What A Great Week!

Although kind of hectic, we had a good week of visiting.

Tuesday evening Wild Horse John and Saginaw Sue came down, spending Wednesday with us and leaving Thursday morning.

We headed out Wednesday morning to Stockyard City, perusing the wares of a few stores, picking up Jack's boots and what else do you at the stockyards but dine at Cattlemen's.

Cattlemen's has been around since 1926, being one of the only Cafes that stayed open after sundown. They served many working at the stockyards and the meat packing facilities. Christmas Eve 1945, saw Hank Frey (then owner of Cattlemen's) and Gene Wade have a game of craps. When Hank ran out of money he put up Cattlemen's against Gene's life savings if Gene could roll a 'Hard Six' – two 3's!

Of course he did and the 3 3 brand is prominent on the wall in the Hereford Dining room in recognition of Gene's good luck that night. This story of Cattlemen's (my bits are just a shortened version of their history) is featured on the menu.

What can I say, THE best steaks, great sides and fresh rolls. It is always filled with people and often a wait line to get in. Tables are waited on by staff in black and white, while linen napkins adorn the tables with silverware and glasses. Cattlemen's Double Deuce beer is exceptional, with its Weissbier flavour.

 

As we rolled out the door and headed for the car it was decided that we should take our Wyoming friends to the Land Run monument. They hadn't seen it on previous visits to OKC and I knew there was at least 1 new installation to this great monument.

 

I will have to look back at previous photos to see just how many are new but I'm guessing there is at least 2 or 3 that I felt we had not seen before.

 

Further culling, more sewing and frustration ensued the next couple of days with some successes and not but Saturday we are headed for Leonard, Texas to play with the Texas Ten Horns.

Six great stages, themed around The Christmas Story, where little Ralphie wants a Red Ryder lever action BB gun. Good fun, great lines from the movie and a couple chances to win a BB gun and free shoot at the Great Spaghetti Western next year. Well done Ten Horns and well played!

Mary-Lou July caught up with her cousin Bubba November and suffice to say they had a blast. If nothing else they amused their own posse and themselves. Haa haa haa. Jingle your own dang bells! 🙂

 

After the stages we went in to Lea's for the Christmas party and Dirty Santa, heaps of fun had by all. We have made many great friends down there and will miss them all – another day filled with great memories.

To our hosts for the evening, Hairtrigger Hayes and One Chance Fancy, thank you again for having us. We thoroughly enjoy your company.

Thanks again, to you and yours

Kat xo

 

Can’t Beat A Good Match

The Great Spaghetti Western is one of those annual matches that are just a super, fun time, cowboy match that strives to give everyone a great experience.

It had been raining Friday but by the time we arrived at the range it had stopped, leaving it particularly damp, slippery and muddy but then we've had that the last 3 matches so I guess this weekend shouldn't be any different, right?

 

Saturday and Sunday turned out to be beautiful days with plenty of sunshine and a temperature increase into the 80's.

Ready, set, go! The match started with the pledge, prayer and the beautiful Abbey Hayes singing the National anthem. Seven posse's started into 5 stages with a bang. Saturday we did stages 6 through 10.

In the afternoon we did side matches including the super stage. Great fun using 4 pistols, 2 rifles and 1 shotgun. What a hoot that is! Jack and I both ended up winning the men's and ladies for that.

Then it was drinks time with friends and dinner on the range provided by the Cowboy Church. Things got a little bit crazy but we all had a great time and that's what it's all about!

 

Sunday and I'm feeling a little seedy but it's time to get into the last 5 stages (1 thru 5). Jack and I had a great posse to shoot with – Aint Dunnit, Cat Daddy Carson, Colorado Jackson, Whiskey Kid, Panhandle Cowgirl, Silver Sam, Shakie Tex, Lil Magill, Brazos Belle, Crooked Bullet, Lamesa Kid, Choctaw Al, Kansas City Sneed, Oklahoma Dee and Forty Dog Kid.

 

Lunch, LOCAS photos and awards ensued. Complicated Lady took the advantage at the LOCAS picture time to pass the Number 1 pin along to Pistol Packin' Pami.

 

Smokin' Limey loved her shirt that I had surprised her with when I gave her Cadburys chocolate (she likes the Aussie version better than the pommie and US versions). I got the Union Jack flag fabric when I was back in Australia (of all places) and thought of her straight away. Suffice to say she absolutely loves it.

 

Jack came 1st in Silver Senior's with Lefty Wheeler 2nd and Texas Mean Gene 3rd. He finished 13th overall.

 

I had a good match, finished clean and 1st in Lady Wrangler with Calamity Di Bar 2nd, Honey B Graceful 3rd and Okie Fenokie 4th.

I managed 3rd overall and 1st lady. Congratulations to Rusty Remington taking the top honor's!

 

A huge thank you to all The Texas Ten Horn's, once again you have put on a great match and with the addition of the new range's it flowed perfectly. Thanks for having us!

Kat xo

 

Mary-Lou Does Christmas!

As Mary-Lou July reminisced with her 'sista' Mary-Lou June this week, both still separated by continents, she bugged the hell out of me about getting out again.

So I sent Mary-Lou July with Jack to the Ten Horns this weekend. She was so excited to go visit for their Christmas shoot and party. I hoped she would be on her best behaviour but as always with Mary-Lou July, life IS like a box of chocolates and you never know which one you're gonna get – more than likely the nutty one!

 

She had me make her a new costume especially. I wasn't exactly thrilled about the 'cat' fur she decided she wanted but with the addition of 4 bells she found (don't ask), I guess she is ready for anything. At least the Ten Horns might have a chance of hearing her coming before they get to endure the nonsense.

Jack being a good sport, took his antlers she found for him (no reindeer were hurt during this process and they definitely aren't Rudolph's!) and they headed out early this morning.

The Texas Ten Horns had a good turn out of 61 shooters on a glorious sun shiney day. It was so good to see Smokin' Limey out and about too even though she wasn't shooting! And Pistol Packin' Pami, so glad you came and hung out with them on the posse.

 

The afternoon followed 6 great stages with their Christmas party! What a hoot!, gifts going in all directions! Buckles and conchos given to the clubs top hands, overall yearly champs and so on. Congratulations to Hillside Hannah and Dirt Hill Bill for overall club championship points winners!

 

Mary-Lou July was over the moon with her first shooting match, Jack said she had taken on some good tips from me and she managed to finish 5th overall yesterday and 1st overall today. Thanks to the RO's for putting up with the antics and silly lines she started with.

 

Jack finished 14th overall on Saturday and 7th overall today. Good one Jack!

She probably won't be back but thanks for bearing with her!! It's all good fun but I can't subject her to folks too many times, lol!

Merry Christmas!

Kat xo

P.S. A very special thanks to Hairtrigger Hayes and One Chance Fancy for hosting our stay Saturday night. Was a great night chit-chatting, we will definitely do it again. Love and hugs to you both.

 

Tennessee Travellin’

Jack and I headed south to Texas over the weekend to visit with the Texas Ten Horns. It was a great weekend and a good opportunity to get a decent practice in for the upcoming SE Regional.

After having both barrels of my shotgun going off at once on the odd occasion (and I was starting to get good at ignoring it and keep going) it decided to totally give up the ghost with a piece inside that connects the butt stock to the rest of the mechanism, cracking and breaking. Oops!

 

Thankfully Roy's Creek Dan was able to work his magic and fix it for me and we should be back in business.

We got the gear packed up, Jack organised some Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale to be delivered to the match, car projects are in and we are ready to head out for Memphis/Lakeland, Tennessee.

It is an overcast day but a good day for travelling. Across Oklahoma, into Arkansas and eventually into Tennessee.

 

Car project achievement today – hand stitch two edges to corset. Put lacing in – check! Make hat base of buckram and wire – check! Raffia needs to be damp so it can be shaped before I can proceed with that.

 

We've checked in to the hotel and are ready to head to O'Charley's and meet up with some other cowboy's and cowgirl's.

Tomorrow is match check in, clinics, side matches, warm up etc. It should be good! We are ready for the SE Regional hosted by the Memphis Gunslingers!

Have a great time, wherever you may be shooting or relaxing this weekend!

Kat xo

P.s. It's a day or so late!!

 

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!