Two-Fer: Autumn Knits: Work, Dinner, Concert, and Then...Mom-Day at the HCP in Neutrals, and a Wee Shop (and Kittens!)

Hello, my friends, my apologies for unexplained absence - I went to a concert on Wednesday night and crashed into bed at 11:30pm when I got home, and then it was Mom-Day! So instead of one post, you get a two-fer! 

Let's get started, as this is going to be a long one and I want to crash on the couch with the kittens and watch football. It's almost the weekend!

But first, this is Wednesday's outfit, which I wore both to work, then out for dinner, and then to sing along with Sarah McLachlan with Nancy, Yvonne and Cat. A very long day! 

I planned for it by wearing one of my most comfy pair of shoes and all knits. 

• Sweater - Scotch & Soda by Maison Scotch, consignment; last worn here in January with honeycomb and amber
• Skirt - Spanner, vintage 90s, thrifted; purchased here for $19.95
• Shoes - Swordfish Marquis, Fluevog; last seen here in March with a red plaid dress
• Ruffled jacket (below) - Royal Underground, consignment, Powell River; last worn here in October 2024

Kes was on patrol when I took the Stair Pic. Officer, Kes, what have you to report? 

"Quite a few tiny juncos, and some sassy robins. No deer."

Such a funny face.

This intarsia knit sweater is a favourite. It has brown trim around the cuffs, hem and neckline, where you can see a bit of my white t-shirt peeking out. 

I was ready for any temperature! I ended up sleeping in the tee. 

This is the first wearing of the vintage brick red knit skirt. 

I loved it - it was utterly comfortable, great for all the walking and sitting I did. 

I layered my stretchy cotton ruffled jacket over it - this is the one I wore for Tweed Magazine. 

I also deployed my fuzzy cross-body bag for the first time. It's so fuzzy - it feels like Barnabas' tummy. 

Bundled up and incognito. 

I felt very Goth. 

The stuff: 

I couldn't find my Lewis Vuitton rose scarf - it should be out for the season, but there was no sign of it. Huh, that's odd. I ended up with my red fly scarf instead. 

• Fuzzy cross-body bag - Niko and..., consignment; purchased here for $28.00
• Gloves - Picabo, Powell River
• Silk fly scarf  - Smoking Lily, vintage 90s, thrifted
• Zipper brooch - V&A Museum gift shop, 2010
• Fur rose pin - thrifted
• Rose stick-pin - Mango's

Did you notice I wore my new red/black floral Fluevog socks with my grommet shoes? I loved that look! 

Snaky bling: 

And my small carnelian set (I also have a pendant). 

• Carnelian cuff - thrifted
• Crystal/Lucite bangle - Alexis Bittar, consignment, Sidney
• Silver/carnelian ring - thrifted
• Silver/onyx spider ring - c. 1986, gift from Mom & Dad
• Silver snake ring - 1985, BC Museum Gift Shop
• Silver/onyx ring - consignment
• Earrings - Red Sky

Nancy had tickets to see Sarah McLachlan last year, but the tour was cancelled when Sarah lost her voice. After a year of resting, it came back, the tour was on, and Nancy got dibs on ticket purchasing. 

I'm in! Although, gulp, ticket prices were pretty high for this! Ah, well, I would have spent it anyway. 

We met up at Rudi, a small share-plates kind of place. 

Me, Cat, Yvonne and Nancy. The food was amazing, the company was superb. 

We ran into pal Casey and his daughter Jacquie almost right away, as we finished scoping out the merch. Nothing really grabbed me, so I passed. 

Mwah! Love you guys! 

We had amazing seats, just off the side. 

It looked like it was a sold-out show, or close to it. 

The opening band was Tiny Habits, a trio with incredible harmonies. 

They did a very good cover of Heart's "Alone" and "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac, but their own songs were rather sad. They made up for it with witty banter - good work! 

And then, after a short pause, Sarah was on! She played for over 2 hours straight and for someone who lost her voice last year, she was sounding so good. 

For the first half of the show, she was barefoot and wore this gold sequined dress. 

It was gathered in the front, so she could walk around

My jaw dropped when she introduced Melissa McClelland, the guitar player on the left. She's rather famous in her own right (link here, 'cause I love, enjoy her cat).

Sarah played at the piano, which was covered in electric candles.

Prior to the show, we discussed whether they were real or not, and mused about candle budgets. 

I remembered that Melissa McClelland is married to Luke Doucet, who L and I were introduced to as an opener for Blue Rodeo when I first saw them around 20 years ago. He's a solo artist (about him here). 

I also remembered that the two of them are the band Whitehorse, which L and I have seen a few times (last time at the Phillips' Backyarder here in July 2023). Wow, her backing band is basically another fairly famous band. 

She changed after doing some songs from her new album, and some of her hits from "Surfacing" (YouTube link here).

Leather or vinyl pants, chunky boots and a sparkly camisole top. She played the enter album "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy" - as that's what this tour was celebrating, the 30th anniversary - start to finish. Very impressive. That was a an album that got me through my break-up with my ex, just before I met L. Enjoy it here. 

Many thanks to Nancy for reaching out - so very glad I went, and had such an awesome time with you and Cat and Yvonne. 

Mwah, love you all! 

And from my dear Chosen Family to my Mom family! 

I bussed out to her near her place, and she picked me up and drove us to the Horticultural Centre of the Pacific (aka Glendale Gardens, or HCP). We last visited here almost exactly a year ago, in October 2024.

I'd picked this fringey jacket and skirt for Mom-Day. Lots of ways to layer for warmth, and also be able to walk around, bus and go for lunch.

It was just right for a slightly windy and overcast day. 

• Suede fringed jacket - Zara, consignment; last seen here (3rd outfit) for brunch in February
• Mock-neck sweater - Papillon, thrifted; last worn here in February with the Mr. Darcy coat
• Chevron skirt - no label, vintage 70s, thrifted; first seen here in October 2024 with a grey sweater
• Leather boots - Aldo, thrifted; last worn here in March with my jellyfish skirt

I never took my jacket off as it was too chilly.

I wore my ant brooch at my neck, with my long gold pendant, and note the snake belt.

And all the fringe and studs, so awesome. 

As I walked to town, two sanitation workers spotted me. 

"Oh wow! You look amazing! You made our day!" People are so nice. 

Pointing at my little wooden "Katti" pin that's on my bag. Big thanks and a shout-out to Finnish reader Maria, who recognized my wee cat! It's by Aarikka and this was a popular pin in the 90s called the Katti. How very cool!

I really wanted my skull scarf for this outfit, and could not find it! Then I spotted this shoe-box on a shelf, pulled it out and...Readers, I missed a box! 

A whole mess of black and autumn scarves, plus my gold crocheted collar. Whew! Glad I found them. 

The stuff: 

The bag was still out from the night before. No need to pack a new one! 

• Bag - Niko and..., consignment
• Wooden cat pin - Katti by Aarikka, consignment
• Leather gloves - Ralph Lauren, thrifted
• Wool beret - Wardrobe Essentials, purchased here for $9.95
• Articulated tiger brooch - consignment, gift from L
• Skull scarf - Metrowear, San Francisco, 2006

A close-up of the cats.

I couldn't get the position of the tiger pin quite right, but at least it stayed on. 

Gold bling: 

Two more cats, one snake and one ant. 

• Belt - Notes du Nord, thrifted
• Hinged eelskin bangle - vintage 80s, thrifted
• Fake Gucci bangle - gift from Italy from Mom & Dad, c. 1996? 
• Brass Brutalist ring - vintage mall
• Feather ring - Fossil, thrifted
• Bronze ring - P. Sarpaneva, Finnish, vintage expo
• Stone ring - thrifted
• Gold-plated Brutalist necklace - Robert Larin, vintage mall, gift from L
• Cat earrings - London 2010, gift from Mom

I hopped the first bus that would get me closest and walked several blocks to our meet-up spot. 

This tree made me gasp! What colour! 

That's also as much blue sky as I saw all day. 

It's a full street of orange trees. Wow! 

We arrived to rockstar parking (Mom has a disability tag, so she gets all the great spots). 

I can't wait to be out there with the plants and birds and nature. 

Mom, did you know there was a plant sale??

She swears she didn't! And she refrained from buying any. 

I was smitten with this lovely display of golden and yellow and orange gourds and flowers. 

So lush! This is my favourite time of year. 

We headed past the heather gardens towards the Japanese garden. 

A view of the marsh in the distance. 

A very inviting path among the tall conifers. 

So many trees in the winter garden have brilliant foliage. 

The brightest yellow and the deepest orange. 

So gorgeous. 

I spied the metal sculptures down in the field below. 

That's too far, though, especially on a chilly day. 

A stunning golden tree. 

We explored some of the smaller paths in this area. You'll see that tree again!

I love the way the arbutus tree is arched over the path.

It perfectly frames the entry to the Japanese gardens. 

The Takada Japanese Garden, as I'm corrected by the sign.

I didn't pick up any new birds on my Merlin app, just repeats of ones I already had heard/seen. 

An arched bridge. 

Cedars and Douglas firs. Bamboo. 

A glimpse of the bonsai trees on the other side. 

This is a very up and down garden, with steps and steep grades. 

So instead of going over, we veered to the left and headed for this amazing tree. 

We sat on a bench here and watched the yellow leaves fall. 

A seaplane went by overhead. 

See it? 

Time to head back, my tummy's rumbling! 

There's that golden tree again. 

A web of leaves and moss. 

All that colour makes me so happy. 

Looking back at the watery areas. 

"No swans," Mom noted. 

A pear way up high.

Most of the fruit had been picked. 

The last of the dahlias. 

Those colours are spectacular. 

Another yellow tree. 

And another inviting bench. 

A final look back from under the eucalyptus tree. 

Lunch time! 

Of course, we went to Charlotte & the Quail. 

The food is so good.

Mom had a wedge of crustless quiche and a salad. All the greens and flowers are from the gardens. 

I had potato-leek soup and grilled mushrooms on sourdough toast with a thin layer of cheese, sliced beets, pickled carrots and loads of fresh-foraged mushrooms. We were stuffed! 

Mom, looking radiant in her turquoise blue and one of her "New York necklaces" from our trip back in 2008.

What a fabulous day, thank you. I love you, Mom! 

Mom dropped me off at a nearby bus stop, and a bus pulled up a few minutes later. I got off downtown and had a browse in the WIN Warehouse Store. I hadn't been there in a while. 

This gorgeous golden-tan silk/viscose scarf comes with three rabbit-fur pom-poms per end. One of them is safety-pinned on, so I'll need to sew that back on securely. 

Only $6.95? 

All because people can't sew! 

I knew this brand the second I spotted it. 

I love the rich orange, pink and purple digital print. 

Ted says, "Love it like you ought to." Hmmm...that's a little presumptuous of you, Ted. I'll love it as I see fit.

It's the Priddyy shirt. I used to have a similar one. 

Of course, it's Ted Baker London. "Sew in Love" says the label. It also says size 2 which means Medium. 

Only $9.95? Add another zero to that for the original retail. 

I know, I have to stop buying velvet blazers! Or I have to learn not to wear coats over them...

But I loved the shade of blue and it fits perfectly. 

The pockets haven't even been opened. 

You know I'll be remedying that! 

It's washable...

And there's a spare button! This hasn't been worn! 

It's by Molly Bracken which is NOT cheap! 

It's now sold out on their site, but it retailed for $170.00! (here, if you wish). Only $24.95 for me! 

I ran my hand through all the polyester dresses, feeling for real fabric. This purple (yes, it's purple, I know it looks blue, but trust me, it's purple) dress stood out. 

It's a straight shift style, with pockets near the hem. I would wear this with tights and a top under it, or layer it over something longer. 

I like that the pockets actually go around the side seam. 

A nice detail. It's fully-lined as well. 

Made in Italy, nice. 

It's 80% wool and definitely not washable. 

It's by United Colors of Benetton, and was $24.95.

I couldn't find anything online matching this, but the inner tags have a website, so it's at least within the last 25 years. 

And now, off to chill with our boys, who finally deigned to sit with ME! 

We brought our electric blankets in from the summer storage on the deck, so I folded up my grey throw and Whateley settled right now there beside me. 

Cuddle-bunny Barnabas plopped himself down between my legs. 

"This is the spot."

He is SUCH a little cuddler, we have to make sure we give Whateley the same attention. 

"But I'm so streeeeetchy!"

Oh, that little smiling mouth! 

He went full flop-out. 

Barnabas, your underpants are showing! 

Whateley dug a piece of cardboard out of the recycling. 

"Now it's my turn!"

Oh, life is good - so many kittens needing attention! I hope you enjoyed this bigass post - I'll be back with tales of adventure on Sunday! Thanks so much for being here!