Hey, lady, you need a new hat

Even with a snazzy rattlesnake hatband, my everyday hat has been looking a little worse for wear. You know you need a new hat when the Paint in the peanut gallery offers you his. More on him later in the week.

I'd been shopping for a new hat for a few months but hadn't been able to find anything that fit correctly. Could be because I have the most crooked head in the west. When I put on an off-the-rack hat, if my head is facing north, the hat will be facing northwest.

The weekend's Wild West Jubilee presented as many shopping ops as photo ops, and I found a hat-maker to bend and shape and crease and size a perfect hat that would fit my very imperfect head.

He started with a beaver felt blank, then steamed the crown so that he could form the crease.

Then he steamed it some more, sprayed the inside of the crown with some magic potion, and set it aside to dry.

While I was waiting for my hat to dry, all the mounted shooters rode by in a little parade, including these lovely ladies.  Their hats were nice, but I like mine alot better.

Back inside the hat shop, the hatmaker trimmed the brim and put the finishing touches on the crease.

Then I finally got to try it on...again...and again...and again.  He had to keep adjusting the middle of the brim to get it to align with my head.  

When he finished, the hat fit perfectly.  I do believe it will stay on no matter how fast I ride or how hard the wind is blowing.  

This is the only picture I've got to show you for now (thanks for trying, Janice...at least the guy's legs are in focus).