Mom-Day at Ross Bay Cemetery in Cashmere and Velvet, and a Wee Shop

Welcome back to Mom-Day, Gentle Readers! Mom and I re-visited Ross Bay Cemetery, last featured back here in February.

We lucked out with no rain, clouds and sun and cool temps. 

I didn't even wear a coat! I did, however, wear this massive velvet and satin maxi-vest, which is basically like wearing a giant quilt. 

And my dress is100% cashmere, so utterly cozy.

• Maxi vest - Phool, vintage 90s, consignment; last worn here (2nd outfit) in January for brunch
• Cashmere dress - Claudia Nichole, consignment; last seen here (3rd outfit) in November 2023 for Book Club
• Boots - Biblio Austen, Fluevog; last seen here a week ago with avian influences

I also have a tank, thick tights and a pair of sporty shorts underneath for extra layers.

I adore this giant vest - I usually wear it when I want to feel comfort. 

Mom + a wearable quilt? 

Yeah, that's nothing but comfort! 

I have giant pockets too! I stashed my phone in one and the camera in the other.

The underlayers are pretty simple - just a bunch of black. 

But when one is striding about...

...there is DRAMA! 

This is a gorgeous dress, and very high quality cashmere. 

I bought it for only $51.00, new with tags (!), at Turnabout four years ago. I actually bought this vest on the same shopping trip with dear friend Caro (hi, honey!), at House of Savoy, for a mere $65.00. 

This is how most of the world saw me. 

All bundled up, with long gloves on and a cashmere/silk blend scarf. 

Accoutrements: 

I liked how the gloves worked with the short ruffled sleeves on the dress. 

• Purse - Rebecca Minkoff, consignment
• Scarf - Italy, gift from Mom
• Gloves - Gestuz, consignment

The stuff: 

I can only wear these boots when it's not going to rain - I checked the forecast carefully! They are loosening up nicely (I wore socks with them).

Bold bling: 

Some favourites.

• Belt - Mudd, vintage 90s, thrifted
• Silver hinged bracelet - thrifted, Powell River
• Silver decorated bracelet - consignment, Sidney
• Silver earrings - Israel, consignment
• Chain ring - Mexico, consignment
• Silver/onyx ring - Tocara, vintage fair

Mom showed off her new Sketchers! 

Ooh, I like the marled black/grey, very snazzy, Mom! 

We parked at the shopping plaza across the street, and went in through the main entrance to Ross Bay Cemetery (there are about 5 alternate entries).

We've never gone in this way - time for a new perspective. 

So inviting.

Who doesn't love a graveyard? 

We both gasped at the moss-covered trees and graves.

So green, and yet most of the leaves are gone. 

The Bossi angel greeted us. 

We could hear birds tweeting and see them zipping overhead. 

There were very few people around.

The path on the right leads to the waterfront; the one on the left to the area we usually visit, near the war memorial section. 

But we took the path to the right, and explored a section we hadn't been to before.

We have at least one relative buried here. 

I love the variety of stones. 

The earliest are from the mid-1800s.

Robert Dunsmuir's stone. 

I like your Castle! It's very nice. 

We saw a ton of deer.

I've marked them with red dots in the pictures so you can see them. 

Everywhere we looked.

There are five in this picture. 

See? 

The two young bucks on the top right were slamming heads. 

Many of them were just laying around. 

I like how these two steles are leaning towards each other, like they're having a chat. 

I love the carving on this one. Look at the work on the draperies! The tassels! 

David Walter Morrow. 

Ooh, I have never seen this before! 

Emily Carr is a Big Deal Artist on the west coast, and in Canada's artist pantheon. About her here (all links 'cause I love).

Her family plot. 

Their names are all listed on the stone in the middle. 

I crept in for a closer look. 

This memorial stone was placed here in 2001 by the monument works company nearby. It says,

Dear Mother Earth!

I think I have always

specially belonged to you.

I have loved from babyhood

to roll upon you, to lie with 

my face pressed right down

on to you in my sorrows.

I love the look of you and the

feel of you. When I die I 

should like to be in you

uncoffined, unshrouded,

the petals of flowers against

my flesh and you covering

me up.

 - Emily Carr 

That's just lovely! 

Her own stone is surrounded by pinecones.

And so many crayons, pencils and art supplies. Her writing and art continues to resonate with people. 

Coming back to the path where Mom awaited.

She's admiring me "Darth Sheila"-ing with my purple hair blowing and my vest billowing behind me. 

Two more bucks.

Fairly young, not many points on their antlers.

This was a lovely memorial. 

Leila J. E. Engelhardt, aged 9 years, 10 months. "Budded in Earth to bloom in Heaven."

Another deer.

They're used to people. 

Mom and I stopped for a break, to take it all in, and chat.

This is the pic we sent to our fam. Hello, family! 

Time to head back - I'm hungry! 

It's actually sloped here, not a crooked picture. 

I love these big trees.

Gnarly, dude! 

Oh, that's a beautiful avenue. 

I believe that's the former Poet-tree down there. 

We could see ghost tankers on the ocean through the trees.

See them? There are two. 

It was foggy on the water. 

We still saw a Harbour Air plane buzzing by. 

This is an older buck.

Lots of pointy bits on his antlers. He's watching us...

This is how close we were. 

It felt closer.

I snorted out loud at this inscription for Rachel Lewis. 

"Widow of the Above." Ha! Yeah, that guy, whatsisname.

A youngster was nosing around.

She's also watching us. 

Probably not even a year old. 

Move along! 

As we headed back, even more deer were roaming around near the path.

Look for the dots - there are four here. 

Those boys are at it again.

Showing off for Dad back there, no doubt. 

There were squirrels bounding around, carrying chestnuts off to bury them.

Thank you for posing! 

More deer. 

And our wee squirrel friend in front (red dot).

Back at the angel.

She's watching over everyone. 

A picture of Mom at the pub. A hello to Elizabeth, a lovely lady who we chatted with briefly. So nice to meet you! 

We enjoyed a delicious lunch of rockfish tacos and hot decaf coffee - so good. Thank you so much for such a wonderful day, Mom! I love you! 

I walked back to my 'hood.

That's a rather large wasp nest exposed now that this tree has lost its leaves.

I walked over to Pocket Consignment at Oak Bay Junction and had a good browse, finding a Christmas present, plus a few things for myself. 

All accessories! 

This bracelet is nice and small - most bangles fall off my thin hands. 

It's labeled Agate, so...I guess it is? It was $48.00. I like the green and amber tones of it - I'll likely add wear this with my amber jewelry. 

This ring fit my finger perfectly, and I am on the lookout for more gold/brass rings. 

I think that is real turquoise, but it's definitely not real gold. It has no marks on it. $26.00 felt good for something I'll likely wear dozens of times, if not more. 

I couldn't resist this bee pin.

This appears to be new - I easily found it online. Still, I don't mind giving Annie (the owner) $18.00 for this adorable pin. 

All at once! 

I think the bee pin will be cute on my teal beret. 

The last thing I found is a treasure - it's a big scarf (cat for scale) with a bunch of fruit in good colours.

It's 100% silk (I can tell by the feel), with hand-rolled, hand-sewn edges. The "crackle" effect makes it look like a painting on plaster. Very "old Roman villa."

I spied a signature.

That does say "Pierre Balmain Paris"! I found the same one online for 90 Euros ($130 CAD) that still had its tag, confirming it was silk and also made in France - I think this is probably from the 1960s. A silk scarf on the current Balmain website is $600.00.

Vizzini, how much was it for me?

"$32.00, whatever. You should feed me."

I'm excited to wear my new-to-me things. Also, I should feed the cat! 

Thank you so much for stopping by, my friends! Sending you all the best vibes and calming thoughts, and hope you all have a fabulous weekend. I'll be back on Sunday with tales of adventure, so please stop by! 

Cheers,

Sheila