In the first week of Advent, my true love gave to me: a clearance pair of Xero Colorado athletic sandals.
I bought these, really, for next summer. As a longtime lover of Teva sandals, I'd been looking, since my last pair wore out, for something like that but in a closed-toe fisherman's style, to afford a little more protection for light hiking and general walking. I'd looked at Keens, for example, but they were always so expensive that I kept putting off making any purchase. Then I bought my EVA Birkenstocks –– three years ago, I think? I think it'll be four next summer. Anyway, they ticked a lot of boxes: waterproof, indestructible, excellent and comfortable for walking. I've worn them hard in the time I've had them, and they're starting to show it. Last summer I wore my thrifted Birk Floridas almost constantly, and they remain a favorite shoe, but I felt the need for something waterproof and generally tougher, and also more fitted to my foot.
I'd also been looking at Xero shoes. My son who runs wears some kind of barefoot, wide-toe-box running shoe, and I'd been intrigued by that. Part of the reason standard sneakers don't work so well for me is that they have a relatively narrow toe box, and I have a bunion on my left foot that I'd really love never to have to do anything about, surgically speaking. That's one reason why I love Birkenstocks so much and wear them so constantly. The bunion doesn't bother me as long as my shoe or boot doesn't press on it. If only I could find a waterproof, closed-toe, wide-toe-box sandal . . . so ran my thoughts.
Then these went on clearance for $29.99, and lo and behold, they had my size. I ordered my true size with a little trepidation, because reviews indicate that Xero shoes run small, but these fit perfectly. I almost regret not getting a second pair in the pink color that's still in stock, but I'm really restraining myself from going there. Yes, charcoal gray will be kind of matchy with a lot of things I wear, but so be it.
So far I love these sandals. Yesterday was warm enough that I could wear them without socks –– when I came home from church, I traded my blazer for a purple cardigan, my tights for leggings, my boots for these sandals. I went for a walk in them: very nice. They are barefoot shoes, so have none of the support that Birks provide, but that's not a bad thing. I'll be interested to see how my aging feet fare. My one complaint is that they don't breathe that well, and my feet get kind of sweaty, which when the temperature starts to drop can feel cold, if you're not wearing socks. As I discovered this morning, however, they do have room for a pair of wool hiking socks, so my feet stayed toasty and comfortable on our very chilly early-morning walk.
Will I wear these more than I wear my trusty Birkenstock Madeiras? That remains to be seen. I do love my Madeiras. They are, however, taking a beating from Dora, who likes to run over my feet a lot, and it would be nice to alternate them with other comfortable shoes, to keep any one pair from wearing out too fast.
My daughter, who was an Irish dancer for many years, observed that these look like ghillies. I hadn't thought about that, but I like it about them. They're light enough that you could dance in them pretty handily –– if only I had a good ceili to go to!
The children are back at school, incidentally –– we got them to the airport in good time, despite all kinds of traffic jams, and they seem to have made it back to campus without a hitch. The house is awfully quiet today, but on the other hand, I have plenty of peace and quiet for novel revisions and laundry and general make-my-house-fair endeavors, in anticipation of everyone's return home, sooner rather than later.
Wearing today:
Comfortable stuff: a pair of thrifted purple joggers, my thrifted blue-gray wool pullover, an infinity scarf just to dress things up a little bit, and my Colorados with wool socks.
I mean, more and more I want to wear pants less and less. But it's good to give the dresses a breather, especially when I wear the same ones over and over, and I'm not going anywhere today, other than out to walk again later on. I also like these joggers –– they're soft and comfortable, and they have a high waist/rise, which is so pleasingly accommodating. I haven't worn a lot of purple and blue together, but I think these shades marry nicely.
Hair twisted up in a claw clip. I feel less overdone in a scarf when my hair is out of the way. Otherwise it all starts to feel like way too much around my face and neck.
I continue to like these Planet Goody claw clips, which are sturdy and strong and hold a lot of hair reliably. Thrifted earrings, too, huge favorites of mine.
Making soup today with the carcass of our 23-pound turkey. This was an excessive bird for four people; on the other hand, aside from the Saturday-night burgers, we ate virtually nothing else for four straight days and are continuing to eat nothing else, even as our numbers have diminished. Fortunately my husband is happy to eat soup (or indeed, the same thing over and over, especially when it's just the two of us).