THERE ARE PLENTY of mediocre hats out there. Mass produced, boring, and unlikely to inspire any of us to take up hat-wearing. Maybe that’s why so few of us adorn our heads any more. But there are great hats out there too and I try to take old hats and make them new again. Karen Blackburn Chenier gave me a great hat yesterday that belonged to her mother Doris Blackburn. I call it a mini Gainsborough hat.

Here we have Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, in 1787, who was quite the trendsetter of her day. This portrait is by Thomas Gainsborough, so the hat she is jauntily wearing came to be known as the “Gainsborough hat.”

Thanks Karen and sending love and hugs to your Mum.

Come and visit the Lanark County Genealogical Society Facebook page– what’s there? Cool old photos–and lots of things interesting to read. Also check out The Tales of Carleton Place and The Tales of Almonte

Information where you can buy all Linda Seccaspina’s books-You can also read Linda in The Townships Sun Screamin’ Mamas (USA) and The Sherbrooke Record