These Boots Were Made for Walking

Our friend Steve asked me one time what it was like to own a ranch. What he meant was - is it fun or is it a pain in the neck.  That was an easy question, it's fun!  

Not to say that things don't ever go wrong here, or that it isn't a lot of work, it's just that being here makes me happy.  The fresh air, the breeze, the birds chirping, and the babbling creek all put a smile on my face.  

(Sponsored post)

One of my VERY favorite things to do is here is to simply walk our ranch in my cowboy boots.  I'm not sure I can explain why, but I'll try. 

I still can't get over that we OWN a ranch.  And for some strange reason for me to fully enjoy the ranch, I have to walk it in my cowboy boots. My love of walking the ranch is a connection with the land, and the cowboy boots make me feel like I belong here.  


(The photos are of my daughter, but she's wearing MY boots.)

When we bought the ranch, it somehow sealed the deal for me; I finally felt like a real Texan and not just someone who lived in Texas.  The boots somehow were an important part of the equation.    

I moved to Texas from Hershey Pennsylvania when I was fifteen.  Texas seemed so foreign to me at the time, but over the years, Texas began to feel more and more like home to me, the transition happened slowly; I began to feel like a... Texan, rather than someone who was forcibly dragged here by her parents from a town that smelled like chocolate.  Yes, it's true, the air smelled like chocolate.  And, how do you leave a chocolate town for a non-chocolate town?  Ahh, that's another story.    

My boots are comfortable, they help protect me from snakes, and barbed wire, and other ranch hazards, but more importantly they make me feel like a real cowgirl.  They make me legit.  Hiking boots, sneakers, wellies - all wonderful footwear, but if you have a Texas ranch, you HAVE to have cowboy boots.  It's in the handbook; it's like a secret handshake.  

In fact, when we bought the ranch, one of the very first things we did, was to go to Cavenders to buy every member of the family a new pair of cowboy boots.  This was a no brainer; they are a Texas institution and they KNOW boots.  

I get contacted a fair amount by companies that want exposure on my blog.  Often the product does not appear to be a good fit for my blog, or it isn't something I am interested in, so I turn it down. I am NOT going to talk about how great a product or company is if I don't like it or know it.  So when Cavenders contacted me about a sponsored post (This is a sponsored post, BTW.) I was thrilled. Not only have I heard of Cavenders, but as I said earlier, that's where we ACTUALLY BOUGHT OUR boots.  They have a great selection, can answer your questions, and because they buy in bulk, you are going to see excellent prices. And do I have to say it?  If you are buying cowboy boots, buy them from a TEXAS company.  They don't just sell boots either; they can outfit you head to toe.  

Seriously Cavenders will take care of you, and for orders over $50, they have free shipping.  That's big for me.  And, this gets even better, let's say the boots don't work for you, you can return them, and they will pay the return shipping. (There are a few exceptions here, but check out their website for the details.)  Not many stores will pay for the shipping on returned items.  

I did a little research on my boots just to be sure I wasn't selling you a bum steer (Texas talk for lying).  My boots sell for $149.99 at Cavenders. At a famous online shoe store, I found them for $20 more.  I couldn't find one site that beat Cavender's price. 

I wear these Ariat boots at the ranch, and you can tell they've had some pretty rough treatment.  They are covered in scratches from all kinds of briers, thorns, and barbed wire.  

You know I like an aged look, but maybe it's time to buy a new pair of boots.


This is a sponsored post, but it the content is my opinion based on my experiences with the company.