Mom-Day Adventure: Swan Lake in Thrifted Dark Florals and Copper, and a Wee Shop

First up: Some not-so-great news. Instagram has suspended my account, and I can't even log in to protest it or ask for a review. I'll bet dollars to donuts, it's because I don't have a phone - I can't receive a text code. Well, no loss - it was fun and I'll miss it, but this blog is still here. Sorry, folks, them's the breaks. 

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Mom and I made up for lost time and had an extra-long Mom-Day, visiting Swan Lake Nature Reserve, last visited with Mom here in January 2022 - I was a Tsarina! Enjoy a look back and then compare to the lake in July below.

Mom-daughter selfie! 
Mom wears a hat with panache.

Summer is upon us with a vengeance, including forest fire haze and a heat wave. Loose and comfortable clothing is the way to go!

That doesn't mean we can't be stylish - silk and a flowy maxi skirt to the rescue! 

• Blouse - Grey by Jason Wu, thrifted; last worn here in September 2022 with the Picador Skirt
• Skirt - LA Hearts, thrifted; last seen here with turquoise and teal in August 2022
• Sandals - Geox, thrifted; purchased here for $28.95

All of the major pieces I'm wearing are thrifted, including this Real Designer blouse. 

I love the dropped/curved hemline. It's silk and breathed beautifully.

There is grosgrain ribbon threaded through the front. 

My swooshy painty floral skirt is a longtime friend. 

It's cut on the bias (cue my girlfriends' giggles) for maximum movement. 

Swoosh Factor 10! 

This is the debut of my newly-thrifted red Geox sandals. I wore them around the house and prepared my feet accordingly with tape, silicon sleeves and bandaids. Preventive care! 

I'm wearing wee shorts underneath for thigh separation. That's the skirt's black lining showing - it's what tones down the sheer overlay and makes it more of a dark floral. 

Incognito. 

I was fully sunblocked and carried extra in my purse. 

But I also deployed physical sunblock in the form of my paper parasol. 

It's light and easy to carry around, and I like the shade. 

Accoutrements: 

The scarf was just for show, to match the red lipstick and sandals. 

• Purse - Lodis, thrifted; purchased here for $6.95
• Silk scarf - Smoking Lily, vintage 90s, vintage collective
• Parasol - Chinatown

The stuff: 

So, how were the sandals? Wonderful! We walked for over an hour and a half, then I bussed to town and had a wee shop at the WIN Boutique. They did not "thwap-thwap" on my heels, nor did they fly off while walking - excellent! Very comfy! 

Copper bling: 

A mix of turquoise and enamel. 

• Copper/enamel cuff - Matisse by Renoir, vintage 50s, vintage expo
• Copper/enamel earrings - Matisse by Renoir, vintage 50s, Grandma J's
• Copper/turquoise ring - Grandma J's
• Copper/turquoise squash blossom cuff - Bell Trading Post, vintage 60s, consignment, Powell River
• Copper/glass ring - vintage 60s, consignment
• Copper/synthetic turquoise necklace - Bell Trading Post, vintage 60s, consignment

Vix and I are necklace twins, halfway across the world from each other! 

Mom and I arrived at Swan Lake, which was buzzing with walkers and at least two school groups of kids around 6-8 years old. 

We headed for the Nature House, which was closed last time we were here, due to the pandemic. 

The kids and teachers were in the shelter on the left - that's the Nature House in the middle, and it's open. 

The sun was almost directly overhead, up to the high 20s in the afternoon. 

This is a Western Painted Turtle. 

Her name is Wrinkles II. I wonder what happened to Wrinkles I?

This heron was staring at me. 

There was quite a bit of taxidermy inside. 

There were some gorgeous stuffed owls, but they were in cases to protect the feathers and didn't photograph well. 

Don't touch that beaver! 

Mom and Morris the Moose. 

He looks friendly enough. 

I have never seen a moose in person. Have you?

They don't live in this area (I'm in the lowest point on that map, the southern tip of Vancouver Island).

We checked out the gift shop - I love a good gift shop. 

Mom was enchanted by some beautiful big mugs with pictures of wildlife by a local artist, and bought two. I admired these bird skulls. Crow and...? 

We walked the same route as last time, but it was so much more lush and green. 

What a hideous place! (hee)

The air was full of dragonflies (too fast to photograph). 

The butterflies flitted around us, alighting on Mom's red hat and pausing on the vegetation.  

We headed for the boardwalk over the northwest corner of the lake. 

Aside from the kids, there weren't too many people around. 

Looking for ducks. 

We were out of luck. No duck-luck. 

Birdsong filled the air. 

Redwing blackbirds, and this wren, who was vigourously and enthusiastically belting a song. 

Swallowed swooped over the surface of the lake, feasting on insects. 

They rested on this lookout. 

The lake was covered with green algae. 

Mom, looking radiant! 

That butterfly is following us! 

Very showy. 

A blackberry plant attacked my skirt. 

I gently disentangled it, without poking myself on the thorns. 

We sat for a while, and chatted and admired the view. 

Someone set a wee Buddha on the bench. We rubbed his belly for luck and left him behind for the next person. 

We looked in vain for herons, and no luck with bald eagles this time either. 

But we did spot these two circling raptors. 

Turkey vultures, identified by Mom. 

A couple of birders on the boardwalk were impressed that we knew. 

I can't take credit. 

Aren't they beautiful? 

They circled and rode the thermals, so high up. 

Time to head back to the car - I'm hungry! 

There's the Nature House in the trees. 

Those tall firs are where the bald eagles nest. 

I had to stop and take a picture of these swirls of algae.

I'm waving - see my hand? 

Turtle crossing! 

Maybe that's what happened to Wrinkles I?!

Mom and I had a late lunch at Floyd's Diner - hello to our lovely server Brie! 

Dang, Mom, you really rock that hat! So jaunty! 

Thank you so much for such a wonderful day. 

I love you! 

On my way home, I popped into the WIN (Women In Need) Boutique and found a few things. 

A 95 cent pack of nylons, and two Harry Dresden novels. Hmmm...I think I might already have "Small Favour." Oh well, they were only $3.95 each. 

This is the treasure! 

As soon as I spotted this purse, I knew it would be a score. I love the red colouring down the centre, and the reinforced steel on the tab closure. 

The back. 

It's a very stiff leather, with a wrist strap for carrying it. 

There's the brand, Fiveleft, link here 'cause I love.

I spy a signature! 

There's the brand (the 5 facing left) logo, and this is number 2315, from 2018.

$18.95 is a STEAL - I know this because I have a very similar purse by the same artist! I remember seeing someone at an Urbanite at the Art Gallery carrying a purse like this one (I recognized it). I wonder if it's the same one? 

I bought my previous Fiveleft purse brand new, back here in November 2013 - nearly 10 years ago. 

As I noted then:

It's called the Leashed Clutch and is by Fiveleft of Vancouver. It was $120.00 but every bag they make is done by hand in their studio. The leather is vegetable tanned and sourced from a family-run tannery in England. Every bag is one of a kind. I chose the clockwork gears in this lovely honey and dark brown mix, with black accents.

Same shape and flap mechanism, but no steel on the flap. 

It has steampunk gears on it, and more intentional distressing on the inside. 

This one is number 1354, signed and dated 2013. 

I love that I have two bags by them now. L also has a Fiveleft belt that I bought him years ago for Christmas - Vizzini chewed on the tip of it when he was a wee kitten. 

Ten years later, and he's an oldster now. Still likes his cuddles, though. 

"I just like being carried around."

He's always been good at mirrors. 

"That's one handsome cat."

I'm in my lounging pajamas and a concert tee, with no make-up and my "house" glasses. Staying cool!