Mom-Day Adventure at Finnerty Gardens in Pink and Orange, and a Wee Shop

Welcome back to Mom-Day Adventures! We visited Finnerty Gardens at UVic, to celebrate Mom's birthday week. 

Happy Birthday, Mom! I love you! 

I had an early evening event so I got out of bed sooner so that Mom and I would have lots of time. 

Bright colours liven up a black cocoon dress. This is how I looked on the way to Mom's and in the evening. 

• Blazer - InWear, Dots sample; last worn here in March with velvet and sandals
• Sparkly top - M by Missoni, thrifted; last seen here in February with this same blazer
• Dress - Ayrtight, thrifted; last worn here in September 2025 with neon (and the lobster)
• Shoes - Trippen, consignment; last seen here (2nd outfit) a couple of weeks ago for brunch

During our walk around the gardens, I looked like this, scarf on purse. 

My purse is layered under my jacket, otherwise it pulls the lapels all wonky. 

Sometimes I wore my sleeves scrunched up like this.

Later in the evening they were down - windy and spitty rain! 

I took my jacket off only while at Mom's and then while we had lunch. 

I enjoyed this layered look, especially the pink tights. 

The stuff: 

I did these pictures in between my day's events, so I left it all in situ. 

• Leather purse - Michael Kors, consignment
• Silk scarf - thrifted
• Brooch - Bermuda, vintage 90s, Mom's

Shoes and bling: 

These shoes were pretty good for the amount of walking I did, but my feet were tired by the time I finally got home at 7pm. 

• Silver S bracelet - Mexican, consignment, Sidney
• Steel cuff - Lakeland Art Metal Works, vintage 70s, thrifted
• Silver chain ring - Mexican, consignment
• Silver loopy ring - Mexican, consignment, Sidney
• Metal earrings - thrifted

Here we go! Fresh off the bus, and enjoying the greenery near Camosun College. 

The air was full of birds. 

The stick tree.

Lots of Cloud Drama. 

I got a new bird! 

The Black-headed Grosbeak is a new one on my list, on Merlin! 

Mom's white lilacs smell heavenly. 

I like seeing how it's changing. 

The alliums are out.

So weird. 

I am a fan of coral-bells. 

This is an ancient plant, moved from house to house.

Mom posing in her new poncho. 

Looking swanky! 

Showing her latest art project.

She's doing pictures of her neighbours houses to thank them for helping her when she fell. 

And then we were off! Mom and I last visited Finnerty Gardens here in July 2025 - it's been a while! 

We decided that "Follow the light!" would be our guide, as we looked for sunny patches. 

We did the memorial loop, where I noticed a stone for local author Alice Munro. 

That's lovely. 

All the rhododendrons were in full bloom. 

Every colour: red, yellow, purple, orange, pink, white. 

This tree loomed over us. 

It smelled fresh and green. 

The colours! 

So beautiful. 

The bamboo pond had a lone mallard. 

See him? He's right in the middle. 

This sequoia towered over us.

It was near noon, and there were plenty of students taking breaks here. 

We sat at a bench and looked at it all. 

Ah....So grateful to have this time. 

Hey, my hair matches that rhodo! 

And my lipstick matches my earrings. 

Mom and I went to the Monkey Tree Pub and had amazing quesadillas. 

Mom's looking spiffy in her abstract shirt. She got that necklace in New York when we went together in 2008. 

As I was heading back to the bus stop, a couple of people were taking pictures of something in the trees. "What are we looking at?" I asked. 

An owl! The gents said that the mother was in another tree - these are probably Great Horned Owls! 

I practically walked right onto the bus and was downtown in a flash, so I had a quick look around the WIN store on Pandora. 

This was in with the skirts. 

But it's NOT a skirt. 

It's pants! How exciting! 

Do not wash. 

Sigh, clothes today.

It was a little snug in the waistband, but then I noticed that it had been taken in by about 4 inches on each side. 

I'll be unpicking those seams! 

These pants were from Anthropologie, and I'm sure the cost considerably more than $19.95. 

I'm excited to swoosh around in them. 

And now, a Whateley boy who is enjoying his tummy rub.

Fangs out! 

And more of Barnabas mugging for the camera. 

Aw! 

He's such a funny little guy. 

And now, my friends, it's a long weekend in Canada - happy Victoria Day to my Canadian readers! I'll be back on Sunday with tales of adventure. 

Denim Fins and Pink Plaid

I was excited to wear this new-to-me "finned" denim jacket, but I had to make sure it would be a cooler day. 

Very windy! This will do! 

• Denim jacket - Plu++ Plulavie, consignment; purchased here for $133.99
• Trousers - FRNCH, consignment; last seen here (3rd outfit) with a velvet maxi duster and olive velvet maxi vest in December 2025 for brunch at John's Place
• Sandals - Wonders; last worn here in July 2025 with palazzos and a Darth duster

It's still warm, though, so I layered a camisole underneath and basically wore the jacket as my shirt. 

I loved waggling my fins at my colleagues, who appreciated the cool shape. 

As you may have noticed, I had company for my pictures. 

"Rub my tum!"

The back was not as full as I thought, so it wasn't overly bulky to wear (but it's very thick and heavy!). 

I like these exposed edges - I might have to pin them up next time. 

I knew that belt was there! I liked wearing these pink plaid trousers again. So swooshy! 

The neckline was quite stiff - I wanted it to be more open, like this. 

Okay, maybe not that open, but I like my necklace to show. 

Incognito. 

"Stay home with meeee!"

I pulled the cuffs all the way down for the walk to work - it was a bit chilly, not to mention windy. 

The stuff: 

First toes of the season! Did you notice the brooches on the jacket cuffs? 

• Silk scarf - Smoking Lily, vintage 90s, consignment
• Floral/leaf brooch - Pastelli, vintage 50s, Gram S's
• Feather brooch - Boucher, vintage 60s, thrifted

They didn't stay put with one flip, as seen in the above pictures, so I gave them another half-size flip. 

This worked great! 

Sparkly bling: 

I always enjoy wearing my pink sparkly Sherman set. 

• Belt - vintage 90s, consignment
• Crystal necklace/earrings - Sherman, vintage 50s, vintage fair
• Crystal heart bracelet - Juicy Couture
• Filigree bracelet - St. Paul's Cathedral gift shop, London, 2010
• Silver/crystal ring - Uffizi Gallery gift shop, Florence
• Silver/crystal ring - Soul Flower

Of course, I grabbed Barnabas for a cuddle. 

"I see people!"

More pictures. 

Whateley in the morning. 

Barnabas in the afternoon. 

His little white "underpants", hee hee! 

Orange Velour Goth

I got my spring Goth on with today's outfit - the tulle skirt encouraged me. 

I was temped to wear my new orange-red blazer with it - they're a perfect match. Next time! 

• Velour hoodie - Juicy Couture, vintage 90s, thrifted; last worn here in November 2025 with leopard
• Lace top - Culture, Dots; last seen here in January, hiding under an itchy wool sweater
• Rose tulle skirt - Molly Bracken, consignment; purchased here for $35.00
• Shoes - Vogettes Pina, Fluevog; last worn here (2nd outfit) for the VFF Gala in February

I layered a lace top under the orange velour hoodie and wore it zipped up all day. 

Speaking of zips, my coworkers loved my zipper rose. 

The tulle was very swooshy, and wrangled pretty well. 

I had to be careful with my chair, going up stairs, and of course, the loo. 

Pockets! 

There was a chance of rain, so I didn't do a scarf - I would have pulled up my hood. But alas, not on my walk. 

The stuff: 

Hard to believe it's been 16 years since we went to London! Enjoy our travel pictures here (backwards), and here's the first time I ever wore it (recognize the yellow cuff?).

• Zipper brooch - V&A Museum gift shop, London, 2010

Silvery bling: 

A rogue steel cuff snuck in there with the silver. 

• Steel cuff - Lakeland Art Metal Works, vintage 70s, thrifted
• Silver mesh bracelet - consignment, Sidney
• Hollow silver earrings - Brenda Schoenfeld 1992, vintage mall
• Silver Anneke & Lars ring - vintage mall
• Silver loopy ring - Mexican, consignment, Sidney
• Silver/obsidian ring - consignment
• Silver/obsidian necklace - Mexican, consignment, Powell River

Two kittens crashed out on the couch beside me. 

Like Vizzini, they just sleep anywhere. 

Such cuteness! 

Those faces!