Bigass Weekend Wrap-Up: Floral Flashback and in the Park; Easter at Mom's, and Cat Pictures

Welcome back, my friends! I hope you all enjoyed your long weekend, whether you celebrate Easter or are having extra days off. I have to work on Monday (it's not a stat, boo), but we've still managed to have a fun time. 

A reminder - I do write big posts! - to fortify yourself (some chocolate, perhaps?) and grab a beverage. Let's get started! 

L and I chilled out and played boardgames on Friday night, and slept in on Saturday. No diner breakfast for us, so I drank coffee until I was civil just puttered around until it was time to go to Beacon Hill Park and meet up with 7 of our pals. 

I had to wear florals, to celebrate my first outfit of spring! I'll have a quick Flashback on this skirt shortly.

But first, exciting news if you're a cat named Vizzini! The glassed-in, enclosed deck is now open for daytime use.

"Do you mind, Woman? I have napping to do."

He slept out there for hours on "his" chair. 

He came to visit while we played Arkham Horror. 

"I sit here now."

He just plunks himself down on L's lap, and waits for one of the game pieces to get within reach. 

"Slander and lies. It's been years since I ate any of them."

It's not for want of trying, though! 

Back to my Saturday outfit - although I wish I could have worn just this outside, it is spring so the weather is very changeable. 

I'm wearing tons of layers here, and added more for nearly 5 hours of being outside. 

• Shirt - Guess, thrifted; purchased here for $14.95
• Skirt - BCBG Max Azria, consignment; last seen here in October 2020 with lime suede fringe
• Shoes - Miista; last worn here in February with my Kenzo skater dress
• Coat (below) - Auckie Sanft, vintage 60s, thrifted; last seen here in March

I knew when I thrifted this cotton/viscose chambray shirt that it would go perfectly with this ginormous pleated skirt. It's a match made in blossom heaven. 

I knotted the shirt at my waist (it's mid-thigh, quite long), and have a pale pink cami on underneath it. 

I love the spray of pink embroidered blossoms across the back. 

The skirt is one of my favourites. 

It's a full circle, which means Swoosh Factor 10! 

More layers - I also wore a vintage full slip underneath for more insulation. 

As you can see, I klassed it up, and wore socks with my shoes. I also have nylons on. 

Masked up - I wear it whenever I'm just walking around.

I'm just a super-cautious person. 

Outerwear - the Fuzzy Flamingo! 

I only took it off once, to show off my outfit to my women.

Otherwise, I was mostly bundled up the entire time. 

My friends liked the salamander pin. 

I carried some cans of locally-brewed sodas in my pack; L carried a blanket and some ciders in his pack. 

"Wait, something's going on here...are you leaving me??"

L got dressed up too. 

Happy Easter from us to you! 

L is in Fluevog boots, Balmain zippered jeans, a consignment rhinestone studded belt, his Blue Oyster Cult tee, a new shirt (from our anniversary shop), and a suede jacket. He also had gloves and a thick scarf. 

What a snazzy dude! We garnered a few looks from the people out and about.

Vizzini lurked while we got ready to walk to the park. 

"But...I haven't had my dinner yet! You can't leave."

He looks quite put out. 

"This is my Face of Fury!"

We were subjected to yowling, scampering about, and much angry scratching of posts when we got home. 

Outerwear stuff: 

I layered up both a silk chiffon scarf and a silk/cashmere pashmina - I was glad of both of them! 

• Paramecium scarf - Smoking Lily, thrifted
• Pashmina - Portolano, thrifted
• Leather gloves - consignment
• Mask - by Mom

The scarf is probably close to 25 years old - it's early Smoking Lily. 

It's a chartreuse/lime silk, with gold amoebas and paramecium, trimmed with pink grosgrain ribbon. I've had it for over 10 years. 

The stuff: 

Outings when I have to walk or stand call for comfy shoes. 

Maximal bling: 

Only the salamander pin was visible on my coat, along with my earrings, and a peek of the pink necklace and rings.

• Necklace - Sherman, vintage 60s, vintage fair
• Salamander pin - vintage fair
• Green bangles - thrifted
• Silver dragon bangle - Lazy Susan's
• Silver cuff - vintage, thrifted, Powell River
• Bug brooch - vintage fair
• Lapis lazuli ring - Wendy Brandes
• Silver/amethyst ring
• Earrings - made by coworker Sherri for me

Blinged up - I'm one of those people who matches her make-up to her outfit, so I have deep pink eyeshadow on. It makes my green eyes stand out. 

I pinned the bug brooch over the embroidered "Guess" on my shirt.

Flashback: BCBG Max Azria Pleated Skirt

Whenever I wear this skirt, I'm reminded of the day I bought it, here in April 2019. We had the Winesday Women Birthday Tea at the Abkhazi Gardens, and then walked down to the now-gone My Sister's Closet for a browse before meeting up with our men afterwards. 

I'm in the midst of planning our next Birthday Tea, and of course, it reminds me that Karen is no longer with us, as her birthday was one of the ones celebrated. Bittersweet, you know? 

Anyway, I paid $26.95 for this beauty, and the original retail was $268.00. I completely love this skirt, and anticipate I'll have it for many years, but let's just have a little peek at some pretty outfits, regardless. 

This is my first wearing in May 2019. 

I didn't keep this sweater, but I adore those pink metallic sandals (Flashback here) and can't wait to wear them again!

Must have been a hot day, here in August 2019. 

I love pulling the lime/neon green out of the skirt's pattern. Note my paper parasol worn for shade! 

Worn to work in April 2020, to rave reviews from my coworkers. 

I wanted to wear those velvet shoes with it this weekend, but was concerned about them getting wet. 

I just put this lime fringed suede jacket in the Giveaway Pile - it was too big, difficult to style, and now I have a lime suit that I recently thrifted. Jacket issue solved! 

This was in October 2020, the last time I wore the skirt. 

Mathy stuff: Like I said, I plan on many more outfits with it, but for now we are at a respectable $5.39 per wear. 

Back to the weekend! L and I walked to the park through our 'hood.

We both loved this sign - I'm excited to see how the new garden it looks. 

All the plum trees are in full bloom - the city is blanketed in a "snow" of shedding petals. 

This tree is at peak bloom. 

We ran into Nick on the way. 

Your hair is getting long, Nickers! 

Some of the old houses, for those of you who are into architecture. 

It's a mix of Victorian era, Arts & Craft styles, and modern, from post-war to mid-century, to awful 70s/80s/90s condos and apartments and houses. 

I have always liked this one - it has a carriage entrance, a port-cochere! 

Most of these giant houses are split up into rental or owned units. 

I love this house. 

The owners decorate for every season (I've shown them before). 

I got a kick out of this car. 

It's a familiar sight around this neighbourhood. All that decoration has been done by hand. 

Look at the blossoms! 

I've started getting my pollen allergies acting up on me (I have to remind myself, "It's not COVID!").

You can see the plethora of pink on this residential street. 

We're nearly there! It's about a 20-minute walk to the park from our home. 

I see some of our gang has arrived, and is setting up under the trees. 

GOAL! They weren't really in the goalpost, it's just the angle. 

Hey, Ross has spotted us! 

We last saw Cat and Ross at her birthday limo ride, and it's been even longer for Yvonne and Randall, since our last meet-up here for the October birthdays. 

Damn, my friends, it is so good to see you. 

Randall and Yvonne "host" as they live nearby and have a sanitary set-up for us to use their washroom (something one has to think about when one can only meet outside!). 

Cat and Ross, I've missed you too! 

That down coat looks warm. Cat had fabulous boots on, and Ross is cheering for the local soccer team. 

I kept my distance while we chatted and caught up. 

Cat has been caring for her mom, who had triple bypass heart surgery a few weeks ago (but has also had her vaccination, yay!) so we were extra cautious around her.

Ross and L.

I stayed standing the whole time, but L stayed on the Bruins blanket. 

I was so impressed that Yvonne wore a skirt and her funky blue Fluevogs. 

That's my gal! 

Nick has a complicated chair-in-a-bag. 

It's a bunch of metal tubes that looks like a satellite antenna.

He pretended to try to get reception by climbing a tree. 

I have silly friends. This should come as no surprise. 

Thanks to Yvonne and Cat for the extra pictures! 

"Stand near the daffodil," Yvonne ordered me. Yes, ma'am!

Aw, we look so happy. 

I can't wait until we can actually have friends in our homes again! 

I miss having Cat/Ross over for boardgames. 

I see Nick has gotten his chair set up finally! 

Vero, Justin and Django the dog arrived. 

Everyone shift over so that we remain two meters apart! 

So good to see Vero and Justin. 

Django roamed around, sniffing everything. 

Randall looks chill. 

I said to him, "I just want to hug you! And I'm not even a hugger!" 

Many "road pops" were consumed. 

Hilarity ensued! 

As the afternoon waned, it started getting a bit chilly. 

These trees will be in full leaf soon. There were little clumps of daffodils all over. 

Looking behind us at the field.

People were playing "cornhole" (link here if you don't know what that is), throwing Frisbees, kicking balls. There were tons of people out. 

After a few bubbles wafted through our area, we realized these folks were enjoying a little bubble-blowing fun. 

Thank you for the bubbles! They were enchanting. 

We saw a lot of signs this weekend, weirdly. 

That made us laugh as Nick, L and I walked home. 

L had to pause at the Staircase That Goes Nowhere. 

It's a relic of some previous house, no doubt. 

I was taken with the dark gloomy skies to the east as the sun dropped behind us. 

I love the light in the Gary Oaks - that's part of the Art Gallery on the right. 

After another late evening listening to music and playing boardgames, L and I were up early-ish to get ready to go to Mom's for an outdoor Easter visit. 

Again, an outfit basically only you readers see, as I was bundled up most of the time. 

• Cardigan - Gap, thrifted; last worn here in August with mustard floral
• Top - Plum, thrifted; last seen here (2nd outfit) in March 2020 for the last in-home Winesday
• Skirt - LS, consignment; last worn here in July 2020 with these same shoes
• Shoes - Sol Sana; last seen here in January with yellow armour
• Coat (below) - L'Atiste, consignment, Vancouver; last worn here in February

Arg, I need to change my camera settings  now that it's less cloudy. 

My outfit hinged on being able to haul myself out of Vlad the Car (I rejected two outfits after I remembered my enemy, the bucket seats). 

I love this fun colour-blocked skirt. 

I hope I'll be able to wear it again this season - so many clothes, so little time! 

Diva outerwear - L had warned me that as it was 12 degrees out, we would be putting Vlad the Car into convertible mode. We used to have a Miata - I know what convertibles do to my hair. Snarl City! 

So I wrapped my blue leopard scarf around my head for the drive to Mom's. 

I felt like a glamourous movie star! 

On the way home, we put the top back down, as rain threatened. 

Outerwear stuff: 

This scarf is one of my spring ones - it's either silk or viscose, but it's really soft and warm. It was $1.95, I recall. 

• Mask - by Mom
• Gloves - Danier Leather
• Scarf - thrifted

The stuff: 

We did a bit of tromping around on the lawn, so I was glad I'd worn comfy shoes. 

Bold bling: 

Ah, so many things I'm happy to see again! 

• Black and white cuff - vintage fair
• Silver circle pendant/earrings - M&M, consignment, Vancouver
• Silver/Lucite cuff - Alexis Bittar, consignment, Vancouver
• Silver/onyx ring - Toccara, vintage fair
• Shield ring - Nine West, c. 2000

We walked around Mom's lawn to the deck then I had to check out these awesome chalk drawings on the street. 

Very nice tulips and chicken! 

These sheep are cute. 

This makes me want some chalk...

Mom had set up areas for us, and had a lovely array of drinks and snacks. 

I may have eaten an entire bowl of chocolate eggs. 

My ex-sister-in-law's t-shirt is awesome. It's an irreverent Monty Python's Meaning of Life reference. It says "Always Look On The Bright Side of Life". I immediately started whistling. 

My niece Hannah is embarrassed by it all, ha ha!

Mom just had her jab on Saturday - all went well, although she felt a little nauseous the next day. Such a relief, though! 

Mom, my nephew Matt and Hannah. 

On the way home, we passed yet another sign:

I...have no words. Fernwood is the name of the neighbourhood we were driving through. 

Vizzini missed us terribly, as you can see. 

"I've been using my time well."

And now, off to relax and get some cat cuddles! I hope you enjoyed our adventures - thank you so much for stopping by.