The Elegant Laborer

Yesterday my dream became concrete reality.  We had a sidewalk poured to connect the back of our house to Emma's bower and my parent's driveway.  As I watched the work progress, my eye kept lighting on this one man.  He swung a pick ax, operated heavy equipment, and worked concrete with complete ease and looked elegant doing it. Why?  He wore a long-sleeved western shirt, a cowboy hat, and light-colored jeans--nothing unusual, but he stood out from the other laborers who wore short-sleeved pullovers or t-shirts and ball caps. 

I wonder what he wears to church.

Fun With Hats

Since these hats cost way too much, we got as much enjoyment as we could from them without actually making a purchase. I got to play fashion photographer with Emma's phone. Most of the pictures I took include one of my fingers.

Together Again, Bicycling

Inspired by the fine spring weather, Emma and Nathaniel decided to go bike riding yesterday afternoon. I was so excited, because they went through a long period where they wouldn't do anything together, and now they seem to be re-discovering their old friendship. They're even planning a tent-camping trip together.

Nathaniel almost backed out of the bike ride, though, when Emma appeared in her bicycling costume. "Mom!" he groaned. "Make her take off that hat. It's embarrassing!"

"You have a hat on," Emma pointed out. She diplomatically avoided saying, "And I think it's hideous!"

Grumbling, he sauntered off to the garage to get the bikes. Of course, I tagged along to take pictures.

I took lots--several as he aired up Emma's back tire with the air compressor while she filled the front one with a bicycle pump and one with him on his bike, leaning forward over the handlebars with his hat and dark sunglasses on, ready to race off and leave Emma in the dust. He looked really cool.

The pictures came out so cute, but Nathaniel threatened to kill me if I put any of them on my blog. Reluctantly, I promised and cropped him out of all the pictures I had just taken. I especially hated to do it on the first picture above. That's the one where he was on his bike, leaning over the handlebars.


A MOTHER'S REVENGE


Quite cunningly, I made no promises about any bicycling pictures of him in my archives.

Hatty Birthday

We celebrated Herb and Nathaniel's June 30th birthday for two days. On Sunday we brunched elegantly at the Hotel Galvez in Galveston with Herb and Nathaniel's Schola buddy, Mickey. Mickey's birthday was June 27th. The champagne was scrumptious, the piano playing divine.

Monday, Herb and Nathaniel golfed at Tour 18, then returned home in time for Oreo ice cream cake and presents. Nathaniel and Emma presented Herb with a hat, and he loved it! The hat is a Stetson "Andover". Here is the description from DelMonico Hatter: "A Florentine Milan Straw Hat from Stetson. The brim on the hat shown is Sand color and the crown is Beige. The Stetson Andover is also available in Grey/Black which is a Grey crown and a Black brim. The hat has a sculptured hat band that goes perfectly with the brim and crown colors. The brim width is 2 1/4" and the crown has a pinch in it. We think that this is a very handsome straw hat, it looks well on our customers."

Emma had Herb review the hat etiquette graphic that I had posted on the refrigerator.


After he got it back from Nathaniel, he wore it the rest of the night, and that included going to the May Community Center to watch Nathaniel and Emma square dance. It was their second night of lessons.

Help for the Faint of Hat

I just visited the Art of Manliness website and found a helpful article on how to choose a man's hat according to his head shape. Click here: http://artofmanliness.com/2008/05/28/the-perfect-hat-for-your-ugly-mug/

Happy Father's Day!

It's time to report on the responses my menfolk gave to my posting of the hat etiquette information.

Herb: No comment.

Nathaniel: I hope nobody I know reads your blog.

Am I discouraged? No!

I did put off ordering a hat, though. Last Sunday I talked to Herb's Schola buddy, Mickey, who is my style expert in everything. He does the flowers on the altar at church every week. He is going to help me choose a hat for Herb's birthday which is coming up on June 30. Generally, if Mickey recommends it, Herb says, "Sign me up". Mickey even said that he may get a hat, too. Maybe the Schola will lead the way in bringing hats back to the heads of American men. It would be fitting.

Getting the Ball Rolling on Hats (for men)

A tip of the hat to Marian T. Horvat, Ph.D., who has written the article linked below.

When men start wearing hats again and employing the traditional etiquette that goes with wearing them, I will know that we have a chance at restoring Christian culture. I especially love the how-to graphics at the bottom of the article. I'm going to print them and post them on the fridge. I'll report back with the comments from my menfolk. You do the same and let me know! http://traditioninaction.org/Cultural/A045cpCivility_Hats.htm