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!!
Hugs,
🤶&🎅
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!” ~ Clement C. Moore
Category Archives: Random Thoughts
Reindeer Games
No, not that one. This one:
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)
Taking time for a refreshing cup of tea!
Celebrating the Holidays!
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. 🙂
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
🎅🤶
Always…🍁🍃🍂
Go out and kick some leaves! You know you want to… 🙂
Hugs,
M&M
Spooktacular Hugs!!
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 🙂
Hi Folks:
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!!
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!!
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)
Father’s Day Hugs (behind the scenes)
Hi Folks:
This is a short post that covers a bit of what went into making our latest chalk art drawing, for those who might be interested…
To start with, credit and thanks to @the.world.of._drawing on Instagram for the design! Much appreciated.
Now, if only sidewalks came with grid squares we would have been all set. Unfortunately, they typically don’t. So, in order to create the design in sidewalk chalk, we had to get a little inventive. The first step was to create the pattern in CorelDraw, like this:
The second phase was to take that pattern and cut it into 12 pieces. Each section is contained with an 8″x10″ rectangle so as to fit on a sheet of letter-sized paper. An X-Acto knife was used to cut out the red lines in the paper, leaving gaps at the junctions to hold the template together. 
The next step was to assemble the cut-out pages of the template into three strips of four images, using painter tape to hold them together:
These strips were reassembled on the sidewalk, and a piece of white chalk was used to transfer the cutout lines to the sidewalk. After that, coloured chalk was used to complete the pattern. The final result looks like this:That’s it!
Hug someone you love today. Or a stranger. Or, preferably, both!
Hugs,
M&M