Oklahoma State Championship

Representing the State of Oklahoma this weekend in the pre shoot – Jackaroo, Silver Senior category and Kathouse Kelli, Lady Wrangler category.

 

This is going to be an awesome State match next weekend and I'm sure glad now we decided to hang around and got to pre shoot. The rest of the Oklahoman's, some Texan's and a few from Arkansas are sure in for a good one.

Jack and I had good matches with the odd hiccup but the rest of the results will have to wait until the 120 shooters have played! 😉

After a quick change of ammo, clean guns, and pack the van we will head off to Kansas tomorrow. Tuesday we will head on through to Morristown, Minnesota for Gunsmoke!

Thanks KD Steel and the other ITSASS members for a great shooting weekend, all the best of luck to everyone this coming week.

Kat xo

 

 

Colour It!

It’s fun! It’s bright! It swings when you dance! Better still it swings when you shoot!!

What a fun and colourful skirt for Belle Vaquero. A blue and white advertisement print for Remington, Pony Express, elixir’s, bitters, telegrams and even sewing machines. Trimmed in an orange gingham and even the perfect matching ric-rac braid from Mum’s shop.

Belle’s going to love this one!

All smiles!

Kat xo

One Hell Of A Weekend!

What a great weekend Jack and I have had! We took off Friday after lunch down to Leonard, TX ready for a weekend of shooting.

We got shooting and then some this weekend!

Saturday we headed to the range where the Texas Ten Horns hold their club matches and then some. Shooters numbered around 44 or so for 6 great stages.

 

With a serving of hotdogs thrown down and the match scores dealt with, those who were willing and able, through the heat, had a crack at the 'Super Stage'! What a hoot!

 

Essentially 2 stages joined together, use another set of pistols and another rifle – so all in all, 4 pistols, 2 rifles, 1 shotgun, ammo count 48 rounds.

Here's the scores from that day, Jack in 9th place overall with me in 5th!

 

Rest up, 'cause we're doing it all again Sunday! Well all but the super stage.

 

It's another warm one, although we did have a little cloud cover today making it slightly more pleasant for a bit, we ran the same 6 stages again.

 

Let's just say Sunday Jack and I switched places – I finished 9th and he was 5th overall. He had a good day and some days, well, we're only human! Lol!

 

Off to Mexican for a very entertaining lunch! You meet some very interesting and/or funny people doing this sport. Let's just say I thoroughly enjoyed it and have spent most of the time laughing.

 

This morning we packed up and headed back across the border to Albany, OK. What great facilities and hospitality! 32 shooters came out to play on what is the hottest day for the weekend.

 

Two posse's got to it and soon we had got through 6 stages and were heading to the arena and upstairs dining area for a spectacular feed! Pasta, bread, cookies, brownies, cobbler and ice cream – all home made by the lovely Calamity Dibar (I'm sure Iron Tomahawk Kid helped too 😉 ) he certainly made sure we were all fed and watered.

 

Jack and I had switched places again. I finished 5th and he in 8th overall.

 

Thanks so much to the Texas Ten Horns and the Red River Valley Cowpokes for a great match weekend. We will be back!

Kat xo

P.S. Did you know Hannah won a buckle at state!?! Haa haa haa

P.P.S. Had to throw that in there, some will know what it means – funny lady, my face is aching after this weekend!

 

 

Territorial Marshals Overland Stage

I’m still writing blogs from Europe but wanting to do something creative …..and need to get into this anyway, I finished the black work of this monstrosity yesterday while the last load of washing was drying.

I like to think of it as ‘how to make a blank square with holes look like a stage coach’!

Always up for a challenge I found a couple good stagecoach pics of the gorgeous Kentucky Concord stagecoaches last night.

Built in 1895 they were state of the art transportation and were widely used by Wells, Fargo & Company for delivering the US Mail.

So here we have the Territorial Marshals Overland Stage drawn up and ready for some colour! (Minus the two back boxes)

Will keep you posted on the progress!

Kat xo

THE Day of Truth

'Days of Truth 2017' has come to an end with a long day of 9 stages yesterday to complete the match.

We enjoyed the match with great stages, targets and distance, good mix of movement as well. Colbert and the AWS team put on a great match.

Last night we changed and headed back to the range for the dinner, awards and costume contest.

Speaking of the latter, I was pleasantly surprised to see so many people really dressing up and while standing there waiting for my turn, listened to them talk about their costumes and how the military guys were very well informed.

Best Dressed Man, Lady, Couple, Military and Junior cogratulations to all contestants and winners.

 

Ladies – Cruzan Confusion 1st, Kathouse Kelli 2nd, Edentate Oppitorá 3rd

 

Mens – Catweasle (aka UK Dane) 1st, Lommy 2nd, Tiff 3rd

 

Military – Wreckhouse Paul 1st, Sherman McMasters 2nd, Had 3rd

And I didn't get a photo of the couples or juniors! Congratulations though to Cherry Poppins & Captain Woodbury Kane 1st, Harry Long & Crazy Lady 2nd, Jarka & Mgrda Kredoíboví 3rd in the couples. For the juniors, Little Sure Shot 1st, Black River Belle 2nd and little brother and sister Jan & Ludmila 3rd.

The Ladies Of Cowboy Action Shooting, Cowgirl of Honor Award was also presented and it was with congratulations to Crazy Lady from Cžech Republic 3rd Place, Jessie Belle from Germany 2nd Place and Wonder Bibi from Italy in 1st Place.

 

It was well after midnight when we got back I know.

The results, as I'm sure you want to know, so the 10 in the rifle and the shotgun mishaps cost me dearly but am pleased to say 5th lady overall and still managed 2nd behind the lovely Mad Cat With Gun finishing first for the Lady Wranglers! Congratulations to my other Lady Wrangler competitors, Misty Moonshine 3rd, Black Velvet 4th and Katie Scarlett O'Hara 5th.

 

Jackaroo finished very well overall at 19th and 2nd in Silver Senior category. Congratulations to the other Silver Senior's, Captain Wildbeard finishing 1st, Lash LaRue 3rd and Ace Heart 4th.

 

This year's SASS European Championship, Days of Truth, overall Man and Lady – Hell Hound and Mad Cat With Gun! Congratulations to you both.

 

This morning we got sort of a sleep in, packed everything and headed out for Prague via Kutná Hora. Well…….that was the plan…..we made it as far as Kutná Hora and checked into a Hotel. The boss has had a sleep and we feel kinda normal again – if there is such a thing for us.

Time to head out into the street for dinner and have a quick look around.

Na zdraví!

Kat xo

 

Days of Truth – Part 1

Monday arrived in Oparany for Days of Truth. All checked in, caught up with others then made our way to Apartmany Lhota following Colbert. We would never have found the apartments on our own and believe me we did try.

Very neat accommodation sharing apartments with Americans and French. There is a common kitchen, dining and tv room with a billiard table. (Jack and I are 5 games even as of last night) A pool – pity we decided that we wouldn't need our swimmers – sauna and hot tub. We are really only there to sleep after shooting anyway.

 

The campground is reminiscent of Chisholm Trail, heaps of campers and nightly parties! Just different flags, and many many different accents!

The range is set for a great match. Target sizes and distances are great and some fun stages. We did a quick walk through them all yesterday after registration and now this morning, have organised gun cart, picked up ammo and ready for warm up.

 

Five warm up stages on Tuesday to iron out the rubbish! Wednesday was a great sleep in day, do a workout, relax, write postcards, do washing and then out to the range for speed events and then dinner and

16 countries were represented at the opening ceremonies which included Australia.

 

Thursday was first day of main match which resulted with ammo not going off in the rifle so 10 misses for me. The shotgun does not seem to be liking one lot of the lighter ammo here so we have both had some false starts with shotgun also. Very frustrating indeed but it is what it is.

Friday, rain is forecast. We were up at 6am and it's starting to rain. As we get to the range there is already thunder, lightning, heaps of rain and wondering how this match is going to be.

They decide a delay is in order due to the weather, thankfully, and we will sport for another start at 11am. This too does not occur with a delay now until 2pm and approval to shoot late.

Come 2pm it is still bucketing down with thunder and lightning and a foot of water to be wading through on range. Decision comes through that it is cancelled for the day. Others have been consulted and a decision has been made that the previous day's stages have been scrapped and that now we will start fresh tomorrow with 7 stages.

Posses will now be formed into 14 instead of the original 15 (which means we will be shifted into a new posse because we were in 15). Two posse's will be together, 1 shooting, 1 working so we all get through in a timely fashion and can be finished ready for awards and dinner.

Looking forward to a better day tomorrow, let's just say a second chance for me.

……..a few hours later…no, it now appears they have changed their minds again and we will now shoot 9 stages tomorrow and complete the match!

Kat xo

 

Seeing Double

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

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

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