I don't want to give it up! My life has just gotten rather packed with other adventures that I end up running out of wind long before I can circle back to wax ecstatic about shoes. And I have to admit, they just aren't making wood soled shoes that'll fit me that frequently these days. So I've been indulging in other styles that aren't in keeping with the topic here. (Such as Earth Shoes Mary Janes and Sorel wedge boots and high heeled rain boots and even a pair of Birkenstocks I had customized with a 3" platform. Hmmm. Maybe I should post about these just to tell people what I've been up to.)

I do love this blogging community we've created here, and I don't really want to walk away from it. These days, though, I'm employed full time again (which I wasn't when I first started ECHID) and I've got a creative musical project that's demanding more and more of my focus as it continues to grow. We'll have to see how the new year develops!

Cynthia: I look back and smile now. There was a time when I would post warning labels on this blog concerning clogs that didn't have wooden soles. It was in mock-seriousness at the time. Given the choice, I would always choose a wood sole, and I thought it was important to make that clear to potential customers. But there have been countless shoes I've bought, wood soles or not, because I loved the look of them so much. I am definitely enjoying these Stuart Weitzmans. Just need the weather to get a bit cooler so I can really let them shine in my wardrobe!

philip: You know as well as I do that at the tall size end of the product line, an online purchase is always a roll of the dice. Even when you get measurements from the seller, their idea of what constitutes an inch may differ from yours. In this case, the boots were too snug when I first got them, but with some shoe stretching and the use of a heel lift to give my toes more room, I've been able to enjoy them.

Cynthia: I see that you have been there, too. My partner in shoe passion, Melissa, wears your size, and I hear the same frustrations from her. But thanks to eBay and Poshmark and the like, I have had an amazing track record laying my hands on (and putting my feet in) all sorts of shoes that I couldn't purchase when they first came out. And although I wouldn't have wanted to wait for them, I've seen a lot of shoes I bought when they first came out turn up later at reduced prices. Of course, there are plenty of shoes I've never seen anywhere again so buying new is definitely worth the extra dollars. (For me, one of the ones that got away is a certain Vince Camuto clog style that I actually received from a retailer in a size 11, but sent back because I didn't like the color at the time. I've been watching for ANY color of that clog in my size for the past four years, and it has yet to turn up even though I've run across hundreds of listings for other sizes.) And as for the McAllen boots, they are a treasure and a pleasure. Though they did come with their own little eye-opening discovery: the soles are not wood! Shocking, isn't it? I was pulling them off the other night and noticed the platform flexing slightly in my hands. That made me take a closer look, and I realized that they're just a fine quality plastic. Still, I'm able to rise above that limitation and enjoy them!

Evan: Bless you! To be honest, as much as I would have snapped up that shoe in a heartbeat, I have no shortage of other styles I'm keeping my eyes on! There was a Bed|Stü wedge sandal that I've been looking at for a while. And then after all of that "wishing and dreaming," it showed up online at a significant discount. Woo-hoo!

Cynthia: "Adorable." That's the perfect word for some of those eferro clog boot designs! I wish shipping were less, but I find it's often worth it for the sake of getting that pair of shoes you couldn't come by any other way.

London Lady: Let me know if you order anything. I'm extremely tempted. And I know my clog craving partner here is serioiusly giving it some thought, too.