Monday, July 7, 2025

Jungle Adidas, Pink Eyelash, and Maple in the Oak

I wanted to ensure I was fully armoured up for Monday, so I wore a bunch of old friends with my new-to-me skirt. 
I ended up having a very intense day, working on one complicated project, barely leaving my desk.

  • Bomber jacket - Adidas, consignment, Vancouver; last worn here (3rd outfit) in April over a silver dress
  • T-shirt - Denver Hayes, thrifted; last seen here in June, layered under a suede shirt
  • Skirt - J. Crew, thrifted; purchased here for $16.95
  • Shoes - Half Truth Tanya, Fluevog; last worn here (3rd outfit) in May for Mom's birthday party

I swear, this pink jacket tones perfectly with the skirt in person, in real light. The new-to-me eyelash skirt looks peach here, but it's pink! 
I adored the flippy little eyelashes and how they moved when I walked around. 

My jungle bomber jacket gave a bit of friction to the dressy-looking allover fringe.
A sporty element, which is what I like in my outfits these days. 

Incognito. 
The jacket has always been a mite snug but I like how it looks done up. 

The stuff: 
These shoes are 10 years old and still going strong. 

Gold and green bling: 
I enjoyed the mess of necklaces. 

  • Gold knotted necklace - Grandma J's, vintage 80s
  • Gold link necklace - Monet, thrifted
  • Green glass bead necklace - vintage 70s, Mom's
  • Gold-tone hinged bangle - thrifted
  • Green glass bangle - thrifted
  • Crystal cocktail ring - vintage 70s, Mom's
  • Olivine/coral ring - vintage 70s, Hawaii, Mom's
  • Gold hoop earrings - 5th anniversary gift from L

On Saturday, L was out on the deck. "SQUIRREL! And it's doing something weird!"
I grabbed the camera - it's Maple! Hi, Maple! 

She appeared to be sitting on a knot of branches and...having a nap. 
Most of the squirrels here are grey squirrels - but Maple is a Red Squirrel (about local squirrels here, from the SPCA)

She was in the Garry Oak in our condo's front yard - we were maybe 4-5 meters away.
Little back paws grabbing the branch, front paws tucked under. 

And then she looked at me! 
I wonder if she knows us, like we know her? She lives in the trees around us - she's the builder of the nest in the maple tree (the nest is now dried up brown leaves, that are half-falling off the tree).

Fully asleep, so we left her alone. 
Aw, that is the cutest thing ever. The little front paws hanging down! 

Sunday, July 6, 2025

Weekend Wrap-Up: Rainbow Friday, and Brunch in Bold Hues, and a Wee Shop

Welcome back, my friends! L and I had a lovely quiet weekend, recovering our energy and getting ready for some busy weeks ahead. 

On Friday, my office did a "Wear Your Rainbow to Work Day" for the launch of Pride Month (which is in June, but BC's main parades are in July, so eh, whatever, it's Pride Season!). As an Ally, this was my idea, and I had to represent.
I may have gone a bit overboard, ha ha! But it's all for a good cause. 

  • Blazer - Soaked in Luxury; first seen here with the matching trousers in May
  • Silk top - no label, thrifted; not tracked
  • Rainbow skirt - J. Crew, consignment; last worn here in June for L's birthday at Fort Rodd Hill
  • Suede shoes - Homers; last seen here in April at a Mom-Day at Willows Beach

Of course, I had to wear my rainbow skirt, which has a history of being worn to support Pride, and I was tickled to discover that this new-ish teal suit jacket matches.
On a normal day, I might have done a more neutral top and shoes, but I went all out with orange. 

Here I am in the office in front of the Rainbow Wall. 
Camille caught me while I was yakking. Peace to all humans! 

I'll definitely wear this jacket again with the skirt. 
I wish there was a stripe of mustard on the back of the skirt. 

Incognito, also, let's throw more colour on there, shall we?
The socks were a perfect match, although I would not wear them pulled up like this now that I see the pictures. They say "Stop Talking" on the inside, hee hee. 

The stuff: 
I walked to work in these comfy lace-ups (the laces are leather). They're old but I still love them.

Bold bling: 
I liked the stacked bracelets.

  • Leather belt - vintage 80s, thrifted
  • Silk scarf - Marc Rozier, consignment
  • Yellow bangle - thrifted
  • Orange triangle bangle - consignment, Sidney
  • Turquoise bracelet - thrifted, Sidney
  • Steel/Lucite ring - Calvin Klein, thrifted
  • Silver/turquoise ring - Glee
  • Balsa wood earrings - consignment, Sidney

After a fun evening of me kicking L's arse at board games (I have the advantage of not working 12-hour days!), we were up bright and early for brunch at John's Place.
We also did a grocery shop afterwards, so that we wouldn't have to venture back to town on Sunday. 

  • Abstract top - handmade, vintage 70s, thrifted; purchased here for $14.95
  • Taupe tulle skirt - no label, consignment; last worn here for a wee shop in June
  • Shoes - Prepare Guide, Fluevog; last seen here for the Day of Indolence in late May
  • Cardigan (below) - Arola, vintage, thrifted; purchased here for $11.95

I paired this newly-thrifted top with my taupe tulle skirt and then threw a bunch of colour at it.
I am so very fond of tulle skirts. I would like more! 

I love blowing around in the wind. 
The top was lovely - not too sweaty-making in its double-knit polyester. 

It was not as warm out as was advertised, so I grabbed this new-to-me cardigan for some coverage. 
I needed it in the grocery store, as they'd cranked the AC up. Brr! 

Most of the time, I wore it slung around my waist. 
Drive me to town! Buy me brunch! 

Accoutrements and stuff: 
I'll take any opportunity to wear my Enid Collins purse! These aqua shoes are long-time favourites. 

  • Purse - Enid Collins "Roadrunner", vintage 70s, consignment
  • Belt - vintage 80s, thrifted

Bold bling: 
I love a mix of orange, yellow and turquoise. You might have noticed. 

  • Yellow cuff - thrifted
  • Orange plastic cuff/ring - Italian, vintage 60s, vintage mall
  • Steel/Lucite ring - Calvin Klein, thrifted
  • Stone ring - thrifted
  • Silver/turquoise earrings - Mexican, consignment

L dashed over to Ditch Records to pick up a CD, so I had a browse in the Beacon Ave Thrift Shop next to John's Place.
I have pretty much eliminated navy blue from my wardrobe - it's just not a colour I gravitate to - but I'll make an exception for this beautifully draped top. 

It's by Helmut Lang, and was only $16.00.
I spotted the same one online for $35, but they go all the way up to $400+ on the expensive resale sites! 

I grabbed this belt as soon as I laid eyes on it.
I love these gold stretchy elastic and metal "scale" belts. 

I can tell by the elastic on the back, that this one is a vintage 1970s. 
For only $2.00! What a score! 

Imagine my shock to find a stamp on it! It says "Deborah Marinoff (c) CHARMANT, Patent Pending" and a rose design. 
I found this same buckle (no belt) on an auction site, which provided the following screen-grabbed picture: 
A Charmant Belts, Inc. sticker with a Beverly Hills PO address! 

I couldn't find out much about her, although I think she may be the Deborah Marinoff of San Francisco in this picture, interviewed as a "character" of the Tenderloin district in 2015 (she was 65 there).
Yup, she's a character all right. That's me in 10 years, heh heh.

I also spotted this angora cobalt blue beret. 
Such a gorgeous colour! 

Buying a fuzzy beret off-season pays off - only a dollar! 
It's by Parkhurst, a long-time Canadian brand (look how low that CA number is: 00103). Made in Canada! 

I laughed at the content label.
75% Angora rabbit hair, 12.5% nylon, and 12.5% lambswool. It's that .5 that gets me. I popped this into the freezer to ensure that there's no moths living in it. 

Tip: Hold wool up to the light - any moth-holes will immediately appear. 

And lastly, I poked through the pegs of junky jewelry, and found these lovely magenta pink metal enameled earrings. 
Only two dollars! That's a score. I've been looking for pink earrings forever! 

I sat on Vlad the Jaguar's hood while I waited for L to come back from his errand.
Take me home, baby! 

On Sunday, we hung out and listened to music - I've started another Art Project, which I'll share with y'all soon, once I have a bit more done. 

Thanks so much for dropping by! 

Thursday, July 3, 2025

Mom-Day Adventure at Panama Flats/Colquitz Creek in a Peacock Duster, and a Wee Shop

Welcome back to Mom-Day, my friends! We went back to the Panama Flats side of Colquitz River Park (aka Colquitz Creek, if you're local), first visited here in December 2024.
It was much greener on this visit! 

I dressed in case it was cold...or hot. This week has gotten progressively warmer, but you can never tell on the coast. 
Mom hadn't seen this duster in person, and I knew she would appreciate it. Most of it's not visible in the pics, but the front placket is purple velvet, with verdigris buttons, and a few sparkly pins sewn on near the top.

  • Duster - Aratta Silent Journey, consignment; last seen here in March with white jeans
  • Silk/cotton top - Eddie Bauer, thrifted; last worn here in March with a printed denim suit
  • Pants - Calvin Klein 205W39NYC by Raf Simmons, c. 2019, consignment, thrifted; last seen here in December 2024 for an adventure at the Art Gallery with Rosanna
  • Sneakers - Converse, consignment; last worn here in May for a Mental Health Shop

I pulled all the floofy ruffles out at the top - I liked how this rather plain top added some fun.
The pink and blue plaid worked well with the shiny blue cotton trousers, which are Fancy Designer (Raf Simmons) Calvin Klein. I'm also pretty sure they are men's pants, since they have ginormous pockets. I'm demonstrating the duster pockets AND pants pockets above. 

I had to redo my back picture when I got home, as the tag was hanging out the back collar, and the bottom hem had gotten caught on my pantleg, hiding the full pattern.
So pretty! I always feel regal in a duster. 

This is the look without the duster, although I never took it off. 
But I could have! 

Incognito.
I wore the purse cross-body, and once the sun started beating down, I tied the scarf around my head. 

Accoutrements: 
This purse always reminds me of the Winesday Women Vancouver Adventure.

  • Purse - Hermes copy, 1998 Paris Expo, thrifted
  • Silk scarf - Fluevog

The stuff:
Comfy shoes for lots of walking. 

Bold bling: 
I loved all the colour! 

  • Belt - vintage 90s, consignment
  • Carved stone bangle - consignment
  • Blue crystal brooch - vintage 50s, vintage fair
  • Silver/semi-precious stone bracelet - c. 2000, gift from L, Salt Spring Island
  • Crystal earrings - Sherman, vintage 50s, thrifted
  • Fulvia Ring - Wendy Brandes
  • Silver/amethyst ring - vintage mall
  • Silver/kyanite ring - consignment

Now, settle in and get ready for pictures of greenery, critters and clouds. 
Hyacinth Park, scene of many angsty bouts of poetry-writing and lonely communing with nature, in my teen years. 

Big Cloud Drama! 
Mom and a tractor. Mom's striped top is green and grey, plus green pants, and grey sneakers. So snazzy! 

We took the back way to the path, cutting over a little hill.
The willow trees are beautiful, just stunning. 

On the left is the creek, which is a mere trickle compared to when I was a kid. 
Further to the left of that is Interurban Road, a very noisy byway. The roar of cars and trucks was always there, but eventually we were able to hear birds. 

Groovy trees.
So much green. 

I laughed at this misspelled graffiti. 
"I remeber you."

Seriously, get the spelling down BEFORE you deface public property! 

A little pathway down to the only spot where we could see water.
The water used to come up to these - the road would sometimes flood in winter. 

I spotted a robin lurking at the water's edge. 
I see you looking back at me! 

More cloud drama as we approached the softball field and soccer fields. 
It was the perfect temperature when we were in a cloudy patch or in the shade. 

Good light - great pose, Mom! 
I get a lot of my colourful clothing inclinations from Mom, big shocker there.

The blackberry brambles were full of fat bees. 
Do you see one in the centre? 

A lovely butterfly.
Golden yellow butterflies also flitted about, as did dragonflies. 

A raven soared overhead.
I added two new birds to my Life List on Merlin: the Western Wood-Pewee and the Trumpeter Swan. We didn't see either of them - their songs were picked up on the microphone. 

Alluring green pathways.
The trees towered over us. 

I spied some tiny unripe apples on a tree.
We also saw cherries and some other red berries (salmonberries?).

These poplars were rustling in the wind.
Time to turn around! I'm hungry! 

We inhaled the sweet green scent.
Listened to the Spotted Towhees arguing with the sparrows (lots of different kinds!). 

I like this bare tree.
Standing in a copse of green.

There was a fat robin sitting on top of it, earlier, watching us.
I was looking at the tops of trees, trying to see the birds my phone was hearing. 

Another fat robin.
We heard a Cooper's Hawk's piercing cry. Very exciting. 

A magical portal? 
No, just the way back to the car.

I was surprised to see this Anna's Hummingbird.
They've been noticeably absent in my neighbourhood lately. 

Just around the corner, there's a bench.
Let's sit and have a rest. 

Selfie for the fam chat! 
It was a wonderful day.

I stepped down the concrete stones opposite us to take a few pictures of the creek.
We saw very few people walking and cycling along here.

Looking one way.
Gurgle gurgle. 

Looking the other way.
I loved seeing this in summer. Very green.

Such a lovely place.
One last long stretch and we're done. 

Mom gasped. "A nest!"
Amazing! It must have fallen out of a tree. There were no eggs anywhere. 

Goodbye, weeping willows. 
See you again in a few months! 

Mom, while we waited for our lunch to arrive. 
Thanks so much, Mom, that was a wonderful walk. I love you!

I bussed to town, and had a quick glance through the WIN Boutique, but nothing really appealed to me. 
I've seen lots of these "magazine" purses before, but never in a thrift store. 

It's Vogue, but it's all in German.
It was only $6.95, so even if I use it once, I'm happy. 

It's from...May 2011. 
Found it! Here, it's Julia Stegner, photographed by Alexi Lubomirski.

I found a pair of colourful socks for $1.95.
What will I wear them with? 

I put back a burnout velvet duster with red and orange leaves on it - it was scratchy - and settled on this sheer flowy polyester leopard tunic.
But the cut isn't right on me (you can't try stuff on at WIN, and I didn't feel like peeling my own duster off). 

It's by Planet, a good brand from the UK that used to be sold at the Bay and Eaton's before that.
$19.95 was a solid price, but I'll put this into Limbo and get it to a good home. Note the metal dome buttons. 

And there we go, my friends, I'm off now for the weekend! Please do drop in on Sunday for tales of adventure! Thanks so much for being here.