‘The Green Behind The Gold’

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Tuesday we took a short trip up to Mt Tamborine to take a casual stroll down 'Gallery Walk'. We wandered in and out of small boutique shops and stopped in at the Gallery Cafe for Devonshire tea.

 

After our coffee, scones, jam and cream we kept on up the street to the 'Fig Tree Roundabout'. As the plaque states, the fig tree marks the site of the original home of one William Henry Crawford. He planted the tree across the road from his homestead to provide shade for the many walkers who passed by.

 

Across the road we ventured into a little shop called 'Bygone Days'. I could hardly contain myself as I looked through the various laces they had. Gorgeous, beautiful stunning laces at decent widths that would lend themselves to the most gorgeous 1800's gowns. They also had the most beautifully crafted reproduction velvet flowers for hats. Prices were excellent. I will be back!

As we meandered back down the road we stopped in at Le Chile Cafe for lunch and had beautiful bruschetta. I wanted Empanadas but they had run out.

 

Onwards to the 'Castle Glen' distillery, 'Fortitude Valley' brewing company for some liquor and beer tasting. The Lazy Knight was a winner – whiskey, white chocolate and ginger. We had a tasting paddle of 5 brews at the brew house.

 

Back in the car and we headed for the Mt Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk. A 40 minute walk through tracks of trees, figs, vines, and overhead walkways through rainforest canopy. There were various trees from palms, figs to the straightest, whitest, huge and beautiful gums I have seen in a long time. There were no orchids flowering at the moment either.

 

The cantilever platform was fantastic and we could see down to the floor and trickling little creek, listening to the sounds of cicadas and other forest noises……probably frogs.

 

That's it, back into the air conditioned car and headed back for an afternoon swim.

Kat xo

http://www.tamborinemtncc.org.au

https://www.facebook.com/Castle-Glen-wines-and-Cocktails-Montville-350574531728427/

http://fortitudebrewing.com.au

 

Gold Coast Gamblers Club Champs

Posted on by kathousekelli70

The beginning of Feb saw a group of Cowboys and Cowgirls get together for the Gold Coast Gamblers Club Championships for 2015.

It was a hot and humid day for the 23 that showed up for some fun and action.

 

Five stages were shot and then it was time for pack up, dinner, bragging, drinks and awards.

It came down to inlaws and outlaws – seeing as there were some that weren't club members.

Jack and I were both awarded our trophies for our category wins in the Pat Garrett Champs. For the Club Champs, Jack finished 2nd in Seniors and 8th overall. I finished 1st in Lady Wrangler and 2nd overall.

 

As usual it was lots of fun, laughter and having digs at each other.

Congratulations to the overall Club Champions (the inlaws) for 2015 being Mad Dog Tannen for the Men's and Trixie for the Ladies!

 

They deal in lead friend,

Kat xo

 

January – Procrastination

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Procrastination – noun – the action of delaying or postponing something (and I liked this bit of the definition) your first tip is to avoid procrastination.

Now we all know that is sometimes easier said than done! I can find many ways to my delaying doing something that I should be doing. Sometimes it’s just not ‘to get out of’ doing it, it’s because I just need to wrap my head around the project a little longer.

So, I decided I would attempt the Historical Sew Monthly 2016 challenges, thinking it could help me stay focused on getting projects done while not in my ‘natural’ environment so to speak. Wink, wink. 😉

I did find this one a little hard as I really don’t have any here with me. There is fabric still in Oklahoma that I could pass off as procrastinating on.

So for this portion I managed to complete 4 corsets that really needed to be done as some needed to be sent to the US.

 

I also had in the list a version of Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman dress for a Texas friend, Skedaddle. Now although I could say it is period, I would prefer to say silver screen inspired.

 

Needless to say it’s done and waiting on button pieces to arrive from the US so I can make the 45 covered buttons that will complete this dress. If you are looking for an awesome alternative to paying for a covered button service and still want metal shanks, I can highly recommend Button Biz

……..many days later, yes been busy with Jack trying to sort him out, cutting out, sewing and helping a friend get back on track with sewing. Procrastination at its finest.

Cheers

Kat xo

 

Guerilla? Or Just an Outlaw

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Jesse James was one of the most famous or infamous outlaws of the American west – robbing stage coaches, banks, trains, and leader of the James-Younger gang.

Why am I talking about Jesse James you might ask? And where does the guerilla bit come into it?

Well, once upon a time, in a land far far away….lol, no simple really. Jesse and his brother Frank James were confederate guerrilla's (also known as bushwackers). Road Runner, fellow Okie when we are there, requested a Jesse James guerrilla shirt.

With eyebrows slightly raised, of course I accepted the challenge and had him send me a picture. (As seen below)

 

Not hard really, finally found fabric that would drape nicely in the required grey, a simple black bias binding should work and found some studs that could replicate the trim.

It came time in the book to get onto this one and so I fiddled around with a pattern and created the very simple oversized guerilla shirt with slanted rounded pockets. Ta dah! Road Runner's guerilla shirt.

(Hmm they could actually have had more slant on the pockets now seeing it on the mannequin, noticeable when it's laying flat)

These shirts with their pockets shaped like that apparently made for ease of carrying extra ammo and accessibility to it. (so I've heard)

Personally I'm thinking that if you are galloping around on a horse at break neck speed you might lose it but then I thought about the drape of the fabric and figured it might well stay put due to the weight of the ammo.

The guerrilla shirts were often made by wives or sweethearts, some were elaborately embroidered, some plain, some with a placket and collar, made from various fabrics and patterns. According to civil war websites the shirts originated in Missouri but were similarly worn down through Texas.

Here are some more examples worn by the Duvall brothers and Bloody Bill Anderson.

 

All very different indeed!

And the whole guerrilla story with William C Quantrill and Bloody Bill Anderson is a tale for another day.

Cheers

Kat xo

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_James#Quantrill.27s_Raiders

http://muse.jhu.edu/login?auth=0&type=summary&url=/journals/civil_war_history/v058/58.2.beilein.pdf

http://civilwartalk.com/threads/the-guerrilla-shirt.26529/

 

La Adelita

Posted on by kathousekelli70

I think I've spoken about the Adelita's in the past. They were women of folk lore, the Mexican women who fought for the revolution and relates well to the 1911 era and Wild Bunch.

I present to you the 'Adelita' skirt, a Mexican style skirt in bright colourful fabrics, trimmed with coordinating ribbon and braids. Only limited by imagination it can be finished in plain colours, whites, day of the dead fabrics, florals anything your heart desires.

Here is Trixie with her skirt, fashioned from all cotton fabrics.

 

Colour your world!

Cheers

Kat xo

 

Change of Sport

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Last week before New Year we took some time out with the “kids” and went for a round of Putt Putt golf.

 

We had lunch at the tavern first and then hit the watercourse for some fun.

Well for 4 rather competitive players it was always going to be interesting from the outset.

 

It was a race at the start between Jack and Nick, Curstin and I later regaining a little (not really for me) with a 'hole in one' each.

 

We continued along the course completing silly putting requirements….

 

…and taking silly photos.

 

Jack soon took the lead, much to our disgust, shooting a total of '6 hole in one's' for the course.

 

The final result? 1st Jack, 2nd Curstin, 3rd Nick and yes, me, last. If I can smash it I'm fine, putting has never been my strong point.

A great day out. 🙂

Kat xo

 

 

Australian Outback Spectacular

Posted on by kathousekelli70

New Years Day and we went to the Australian Outback Spectacular, High Country Legends Show.

If you live in Australia or QLD or visit, then you really should at some stage take in one of the dinner shows, as it was shall we say, “spectacular”!

 

Now having been to the Dixie Stampede in Branson, Missouri our expectations were a little high but we were pleasantly surprised. It cannot be compared to the Dixie Stampede as they are both different shows but when you look at efficiency of service, food and entertainment as a whole, then the Aussie's faired equally.

A three course meal started with Roasted Pumpkin Soup, beautiful piece of rump steak, gravy, mashed potato, carrots, beans, corn and a roll finished with apple pie, cream and salted caramel sauce. Drink choices were water, lemonade, beer, and red or white wine.

Pre entertainment as we waited in the Brumby Bar was Reg singing Australian hits from through the years and then Bluey organising people by the colour of your hat band whether you were going to barrack for (blue) Bogong High Plains or (red) Warrego Station. So off to Warrego we went.

 

The show was great. Worked around a team from Warrego Station travelling to the high country down in Southern NSW and VIC for a camp draft, it was filled with Aussie humour, singing, trick riders, and stories about Tom Kruse who ran the mail contract through to Birdsville in 1947-1963, May Wirth who at 7 was sold to a circus, Bluey and his border collie dog Boof and the legend of the stagecoach to Omeo in the Victorian Alps.

The special effects were awesome, especially as they continued what was happening in the arena onto the (wall) big screen wih beautiful film footage and back into the arena again.

 

Congratulations R M Williams and the whole Outback Spectacular team, an awesome production!

You aren't supposed to take photos apparently even though it says in one spot on the internet, without flash. I truly couldn't help myself especially with the final piece and the Australian flag.

 

Cheers from down under

Kat xo

P.S. In the camp draft events etc, Warrego Station won! Go QLD.

 

http://outbackspectacular.com.au/the-show/high-country-legends/the-stories.aspx

http://www.rmwilliams.com.au/rm-the-man/RM_TheMan.html

 

What’s in a New Year?

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Jack and I wish all our family and friends, near and far, a wonderful, happy, healthy and prosperous New Year! May 2016 bring you all the joy and blessings you deserve.

 

We spent New Year's Eve at Ripley with some of the Queensland cowboys and my little one – shooting 4 stages, enjoying dinner and drinks afterwards with a few ringing in the New Year with a black powder salute.

 

Our New Year will hold a healthier Jackaroo, more travel and living each day to the fullest. You never know what's around the corner so make each and every day count – 365 days for 365 new memories.

Use them wisely 😉

Love to you all

Kat xo

 

It’s Christmas!

Posted on by kathousekelli70

“……it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Everywhere you go….” Hello friends, family, near and far!

Yes, it's Christmas Day here in Aus.

“…..here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus, right down Santa Claus lane….” Well he's already been to many across half the world now and making his rounds. Hope you get everything you wish for.

The past couple of days in preparation for Christmas has been spent, deciding on the table fare, attempting some sort of decoration for a house that's not yours and making gingerbread cookies!

 

Who said you can't do Christmas anywhere?!

“…..I'll be home for Christmas…..” And yes you can make it anywhere the heart is.

This Christmas is filled with walking the dog, a beaut shortbread, chocolate and fruit mince pie breakfast, not much lunch and having Leisl, Curstin and Nick round for dinner.

 

This years dinner a non traditional Aussie Christmas but with all the Aussie flavours. Bikkies and cheese, pulled pork sliders, zucchini and salmon bruschetta, lamb cutlets with dips, and jelly (jello) stars with Christmas pud and ice cream! Yeah …. bring on the fat guts! Lol!

“…and so this is Christmas, another year over….a new one's just begun….a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year….”

Cheers to you and yours, be kind to one another, love to the fullest

Kat xo

 

Bundaberg – Beer, Rum and Friends

Posted on by kathousekelli70

It would be remiss of us to visit Bundy (slang for Bundaberg) without making a trip to the Bundaberg Distilling Company, home to Bundy Bear and Australia's famous Bundaberg Rum.

 

We are staying at my good friends Tania and Stephen and whilst they were working on the Friday I took Jack to the Distillery, past the site of a house fire (hmmm was in Wyoming the next one I was near……I promise I had nothing to do with them, just spotted them both times!!), Bargara to the beach and lastly, the Bundaberg Ginger Beer factory.

 

The distillery was great and the interactive self guided tour we took was sensational. When I last visited in 2010 this didn't exist!

The Bundaberg Rum story actually starts in 1888 when a surplus of molasses was turned into rum. We saw the beginnings of the immigrant Chemist, George Hurt's application, initially to CSR Sugar, ended up landing on managements desk at Milliquin Sugar Refinery. How fortunate they were and in 1949 he gained employment with the company.

 

George Hurt's work – of course along with many others since – was instrumental in the manufacturing of and improving the flavour of the famous Bundy Rum.

 

Did you know? That in World War II it was our American friends that decided Bundy rum was good with cola, and so began the Rum and Coke as a pre mixed drink.

 

I was so impressed with the 'Recovery Road' rum bottles, an initiative dreamed up by the BDC marketing team after the floods in 2013. Rum bottles labelled to honour 171 flood affected streets and a bottle given to every resident in those streets, the rest? sold to consumers and funds raised went back into the community.

 

Exceptional work!

 

Next, we made a brief visit to the Brewhouse aka Bargara Brewing Company and did the usual tasting pallet. They also do some great little pizzas here and is going to be a good spot for weekend lunches.

 

Paid a visit to Bert Hinkler's house in the botanical gardens. An avid aviator, Bert made a few world records, was a Sqn Leader and his English home was eventually moved from Southhampton, England – piece by piece – and reconstructed in its current location in the Bundaberg botanical gardens in honour and recognition of his time in the aviation industry.

 

Then came the rains, sampling of beers, trying to take selfies and enjoying great company.

Bundy it was good seeing ya again!

Kat xo

13 Dec

….it's been a hectic and interesting week and a half since this weekend. Thanks for being patient. Xo