Cowgirls Blog:Bend,Boots, and the Real Estate Biz.

The hunt...

I do love my two day forage for boots at the first of every month. I'm on my own schedule, and can investigate boots and the other things I fancy...books, jewelry, glassware.  The little stuff that drive anyone else crazy.

I stop at unusual places and often end up empty handed.

This spot netted nothing more than a bull riding buckle and a state plate for my personal dessert plate collection and some lovely blooming branches for the store.

This spot made me chuckle, and produced a vintage Bend, OR shot glass, a pocket knife, and a pair of ladies Dan Post boots.

It wasn't until I got home that my best treasure came to me. A local gal.  She had had her time with this beautiful signed turquoise piece, and just wanted some cash. I was glad to help.

 
turquoise buckle...$260.

Keep 'em coming

Just when I think the cool vintage boots are gone forever someone walks in the door of my little back alley shop.  Keep checking in with me.  Cowgirl Cash adds hot boots, unique buckles, amazing jackets, awesome handbags and clutches daily.  This store is about keeping things fresh and authentic...

Dan Post wingtip. Ladies 8 $120

Tony Lama Black Label, navy and blue Ladies 9. $120

 New Frye.  Ladies 7 $175
 

Decisions, decisions

One joy of owning your own business is making all of the decisions. What to carry, how to price, hours of operation. Cowgirl Cash has a simple buying guideline. Is it authentic?  Is it practical?  Is it beautiful?  Other stuff comes into play like can I afford it, do I love it, and is it sustainable, but Authentic, Practical, Beautiful are always number one, two, three.  Cowgirl Cash is proud to announce we carry Maya Moon handbags! Locally made, from amazing fabrics and materials.  These bags are for woman not afraid to take a compliment.

Come by 924 Brooks St.(downtown Bend in the alley between the Pine Tavern and the breezeway.) to see what all the fuss is about.

 

 
 
 
 

"do what you can" by learning to compost.

Cowgirl Cash has invited Nancy Gilbertson to teach "Composting Pure and Simple" at Cowgirl Cash as part of the Cowgirl Cash Good Living Series.

Nancy Gilbertson has been passionate about sustainability and gardening for as long as she can remember.  She has recently transformed these two passions into Three Sisters Permaculture, a food garden company.  Her business serves Central Oregonians interested in growing their own food.  Nancy has her Permaculture Design Certification from Midwest Permaculture and has been growing food her entire life and in Central Oregon for over a decade.   

 

“Composting Pure and Simple” will cover the very basics of composting. 

 

In this accessible and informative class, Nancy will share some of her secrets to having a successful and low-maintenance compost pile. 

In the class, we will discuss and discover some of the very basics of at-home composting including: How to get a compost pile started; Easily maintaining a compost pile; and how to use the soil that the compost pile creates.  In addition, we will cover some simple composting techniques that will save resources, time and money while producing great organic matter for your garden and plants. You will leave the class with some tricks and tools which will get you well on your way to starting a successful compost pile right away!    

Is it just me, or does this sound fantastic? If we all "do what we can", maybe we can reduce the 35% of trash that goes into our landfills that is compostable, and have healthier chemically free gardens.

Here are the details in a nutshell:

What: Composting class

When: March 11, Thursday, 11:30-1:00

Cost: $10 includes a cup of Soupcon soup.

Where: The back studio of Cowgirl Cash. 924 Brooks St. Downtown Bend.

Cowgirl Composting bins...

 

Color your winter

There is a season for buying most everything.  Waterski boats and convertibles, at the end of summer, ski coats and equipment in early spring, furniture in January. (Don't they say that?) Boots...rare, vintage, second hand, appear to be best found at Cowgirl Cash in the winter.  I'm buying like crazy.  Red boots, old boots, new boots, Old Gringos.  The selection in all sizes couldn't be better. 

 
Tonight, February 5, is a great time to take a look.  It's art walk downtown Bend.  We'll be here with amazing bags up-cycled from discarded plastic bags and hand made with love...for valentines day, by Sara Bella up-cycled bags.

924 Brooks St in downtown Bend's back alley near all of the good free parking.

finding gems...

Literally.  I find gems when I buy.  I have great jewelry in my store right now. A diamond wedding band, Dana Kellin wire wrap amethyst earrings, 18kt. white gold channel set diamond earrings.  I fill a unique niche in the second hand buying world.  Not all junk dealers have worked for Skeies jewelers in Eugene, gone to gemology school, worked in the fine jewelry department at Neiman Marcus, and worked at Twist on NW 23rd in Portland. You know my prices are for Bend people.  It's that way for the jewelry as well.

Cowgirl Cash 924 Brooks St. Bend,OR.

Buy, sell, buy, sell...sweet stuff with prices for Bend people.

Wool hat.  Perfect for all kinds of outings and weather. $45.

The perfect leather handbag.  Wallet, phone, lipstick. check, check check, $20!

Lovely jacket.  Great colors, warm, nice weight. Roughrider brand. $40.

Boots. Too many to list.  

www.getcowgirlcash.com
 

Cowgirl Balance

Ahh the perfect day.  A trip to the top of a mountain with friends. 

Balance is my goal in the next decade.  Truthfully it was my goal in January 2000 right after the birth of my second baby and at the beginning of a busy real estate career. Finding the work, life, balance is crucial to my mental and physical health and is difficult to attain. Guilt is the hardest factor.  I should be spending  time with my kids instead of taking this run.  I should clean the house and skip yoga.  I should be open six days a week when my business is in it's infancy...

But I can't do it.  My need for balance takes over, and I realize a mom who's gotten her exercise in, is a better mother, a not too neat house is a small price to pay for an hour of relaxing yoga, and a store that touts authenticity, is not being honest if the proprietor has not enjoyed the benefits of living in Bend.

Now to my point.  Cowgirl Cash has winter hours.  Wednesday-Saturday 11-6:00. www.getcowgirlcash.com

Optimism

I loved my Grandma Helen.  She taught me to sew.  She taught me to cook. She showed me the beauty in being thrifty, and using and appreciating what you have.  She also shared with me the "optimist creed".  I thought this was a fitting blog for a time of year when days are short, to do lists are long, and money is tight.

I don't know who the original author is, or where this poem originated.  The copy hanging in my house says, "The wisdom of Helen Smith" and I cherish it.

The Optimist Creed.

Promise yourself….
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind;

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet;

To make all your friends feel that there is something in them;

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true;

To think only the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best;

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own;

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future;

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile;

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others;

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear; and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

Cash for boots

New boots are coming and going daily at Cowgirl Cash.  Check out the Lucchese's on the right.  The middle boot has a purple top and the left red boot has buckaroo pulls. Something for everyone at Cowgirl Cash, Bends Western Vintage Boutique.