Tag Archives: Oklahoma

Red Dirt Wild Bunch

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Oklahoma State Wild Bunch Championships are done and dusted for another year. It was a hot, hot day Saturday and a little kinder today.

The Red Dirt Company of Rough Riders got together for a pic today (all those dressed in their Rough Riders outfits) but there were a couple of others yesterday that I wish had have been in today's picture.

 

Ten stages in all, a Fastest Pistol side match – that was a hoot, man on man shootout, and a BAM Match (Bolt Action Military).

 

Thanks to Hondo Tweed as Match Director and all the Territorial Marshals that helped set up, paint and tear down. John Elder and his wife for the fantastic food both days.

 

Stages were great and reasonable on rounds. Was a great primer for End Of Trail and Colorado State Champions coming up.

 

Men's Modern and 1st overall went to Shell Stuffer from (southern) Illinois, Ladies Modern and 1st overall was Missouri Mae, who along with Capt Sam Evans won the shootout.

Jackaroo placed 2nd in Modern Mens Senior! I placed 1st in Ladies Traditional, won the Ladies Fastest Pistol and Ladies BAM match.

A whole bunch of fun with a great bunch of people. Will see some at End of Trail or next on the range in Arcadia. Congratulations to all other winners, I remember some but without the scores cannot submit here correctly.

Happy shooting!

Kat xo

 

Lincoln County Cowboys

Posted on by kathousekelli70

In the morning light a posse of 16 cowboys and cowgirls rolled into the Crossroads Gun Range of Cushing, Oklahoma.

The sun beat down from a bright blue sky, later giving way to an Oklahoman breeze. With a tip of the hat and the pledge of allegiance, a six stage shoot out got under way.

 

They listened for how the shootout would take place, gathered their guns and ammo to take down the targets as the stage was set.

 

There was laughter, disappointment, cussing and messing with some.

 

At the end of the day, the cowboys and cowgirls came together for dinner and regaled each other with their tales – all the while with smiles on their faces and looking forward to the next time they came together at the next corral.

I'll be your huckleberry.

Kat xo

 

Wild Bunch Practice

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Damas y Caballeros, Bienvenidos a manojo salvaje! Or Ladies and Gentleman, welcome to Wild Bunch.

Haa Haa Haa, well today was only a practice day, gearing up for Oklahoma State Wild Bunch Championships in 2 weeks time.

With 8months of not shooting this it was indeed a good time to give it a whirl and see what happens! Also, I got me a new $2 front sight (a $2 Aussie coin turned, beaten and ground) and at this stage it's still attached!

So we had a slight delay gettin' to the gate with a tree having uprooted itself and laying across the road. In comes the machinery to clear the way.

 

Sixteen Cowboys and one 'me' turned out to play – well we did have Krazy Kat and she did all the scoring for us, we thank you.

 

Practice was four stages and a shootout.

 

And that my friends is the day pretty much, home mid afternoon and ready to sit down briefly.

 

¡ Saludos! Cheers

Kat xo

 

Guthrie, OK

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Walk down the main streets of Guthrie, Oklahoma and you are met by some of the most beautiful architecture at every turn.

Guthrie started out with the Land Run on April 22, 1889 where it became an immediate town of some 10,000 people and was the first capital of Oklahoma. Well for a few years it was, until a special election in 1910 named Oklahoma City as the state capital and it was from 1913 as it is today.

 

It's still a little early for shops and some Museums, so we headed for the one we knew was open – The Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library.

 

I had to ask the lady at the Museum, because I've thought about it for some time, what the difference is between Sooners and Boomers? Now I know, she and the Museum explained it well and no it is not just related to the University cheer song.

 

During and leading up to the Land Run – the 'Sooners' as they became known were the cheeky ones getting to the unassigned lands first. Checking out the ideal plots of land and then hiding out until the whistle blew for the race for the land grab. They would then pop up out of hiding and stake their claim.

 

The 'Boomers' had spent many years through government and legislation trying to get access to the land and often came in setting up towns only have to the army move in and shift them back to where they came from and burn the towns down.

The Museum was really good, fantastic information AND I found a new and interesting character to portray in dress. Loved perusing the Montgomery Ward & Co catalogue!

 

Hee hee hee, would love to get my hands on a copy of this Lady's Etiquette book as well! Might have to research this one. If the drafting books language is anything to go by, this should be hilarious!

 

In 1907 Oklahoma became the 46th state of the United States of America and so another star was added to the flag.

 

The original state flag commemorated Oklahoma as the 46th state, it was later changed because with its mostly red nature it fell out of favour where the colour red was associated with certain war conflicts around the world. 1925 saw the current design take over.

 

The library is stunning, beautiful timber work, high ceilings, and fireplaces.

 

A well worth trip to this Museum if you are ever in Guthrie.

 

Back up the road we walked – Saloons are few and far between these days. Back in the day there were 22 saloons in the main block!! What's an Aussie to do when they can't find a beer at high noon? One girl did offer for us to come in and she'd pour one for us while she was changing light bulbs (officially opening times for the few bars/restaurants is 5pm) we thanked her and declined.

We stepped inside the (once) Blue Bell Saloon and was glad to see the bullet hole ceilings and the gorgeous bar were still intact. However, was only patroned by a few having hamburgers (a cafe restaurant now) and not one beer tap to be seen, no bottles of liquor on shelves no nothing!

 

The famous western movie star Tom Mix used to bartend here.

Anyways, it's time to take the Historic Trolley tour of Guthrie then we will find somewhere for lunch.

 

Suffice to say there are some 2,000 historically listed buildings and homes in Guthrie. Some designed by architect Joseph Foucart.

 

There are a few parking lots that used to have what I can only imagine to be the most beautiful sand stone hotels, including the Mineral Wells Bath House with its indoor pool – said to have every kind of healing bath imaginable.

 

There are many examples of Greek revival, Georgian and Craftsman style homes to name but a few. (I can see a few 'Fixer Uppers' here too! I've been watching that show too much lol!)

 

So much information that I didn't get down in time as I was busy gazing at the buildings and homes but this one did make me giggle. This little red and grey home was ordered in a complete package form from Sears and Roebuck catalogue – sorta like your very first IKEA kit you might say!

 

Guthrie used to be wealthy for its cotton producing. A gentleman by the name of Adler was the first to be licensed for wholesale liquor manufacturing (funny how I remembered that bit 🙂 ). The very first services, gas, electric, water and more, all came out of Guthrie. The most famous lawmen for the area, known as 'The Guardsmen', were Heck Thomas, Bill Tilghman and Chris Madsen.

Last but not least Guthrie was originally a train stop and was known as Deer Creek in 1887, all 4 major train services came through this stop including Souhern Kansas Railway (later taken over by Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railway). As some of you may know the ATSF was also associated with the Harvey House era and Guthrie's second depot was indeed a Harvey House stop (restaurant style stop for travellers, full service) and the Harvey girls lived in dormitories on the second floor level of the stop.

 

Trolley tour finished we had lunch, went to the Extra Special Fabric Store that I have been told had some awesome prints suitable for Cowboys and Cowgirls. It didn't disappoint, walked out with some new fabric for Jack and myself. Will be back there again.

Then we headed to the Drug Store Museum and wow! If you've got anything wrong with you, you would definitely have found all sorts of known and obscure cures for any type ailment. Was very interesting.

 

We wandered in and out of antique shops before hitting the road back to Edmond. A worthy little day trip only a half hours drive away.

It is Memorial Day weekend here (like ANZAC Day in Aus) Lest We Forget.

 

Kat xo

For more info, check out some of these sites.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guthrie,_Oklahoma

http://www.okterritorialmuseum.org

http://www.drugmuseum.org

http://www.extraspecialfabric.com

 

Back in Oklahoma

Posted on by kathousekelli70

It's been a whirlwind 4 days as we got back into Oklahoma.

 

A few days shopping, rejoining the gym, hitting Cabelas for reloading gear, Hancocks for fabric (still can't believe it's closing down! One of my resources at times) and today…..we got to shoot again with the Territorial Marshal's.

Forty three shooters turned up on a glorious day to shoot 6 cowboy stages and for a few keen beans a short 3 stage Wild Bunch Pistol match. Good to be using the 45 again and with the new “$2” front sight we will just have to see how it goes!

Not that it looks much now, it's been cut, ground etc but yes my new front sight (for now, hopefully it will stay, it has lifted slightly) is made from an Aussie $2 coin.

 

Oklahoma State Wild Bunch Champs are on in a few weeks and we have a few midweek practices as well before we head out to End Of Trail.

Catch ya

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/

 

Work Shirkers Wednesday

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Out to the range this morning for practice day and discussions. Only a handful of us but we had fun, pushed the envelope and sweated it out with little to no breeze around today.

Fabulous BBQ lunch at a tucked away little place called Railhead BBQ. Wow! Just wow! I had a turkey sandwich that was so moist and tender I think next time I will be having it even without the lettuce tomato and onion on it. The German coleslaw was amazing too. (That was the side I had) Jack had 1/3pd burger with Mustard Potato Salad. 1/4mile from the corner of Waterloo Rd and Douglas St in a little red tin shed. Service is great and food is fabulous. It's one of those local, must try, deals.

Home for a couple hours of sewing and then it was time for a swim, well more for exercise after the last pounds gained while we were away.

Here is the dolphin and the whale. Lol! That's Jacks words too. It's hilarious. He is a life saver swimmer still, definitely not a swimmer swimmer. Still s in's with head up out of the water and arms out the side like he's going through waves.

 

Anyway, there IS work to be done.

See ha.

Kat xo

 

Ah, Tis The Good Life

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Back into today with a club match at OKC Gun Club with the Territorial Marshals. A pleasant day had 52 shooters show up for 6 fun stages and lunch.

Was great to catch up with all our friends again.

Then it's back to washing, painting, loading, cleaning brass and having a brew at the Big Horn Saloon. Haa haa haa!

 

Oh and don't forget the Territorial Marshals are hosting the SASS SW Regional – Red Dirt Rampage. We wish we could be here for it! 😦

Cheers!

Kat xo

http://cowboy.okcgunclub.org/reddirt/reddirt.html

 

What’s Next?

Posted on by kathousekelli70

So we have been back from End Of Trail now for almost 2 weeks.

In that time it's been busy clearing washing, folding and ironing, for Jack, cleaning and reloading for the next trip, and of course a couple of club matches thrown in good measure and getting to the gym and swimming.

Then to the new fabric choices on the board, sorting out what needs to be cut, sewn, drafted, ordered and put into production.

It certainly has been a busy couple of weeks.

– finished making a bustle skirt and corset – sent!

– 2 vaquero suits underway, passementerie trim arrived and patterns half sorted in my head from photos.

– 2 reticule's made aka small hand bag or if you are Jack – a shell bag for brass……no comment.

– 8 corsets at varying stages of production on the table. Extra steel has now arrived for completion.

– 1 bar keep's apron.

Ready to cut out – 1 split skirt, 2 shirts, 1 pr bloomers, 1 pr pants.

 

Find fabric for – 1 civil war bodice, 3 corsets, 1 b-western outfit, 2 b-western shirts….and that's only a part of it.

Oh, and just a small portion of embroidery to be done.

But you know what, it's not a chore. Everything is different, I love it and can't wait for the next project.

This next trip though the sewing machine will be going with me to do some portion whilst enjoying some of the Midwest highlights of this great country.

This week coming we will be heading back up through to Colorado to Nunn and then spend a couple of days with Aspen Filly before heading through to Cheyenne, Wyoming and beyond.

Check out the 'Where Along The Trail' on the website to see the schedule.

See you on the trail!!

Kat xo

 

 

Oklahoma….Mum’s Shop Came In Handy

Posted on by kathousekelli70

When I get to Mum's it usually always ends up with a 'trip to the shop' ie: her fabric and trim stash cupboard.

Last time it was brightly coloured ric rac braids that I thought I could use to trim Wild Bunch outfits. She didn't really care, as long as I could use it.

 

I pulled them out of the cupboard numerous times this week and put them away again. Will I, won't I. Well….why the hell not!

In fact, why not go the brightest one you can find?!

So my Oklahoma inspired outfit of skirt, corselet and top has finally been completed. I bought the fabric early last year but that's beside the point.

Not only does it feature the acquired gaudy coloured braid of the perfect matching colours but the outfit has state symbols from Oklahoma.

Here comes your history lesson. Stay with me, it's short this time. 🙂

Now originally Mistletoe was the State flower, chosen in 1893 is the oldest Oklahoma emblem however was later changed to the Oklahoma Rose.

Well that would have been too much of a mix so I have chosen the State Wild Flower for my top which is the Indian Blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) for botanists and flower nerds out there. Just quietly, Grams would have wanted to know the botanical name. Bless her.

 

I did not forget the mistletoe and as I was searching for the State Bird – Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Muscivora forficate) – might as well keep going with correctness! Lol! So the original 1893 emblem and the bird are featured on my skirt.

 

To top it off, the fabric is the closest matching colour blue I could find to the flag and I have embroidered the symbol from the flag on the corselet and the alternating panels on my skirt.

In case you didn't know and I hear you wanting to know more, you know you want to – The Oklahoma State flag features an Osage (pronounced ) warrior's shield on a blue background. Across it lay an olive branch and calumet or peace pipe with 7 eagle feathers decorating the shield – both or all 3 symbols of peace. The design was officially adopted as Oklahomas flag in 1925 however the word 'Oklahoma' was added beneath the shield in 1941. (Have seen the original hanging in the State Capitol building!)

That's it! Lesson over! Hee hee hee, will post a pic after I wear it next week.

Have a good one, be kind to your mother……she might have extra trim!

Kat xo

P.S. Finally got my Aussie fabric made up to so it will be featured next week also!