New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #127!

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New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #124!

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I want to make sure that you all know that if you are figuring out your journey, on a journey, taking a side adventure in your journey, or even just starting your journey, these are all great choices. Take the time you need. Create your adventure. Figure out your journey. I have changed careers several times. I have earned several college degrees. My focus has always been about improving the world for children, but that doesn't mean that any one career will keep me motivated or that I want to do the same thing for the rest of my life. One journey, many adventures. All the best to all of the high school and college grades this week and over the next few weeks. 

If you love this saying as much as I do, I have a different design of it on t-shirts and hoodies in my Etsy and you can see that listing here: Doodling Rocks. If you like this design better and think I should add it to my shop, leave me a message or tell me on Facebook. Thanks!

 New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #123! 

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Today is day 439 of quarantine. Shavuot starts this Sunday, May 16th and ends on Tuesday, May 18th.  I created this page for The Blue Dove Foundation (as seen here:  https://thebluedovefoundation.org/shavuot/) and I'm sharing it here for both Shavuot and Mental Health Awareness month. 

For those who don't know what Shavuot is - it is also known as the "feast of weeks" and it celebrates the day that the Torah was given to the Jewish people on Mt. Sinai (this is why I drew mountains) more than 3,300 years ago; 7 weeks and one day after the second night of Passover (the weeks). It is associated with the grain harvest (the feast). It is typically celebrated by lighting candles and staying up late at night reading the Torah. 

This holiday is typically celebrated with the study of the Torah, but in my family, we will celebrate educational achievement. While the school year isn't quite over, my children have worked very hard during this strange year attending school from home on their computers. They have had to adjust their method of learning, modify their organizational methods, and figured out how learn with little to no kinesthetic tools or manipulatives to enhance their learning experiences (I'm not counting filling out a worksheet as a kinesthetic experience). This holiday also celebrates the harvest of the grain, so I will bake fresh bread and we will have our own "feast." Adjust and celebrate.  

I wrote "You can move mountains" because I believe we all can. When presented with a challenge, review it, study it, tackle it, but don't go around it. Don't avoid it. That's what this year has been for most people. We constantly have to review the situation and adjust our approach. It might be one pebble at a time, but you can move mountains. 

New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #122!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

#StopTheStigma

Today is day 437 of quarantine and down here in Georgia our local schools are finishing up units, taking end of year tests and milestone tests, completing end of year projects, and preparing EOCs and final exams. Kids and teachers are ready to be done, ready for a break, ready for summer and I don't know about your family, but I can feel the stress in my house. It's Okay Not to Be Okay. I don't just mean about school stuff, about anything and everything. You are allowed to be unhappy, stressed, worried. It's okay to have bad days. Breathe. Call a friend or seek out a therapist. Talk. You can lean on someone to help you through the bad days so it isn't all on you. You are not alone in whatever you are feeling - even if it may feel that way. I'm not a therapist, but I'm always available to talk to my friends and there are many great professionals out there who are ready to talk to you. #StopTheStigma

New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #121!

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Day 432 of quarantine. Today's post is a day late because I was volunteering in and participating in a Pitch event on Twitter yesterday to pitch my middle grade graphic novel and was pretty focused on that. Sorry. Today's page is for the MOMS out there. Thank you. I hope you print it out and slide it over to the kids to color for you. 

Stay well. 

Monday's post will be another for Mental Health Awareness month, so check back here on Monday!

Here's a copy of last year's MOM page...

New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #118!

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Today is day 421 of quarantine. This page speaks for itself, so I won't lecture you. Be safe. Be smart. Be kind. Stand up for equality. Stand up for what's right. 

New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #117!

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Today is day 416 of quarantine and tomorrow is Earth Day. I've also included last year's Earth Day page, in case you'd like to color that one, too. 

Last year's page - 

New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #114!

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Today is day 408 of quarantine. Friends and family are getting vaccinated. I have hope. I get dose #2 tomorrow. I have hope. In case you can't read this page, instead of doodles and patterns around the edges, I have written these words...

HOPE

Health

Vaccine

This ends

You get well

My kids can get vaccinated soon

The sun comes out

Family is Okay

Friends is Healthy

COVID stops mutating

We can get past this

New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #108 & 109!

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Today is day 386 of quarantine, and I just saw on the news that Georgia is opening up vaccine eligibility to everyone over 16 starting tomorrow. This is great! 

High school students can get vaccinated. 

College students can get vaccinated. 

Young adults can get vaccinated. 

Friends in their 30s and 40s and early 50s can get vaccinated. 

Roll up your sleeve and do your part. 

Let's wipe this thing out and get our kids safely back in school. 

Since Passover is starting this Saturday evening - Here's a Passover Seder coloring page. There are 3 hidden pictures in it (not hidden too well so the little ones can find them) - Elijah's cup, a piece of Matzah, and the word L'Chaim!  

Free Coloring Page #109!

New Free Pandemic Coloring Page # 107!

Today is day 384 of quarantine and in the last few days, I have had several things to be thankful for. 

1. I attended an online event that renewed my energy through a shared art project. Thank you, Illyse. I had the opportunity to see how 40 different women take this one statement and turn it into art. All individual. All unique. All fantastic.

L'Chaim! To Life! 

2. I received my first dose of the vaccine last week and I feel a sense of relief, of thankfulness and gratefulness. 

3. I planted my frost hardy plants in my garden and working in my garden gives me great joy. 

In addition, Passover is approaching this weekend and this holiday brings a feeling of power and survival - and a sense of joy in the new life and new hope that comes with spring and plants sprouting and flowers opening. 

*Be healthy. Be thankful. Be grateful. 

Passover Coloring Page coming this Wednesday!

*If you have lost friends or family this week, I am sorry for your loss.

 New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #106!

Today is day 379 of quarantine - Every day is a new day. I hope you saw yesterday's post and are celebrating small moments. The pandemic can be stressful, so take the celebrations you get. Today's page is about learning. You can learn something from anything and everything. Think about this one. You learn something from everyone, even if it's what not to do. You don't have to judge. You don't have to get angry. You do you. Learn from others and figure out something to use or something to remember not to use from that information, but whatever you choose, you will continue to grow. 

In my Get Out and Go challenge for this year. I have ridden 16 miles and I have 484 to go. When we have better weather, my number will go up, up, up. Make a goal. Do your best. Celebrate your progress. #GetOutandGo If you want to join me, leave a message. If you don't walk, bike, swim, jog, skate, *insert any other activity* 500 miles, then celebrate what you do get done. 

New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #105!

Celebrate the small moments. They all count. They all contribute to your quality of life and feeling of self worth. 

I rode my bike yesterday. 7 miles. It is an ebike, but contrary to popular belief, that is not the same as a moped. You have to pedal, even if you have turned on pedal assist, you have to pedal the whole time (unless you are coasting down hill). I live with permanent damage to my knees, wrist, and elbow and riding a bike (without excessive pain) was taken out of my ability range for a long time, but with level 1 pedal assist for the giant hills in my area and my super cool vertical ergo grips, I can ride. I have ridden 168 miles since getting this bike last October and I plan to ride 500 miles in 2021, so yes, I'm celebrating 7 miles. 

Challenge yourself and celebrate every step toward that goal. 

If you want to join me in the Get Out and Go challenge to ride, walk, jog, skip, dance, swim, skateboard, roller skate, etc.... 500 miles (or any amount you complete) in 2021, Comment on this post or the post from last Wednesday to let me know. #GetOutandGo 

On a different note - Today is day 377 of quarantine and while everyone around me is claiming to be eligible for the vaccine, I suspect many are not being truthful. I am not yet eligible. I will not sign up until I am. I realize that starting today in Georgia, if I had gained 20 lbs during the past year of quarantine, I would not be over 25 bmi and qualify - however, I did not. I stayed fit. I worked hard to stay fit while baking cookies and brownies and breads for my family. My group is next. I've waited a year, I'll wait for my group. You do you.

New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #102!

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Today is day 365 of the pandemic. It has been a YEAR! 

What do we need? 

We need to persevere. 

We need to care about others. 

We need to continue to be safe, be careful, wear a mask, show empathy, and soo much more to get through this. 

Instead of filling the page with patterns, 

I filled it with very important words. 

We can do this. Together. Separate. 

Thank you to those who have been sharing my coloring pages with others. I will continue to create them until we are vaccinated and until our families, children, friends, and neighbors are safe.

New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #100!

Copy, Print, Color! Happy Purim!

Today is day 358 of quarantine and this is the 100th free pandemic coloring page that I have posted. I'm posting it a day early so that people have a chance to print it and give it to their children to color for the holiday. This page is for Purim, which begins at sundown on Thursday evening (February 25th, 2021) and will end on Friday evening at sundown. 

Purim is usually celebrated with a carnival, but due to the pandemic, temples are not hosting carnivals this year. Kids and many adults dress up in costumes of characters from the story of Purim (or any other character they like) for this festive event. A temple member, often the Rabbi, reads the story (also called the Megillah) aloud. Everyone listening to the story shakes a grogger (a noise maker) when they hear the name of the bad guy, Haman, the evil advisor to King Ahasuerus (Ah-ha-shu-air-us). Listeners also yell "YAY!" or clap or give a thumbs up or something similar when they hear the names of King Ahasuerus or Queen Esther. While, at first glance, you may think that this story is all about these two men, it is actually about brave Queen Esther saving the Jewish people. The interactive story is great fun every year. A story of girl power.

When I was little, we would dress up and go to temple where adults would run carnival booths and give little prizes to the kids. Most of the other kids dressed as Queen Esther or King Ahasuerus, but what did I dress up as? Well, I would dress up as the King's dog (with a crown that I made from foil and cardboard) or a Hamantaschen - the delicious triangular cookie filled with fruit or chocolate in the center (triangle in shape to replicate the 3 pointed hat worn by Haman in the story). 

In my coloring page, you can see "Purim", two Hebrew words that say "Happy Purim", Hamantaschen, a crown (for the king and queen), and a grogger - our noise maker. 

If you would like to learn more about Purim, check out this link at My Jewish Learning.

New Free Coloring Page #98

Today is day 352 of quarantine. With all of the January 6th info continuing to come out, more video, more audio - it is difficult to watch the violence. Sadly, there is a lot of hatred in our world, but we can make a change, if you care. Care about other people. Show kindness. Help others. Small things count. Donate your gently used toys and clothes to those in need. Deliver food and necessities to shelters. I crochet hats for Cancer patients. I know that this is a little thing, but if I make one person feel less alone, then all 200+ hats I have made and donated is worth it. Every little bit counts. Helping one person counts. Think of what the world would be like if each person helped one person, one stranger, one neighbor, anyone who needed help. Just take a moment, a half hour, an afternoon, to find a way to help others. BE THE GOOD.

FYI - I was unable to post a page on Monday because a current project that I am passionate about needed my time.

New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #97!

Today is Thursday, Feb 11, 2021 and day 346 of quarantine. I wasn't able to post yesterday because it was about 70 degrees here in Georgia and I spent the day preparing my garden for the spring. Pulling weeds, turning soil. Lots of work. Obviously, this was the inspiration for today's coloring page, too, even though it is about 50 degrees and raining today. 

Stay safe!

New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #96!

Today is day #343 of quarantine. Valentine's Day is on Sunday, so I created this page inspired by hearts. Please tell your loved ones how much they mean to you every day and not just on this  holiday. Stay safe.

New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #95!

Today is February 1st and day 336 of quarantine. Let's talk about hobbies. I garden, I crochet hats for Cancer patients, I just added making baskets to my skills list, I paint, I draw, I write, I juggle, I bike,... People often ask me things like, "You're making a basket? How do you know you can?" My response is simple. "I don't know that I can, but I'm going to try. What's the worst that could happen?" TRY. It is a small word with a big meaning. I ask my kids to try to foods, try new skills, try challenging homework before asking for help, try. I challenge you to try something new. (not something that is a danger to you or others) You cook something that tastes bad? So what? What if it ends up being delicious? You try a new instrument and sound terrible? Keep practicing. I guarantee you will get better. You plant something and it dies? So what? Try again.

Good luck. What's the worst thing that can happen? 

New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #94!

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Today is day #331 of quarantine. 

A friend recently posted a photo of two older people wearing masks while driving. He probably took the photo when he pulled up next to them. He posted this photo on his Facebook page with the question "Why?" My immediate response was why what? Why are they wearing masks? Maybe they are immunocompromised. Maybe they don't live together and are being cautious (though not 6 feet apart). Maybe they just came from a doctor visit and don't want to touch their masks until they get home and wash their hands. Maybe they are just following science! Please don't make assumptions about people. Don't judge people for following the CDC guidelines. In the thread of comments, he commented on his own photo that he thinks that people are living in fear. FOLLOWING SCIENCE IS NOT LIVING IN FEAR. Wearing a mask has proven to slow the spread. Wearing a mask shows that you care about other people and their health. Wearing a mask shows consideration and empathy. In the words of Nike, Just do it.

New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #93!

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I always begin a new sketchbook with a page for my name. If your name is Alison - spelled this way, you are welcome to print it and use it as a coloring page. 

Today's Coloring Page is...BEGIN

Today is day 329 of quarantine. Today, I created a new crochet hat pattern that I'll upload to my Ravelry Store and made one and half samples of it, crocheted several inches of a junk yarn basket, and illustrated 2 new coloring pages for my brand new (old, but unused - I did not go out - there's COVID out there) sketchbook. I get asked often how I work on my garden, crochet hats and create patterns, draw coloring pages, paint in my journal, write children's books, create recipes for cookies, etc... and my answer is always BEGIN. Just start. You want to learn something new? Watch a YouTube video and begin. You have nothing to lose. If the crochet stitch looks terrible, try again. If the cookies taste terrible, change something in the recipe and try again. If the hat looks funky, change the pattern and try again. The only thing you have to lose it time. There is no big secret. Want to try something new? Begin. 

Now - go create something.