Category Archives: Random Thoughts

Random thoughts, musings, orphan ideas needing a home, and other writings that just didn’t want to fit into any other category

2025 Hug Zones

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Hi Folks:

This is an image of our most recent Free Hugs zone chalk at. In the middle is a large multi-coloured circle, surrounding four octagons in a square pattern with a diamond in the centre. At the top it read Prime and at the bottom it reads Hugging Spot2025 marks the fourth year we’ve been creating Hugging Spots on the sidewalk in front of our house (and occasionally elsewhere). Unfortunately, by the time you see this image the chalk art itself will be long gone. We had an uncharacteristic dry spell last month, long enough to put out our first effort for the year. We’ll see what 2025 brings! To keep all of the patterns for 2025 in one place we’ll add future works to the bottom of this post. If you happen to be walking by our little corner of Victoria feel free to share a hug with those who are accompanying you. If you’re nowhere near us, feel free to create your own Hugging Spot! All it takes is a little chalk, a little time and a little love. Many thanks to the wonderful people who stopped to chat while work was in progress!

If you want to see our previous patterns you can find them here:

2024 Hug Zones
2023 Hug Zones
2022 Hug Zones.

Remember to hug someone you love today, even if it’s you!!
M&M

Santa Tracker

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Hi Folks:

We came across this story via the Good News Network and we just had to share it with you. Remember to keep your eyes on the sky tonight!!

A Wrong Number to a Top-Secret Military Phone Led to NORAD Santa Tracker With Millions of Fans Worldwide

Hugs, 
🤶&🎅
 
This image was made in CorelDraw using royalty-free graphics and a little time. It shows Santa, the sleigh and nine reindeer soaring through the night sky over a snowy forest landscape.

“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!” ~ Clement C. Moore

Reindeer Games

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No, not that one. This one:
 
This is an image of Mrs. Claus along with the reindeer Twinkles and Krinkles standing in front of the large Christmas tree on the bottom level of the Bay Centre in downtown Victoria, BC. Mrs' Claus is wearing her signature green parka.

Mrs. Claus, Twinkles and Krinkles at the Bay Centre, Victoria, BC. Still much waving to do!

A lot of people lose their smiles this time of year, so Twinkles and Krinkles like to wander about and wave at people to see if they can help find their smiles again. 🙂
 
Mr.and Mrs. Claus do their best to keep the reindeer from getting too rambunctious; sometimes it isn’t easy as they do love their task!! 
 
Hugs, 
🤶&🎅
(and Krinkles and Twinkles) 
 
Mrs. Claus (sans parka) and the reindeer enjoying a refreshing cup of tea at The Good Earth before continuing on!

Taking time for a refreshing cup of tea!

Celebrating the Holidays!

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Hi Folks:

Tomorrow marks the winter solstice; we’re closing in on the end of another year. It seems 2024 has been a tough one for many but we’re continuing to open to ourselves and each other in many magical ways…

Last night we continued our annual tradition of seeing the movie Love Actually with friends at Cinecenta. The movie is a wonderful reminder of the many facets of love and how best to express them.

As we move toward the vernal equinox we will be entering the period where the days begin to lengthen once again (here in the northern hemisphere, at least). More light, more trust, new beginnings. It’s a choice each of us gets to make in every moment, so if you’re ever unsure how to react in any situation, be kind. It’s good for you, good for the other person, is non-fattening, doesn’t cause cavities and helps to make the world a better place, even just for a moment. And sharing kindness is often contagious! Pay it forward. 🙂

This image shows one of the trucks in the 2024 IEOA Lighted Truck parade and food drive. A soft-panel truck, it's heavily decorated with coloured lights and has two large plastic candles on either side of the windshield. The open area in the back has a scene from the Charlie Brown Christmas, featuring Charlie Brown, the small tree, Snoopy and his doghouse.

2024 IEOA Lighted Truck parade, Victoria, BC

“The Joy of brightening other lives, bearing each others’ burdens, easing each other’s loads and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of the holidays.”  ~ W. C. Jones

Whether you celebrate Christmas or Festivus, Solstice or Saturnalia, the arrival of Sinterklaas or Grandfather Frost, Hanukkah, Yalda, Pancha Ganapati, Bodhi Day, Kwanzaa, Las Posadas, St. Lucia’s Day, Three Kings Day, Yule, Hogmany, Soyal, Ōmisoka, Eid al-Fitr (starting on March 31, 2025), Diwali (October 2025),  or something entirely personal, from our house to yours, we wish you a Safe and Happy Holiday season! May 2025 find you safe, healthy and surrounded by Love. 💗

Hugs,
M&M
🎅🤶

Spooktacular Hugs!!

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This image shows a chalk drawing on the sidewalk in front of our house. It consists of a (not very scary) ghost, and text that reads, "Share Sppoktacular Hugs Here"

Hi Folks:

We haven’t done much chalk art recently because of the rain (no complaints – it refills the aquifer and we’ll appreciate it next summer). Unfortunately rain isn’t very kind to chalk art! We’re expecting another major storm this weekend so we’ll have to put out something else for Hallowe’en, but in the meantime, remember to hug someone you love today. Or a stranger. Or, preferably, both!!

Hugs,
M&M

Put On a Happy Face 🙂

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Hi Folks:

This is a chalk art drawing in front of our house. The main drawing is a large (4' diameter circle, filled in to make a happy face. At the top it reads, "You Are Beautiful." At the bottom it reads, "Share Hugs Here."As Labour Day weekend is upon us we’re starting to wind down summer once again. Vacations are (for the most part) coming to an end, children and adults are going back to school… Still, we wanted to offer a reminder that even as seasons change, some fundamental things don’t. Self-value is inherent, and not linked to what we do. And kindness is always the right response.

To that end, we wanted to offer you a reminder to put on a happy face and engage your world with love. 💗

Hugs,
M&M

P.S. This drawing took two whole sticks of yellow! But it was worth it… 🙂
P.S. II, the sequel: This is our ninth Hugs chalk art pattern for 2024. If you’d like to see all of them, click here: 2024 Hug Zones.

 

Happy Canada Day!!

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A chalk art drawing in red and white. There are two concentric circles and in the middle of the smaller circle is a Canadian flag. In the space between the two circles, at the top of the image it reads, "Happy Canada Day". At the bottom it reads, "Share Hugs Here"Happy Canada Day folks … to all of those born here, and to all those who have found their way to our shores. Remember to hug the ones you love today. Or a stranger. Or, preferably, both!!

Hugs,
M&M

P.S. A shout-out today to our wonderful friend Glennis, who wrote this beautiful poem back in 2019: Free Hugs

P.S. II, the sequel – a reminder that next Saturday (July 6, 2024) is International Free Hugs Day! Let your hugging inhibitions go and embrace the love!!

Happy Father’s Day!!

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This is the final image of the completed chalk drawing. The spiral pattern is at the top of the frame. Under that it says, "HAPPY FATHER'S DAY" and "HUG YOUR DAD"Hi Folks:

All of Marcia and Mike’s parents are gone now, but we have two sons and a son-in-law and five beautiful grandchildren. We are Grandy and Grandalf! 🧙‍♀️&🧙‍♂️

As with those who are moms, Happy Father’s Day today to all of the strong, loving men who are fathers, to those who are chosen dads, surrogate dads, step-dads, adoptive dads, and to the women who are also dads.

Special thanks to all those who love and support them.

Hugs,
M&M

P.S. For anyone who’s interested in knowing how the spherical pattern was made, click here:
Father’s Day Hugs (behind the scenes)