Leisurely Lunch, and Let's Go For a Walk

Today, I wrapped up my Birthday Week officially (as of Friday, it's been a full week), with a lovely lunch out at the local pub with my friend Jen. 

I planned my outfit around the amazing purse she'd given me, but I also incorporated a new-to-me item, and got to play with some of my more "out there" clothes. 

• Cashmere sweater - Marina Luna, thrifted; purchased here for $34.99
• Skirt - Tribal, thrifted; last seen here in a Beetlejuice look in March
• Booties - Maleika Conquer, Fluevog; last worn here (4th outfit) in February to the Victoria Film Festival Opening Gala
• Ringmaster coat (below) - Rodarte for Opening Ceremony, consignment; last worn here (2nd outfit) in February

I am debuting this wonderful blue cashmere turtleneck sweater, which I bought in the heat of August. 

Yes, I know the tights are distracting! I just bought these at Dots on Tuesday, for $1.99. Pretty funky, eh?

Outerwear - I like how the bits of houndstooth show under my Ringmaster coat. 

I walked down to the pub - a woman sitting outside at a coffee shop hollered, "This is great!" at me. 

See? Ringmaster tails! The top half of the coat is faux Persian lamb and does up with double-breasted snaps (4 of them). 

Masked up in my grey kitties mask from Mom. 

I'm perfectly matching my Korova Milk Bar purse - I felt very futuristic in this. 

The stuff: 

These booties are so bizarre, but I love them. They feel very Frankenstein-ish or alien, the way the heel curves back under the heel. There's a hidden platform so they're very easy to walk in. I considered doing a Flashback on them, but maybe next time I wear them, as I took a lot of pictures on my Mental Health Walk. 

Spooky bling: 

See how the checkered side of the purse goes with the houndstooth too? Awesome, right? 

• Purse - gift from Jen
• Leather cuff - Guess, thrifted
• Snake ring - BC Museum Gift Shop, 1986
• Spider ring - gift from Mom & Dad, c. 1987
• Snake brooch - gift from Mom & Dad, c. 1987
• Fulvia Ring - Wendy Brandes
• Spider earrings - gift from Cindy
• Necklace - swap from Vero

Mental Health Walk: Fall Edition

I took my camera with me this morning on my Mental Health Walk, to capture some of the fall colour and the more unusual things that I see on my walks. I like architecture (interesting buildings), trees, critters (ground, air, water), and generally anything that catches my eye. 

Heading down to get groceries, these trees are starting to turn. 

Isn't that flame red glorious?

This is an apple tree, probably a remnant of an old orchard, that is almost in the downtown core. 

Can you see the red apples up at the top? 

After I finished grocery shopping (it gets delivered later), I headed down to the waterfront. 

Passing the church school, I noticed two crows on top of the steeple. 

Victoria has oodles of these old Victorian-era houses.

Most of them are split up into multiple units. 

I've been noticing that some of the mid-century apartment buildings around town have these beautiful old hand-painted gold signs on the door. 

"Vancouver Villa" with matching "VV" ensigns! As the buildings are upgraded to more insulating doors and windows, these signs are disappearing, so I thought I'd take a few pictures of the ones I liked. 

I used to walk past this townhouse unit every day back in the 80s and 90s, when I lived in this part of town. It's called Avon Court. 

It's shaped like a number 3 with shared garden/yard areas in the "curves". 

One of the units is named. 

"Hobbit Hut" - I love that! 

Ooh, check out this vintage truck. 

I know very little about cars, but this is cool. 

The squirrels are very active right now, gathering conkers from the chestnut trees. 

"Who's that? Stay away from my food, lady!"

He was really keeping an eye on me, and I got quite close (although I am using the zoom on my camera to get up close).

"Get my good side, please."

There are a LOT of conkers on the ground right now. I wonder why?

Isn't that amazing? That's just one block - this street is lined on both sides with giant chestnut trees for several blocks. 

Most of the flowers are past their time, but I snapped this group of pink flowers. 

Check the comments to see if one of you awesome readers knows what it is! 

More amazing houses. 

Love the moss-covered low wall. No dogs pooping in that yard!

This one's a heritage house (I can tell by the oval plaque on the front pillar). 

I like the fancy gate posts. 

This is a pretty swanky apartment building! 

It even has a bronze sculpture in the front garden! 

This is an example of a door/window that will disappear soon - this apartment building is just a square box. I suspect they will just leave that pseudo-Art Deco font sign (which is new) above the door. 

And no one will remember that it was called "Woodstock Manor". The blue arrow is pointing to me in the reflection. 

I am drooling over this house. The 2nd floor balcony, the pillars, the leaded windows.

Like most homes in Victoria, the garden is everything. There's a raised pond in the middle, with a gurgling fountain, with the willow dripping down towards it. 

This is now a Bed & Breakfast. I believe my mom took dance classes here when she was a kid. 

The staircases at the back are new, likely to bring the house up to fire code. 

And here we are, at the water, the southernmost tip of Vancouver Island, and nearly the most southerly part of Canada. 

Walkers, joggers and strollers on the path, with the Juan de Fuca Strait in between us and the Olympic Mountains, which are in the US (that's Washington State). 

A closer look. 

On clear days, you can see Anacortes, Washington, a little bitty town. 

Hey, this house is for sale! Wouldn't you like the above as your view? 

It's only $1.995 million! (link here 'cause I love, if you're feeling rich, or want to see how amazing it is inside - there's an out-building!). 

Looking towards Ross Bay. The coastline here is a series of bays, with a lovely swooping drive all along the waterfront. 

I saw lots of crows around here - see the one taking off? 

What a gorgeous sky! 

The low island on the right is Trial Island, and it has a lighthouse. 

As I walked past more amazing houses (they're all in the $2 million range), I spotted a house I might be able to afford. 

It's a fairy house! I love the little cobbled walkway. 

Looking back at Clover Point's construction zone (sewer plant), with the mountains across the water. 

That crow is totally posing for me. 

More construction as we get into Ross Bay (more sewer stuff, and a hydro pole replacement). 

The tide is really low - see the levels marked by the seaweed as the water retreated? 

I love this building - it's likely one of the older condos in town. It has smoke-stacks in the centre, which probably means some of those units have fireplaces. 

I love the abstract design on the side of the building. It's called The Tide-Line. 

These seagulls were hunkered down. 

We've had a lot of stormy weather in the past week - lots of kelp and logs everywhere. 

The cars on the left are waiting to get through the construction zone. 

The line of trees there protects Ross Bay Cemetery from the weather. In really big storms, those logs can go over the seawall barrier onto the road. I found a video of some stormy winter weather (here - that's nearly exactly where I'm standing).

Trial Island.

There are berms of rocks and gravel to help protect the bay from the storms. 

I liked this crow posing for me on this giant stump. 

The water sparkled in the sun. If you keep going south straight ahead, you'll reach Seattle. 

The other side of the road, looking into Ross Bay Cemetery. 

No deer today - I didn't see any! Most days I see a bunch on my walk - I've been surrounded by them on one of the side streets!

Clover Point in the distance on the right, and one of the rock berms.

There's a container barge in the distance - that's how a lot of stuff gets to the mainland of Canada from overseas. They are bound for Vancouver, which is the main west coast seaport. 

There were lots of people out, even before noon. 

The weather was all over the place during my walk, from freezing cold and windy to hot and sunny. 

I love this house at the end of Ross Bay. It's very fortress-like. 

The thing on the front lawn used to have a cannon on it - I guess too many people tried to mess with it. 

I saw this very disapproving-looking dog staring at me.

"Move along."

I've always loved this house. 

It used to be lavender! 

Friends of ours used to own this house, years ago. The new owners are VERY into Hallowe'en. 

Three witches cooking up a brew. I love the skull chandelier in the tree. 

A grave on the left with a body rising from it, and some authentic-looking gravestones. 

On the right, a party of skeletons is goofing off in the tree with a bunch of skeleton crows. 

A Lurch-like gravedigger looks on, more gravestones, and a collection of ghosts at the front door.

There were more ghosts on the upper balconies (you can see one on the upper left). 

I felt sorry for the neighbours across the street. 

But they did a fun walk-up to their front door. 

More autumnal glory. 

I love trees.

This mansion also had a fantastic yard.  

On the other side of the front walk, they had giant coffins. 

That's a chicken coop in their front yard. I've seen the chickens. 

I liked the simple approach of this front porch. 

The spiders are awesome. 

I have my own black cat for decoration. 

"Well, I AM rather handsome."

One more Hallowe'en decoration. 

Winking at YOU! 

My friends, I'll be back on Sunday with tales of adventure - have a fantastic weekend!