Savouring spring at Skaha Bluffs (in my Freddies overalls)

Outfit details

Floral print scarf: L.C. Fashions consignment store

White plastic rose stud earrings: Claire's

Pink button front shirt: Costco

Vintage reproduction overalls (dungarees): Freddies of Pinewood

Wee little yellow wildflower tucked in my pocket: Mother Nature :)

Pink beaded stretch bracelets: Forever 21

Striped purse: Jones New York

Black 1940s style shoes: Thrifted (Salvation Army)

Lip colour: MAC Russian Red

Photography by Antonio Cangiano

♥ ♥ ♥

Last summer, in a post entitled The Intrepid Urban Explorer, I touched on the fact that I truly love to investigate and enjoy as much of the surrounding area as I possibly can. This hasn't been the only post in which this subject was raised, nor will today's be the last, I'm sure - especially when you're blessed to live a part of the world that is nothing short of breath-takingly beautiful and which always seems to offer up a new corner to explorer.

On a gloriously sunny Saturday a few days before I went in for my surgery (yes, I know, I've said almost the same thing in my last two outfit posts, too, but as I knew it would be several weeks afterwards before I'd be well enough to leave the house and take such snaps, I made sure to have a few, like today's photos, waiting in the wings to use in the weeks to follow), after a morning of garage saling both in Penticton and Kelowna, Tony and I decided to cap off the day by venturing to the outskirts of town and up a rather traitorous stretch of road.

If you've ever seen the TV show Ice Road Truckers: Deadliest Roads, picture the mind-blowingly narrow, straggly, precipice banked roads they traversed and you'll get a picture of just how dangerous the path we were on is. Lest you think I'm kidding, we have a medium sized sedan (not a huge car by any stretch of the imagination) and we could scarcely fit on the road, which I kid you not, is designed to somehow (miraculously) allow for two cars to inch past each other, one coming in either direction.

Not since I was a backseat passenger in my parents minivan on snowy winter evening trips up and down the Coquihalla Highway have I been so on the edge of my seat, muttering silent prayers of safety under my breath the whole time, as I was while we made our way up the road that one has to take if they want to go see the Skaha Bluffs.

Fortunately, it's not a terribly long road and once you reach the top, there's ample parking spot and a view of all of Penticton that is so majestic, you'd happily return again on a camel, if you had to.

Despite being a 489 hectare provincial park located just a few minutes away from town, this was the first time I'd ever been up to the Bluffs in all the many years I've lived in the area, and we couldn't have asked for nicer weather on the day when we bravely headed up that way (we had no idea beforehand that the road was so frighteningly narrow).

The warm-as-melted-butter sunshine had drawn plenty of other outdoor enthusiasts that day, some of whom had come to hike, rock climb, or bird watch, and others (like us) who just wanted to soak up fresh air and savour the view - and of course, if you happen to be a vintage fashion blogger, take some outfit snaps.

Having a new puppy in the house, my Freddies jeans and overalls have been getting more wear over the past couple of months than in all the time I'd owned them previously up until this point, as one does not want to risk having a very rambunctious dog accidentally damage a less durable item of vintage or repro clothing.

These overalls are also a great go-to piece for days when I'm yard saling (warm, comfy, sturdy, pockets - what's not to love!), and the two reasons combined is why I was sporting them that Saturday. We'd not begun the day knowing that we'd be headed up to the Bluffs, but the fact that we did added a third reason why they were the perfect thing to wear for a spot of wilderness fun.

A woven raffia bag, pink button front shirt, pair of iridescent pale pink stretch bracelets, cute floral print scarf, and my endlessly reliable 1940s style black shoes rounded out the look.

I love the fact that even though Penticton isn't terribly large, it - and it’s many surrounding towns, communities and off-the-beaten-path locations - offer up such an abundance of things to do and see - not to mention serve as fantastic photographic backdrops.

I'm really looking forward to the coming summer weather months and the numerous local places, new and old alike, that I hope we'll get to explore - trusty camera in hand every step (and steep mountain curve) of the way.

Wearing dusty rose to sweeten a rainy summer day

 


 








  


Outfit details

Floral print vintage cotton scarf: etsy seller I Love Vintage Stuff  Pink cupcake earrings: Claire's Pink bow sweater: eBay Faux pearl stretch bracelets: Real Canadian Superstore Vintage style side button jeans: Freddies of Pinewood Pink and white argyle pattern socks: Ralph Lauren bought at Winners (aside from perfume, the only Ralph Lauren item I've owned to date) Lip colour: Covergirl Outlast Lipstain in 440 (Wild Berry Wink)

Photography by Antonio Cangiano 

♥ ♥ ♥

Don't get me wrong, by and large, I'm actually quite fond of a rainy day or two (unless, of course, it's raining when I want to go out thrifting on the weekend!). They can inject a breather into a hectic week, month or even season and help you slow down for a touch - or at least focus more on getting indoor activities completed. Rainy days often mean cooler temps, gentle light, and the need for slightly heavier garments, often even during the summertime.

This spring and summer have seen their fair share of rainy days so far - not monsoon level by any means, but certainly more than during many years in my younger days spent in this neck of the Okanagan woods.

On days when the sun is nowhere in sight and it's clear that the temps won't climb above 20C, I find myself feeling a bit happy because I know it means I can easily wear a lightweight sweater without the risk of wilting like a lettuce leaf under a heat lamp, before summer's sweltering temperatures return in a day or two.

It's a scarcely a secret that pink is my favourite colour, but did you know that my very favourite shade of this feminine hue is dusty rose? It's true, for as far back as I can recall, this delicate, soulful pink has been my most beloved colour, and I'm always on the prowl for vintage or vintage appropriate wardrobe pieces in it to add to my closet.

This darling little sweater - with it's super cute bow - is a relatively recent purchase, picked up last winter along with a few other pieces from eBay seller Glamshell Store, who sell an array of reasonably priced vintage/pinup girl inspired garments (chiefly sweaters, shirts, and bustiers). It quickly became one of my most frequently worn knit tops and I'd been missing it since the mercury shot up, so it was with great delight that I slipped into it again not too long ago for a lovely little photo shoot out out on our front deck.

We were not entirely alone as the camera snapped away. A moth with beautiful earthy hued wings, who lived on our deck for at least a week, and which I named Marvin the Moth, hung out with us, as did a small, spindly legged spider. I love how verdant the grass looks here thanks to the rain, as well as that you can see our hanging flower basket (our first ever - a gift from my paternal grandparents) in the background in some shots.

I've been more than a little obsessed with headscarves and using scarves as headbands since about May onward (though I've always loved them and worn them often over the years), and have been wearing a scarf or two in my hair several times a week for the past couple of months (with no sign of that trend halting any time soon).

I adore how cool they help my head feel when the sun is blaring down, as well as the endless array of fun ways you can style them. This particular vintage scarf, which features flowers in hues of pink and burgundy is my favourite scarf in my modest sized collection, and the one that I sport most often - especially when wearing this dusty rose sweater, as I really like how well the two compliment one another.

Given that we're only a third of the way through July (tomorrow is my birthday, yay!), summer is certainly not at any risk of coming to an end for quite some time still, and these unseasonably grey days probably won't stick around too much longer. Or at least I'm hoping so, because though I do love a tranquil, damp afternoon periodically, I really need my sizzling hot summer fix while I can still get it!

Blue jean baby, OK Falls lady

The town of Penticton, where we live now, is sandwiched rather quaintly - and permanently - between two lakes. On the north end is one of British Columbia's best known and most generously sized bodies of water, Okanagan Lake. On the south side, the much smaller Skaha Lake helps turn Penticton into a water locked town and adds to the good time appeal that sees tourists flock here by the thousands each summer like clockwork.

Along the perimeter of each of these lakes, one finds various small communities and towns. Okanagan Lake has places such as Naramata, Summerland, and Peachland (each a small village/town with roots and present ties alike to orchard based agriculture), whereas the tinier of the two lakes, Skaha, gets Kalenden on one of its sides and wraps up a few miles away with its shores in the wee little community of Okanagan Falls.

Known locally by one and all as OK Falls, this sandy spot actually began life with the unique name of "Dogtown", which came from fact that Skaha was the local First Nation's word for dog. As the years went on however, that title was swapped out in favour of Okanagan Falls, as two small waterfalls once comprised part of the local landscape.

Though it's pretty much one of those "blink and you'll miss it" kind of communities, OK Falls manages to cram several interesting attractions into one small parcel of land. From two popular vineyards to a terrific outdoor swap meet that runs from April to October, OK Falls is worth stopping in for if you're journeying through this part of the province.

Should you happen to have a sweet tooth or just need something scrumptiously refreshing to beat the summer heat, than a trip to the areas largest (and best known) ice cream shop, Tickleberry's, is definitely a must.

Comprised of an ice cream parlour, candy and fudge shop, and inviting array of collectibles and small home decor pieces (think wall plaques, teacups, figurines, etc), Tickleberry's has an inviting air that beckons one to wander all around its grounds, both inside and out. Especially if you're in the mood to spot some terrific vintage pieces that the shop has utilized as both decor and as functional storage for some of its wares.

 

 

As one pulls up to Tickleberry's they're greeted with a large, splendidly cute mural of bears enjoying an ice cream picnic on a sunny day, as well as a vintage bicycle and a mid-century washing machine that are on permanent display out front.

A few days ago the mister and I took a drive out to OK Falls and stopped by Tickleberry's. Naturally, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to have Tony grab a few snaps of myself posing with these time worn vintage pieces - especially since I was in a polka dot, cherry, and denim 1940s ensemble that went well with both the teddy bear painting and the old school decor pieces.

 

Outfit details:

 

Red and white polka dot hair scarf: eBay

Prescription eyeglasses: (frames) Venus Eye Design V-12

Faux pearl earrings: Clare’s

Sterling silver & Swarovski crystal cherry pendant necklace: a beautiful gift from my husband ♥

White ruched sleeve cardigan: Fairweather

Black knit sleeveless shell: Sears (Jessica brand)

Black plastic bangle bracelets: Clare's

Vintage Saks Fifth Avenue black patent purse: etsy seller MK Retro

Vintage style side button jeans: Freddies of Pinewood

Black and white saddle shoes: eBay

Lip colour: MAC Russian Red

Outfit photography by Antonio Cangiano, Tickleberry mural and sign images taken by me.

After our visit to Tickleberry's (which has been a local institution for 25 years now), we continued to explore OK Falls together. I'd been there scores of times as a youngster, and even Tony had visited a couple of times before, but this was our first trip there alone, just the two of us, and so I suggested we check in on two antique stores that I recalled exploring as a youngster.

Sadly, as with far too many small town businesses these days, one had long closed up shop, but thankfully the other was still going strong. Believe it or not, it had actually been a rather long time (years) since I last set foot in a proper antique shop, so I was more than a tad eager to explore what Jardin Estate Vintage Jewelry and Antiques had to offer these days.

Though not an especially large shop, the space had been well utilized and an abundance of treasures filled each shelf, cabinet, table, basket, and hook. Though I could easily have melted my credit card in such a store, I was a good girl and did no such thing.

That didn't mean, however, that I refrained from purchasing all together, and the lovely little handful of vintage items I bought there that afternoon are going to be the focus of a future blog post unto themselves (as it's not everyday I get to go antiquing).

With candy in hand for Tony from Tickleberry's and a few yesteryear pieces for me popped into the truck of the car, we bid farewell to OK Falls for the day and whisked out onto the highway that runs alongside Skaha Lake and back to Penticton.

Despite the nippy weather (you might not be able to tell it from the photos above, but it had been snowing that very morning and the temperature was only a couple of degrees above freezing when we got out of the car), we had a fantastic day and agreed that we'd definitely be returning to Okanagan Falls again from time-to-time to check in on our favourite shops and the friendly locals who run them.