down main street next Land Run!
Now I know it's not period correct but this little duck can make it look like it belongs back then. Yes indeed! Jack can clean up the chrome work and that will give him something to do while I'm sewing.
(After dinner this began and I might add now that very little alcohol was involved) Wooo! There's about 10 of us and it's dancing and karaoke! Bring it on!
Oh my goodness, I'm hoarse! Give me a deep song, can't do them high pitch girly ones but we had fun just the same!!! Shhh Jack went to bed already and it's now 12.55am, I better get some shut eye.
Up and at em!! Rise and shine!
We had 26 shooters for the day and shot 5 stages. Lunchtime with sandwich fixings and plenty of cake including Omaha John and Complicated Lady's wedding cake. Congratulations and thanks for the yummy cake.
It's back to Oklahoma and maybe a swim is in need when we get there, man it is hot, hot, hot in Texas today – with the humidity it must be well over 100F, the car gauge is saying 97F.
Back in Oklahoma and a few spots of rain, or an attempt. An hour to go and all my car projects are done and ready for the machine.
Hope everyone had or has a good rest of their weekend! Take care! Thanks again to T-Bone Dooley and Ellie Gant for hosting us.
Kat xo
P.S. And shooting wise?! Had a good run and finished 3rd overall, Jack 4th!
Last night while I was meal planning for the next couple of weeks and making the shopping list for today, it was with despair – that the man had no dessert for the evening cup of tea!
We have run out of berries, yoghurt, not even a square of dark chocolate until I realised that I had all the makings for a coffee cake. A recipe I have from one of those fitness ‘things’ I have so many of.
Coffee cake, made with stevia instead of sugar but has a coating of a small amount of brown sugar and cinnamon on top, 20 minutes in the oven and da-dah! Dessert for a cuppa!
AND might I add for 1/8 only ends up being 91 calories. A very nice alternative. Recipe says a portion size is a quarter of the cake (if you were having it for breakfast) but was plenty for us even though we could have quite easily had more!
Kat xo
PS Thanks to the Venus Factor for this little beauty!
Mmmmmm, yes, warm days and sunshine!
We went out and about today, dropping off boots for repairs to heels and soles – much needed for Cowboy Action Shooting!
We joined the gym – yes folks you heard it first WE joined a gym. Fitness session Monday and then into it! Woo hoo! I can't wait, much cheaper here than in Australia too. Now I can get back to boxing as well. Yeah.
Jack will survive if only using the treadmills as they have tv's and cable tv so I'm sure he won't be leaving until a Western has finished playing perhaps!?! Haa haa haa. He is looking forward to some weights as well though.
Bought some plants finally for the pots we bought a few months ago and then spent a little time this arvo potting Salvia's 'May Night'.
This evening we have had a barbecue happening or a grill you might say here. Delicious!
As we sit here in the quiet with crickets in the background (very slight traffic noise and the hum of air conditioners) the fans are providing some gentle breeze as we watch the sun set. Sensational!
Citronella candle burns to keep the mozzies away – yep, they're here as well!
Heading in for more of 'Hell On Wheels' soon. while I catch up on boring ironing.
Hope you are having a fantabulous weekend! Tomorrow we are off to Stillwater for their club match.
Catchya! Kat xo
Well, that IS the question.
I seem to be getting a lot of comments that may be spam, some relate to games which I have no idea even what they are, some maybe genuine and I will hereby apologise if your comment has not been approved and showing on this website.
Everything I post on this blog is my own words, some memorised from tours and information we have read in the Museums and attractions we attend. Therefore the information is correct as far as my recollection.
I do not proclaim to have it all right which is why I will try and include some of the websites for direct contact with the place we have been or additional information through Wikipedia and other service providers of historical information.
Our blog is intended to keep family and friends (and anyone else who might find it informative or amusing) up to date with our mundane, to more adventurous travels, history tours and competitions etc while we enjoy our extended holidays.
I hope you all continue to follow The Adventures of Jack n Kat and that I can keep you somewhat entertained or give you ideas for your own holidays!
Kat xo
Monday – Today before hitting the road back for OK we went back to the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park before it got too hot. We found under the railway trestle, running between the Tennessee Map Plaza and the Tennessee Rivers Fountain, a fantastic Visitor Centre which currently has a small Civil War display which was really interesting.
We spent nearly an hour looking at that and talking with the Park Rangers, one participates in Civil War re-enactments. Found out some great info regarding the buttons for the uniforms and found a US Navy uniform from that time! Very interesting!
The Rivers Fountain is a wall with the history of the rivers and creeks across the state. The states major hazard is flooding for obvious reasons!
The fountain consists of a jet for each river and around the base the name carved into the stone. At each end of the fountain is flag poles with the central taller mast having 3 stars, like the flag, indicating East, Middle and West Tennessee.
Walking back through the mall the granite walls are carved with information starting from the forming of the planet, through the founding of the country and it's development, Indian Territories and inhabitants, the shift of civilisation, civil war and separation of the north and South, presidents etc, etc etc.
At the far end of the mall are 52 pillars, representing the states, containing 95 bells, representing the 95 county's of TN and they chime the state songs, I think 5 from memory the tour guide said. Didn't get decent pic of this due to a reality game show had gear set up there.
There is also a beautiful memorial for the World War II veterans as well. Very nicely done Tennessee.
From there we went round past the Antique Archaeology, this is the Nashville store of the famed show 'American Pickers'. Housed in an old automobile factory building.
Onto Centennial Park and the Parthenon – closed! Oh well, got some pictures of the outside but would have been nice to see the large sculpture of Athena inside.
Made our way back down town and to the Country Music Hall of Fame, wow! This place is huge! Everything from bluegrass beginnings to current stars. Fabulous displays, stage clothing – lots of great B-Western costume ideas in there.
There was a feature display for Glen Campbell, the Rhinestone Cowboy. I tell you what though, there were plenty of earlier singers who brought country into the mix that were blinged up just as much!
A huge display of Miranda Lambert's gear as well but I still think I enjoy the earlier displays more and maybe that's just because of the country music that Mum used to play when we were growing up.
After that we found Cooter's – do you remember Cooter's garage and the Dukes of Hazzard? We just had to see the General Lee 01. We both remembered watching this show on tv. It's a small free admission museum of memorabilia and products that were made back in the early 80's, maybe even earlier. There is Daisy's jeep, Rosco's patrol car as well as photos from filming etc.
We hit the road then and made it as far as Lonoke, AR for the night. We will be back in OK tomorrow. yee haa!
That my friends was the eventful Monday, July 21st.
Kat xo
The Country Music Capital! This place is jumping, it's exactly what we see and hear about. Every second place is a bar, saloon or eatery where up and coming songwriters, musicians and singers can show their talents and hope for that ever elusive offer to become something big!
We found some parking and walked down through Printers Alley (known for it's printing of many many bibles and other literature) on down Broadway, where it's bar after bar after cowboy boot and clothing shop. We did venture into some had a beer at Doc Hollidays ……and no I wasn't allowed more boots! There were some gorgeous and unusual ones that I had not seen before.
We got on the Trolley Tour down at the Riverfront which took us around all the main highlights and is a 'hop on, hop off' arrangement for 24hrs. Taking us up Broadway through the district the tour guide gave us information along the way. The Trolley Tour goes past Ryman Auditorium, The Arcade, Musicians Hall of Fame, Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, Nashville Farmers Market, Antique Archaeology, The Parthenon/Centennial Park, Spirit of Nashville, Music Row, Frist Centre for Visual Arts, Bridgestone Arena and Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
We visited the Ryman Auditorium, known as the “Mother Church of Country Music” and in short was built by a riverboat captain and Nashville businessman Thomas G. Ryman. He had planned to heckle a preacher who gave the word out of a tent, instead Ryman was converted and decided to raise funds for a permanent place and in 1892 it was completed as the Union Gospel Tabernacle. It was renamed Ryman Auditorium after Captain Rymans death in 1904.
From then it served as a venue for events such as religious revivals, jazz, operas, ballets, political debates and boxing matches until 1943 came the Grand Ole Opry.
It then became the souths premier performance hall. Saturday nights were for a popular radio show that had outgrown other local venues. It rarely had an empty seat for the Saturday night Opry. Performers such as Hank Williams, Patsy Cline and Bill Monroe helped shape country and bluegrass music from the Ryman stage.
In 2001, after major renovations, the Ryman was named a National Historic Landmark and today is open for tours and still attracts world-class artists.
The oak pews were salvaged during the restoration and it was said the instruction was remove the chewing gum from underneath and leave everything else in tact, like scratches, markings etc.
The recreated decorative detail on the front of the balcony, the stage backdrop, the reproduction stained glass windows and chandelier lamps give the feeling of grandeur and why it must be so exciting for so many who have performed here.
Of course one of the most celebrated continuing regular performances was the radio show and 'country cousin' Minnie Pearl and the famous opening line of How-dee! With her $1.98 price tag on her hat it was a signature part of her performance.
I think she may have fitted in with our Redneck Sista's and might be a long lost relative of Mary-Lou June's! She likes price tags or labels on her gear!
We also visited the Johnny Cash Museum which has the largest and most comprehensive collection of artefacts and memorabilia in the world.
He was a tall man standing around 6'2″ and took a large 13D boot! There are stage outfits of both his and June Carter's, original song scripts, some pieces of furniture from his estate, walls of records, movie pieces etc.
Thoroughly enjoyed it, was packed with people but it was great listening to the famous opener, “Hello, I'm Johnny Cash” and his songs as you wandered through.
Along the trolley tour we also stopped briefly at the Bicentennial Mall where there is a huge Tennessee state map and information of the history with a spectacular view up the hill to the State Capitol. We will go there again tomorrow.
For more information, opening hours, concessions visit the websites below. Some are a little pricey and I would recommend finding one of the visitor information centres first as you can get coupons for most places that will give you 1 or 2 bucks off.
Kat xo
Sunday July 20th
http://www.johnnycashmuseum.com
Time to hit the road and make the trek back to OK and make a stop in Nashville and soak up the country music atmosphere.
Along the way and needing a break we see a sign for the National Corvette Museum, being the rev heads we can be, we decided to go check it out.
Wow! Wow! As soon as we get in the door their are “special orders” sitting awaiting their new owners pick up this next week.
Jack gets to take a ride in one, haa haa haa! Check out some of these prize draws as well and no, we didn't buy a ticket 😦
So we head to the counter to pay and we have to sign some indemnity form for a sinkhole or something. Now not really paying attention and keen to get in and check out the cars we really didn't take in the whole 'sinkhole' thing!
Do you remember on the news in February of this year about the sinkhole that dropped 8 corvettes into the hole, a tragedy we thought and saw it even back in Australia, well this is the place!
The cars that unfortunately went into the sink hole? A classic 1962, one owner – it survived pretty well, “Ruby” the 40th Anniversary edition, not too bad but the 1millionth and the 1.5millionth are messed up and the devastating mess of the 2001 Mallett Hammer is now about a foot wide having taken the most damage from boulders and dirt, the first to go in the hole.
Some will be restored and a couple will be left as is – they truly are a mess.
Harvey Earl was the Head of GM styling. He started toying with the idea of a sporty concept car in 1951, having gained approval in 1952 to make the concept car a reality and be ready for display at the 1953 New York Motorama.
This is when the best engineering help of Maurice Olley came into play as well. Chevrolet employees were asked for name ideas and one of their PR photographers Myron Scott is credited with suggesting Corvette after the British Navy class of fast-pursuit ships. Now, Corvette has long been known for Motorsport and there are many racing and pace cars on display in the Museum as well as all the history – from it's foundation, branding, progress, model changes etc.
The history of the change in Corvette is an interesting one in itself, with Zora Arkus-Duntov (born in Belgium, raised in Leningrad and led a very colourful life) having seen the Corvette on display in New York, wrote the company and came to work with GM in 1953. He was an amazing engineer and had also raced and won in his class twice at Le Mans. He is the man who changed Corvette from something gracious to one of the most respected sports cars in the world.
A fantastic museum, would recommend visiting for sure. If you are into cars and ever get the opportunity it's huge and drool worthy. Rest of the pics will be on Facebook.
Anyway there is so much to learn, go see it! Check out the website below! A visit on your way through Bowling Green, Kentucky is highly recommended and will need a couple of hours at least!
What a ride!
Kat xo
Sunday July 20th
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The Adventures of Jack n Kat 