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Quote of the Day: John Steinbeck

September 4th, 2011

It was late in the summer,
so of course there were no shoes to bother with.

John Steinbeck (The Red Pony)


One of the things I miss greatly in winter is the ability to go barefoot. I certainly have been enjoying feeling the grass and the earth under my feet. There is a name for this, it’s called “Earthing” – connecting to the earth through our skin. If you read about it, some people say it’s healing to the body because of the electrical energy of the earth. I don’t know if this is true or not, but it certainly makes me happy all summer long. You’ll find me going barefoot as much as possible until I have to put on shoes.

What about you – shoes or no shoes in summer?

18 Comments to “Quote of the Day: John Steinbeck”
  1. Mrs. Mac on September 4, 2011 at 5:29 am

    I always wear something on my feet .. even socks when I sleep year round.

    Reply to Mrs. Mac's comment

  2. Wanda on September 4, 2011 at 7:10 am

    Absolutely no shoes. I love the grass and the earth under my feet and the cool smooth floors in the house under my feet. I’m with you.

    Reply to Wanda's comment

  3. Sue A. Nugent on September 4, 2011 at 7:23 am

    I start wearing socks and/or shoes when the temperatures drop, but other than that, I only wear shoes when leaving the property.When the cold weather hits in, I start pampering my feet a bit with lotions and creams,socks and/or shoes.I would fit in with the Amish easily.Even the Amish men around here, work their land with no shoes.

    Reply to Sue A. Nugent's comment

  4. daisy on September 4, 2011 at 8:07 am

    I stay as far away from shoes as possible most of the year. I think my feet might be allergic to them! ;0)

    Reply to daisy's comment

  5. goatpod2 on September 4, 2011 at 8:26 am

    I would rather wear shoes than no shoes here though since I live on a farm.

    Amy

    Reply to goatpod2's comment

  6. Nebraska Dave on September 4, 2011 at 8:40 am

    Susy, my habit over the years was formed long ago when I lived on the farm. There wasn’t much grass to wiggle toes in nor was there a concrete patio to walk on. We had mowed down weeds for a front yard with gravel in the driveway. My playground was the woods and dry creek bed. All of these things required shoes to protect the feet from what ever surprises a foot my find on the ground. I have never been one to wear anything but lace up and tie shoes and boots. It just doesn’t feel right to me not to have a good fitting boot to protect the foot.

    Now in the house the shoes and boots come off at the door and house socks are worn even at night while sleeping. I guess what ever habits formed during childhood kind of remain through adulthood.

    Have a great bare foot day.

    Reply to Nebraska Dave's comment

  7. Allison on September 4, 2011 at 8:58 am

    No Shoes!!! Expect, when i am cleaning the horse stalls, I throw flip flops on!

    Reply to Allison's comment

  8. tj on September 4, 2011 at 11:13 am

    …Oh, def’ shoes. When I was a kid I would run around all the time with no shoes on but then I stepped on a nail and it went all the way thru my foot and that was the end of that. And besides my feet are so tender anyway I can hardly stand to be outside without any shoes on. If I had an Indian name it would be, “tj tenderfoot”…lol ;o)

    …It’s a gorgeous 66 degrees here in Missouri, hoping you have the same where you are. Enjoy your day!

    …Blessings :o)

    Reply to tj's comment

    • Susy on September 4, 2011 at 11:15 am

      OOO, I stepped on a nail once, only I was wearing shoes – still came through the shoe, through my foot, and up through the top of the shoes.

      Mr Chiots would also be called “Tenderfoot” for his Indian name. I would probably be called “Leathersole”.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  9. Gretchen on September 4, 2011 at 11:50 am

    Absolutely no shoes! And for shoes I prefer flip-flops.

    Reply to Gretchen's comment

  10. KimH on September 4, 2011 at 12:44 pm

    Inside the house, Im barefoot.. shoes come off 3 steps inside the door and dont go back on unless Im going somewhere.

    If Im just meandering on my desk, patio, front or side flower/herb beds, Im still barefoot unless its wet out.. I dont like my feet to get wet & grassy, then drag it back into my house.. so in those cases, its flip flops or some other easily tossed on shoe.

    Unfortunately, there is a very pointy and hard stone, gravel, or some such mineral that makes up a portion of the soil in my back yard garden so Im not able to walk barefoot upon it unless there is a thick covering of leaves or plant material over it. I thought it was lava stone but someone else suggested coal of some sort.. I dont know what it is but its mean as can be so I avoid it.

    Other than that, its barefoot for me, unless my feet get cold, and then socks are the order of the day..and in winter, warm fuzzy house shoes.

    Shoes, barely, except when necessary.

    Reply to KimH's comment

  11. Carol on September 4, 2011 at 1:58 pm

    I was a devoted barefooter until plantar fasciitis forced me to change my ways. Now? You can have my Dansko clogs when you pry them off my cold dead feet!

    Reply to Carol's comment

  12. Jorene on September 4, 2011 at 2:17 pm

    When I was a child, I went barefoot much of the time, but I got worms in my toes twice. The second time I was required to use my own money to pay for the prescription. That cured me of going barefoot outside, but I still go barefoot inside.

    Reply to Jorene's comment

  13. MAYBELLINE on September 4, 2011 at 4:53 pm

    Shoes.
    With one big dog with a fully functioning digestive system and ground that’s hotter than hell, I always have something on my feet. Plus, gravel smarts when you step on it.

    Reply to MAYBELLINE's comment

  14. Jay on September 4, 2011 at 8:03 pm

    I always tell people that I have claustrophobic feet! No shoes as much as possible, I do most of my gardening barefoot, love the feel of soft fresh dirt between my toes!

    Reply to Jay's comment

  15. Frankie on September 4, 2011 at 8:33 pm

    Hello
    I have just started following your blog and am really enjoying it.
    I never wear shoes if I can help it. Even through winter I avoid them though it never really gets too cold in my part of the world.
    Frankie

    Reply to Frankie's comment

  16. Lisa and Robb on September 5, 2011 at 10:19 am

    We keep bees in a tiny urban backyard. You had better believe that we wear shoes.

    I can’t figure out the scale of your adorable camper. Do you sleep in there?

    Reply to Lisa and Robb's comment

    • Susy on September 5, 2011 at 10:28 am

      Yes, it’s 4 foot wide by 8 feet long total. We have a small area in the back for storage, so it’s about as long as a queen size bed in the inside and 46 inches wide. It’s roughly the size of a full size mattress so we fit in there quite nicely, it’s snug, but comfortable. I’ll be doing a post about the little camper since so many folks are interested in seeing the inside and what the finished product looks like.

      Reply to Susy's comment

About

This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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