Mom-Day Adventure: Bird-Blind, Blackberries and Blueberries in White Jeans and Chartreuse, and a Wee Shop

Today's Mom-Day was similar to one we did back in April (here) - we did a short walk and then went back to Mom's place to work on her Storyworth book for a bit, and then I bused to town and had a wee shop. 

A slightly more casual ensemble for a hot August day. 

Featuring my new-to-me Agnes B. snap-front cardigan with my preferred white jeans (these ones won the battle, even though the front pockets are fake). 

• Cardigan - Agnes B., thrifted; purchased here for $34.99
• Top - Clover Canyon, thrifted; last worn here with neon bookends in July 2021(!)
• Jeans - Articles of Society, thrifted; first seen here with creamsicle bookends in June
• Shoes - Karl Lagerfeld; last worn here in June for a trip to the periodontist

I played around in my closet in the morning while the cleaners were doing their thing.

I just love the colour - not quite yellow, not quite green. 

I steam all of my clothes before wearing - it took all the puckering out on the edges and hems on the cardigan. 

A good steaming can make a garment look like new! 

I remembered I had this top - I didn't wear it last year. 

The pattern is digitally-altered accordions. 

Incognito.

"Sharp!" said a woman who walked by me while I was waiting for a bus home. 

Done up.

I didn't wear it done up at all, but it's very satisfying to riiiiiiip all those snaps open! 

Accoutrements:

I tied the scarf around my purse strap most of the time. 

• Purse - Lodis, thrifted
• Scarf - Kenzo, vintage 80s, thrifted

The stuff: 

Comfy little patent leather ballet slippers. They're getting worn out, but I keep stretching them into another season. 

Turquoise bling:

And some other stones too! Pearls, smoky topaz, coral, amethyst, tiger-eye...

• Belt - Lady Foot Locker, thrifted
• Silver/malachite bangle - Mexican, thrifted, Sidney
• Earrings - Mangos
• Silver/turquoise ring - local
• Silver/coral/turquoise ring - Karen's
• Multi-stone bracelet - Salt Spring local, gift from L

Mom looked awesome today.

Fabulous black and white pattern-mixing! You know who I get it from. 

Mom wanted to go to the bird-blind, a small area with paths on the other side of the Horticultural Centre of the Pacific. 

That's our path, and I see the bird-blind's stairs. 

Ooh, a map! 

I am there. We thought there would be more paths - according to Mom, there used to be, but I guess they are conserving the area around the wetlands. Makes sense to me! 

And, a few minutes later, there we were! 

Mom's not going to make it up there. 

I quickly went up and took as wide a picture of I could of the vista. 

Another ugly location (hee hee). 

Off to the left.

That's the HCP, where we usually visit. 

Centre view.

Bulrushes, lily pads...I don't see any ducks or birds here! 

To the right. 

We could hear twitterings and chirping everywhere, but no birds were to be seen. 

But wait! 

Ducks! Very boring. Did not do anything. 

Mom waiting below.

Let's see what else we have to see, shall we? 

This looks like a lovely path. 

Not very maintained, but Mom did not complain. 

There were clusters of blackberries hanging on the side of the path. 

August is the best month for them. 

Oh, don't those look delicious? 

We picked triple that and ate them all. 

And that was it! We were back at the car, so we decided just to go back to Mom's as I haven't been over since her cleaning service started, and she wanted to show off her sparkling clean and decluttered house. She also just hired a gardening service and has her own trained horticulturalist who's making a year-round plan for her garden with her input. 

So we had a walk around the house to inspect the flora. What's this? A black flower! Hollyhocks? 

Many of the plants Mom has are cuttings and transplants from the homes she's lived in during her life. 

Her gardener was astounded to see coral bells in this colour - I remember these at the house I grew up in. The original plant is probably close to 100 years old. 

Mom has all kinds of lavender and fuchsia plants - there were butterflies all over this lavender.  

Because she has so many pollinator-friendly blooms right now, some of these big bushes will be cut back when they are done. 

A ginormous hedge-rose. 

This was taller than my head and smelled heavenly. 

Mom has a ginormous Rose of Sharon at her front door. 

So pretty! 

Her gardener weeded out this back side and corner (she's only had him for a week). 

Mom's deck is straight ahead, nearly smothered by a forsythia (also needs a good prune). 

Gorgeous hydrangea. 

I recognize these ones from the old house too, I think. 

Mom has several wild blueberry bushes. 

They were laden with ripe berries - I ate a few! 

Neighbourhood cat! 

Not Rodney. 

I helped Mom with some computer issues and uploaded some photos for her. and then we had toasted bagels with cream cheese with a spicy ginger beer for lunch.

Cheers! We had blueberries for dessert. 

Fresh-picked by me! 

I filled both of those bowls (we each ate one), another one-liter plastic tub that went straight into the freezer, and another bowl for Mom to snack on later. I stripped the bushes clean! 

And then after a linger in the sun on the deck and a nice chat, I headed for the bus stop.

A very handsome kitty watched me walk past her house.

A lovely pathway through dappled shade. 

It was a hot, sultry day. 

While I waited for the bus, I tied my scarf around my head. 

I was in full sun - too hot!

I love scarves. 

This is such a happy scarf. 

I had a quick look through the Beacon Avenue Thrift Shop on Pandora, and spotted this cool jacket/dress. I like the bold pattern - it reminds me of Marimekko. 

Note that there are two pockets! The zipper opens from the top and bottom. 

It's by Ayrtight Clothing and it's 100% linen. 

Ayr is the designer of Ayrtight - about her and the company here (all links 'cause I love). 

This is the Napa Grode Dress (so I guess it's a dress!) and it retails for $345.00. 

But only $15.00 for me! Made in Canada too! What a score! 

From there, I went up the block to the WIN (Women In Need) Warehouse Store. A couple of things from the accessory area: 

"Nightmare Before Christmas" socks (wee! I love that movie) for $3.95, and some mustardy-brown opaque tights ($6.95, marked at $16.95 retail).

A stack of these James Bond novels were sitting on a shelf. 

I left "Dr. No" behind as I already have it. 

Raymond Chandler's comment is hilarious. Good job at sounding American!

They were $1.95 each and were printed in 1989. 

I spotted this big dish in the housewares. Hand for scale. 

That looks like enameled copper to me. There is a tiny chip in the middle. 

A lovely green enameled backside...and a name! Ruth Tuckwell.

Absolutely no hits on her as an artist working in copper or enamel. Oh well, it is still lovely and worth the $9.95 I paid. I might keep some of my copper jewelry in it. 

I grabbed these silky black pajama bottoms.

They have a flat front, elastic back, and big pockets. 

They're by Calvin Klein, and although they say "sleepwear" I might have to wear them as pants! 

$7.95 felt cheap - add a 0 for the retail! 

I hemmed and hawed over this skirt for a bit, but the price convinced me. Why hesitate? I have a very similar bronze metallic skirt with pleats (this one). I'm already at Peak Pleated Bronze Skirt.

But this one is longer (almost a maxi) and it's brocade-weave. 

Made in Canada, Bianca Nygard (by a despicable designer, don't look him up), and only $7.95?

It's probably from the late 90s/early 00s, and would have easily sold for over $100 new (probably closer to $200!). 

This black/white/blue/grey/white skirt called to me. 

I like all the shades of blue in it! 

And I especially liked the two metallic racing stripes down the side! 

Nearly Weird Adidas! 

It's mostly cotton, and is by Monari. 

Which is a German company. 

Skirts from them are around $150.00 Canadian. 

It was only $6.95! How could I not take it? 

This is the gem from today's wee shop. A vest! 

The print is digital flowers - looks like pink hydrangeas to me. Only the top buttonhole is open and buttons up. 

It has an adjuster at the back and a little split at the hem. 

I was happy to see the back done in the same fabric! 

Ooh, the teeny pockets are real! 

I'll have to open those up! 

100% virgin wool. 

Nice quality! 

Oh, I know that name - Ann Demeulemeester! She's another Belgian designer (I'm a fan of her countryman Dries Van Noten).

I didn't balk at $24.95 - I knew what I had! I've seen one or two pieces by her at Turnabout, and I knew that was a bargain. Linking to her site here (to the waistcoats) - there are two there, each priced at $1,260.00 Canadian. Over a THOUSAND dollars. I have a Thousand-Dollar Vest! The mind boggles! 

Mom, thank you for such a lovely day! 

I love you! 

My friends, I'm taking off now - this coming weekend is the BC Day Stat Holiday long weekend, so I'll be back on Monday with tales of adventure! Stay cool, and thank you for stopping by!