Mom-Day Adventure: Gorge Waterway in Spring, Plus a Wee Shop

Welcome, my friends! Mom and I happily resumed our Mom-Daughter Adventure days with a trip back to Gorge Waterway Park, last visited here (scroll down) in February with L, and with Mom here in September 2022 on a silver anniversary.

Check out the snazzy new chapeau! Mom wanted to catch the red horse-chestnut tree in the background with the pink flowers. 

I have loads of pics to share, plus I had a successful shop (including one gasp-worthy treasure), so fortify yourself accordingly and let's go! 

Outfit. 

Nothing new at all in this outfit, all shopped from my closet. 

• Jacket - Animale, thrifted; last worn here in September 2022 over a shiny spleated outfit
• Top - J. Crew, thrifted; last seen here in September 2022 for a trip to Powell River
• Skirt - J. Crew, thrifted; last worn here in June 2022 for the Day of Indolence
• Shoes - Karl Lagerfeld; last seen here (2nd outfit) earlier this month for the theatre

I like to try to put together outfits of things Mom hasn't seen before, including my Completely Impractical Raincoat. Worst raincoat ever. 

It has a ginormous collar...but it's not big enough to cover my hair. 

And as you can see, it's cropped and has elbow-length sleeves. 

It's fine in warm weather, though. 

And it has a pair of pockets, which is always a good thing. 

The skirt is so pretty - that pattern goes with a lot in my wardrobe. 

The blue top was a good match. 

I took my jacket off while we had lunch and bared my blue bra straps (KLASSY). 

Incognito. 

This is how I looked walking home after my shop. 

I wore the scarf while we strolled in the park, as we were often in the shade. 

I felt very springy! 

Accoutrements:

So thrilled to have a yellow purse! 

• Purse - Julia Sanchez by Vendome, vintage 70s, consignment
• Silk scarf - Marc Rozier, consignment

The stuff: 

I hear ballet flats are trendy. I've had these since 2017. 

Bold bling: 

Some favourites.

• Yellow cuff - thrifted 
• Orange cuff/ring - Italian, vintage 60s, vintage mall
• Lapis lazuli ring - Wendy Brandes
• Earrings - vintage 60s, vintage fair
• Leather belt - Liz Claiborne, vintage 80s, thrifted

Mom and I parked in the Pavilion lot and walked down to the Gorge.

People were picnicking. 

And kids were playing on the swings. 

There were lots of people around, enjoying the space. 

The waterway is rimmed with white chain "rope" and posts. 

Clusters of trees - willows here - and masses of rhododendron bushes. 

Canada Geese feeding at the water's edge. 

The tide was going out - you can see the sandy bottom here. 

I adore willows. 

We had one in our backyard when I was a kid - my brother and I used to play "Tarzan" on it and swing on the branches. 

I love the contrast of colours here. 

An unoccupied bench! 

Looking behind us. 

What a gorgeous day. 

More lovely rhodos. 

Some of the bushes towered over our heads. 

On the water, a group of novice kayakers are headed for the boathouse. 

They made good time. 

I could see the water streaming past. 

The sea grass was waving, and we saw a small school of fish. 

We're getting close to the narrows, which are reversing rapids. 

The gent on the bench was with a corporate event at the pavilion (to the right here). 

Some twisty branches. 

Gnarly! 

Picturesque. 

I'm amazed there are no people in this. 

Mom and I watched this seagull swoop into the water and snatch up a crab and fly to the shore with it. 

I zoomed in and caught it mid-gulp. 

Ah, there are the rapids. 

We could see kayakers twisting in the water. 

Can't see them here. 

But I caught something else in my pictures that I hadn't realized. 

There was a heron under the bridge, watching! 

You can see one kayaker near the heron, behind the rock, and the other's paddle sticking out from the tree. 

Okay, up the hill to the Japanese gardens. 

That's a very long, steep path! See the two people at the top? 

This is the driveway in.

And some of the amazing rhodos. It was the perfect day for them. 

My favourite bridge.

I enjoy the twisty progression through the garden, as you are invited to look back, pause and reflect. 

"Mom, take my picture!"

Including the beautiful red Japanese maple tree behind me. 

These tiny pinecones were all over the path. 

Such perfection. 

Irises in the foreground. 

Birds twittering, insects buzzing. 

I caught another photo-bomber in this shot of Mom. 

See the white moth? 

Looking down along the stream. 

We'll have the reverse view shortly. 

More cones. 

That's a very fresh, new one. 

I trotted down the stairs to take more pics. 

Mom continued along the upper path. 

Looking back at the bridge at the top. 

A steady trickle of water gurgling. 

A perfect pink water lily.

I looked for fish, but only saw dragonflies. 

The shelter was covered in greenery. 

That's the spot for looking back. 

Bridge, platform. 

Pond. 

A glimpse of Mom through the branches.

I'd better catch up! 

Another lily. 

That cone in the upper right is another bud. 

A secret peek of the platform mid-pond. 

Pink azaleas. 

Mom and I had lunch at Montana's. 

Love that new hat - and that's a very jaunty angle! Thank you so much for the wonderful day, Mom! I love you! 

I bussed to town and walked up to the WIN Boutique on Cook Street. 

Another Jo Nesbo and "Flat-Out Sexy" which the clerk and I had a giggle over.

I did really well, clothes-wise - there was not a single item of stock that I recognized. I like a store with fast turnover! 

This quality sweater called to me. It's a fine-gauge knit.

I like the almost cartoon-like stripes. This will be a good layering piece. 

It's by Theory, a quality label. This is the Kralla SL Prosecco sweater and it originally sold for $215.00.

Into my basket you go, $12.95 bargain! 

Another good find in the boutique top section, this blouse reminds me of a murder mystery set in Alaska. 

Blood spatter! Icebergs! A bloody ocean! 

It is basically a big rectangle. The fabric is that early 80s polyester with woven texture. 

One seam per side to make sleeves. 

But it was the label that surprised me. That looks old! I couldn't find out much about Irving Nadler of Montreal, except that he died in 2008, and that there's a mention of him and picture of one of his dresses in this article here about an Expo '67 fashion exhibit (links 'cause I love, as always).

The company was incorporated in 1949 and seems to have finally faded away in the mid-90s. I would guess this is early 80s, possibly late 70s. For $16.95, I am happy. 

Another pair of white jeans? Why? 

Because Caro is hosting a tie-dye party! 

And these are 100% cotton. 

I wonder who made them?

It might be an unsolvable mystery! 

If only the tags were still attached. 

Or I could find anything on the garment. 

Har har, yes, they are by Articles of Society,

Similar jeans to this on their site are $37.00.

I paid $10.95.

But they were $24.95 originally. 

That feels like a deal. 

I know I already have pink pants, but these ones sucked me in.

I just love that colour, and these are cotton with a touch of Spandex. 

And they are "The Perfect Crop" by Talbots. 

They were the most expensive thing I bought, at $19.95. They retail for between $89.50 and $109.50. 

The boutique is a small space, so it's easy to go through the whole store in less than an hour. I often find good basics when I go through everything. 

Like this organic cotton pale yellow tank. 

It's by Eileen Fisher! Her stuff is usually marked up much higher. 

The retail is $78.00, but for me - $6.95. 

This top is the treasure. It caught my eye right away - of course it did! 

The upper half is lined in the black and white/cream striped knit (not a printed stripe), and is twisted at the top of the shoulder so that the stripes are exposed along the double V neck. 

I turned the sleeves up to show the stripes there too. It's that bouncy ponte jersey on the top, with a thick sweater knit for the bottom hem. 

Hibiscus flowers! What a lovely pattern. The small ones are printed.

The big flowers at the bottom are intarsia knit (not printed, expensive!). This is really good quality. 

The back has this loop on the back. 

I actually have another piece of clothing with that loop...this optic cardigan here, by Jean Paul Gaultier! 

My optic cardigan also has this label. 

Made in Italy, you say? 

Should I be afraid to wash this?

You had me at "whilst."

It is indeed Jean Paul Gaultier, and is from the same era as most of my Gaultier, the 1990s. 

I gasped at $6.95! Second hand sites list tops by him starting at $300 and going up into the $1,000 range! 

I walked home in the sunshine and enjoyed the best treasure of my day, these vintage 80s coffee mugs and matching sugar and creamer. 

Mom found them when she had her house deep-cleaned, and I'd mentioned them (I loved these when I was a teen). 

I always thought it was a wonky T on the bottom, but then I turned it upside down. 

That looks like a "JG" to me. And sure enough, that is Jan Grove of Jan and Helga Grove, local potters. Article about them here, from when they had an exhibit at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. 

Mom remembered buying the mugs (one has been broken at some point, leaving 3) at a craft fair at the local mall back in the early-to-mid 80s. 

I love them and will use them! And not that I'll ever sell them, but the sugar and creamer are worth around $50-75, and the mugs are probably around $30 each now. Good investment, Mom! 

And now, I'm off for an early start to my weekend! Thanks so much for dropping by - I'll see you on Sunday when I regale you with tales of adventure!