Mom-Day Adventure at Beacon Hill Park, in Blue Fringe and Silver Fleece, and a Wee Shop

Hooray, welcome back to Mom-Day Adventures, Gentle Readers! It was a mostly sunny day and temps crept up into the double digits (barely, but I'll take it!). Mom and I returned to Beacon Hill Park, due to her still having some muscle issues - her Post-Polio Syndrome means she's easily prone to muscle tears and pulls, and once she has damage, it doesn't heal like it used to. 

So an amble along even, paved pathways as spring blooms come out? Twist my rubber arm! 

We last visited Beacon Hill Park here in October 2023 - I always enjoy looking back through our previous adventures and noting the changes in the flora and fauna.

I'm on the home stretch of my Fall/Winter wardrobe, and am looking to re-wear some of my favourite things before they're packed away for six months. 

This light grey (sorry, Vix!) - I mean, SILVER, skirt is fleece-backed, and very snuggly warm, like wearing a blanket on my legs. 

• Sweater - Dusia Knits, Gibson's, vintage 70s, thrifted; last seen here in December 2023 with my red leopard denim suit
• Skirt - Eliza Faulkner, consignment; last worn here in December 2023 with pink and many sparkles
• Boots - Original Sabado, Fluevog; last seen here in January with a striped dress and Monster Vest
• Suede jacket (below) - Pioneer Wear, vintage 80s, thrifted; last worn here in October 2023

I reached for this sparkly vintage disco sweater - it's from Gibson's Boutique, same as yesterday's Chanel-esque jacket. 

Mom is a great source of information about old stores in Victoria, as she grew up close to downtown - I'm 3rd of four generations born here (all of my brother Dave's kids are 4th-gen Victoria), starting with my Gram/Mom's mother. 

I have a cami and a half-slip layered under this, plus fleece-lined tights and thick socks under my boots. 

I'm always cold...except when having a hot flash. I thought those were over and done - stupid menopause body! 

I wore my aqua-framed glasses today - they don't have a non-glare coating, so my eyes disappear a bit in photos. 

I actually planned my outfit around this incredible thick suede jacket.

Look at all that fringe! 

The arm-fringe has coloured pony-beads midway up the fringe. 

Incognito - I'll happily turn my face to the sun. 

I had planned on a big fluffy cashmere scarf with this, but it was just too massive. 

Much more sleek, but my neck was cold!

I have two sets of pockets, both in the skirt and surprisingly big ones in the coat. 

I'm seeing Mom - how do I feel? 

Exuberant! 

Accoutrements: 

Mom and I went for a late lunch at Christie's Pub, avoiding all the road construction in and around Cook Street, and I had a leisurely browse through Pocket on my walk home, to see if they had anything interesting. 

• Purse - Rebecca Minkoff, thrifted
• Scarf - Fluevog
• Gloves - Danier Leather

The stuff: 

Good comfy boots. I wore these all through spring and summer last year. They've been a wonderful addition to my wardrobe. 

Blue and black bling: 

The necklace worked perfectly with the V-neck sweater. 

• Rohesia Belt - Fluevog
• Silver hinged cuff - thrifted, Powell River
• Heart crystal bangle - Juicy Couture, consignment
• Silver/obsidian ring - consignment
• Silver/onyx ring - Tocara, vintage fair
• Silver/sodalite ring - Scotland, 1996
• Lapis lazuli ring - Wendy Brandes
• Silver/onyx necklace - Mexican, consignment, Powell River
• Earrings - Fiji, Mom's

I've been referring to these earrings as being ones Mom purchased back in the 90s in Bermuda, but she corrected me today - they are actually from Fiji. "Not many people have been there!" Very true! Have any of you ever been to Fiji?

We parked far away from the petting zoo this time - I'd heard on the radio that today was the first day of it being open. We could hear the screeches and shrieks. Ugh, happy to miss that. 

One massive pink magnolia tree near the park entrance. The reddish one is a plum tree - it'll be a mass of pink blooms in about a week. 

A giant redwood. 

Fenced off because...people. 

The flower beds are just getting filled. 

A row of narcissus with yellow and purple hyacinths starting to flower in front. The primulas are not quite blooming. 

We followed the path on the left. 

I love the gnarled branches reaching over the path towards the pastel blooms of the cherry tree. 

And a portrait with its neighbour. 

That's a monkey puzzle tree - I know of several in my neighbourhood (an interesting local article about how this South American tree may have come to Vancouver Island here, all links 'cause I love). 

More hyacinths - their scent was lovely. 

Mom had never seen yellow ones before ("Want me to dig one up?" I offered). 

We saw many peacocks and peahens napping on the lawns and in the underbrush. 

People would approach and take selfies with them. I took all my pics from a distance. 

Looking back. 

Still a little stark from winter, but it will be fully green before long. 

I heard this little junco before I spotted him. 

"I've got to SING!"

We stopped and breathed and looked at the gently swaying trees towering over us. 

There were loads of people in the park (insert sound of excited screaming children, shudder), but most of them were focused on phones, or cycling through, or looking for more peacocks. 

Mom and I go slow, so we had time to really look around and take it all in. 

I see a fountain in a lake through the trees. 

A service road. 

Cars are not allowed in this part of the park (they used to be, decades ago). 

I'd seen a large bird swooping around near the tops of a cluster of trees, so aimed my zoomed in lens at it. 

Well, hello! That looks like a hawk. 

The interwebz tell me this is a red-tailed hawk (about it here). As we watched, another hawk joined the first.

This might be a breeding pair - Beacon Hill Park is home to loads of nests, including herons and bald eagles. 

There's a view of the male's head. 

I'm proud of my little camera for pics this sharp! 

I even caught the male taking off! 

Whoosh...and he was gone. 

Mom and I always visit the rose garden - as mentioned every time we visit here, they moved the actual rose garden many, many years ago...but we always think of this as the rose garden.

We walked under the branches arching over the path, towards the sundial. 

Mom, looking back from the other side. 

She layered up in velour trousers and a thick coat, but with a thin blouse. 

I adore this giant willow tree. 

There were hundreds of ducks milling around here. 

"I only count the sunny hours."

It's noon! Time to head back to the car and go for lunch. 

More peacocks, just looking casual. 

The peahens were hiding in the underbrush. 

Under the willow. 

I have to visit the ducks. Hello, ducks! 

More peafowl. 

There were a bunch of people pointing their phones at this group. They must be the Kardashians of the park. 

This peacock was well hidden. 

Your blue head gives you away, sir! 

I posed with the Family Tree. 

The bark is shiny from people touching it and climbing on it. Those ducks were not happy that I moved in for a pose. 

Looking up the trunk. 

So awesome. 

Mom at Christie's. 

Looking resplendent in your blue, Mom. 

As mentioned, I popped into Pocket, where I haven't had a browse in a while. The entire stock had changed, which I like. 

This dress caught my eye - I'm a sucker for a cool pattern. 

The back has a slit and two buttons at the back of the neck. 

There's a bias-cut ruffle along the hem. 

The sleeves end with a self-covered button. 

And it has POCKETS! Owner Annie joked, "How do you know when a woman's dress has pockets?"

You got me - how? "She tells you!"

Ha! Good one! Feel free to share. 

I thought you might like to have a good look at the pattern, which is a paint-y style, with butterfly wings, eyes/face and birds. 

I also see a deer. 

And trees with twisty roots. 

And roses. I love roses. 

I spy another eye in the middle of this face. 

That deer is looking at me! 

I didn't even realize until I got home and was styling it (a good sign - I always style up the best new pieces right away) that it's NWT (New With Tags). 

Ooh, from Aritzia (Canadian high-end mall brand). 

It's by brand Little Moon, and is called the Honeysuckle dress - it retailed for $110.00 full price.

The colour/pattern is called "Avorio/Harvest Gold" but it seems to not have been a large production run, as I only found a single picture of it online. I suspect this from around the same era as this red dress I have that's also by Little Moon - it has the same sleeves, neck fastening and pockets. 

Not cheap at $78.00 but a good Jammy Dress is worth it, and this definitely has Jammy potential. 

I'm excited to wear it - maybe this weekend! 

Thanks for such a lovely day, Mom! Keep doing your stretches and take it easy. 

I love you! 

My friends, I'm now signing out for the weekend - please do stop in on Sunday and be regaled with tales of adventure. Thank you so much for visiting - I truly do appreciate it.