Goodbye 2016, hellllooooo 2017!!!
It's time to put the past in the past and move forward. 2016 is now a year of memories with 2017 offering new chances, amazing experiences and a year full of fun, laughter and love.
May your year be prosperous, healthy and a down right good one!
Kat & Jack xo
As 2016 draws to a close, I am reminded of the many adventures, scenery, museums, memorials, shoots and miles I have travelled to and from with Jack.
It has been another exceptional year that started off a little rocky whilst we waited for Jack to have his heart surgery. We can be extremely thankful for fantastic medical care and rehabilitation as it allowed us to continue with further adventures.
There are many around the world who are not in the best of health and to those we know we wish you all the very best in health and good spirits for a wonderful Christmas and New Year with your families.
The last couple of days has been spent with friends and today with Miss 20, we have had a day of eating, drinking, more eating and for her and I – baking Christmas treats for the Boxing Day gathering of Jack's kids and grandkids. It's been phone calls to family, messages, laughter, love and chilling out.
We wish you all a very Merry Christmas!
Lots of love and hugs,
Kat and Jack xo
'It's the most wonderful time of the year…….' Come on, couldn't help but throw in a Christmas tune there! Haa Haa Haa
Last weekend was The Gamblers, Christmas Club Championships. It was 'the season to be jolly' with two stages set up on the one range, 26 Cowboys and Cowgirls put their rigs on ready for some action.
They set to 'rocking around the Christmas tree' alternating the posse between a stage with movement and a stage shot all from one position.
Many of us were 'dreaming of a white Christmas' as the temperature crept up to 39C/102F. However, as cowboys and cowgirls do, we keep having fun whatever the conditions!
Of course, the usual banter and laughter is ever present, along with some steely glares. (The latter has to do with safety's on unfamiliar shotguns, she says rolling her eyes, sigh)
Getting into the final couple of stages and its 'do you hear what I hear?' Thunder and lightning is starting to roll in and with metal baffles overhead it's time to hurry this posse up and get done before the storm comes through.
'Joy to the world' ….the day is done…..let all….pack up….your gear (were you singing that to the tune? 🙂 Haa Haa)
'O come all Ye faithful' inside for the rest of the festivities. We all gathered for the after party with the Budweiser flowing and the chatter getting more animated. A spectacular feast as always prepared by Mrs Claus and her elves (aka Trixie, Prairie Joy and OK Carrol), full of ham, chicken, egg, potato, watermelon salad, prawn and mango salad followed by scrumptious tarts, cheesecake and pavlova! Well done ladies, well done!
Oops! Nearly forgot the decorating assistants Marlboro Man and Lucky Strike Lass for the set up of tables, tinsel and Bonbons!
Entertainment for the evening was performed by Rex Rhinestone and his fiddle with accompaniment on the spoons by Marlboro Man. Most excellent!
Onto Awards and thanks must go to Chuck and Pearl Starr for preparing them. Our leader, Dug Deeper, made announcements and did the honour of presenting awards. Congratulations to everyone!!
Ricochet (Jackaroo) came 2nd in Silver Senior, 1st Place congratulations to Johnny Behan and 3rd Place to Mad Mick.
In Lady Wrangler category congratulations to 2nd Place, Ex Sighted, 3rd Place, Tequila Sunrise.
Overall winners for The Gamblers, were Mad Dog Tannen and Tequila Sunrise.
For the 'Outlaws' (non club members), overall winners were Painted Mohawk and Amazing Grace (Kathouse Kelli)!
Thank you to all The Gamblers for a great time as usual!
Feliz Navidad!
Kat xo
I amuse myself, Lawrence of Clarence River, thoughts in my mind was Lawrence of Arabia, I know, it's different. Just my twisted mind.
The little town of Lawrence, established 18 something, sits on the banks of the mighty Clarence River on the north coast of New South Wales. 18something!? You say. Well yes, 18 something, I can not find a specific 'established' date for this tiny little town steeped in history.
Photos within the museum tell me that it was a town more than likely around the 1860's. Public education certainly existed during 1864 however the school buildings foundation was not laid until 1880. Many other major buildings were not erected it seems until around the 1880's either.
Past recollections of previous generations, tell stories of Lawrence being a busy little port with many wharves, a great number of boats hauling up and down the river, 3 hotels, 2 large sawmills, 2 general stores, a bank, and a butter factory!
Loads of potato's were shipped, timber, duck hunting seasons existed back then in Australia, the timber industry in the area was booming and for a price illicit rum could be procured from the surrounding bush areas. Bit like being able to procure white lightning from the hills of Kentucky I imagine.
Of course these days Lawrence is very much a sugar cane growing area and from Paddlewheel and Emeralds place it is not uncommon to see the occasional cane fire burn off.
I mentioned the Museum. The Lawrence Museum is housed in an old radio station building. 2NR was the station. It has been stripped out – some radio gear preserved for history – and now has been set up as different rooms.
There is the kitchen area items, the sewing room with a beautiful display of sewing machines, merchandisers cards of needles, buttons, patterns etc.
The bedroom is kitted out with baby linen, old quilts, beds, etc. The parlour with musical instruments, tea sets, and a gorgeous old wedding dress.
There are War related displays which are yet to be revamped as there are many more pieces to be included.
I was genuinely impressed by the hard work and efforts that the volunteers carry out here. They are to be commended.
To finish this quick afternoon tour, we stepped outside to leave. There are some out buildings filled with farm implements that I didn't go take a look at as it was near closing time.
I did take a quick look at the very small cottage that housed a family with 8 children at one point! An interesting story in itself, the tiny cottage was home to a gentleman named Edward Ramsamy. Known as Ram Chandra he was, in later life, instrumental in assisting the Commonwealth Serum Laboratory with an antivenene for the deadly Taipan snakes.
So there you go! A little bit, about a small town alongside a big river. Thanks Emerald for taking me to see it!
Kat xo
20th November 2016
We held our minute silence on Friday 11th at the 11th hour in memory of all veterans both past, present and across continents.
Saturday afternoon however, we took a quick trip to the Australian War Memorial in our nation's capital. This trip all I wanted to do was to at least see the Hall of Honour, the reflection pool and the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Simpson's donkey is covered in red poppies from the previous day's memorial service. A bronze tribute to John Simpson Kirkpatrick. Recognised for his bravery and compassion, he and his donkey carried water up to troops through Shrapnel Gully and many wounded soldiers back down to Anzac Cove.
The flags even seemed to fly with pride in the clear blue skies and moderate winds, against a backdrop of Anzac Parade, through to both the old and new Parliament house's.
There are many visitors coming and going as we make our way up the stairs and into the Reflection Pool area. The wreath's still lay around the pools edge, and it's really nice to see all the Australian native flowers used in many of the display's.
There is much chatter outside by some but I was glad that upon entering the tomb of the Unknown Soldier everyone was respectfully silent. This hall has always been my favourite with its beautiful stained glass windows, ornate ceiling, tiled pictures and reverent setting.
Out into the Hall of Honour the bronze name plaques are filled with poppies and soon I managed a moment of next to no one in these areas for a better photo.
Jack and I decided we should stick our heads in the main museum doors and were surprised by some very new artefact showcases and interactive displays! NOW we need to come again and spend the full day and a bit that it would take to see it again.
We spent almost an hour just in the first entrance to the ANZAC display.
Let us all be thankful for our men and women who have served and are serving.
Lest We Forget.
Kat xo
Nov 12, 2016
Jack and I have safely arrived in Sydney, to be greeted by Christmas cheer, Aussie themed.
Nice touch Sydney, thanks for welcoming us back!
Had a good flight, got in around 6.10am, through Customs at 7am, Jack a half hour later. Sat and relaxed with a latte and hooked up to wi-fi to check on the worlds coming and goings.
On the 10th November, 1938, Kate Smith sings a rendition of Irvin Berlin's, God Bless America, during a special Armistice Day broadcast and it was an instant hit. (according to google on this day in history, thought it was fitting)
On this day 10th November, Australia has awoken to the news that (9th November in USA) has Donald J. Trump winning the election for U.S. President. Indeed, God Bless America, make America great again.
We will pick up a hire car soon and be heading for Canberra, our Nation's capital to catch up with friends and family before making the trek north.
For all those 'cowboy family' we leave in the USA, stay safe, be proud, look after each other and prayers up for those who need healing. Our thoughts are with you all until we return.
Kat xo
Red Dirt Rampage, SASS SW Regionals 2016, was held this past weekend with the most sensational weather we could have hoped for at this time of year.
Congratulations to the Match Directors, Flat Top Okie and Missouri Mae, and all of the Territorial Marshal's for their help, in putting on another exceptional match.
Thursday started out as foggy but cleared to gorgeous blue skies. I sent Mary Lou July out to do warm up and get the cowgirls and cowboy's revved up for the weekend.
I think all she did was confuse and scare a lot of them! Haa Haa Haa! All in all, a ton of good fun.
Main match days Friday and Saturday, it had its ups and downs for me but Jack had a great weekend, cleaned the match and some great times! Was nice for him to have a win for a change!
Virgil and Allie shot with us on our Posse. Pretty sure they had a great time on and off the range.
Posse 19 consisted of myself as Posse Marshal, Jackaroo, Wild Horse John as Deputy Posse Marshal, Virgil Earp, Alvira Sullivan Earp, Calico Calie, Denton Dancer, Wildcat Cliff, Capt. Lee, Trent, Cowtown Scout, Buffdriver, Nana Quilter, Witchita Southpaw, West Okie Wayne, and Silver Sam. We had visits by Wild Horse Johns wife, Saginaw Sue who is great at keeping us checked at the unloading table, and Erica, Wildcat Cliff's daughter. Hopefully we've convinced her to take up cowboy shooting!
It was great to visit with so many good folks again as usual, we didn't stay for the shootout and brisket dinner on the Friday evening but heard everyone enjoyed it.
As usual the Saturday evening banquet was held at the National Cowboy & Hall of Fame Museum. The gathering presented a number of opportunities for some great costuming and many went home with some trophy photos from that.
NOTE: costuming is a huge part of our sport.
There are so many real life cowboys, cowgirls, western genre movie stars of the past and more recent western tv shows to base costumes on. Be creative, have a great story, it truly is a pleasure to see and hear people's interpretation, inspiration and love for what they do.
It is always hard to round people up to enter the competitions and I hope more people participate in future. I hope you have been inspired by some of those who entered this year. Myself, Cowtown Scout and Wild Horse John were impressed. I must thank them for assisting me this year as I still learnt more from them in what to ask the contestants, thank you.
Guns were given away, other prize draws occurred and it was down to the awards part of the evening. There were 52 clean match awards handed out and Jackaroo was one of them this time!!
Allie won Lady Silver Senior!
Jackaroo as I mentioned, had a clean match and won Silver Senior category and finished 15th overall, an extremely good finish! Yay man.
I won ladies fastest rifle, fastest pistol and won Lady Wrangler category, overall finish doesn't rate a mention (let's just say I'm a little disappointed in my performance). A huge congratulations to all the other Lady Wrangler shooters!
Overall winners and this years South West Regional Champions must be congratulated!! C.S.Brady and Missouri Mae!
Congrats to all who won, placed, and just came to have fun and catch up.
Kat xo
It's show time in Branson! In more ways than one. The city of shows – magicians, singers, acrobats, comedy acts – and then there are cowboy action shooters.
Yes folks, the Butterfield Trail Cowboys hold the Branson Triple Classic. Missouri State Wild Bunch, Black Powder and Cowboy Action Championship. Three shoots, one place, a whole heap of fun rolled into one action packed weekend.
Our dear friends Alvira Sullivan Earp and Virgil Earp from Australia were in the room next to us at the hotel and other Cowboys were starting to roll in for the next four days of competition.
Wednesday and Thursday mornings we shot 10 stages of Wild Bunch. Black Powder shooters shot 10 stages of holy smoke over the same two days. We had a small good mix of Traditional and Modern shooters – Brisco Kid, Alvira Sullivan Earp, Virgil Earp, MO No Name, Long Ranger, Cletus, Coffin Sam, R. J. Rust, Shortgrub, Doc Hurd, Luke McGlue, Jackaroo and myself.
Thursday evening was the banquet for Wild Bunch and Black Powder awards. Jack finished 5th overall in Modern and 2nd place Modern Senior. I finished 1st in Ladies Traditional and 2nd overall in Traditional. Both Virgil and Allie placed 1st in their Modern categories also!
Friday and it's day 1 into Cowboy Action match. It's early morning, about 5C if we are lucky (think the temp was showing 35F in the car), the sun is rising – right in our eyes! – suddenly smokeless gunpowder appears as if you were shooting black powder! There goes the clean match on the first stage.
Needless to say, we had fun, finished strong for the day and did have a good Posse. Our Posse, Posse 6, Brisco Kid, Kiamichi Queen, Alvira Sullivan Earp, Virgil Earp, Slipnoose, Ozark Outlaw, Hawkshaw Fred, Annie D Vine, Lil Feisty, Django, Rose Webb, (oh my goodness, I've forgotten someone's name and didn't have a photo of the posse!!), Jack and myself.
Given we were finished early a group of us after lunch headed to the cinema and watched the new version of Magnificent 7! We thought it was very well done and enjoyed it.
Friday evening they had a cowboy social – basically another banquet with a band and a separate room with gaming tables and slot machines! We had vouchers that you took and got chips or tokens so you could play roulette, black jack, Texas hold 'em, or slots. At a certain time in the night, the games were closed off and you traded in any wins for more tickets in the side raffles.
Saturday and its last chance to shoot well, have fun and see it through to the end. Lunch was provided every day at the range which was good and varied.
An afternoon rest, beginning of packing and last catch ups with friends before it was time to get ready for the Awards Banquet.
It was all very convenient to be staying in the hotel where all the banquets were held. No having to drive anywhere, just take the stairs or elevator and you were there.
We had a guest speaker that night who had started her film career working on the Lonesome Dove series. A great western series that just about every cowboy will have watched at least once in their time. Kelly told us of her beginnings, working with the actors and the many unforgettable moments during the filming of Lonesome Dove.
It was also a pleasure to meet Dusty Rogers, son of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans (Virgil and Allie have known him for years and were glad to see him again). Dusty is a member of the Butterfield Trail Cowboys and he was the compère for all the awards. It was great to hear the odd little piece about his parents during this time.
Onto the awards and Allie placed 1st in Lady Silver Senior and 5th lady overall. Virgil placed 2nd in Silver Senior Duelist.
Jack finished 1st in Silver Senior and 14th overall with the 'Geezer Gang' and all out Oklahoma team. In 2nd place, Snake Oil George (right) and in 3rd place, Matt Valentine (left).
I placed 1st in Lady Wrangler with my very good friend in 2nd place and Missouri State Champion, Belle Vaquera!
Missouri Lefty won Men's overall and myself for the Ladies overall finishing 11th outright.
Of course a huge congratulations for the two Overall Missouri State champions Missouri Lefty and Belle Vaquera.
Another good shoot, another lot of fun, time to head back to Oklahoma and get ready for the SW Regionals, Red Dirt Rampage next weekend.
Cheers!
Kat xo
Not only is Hell On Wheels my all time favourite series, it has the perfect eye candy both in actors and costumes!
Three costumes were at the National Cowboy Museum and Hall of Fame during Land Run (that we missed this year due to Jack's health). So I hope you had a chance to pass your eyes over Thomas Durant, Cullen Bohannon and Eva Toole's outfits during that time.
As AMC has won 3 years running at the Western Heritage Awards and have an exceptional relationship with the Cowboy Museum, they offered up a short two month exhibition. It's just a shame it's not there for just one more week when 300 Cowboys will be gracing the halls of the Museum for the Red Dirt Rampage banquet.
The Hell on Wheels exhibit features 7 costumes from the series, along with maps, books and railway tools generously loaned from the Oklahoma Railroad Museum. There are two televisions with film showing how the series was made and other historic information. A well displayed exhibit in the main entry hall to the rest of the exhibit halls.
First up we have costumes of Collis Huntington (played by Tim Guinee) and Thomas Durant (played by Colm Meaney). I now have new gear to make for Jack but it's about time we jazzed him up a bit more. Looking forward to it!
Of course it wouldn't be an exhibit without Cullen Bohannon's signature wardrobe! (played by the handsome Anson Mount) I need to speak to fellow cowboy shooter Cullen Bohannon about this!
Next, the beautiful Eva Toole's (played by Robin McLeavy) jade, burgundy and gold outfit worn towards the end of Season 4 and the first half of Season 5. This one is also earmarked for a fellow cowgirl shooter. I must say my heart did sink a little not being able to see the exquisite blue one she wears in the second half of Season 5 – THAT will be mine I feel. 😉
The railroad was not built without help and this meant a good mix of African American (freed men/emancipated slaves), Chinese (migrants working hard for a better life) and of course the larrikin Irish (also migrants escaping the potato famine mostly) The costumes of Elam Ferguson (played by Common), Tao (played by Tzi Ma, costume worn by an extra) and the ever loving, whiskey drinking, up for a fight, bartender Mickey McGinnes (played by Phil Burke, costume worn by an extra) were also on display.
I've talked about railways before but it is just totally mind blowing, to fathom just how they made it, in the conditions and landscape they had to endure during that time period. This map had printed on the back fares for different routes and steamer passage to the Far East including New Zealand and Australia!
It was a romantic notion that East meet West and the engineering marvels, competitive railway companies, along with both individual and government backing, made this happen. The completion of the railroad in that day and age was the equivalent of man landing on the moon!
The trials and tribulations of both the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railway companies were brilliantly brought to light in AMC's five seasons of Hell On Wheels. I for one was sorry to see it end. We have watched up to Season 4 twice, relived Season 5 prior to the second half being released this year and I look forward to watching it all again!
Make me another old western series please AMC!
Kat xo
The home of the Lotz family built in 1858, occupied for 3 years prior to the Battle of Franklin.
He was a humble man, a woodworker on a 5 acre lot with some animals. Not well to do but would have had better furniture and fixtures than most (not to the calibre of the plantation owners) due to his craftsmanship. His house was a showcase of his talents, both for structural woodworking and for instruments, he had no slaves so everything was done by the family,
Mr Lotz had heard there may be a battle but Federal officials also said that there wouldn't be a battle here, that they had planned a battle for Nashville. Mr Lotz' home was a timber structure and was concerned for his family. Across the way was the Carnton Plantation, there home made of brick. The Carters would allow the Lotz family to come stay with them should a battle occur in Franklin.
The youngest, 2 year old twins, had died before the battle after drinking contaminated or poisoned water the Federals had tampered with prior to the Confederates coming into Franklin.
This family had already endured the rigors of war before the battle had even begun.
One night when a Union officer came knocking at his door Lotz gathered up his family (and his toolbox) and they hurried to the Carnton Plantation.
It must have been difficult for him to watch his house be ruined by unruly soldiers who were merely cold, hungry. They pulled out all his out houses, barns and fences, cut down trees etc and when hungry started killing his livestock for food.
His house was severely damaged from fire, cannon's and bullets. His house was used as a field hospital for both Confederate and Federal soldiers. (Hence the red flag I the picture below)
The Battle of Franklin rendered 10,000 casualties in its short 5 hours. It is said that once the troops moved on the towns folk would see the devastation that would be forever burnt in their memories.
Death and destruction like no other, as he took his family back to their home they literally had nowhere to put their feet that they weren't stepping on bodies. Seventeen horses lay dead in the front yard and no way to move any of them as he now had no stock to pull the wagon. For two weeks they lay there.
The family then lived in the root cellar (where you stored your root vegetables duri the winter), a dirt floor next to no heating during cold weather while Mr Lotz began repairs on the home, mending floorboards, walls, taking out broken windows and boarding up the right side of the house. Burnt boards were taken off and flipped over to be re-affixed. With no nails or anything, Mr Lotz pulled the horseshoes off the dead horses to use the nails for fixing floorboards.
What an overwhelming thought of grief, pride, yet sheer resilience this man and indeed his family had to be able to go on wih their lives.
It took him four years to restore his home to livable conditions. Now Mr Lotz was trying to gain commissions again for furniture and instruments. He built a piano and inlay a confederate flag one end and an American flag the other. A wingspread eagle through the centre had its talons clutching the Confederate flag.
The Klu Klux Klan was a 'good' group in the very early days. They supported Confederate families who had lost loved ones during the battles. They had heard about Mr Lotz piano and they set out to see the masterpiece. At the knock on the door Mr Lotz was excited they may be coming to see his work and purchase the piece however it took a turn for the worse. They were so outraged and felt it dishonourable to show the eagle clutching the flag that after heated discussions took place Mr Lotz was threatened that they would be back to tar and feather him.
Mr Lotz feared they would definitely be back, he quickly packed his covered wagon, sold as much as he could and left the rest, selling his house to the Buchanan family …… And along with it some other items of furniture AND the piano. By the way, he moved clear East to San Jose, California.
For the poor family who bought the home, awoken by a crashing noise, found the Klan had indeed come back and broken into the house, retrieved the piano, took it outside, smashed and burnt it.
Anyway that's all I can remember from Miss Helen's guided tour of the house. No pictures could be taken inside unfortunately. There were some truly magnificent pieces of art, china and furniture. Only a few have been returned to the House historical society that belonged to, or was made or painted by one of the Lotz family members.
You can see on the outside of the house the different cornice above the windows to showcase different styles of his work. Evident also in the very different mantlepieces, staircase and triple crown moulding he had carved and made using hand tools.
A humbling, interesting end to a long day.
Kat xo
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The Adventures of Jack n Kat 