Kansas – Nebraska Day Trip

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Travelling along, no car projects this trip, so snooze! Yeah that sounds pretty good.

We were heading north through Kansas and came across Waconda Lake between Beloit and Cawker City, a massive expanse of waterway. Not much out this way except lots of farming and Beloit is clearly a very large agricultural hub.

 

Continuing North we took a quick side trip for a mile off the Hwy8 which took us to the Dr Higley cabin. (Lovingly taken care of, restored and remaining on its original site thanks to Mr and Mrs Pete Rust)

 

Birthplace of 'Home On The Range' the Kansas state song was written in 1871 by Dr Brewster M. Higley as a poem of his property in Kansas alongside Beaver Creek. In 1872 he gave it to a guy by the name of Dan Kelley who set it to music. A refrain was added (the chorus, home, home on the range….) and his poem 'my western home' became 'home on the range. The poem and song were published in 1872 and '73.

It became popular amongst Cowboys riding long distances with cattle drives and later Franklin D. Roosevelt declared it as his favourite song. In 1947 a bill was passed in the Kansas Legislature establishing the song as the official state song.

Continuing on, we crossed into Nebraska, heading towards Minden.

Minden established 1877 – the Christmas city – has a nice selection of old homes and the Harold Warp Pioneer Village. Anything and everything you could think of from mans progression since 1830. 26 buildings, 3 city blocks – not enough time to do in a short afternoon.

 

Next to Kearney (pronounce Car-nee). We crossed the Platte River taking us through even more farmland. Soon we hit the I80 into Kearney through the The Great Platte River Arch Monument. We went into the Arch Monument and their historical exhibit, wow! Oh….my….goodness!

 

The murals were just sensational! So much detail! Standing there looking at them while listening to the commentary you saw so much more. This is a place I could come back to multiple times and still see more. You were given a device at the beginning of the tour that had multiple points during the tour where you got the information along the way. More than that, the displays, the video's, the models, murals, everything was sensational!

 

Then it was find a motel to stay in and tomorrow we will see the some other museums, maybe a railway one and Chimney Rock before moving on through to Cheyenne, WY.

Sleep well!

Kat xo

P.S. The I80 was Einsenhower's way of employing those back from the war by building the greatest Trans continent road between SanFrancisco, California to New York. A multi lane highway stretching from one side of the country to the other! Made transport easier and gave all veterans an employment opportunity.

 

Seeing Double

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Why yes, yes I am!

Matching B-Western shirts for Greenhill Bart and Bashful Kate.

Gingham fabric was often used in the 1930's and 1940's in dresses and shirts, from country music stars gracing the stage of the Grand Ole Opry and later in movies by John Wayne and of course Dorothy wore a dress of it in The Wizard of Oz.

It has actually been around for centuries having been imported into Europe in the 17th century, as a striped fabric. Later during the 18th century in Manchester, England it began being milled and woven as check, usually in blue and white.

 

Happy trails!

Kat xo

 

Oops! I Dyed It Again

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble.

Dye this fringe, so I won’t whinge.

Red and black, can never go back.

Seems to be working, I don’t know.

Better than orange, that is so!

Time, time, ten minutes in.

Have a look and leave it spin.

Set the timer, twenty for sure.

How’s my rhyming, do you want more?!

Stirring, stirring, constant pot.

Working up a sweat, with this lot!

Seven minutes more, this really is a bore.

Typing with one finger, while I have to linger.

Oops, there goes the bell!

Now only time will tell.

Rinse it with a …..sigh, and wait for it to dry.

Okay this IS looking pretty good at the moment. The hands….not so much, should’ve worn gloves while rinsing. Coupl’a days! She’ll be Jake!

 

Mission, semi accomplished! Might I add, this is round 3! Did the second batch this morning, still wasn’t happy, now I just might be! 🙂

Have a good one!

Kat xo

 

To Dye For

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Yes, nice little play on words there. 🙂

I have started the recreation process of the 'Eva' outfit from Hell on Wheels for my friend Belle Vaquera.

 

The underskirt is complete, with built in petticoat.

 

The overskirt is now taking shape with the gold skirt finished, it is waiting on the teal and burgundy chiffon overlay.

 

Fabric acquired. Fringing acquired………supposed to be cranberry. 😦

 

Not to worry, after a bit of sort after advice let's just dye it!

So yesterday in between spurts of B-Western shirts and lunch I decided to give it a crack.

Cut 1 small sample, put on pot of water/dye solution, boil said piece for 15mins. Ahh success! It is a deeper colour and more in tune with the chiffon and bodice fabric. Yippee!

 

……..many hours later, I return to switch lights off in the study and see that my sample piece – now dry – is no different to how it was that morning!!

 

Sigh, well, I know it needs to be in the dye longer and now I know it will be the whole lot of dye, not much water, salt or vinegar to set and leave it for 30mins plus. That can be this afternoons task.

Have a colourful day!

Kat xo

P.S. In my quest to have things as close as possible to the real deal, I have finally come up with a way to do the gold embroidery that I'll be happy with and whilst doing yoga this morning have worked out the edge trim. As Mum would say 'a blind man on a galloping horse wouldn't see it' if it wasn't there……but I would 😉 xo

 

Days of Truth – The Truth Is In The Packing

Posted on by kathousekelli70

One, two, shuffle my shoe

Three, four, just a corset more

Five, six, ammo in the mix

Seven, eight, pack them straight

Nine, ten, weigh it again!

Cowgirl packing, minimalist style. (she says rolling her eyes)

 

The truth was definitely in the packing. 4 bloomers, 5 tops, 6 corsets, saloon skirt, petticoat, 1 pr shooting boots, 1 pr cowboy boots, 1 pr saloon boots, casual clothes, jewellery, a wig, 1 hat, rig and 5kg/11lb of ammo.

Think I did pretty good actually, phew, that was tough going!

Now ready for SASS European Championships – 'Days of Truth' in Oparany, Czech Republic. We don't leave until 2nd August but we are ready!

 

A busy week ahead, wishing you a good one too!

Kat xo

 

Wednesday Hump Day

Posted on by kathousekelli70

It's mid week and all down hill to the end of the week from here.

Headed to the range for practice today with 17 other brave souls in the heat. At 8.30am this morning we were already at 82F/28C and closer to 96F/35.5C by the time we were finishing at lunch time. Just another normal summer day and with the humidity, very much like shooting at home in Queensland.

 

Looking forward to shooting on Sunday for the club match and one more practice before we go to Czech Republic!

The last couple of weeks have been busy too besides the birthdays etc. managed to make myself a new saloon outfit and just finished the corset today. Grommets to two and it's on to shirts!

 

Hope you are having a sensational week!

Kat xo

 

What A Tangled Web We Weave

Posted on by kathousekelli70

I've been doing these Tom Mix inspired jackets for Jack and I for some time now.

We first saw the shell jacket in one of our very first visits to the Oklahoma History Centre which was quite opportune at the time as they had a whole section on famous Oklahomans.

Right in the door way was a Tom Mix exhibit with his shell jacket (c.1935 from what I can tell from the plaque) a saddle and pictures.

Having wandered through the rest of the exhibit hall it really struck me that this would make a pretty neat costume and I should have a crack at it!

 

So a few photos later it's been sitting on the back burner for about 3 years, fabric purchased probably about 2 years. A good test of the soutache skills led to some eye rolling, tantrum throwing days but eventually a result that I was reasonably happy with!

A split/riding skirt for me and a new pair of duds for Jack – in coordinating fabric – and then it was procrastinate, research and procrastinate some more over the shoulder boards.

More super eye rolling and research eventuated in finding xmarksthescot.com and their question/how-to regarding the making of shoulder boards. Yes thank you! A decent blog/internet response regarding 'how to make shoulder boards'!

So step 1 – skip the part about some program that helps you develop some template on how to make a shoulder board.

Looks about an inch apart………that will do she says! Let's do this!

 

Step 2 – out to the shed. Acquire a scrap piece of timber from Jack, yep that'll do, and look at pic again from Internet conversation. We can do this!

 

Step 3 – draw up (a presumed) 1″ grid on piece of timber as per picture. Got it! Sorted!

 

Step 4 – nails, find nails, yep, hot enough. Hammer nails in to create a 'loom' type piece for making shoulder board weave on.

 

Step 5 – acquire internet picture again. Yep, should be able to do this……..get so far and use drawing to complete required weaving pattern.

 

Step 6 – follow through with braid again as per instructions. Hmmmm yeah, nup, not liking this look.

 

I decided that the 3mm flat soutache braid is too narrow and flimsy looking, not the required look I'm going for so it was off to Jo-Ann's and Hobby Lobby. I settled on some coordinating braid that would probably work and set about to again make the shoulder boards.

 

I will add the guy was right when he said the easing and tightening of the weave took longer than the actual weaving itself. Eventually I got 4 even looking epaulettes I was happy with.

Next I needed matching military braids. How am I going to make these? Back to google I go, found a link and a YouTube video by Tieing It All Together. You ripper, here we go!

So two goes and I got it! Yee Haa!

 

Had also ordered bugle cord ends – usually used on bolo ties – and completed the cord end.

 

Hmmm not too bad.

Oh and I did a bit more research on Tom Mix, he was actually born in Pennsylvannia but did spend a lot of time in Oklahoma?? I know the saloon in Guthrie has a claim to fame with Tom Mix having tendered there and the Tom Mix Museum is in Dewey, so I guess Oklahoma can claim him as one of their own.

Have a good one!

Kat xo

 

Succeed or not succeed?

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Well the pavlova itself was outstanding – even if I do say so myself. Very happy with that, didn't sink much either considering I cracked the oven so it would cool quicker.

The cream that I had whipped ahead of time……never had trouble doing this in Aus……had gone soft or runny and before I could stop myself after one spoonful had put the whole lot on top.

Probably should have tried whipping it again before putting on.

Berries went on and slid off or sunk….grrrr.

 

But all in all, was still a success, tasted good, cooked to perfection, can safely say have conquered this! Next time will do again and whip cream last so I get the total awesome effect instead of half assed. So much for trying to be organised…sigh.

Yum!

Kat xo

 

Making the elusive Pav!

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Man, I've attempted this dessert before (Christmas 2014) without much success and what resulted in a brownish flat mess that tasted like pavlova and could be covered up with cream etc. you get the drift.

So for today's BBQ I decide I need to make it again after being inspired by Myskal's version for the Shanley's.

What is a pavlova I hear you say? It is a staple dessert for Australians during summer festivities, usually at Christmas time. However all credit goes to the land of the long white cloud as it originated from New Zealand. Hence my inclusion of Myskal 'cause that's where she is from! 🙂

So back to the dessert attempt. I think I have this gig pretty much sussed out when I find a Donna Hay recipe (famous chef in Australia) and think that is pretty easy – again perhaps slightly delusional about my pav making skills!

 

So let's have a crack! Got the egg whites (went for a carton of them from the store), got a ton of bakers sugar (otherwise known as caster sugar in Aus), got my whisk, although I seriously do miss my KitchenAid. Clean bowl, everything prepped ready to roll.

 

Okay so this is taking forever, only managing some sort of thickness where at least I can tip the bowl sideways and nothing falls out.

 

She'll be jake, should be right to add sugar!?!

Okay so recipe says add tablespoon at a time, waiting 30secs in between each. Rightio, timer on, let's go, I get through painfully a cup and a half of sugar and all I've got is this runny marshmallowy looking mess. Not….happy…Jan! (No reference to anyone in particular here, this was a line from a tv ad in Aus years ago, works for lots of things and is a bit kinder on the ears! Lol!)

 

Into the bin!

Next start next batch, everything clean, dry etc. stupid………same thing! Ahhhhh this is frustrating! Ditch another batch of gooey marshmallowy substance.

Right! It'll be fun they said. (Rolls eyes and cussing here) go to real egg whites. Web tips say egg whites should be room temperature. My ass, haven't got time for that! Stuff the whisk, going to the beaters too!

 

Ta-dah!!! Holy cow it freaking worked!

 

Let's move into the addition of sugar, while adding gradually I gave it quick sharp beats to keep peaks! It's working, it's…working….! Didn't wait 30sec's in between either.

 

Next throw in the vinegar and give it another whip up! Sensational! Think I finally nailed it!

Now how does that saying go? The proof is in the baking!? Yeah something like that. Well it's looking pretty bloody special at the moment!

 

Half an hour in to baking and it is still holding form! Yes, happy dance or excited typing in my case!

 

Yippee!

Kat xo

Lol, I know you want the after pic right? You'll have to wait til later 😉

 

Independence Day, 4th of July

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Happy Birthday to me!….and some others that I know – Trail Boss, Sweet Sherry and someone else I was told of lately but have forgotten…

The true meaning of the 4th of July however occurred in 1776 with the Continental Congress declaring Independence of the 13 colonies, now known as the United States of America, no longer a part of the British Empire.

It is written that Independence was actually declared two days earlier on the 2nd of July. Congress however reviewed the declaration and final approval came two days later on the 4th.

John Adams (who later became the 2nd president) wrote to his wife stating the day (well the 2nd but he was a bit off) shall be celebrated with ‘pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations…….’

On the first anniversary of their Independence in 1777, Bristol, Rhode Island fired 13 gunshots in the morning and again in the evening…..I guess celebrations have grown proportionately since then!!

Today it is celebrated with backyard bbq’s, visits to the lake, parades, American flags, red,white and blue bunting, fireworks and more!

 

The 4th is apparently the largest day of travel within the US as well, so for all of you commemorating your past forefathers of your fine country, travel safely wherever you may be headed.

Looking forward to fireworks tonight! Yippee!

Cheers

Kat xo

Happy Birthday to meeeee. It’s now 12.03333. (am in the morning, night!!)