Project Appleseed

Ladies, you gals are impressive. Watching you gals improvise, adapt and overcome has been incredible. I can't wait to spend another day with you tomorrow.

Congratulations to Diane and Rhianna on shooting their Rifleman scores and to Rebecca, well done on achieving a new high score of 231! Rebecca, well done on clearing that redcoat as well.

There will be a more informative post later (and pictures), but I wanted to get this started so that you all can chime in early. 

30+ (will get the official count later) ladies enjoy a Saturday of an Appleseed together. Here TruTenacity is answering one of the GREAT questions that were asked.

I do love that range!
Ladies it looks like you had a great time.

HH

p.s. OK, I have to ask, what was the GREAT question?

WHAT AN EVENT!!!

You ladies were amazing!

All, congratulations for coming out and making Idaho's first Ladyseed a huge success.  Thank you, thank you.  You're enthusiasm, patience, encouragement, improvement, excitement, attentiveness, curiosity, good questions, ... and a bunch more words I can think of which characterize all of you ... was so contagious.  You were great students.  There are so many moments I've thought back on throughout the day today that has brought a smile to my face.  What can I say?  You all were incredible.

Ellen, you were an inspiration.  Pushing yourself far too hard and having to set out for part of Saturday because of it, you sure returned with a bang!  Congratulations new riflewoman with a nice score of 218.  Thank you, also, for your encouragement and for all your good questions.

Congratulations to the new Mother/Daughter riflewomen.  This was Diane and Rhianna's second Appleseed event.  Their first was just last month at this same range.  Diane scored a 227 on the only AQT of the day Saturday.  Rhianna scored a 219 on Saturday and cleared both her Redcoats Saturday.  Rhianna continued shooting Rifleman scores on Sunday with a 228, 213, and 227 plus another cleared Redcoat.  On the AQT with the 228 score she aced the first and fourth stage and was two rounds short on the second stage.  Nice job ladies.

Rebecca, welcome back to the line.  Congratulations on your new high score and for another cleared Redcoat.  Thanks, too, for helping out on the carding the sights drill.

Idgi, welcome back riflewoman!  It's always nice having you on the line.  Once you learn how to count  you'll get that rifleman's score with the your bolt action.

Are you all up for a bi-annual Ladyseed?  I sure am!

Photographers, where's the proof we had a great event?  I can't wait for others to see the smiling ladies.

"Incredible" is the first word I'd use to describe my experience at my first Lady Appleseed weekend.
Revolutionary War history was interwoven with instruction and implementing the shooting techniques taught each day. It was non-stop learning and shooting. We were given historic individuals names and the sacrifices each of those people made to help give us the freedoms we now enjoy. The significance of sharp-shooting in history and its importance even today was evident in the depth of training we were given. Our ladies ran the gamut of those who'd never touched a rifle before to skilled marksmen (markswomen). From an experienced hunter's viewpoint, I was surprised at how much I didn't know, as our wonderful instructors gave each of us the attention and help we needed, while keeping things moving. (Quite an accomplishment!)

To sum the weekend up: History, instruction, shooting, exhaustion, then exhilaration, as the techniques we were taught came through on our targets.

Thank you, thank you to all our wonderful instructors who gave so willingly of their time and talents, so that we could become more aware of our American Heritage.

Where it began.

Ladyseed Instruction

Our Revolutionary War history continued even during lunch. Dedicated instructors! And then some of the results of our training.

Detailed instruction and Saturday's Mother/Daughter "Rifleman" awards.

Hey, congratulations to all involved. I believe that's the most heavily attended CDA event we've had in years. Hope to see all of you back at a "regular" Appleseed.

Roland

LN, it was great to be with you on the line. Thank you for showing us how to persist!!! Congratulations again on shooting a Rifleman's score! It was an honor to be able to award you that hard earned patch.

I have somewhere around 500 pictures to try to get through. Hopefully I'll have some more to post soon

Quote from: hawkhavn on October 10, 2011, 10:35:31 PM
p.s. OK, I have to ask, what was the GREAT question?

These ladies asked tons of great questions. I can't tell you for sure which one TruT was answering at the time that I took the picture.

Quote from: Roland on October 11, 2011, 05:12:50 PM
I believe that's the most heavily attended CDA event we've had in years.

Ah... Months.... not years....


Here is a quick picture from the drive home after this event.

OK, finally got through the pictures I took this weekend so I could get them on the AAR. We had several cameras out this weekend, so I know there will be even more pics coming!

Anyway, this past weekend was (I must steal LN's word) INCREDIBLE! What's not to like about 29 ladies with rifles on the firing line? This group was one of the most attentive, teachable, pleasant, and down right FUN groups I've ever had the pleasure of teaching. They soaked up all the rifle marksmanship right along with the Heritage.

To all: Thank you, ladies, for coming out and making Idaho's very first Ladyseed a huge success. I can't wait to see you all on the line again soon (I have no doubt that I will!!! ) You all were awesome!

To our new Rifle(wo)men, Dianne, Rhianna, and Ellen: Congratulations! You all certainly earned that patch!

To our new orange hat, BrassyLassie: Thank you. For taking on the orange hat, your promo efforts, for being a lovely friend, thank you! I'm so thrilled to be able to work the line with you now. You're going to make a fabulous instructor!

Scott: Thanks for putting up with the ladies! Your help with rifle malfunctions was invaluable. Thank you! (And I DID get a couple pictures of you.)

Hannah: Working with you was one of my favorite parts of the weekend. Always joyful, ready to listen, willing to try something new. You'll be a Rifleman in no time. SO looking forward to next time! HUZZAH for instant friends!

Anne: It was fun to see you progress over the weekend. Your 4MOA groups showed that you were putting into practice all that was being thrown at you!

Mary: Didn't get to work with you a whole lot, but your questions were great, including the 'why?' questions!

Natalie and Idgi: Good to see you gals again! Natalie, keep it up, and you'll make Rifleman. Bring your mum next time!

Laura and Becky: Good to see you back too!

Jenny: Thank you for the use of your camera once in a while on Sunday. It was fun to get to know you a bit! Looking forward to having you on the line again.

Ladyseeds are awesome. If you are thinking of going to one, whether as an instructor or an attendee, GO. You won't regret it.

Well, since I can tell a story better in conjunction with pictures, I think I'll just do that.

Half the line Saturday morning


BrassyLassie demoed NPOA while WR instructed



Carding the sights on Saturday


Betsy told 2nd Strike


Lauryn (way too cute)



Listening to the history


WR and Hannah



BrassyLassie working on the line Saturday


Shelby


Kathy


Swapping targets


Riflewoman Rihanna


Yes, that's nail polish!


Kirsten working on prone


SB-via-waiver and her modified hat


And this is MOST of the line Saturday


Listening intently to instruction


WR!


TT telling 3rd Strike


Natalie


First time at Appleseed; nice job ladies!


Becky's cleared redcoat


Um, then the CHOCOLATE came out (what did you expect with 29 ladies?)


WR read on of the letters to Madame Yotnottin (I'm pretty sure everyone in the group was crying by the end of it)


Riflewomen!


Becky did it again!


This was our wonderful group. Look at the SMILES!

Kicking it off Sunday with the morning redcoat target


Anne works on prone


Idgi working on getting that rifleman score with her bolty


Oh, and this is Scott's 'are you really taking another picture of me' look.


Mary



Shelby is back at it!


I got to work with this lovely gal quite a bit. Thank for putting up with me, Hannah!


Shelby and Hannah



Yep, we had some happy dances going on downrange


...and this is why!


Mother and daughter Rifleman team for ball and dummy drill


Idgi and Natalie


Smiles during ball and dummy


Don't you dare blink or flinch!


Ellen's target!


With Hannah



Review of standing position on Sunday



Where's that chicken wing?


Gina in the orange hat!


More nail polish


With Gina


Listening to instruction


Questions!


Nother photographer


TT demos sitting


Prepping mags

OK, a couple artsy-ish shots, and I'm outta here.











Snack, water, more ammo....




My tools this weekend

The rifles are finally all cleaned and back in the safe, and I'm still smiling as I remember last weekend.  An incredible time with a line full of incredible women of all ages!  I really loved hearing the history again, this time with an emphasis on the ladies.  Betsy, thanks for all the great new details about the life of Betsy Ross.  I realized my knowledge of her was inaccurate and sketchy.  Spread the word, ladies, and let's do it again come springtime!  Some of my my favorite memories are as follows:

Ellen - I've so admired you for years and years when I first discovered you were a hunter.  Way to work through the frustration of equipment on Saturday to come back and earn that Rifleman patch on Sunday at your very first Appleseed event!  You are my hero    And I loved hanging out in your RV Saturday night, fun girl time!

Idgi - YOU are an inspiration, watching you was a pleasure.  I so appreciated your calm focus and competency, as you worked that bolt action into a blur.  And you were SO CLOSE to earning that patch with it! Now I'm thinking too that I need to leave the 10/22 behind and pull out our 77/22.  A new goal!  Hope to see you very soon.

Mary - Way to go, achieving skill and competency in a new activity.  We've had lots of fun with our sons in Boy Scouts, now that can carry over to the rifle range!  You are always so positive to be around, and you always make me laugh.  Loved your git 'er done attitude with the duct tape as we were pitching our tents too.  You're the best!

Holly - Amazing to watch you persevere with a bum shoulder that really limited your mobility.  I know that must have been painful to get that elbow under your rifle.  Hope your Physical Therapist doesn't scold you too terribly!

Anne and Kathy - what can I say, love you girls!  You both did great, and I know you'll be back out there with your families soon!

Jenny - your enthusiasm for this event was such an encouragement to me.  So glad you can now say you have shot a rifle!

Shelby and Hannah - So fun to have you both out.  Thanks for coming with your mamas, and we will hopefully see you out there SOON!  You two did so well 

TruTenacity, Western Rose, Evenstar, Betsy, and OnlyHitsCount - Thanks so much for your encouragement and your patience with me, the orange-hatted newbie, and for your warm welcome.  Cannot wait to be with you all again.

This is a great AAR, and y'all had a very good Ladyseed. Fine turn out and results!

And, because of the number of pictures already posted... Here is a picasa album for some more.

I will try to post a few of them here (hopefully) soon.

Welcome to the Fernan Rod and Gun Club!


Amy tells the first strike


Listening



Did anybody mention the chocolate yet?


"Simon says..." in the Circle of Instruction


Target line


Rebecca listening carefully


Carlene worked wonders


Heather came out even though she was sick to help us on the line. Sadly, Sunday she was not able to return. Hope you get well soon!!!


Trying out that standing position




Well done, Ellen!!!! (Photo courtesy of Jenny)


The Instructors

And a few more....

Look at that group! (with a bolty no less!)


The third cleared fourth stage I've seen!


These ladies can SHOOT!


Do you believe me yet?


Idea courtesy of the Shoot Boss...


And this idea came from 22calgal...


Some of the flags

Dear Ladyseed volunteers,

Thank you so much for your amazing skill and dedication in instructing us in War for Independence history and marksmanship.  As you well know, our marksmanship skills were all over the board from complete novices to experienced; yet we all experienced so much growth in our knowledge and skills over last weekend.  I can't wait to attend another event with my husband and other daughters.  The one daughter who came with me wants to go again and work on that Rifleman badge (so do I!)  Thanks again!

The group picture with all the ladies smiling, really says it all! Does it not?

Here's another big "Thank You!" to all the instructors who made the weekend possible! 

Natalie and I had a great time and really enjoyed the relaxed, yet focused, atmosphere of our first (but not last) Ladyseed.  Although I was more experienced than many of the other shooters, I still got a lot out of the instruction and the slower pace.  And Natalie really appreciated being able to work on the details without pushing to complete many AQTs.

I'm practicing my counting    and I'll see you all again soon!

Idgi

I will echo the sentiments of others, this was a great weekend!   

Photographers, thank you for so many great pictures to remember the weekend by!  Western Rose, I am glad that you posted the pics of the targets, it really shows the progress achieved by the ladies.   

It was an inspiration to see so many on the line who were overcoming personal physical challenges and injuries, without complaint!  These wonderful women brought great, teachable attitudes, and a sense of humor to the line.  What a great combination!   

I am looking forward to seeing another Ladyseed on the schedule.

OnlyHitsCount

OK....
I signed up but I don't think I will be able to find time to post or check back very often.
When I got home on Sunday my hubby had traded in that Kalishnikov 22 that he had thought was so cool and I was using on Saturday (and did not like) for a brand new Ruger 10/22. How sweet! I was only 6 points off of riffleman so I am looking forward to the next time I can make it out to an appleseed. Another Ladyseed would be nice! I still want to get a scope and sling but with winter coming I expect that can wait.
I really did enjoy the ladies only and would love to attend another.
I think the instructors did a great job and I thought it was neat to meet so many interesting and strong women who still valued hearth and home.
Next time I want to camp out so I hope the next ladyseed will be in a cool month with not much rain so we can have a campfire ;-)
Great to meet you all and see you next time!
K