Adventure Day! A Careful Trip to Mom's

Some days I miss being around people at work, and other times  I quite enjoy the leisurely feel that a mid-week day off brings. Today I had a very careful adventure - I took the bus to Mom's house for a visit. 

This calls for a special outfit, of course, and includes something I have owned for over twenty years and only worn once in an outfit. Once!

• Top - Mr. Mort, vintage 60s, vintage store c. 1996; once worn here in October 2011 with a skull scarf
• Trousers - Soaked in Luxury; first worn here in March with an orange blazer
• Shoes - Sam Edelman, thrifted; last seen here in August 2019 with an amazing skirt
• Cardigan (below) - Kenzo, consignment; last worn here (2nd outfit) in November 2019 for Book Club at Caro's

I won't keep you in suspense (hee) - it's the top! It's a cream sailor style top, with detachable silk organza bow. It buttons up the front.

I had it  in my "vintage/archive" section in the hallway coat closet for years, and when I cleaned that out last year, I packed this top into my spring/summer stuff, to force myself to wear it. Why was it archived? I maybe wore it once, back in the late 90s!

I had to remind myself, "Things aren't special just because they're old - they have to make me happy when I WEAR THEM." I emphasize that because unless I am hanging onto something purely for a sentimental reason (like my mom's mink-collar coat, or one of my dad's sweaters), I try to wear everything I own, at least every few years, even the vintage stuff.

And seriously? This top? So cute! Look at that sailor flap on the back!

I thought the leopard cropped trousers worked well with the black and cream of the top.

Plus, pockets! Their wrinkling did not bother me too much, and I was happy with how comfy they were for hanging out in.

Although it went up to 15 degrees today, I wanted to be ready for chilly breezes so I wore this long black cardigan.

I love the collar of the top over the cardigan. I felt vaguely pilgrim-ish, or perhaps like a Pierrot?

The cardi is a nice thick cotton blend, and the front is longer than the back, with deep pockets.

The cuffs say "KENZO Paris" in rubberized ink and have white stripes.

Pockets!

This ended up being just right. I did some walking, some sitting and some bus-riding in this outfit and was perfectly comfortable.

Y'all will forgive my digression on this top - as I said, it's just been sitting unworn in a closet, so I took a really good look at it. I bought this for $5.00 at a vintage store downtown that was around in the mid-90s to early 00s. Many of the older vintage garments, shoes and hats I own are from that store.

I got a kick out of the post I wrote when I first wore this in an outfit, back in October 2011 (here), because I created the outfit as a result of one of my readers putting it to me as an outfit challenge - and it's Lorena, of My Every Day Wear (link here)! She'd remembered it from here, in May 2010 (10 years ago!!), when I modeled it as part of my "Never Seen" series of things I didn't regularly wear. Lorena is my oldest blog-friend - we officially go back 10 years, honey! She is still posting all these years later!

As for dating this, I am fairly sure by the style that it's from the mid-60s. It has a very Barbra Streisand-ish vibe about it (as I noted when I originally modeled it), as she wore a sailor top that she designed herself! to perform at the Cocoanut Grove club in August-September 1963 (link here, 'cause I love). This was likely one of many "homage to" or knock-off versions of a sailor look after Barbra's.

My top is by Mr. Mort - look at that awesome label.

According to the Vintage Fashion Guild, this is from the 60s (link here). There are no other tags or labels on it anywhere, so I'm guessing on the fabrics, but I'm pretty good at it after all these years.

I think the weave is a silk-cotton blend - it has a light sheen and slubs in it, and it wrinkles a bit. You can see the weave here. It has good weight to it; it's not a light blouse.

The silk chiffon black bow has squared off snaps under the collar, so you can remove it completely. The top also has two snaps keeping the top of the row of front buttons done up, a nice detail.

It's definitely quality. The top is fully-lined, and the main fabric is backed with a layer of muslin. So much beautiful detailing.

Also note the reinforced thread holding the lining to the top layer (upper right). I am definitely going to style this up more often!

The stuff:

I had to wear walking shoes - why not be stylish? These are leather - I love the little ball studs.

Steel bling:

Actually, only the solid cuff is steel.

• Cuff - thrifted
• Cage cuff - Bauxo
• Silver/onyx ring - Tocarra, vintage fair
• Shield ring - Nine West
• Earrings - Glee

Following the successful distance visit with Nick and Karen on the weekend, and after talking to Mom and making sure we'd be keeping a safe distance, I planned a trip to go visit her at home.

"Yes, yes, leave me in peace, Woman."

That painting is by my Mom - it was featured in the juried Sooke Art Show several years ago. I love it - it's one of my favourites by her.

Vizzini, are you going to miss me?

"I'll miss your warm lap."

I bet he spent the day sleeping in the sun.

Today is the first time I've taken a bus since the pandemic lockdown.

All the buses are currently free, and you have to enter by the rear door. Most of them have the driver's area taped off. None of the buses I was on had more than 8 people on at a time. For long stretches, I was the only passenger.

Downtown is deserted in areas that are normally busy. This street would be lined with cars, and have a ton of traffic on it.

The bridal store is open by appointment, but everything else is closed. I love these old buildings - the orange one has remnants of the ads painted on the side from the early 1900s.

Waiting for my connecting bus to take me to Mom's place. She lives north of the city, near the area I grew up in.

That dude totally spied me taking this picture. The Hotel Rialto is a heritage building and it's gorgeous inside (also a solid restaurant). The building with the clock tower is City Hall, also heritage.

Partway out of town, the bus stopped near one of my favourite buildings in town, Tang's Pagoda. It's currently a cannabis store (hello, I am from Canada), a Thai masseuse and an electronics repair shop. The home behind it, which is partially obscured by the shop facades, is actually an Edwardian heritage home (read about it here).

When I mentioned to Mom that I'd passed by here, she reminisced about it when it was Tang's Pagoda, a clothing shop owned by Jack and Bessie Tang, where she and her sister (my aunt Marion) got fashionable new coats with swing cuts, and fur collars, including one that her mother lengthened in the sleeves and hem with the addition of some faux leopard. Sounds very snazzy!

I found some info on the Tangs here and Jack's obituary here (he sounded like a lovely man). Mom remembers that it was one of the few places where you could get kids clothes in the late 40s/early 50s - check it out, I found their opening ad here from 1947!

Another bump of nostalgia as we went past Panama Flats, a wetland/agricultural park (good for birding, here).

Mom-Update:

Panama Flats- you took the picture from close to where Gram’s parents [that would be Mom's grandparents] bought property when they emigrated in 1912. They bought it in the summer time and when they drove out to show their friends, they couldn’t find it. The property was covered by water. Mom and Aunt Lil [my Gram's sister] owned the property until the 1960’s when they sold it to Saanich on condition it stayed a flood plain. 

Well, how cool is that? My family helped this become a park!

I have memories of my family (Mom, Dad, me and my brother Dave) going ice skating here in December some time in the 70s, with the headlights of our VW van pointing on the ice and we skated in the dark for what felt like hours...and then lost all of our skateguards in the grasses! This was a much less populated area then, practically the country!

Although it's built up a lot more now, there are still farms all over the place. I found a sheep farm!

After I got off the bus, I had to walk about a kilometer to Mom's, through some of this rural region.

Big sheep.

 Little sheep!

 So cute!

I had the path mostly to myself.

 As I climbed the hill, I could see the mountains of Washington State to the south.

And a bunch of abandoned cars in a yard. Stay classy.

The wild Easter lilies were out.

The baseball fields were empty.

 I saw some groundskeepers, and a security guy, plus a few people on bikes.

And then I was at Mom's!

She kept the garage door open so that I could dash through and use her second bathroom. I didn't touch anything, but it was a long trip to get to her house (close to an hour), and I couldn't hold it.

The tulips are out just as the daffodils are fading.

Mom pointed out some of the plants that were originally from her childhood home - her dad always took his favourites, and she also brought some from my childhood home. I loved seeing the coral bells!

 Mom put "real clothes" on for me - even real shoes! So proud of her!

 We sat out in the sun on her back deck  - she'd washed everything down for me.

I peeked inside the sliding door to her art studio.

Recognize this top one? I took the picture it's based on (here).

Mom does lovely pictures of nature - I am a fan of the minis, including her necklaces. A painting as a necklace! It's wearable art!

Works in progress, and various paintings from different eras. The bottom one (black frame) was done here (last picture), when we spent the day painting at the Coast Collective in July 2013.

Oh, gosh, this is Grandad's old chair.

Mom-Update:

Grandad’s chair was a gov[ernment] castoff [Victoria is the capital of the province; lots of government industry here - S.]. They were cleaning out an office and had the chairs on the curb to take to the dump. Your dad found it and immediately phoned grandad [Mom's dad] to come pick it up. The habit of grabbing cast-offs was called rabbitting. The fireplace lights and tiles in the Lavender house basement were also acquired this way. Shortly after that they opened store to sell their excess.

The Lavender house is the house I lived in from 1971-2? to when I moved out in 1986. We had the most insane 70s stone fireplace you ever saw.

Aw! Memories.

I also had flashbacks over these two pictures. The one on the left is rather anachronistic, but it's such a classic piece. It's a sheet of copper that's been etched/exposed from the surrounding black paint. Love the vintage frame. 1950s?

Mom-Update:

The Chinese painting was done in 1958. I was in grade 8. I chose this design because I had a dance costume just like it. My teacher was Mrs Palmer- the only teacher who ever thought I had some art ability. 

Well, way to go, Mrs. Palmer! I totally nailed the era.

I'm embarrassed to admit...I made the dogwood picture on the right! We did it in art back in oh...1975? Grade 4? The dogwood flowers and leaves are clay - the yellow centers of the flowers were created with a garlic press. My elementary school had a huge art room, including a kiln, so we did a lot of pottery - it was the 70s!

I stitched the "stem" on burlap, which was then wrapped and taped? glued? to cardboard and then put in this frame. Oh, lordy. I can't believe Mom still has that - she reminded me that I wrote something about her looking beautiful at my Aunt Lois' wedding on the back, so it's likely this was a Mother's Day gift.

I also spied this painting of our old dog Schultz, a schnauzer.

This is based on a photo that was taken in a mobile photo studio that parked in our driveway (also some time in the 70s) and did family pictures. Of course we included the dog! Mom painted this for her dad (my grandad, he of the chair above), as he loved Schultz. I'm guessing she reclaimed it when he died in 1997. I think the trophies are for stamps - we are a stamp collecting family.

Since we couldn't actually be together, I set the camera timer and ran behind Mom on the lawn.

Looking badass in her Kate Spade sunnies.

I was facing this tree, which was filled with all kinds of birds - I also saw a little lizard!

This is a Pileated Woodpecker! (proof here).

I admired the neighbour's tulips.

 Very pretty.

And after a couple of hours, it was time to go.

It was wonderful to catch up in person!

As I was leaving, Mom spotted something in the garden.

"Curses, the Paparazzi has spotted me."

It's Rodney! I've heard many stories of him. He belongs to another house, and Mom often visited with him.

"Oh, my reputation has preceded me? Very well, you make take my picture."

As I strolled back towards the park and to the bus stop, I saw this gorgeous vintage car.

Wow, what a great colour.

And further down the block, this gent cruised by.

Thank you to the communications worker from Telus!

I wonder if this gent owns the blue car too?

Vizzini was ecstatic to see me when I got home.

"What? You were gone?"

He was lethargic and his fur was soft and warm, from sitting in the sun. We've moved his post out onto the deck now that the nice weather seems inclined to stick around.

"Thanks. I guess I'll keep you."

I hope you enjoyed my little adventure!