Mom-Day Adventure: Royal Oak Burial Park in Blue and Purple, and a Wee Shop

Mom-Day Adventure time! Mom-daughter selfie! 

We went somewhere new this time, Royal Oak Burial Park, which is where several of our family members are interred (cremated, but in the ground). 

Still working through my not-yet-worn items in my closet - this tie-silk woven skirt is way overdue. 

Blue and purple - always a winning combination. 

• Top - Zara, consignment; last worn here in December 2022 for another Mom-Day Adventure
• Thin sweater (not shown) - Sonia Rykiel, consignment; last seen here (3rd outfit) layered under a sheer dress
• Skirt - J. Crew, thrifted; last worn here (2nd outfit) in December 2021 for a Book Club meet-up
• Boots - Original Sabado, Fluevog; last seen here (3rd outfit) in primary colours for Book Club
• Leather jacket (below) - Danier, consignment; last worn here way back in January 2022

It was a very cold but otherwise a mild winter day for us. 

No wind, no rain! 

I layered another thin sweater under this "popcorn" top. 

My legs were cold. 

I haven't worn this leather coat in over a year. Snore, boring black coat.

I think it's time to pass it along. I have better coats. 

Masked up. I did my hair in pigtails/bunches in case it rained. 

We stopped in at the office to ask the staff to look up where our rellies are residing. 

We hunted for their stones, then headed to Floyd's for a late lunch.

I bussed back to town afterwards and swung by the WIN Boutique on my way home. 

Accoutrements: 

All my lovely purples. 

• Purse - Danier, thrifted
• Hat - Deervoor, thrifted
• Scarf - Fluevog
• Gloves - Danier
• Mask - by Mom

The stuff: 

Practical boots for walking in damp grass and mud. 

Blue bling: 

A few bits of blue.

• Earrings - local
• Silver/Kyanite ring - consignment
• Lapis lazuli ring - Wendy Brandes
• Anneke & Lars ring - vintage mall

The Royal Oak Burial Park is just north of town, near Elk/Beaver Lakes. About them here (all links 'cause I love). As you can see, it was founded in 1923. 

It's 100 years old this year! That building is the office. 

Our appreciation to the nice gent who looked up all of our names: Mom's parents, and three of her grandparents, plus an uncle. 

All but Uncle Harry were in the Garden, which is that entire huge area you see here, plus more beyond the trees. 

Mom could remember that her grandparents were "near the sundial." 

That's the Art Deco chapel in the background, built in 1937 (link)

It's a pretty sundial. 

Mom remembers coming here when she was a girl, to visit her grandparents.

Her grandfather, on her mum's side. 

Charles William Brooks, 1879-1949, Plot Garden A82 [for my future reference].

His wife was interred beside him, Edith Annie Wheldon Brooks, 1879-1965. Pic of her here.

Plot Garden A81. This grandmother lived with my mom's family when she was growing up in Victoria. 

Mom near her other grandmother's stone. 

Point at it, Mom! 

I remember my great-grandmother (I was 16 when she passed away), Hazel Pauline Hill Small.

1890-1983 - wow, 93 when she died! The women in my family live a long time. Plot Garden A210.

Hard to read, but this is Adele Winifred Hill, 1859-1952. She was 96 years old! Pic of her here.

I believe this is her great-grandmother? 

We spent a while looking for my Gram and Grandad, Mom's parents. The park looks very different in winter than what she remembered. 

Finally, I found them! Plots: Garden G185 and 184.

Dorothy Annie Small, 1914-1998 - it is 25 years this week since Mom lost her mother. 

Lester Earle Small - 1910-1997. It was 25 years ago in August that Grandad died (my dad died less than a month later). 

A somber moment. 

Mom and I were both a little teary. Hugs! 

We headed off to find Uncle Harry, the rich uncle who used to bring Mom and her sister dresses every year when he visited from California. 

The park is gorgeous when it's green - check out the pics here.

It's a huge space, with hills and winding driveways. 

There were very few people around, mostly just park maintenance workers. 

Harry is interred in the Island of Remembrance. 

"He's at one of the points," said Mom - the Island of Remembrance is triangular. I found Harry's stone at the base of the spreading short tree ahead on the left. 

Plot Island E43.

Right at the base of the tree. 

Harry Mason Hill, 1888-1963. 

Pic of him here as a young man.

With Harry in the background. 

That was so nice to visit my relatives - although I've never been here before, I will definitely come back to wander. It's a lovely peaceful place. Thank you, Mom! I love you! 

Mom at Floyd's. 

We thought it was funny that we were seated by a painting that one of her students did, probably around 30 years ago when she was an art teacher. The painting is by Chloe, the daughter of the owner, from when she was a small girl in elementary school. 

My loot from the WIN Boutique. 

I've read a few of Gail Carriger's books - they are sort of a romance/steampunk hybrid (I think this one features a lesbian love story, saucy!). Wonderland was compared to Patti Smith's Just Kids, which I loved. They were $2.95 each. 

I did well in the skirts, finding not one but two leather pieces. 

This is likely from the early 00s (the style just screams it). 

It's a silvery grey and it has ginormous pockets! 

Hooray, hooray! 

I didn't mind the decorations on the bottom, but I do find that these tend to snag and tear. 

Yup, that's exactly what I see here. 

Someone's tried to tape it together and hide the evidence. This is why you turn things inside out in thrift stores. 

I'm just going to trim it off with some sharp scissors. The skirt isn't lined, so a dab of glue on the seams and it'll be ready to go. 

It's by Laurel, and was $14.95. 

The company isn't around anymore, but I'm sure this would have been expensive new. Aside from the ripped cut-outs, it's in great condition, and silky soft being made of lambskin leather. 

I also found this gorgeous pencil skirt. 

I love a long pencil skirt. No pockets on this one, though. 

The colour is so hard to see, so I took it out on the (freezing!) deck. 

Classic Oxblood - such an 80s colour! It's a high-waisted cut and reminds me very much of the leather and suede skirts I owned in 1986-7. 

Made in Canada! 

So you know it's old. 

It's by Jez Montreal, and I do believe that is a moose logo! 

As a vintage item, and "special" it was marked at $38.95. How nice, they are still around, and are a family business that started in 1980. Link here. They don't make skirts anymore but they have a basic suede blazer on sale for a mere $299.00. I suppose $38.95 is actually pretty cheap!

When you find a good basic, you buy it! 

A simple blousy black satin shirt? Yes, please! 

It's by Madam Q and was $14.95. I'm a size 88! Cool! 

The buttons are mother-of-pearl, not plastic. 

And I don't know what it's made of but it's 50%/50% and you can wash it, so I'm guessing nylon/polyester. It's in pristine condition - doesn't seem like it's ever been worn.

It was made in Korea too, which you just don't see anymore. I'm going to guess it's early 00s. 

Well, now I am going to go chill out with my guys - I will be back on the weekend with tales of adventure! Thank you all so much for dropping by - your comments are so appreciated!