Ballerina's Toes

Having been a high heel wearer in my younger years and loving the way they made my feet and legs look, I now try to warn the young women today at church how they'll suffer for wearing the highest heels imaginable in their youth. I loved and still love moderately high heels. I had some absolutely stunning heels that friends wanted to buy if I would sell them. Unfortunately, my feet were bigger than theirs—size 8 1/2 and they wouldn't fit them when I no longer wore them. I sold some on eBay and some I just cannot part with. So I truly know how you younger women feel. But I've had to have surgery on both feet to correct what those heels did. (I fully anticipate any young woman reading this will "pooh-pooh" what I'm telling you by rationalizing that it could never happen to them. I laugh but feel sorry for them because that's exactly what is going to happen to them in a few decades, especially with the ridiculously high heels now that have women almost standing on their toes.

I saw some article the other day that sent me to another article that talked about ballerina's feet. Our niece was a ballet dancer and auditioned for the NYC Ballet. I cannot remember if she danced for them but she was a professional ballerina for a short period until she met her hubby and got married. She is a beautiful long-legged young woman with 2 boys almost grown. But when I think about her and what she gave up, I'm certainly glad she did.

Ballerina's suffer immeasurably from being on pointe most of their lives. The feet you are about to see are some of the worst cases I've seen, and they will never be normal again.

So if you're the mother of a little girl wanting to be a ballet dancer, think twice about what her later life will be like. The younger years will definitely determine how much pain she'll endure down the line.

This is what some of the ballerina's feet end up looking like. The legs are also distorted with most of them.

Never to be able to be repaired.

Ruined toes and feet.

Pain and wrecked toes.

Deformed.

This is the worst case I've seen.

Twisted and painful.

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Now, let's look at some eye candy and beautiful photos.

Sigh. Yeah, the first photo is one of a darling pair of shoes. Sorry about that. But they are cute.

A quaint, sweet home in Europe somewhere.

And another pretty home.

I would never have thought of painting my kitchen cabinets in stripes but I love these.

Look at all the windows. They all have the same curtains so this must be just one person's house above a business. Absolutely adorable.

Some of my favorite things to show—beautiful fabrics.

A charming office for a woman.

Isn't this cute? I don't think I'd want to live beneath a waterfall though.

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Tidbit:
The world's largest eatery: the Damascus Gate restaurant, in Syria. It seats 6,014 persons.

Driving In Snow

Snow has been sugaring our yard the past few days. It does look like a winter wonderland, only I hate driving in snow and ice. I've been doing it a few times these past couple of weeks because I need to be able to do it in an emergency, but I'm driving Love Bunny nuts. We are making a trip over to Washington in a few weeks to visit granddaughter, her hubby and the girls and we knew it'd be snowing somewhere along the way so I had to be prepared. But when we first moved up here, I'd never been in snow to drive; after all, we've lived most of our lives in California.

Well, the first 2 years up here I had 2 accidents in the snow. One was where I was driving Love Bunny's truck and hit a road post and destroyed his passenger side door. You know how well that went over, right? He had broken a couple of ribs a few days before so I had no choice. I needed to go somewhere. I had to drive. Plus I skidded out several times. So I gave it up as we've not had much snow here for a lot of years and it melts pretty fast. It was time, however, to give it a second chance. I probably have a reputation in our city as the slowest driver in snow but at least I'm safe.
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Another beautiful lamp and shade in this vignette.

Wonderful place to stroll.

Cute little vignette.

More eye candy for ya.

Wonderful outdoor living area.

Italy!

Another beautiful area of a lovely room.

Charming old home.

Pretty way to display fabrics—with folded roses sewn together.

I'd love to visit this cute cafe.

Another pretty setting with roses.

French vignette.

How lovely would it be to live here, almost like a castle.

Pretty entry way.

Another beautiful window surrounded by roses and lace curtains inside.

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Tidbit:
In 2006, a London fashion show called "Naked Fragrance" had nude models wearing different brands of perfume, walking in front of a blindfolded audience.
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To Thank All Of You

This is an unscheduled post to thank all of you for the well wishes. I'm most appreciative of them. I have to say though that nothing is life threatening. I'm really fine. It's a problem with some muscles that are not working properly and it's been a real challenge exercising them. There are 3 sets of exercises that I have to do twice a day, plus get on the treadmill. I'm also experiencing some muscles that have grown "lazy" in my back and legs from sitting and reading so much. I absolutely hate exercising and this is coming from a woman who in the 80s was a fitness buff, jazzercizing 5 times a week for an hour! But I was 30 years younger. ;-) I do each of the 6 exercises 15 times and have almost gotten to the point I can't count above 15 anymore! :-) I'm guessing this is a trial for me to get busier? Hmmm?

So while this is unscheduled and am doing it at 10:20 am on Friday, the 11th of January, I have also promised to post nothing without the eye candy. So here are a few more photos but I'm skipping the text above the photos today to get it out there to thank you.

Remember, I have well over 7,200 pins on my Pinterest for you to see. Go and visit and follow if you'd like. I know you won't be disappointed with the eye candy there.

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Tribute To A Loving Hubby

Without details, just let me say this medical situation I'm going through with this ol' body is getting me down some days. In the past 2 months I've had 2 "meltdowns." It is not a life threatening problem, just a frustrating condition that I had no clue could happen to a body. A very frustrating problem.

And my hubby is the best in the world, bar none.

One night I was sitting in the family room while he was in his office/computer room. I just silently began to weep out of control. He came in, saw me, and tried to console me, stroking my arm and trying soothing words. I told him I just couldn't talk at the moment. He kept trying to find out what the problem was. I just couldn't and didn't want to talk. (Trust me, I am not pretty when I cry. Some women are darling. Me? I'm pretty darn pathetic looking!) Now, we women know that sometimes we just need to cry/meltdown and let it go. That was one of those nights. But he kept stroking my arms, putting his arms around me and trying his best to figure out what was going on. I just couldn't talk about it. Really. I just needed to cry and get the emotions/frustrations out. I was inconsolable.

Then one night I was sitting in my chair and had my hand over my eyes while reading. I'm an avid reader and do that more than anything right now, just want to be taken out of my world into the world of spies, espionage and thrillers. ;-) He came in and started stroking my arm and asked if I was okay. I believe he thought I was melting down again, but I wasn't. Just had my hand on my forehead while reading. He was very solicitous that night.

Then yesterday I told him I was going to grocery shop alone and would be back. On the way to the store I felt like sobbing and almost started but held back because—heaven forbid—I didn't want my mascara running down my cheeks! I actually held it together better with just a tiny breakdown last night while he was busy doing something else.

So, this morning at breakfast, I explained to him I'm fine and that sometimes I just need to cry to get the frustrations and emotions out. My guy of 52 years is truly my soul mate. He knows me better than any other person on earth. He treats me like a queen. I love him beyond reason and am so glad he's my husband.

Ooooh, I'll get through this and will be fine...I hope. But without him I'd be a wreck most of the time. ;-)
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Love froufrou!

This room just grabbed me with those outdoor type chairs mixed with that lovely flowered sofa.

Another lovely vignette.

Can you imagine stationery this gorgeous?!

Don't know where it is but looks Bavarian. What beautiful architecture and rowing boats.

Sweetly decorated little hearts to hang anywhere you want.

A miniature pink coat.

These chairs remind me of Coco Chanel suits.

You wouldn't catch me standing outside a lighthouse with all those waves. I'd be cowering—and screaming—inside! WOW!!!

The prettiest cookies I've ever seen.

A sweet dining area with a fantastic view.

A small sachet.

A red, white and blue living room.

Isn't this adorable?

Another "tent" for an intimate occasion, which you could easily do.

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Tidbit:
Azaleas and rhododendrons contain a toxin that can be fatal to humans. So be careful having them around children.
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