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 #120!

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    Today is day 429 of quarantine and it's May 3rd. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and with the pandemic year being soo challenging for many and those with and without mental health challenges are all feeling additional stress. I started these coloring pages last year because drawing them helps me handle both the stress and anxiety created by everything happening during the pandemic. I'm not going to list what has been causing stress, because I'm not sure that is helpful, but here's a list of just some things that could help you reduce stress or anxiety - 

seeking a friend to talk to, coloring or drawing, listening to music, crocheting or knitting or painting, reading a book, doing a crossword puzzle, taking a walk, playing with a pet, baking, watching a funny movie, etc... 

    Whatever you use to reduce stress is for you. If these suggestions are not enough and you need more help, please contact your doctor and get a referral to a therapist - we have many great ones here in Atlanta. 

The Blue Dove Foundation is a wonderful group that helps people with mental health and substance abuse. 

"The Blue Dove Foundation was created to help address the issues of mental illness and addiction in the Jewish community and beyond. Based in Atlanta, we work with people and organizations across the United States and around the world."

If you'd like to learn more about the Blue Dove Foundation, check out their website by clicking on the photo below:  

If you'd like to make a donation, click here - thebluedovefoundation.org/donate. 

New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #119

Today is day #423 of quarantine and rather than focus on the pandemic, masks, quarantine, being safe, etc... I'm dedicating this one to our heroes. Today is National Superhero Day, but let's talk about our heroes - our every day heroes. Who has gotten you through this pandemic. I know doctors, nurses, teachers, and all the other front line workers are truly amazing, but I want to hear from you about your day to day heroes. Who has been your support, your backbone, your go to person during the pandemic. Mom? Dad? A grandparent on the phone? A close friend? Post a comment and tell me who has been your lifeline. 

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 #116!

Today's page is in honor of a good friend, Andy, who is battling colon cancer. He is incredibly strong. Positive. Confident. He hasn't given up. The love of his life hasn't given up. I haven't given up and neither have dozens, if not hundreds, more of his friends and family who love him. He is the bravest and strongest person that I know. He amazes me every day. Keep fighting Andy! You have got this. 

Life throws you curve balls, challenges, things that you can't fathom how you will get past, but don't give up. 

Inspired by such powerful people like Andy in my life, I don't give up. I was told, 25 years ago, that it was likely that I wouldn't walk again after I crushed my femur and lost the cartilage in both knees. I walk, not fast, but I walk. I was told that I'd have little functional use of my dominant arm after I broke the ulna and dislocated the radial head (same accident as the leg). I've spent more than 20 years drawing with that arm (I have since had to switch to my non-dominant arm, but I'm still drawing almost every day). Don't give up. A favorite quote is "The bend in the road is not the end of the road unless you fail to make the turn." I know that I can walk, I just walk shorter distances and sometimes use a walking support. I know that I can draw, I just had to change how I do it. I wanted to learn how to crochet 4+ years ago and I taught myself as a righty because my left arm doesn't rotate enough. 

There is almost always a way around the obstacle. Find it. 

Today is day 414 of quarantine. I've had both doses of the vaccine. I'm still at home. I still wear a mask on the rare occasions that I go out. I'm not going to restaurants. We need everyone to get the vaccine, but sadly, Many Georgians aren't planning to get the vaccine. I don't know why and I really don't want to know. It is their decision. It just makes me sad. The sooner we can get herd immunity, the sooner we can get some semblance of a normal life. Stay strong. Get vaccinated. Wear a mask and continue to social distance. We CAN do this.

 New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #115

Today is day 409 of quarantine. You might be stressed, you might be nervous, you might be sad because you haven't seen family and friends in awhile, but know that there are also many things to "Bee Happy" about. Here in Georgia, everyone over 16 can get the vaccine (with a little computer dedication to finding a location). School down here is out in just over 5 weeks. The sun has been out and plants are starting to sprout or even bloom. Grocery stores are stocked with toilet paper. If you are stressed, angry, sad, nervous, find some little thing to be happy about and celebrate it. If you need more coloring pages, there are 114 more below this one, so scroll on down and pick one you like. 

Today, I got dose #2 of the vaccine, so I am happy, and relieved. My plants are looking okay in the garden - not great yet, but this is very early for the garden, so I am happy. My kids are almost done with school for this crazy remote learning year and this also makes me happy. 

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

Today is day 407 of quarantine and I spent all day in my garden so I am unable to post a coloring page today - please check back tomorrow for page #114. 

New Pandemic Coloring Page #113

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Today is day 402 of quarantine and the sun has been shining all week. We were expecting thunder storms today and it's been cloudy, but the rain hasn't started yet. My garden could use it, so I'm actually hoping for a little rain. Have a great rest of the week! Stay safe! I hope you enjoy today's page. 

Today is Wednesday, April 7th and day 401 of quarantine. We are in the middle of Spring Break and the weather is beautiful - sunny and upper 70s here in Georgia. I spent the morning at a park with my daughter and the afternoon working in the garden, so I'm sorry, but you will have to check back here tomorrow for the second coloring page for this week. In the meantime, enjoy some time outside this evening.  -Alison

New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #112

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Today is day 398 of quarantine and my daughter and I did the most normal thing we've done in a year. We went to the skate park. We had our masks, in case it was crowded, which it wasn't. She had posted on social media that she was having a meetup at the skatepark and invited others to join her. We went, met new friends (keeping socially distant), she skated for 2 hours, and it was a great event. What a nice thing to see after a year of remote school and almost no social interaction with kids her age. I hope you are all being safe this spring break, but also getting to do some normal-ish stuff. 

In world news - This week the Pfizer vaccine announced that it is 100 percent effective for 12-15 year olds and we are looking forward to my teens and their friends getting vaccinated. 

New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #111!

Today is day 393 of quarantine. We are in the middle of Passover, so I thought I'd post a quote today. This brings up some interesting concepts. When you are close, do you reach for your goals? Running a marathon, do you push that last mile to reach the end? Absolutely. Make a goal, and reach for it. A couple weeks ago, I posted my goal of riding my bike 500 miles in 2021. Yesterday, I rode another 8 miles. Every mile counts. Go get vaccinated. Get out and exercise (with a mask unless outside and socially distant). Let's push through this pandemic. 

New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #110

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Today is day 391 of quarantine. Happy Pesach. I know that the vaccine rollout is here and I've even had my first dose, but I also know that friends are struggling. While many of us are eligible to get vaccinated, many are not. We have kids at home who can't get vaccinated yet. We have versions of the virus evolving and changing and we don't know if the vaccines will protect us from them or for how long. This is stressful. Mental health is important. You are enough. I am enough. Believe it. Say it. Color it. Post it somewhere that you can see it. 

Some ways to safely handle stress during the pandemic - doodle, color, crochet or knit, read a book, take a walk, listen to music, spend time with a dog or cat, talk to a friend on the phone, dance it out, ride a bike, bake something you love and eat it while it's still warm out of the oven. We all have bad days and that's okay. Choosing an activity that will make you feel better can turn things around - one day at a time. 

May is Mental Health awareness month, so look for more positive pages coming soon.