Saturday, November 30, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 188 - Yule Yarmulke Edition


Day 188 / Hat 188: Red velvet yarmulke with white pom-pom and white faux fur trim detail. Interior tag reads: "TM & Warner Bros. Ent. Inc., The OC" on one side and "100% polyester, Made in China" on the other.

Unpacking the "Adam Seasonal" holiday boxes yesterday, I struck a millinery mother lode. I found me all kinds of elf hats, reindeer antlers, Santa hats and the like that should have me keeping my head in the holiday spirit for a good week plus.

I decided to don this one today as a noggin nod to the rare concurrence of Thanksgiving and Hanukkah.  It is, in case you couldn't tell from its perilous perch on my huge head, a Christmas-themed (or at least Santa Claus themed) take on the yarmulke, borne of the fact that the Christmas holiday and the Festival of Lights traditionally fall close to each other.

What I didn't know (or had long forgotten) was that one of the things (the thing?) that helped push  "Chrismukkah" --or at least its "yamaclaus" hybrid headgear -- to pop culture prominence was the TV show "The O.C."

In order to be fair to all mid-winter religious celebrations -- and avoid potential Airing of Grievances -- what I need to find now is a hat that embodies the spirit and flair of Festivus.

Suggestions?

Related:
PC 187: Convertible Balaclava
PC 186: Turkey on my Mind
"Project Cubbins: The Road to 500" [VIDEO]

OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!


Friday, November 29, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 187 -- Momma's Convertible Balaclava Edition



Day 187 / Hat 187: Reversible knit balaclava, one side with solid brown on bottom and camouflage-patterned brown on the top, the other in "County Orange" with band of solid brown at the neck. Interior tag reads: "Outdoor Cap, Made in China, One Size Fits Most," and still-attached price tag reads: "$7.95."

I returned home from a road trip to Sedona to find this fine piece of headgear in a package from my sainted mother Nancy -- along with  small album of photos she'd been asked to pass along by a former flame (mine not hers). The enclosed note reads, in part:

"Camo side for turkey and archery hunting -

Blaze orange for deer rifle season --

Pull over face if it's cold --

Roll up if it's warm.

Couldn't send a pkg without a hat!"

You may not be aware of it, but this protective garment came to be known as a balaclava because of its use in the 1854 Battle of Balaclava -- which not only included the infamous cavalry charge immortalized by Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem "The Charge of the Light Brigade," but also helped cement the cardigan sweater and the raglan sleeve in the world's wardrobe. (I learned this  from a book called " The Reason Why: The Story of the Fatal Charge of the Light Brigade" by Cecil Woodham-Smith (Constable, 1953), which I discuss here.)

"Project Cubbins: The Road to 500 Hats" (a Chris Reynolds Original Video)

According to Richard Rutt's "A History of Handknitting," in the 19th century what we sometimes call a ski mask was also known as a Uhlan cap or Templar cap.

Oh, and if you find yourself in the lower parts of the 802 and in need of one of these bad boys, Doug and Nancy will take care of you right good at the Wayside Country Store!

Related:
PC 186: Talking Turkey
PC 47: Mom and the Mega Millions
PC 20: Mom and the Mountains of Montana


OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 186 - Talking Turkey Edition



Day 186 / Hat 186: Golden brown colored plush turkey hat with white paper drumstick cover detail. interior tag reads: "Made in China."

I've never been really good about scheduling themed hats, but I've been keeping ye olde turkey hat in cold storage ever since I began Project Cubbins, knowing I'd want it to be today's installment.

There's so, so much to be thankful for this year, I won't even begin to enumerate them because I know I'll forget something or someone. (Though my brother and my special girl both deserve a mention.). But I am especially thankful for the readers of my daily millinery missives. While I would be doing this exercise in silly headgear even if no one was reading, it's gratifying to get the response and support I have along the way. That I have a cornucopia overflowing with hats as a result is just, well, gravy I guess.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Related:
PC 185: Sequins out of the City
PC 183: Te amo mii amo
PC 182: Turkey in the Juniper
"Project Cubbins: The Road to 500 Hats" (a Chris Reynolds Original Video)

OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!


Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 185 - Sequins Out of the City Edition



Day 185 / Hat 185: Loose-knit gray beret festooned with silver sequins from the Bride's headwear collection.

She: "I think that's the beret I got in Las Vegas for the Barry Manilow concert."

Me: "I think you're right. By the way, are these sequins or paillettes?"

She: "Paillette is just a high-falutin' French word for sequin."

Me: "Oh."

And, in case you never thought about it, you CAN'T use the flash on an iPhone when taking a selfie - at least not that I could figure out. So I had to lean over in the passenger seat to take this.

Related:
PC 182: Turkey Hat with a Turkey Hat
PC 183: Te amo mii amo
PC 184: Enchantment on my Mind
"Project Cubbins: The Road to 500 Hats" (a Chris Reynolds Original Video)

OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!


Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 184 - Enchantment Edition


Day 184 / Hat 184: Blue, cotton baseball-style cap with white contrast detail around front of brim and white embroidery that reads "Enchantment Resort" on front. 

Stealth-snapped from the "purchase from the room" options on offer, which I just discovered today. I took this photo standing outside the casita.

Related:


OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Monday, November 25, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 183 -- Te Amo Mii Amo Edition


Day 183 / Hat 183: Khaki-colored baseball-style cap with black brim contrast and red embroidery that reads "Mii amo" on front with additional red embroidery that reads "Sedona" on right corner of the brim.  

Purchased for the Project at the Mii amo spa gift shop.  In Yuman, the traditional Native American language of Northern Arizona, "mii amo" means journey.

Related:

OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!








Sunday, November 24, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 182 -- Turkey in the Juniper


Day 182 / Hat 182: Peruvian-made turkey hat purchased for the Project today at a store in the Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village in Sedona, Arizona. 

When I asked the proprietress Debby the name of the establishment so I could remember it include it here, she responded: "Just Us Girls - all you need to do is remember JUGS!" To which I responded: "I always do!" 

Additional note: The pointy rock formation in the upper left of the photo is called the Boynton Spire aka Kachina Woman. It is purportedly the locus of the only Sedona vortex that manifests both masculine and feminine energy -- if you're into the New Agey thing.

It also holds a special place in Native American lore. She is supposed to be carrying a cottonwood canoe on her head that was gift from her father Great Mystery (aka the Big Kahuna hisself). She is watching over all the two-leggeds to make sure we behave. According to legend, if the formation topples, Kachina Woman is sending a message that humanity needs, to put it mildly, a cosmic bitch slap.

Oh, one more thing: this place is full of juniper trees - and I think several of the trees behind me are what's called Utah Juniper trees. Apparently when the juniper berries freeze and then thaw (like they have here recently) they start to ferment and when the birds eat them they get kind of drunk.  Drunk Birds sounds like a great Angry Birds sequel to me. 

Related:

OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!



Saturday, November 23, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 181 - Head Full of Hound's-teeth Edition




Day 181 / Hat 181: Baseball-style cap in fuchsia hound's-tooth pattern. This hat belongs to the Bride - it arrived yesterday from J. Crew.

If my cursory search of the interwebs is accurate, it's this critter here.

It looks like something a young Sherlock Holmes might've worn before graduating to the deerstalker cap -- which, by the way, is another hat on my hat bucket list (along with that antique diving helmet).

Related:
PC 180: Megamindful
PC 179: The Lemon Thief
PC 162: Gotta Getta Geisha


OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Friday, November 22, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 180 -- Megamindful Edition


Day 180 / Hat 180: Sky blue Megamind headgear with pointy ears and black applique eyebrow detail. Interior tag reads: "DreamWorks, Megamind. Bad. Blue. Brilliant. Manufactured September 2010."

VIDEO: "The Road to 500 Hats"

Graciously on loan to the Project, this high hat is from the Team Boucher (henceforth TB) series, which is no well on its way to becoming the first family to be added to the ranks of the MHDC.

I never actually saw "Megamind," which hit theaters three years ago this month, but I'm all in for anyone -- reformed/lapsed/practicing super villain or not -- who's comfortable with rockin' a gigantic bald head.

I'd hoped the side-by-side comparison turned out funnier, but we'll always have my mawg shot.

PC 179: Minionade
PC 80: Going to the Garden
PC 8: Kangol Kap


OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 179 - When Life Gives You Minions Edition


Day 179 / Hat 179: Yellow knit acrylic cap with embroidered and appliqued minion face detail on front and Embroidery on back that reads: "Despicable Me on Blu-ray and DVD December 14, 2010."

This hat is loaned to the Project by Team Boucher (the family unit that's brought such memorable installments as Hat 128 and Hat 61) and I chose it as today's hat for two reasons.

First, it's a cheery shade of spirit-lifting yellow on a rare rainy L.A. day. Second, it's to commemorate the theft and assumed destruction of the hybrid dwarf Meyer lemon tree that, until sometime between sunset and sunrise, existed at the corner of the driveway in front of our home.

As I was headed out to my car this morning I first noticed a lone lemon sitting in the driveway (that's the one in my mouth above). My eyes went immediately to the lemon tree -- or, more accurately, the hole where it had been when I walked by it last night with a sense of urban citrus-farming pride that was growing as slowly and deliciously as the dozen tiny lemons hanging from its branches.

To me the ragged hole and protruding pieces of root make it seem like a random act of senseless fruit slaughter although it's possible that some down-on-their-luck person had decided to turn the lemons in their life into lemonade and needed a constant source of Citrus × meyeri with which to do so.

Whatever happened, I'm guessing the jackass who ripped the lemon tree out of my yard doesn't realize he made a 48-year-old man cry on the way to work this morning.

But no worries -- by the time I got to work I was already a minion miles beyond it.

And next time?

 I'm planting rhubarb.

Related:
PC 178: Pumpkin Slice
VIDEO: "The Road to 500 Hats"
PC 175: Floatplane on the Brain

OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 178 - Life of Pie Edition


Day 178 / Hat 178: Multi-colored fuzzy fabric slice of pumpkin pie hat with dollop of white fabric whipped cream.

Noelle Carter (she of the NC Series) arrived at the office wearing this lid yesterday and I was INSTANTLY jealous.  I knew I had to make it mine -- if even for a single photo - -so lifted it from her desk first thing this morning. (I don't think she'll mind - she's been very generous with her headgear.)

It reminds me of a Thanksgiving version of the Wisconsin Cheese Head wedge (although Noelle and I agree that the "whipped cream" looks suspiciously like a bulb of garlic).



Related:
PC 177: J. Crew Knit Cap
PC 176: Hey, Hey Leather Beret
VIDEO: "Project Cubbins: The Road to 500"

OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!


Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 177 - Yet Another Knit Cap Edition



Day 177 / Hat 177:  Black ribbed knit 100% cashmere cap. Interior tag reads: "J. Crew Collection."

Yes, it's another knit cap - and another loaner from the Ingrid Schmidt Home for Wayward Hats. If my cursory search of the interwebs is accurate, it's the black version of this $68 hat. (It's also apparently available in rain forest green, heather charcoal, heather flannel and vivid poppy.)

Exciting? Hardly. Another hat closer to 500? Most definitely. If you want to see something exciting (or, at the very least, want to burn three minutes out of your day) and happened to miss my post from yesterday, my co-worker Chris Reynolds took it upon himself to create a short video about the Project that includes the first 168 installments. You can view it on YouTube here.

Related:


OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?


A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Monday, November 18, 2013

Project Cubbins: The '500 Hat' Video



My cube-farm compatriot Chris Reynolds, who works in the Travel section, has a knack for putting together some seriously entertaining videos. Due to the location of his desk, he has also had a front row seat for many an oddball lid-wearing as I pursue my Seussian goal of wearing 500 different hats and pieces of assorted headgear over the course of 500 days.

So when he kindly offered to make a video to accompany the effort, I jumped at the chance. That was back when we thought we could get ourselves coordinated to roll it out in conjunction with the first round number milestone of Hat 100 in mid-September.

We didn't actually end up shooting the video until November 8, 2013, the day I posted Hat 165, and the photo montage that accompanies the video actually manages to include through Hat 168.

I can't thank Chris enough for his assistance, the man has some serious video-editing chops. If anything can get me a shot at wearing that Bartholemew Cubbins hat for number 500, it's his video.

A sincere tip of all 168 hats in Chris' general direction.

Related:
PC 64: Grace's Beijing Rainbow
PC 71: Hachimaki on my Head
PC One: The First Hat Tossed into the Ring

Project Cubbins: Hat 176 - Hey, Hey Leather Beret Edition



Day 176 / Hat 176: Black leather beret with black grosgrain fabric lining and adjustable cord detail. Interior tag reads: "Eric Javits Hats are Blocked and Trimmed by Hand."

This is another installment from the bountiful IS series and it reminds of what a bad-ass Guardian Angel might wear --  or someone at Greenwich Village poetry slam. All I need to do now is wrangle me a turtleneck and shave my beard into a Van Dyke.

Related:
PC 175: Floatplane on the Brain
PC 169: Ingrid's Name on the Brain
PC 156: Snakes on the Brain 

OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 175 - Floatplane Edition



Day 175 / Hat 175: Forest green, 100% cotton baseball-style cap with red and white pontoon plane embroidery with the words "Chelatna Lake Lodge above and "Alaska" below.

This is the final hat in the MFLHT (following on the fins of  the "Trout College" and "Fishy Friday" installments) and it was explained to me by my sister-in-law (who gets an assist for facilitating this troika of trout-themed toques) that Phil Monahan was once a fly-fishing guide at the aforementioned Chelatna Lake Lodge.

Based on the description of the lodge from its website, the floatplane is a wholly appropriate thing to emblazon on a hat (as explained in thew second paragraph of the below).

"Chelatna Lake Lodge is one of the oldest lodges in the state. It was built during the 1940’s when Alaska was just a territory of the U.S. Its setting is spectacular, situated on the southern border of Denali National Park with the Alaska Range and Mount Russell as its backdrop. Mt. McKinley or Denali—the Athabascan Indian word for “the Great One” is visible from the stream while fishing.

The lodge is remote, accessible only by aircraft, located approximately 100 miles northwest of Anchorage. Because of its location, it is less than an hour’s air-taxi flight away from Anchorage and yet worlds away from the hustle and bustle of the state’s largest city. Chelatna Lake Lodge is the only lodge in operation on the eight mile lake."

Related:
PC 174: Irish Bucket
PC 164: Pink and Piled High
PC 162: Go Geisha


OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 174 - Patched Irish Bucket Edition


Day 174 / Hat 174: Multi-colored patchwork wool bucket hat with cloth-covered button on top. Interior tag that reads: "Handcrafted exclusively by Hanna Hats of Donegal Ltd., Donegal Town Ireland, Dry Clean Only, Pure New Wool, Made in Ireland."

Borrowed from the Bride's extensive and colorful headwear collection, this hat was purchased during the same trip (and maybe even in the same store) as the Donegal tweed flat cap in PC 137 (aka "the Irish raincoat edition").

The one I'm sporting here is similar too - but much more colorful than - the example currently pictured at the Hanna Hats website.

Just sayin'.


Related:
PC 172: Fishy Friday
PC 131: Oui Oui, Paris!
PC 111: Whale of a Bucket Hat

OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!



Friday, November 15, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 173 - Fishy Friday Edition


Day 173 / Hat 173: Baseball-style cap with weathered khaki colored crown, weathered forest green colored bill and button on top of crown.

Front of crown bears multi-colored embroidery of a leaping trout (I'm going with "rainbow" based on the colors thought I may be wrong on that) next to an outline of Argentina in slate blue) and four yellow stars. All appear beneath the words: "Patagonia 2001."

This is the second of Project's MFLHT (Monahan Fish Lid Hat-Trick) following on the fins of Wednesday's "Trout College" installment. Phil, who lives in my hometown back in Vermont (though he arrived after I left) is a customer at my folks' store and Editor at Orvis News, and I can only presume this is a souvenir from a fly-fishing foray to Patagonia.

By the way, this fellow knows his fish business. I can take a quiz with the best of them but with a 20% score on the latest Phil Monahan Fly-Fishing Trivia Challenge  I fear I'll never earn my waders.

So the Fishy Friday hat-tip appropriately goes to Phil Monahan.

Related:
PC 171: Lady of the Lake
PC 170: Stihl Face
PC 165: Double Zissou

OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 172 - Our Lady of Blessed Acceleration Edition



Day 172 / Hat 172: Navy blue, wool baseball-style cap with white appliqued "Notre Dame" on front and gold "ND" logo embroidered on back. Interior tag reads: "American Needle, Quality Headwear, 1918."

This is an IS series loaner to Project Cubbins -- a meaningful one to be sure since Notre Dame is  'Grid's alma mater.

Here's a little explanation about the school colors plucked from the official site of Notre Dame Athletics:

"The origin of school colors can be traced back to the founding of the University. At the time of its founding in 1842, Notre Dame's original school colors were yellow and blue; yellow symbolized the light and blue the truth. However, sometime after the Dome and Statue of Mary atop the Main Building was gilded, gold and blue became the official colors of the University."

Among the things I did not know (until now) about the school which is located just north of South Bend, Indiana? The original full name, bestowed upon it in 1842 by French priest Rev. Edward Sorin, was "L’Université de Notre Dame du Lac" which translates to "The University of Our Lady of the Lake."

(For some reason that kind of reminds me of the line uttered by Elwood Blues in "The Blues Brothers," one of my favorite movies of all time: "Our Lady of Blessed Acceleration, don't fail me now!")

By the way, if If you've got some school spirit you think would look good flying from the top of my head, feel free to send a hat my way -- I'll send it back when I'm done!

Related:
PC 124: VA Reunion Edition
PC 150: Davidson Wildcats Edition
PC 170: Take a Trout to College Edition


OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 171 - Trout College Edition


Day 171 / Hat 171: Navy blue, 100% polyester baseball style cap with multi-colored trout embroidery detail above the words: "Trout Cottage, Lumsden, New Zealand" in white embroidery.

This was from a three-hat package that arrived from my sister-in-law in Vermont yesterday (my wife's sister, not my brother's wife). When I first looked at this one, I misread it as "Trout College" -- which made me laugh.

It also made me wonder what trout college would be like. I imagine l'il trouts swimming off to classes like "Geography 5: Riffles, Runs and Pools," "History 101: Upstream" and "English 220: Horror Fiction: Hook Line and Sinker" with their JanSport backpacks tucked under a fin.

As for Trout Cottage proper? My cursory search of the interwebs (she probably knew I'd do that) turned up a likely suspect described in this 2010 description of a fly fishing trip at Fly Odyssey:

"Week one which was based out of Simon Chu's TROUT COTTAGE in Lumsden. Trout cottage is a little fly fishing hut in Lumsden and provides an ideal base for traveling anglers. Full of NZ associated fly fishing memorabilia it sets the scene for a week fishing Southland. Lumsden is in the heart of some of Southland's best fly fishing country with rivers such as the Mataura and Oreti and their associated tributaries a short drive away."

Yeah, I took the bait.

Update: Since my wife had originally opened the package, I didn't realize there was an explanatory note accompanying the hats, which explained said lids were from one Phil Monahan. So today's hat tip -- for the whole hat-trick -- goes to Phil. Huzzah!  

Related:

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 170 - Forestry for the Trees Edition


Day 170 / Hat 170: Orange ABS thermoplastic  "Forestry Helmet System" by Stihl with epoxy-coated steel full-face screen and adjustable hearing protectors.

If you thought this came to courtesy of the family business -- the combination chainsaw sales and service / furniture refinishing / gas station back in the 802 -- you'd be thinking wrong.

This awesome piece of protective headgear was a gift to me from one Donald John -- father of one of my dearest friends Heather Fogarty. He had one like it kicking around the house up in the Napa Valley which, during a visit quite a few years ago (and greased by more than few libations) I decided to don for a photograph or two.

A few months later, Heather (aka "G") presented me with my very own, brand-new, still-in-the-box  forestry system.

I was actually thinking about sporting this hat yesterday -- being Heather's birthday and all -- before going with a nod to Veterans Day.

So today's tip o' the hat goes to G, with a special full doffing of said helmet to Mr. John for this awesome headgear which, to this day, occupies a place of honor in the Garlodge.

Related:
PC 169: Ingrid -- in Stitching
PC 82: Red Stihl
PC 70: Baby New Year 


OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1



Monday, November 11, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 169 - Embroidered Ingrid Edition

Day 169 / Hat 169: White cotton canvas "Dixie cup" U.S. Navy style sailor's cap with blue embroidery that reads: "Ingrid."

I thought long and hard about whether or not to include this hat (on loan from Ingrid in case that wasn't abundantly clear) since I wore a very similar hat for installment 101 -- In the Navy. I ultimately decided to include it for two reasons.

First, the rules I set for myself was no duplication of hats, and this is a totally different hat -- and no one needs to take my word for it since Ingrid's name is across the front of this one. And, since I've worn several different black knit caps to date -- all distinguishable due to a variety of different embroidered logos and the like, it wouldn't make sense not to sport this particularly worthy loaner.

Second, since it's Veterans Day today, I thought it would be an appropriate hat-related way to pay homage.

So today's tip of the hat goes to all the veterans of our armed forces. I thank you -- and salute you.

Related:
PC 168: Flower Power
PC 167: Black Knit Cap
PC 166: Floppy Friday


OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 168 - Brain Bouquet Edition

Day 168 / Hat 168: Speedo brand swim cap with multi-colored floral embellishments and pink chin strap. Interior printing reads: "Made in Malaysia."

A Sunday / fun day retro-looking piece cribbed from the bride's headwear holdings and photographed during a rare but of hammock time on the sun deck of the Goode Shippe Maryland.

Based on my cursory search of the interwebs, it appears to be similar to this Flower Cap one but for the color of the chin strap (blue online instead of pink) and it appears that the background of the cap online is blue as well -- and the one I'm sporting has the flowers blooming against a white background.

It suits me swimmingly, no?

Related:
PC 167: Knack for Knit
PC 84: Flowers in The Hair
PC 62: Crochet in Full Bloom

OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Saturday, November 09, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 167 - Knack for a Knit Cap Edition


Day 167 / Hat 167 - Black, 100% cotton knit cap. with red embroidery that reads: "RYU" on one side and additional red embroidered design that I can't make heads or tails out of on the other side (see detail photo above left). Interior tag reads: "Made in China."

Haven't the faintest clue where this hat originally came from, but I unearthed it today while cleaning my closets (the wardrobe equivalent of the Augean Stables, it seems like sometimes).

You probably think you've seen me wear this hat in the series before. I should point out you have seen me wear several black knit caps, but this one is not a repeat. (or should I say "Ryu-peat"?)

Related:
PC 165: Red Knit Cap
PC 92: Ombré Knit Cap
PC 5: Black Knit Cap

OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Friday, November 08, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 166 - Floppy Friday Edition

Day 166 / Hat 166: Floppy wide-brimmed hat in black wool with gold textured domed stud detail in black wool felt hatband.

Interior tags read: "Womens O/S, Spot Clean , Made in China" and "San Diego Hat Company."

This loaner to the Project is part of the IS series and according to the San Diego Hat Company's website, it's from their Fall/Winter 2013 collection -- and one just like it can be purchased online for the princely sum of $72.

To me it's got a definite "Lady of the Canyon" vibe -- it reminds me of the kind of hat Stevie Nicks might have left on my couch after an all-night recording session.

Related:
PC 165: Double Zissou
PC 164: Pink and Piled High 
PC 137: Irish Raincoat, anyone?


OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Thursday, November 07, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 165 - Cashmere 'Life Aquatic' Edition


Day 165 / Hat 165: Red, 100% cashmere knit cap by Marc Jacobs courtesy of the Ingrid Schmidt collection of headwear oddities.

After snapping the photo this morning I got the weirdest feeling of déjà vu. Then I realized where I'd seen the look before -- in Wes Anderson's 2004 film "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" -- in particular the patchy-beard-sporting Bill Murray who portrayed the titular character.

You may or may not know that I'm a huge fan of both Anderson and Murray, but I'm gonna guess almost none of you knew that Bill Murray and I share the same birthday.

Cosmic coincidence? Perhaps.

Oh, and if you happen to be a Wes Anderson fan, be sure to check out SNL's spoof trailer for the film "The Midnight Coterie of Sinister Intruders."

Related:
PC 164: Pink and Piled High
PC 36: Walkin' the Mawg
PC 5: Kyle by Alene Who?


OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!