Tag Archives: friends

End of Trail – Part 1

Posted on by kathousekelli70

We are 3 days in to being here at End of Trail, the cowboy action World Championships!

Saturday afternoon after domestic duties we headed to the range to register and pick up our shooter packs. We found Charlie Wagon and Pearl Starr and of course a bit of nonsense ensued.

Sunday Jack, myself, Pearl Starr and Clancy went to Albuquerque to shoot a club match with the Rio Grande Renegades. A good little side match as an extra warm up to the start of a very busy week.

We had a few little hiccups (and a not so good, somewhat broke pistol) but all in all a great day, thanks Rio Grande for having us!!

We had dinner with Cooncan and Bertie Winchester, our friends from Kansas, at Pizza Barn along with a good portion of the cowboy community!

Monday and we are set to begin with warm ups, shopping at vendors, catching up with heaps of cowboys and cowgirls. We did 4 warm up stages and then called it a day to go drop my pistol off for fixing.

Tuesday and its all smiles! Now there are more cowboys arrived and everyone is having a blast looking for matching numbers. In our packs this year you were given a Posse pin in addition to your shooters badge. The Posse pin has a number on the back and this is where it gets interesting. So you go and talk to new people, you try to see if they have the same number as you, when you find 1-9 other cowboys or cowgirls with the same number you go and put your name in a draw to win a custom knife and sheath from Action Shooting Network.

The square timber posse badge has your number on the back to go seek out the other 8.

More warm up stages! A little more shopping! Wild Bunch Awards!

A shout out to the SASS team for putting together a polished ceremony again. Whilst Jack and I didn’t shoot Wild Bunch this year we still went to support Charlie Wagon just in case he should buckle. We are happy to report however that our Oklahoman, Elwood James won a few side match awards and finished 7th in Mens Modern!! Way to go EJ!! AND outstanding costuming for awards my friend!

  • Stage and ceremonial flags.
  • A few less at the bar now!
  • Our EoT bar tenders! The best!
  • The Judge & Justice Lily Kate
  • Misty Moonshine & Wild Shot presenting

Congratulations also to Mens Modern winner – Last Chance Morales, Mens Modern Senior winner – Evil Roy, Ladies Modern winner – Idaho Sixgun Sam, Ladies Modern Senior winner – Second Fiddle Sue, Mens Traditional winner – ?? new guy, his name escapes me, Mens Traditional Senior – ??whoops, did it again, and Ladies Traditional winner – Lady Jane!

Overall winners for Wild Bunch were, Last Chance Morales and Idaho Six Gun Sam.

2019 Wild Bunch Mens Overall – Last Chance Morales
and
2019 Wild Bunch Ladies Overall – Idaho Sixgun Sam

Congratulations to all participants!!!

Tomorrow is another fun packed day. Til then, these weary feet must make there way to bed.

Kat xo

Durango – Moriarty

Posted on by kathousekelli70

We left Colorado yesterday morning to the haunting sounds of a steam train whistle.

Heading along highways, through small towns and crossing the Animas River more than once, the landscape has again changed to a somewhat green desert. A lot greener than we have seen in the past.

It seemed fitting when passing through Bernalillo to snap this shot of the street sign!

For now we are in New Mexico and it’s time to get set for the World Championships!

Gather your posse and see you on the range!

Kat xo

Silverton – Durango

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Silverton is certainly a lot quieter of a morning before the first train arrives. Locals were up, the famous Blair Street (which is still dirt, is being rolled for the day and some shops begin to open in readiness.

After breakfast at The Brown Bag, we took off again on another cloudless sunny blue skied day winding further into the mountains.

We made a quick stop at Molas Pass and were pleasantly surprised that at 10,910ft it wasn’t as cool as we had expected. The views were just incredible and Jack stood still long enough for me to get an uninterrupted panoramic pic.

Molas Pass looking back toward Molas Lake and beyond to Silverton.

Continuing our way down the mountain into Durango, we encounter a mountain goat just wandering ahead of the tow truck. Horns blast and the goat decides to move but thinks it would be smart to venture back in front of us. He eventually gets out of the way with the truck behind us giving him a good blast also!

We arrived into Durango and first things first, located a boot repairer to fix my shooting boots. I didn’t think it would get done but when I finally located Mervin, with the help of the young guy from Browns Shoe Fit, he was more than happy to have them and would ensure they were done in speedy time.

The rest of the afternoon, we spent wandering in and out of shops and pubs, looking at remarkable old hotels and buildings before checking in at the motel.

We spent the evening with Singin’ Sue, Shanley Shooter, Wooden Nichols and Marilyn for dinner and entertainment at the Bar D Wranglers Chuckwagon.

These guys are an absolute hoot, very funny, amazing entertainers and the greatest voices and harmonies to be found. Totally over fed, totally entertained. Was an awesome evening.

Kat xo

Siege of San Juan

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Day 1 of the Siege/Colorado State Championships kicked off this morning with the pledge, prayer and the firing of a bowling ball out of a canon. You can’t even see the ball when its in the air if you don’t pay close attention to the trajectory of it!

The skies are blue, the wind is light and we are ready for 6 stages. You need to aim! These targets are smaller and a little further out there.

Suffice to say it wasn’t exactly the greatest of days but I had some really awesome rifle runs! (Always take away the positive!)

We have a great posse with Babe Ruthless and Union Jack (our gracious hosts for the weekend), Burgundy Ballou and Ric-A-D-Split, Bijou Blade and Tolinka, Sixgun Louie, Sam Balin, Section Hand, Rufus Thornton, Lucy Trigger, Gateway Kid and of course Jackaroo and myself rounding out Posse 7.

There is lots of movement on these stages and a few you really need to think about but all in all they are good. Everyone is in the same boat!

Sixth stage done and its time to pack up, have lunch and socialize with others hearing their triumphs and woes of the day.

Bring it on tomorrow for the final 6 stages!!

Kat xo

Trippin’!

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Yes folks it’s that time again where we get to go play on the other side of the world.

Only for a short stint now as this past crazy 6 months Jack and I have settled back into reality here.

Things have been quite on here but hectic nonetheless and will do some more blogs of costuming in the next day or so.

Today we head for Newcastle, bags packed and surprise surprise all under weight!!?? Yippee! More room to bring stuff back!

We fly out of Sydney tomorrow and head for the next adventure. Stay tuned!

Love and hugs to you all!

Kat xo

The Gamblers Club Match

Posted on by kathousekelli70

A great day was had on the sunny Gold Coast today with 22 shooters in attendance.

 

We had a couple brand new cowboy's that certainly held their own. Congratulations Marksman and Itchy Trigger! A couple who hadn't been for a while and Trailrider was up from Canberra and came out to play!

 

We actually got 6 rain free stages done today! Yee haa!

 

Had a blast! See you on the trail!

Kat xo

 

Tatanka (Buffalo Gal)

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Tatanka, the Lakota tribe word meaning 'big beast'. For the American Northern Plains people, Tatanka meant life. The bison/buffalo, ruled the plains, clothed and fed many American Indian tribes and were revered by all, especially in sacred ceremonies.

 

Herds of buffalo existed from Alaska all the way down through the Gulf of Mexico.

 

During the 1800's they were hunted and killed mostly for the fur trade almost totally decimating the herds to extinction. By the 1860's it is said that less than 1000 buffalo were left and it was men such as Buffalo Bill, Pawnee Bill, Charles Goodnight and another 6 men (I had not heard of) that realised what lay ahead and purchased them for their own ranches.

 

At various points in time, cattle were introduced into herds of buffalo upsetting the DNA of true bison. Today there are some that have been bred from true stock with very little to no common cattle variety in them.

Today, over 400,000 buffalo roam freely in reserves and managed properties such as Yellowstone National Park, parts of Wyoming and Texas. Still a far cry from the once 30million plus!

So how come Buffalo Gal?

Now my Texas women friends pride themselves on all things Texan, and are very patriotic. The costumes I've been pushing to get finished lately from a few Texas ladies are in the B-Western styling keeping me very busy at the embroidery machine.

Lil McGill's latest is a recreation of a 1940's B-Western dress featuring flowers, scrolls and bison.

With a few pictures at hand of the original and paint chips of colours to match boots, I set out to pay homage to this spectacular gown. The buffalo proved a little difficult with not being able to find a design of a running buffalo closer matched to that of the original.

 

We don't want a football version of a running buffalo now do we! Lol! So the choice of a rather majestic looking bison standing in grass seemed appropriate.

After altering designs and reconfiguring flower sequences, I eventually had 17 different sections to this embroidery work, with 12 needing to be mirrored for left or right.

Some careful planning and lining up got it looking pretty darn close to the original.

 

The only thing I couldn't see in the pictures we had was something on the sleeve side. It looked like same colours so I could only surmise nothing new was added outside the theme. I eventually came up with the inclusion of bison tracks through the same floral detail.

 

With the buffalo complete around the bottom edge the dress is ready for the final larger one on the back. This had to be outsourced as my frames aren't big enough. Threads all numbered and bagged, 'Buffalo Gal' is headed for her final stage of embroidery. Only thing left to do from there is bling!!

 

Can't wait to see it worn, boots and all!

Photos to come later when it is blinged up!!!

Kat xo

😉 see, still alive, head down bum up, love y'all!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_bison

https://www.storyofthebison.com/faq.html

 

Rework Red

Posted on by kathousekelli70

“If you’re happy with the red, nod your head…if you’re happy with the red, nod your head…if you thought the cherry was best, then you really needed a rest…if you’re now lovin’ this red, nod your head!” 🤣🤣

Twit! When redoing work turns out for the absolute best. Not only was I not happy with the red, and clearly now I’m one happy seamstress, but after waiting and waiting for it to arrive back here I found I wasn’t happy with the colour of the zip and the machine hemming was atrocious too!

So new zip in, everything pulled apart and new piping done, everything back together, waistband back on, vest back together, hand stitching to hem, embroidery on right red done again, buttery soft deer skin leather cut (there goes a full day) and now the pièce de résistance – bling added to punched holes…ahhh onto the next.

You don’t get to see the whole lot until it’s wearer has it on! 😉

Kat xo