Ephemera

Welcome back to Mom-Day Adventures in the wild, Gentle Reader!

Today, Mom and I had a walk at Beaver Lake Park - we last visited this section of Elk-Beaver Lake back here in April 2024

I dressed for potentially muddy paths and freezing cold weather - it was windy, cloudy, sunny and felt colder than the "feels like 3" my weather app said.

I started with the boots, then added thick things to the outfit, ending with the Roadkill top.

Plush top - Euramerican Express, thrifted; last seen here in December 2023 with honeycomb
Silk blend sweater - Nygard, thrifted; last seen here (3rd outfit) with grey tweed and these boots in December 2024
Skirt - Isle Jacobsen, consignment; last worn here (2nd outfit) in October 2024 with lime boots for brunch
Boots - Soul Speed Fury, Fluevog; last seen here (3rd outfit) in December 2024 for a shop with Yvonne
Down-filled coat (below) - Stormtech, thrifted; last worn here with these boots in December 2024

I only looked like this when Mom and I had lunch at Noodle Box after our walk.

I adore this top - it's satin-lined, no stretch, and a load of faux fur, so I can't really call it a sweater or jumper. I layered a plain black mock-neck under it for warmth, and I also have a t-shirt under that.

Hands in pockets! The skirt is quilted and snuggly warm.

I like the greyish-olive colour of it, and decided to add olive/black striped knit tights - why not?

The zig-zag pattern reminds me of roadkill - you know, tire tracks over a squashed animal?

I'm morbid.

Outerwear things open - I looked like this while I had a browse at the WIN Boutique on Cook Street on the way home. I was sweating, as the store was blasting their heat.

This was all lovely while I was out in the weather, however.

Done up.

The jacket is cut for men (big in the shoulders), but worked perfectly over the Roadkill top.

Accoutrements:

I like the greenish tone of the gold-rubbed suede on the purse.

Purse - Aimee Kestenberg, thrifted, Powell River
Toque - gift from Tammy
Brooch - Monet, vintage 80s, thrifted
Fur scarf - thrifted
Velour gloves - Thinsulate, thrifted

The stuff:

My boots were much admired by people, along with a bunch of kids on the bus. They got covered in dirt, so I washed them in the sink when I got home, giving the treads a scrub with an old toothbrush.

Brutalist bling:

All of my favourites!

Pewter/gold necklace/hinged cuff/link bracelet - all Robert Larin, vintage 70s, vintage mall, gifts from L
Earrings - vintage mall
Volcano ring - vintage 70s, Mom's
Hematite ring - thrifted
Silver chain ring - Mexican
Square ring - thrifted

We saw/met so many dogs while we were out, which is...fine...(dogs are okay). But very few birds.

I am sure this is related.

Dogs and birds are not friends.

This pup came over and sat near us.

Our starting view.

Winter on the coast is wet and damp.

But there is still lots of beauty.

The algae in the water, and the moss on the branches.

A tunnel of trees along the path.

Lots of twisty branches.

Lichen-covered trees reaching for the sun.

Fuzzed out trees across the lake on the far shore.

Reflections as still as glass.

Do you see the deep green streaks of algae in the water?

A path goes all the way around Beaver Lake, which connects up to Elk Lake.

It's 7 kilometers around - I haven't walked the full thing in years.

Mom for scale.

Lots of big trees! That's "Dad's bench" behind Mom, with the plaque dedicated to the runners lost before their time. I'm glad I took a pic of the plaques that used to be there, with all the names on them.

Ferns bursting forth from the moss that's growing on the tree.

A line of water through the brush.

An inviting pathway.

It was a bit muddy in places.

A peek at the island in the middle.

A bit of a ripple on the water from the wind.

Across what I think of as the causeway.

There's marshy water on the left and the lake on the right.

A perfect reflection.

There's a bench you can just see on that point.

We didn't make it that far - this was a lot of walking for Mom after several weeks' break.

We sent this pic to our family and headed back to the car. Hi, fam!

It was clouding over.

Little droplets of rain pattered down.

Kezzie, this is for you.

That's a huge fungus! It was bigger than my hand.

Light through the trees.

That sun felt amazing on our faces.

Wherever you go, you leave footprints.

Horses have been here!

A new Noodle Box opened near Mom's favourite shop, M&M Meats.

I helped her stock up (it's supposed to be very cold this weekend, dipping into the negatives), and then we enjoyed a spicy peanut and a jungle curry. Yum!

I liked this sign.

"They shine when it's their time."

That was such a lovely day, Mom, thank you! I love you!

I bused to town then had a quick browse at the WIN Boutique, where I found a few things.

This silvery feather caught my eye.

I spotted a stamp and put it in my basket. I actually thought it was D'Orlan as I have pieces by them that have a very similar-looking stamp - I discovered that D'Orlan bought this company in 1979.

It's a copyright symbol (c) plus the word "BOUCHER" - this is by Marcel Boucher, and the copyright symbol means this is post-1955.

I also spotted a number on one end.

It's either 6906...

...or 9069!

According to this resource here (link 'cause I love), that means it's either between 1960-65ish. I paid $7.95 for this, and couldn't find the same one anywhere online, but older Boucher brooches sell into the thousands of dollars (with diamonds and stones, etc. on them!).

I added a pair of high-end tights to my basket next.

I know Bleuforet is a good brand. I had a pair of tights by them once.

A regular pair of their tights is $30.00.

I can just faintly see a $16.00 price tag written on the plastic, but for me these were $6.95.

This silk scarf caught my eye as I plunged my hand through the mass of crappy scarves.

What a glorious pattern and colour! You seldom see this cerulean blue in scarves.

Comparing the front and back. On good quality scarves you can hardly tell.

Cheap fabrics are whitish on the back with a blurrier pattern

100% silk...and note those hand-rolled edges - those are done by hand, not a machine.

Let's see what that RN number tells us, shall we? It's Winter Design Group, NY, just like it says.

It's from the Aga Khan Museum...which is a museum of Islamic art in North York, Ontario, and has only been open since 2010. It looks beautiful (link here), and of course, they have a gift shop, where this was clearly purchased.

It's similar to this blue silk scarf on their site that sells for $59.99. I got a deal at $6.95!

I found this in the skirt section. Yes, this is a skirt.

It is made from one single piece of fabric, folded in half lengthwise (to make two layers - note the double hem), then sewn up at the side with a zipper added.

It makes two draped "fins" down the side.

I might cut the top section - from where my fingers are to the zipper - on each fin, so that they drape and fray a bit like the hem borders.

You might have noticed that it's decorated on the hip.

A hand-done screen-print.

It says "dance with you."

And I am not sure what this design is. Flowers? Fungus?

It's 100% linen and made in the UK, which sealed it - in my basket you go.

You rarely see clothes made in the UK.

It's by Lulu & Red, and the label is on the outside back of the skirt, not inside. They must have been proud of it!

This is very similar to my old Smoking Lily stuff - I suspect this was a small business/boutique in the UK in the early-to-mid 00s. Any of my UK friends heard of it? I thought $14.95 was a good price for linen, and I've stashed this away for summer when I can swan about it in it.

I bought a pair of jeans! I hope you're not too shocked, my friends.

They are black wash cotton/spandex blend, with relaxed legs, not overly baggy but not a tight skinny either. I couldn't try them on so I risked it - but they fit perfectly!