Happy Birthday, Canada!

Hi Folks:

While we may not always be very vocal about it (typically Canadian), us up here in the Great White North are proud to be Canadian, and that’s never more evident than it is today – Canada Day.

When we were downtown yesterday there was someone from the local news channel who was asking people whether (as with this year) Canada Day should be celebrated on July 1, or whether it should be celebrated on say the Monday of that week (like Easter Monday, for example) to allow for a long weekend. While there are some celebrations that are based on a certain day of the week (for example, Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox), July 1, 1867 marked the signing of the British North America Act that made Canada into a country. We’ll keep our date, thanks – quietly, but proudly! Continue Reading →

You Are Beautiful

Hi Folks:

This is very short, and really only a shout out to some other folks. These crossed our path yesterday, and we just had to share them. You are beautiful, no matter who you are.

Click on the images to be taken to the individual posts.

Anything for Love

In February 2014, one of Gerdi McKenna’s friends wrote an email requesting a photoshoot for all her friends as she was diagnosed with breast cancer a few months before … and this is what happened

and

The Light Within

Amy Wilton wants to give everyone a mask, so they can be their true and honest selves. Then she wants them to take the mask off and fearlessly continue to let their true selves shine. This is the light within each person that Amy tries to capture with her camera.

and

Carol Beckwith & Angela Fisher: Painted Bodies of Africa

Photographers Angela Fisher and Carol Beckwith join forces to explore the art of using skin as a canvas, a practice performed to attract the opposite sex, differentiate oneself from the enemy, and access the spirit world.

We trust you’ll enjoy them as much as we did!

Happy International Happiness Day (+1)!!

Hugs,
M&M

P.S. Our friend Samantha has a blog post: Beauty Doesn’t Vary – Well worth reading!

The Blue Feather

Hi Folks:

A number of years ago when I was going through a dark period in my life, it seemed like every time I went outside I’d find a feather on the ground, waiting for me, usually with 10-15 feet of whatever doorway I had just left. To me to it was a quiet nudge from the Universe, a sense of letting me know I was loved and cared for no matter what experience I was choosing in the moment.

Well, last week I was going through a very strange day and on my way home from the grocery store I found this Macaw feather lying on the ground by the sidewalk. Now, some people might have found that strange – it’s not moulting season, after all – but to me it was a reminder of that earlier time, and I smiled.

It wasn’t until the next morning that I realized it was a blue feather, and I thought, “Couldn’t they have just put up a sign that read, Don Shimoda was here?'”

Blue Feather

Hugs,
M&M

P.S. If you’re looking for a blue feather yourself, you might want to drop by our friend Kristen’s site: Blue Feather

 

For Auld Lang Syne – Happy New Year!!

Hi Folks:

Many have heard at least the beginnings of the song ‘For Auld Lang Syne’, but not as many are familiar with the words or their meaning.  We came across this ‘wee translation’ from Dolidh Young on Google+ and wanted to share it with you.  Her post is here: https://plus.google.com/+DolidhYoung/posts/HuugfJV5sYX

For Auld Lang Syne

Should auld acquaintance be forgot, Should people we used to know be forgotten
and never brought to mind ? And never brought up again
Should auld acquaintance be forgot, Should people we used to know be forgotten
and auld lang syne? For the old long past

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my jo (or my dear), (Toasting) For the old long past, my joy
for auld lang syne, For old long past
we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet, We’ll take a cup of kindness yet
for auld lang syne. For old long past

And surely ye’ll be your pint-stowp ! And surely you’ll pay for your drink
and surely I’ll be mine ! And surely I’ll pay mine
And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet, We’ll take a cup of kindness yet
for auld lang syne. For old long past

CHORUS

We twa hae run about the braes, We two have run around the hills
and pu’d the gowans fine ; And pulled wild daisies fine
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fit, But we’ve wandered many a weary foot (as in distance)
sin auld lang syne. Since old long times

CHORUS

We twa hae paidl’d i’ the burn, We two have paddled in the stream
frae morning sun till dine ; From morning until dinner
But seas between us braid hae roar’d But seas between us broad and roared
sin auld lang syne. Since old long times

CHORUS

And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere ! And here’s a hand my trusty friend
and gie’s a hand o’ thine ! And give me a hand of yours
And we’ll tak a right gude-willy waught, We’ll take a right good toasting drink
for auld lang syne. For old long past

CHORUS

From both of us to you and all those close to you, may the New Year bring you all the joy, peace, adventure, love and excitement you can handle!!

Hugs,
M&M

Happy Holidays!!

Happy Holidays!!

Hi Folks:

Whether you celebrate Christmas or Festivus, Solstice or Saturnalia, Hannukah, Kwanzaa or something entirely personal, we wish you and those close to you a safe and happy Holiday Season, and a New Year with as much joy, love, adventure, peace and excitement as you can handle!!

The blog has been a little quiet of late, but we’ll be back with much more in 2014, so our continued thanks to you for stopping by!!

With Hugs,
Marcia and Mike.

P.S. The photograph is a composite made from 75 images, shot on the corner of the Legislative Grounds. If you’re not familiar with Victoria, the Inner Harbour is on the far left, then there’s the Empress Hotel, the Royal BC Museum and then the lights of the Legislative bldg.

It’s Our Birthday!!

DSCF32054-PAP

Hi Folks:

It’s our Birthday!  Actually, technically our blog’s birthday was yesterday, but yesterday was also the Christmas Tree Lighting and Santa Claus Parade downtown and one should never pass up the chance for free hot chocolate.  It’s important to set priorities… 🙂

We’re now four years old, and WordPress tells us we have (cue drum roll)… 404 blog posts and 137 pages to read.  Wow.  But enough about us!  Today we want to give thanks for you, our readers.  Thank you for your visits, your referrals, your comments, and most of all, thanks for continuing to drop by and visit our little corner of the ‘net!  You are much appreciated!!

Hugs,
Marcia and Mike.

P.S. And thanks to our grandsons (and their mom) for the use of their birthday banner.  You totally rocked it!!

I ‘See’ You

Hi Folks:

It’s been a while since I wrote one of those rambling blog posts where I collected seemingly unrelated threads of information and try to weave them into some loose form of coherence, so I figured it must be time to do so again.  As I’ve written before, my mind tends to ping pong from one thought to another, creating connections often out of the thinnest of junctions.  The title for this post comes from the movie ‘Avatar‘, of course, where among the Navï the term, “I ‘See’ You” goes beyond mere physical vision and encompasses, “I acknowledge you.  I honour your presence.” Continue Reading →

International Free Hugs Day, 2013

Hi Folks:

As you’re surely all well aware, Saturday, July 6 (the first Saturday in July) was International Free Hugs Day!!  Marcia and I dutifully marched down to our spot at the Homecoming Statue at Ship’s Point and unrolled our ‘Free Hugs’ posters, then eagerly awaited the onslaught.  We didn’t have long to wait.  We both commented on how terrified we were the first time we did this down at the inner harbour, and how much we look forward to these outings now!  We meet some amazing people from around the world (and around the corner), shared some great stories and some great hugs!

Thanks to everyone who came by for sharing your hugs, smiles, waves, air hugs (from across the street), and best of all, yourselves.  We appreciate every one!

International Free Hugs Day, 2013

International Free Hugs Day, 2013

So go out and hug someone today, and be sure to check out our other ‘Free Hugs‘ posts!

M&M

P.S.  We recently came across a FB page for a woman named Rita who is also a hugger.  You can check her out here: 10,000 Hugs in 100 Cities.  Rita is also based in Victoria; we may not have all of the world’s best huggers, but we’re certainly on the map… ;-)  We haven’t (yet) met Rita in person, but the hugging will be epic!

Greeting Cards

Hi Folks:

As often happens with our posts, this one begins with a seemingly unrelated mish-mash of ideas that will hopefully find some confluence by the time I’m finished writing (and Marcia’s had a a chance to proofread it).  We’ll see!

To start with, today is Marcia’s Dad’s birthday.  He’s 90 years young today, and although he may not be quite as spry as he was in 1933 for example, he’s still quite vivacious and certainly not done with life!

The next thread in this post is our friend Bob.  Bob is an photographer.  An analog photographer.  Yes, that means he uses film.  He’s not adverse to digital and he does scan his work when required, but he’s in love with printing, with the feel of a photographic print.  While 99% or more of images today are seen on some form of electronic device, Bob maintains that there’s there’s something lacking in not being able to hold a print in your hands, feel the texture of the paper, to hold something ‘real’.  I don’t print much of my work, but I agree with him.  I read a post recently about another photographer, David Duchemin, who makes prints of some of his recent work and then leaves them for others to find.  He leaves them in coffee shops, on benches, wherever, and he has no knowledge or control of what happens to them after he walks away.  That, however, is the whole point, and I like the idea so much I’ve been giving serious thought to adopting it. Continue Reading →