Taking Care of Your Stuff: leather boots
This is how I revolt against consumerism. There is nothing that bothers me more than to see good things pitched, especially when so many of the world's people have so little.
My boots are a little scuffed up, but as long as they are leather, you can do something with them. I looked at them and I wrote this Haiku.
My old boots lie, quiet
Scuffed at the heel and toe
Soon to be made new.
It seems we have forgotten lessons learned by our parents and grand parents. The Great Depression occurred when my father was young and it influenced him for the rest of his life. I follow his example. Reuse, recycle, reduce may be a modern phrase but it used to be a way of life.
Here are the supplies. The back of the heels get worn from driving. This can be covered with acrylic paint. I will coat the boots with neatsfoot oil, rubbing a little extra into the scuff marks. Then I will follow with black shoe polish, buff them with the brush, and give them a coat of All Protector to repel rain, slush, and salt.
Either neatsfoot oil or dubbin can be used. I used to look at the neatsfoot oil can and wonder if there was some little creature called a neat that was limping around without feet, but the French translation tells me it's made from cattle hooves.
If the scuffs are really deep, you can apply dye to them.
See? Good as new! We can save our money for better uses.
All photos were taken with my iPad.
