Some 2025 Christmas Loot

Huh. I thought I showed you my Christmas gifts almost every year. But I didn't do it for 2024, and not everything for 2023. I'm not sure I can remember without the blog post. Oh wait, I think Om helped me get a different camera last year.

Anyway, This year was a year for the feet from Steve. I found another pair of the boots I like (on eBay because the company doesn't make them any more). Steve said, "You want USED boots, Mom?"

Yup, I wear the smallest size they ever made. This is my third pair. The first ones wore out. The second ones had defective plastic, and some of the buckles broke. I've been holding the boots on with velcro straps. Not ideal but it worked. So when I found a pair in the right size that were in good shape, I sure did want them. These should last the rest of my outdoor recreation life.

And here's why these are so perfect for me. My heels are VERY narrow. Most boots just slipe and slide or pull completely off my feet. These have a velcro strap across the heel that you can tighten down. No more slipping!

Steve said that wasn't enough. So I asked him and Omer to split the cost of new hiking shoes. The ones I have aren't totally shot, but if I can do the Sheltowee Trace this coming year I'll need a reliable pair of shoes. I think these are perfect.

But Steve bought those all on his own! So Om got me a couple of books. One hasn't arrived yet. That one is Ground Cherries of the Prairie, by my friend Stan Hagemeyer. I've heard him read portions of that at writer's group for several years, so I know that will be good. The other one, pictured above, is a true crime book, The Axeman about a serial killer in New Orleans from 1910- 1916. I've almost finished it, and it's great.

I don't have pictures of what we got from Josh. He always brings a big fruit basket, which is very thoughtful. He also brought mixed nuts and the large red candle that is on the dining room table in the pictures from Christmas day.

Neither of Omer's gifts from me has arrived yet, although I have notices that both have shipped.

I got back a bit of my motivation today and edited and worked in the kitchen. Then Om and I finished watching Truth and Treason, an excellent movie of a true story from Nazi Germany.

I walked on the treadmill some more, but even with that I doubt I'll make 500 miles for the year. I find the treadmill much harder walking than outside. If you are local you know we had a only a little snow, but a serious wind was blowing it around all day. It was a good day to stay inside with a blanket and book.

See Some Christmas 2023 gifts

Review of Salewa Trail Running Shoes

  You've heard it all before- how I have so much trouble finding shoes that fit me. I will say again that I never tell people what kind of shoes/boots are the "best." You have to find the brand(s) that your own feet will be happy with. Several of the major brands make my feet scream. I'd appreciate it if you don't tell me what kind of shoes I should be wearing.

For the most part, I'm not going to bother to review the shoes I wore on this hike. Most were fairly inexpensive (New Balance, Fila, and Walmart Avia which fit so well that I bought 3 pairs even though they are really cheap and didn't last too long), and they all did fairly well.. In the spring of 2020, I went on a shoe-shopping spree when I learned that I was not going to be able to get any of my favorite trail runners, which are New Balance 610s.

I spent a whole day in Grand Rapids and came home with 4 pairs of shoes that fit me and a major case of the shopping grumpies. Before the warm weather ended, I bought 6 more pairs of shoes on the hike. Having shoes that fit trumped having shoes that lasted a long time.

The Salawa running shoes were the only ones that cost more than $40. They were $100 even on clearance. I thought they'd be great given their full price and the reputation of the brand.

I didn't start wearing them, other than breaking them in a bit, until the summer of 2022. Because of their price tag, I didn't want to destroy them in the mud of Pennsylvania and New York. Three pairs of shoes totally disintegrated in that slop. So when the trails dried out a bit, I started wearing these.

First of all, I'll say that I don't like this kind of laces. They are that skinny elastic that you pull, then slide the plastic fitting down to hold it and tuck the elastic ends behind a flap on the tongue. I just can't imagine that this system holds up the same way a lace would, but I figured I could replace it with laces if necessary.

The shoes are lightweight and balanced well. They have good traction. They fit. They are high enough in the heel (one of my issues is nerves close to the skin that won't tolerate the heel counter rubbing on them.)

But here's the thing. They are stiff. They never softened up a bit. I can't say that they actually made my feet hurt, but neither were they ever comfortable. I ended up wearing them from time to time, but only for a few days in a row. I finally gave up hoping they would get better. I'm not sure if I'll even keep them.

I'll give them 5 out of 10.

In other news: I spent the morning writing the first draft of a different play that will definitely be under 10 minutes. I got an idea early this morning, turned on the computer and started writing. After lunch took some more stuff out of the car and started putting it away. Cleaned up some more space in the house. Contemplated a store run, but I have managed to put that off. I'll probably really have to do that tomorrow.

See Oboz Mt. Rainier Boots

New Gear - Shoes

 
This is absolutely not a change of philosophy or anything except the old pair of shoes is worn out. Here are the new ones. New Balance trail runners, purchased on closeout. The New Balance lasts fit me quite well. There never seems to be any break-in time. These are a different number, 510s instead of 860s, but it doesn't really matter what that means because this is the pair I could get and they fit.



I did have to go that extra half size bigger because of my one stupid toe (see link below), but I haven't been tripping on my feet in the regular sneakers, so it should be OK.

You might recall that I compared the heels of the pair before the current pair and was surprised at how run-down they were. (see link below) Well, I exceeded that this time. I was thinking I could get by with the pair I had for this one more hike. Then I started looking at them (because Marie talked me into it). Wow! There are holes all over the tops, and the heels are even worse than last time. Here are the new pair with the current pair- two years of use (not bad for inexpensive shoes).



And there was another problem, although I knew about this. I always replace the insoles that come with them with gels. All summer long, I have not been able to get the regular gels. Fortunately, the store finally had them, so the new shoes are all ready to hike. Too bad they won't be this clean for very long.

Here's how bad the old gels are. The heel is worn completely off!



In other news: I just couldn't get started today. I finally dragged myself to the store because I'm trying to solve a storage issue in my bedroom, and as soon as I stepped outside I knew why I was so tired. The air was like soup. Of course, now it's cooler (and thundering and lightning) and I feel like doing something. Anyway... did a little cleaning, a little sorting, a little writing. Most of the emphasis is on little. I treated myself to a movie- $3.74 at Walmart. The Judge with Robert Downy, Jr. and Robert Duvall. It's a really powerful movie. Not sure why I hadn't even heard of it. Rated R, mostly for language.

	See Let's Talk Toes See No Wonder
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Slow News Day, Let's Talk Toes

 
I did not wake up till after 1 pm, and then I had a funeral to get to at 2. That was close. Fortunately there was food afterwards, because I didn't eat anything before I left the house.

Then I stopped at the store and didn't get home till after 4. It was like the day was over before I even woke up! But it is Saturday.

The reason I went to the store is that "my" sneakers were on sale for 40% off. That's serious savings. That's when I buy shoes.

Here's the toe issue. It's actually all about one toe. I have arthritis in exactly one joint so far. It's the second toe on the left foot. It has made that toe get bigger and bigger.



I'd gone a half size larger in shoes several years ago, just to accommodate it. It doesn't hurt except when it bangs on things. Like the inside of the shoe. Which it's been doing again. Bummer. I've been trying to decide if I have to go yet another half size larger with shoes. Will I trip on them? My feet aren't used to being big. Bottom line... that toe hurts, and I can make it stop with bigger shoes, so the purchase was made.



Now I'm writing. Hopeful of doing a lot of that this weekend.

	See You Know You Are a Long-Distance Hiker When...
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No Wonder

 
In 2010, I switched from boots to trail runners (essentially sneakers with mesh tops and extra support) and have never looked back. They have been great for my feet. In fact, they solved all the foot problems I previously had on hikes, which made us conclude that the underlying cause of all the issues was that my feet were too hot.

Anyway, even in shoes my feet like, there comes a time to make a change. I knew I was sort of pushing the time limit of the pair I'd been wearing, but there were still no holes in the tops. They just didn't feel quite as good as they had. It seemed like my heels were getting a bit sore, but walking on hardened surfaces will do that.

On the big Ohio hike this year, we had to trim a flap of loose rubber off the bottom of one shoe, and we bought Shoe Goo (highly recommended) to fill in the gap. I wore that off before the end of the trip. So I decided to look for a new pair. This is always a challenge for me.

But on the way home I spent a night with Chuck and Sylvia (they claim to like me!), and Sylvia and I took a quick trip into Grand Rapids to do some errands. A sporting goods store had a sign by the road about a huge clearance sale. It was pretty early in the season for shoe sales, but I said "let's stop," and Sylvia, who was driving, executed a fast turn and found a parking spot.

"It won't take long," I said. "They'll either have something I can wear or not." There are never many choices in small sizes for fussy feet for a girl who won't wear pink or purple. Lo and behold, they had my brand and my size in an acceptable color. One pair. Marked down from $115 to $45. Can you believe it? It came home with me.

So, we finally get to the point of this story. Look at the heels of the old pair and the new. They've changed the tread design, but these are basically the same shoe in the same brand. No wonder it didn't feel like there was much padding there.



Side view. Look how much that outer layer had worn down. They wore pretty evenly, so I hadn't realized how bad they were.



And I had the good sense to replace them before we had a real trail crisis. One pair, I had to drill holes in the rubber with my knife and tie the sole back on with nylon cord for the last two days of the hike!

I'm loving my new hiking shoes. They feel great!

	See another pair of shoes
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Sorry- I Couldn't Resist

Since everyone who commented had the same thoughts about the shoes (except me), I feel compelled to clarify that no one ever considered bronzing my feet, however, my mother did approximate the effect:



I suppose I probably had an inner attraction to the boots. The girl in the statue is so confident and contented, without being aggressive, that I just like her! The little brother is all tuckered out and snuggled up to their dad, resting on the wheelbarrow.

	See Details at Ludington Sculpture Park See Ellen & Joan's Urban Walk
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Details at the Ludington Sculpture Park

You may just consider this a big tease, but I'm just going to show you some close details of larger sculptures. Om and I took a walk after church today and went through Ludington's Waterfront Park.

The city has been adding quite a sculptures related to local history over a number of years. I actually showed you one in Ellen and Joan's Urban Walk.

I like it, but find it overwhelming. Since this is my blog... today, you just get some details. Enjoy them for whatever they are worth. If you REALLY want to see the whole things, tell me so, and I can oblige.







By the way, can you figure out what the autumn background was built from?

Sorry, I Couldn't Resist

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