101 Ranch Wild West Show | The Adventures of Jack n Kat

Western Scarves – a $12 whim at the Pony Express Museum and actual Home Station No.1 in Marysville, Kansas. (Wow! Talk about bring back memories when Jack and I discussed the last Pony Express places we had visited last year!)

Funnily enough we were just watching the 1953 film version of Pony Express whilst having this discussion.

The book became the inspiration for the B-Western ensemble for Comin' In Hot and Alamo Andy.

I spent many hours sorting designs, incorporating cactus, boots, horseshoes, rope and stars. The main feature would be the bucking bronc rider.

Back to the Western Scarves book. Cowboy's admittedly wore scarves in the practical sense. Keeping out cold, dust and other weather elements whilst riding the open range but it was later into the 1940's and 50's where gorgeous silk scarves were manufactured for rodeo and other events. Silk being the chosen fabric of the time as there was much produced for parachutes during the War.

They soon became a fun genre of rope twirling, bucking bronc cowboys with as many other western elements that could be crammed onto one 18″-36″ square piece of fabric!

Of course the rodeo and souvenir versions became bright and colourful, very different to the muted or 'turkey red' of range days.

In my wild imagination I could see brown, turquoise and red with all other colours made up in other elements. In reality, I found that to my organised eye some things just weren't to gel on this occasion and it became a slightly frustrating journey to the final product.

I found another interesting 1940's feature and injected that into the base of the skirt, with a vivid red detail trimmed in the same peacock piping as the rest of the garment. This would serve as a different trim than the usual fringe finish.

Finally the bronc, stars, rope and horseshoes all seemed to fit and with tiny 2mm (remind me when I say I am never buying that size again!!) Aqua and Amber coloured bling it is finished to a subtle vintage look.

I hope they like this matching ensemble, they did turn out nice and I hope Comin' In Hot has boots with similar colours to mine in the picture because they certainly picked up the rope detail in it and would be a great option to pair with it.

Kat xo

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So it's been almost a week since we went to the State Capitol building and the History Centre and I haven't reported back on the History Centre!

Sooo…..after visiting the Tribal Flag Plaza we walked over to the History Centre to see what was within.

Outside both the Capitol and the History Centre are a series of flag poles, 14 in fact, with plaques that recognise each of the flags of Oklahoma before it became the flag it is today. The ones at the State Capitol weren't flying so we were happy to see them all flying when we got to the next stop.

There is also an area recognising the Oil Pioneers as well but we didn't really explore this part as it was a warm day and wanted to get inside in the air con!

At the entrance to the History Centre is a magnificent bronze statue of 2 indian warriors and I must confess I did not get the details of this statue.

We walked in passing the Museum Store and Governor Mary Fallin, first female governor and the 27th governor of the state of Oklahoma. Here was a politician experience like I've not often seen or heard of in Australia. The kids visiting the museum ran up to her straight away and politely asked questions and if they could have their photo taken with her. She listened to each one and then asked her secretary or PA guy to take a photo as well. She had been there for a fairly large function, there was no masses of press hanging around and bumping the kids out of the way and he took photos on his camera, the kids cameras, iPhones etc and the. She talked more with them and their carers before leaving. I was a little amazed to say the least.

Moving into the main foyer is the 'Winnie Mae' hanging up in all her glory. A Locheed Vega single wing aircraft of Wiley Post, achieving his first win in the National Air Race Derby from Los Angeles to Chicago in 1930.

Moving into the museum there is so much to see!! We aren't even finished it yet!

There is 'Oklahoma at the Movies', 'Steamboat Heroine 1838', 'African Americans', 'Military', 'Civil War', 'Oil and Gas', 'Land Run' (and lots more over time), 'Century Chest', 'We Are Who We Are American Indians in Oklahoma', 'Oklahomans and Space' and there is also an outdoor 'Red River Journey'.

In short this museum honours the many people from film and music industry, space, adventure, and native Americans in short, that came from Oklahoma.

So I'm not going to show you some pics as I've got new ideas for costume from a couple of the exhibits for both Jack and I. Sorry folks!

BUT some of the notable characters from Oklahoma? Tom Mix, James Garner, Vera Miles, Joan Crawford, Will Rogers, Alan Ladd, Tony Randall, Chuck Norris, Gary Busey, Brad Pitt, Ed Harris and of course Gene Autry to name but a few (and they are only the ones that I know about prior to visiting, there are so many more great people!!)

I have to feature this bit just for the shirt alone! The Miller Bros, 101 Ranch a large cattle ranch back before statehood in Indian Territory of Oklahoma near modern day Ponca City in 1893. It was the birthplace of the 101 Ranch Wild West Show not only featuring the Miller Bros but others like Lillian Smith, Tom Mix, an elderly Buffalo Bill and Pawnee Bill.

This stage coach was used as part of the Wild West Shows.

Here is the shirt in question, I feel I will be making a replica at some stage!! it's embroidered, it's fringed and blinged up!

I think my new word is 'dandified' a word or term used by Gene Autry to describe his clothing.

And of course where would we be without Rodgers and Hammerstein's, Oklahoma! Made in 1955.

Now quickly touching on the Steamboat Heroine – a steamboat, 136 feet long, paddled its way up the Red River laden with supplies for US Army stationed at Ft Towson in the Choctaw nation. It hit a submerged log and sank just before reaching its destination in 1838.

It is one of the oldest steamboats to be found, a single piston dual paddlewheel boat, the wreckage was uncovered in a 1999 flood and took around 5 years to recover and restore some of it and collect many personal artefacts from the wreck.

I checked out Kevin Durants size 17 basketball shoes and jersey – Go Thunder! Yes I am following the OK team. Why not?!

There is so so much to be seen in this Museum, I will add more pics on Facebook.

There is lots about Land Run which I love to read about, the Civil War which Jack loves too, way too much to be going on about here but it was another fantastic experience. There is much about outlaws and famous outlaw couples, prohibition as well.

The Century Chest was quite unique and interesting to see. It was a large copper chest that was placed in the floor of the First Lutheran Church in Oklahoma City on April 22, 1913. It was dug up and opened April 22, 2013.