Mom-Day at Elk Lake in Orange Bookends

Welcome back, my friends! Mom-Day returns, and we also returned...to the Elk Lake beach side of Elk-Beaver Lake Park. We last visited here in May 2024 - I can't believe it's been over a year! 

It was a humid day, although somewhat overcast. I prepared and dressed for heat and sun, but also to stay warm. 

Orange bookends deployed!

Is that the weekend I see?

• Vest - Zara, consignment; first worn here in December 2024 with a sequined skirt and cropped hoodie
• Frank Turner tour shirt - 2018, Vancouver, not tracked
• Skirt - Love Tree, consignment; first seen here in June 2024 on the previous Day of Indolence
• Boots - Official Mittwoch, Fluevog; last worn here in March to the periodontist

Since the collar of the puffy vest was all up in my business, I wrangled my hair into pigtails (aka bunches for English Vix!).

I wore socks with my boots and wee shorts under the skirt so I could go bare-legged. I also sunblocked my arms.

I loved the bright cobalt blue skirt, even though it's nylon. Such a good colour! 

Elastic waist, big pockets in a spot that doesn't add visually, and an elasticized hem. 

I took the puffer off while we had lunch at the Monkey Tree Pub after our walk.

I had a lot of compliments from people while we were out and about. Folks love colour! 

With my purse and woven paper hat.

I carried on the UK theme - Frank Turner is a Brit - with my purse. 

A nice big slit at the back for walking. 

This was a super-comfortable outfit. 

Incognito.

Do I really have to go back to work tomorrow? Nooooo...

Accoutrements: 

Mom mentioned she was running low on chocolate, so I stocked her up. 

• Purse - Le SportSac, thrifted, Sidney
• Hat - no label, thrifted

The stuff: 

These boots are getting more comfortable. I keep checking for sport insoles to go on sale! 

Bold bling: 

I bought the massive necklace and the skirt at the same time, both at House of Savoy over a year ago. I wear the necklace more. 

• Silver mesh bracelet - consignment, Sidney
• Orange plastic cuff/ring - Italian, vintage 60s, vintage mall
• Steel/Lucite ring - Calvin Klein, thrifted
• Silver earrings - Israeli, consignment
• Necklace - M, consignment
• Kilt pin - vintage 50s, Mom's

Are you ready for some perfectly hideous scenery? The trees are ginormous, and the park and path we followed - to the right on this path - are framed by plenty of greenery. 

Let's go! 

The aforementioned path.

Lots of dogs being walked, with a preponderance of poodles. Why? And such large poodles.

I noticed that these trees are being taken over by the ivy.

Lots of tall evergreens here. 

Sometimes they fall over. 

As we were admiring this fine specimen of a root system, a couple and their three-legged dog walked by. 

"Are you looking for the gnomes?" she said. GNOMES?? She explained that someone locally made these and hid ten of them along the path around the lake. 

This one was tucked behind the root tendrils. So many people barrel along here at such a speed, they don't stop and notice things. We told another walking couple about them - passing along the good gnome news.

Salmon berries! We picked and ate one each. 

These are a west coast delicacy. As you can see, they don't grow too many berries. We chatted with a lovely young woman who was collecting some in a cloth bag - she'd grown up here and her dad had taught her. Aw! 

Just like me and my mom (and her dad).

The bench at the end of the tunnel. 

I got a Sharp-shinned Hawk today for my "Life List" on Merlin. I have 52 species total, which is amazing. I'm not even really trying.

And a Western Flycatcher was also new for today. The Song Sparrow was in great form, really putting on a concert for us.

Such a pretty view of the lake. 

Most of it is obscured from the path, but you can hear the roar of the cars on the Pat Bay Highway that runs along the eastern side. 

Many strangely shaped trees were on show today.

The small lump in the centre, for instance. Mom thought it looked like a sea lion. 

This tableau looks like two kids fighting on the left.

And the mother trying to calm them down. "He started it!"

Another gnome! Sorry it was a bit blurry - I had to zoom in. 

The woman had told us there was another one on the way to the "twisty trees." He's got a white beard! 

Mom, check it out! 

I love that someone has done this. It makes it even more magical. 

A glimpse of the lake through the trees and underbrush. 

It's swampy near the edges. 

There are the lovers. 

I've seen these sexy trees every time we come here and I always take pictures of them, but today I noticed something for the first time.

They are two different types of tree. The gnarly one is a maple tree with bright green leaves.

The slender smoother one is a cedar. And yet they are entwined. So romantic! 

A field of horsetails.

No bugs this time of year, thank goodness. 

Time to head back - we were hungry! 

It was lovely to amble along. 

I was surprised to see cherries on this tree.

I didn't know they grew in the forest??

The tree on the left looks like it's snoozing, doesn't it?

So many faces and personalities.

We're back at the bench.

We sat and took our selfie and texted it to the fam. Hi, fam! 

You could launch a small boat from here, like a canoe. 

The water lapped against the edges.

Swallows swooped over the water, catching insects.

Dragonflies buzzed about. I also saw something large "blurp" and surface in the lake...apparently the lake is stocked with cutthroat trout and rainbow trout, plus bass, specifically for fishing (blog article here). I did not know that! 

Two nattily-hatted ladies.

Thanks so much for the lovely day, Mom. I needed that. I love you! 

I often stopped and just looked up.

Little rays of sun coming through the leafy canopy.

Goodbye, Gnome! 

See you next time! 

Back at the picnic area.

And off we went for lunch.

The Monkey Tree Pub has become a favourite. Mom had fish tacos and clam chowder and I had quesadillas - both excellent! 

Mom's necklace was a gift from her friend Carole - it has every shade of blue in it. Love the sleeves on the top too! 

I bussed back to town, and had a quick peek in the WIN Boutique. Eh, summer clothes aren't as interesting to me.

This deep red top will be a useful layering piece. I like the side-ties and it's a thin sweater-style knit.

It's by Anne Klein, and I blinked at the "Made in Hong Kong" on the label - this was older than I thought, has to be pre-1997. 

I thought $14.95 was solid for a top I'll probably wear often. 

And there you go, my friends, time to sign off for the weekend. 

Thank you so much for dropping by, and please check back on Sunday night for tales of adventure!