Mom-Day Adventure: Colquitz Creek in the Tsarina, Plus a Wee Shop

Welcome back to Mom-Day Adventures, my friends! It was a lovely, sunny day, and such a joy to be able to see Mom again. 

We headed to Colquitz Creek, near our old stomping grounds, last visited here back in July 2024.

First to the outfit!

Getting a wearing in of this faux-fur-lined vest before it gets too warm for it - layers are the key here. 

• Outerwear vest - David Bitton for Buffalo, consignment, Powell River; last worn here in October 2023 for a Mom-Day at Beacon Hill Park (same sweater!)
• Linen blend robe - Theyskens' Theory, RTW Fall 2011, thrifted; first seen here in January over a floral dress
• Cotton sweater - Karl Lagerfeld, consignment; last worn here (2nd outfit) in February with ORANGE LEATHER SHORTS 
• Black jeans - Scotch & Soda, thrifted; first seen here (2nd outfit) in January to the Art Gallery with Betty
• Leather boots - Mamzelle, thrifted; last worn here (2nd outfit) in November 2024 to a vintage fair

A glaringly bright view of the Castle greeted me. 

The pink blooms on the Japanese cherry and plum trees are starting to come out. None in this picture, though. 

This is how most of the world saw me, so I'm working through my outfit backwards, from the outside in.

I have to plan any outfit around the Tsarina vest - it requires a high degree of styling. 

Such a cool piece, but once again, I am going to RAR about the fake pockets and complete lack of pockets in outerwear. This is outrageous! 

But I fell for the embroidery and all that plush inside. 

Ready for a walk! 

I wore my sunnies almost all day. 

Undone when I was overly warm, later on in the afternoon.

I chose this olive green robe because of the pockets, and because it's fairly thin. 

It was a pleasant "Oh yeah!" surprise that the flared sleeves perfectly accommodated the giant tiered cuffs of the sweater.

I tied it with a half-bow under the vest, but it kept sliding open (needs a snap or something - Crafty Sheila, get on that). 

It sits weirdly on, but it's a pleasure to wear.

The silk lining is very luxe! Note the two big slits on either side at the back.

Whatever shall I do with this leather tie? 

I would totally wear this outfit again, even the jeans, which are kind of blah to me. I would normally have a black or brown skirt, but felt like getting another wearing in of these. 

Showing my cuffs and the vintage silk long-sleeved under-layer (lots of warmth needed in the shade!).

I put my hair in twist-curls (using those big hairdresser metal clamps), so you'll see it get more curly as I took the pics in reverse order to this post. It was mostly flat by the time I saw Mom.

Accoutrements and stuff: 

Get it all in there! I cuffed the jeans once to show off the boots. So many studs and sparklies - they have to be seen! 

Accoutrements:

No scarf as my furry vest kept my neck warm enough.

• Leather purse - Aimee Kestenberg, thrifted, Powell River
• Wool gloves - Parkhurst
• Leather belt - Leather World
• Buckle - Shi Studio
• Brass/leather cuff - vintage 70s, Mom's

Birdy bling: 

Three's a theme! There's a bird in the fabric of the belt, feathers on the necklace, and I wore a brass feather ring. 

• Copper/brass cuff - Karen's
• Necklace - All Saints, gift from Dominique
• Earrings - LA Express, 1994
• Brass feather ring - Fossil, thrifted
• Brass Brutalist ring - vintage 70s, vintage mall
• Bronze ring - P. Sarpaneva, vintage 70s, vintage expo

Mom picked me up and we drove to Tillicum Mall, where we parked near Montana's (our lunch spot). 

We had such a gorgeous day - we reveled in the sun on our faces! 

Mom brought a "Show and Tell" - a pen and ink that she finished and framed. 

It's from a photo taken at Hurricane Ridge in Washington State to the south of us, many years ago.

We walked down to park, passing this bridge. 

It was close to noon - there were lots of parents with strollers, dog walkers and cyclists speeding around. 

We walked along Interurban Road, where they're widening the overhead trestle. 

The older part of the bridge is on the right, the green. I remember all of this being built originally in the late 1970s - I saw a 1978 marker on one of the supports. 

Another bridge, but a lower one, crossing Colquitz Creek. 

We're going under it!

I was entranced by the ghostly white fingers of the trees reaching for the blue blue sky.

Cars and trucks roared around us, drowning out the gurgling creek. 

Going under the trestle bridge, now for bikes mostly. 

A moss-covered island in the middle of the rushing water.

It was a bit steep but Mom was game. 

It was a good stretch for her legs. 

All along our walk, we could hear the calls of birds. 

I spotted this fat robin. Seems to be sleeping. 

This little lady was twittering away while a male hopped around nearby, fluffing his feathers. 

Much sexy bird shenanigans going on! Must be spring! 

I sent this picture to my best friend Janet.

We used to walk down here all the time when we were teenagers. 

Mom and I paused here and rested on a bench for a while, enjoying the glimmering spider webs in the trees.

I wonder where the stairs go on the other side?

Time to head back - I'm hungry! 

It's good to see the creek nice and full. 

This is my favourite spot. 

You can't take a bad picture here. 

These big craggy trees are Garry Oaks. 

There was a veritable garden of greenery on the rocks. 

A carpet of moss. 

My old junior high was up there - they've since rebuilt it.

Under the bridge again. 

This will all be lush green in a month.

I liked the graffiti on either side.

Most of it was very well done - we have an artist down here. 

Give us a pose, Mom! 

She's got her Boss Pants on! 

This tree looks like it's going to attack.

I bet they don't like all the construction. 

I caught a little bird pulling seeds out of this fir tree's cones. 

This was high above my head. 

And we're back! 

Ah, I needed that! 

Mom was looking regal in blue. "White for the snowdrops," she said. Her garden is starting to bloom! 

That was so lovely, thank you, Mom! I love you! 

I caught a bus to town after lunch stopped briefly in town at the WIN store. I found this interesting skirt and grabbed it without REALLY looking at it other than the intriguing style.

It looks like a pair of dress shorts that fused together into a skirt. The hem is cuffed! And it's a very odd shape, with a puff at the bottom hem in the front. 

But I missed a bunch of moth-holes! 

And stains! Jeez, I'm slipping. 

And a popped seam below one of the pockets. 

I was seduced by the pockets - it has FOUR. 

More moth-holes, sigh. 

The bottom of the pocket is reinforced - a good quality marker. 

The back looks like men's trousers - those are real pockets! 

The lines are just wrinkles. There's a little pleat at the back that needs to be re-stitched too. 

It's 80% virgin wool, and 20% angora rabbit (not to be confused with angora goat, I appreciate that!).

I looked up the CA number - and it's for Winners! I was surprised - but I can also see that's been added later. 

Made in Italy.

The RN number does confirm that it's really the brand it says it is. 

Which is Max Mara. I don't ever remember seeing Max Mara at Winners before.

It was only $14.95, which should have told me something! So...what am I going to do with this? I kind of feel like I should fark it up (as my pal Melanie of Bag and Beret used to say), and maybe embroider or sew something over the moth-holes, like visible mending. I can easily sew the seam and pleat. 

I also grabbed these white jeans - my last pair wasn't quite right. 

A rise that's not too high, a long leg that's not too skinny or tapered. I'll have to cuff it or chop it.

You can always count on Ralph for good jeans.

No secret who this is by. 

They were $19.95 - they're a bit big, but I kind of like that.

I had to dash over to Cat's place after I got home. My kitty friend gave me Safe Passage.

"Yes, I approve of you."

I saw his pal the black cat on the way home but she did not want to be photographed. Fair enough! 

Ooh, a purple house with a pink tree! 

That's a hundred-year-old house - note the windows. 

Daffodils! 

Oh, that does my heart good. 

As does this beast.

"You left before feeding me?"

There was much cuddling...after his dinner, of course! 

And now I'm off for the weekend - please do pop in on Sunday for tales of adventure! Thank you so much for stopping by, my friends.