Hi Folks:
Hugscotch is a game best played by two, but if you’re on your own, feel free to start on one end, hug yourself in the middle and then hop off to the other end. If you don’t have a hugscotch on the beach where you happen to find yourself, feel free to create your own! One can also be made using sidewalk chalk, or use your own imagination!
Hugs,
M&M
P.S. Alternately, one may choose to create something completely different:
Hi Folks: Mobility issues kept us both away from the shore last year (and it’s only 200m away) but Mike has been able to get there three times this year. This was left during the last visit… and we had our first customers within five minutes! Of course, by the next day the tide had washed it away, but that’s okay too. A part of the appeal for us is that unless we’re actually standing there we don’t see who partakes in our offer of a hugging space, but we’re pleased with the idea that some do. They carry those memories forward.
Hug someone you love today. Or a stranger. Or, preferably, both!
Hugs,
M&M
Hi folks:
Mike here.
Pretty much every year for the past 15+ years I’ve made an image of Marcia on New Year’s Day. It’s my favourite image of the year and becomes the wallpaper for my phone. This is the image for 2026.
I think she gets more beautiful every year. 🌞
Hugs,
M&M
…because Manhattan is too far away…
Hi Folks:
As Christmas is nearly upon us once again, Twinkles and Krinkles knew it was time to make their annual sojourn downtown. They’ve been doing this pretty much every year since 2015… So many people lose their smiles this time of year, and these two reindeer take it upon themselves to help people remember their smiles by smiling and waving at them. Some people smile and/or wave back and some don’t, but that’s okay. Some smiles are buried deeper than others, but the two reindeer know that memory is a powerful thing and smiles have a way of bubbling up to the surface unexpectedly.
Normally the two work in tandem, but when she heard Mrs. Claus was scheduled at a high-level E.L.F. meeting, Krinkles knew her path lay elsewhere.
This left Twinkles to his own devices, but he didn’t mind too much. Together or apart, they take their role of having fun very seriously. Wandering through the Bay Centre and the streets of downtown Victoria, Twinkles made sure to engage as many people as possible.
Of course, all of that smiling and waving uses up a lot of energy, so at one point Twinkles had to retire to a local shop for a cup of tea and a little bite to eat before heading out again.
Her meeting finished, Krinkles and Twinkles and Mrs. Claus were united once again. With big smiles on their faces, they were happy to head home. You’ll notice that this close to Christmas Mrs. Claus was doing her best to travel incognito…like that would ever work. Her glow gives her away every time.
If you come across someone today who has temporarily lost their smile, be sure to gift them one of yours! Even if they only take that smile and bury it down deep, it will find its way back out when they least expect it!
&
P.S. For more of the adventures of Twinkles and Krinkles, click here.
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
Hi Folks:
2025 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
Hi Folks:
Mostly every year since 2010, on New Year’s Day we’ve taken the opportunity to make some images of Marcia, and without hesitation it’s my favourite image of the year. We started out doing this at Government House, but for the past several years we’ve headed to Beacon Hill Park instead. This is the image for 2025:
Marcia, New Year’s Day 2025
I know she looks beautiful here, but the image doesn’t really do her justice. You’ll just have to take my word for it.
From Marcia and me, we wish you a new year filled with as much happiness, health, prosperity, excitement, love, peace and adventure as you can handle!
Hugs,
M&M
Mrs. Claus, Twinkles and Krinkles at the Bay Centre, Victoria, BC. Still much waving to do!
Taking time for a refreshing cup of tea!
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
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.