Mom-Day Adventure: Blenkinsop Lake Revisit in Mixed Marimekko, and a Wee Shop

Welcome back to Mom-Day Adventures! We had a beautiful, if slightly windy, day at Blenkinsop Lake where we last visited in chilly February (here).

We both got the stripe memo!

I try to wear different things with Mom each time, things she hasn't seen before. 

I couldn't remember if she'd seen this ginormous swoosh-tastic skirt (she had), but I knew she hadn't seen this new-to-me stripey top. 

• Top - Marimekko, consignment; purchased here for $42.00
• Skirt - A Tribute to Marimekko by H&M, thrifted; last worn here in August 2021 with pops of turquoise
• Sandals - Hopeful Sunny, Fluevog, thrifted; last seen here for Canada Day

This is my 9th wearing of this amazing skirt, but this is the first time I've mixed another pattern with it.

It's not the first time I've worn a blue top, though - turquoise is one of my go-tos with it. 

I loved wearing this gorgeous high-quality genuine Marimekko striped top - made in Finland! 

I don't have many t-shirt-weight tops in my "in public" wardrobe, but I used to rock the stripey top + graphic tee look quite a lot in my early days of my blog (late 00s). 

Maybe that's a look I'll come back around on? I've been blogging for 14+ years, so I suppose that's inevitable! 

Showing off the pockets in this fabulous skirt. 

And my underlovelies.

Little cotton shorts because I loathe the feeling of bare legs, and a full red nylon vintage slip as the skirt is unlined. 

Masked up.

More pattern! 

I took a bunch of pictures of Scarf Deployment.

Tied to my purse.

Ascot-like for extra Drama. 

And neck coverage. I turned this around backwards to protect my upper back (which was also sunblocked).

Keeping my hair from blowing around.

That's a very 70s look, an era I'm fond of. I wore it like this on the way home, after I popped into the WIN Boutique.

Accoutrements: 

I tried a bunch of scarves and this one worked best. 

• Purse - Danier Leather, thrifted
• Silk scarf - Marc Rosier, consignment
• Mask - Lazy Susan's

The stuff: 

These are great summer walking shoes. Plus, the blue worked really well with the top. 

Mod bling: 

Unfussy but interesting pieces. 

• Aluminum belt - vintage fair
• Pendant - M&M, consignment, Vancouver
• Solid steel cuff - thrifted
• Cage cuff - Bauxo, local
• Pivot ring - consignment
• Lapis lazuli ring - Wendy Brandes
• Earrings - gift from Lise

I checked on Vizzini, who was enjoying a morning nap on deck. 

"I am a loaf of warmth."

I had to pat his warm fur. 

"Woman, I'm sleeping here!"

He only misses me when I'm late getting home for his dinner. 

We arrived at Blenkinsop Lake, a stretch of the Lochside Trail. You may wish for a refresh - scroll down here to see the winter pictures and to explore links about the area. I had a look through my pics before Mom picked me up, so I had the sparse branches in my head as contrast to the lush July green. 

That's the entryway from a small parking lo.

This is a bike/horse/people corridor, one of many in Victoria and Greater Victoria. 

Most of my pics don't have other people in them, but there were tons, including quite a few people who hollered that they they liked my dress/skirt. 

No sightings of Howard the Gnome this time - all the green blocked the view. 

Galey Farms over there. 

Ah, just look up. 

Oh, I needed that. 

An inviting perspective.

Most of the walk was dappled sunlight. 

We came up to the wooden trestle/bridge, my favourite part of this park. 

I know you're all wondering, "Will there be ducks?" I know I was. 

This is typical west coast underbrush. 

Salal and ferns. 

Trees.

A chorus of birdsong surrounded us. 

Dragonflies hummed around.

It smelled rich. 

But who's that? 

It's our old friend Roy.

Mom, go say hi to your boyfriend. 

There are two wider side areas on the bridge here. 

"Hey, handsome."

"Helen, nice to see you again."

Mt. Doug. 

The banks of Blenkinsop Lake were crowded with water lilies. 

With the sun we've had this week, there's a ton of algae on the lake. 

But...would there be ducks?

YES!

Fuzzy little ducklings! 

Let's check the other side. 

No bikes coming.

More ducks? 

Wow, that blue sky! 

Lots of cattails and more waterlilies. 

It's just blobs of greenery everywhere. 

I'd like to live in a house near the lake. 

That one's probably $4-5 million, at least.

Another little teenage duckling wiggled through the algae. 

We noticed paths all over where the ducks had swum through. 

Not very many lily blooms. 

We only spotted two. 

I strayed off a side path. 

Not much to see. 

The carved mushroom is still there. 

Someone's added a "Thanks" in a heart. Aw. 

Horses! 

Well, one is a Shetland Pony, I think. 

Time to head back to the car - we walked about 3 kilometers. 

Looking strong, Mom! She passes along her thanks to everyone who expressed concern over her, and was very touched at your kind words. She's recovered from her busy week, and is feeling very well. 

A canopy of green. 

The air was alive with insects and birds. 

This winged beauty sat and posed for me. 

The whole trail is rife with blackberry canes. It'll be a bonanza of berries in a few weeks. 

One of the canes grabbed my skirt. 

Hey! Let go! 

I peeked through the green to see the western part of the lake. 

There's some cattails. 

We arrived back at the bridge area to see a major Duck Exodus.

They were all swimming very purposefully towards the far area of the lake. 

It was very odd. 

Those ducks have a mission. 

Three stragglers. 

Move it, ladies. 

Four more behind them. 

Look at their wakes - they're practically speeding! 

Mom and I were getting hungry. 

Time for lunch! 

Oh, that is just so lovely.

Don't you want to just stroll down that path? 

Nearly at the car.

One more pic of this lovely work of art.

I wanted to sit in it.

Some welcome shade. 

This was the hottest day we've had all year! It was up to 29 when I was waiting for the bus back to town. 

What an awesome day to spend with you, Mom. Thank you.

Love you! 

I hopped off the bus and walked over to the WIN Boutique on Cook Street. I scored a couple of things, and cashed in my rewards points for a discount of $13.50, which I'm going to deduct proportionally from each item. 

The boutique is a tiny store, so I go through everything really thoroughly, which takes less than an hour. 

I found this pretty yellow/brown snakeskin belt. 

I spotted "Club Monaco" and knew I had quality. 

It's also handmade in Italy and that is genuine python! 

I used to shop at Club Monaco and their belts were expensive. This would have been $198 or more new. 

$6.95 is a total score. Adjusted price for my points = $4.95.

A rare t-shirt purchase - I recognized the emblem on this t-shirt because L owns one in white. 

I knew this was a concert tee. 

For...Leonard Cohen.

That's on the back of the neck. 

My "Beautiful Losers" tee is from this same 2008-9 tour, seen here in April 2009. I still have that hat and belt, and there's the aforementioned stripey top/graphic tee pairing in action. 

Tour shirts that you buy at the concert are stupid-expensive, usually $30-50 dollars each. So I'm happy to find this for $6.95. Adjusted minus-the-points price = $4.95.

I LOVE the colours and pattern of this fit-and-flare dress. 

It also has a very vintage-y feel without actually being vintage. I hate the matchy cheap fabric belt and will be wearing different ones. 

A mark of good quality.

To hold your bra straps in place. 

It's a polyester dress that's been woven to look like shantung silk, and there are box-pleats on the front and back for volume. 

And it's got pockets! We just found ourselves a Jammy Dress, folks. 

It's by Evan-Picone, and was $24.95 - $15.45 is the adjusted amount minus my points. I spotted one on eBay for $54.00.

The co-founder, Joseph Picone, died in 2001 (obit on WWD here, link 'cause I love). Mary Tyler Moore wore Evan-Picone in the 70s on her show. I suspect this dress was worn once to a wedding - it has a bit of that vibe. I see quite a few Evan-Picone dresses in my shopping expeditions, but the pattern and cut really sold me on this one. It fits perfectly too! 

On my way home, one of the side streets had a cherry tree towering over me. 

Look at all the cherries! I've been eating Rainier cherries at work, a gift from a colleague. Yum. 

This old fellow was having a snooze.

Thank you for safe passage.

And now, my friends, I am off for the weekend. It's another busy one (a party!) and I need to psyche myself up for it and figure out what to wear. I'll be back on Sunday with tales of adventure! Thank you so much for dropping by!