Thursday, March 15, 2012

What's the Worst Thing You Ever Did To Your Feet?

People sometimes ask me how Gilden Tree started, and I always tell them it's simple - I've always had horrible feet.  So when something works on my feet I know it will work on anyone's feet.  But it got me thinking - how did my feet get so bad?  Partly its genetics, but certainly lifestyle has played a role.

For the first time a couple of days ago, the air smelled of Spring; warm, damp and earth - which made me want to fling off my shoes and reconnect barefoot with my old friends grass and dirt.  So I did and it was glorious!    Hello, Spring!

But going barefoot carries its own risks.  I’ve been a barefoot gardener for many years and I’ve stepped on my fair share of icky things.  Have you ever stepped on or in something awful?  I'd love to hear about it!

To get you started, I’ll tell you about the worst thing that ever happened to my feet.

When I was a child, I roamed barefoot (against the most competent medical and legal advice of my grandmother) all over her farm.  I never actually stepped on a rusty nail, thereby avoiding “lockjaw” which was her main fear, nor did I slip into the pigpen, and so thankfully  was not eaten by the pigs, either.

But she was right, there were unseen risks in going barefoot, and I’m not talking about the germ theory, although I’m dead sure I banged right up against it. 

I am going to assume that you know what a cowpie is.  If not, please google it.  I learned the hard way that a cowpie which looks entirely dry isn't always safe to step on.  I was minding my own business, dreamily crossing the pasture, probably looking up at the clouds, when I stepped on what appeared to be a “dry” cowpie.  Unfortunately, there was  gooey cowpie lurking right below the surface, which oozed up between my toes, and completely surrounded my tough little foot. 

By the time I got back to the house, I was so miserable my  Grandma didn't have to say a word. She just hosed my foot off and sterilized it with blackberry brandy or something like that. From that day on, things were different.  Sort of.  I didn't start wearing shoes, but I did watch for cowpies.

So what’s the worst thing you’ve ever done to your feet - either stepped on or in?    Tell us your story and you could win a prize!                       

4 comments:

  1. When I was about 10 or 11, I was walking through my grandmother's yard, barefoot like you, and I accidentally stepped in her old compost pile. It was in the middle of a scorching summer, so you can just imagine the smell. I can still smell it to this day.

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    1. Hi Ashley! My Dad had a dog that rolled in that and it was a smell you really don't ever forget!

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  2. I did step in horse poop once but the worst was broken glass in my own kitchen.

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    1. My husband insists that it's not bad to step in the poop of any grass-eating animal - but I say it's gross to step barefoot in anybody's poop, especially when it's warm...

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