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.
- 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.
These shoes are 10 years old and still going strong. 
I enjoyed the mess of necklaces. 
