Back in the 16th century, when high heels were first introduced & rapidly gained popularity, English clergymen saw evil in the sensuous stilts. So they induced Parliament to pass a law, which read in part: “Any woman who, through the wearing of high heels, leads a subject of His Majesty into marriage, shall be punished by the penalties of witchcraft.” A century later, the law crossed the Atlantic & went into effect in Massachusetts, New Jersey & Pennsylvania. The message wasn’t lost. In 1963, Nationalist China’s defense minister decreed that women in the armed forces could no longer wear high heels off duty. Read the decree in part: “Soldiers in high heels appear more suited for love than war.”

The Christmas season means big business for footwear retailers, & they can thank an old Flemish custom. Centuries ago, the Flemish called the Yuletide season Sankt Klaus after St. Nicholas, patron saint of children. On the eve of his birthday, children placed fruit & carrots in their wooded shoes for his white horse. Next morning, in return for the favor, they’d find candy & toys in their sabots. So began the Yuletide gift-giving custom & the hanging of Christmas stockings.

In the presence of politicians, reporters and other “official” observers, the tanner converted a raw kangaroo skin to finished leather in a leather-making record of tow hour and 40 minutes. The leather was immediately cut and processed through the shoe making sequence. The finished shoe emerged on one hour and 12 minutes. Total time, raw skin to finished shoe: three hours, 52 minutes – a record still unmatched.

The Perfect Mint Julep

• 40 fresh, small spearmint leaves, plus sprigs for garnish
• 3 oz. plus 3 cups bourbon whiskey, preferably Maker’s Mark
• 1 cup distilled water
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• Confectioners sugar

1. For mint extract, place mint leaves in a small bowl with 3 oz. of bourbon.  Let soak for 15 minutes.  Using the back of a spoon press the mint leaves repeatedly until all the mint is extracted from the leaves.  Remove leaves and set aside.
2. For simple syrup, in a small saucepan bring distilled water to a simmer over medium-high heat.  Add granulated sugar and stir constantly until it completely dissolves.  Let cool to room temperature.
3. For juleps, combine 3 cups of bourbon, 1 cup syrup and mint extract.  Place mixture in a air-tight container and refrigerate until flavors marry, about 24 hours.
4. To serve, fill each glass (I use my parents highball glasses from the 1950’s) halfway with shaved ice.  Insert a sprig of mint and then pack in more ice to about 1 inch over the rim of the glass.  Insert a straw cut to 1 inch above the ice (this step is optional).  When frost forms on the surface of the glass, pour mint julep mixture over the ice and add a sprinkle of confectioners’ sugar.

I guarantee you will love this drink and your foot woes will simply disappear.  You’ll wonder what took you so long to give one a try.

Here is a modest beginning:
MYTH: Sensible shoes will prevent foot ills.
FACT: So called sensible shoes have all the built in design and construction faults of non-sensible shoes.

Calluses are areas of dead skin typically larger than a corn & usually form on the sole of your foot & tell you where you’re experiencing the greatest pressure.  Solution: use oils on calluses & then sand them daily to prevent them from getting too thick.

Bunions are painful enlargements or bony protrusions at the base of your big toe. They may be inherited, but can also be caused by shoes that are too narrow across the front.  The long-term solution is to buy shoes with sufficiently large toe boxes.

Hammertoes can be caused by wearing ill-fitting shoes if, for example, the second toe is longer that the big toe & is forced into a too-small toe box.

No advice can guarantee an end to foot troubles.  But by following these suggestions as well as the ones in previous tips, you’ll increase the chances that the next time you step out, you’ll have a smile on your face.

Toenail infections often start with a blow to the nail. The nail separates slightly from the nail bed & creates an area where a fungal infection can get started. Solution: keep the nail cut & filed down as much as is practical. Your doctor can prescribe medications that attack the progress of a nail infection.

Ingrown toenails are another common problem with are largely preventable & caused by improper trimming.  Don’t use a fingernail clipper – it isn’t long enough for the toes & leaves a sharp point on the nail.  The nail may then pierce the skin & grow inward. Buy a large toenail clipper.

The tears are in the plantar fascia, a springy tissue that runs from you heel bone to your toes. Bend your toes up & you’ll recognize it as the tight band running through your arch. For heel pain in this area stretch your feet as often as eight times a day,  a suggestion would be the “runner’s stretch.” This stretch will help loosen your calf muscles & stretch your Achilles’ tendon, reducing tightness in the muscles leading to the foot.

Two other measures: a short course of an anti-inflammatory drug, such as ibuprofen, & soaking your feet in warm water at night.

One solution: step on and off a raised surface, such as a telephone book, to give your muscles some work.  Or simply flex your feet – rolling up onto the ball of your foot, then back to your heel.  Take your shoes off and roll a golf ball behind the ball of each foot for a minute or two.

A regular foot massage is not a luxury if you are on your feet all day – it’s a necessity.  If you can’t afford or don’t have the time for a professional massage – trade foot rubs with your spouse.  My husband and I use our foot bath with invigorating bath salts and then rub each others feet while we’re watching a movie.  Time together and mission accomplished.  PS – save the popcorn for after the massage.

When we do have problems, just “getting off our feet” won’t necessarily lead to permanent relief.  For one thing, foot pain doesn’t always begin in the foot.  Even though you’re feeling the pain there, a tight Achilles’ tendon or calf muscle may be the actual source of you problem.  Either may restrict ankle motion, causing you to put painful stress on the front of your foot.

Rest may help, but what’s often needed is a change in the way you care for your feet.  Stay tuned for a guide to some common foot problems, along with tips on how you can help yourself.