Click on image to enjoy Abbott and Costello adaptation of an old vaudeville skit called "Slowly I Turned".

We went to the post office today and stood in long Christmas lines. In the parking lot, the car next to us appeared to have a back seat full of laundry. We met Lina Azim, who told us she was driving to San Francisco to districute blankets, sweaters, sandwiches and candy to homeless people. 

UNESCO recognizes Ecuador's traditionally hand woven straw paja toquilla hats as a heritage of humankind.  "The news was received with excitement and joy especially by farmers, weavers, exporters and in short to all Ecuadorians."  EcuadorTimes.net

San Francisco Hat Company envía nuestras sinceras felicitaciones al pueblo de Ecuador y de todo tejedores de paja toquilla y comerciantes en la producción de sombrero de paja en el reconocimiento de patrimonio de la UNESCO!

San Francisco Hat Company sends our heartfelt congratulations to the people of Ecuador and all straw hat weavers and traders in producing of straw hats in acknowledgment of UNESCO's heritage designation!

Traditional weaving of the Ecuadorian toquilla straw hat. Photo: Institut National du Patrimoine Culturel

"5 December 2012 – A United Nations committee tasked with protecting the world’s oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, craftsmanship and knowledge of nature today added 20 new items to the List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

"The traditional weaving of the Ecuadorian toquilla straw hat, the Buddhist chanting of Ladakh (India), the cherry festival in Sefrou, Morocco, and the craftsmanship and performance art of the long-necked lute known as the Tar are among the elements chosen by the 24-member Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage."                                                 

Thankful for such an extrordinarilly beautiful day to spend with family & friends.  Johanna wears a wide brim ribbon Bon Bon hat. The toy sailboat sails splendidly, holding a steady course. Looking up this rummage sale find, we learned it is known as a pond yacht - STAR YACHT, "Guaranteed to Sail" - Made in England, in Birkenhead.

Maybe you've heard? - Hostess is going out of business. The Wonder / Hostess outlet, two doors down from our hat factory, was mobbed all day with sentimental folks buying up their last Twinkies. The press has been at the site since 5:30 AM. As we stand and write into our computer, we can see in the falling dusk, a newscaster speaking into the bright lights of her camera truck. Bye-Bye Twinkies, Snowballs, Ding Dongs and Ho-Hos.