Be Kind and a free coloring page to print (30 Day Blog Challenge)

It's Day 19 of my 30 Day Blog Challenge!

I actually missed another day because of STUFF.

Besides going on a walk, I haven't been out of my house since Monday.

It is now Saturday.

I'm sure you can relate.

I did make an order for Grocery Pickup at the Walmarts last night but was unable to reserve a time until tomorrow (Sunday) @ 2.

We still have toilet paper but my stash is slowly running low. Goodness, gracious. I can't believe all the mess over toilet paper.

Today I am committed to working to do some spring cleaning in my bedroom again. I have been spring cleaning in my bedroom for days.

With extra breaks and time off for good behavior.

It really isn't all that bad. I just get distracted.

I wanted to give you a little "heads up." The Muffin is going to hijack my youtube channel and the blog for the day tomorrow. He's recorded (actually I recorded) a little devotion. He has no inclination on becoming a TV evangelist. But we all do what we got to do.

We are going to try and put it on a variety of platforms. Everybody is doing Facebook Live but not everybody in our church has Facebook. We wanted to make it possible to have something available we could even make a DVD available for some of our folks to don't even have the internet.

It's crazy times.

It's easy for us to shut ourselves away and become wrapped up in our own concerns and worries. It is also hard for some of us to think outside the box of what we have known or what we think is possible.

But just a little gesture of love and concern can go a long way.

Just this week...

I received a card telling me that someone was praying for me. I'm sure this lovely lady sent many cards but it was such a beautiful gesture of care.

A church member was at the store and picked up a gallon of milk and a dozen eggs for me. We got to keep the troops fed.

Some pastor friends of ours dropped off some extra "goodies" that thought our family might could use. Someone had given them an abundance so they wanted to share.

We all have our part to play. Even if it is to be kind to those who are checking out our groceries or stocking the toilet paper. Everyone's nerves are a little frayed.

I know it is easy to lash out when you are afraid for the safety of your loved ones. I know when money is tight is it hard to count your blessings.

But we have to keep on giving each other grace. And loving each other.

And keep on being kind.

If you have followed me for any length of time, you know that my momma and I created a collection of doodles to print and color. My creations are decidedly a little rough looking  But I thought the one I am about share with you is appropriate. Just click on the link and print off as many times as you need too.

That's all I have for today.

My Favorite Scripture for Encouragment (plus printable cards!)

(Insert Big Sigh Here)

That's about the size of it. 

I've had the flu for the past week or so. Thankfully, I think I am on the way up. 

The flu is always nasty, but for those who have chronic conditions, it can be especially gnarly. It has been messing with my blood pressure. So this meant an extra couple of trips to the cardiologist's office and an increase in my medication. 

I've been trying to lay low. My trips out have been necessary. I needed some more reading material from the Library (don't judge) and The Muffin took me to Walmart so I could get some more of my favorite Prism colored pencils. 

All this laying low stuff requires supplies. I also seriously cut into my tea stash. Though my favorite hot drink this time around was a cup of my momma's Mexican Hot Cocoa Mix.  It came in my Christmas box. She made it with some sort of Mexican chocolate powder. It's spicy enough to clear out any sinus congestion, yet it's chocolate. Need I say more? 

The flu certainly rearranged my plans for the week. We had to postpone a Family Fun Fest at church. I had to cancel Ladies Bible Study here at the Parsonage. I also failed to get out a few projects that I had been working on. 

I meant to have this one out some time ago. 

I thought I would share my favorite Scriptures for encouragement. During Ladies Bible Study over coffee one Wednesday morning, we talked about how God's Word has carried us through the tough times. They talked about rising early and putting first things first. Digging into well-worn Bibles. The pages familiar and certain. 

We all had Scripture that had brought us through the storms. These were inspired Words that brought truth, and hope, and life. 

Mine is a simple list and most likely familiar.

Psalm 126:5

Psalm 30:11

Psalm 147:3

John 16:33

Psalm 46:1-3, 7

Psalm 16:8

Isaiah 41:10

Psalm 91:4

Isaiah 40:31

Isaiah 43:2

Luke 12:6-7

They are mostly from the Psalms. Probably because they sound like poetry and bring me encouragement. 

I like to have them written down around me. I carry them around with me. I use them as bookmarks and place them in strategic spots in my house. 

And because I am just a little extra, I like them to look pretty. So I created a couple of pages of cards to print out, cut, and enjoy. 

And I'm sharing them with you. 

Click on the links below. They will take you to my Google Drive. Print and enjoy. Just a note: They are labeled 3-5 to distinguish them for the last set of cards I made. You can find those here. 

Scripture Cards (3)

Scripture Cards (4)

Scripture Cards (5)

Still Complaining and A FREE Doodle (Christmas Choir)

This post contains affiliate links...using affiliate links from There Will Be a $5 Charge for Whining helps support this blog, our homeschool and my book addiction. Thank You! 

Hello, my friends.

It's cold here in Indiana today. Not that I've been out of the house in almost a week.

I take that back. I did go to the doctor, but that barely counts, right?

I got up this morning with every intention of going to church. I got as far as making a pot of coffee, feeding the cat and fussing at Josiah to get himself out of bed.

Too much for me! I do feel better in some respects, but the thought of even putting mascara on (let alone going to church) was exhausting. You know you have been sick when you readily agree that the Orange Crush your son has been guzzling down can be counted as a fruit.

I am really, really looking forward to Christmas this year. I've been making plans. Some of those plans sound exhausting to me right now, but I know that eventually I will need those plans.

Written in sparkly pen and highlighted with jeweled stickers. That's just the way I roll.

Something I have learned throughout my years of chronic illness, etc. is that a girl really needs to have an arsenal of things that feed a creative outlet, help relieve stress and takes appreciation of those little moments. After all, those little moments are all some of us are guaranteed.

A few years ago, my momma began creating adorable zendoodles (also known as zentangles) for her people at the Nursing Home. She is getting ready to retire towards the end of December, but for the past several years she has worked in the recreational department of a nursing home in Joplin, MO. She plays music a couple of times a week, teaches art classes and a variety of other handicrafts.

A big change for her years as a Respiratory Therapist, but Momma did go to art school...so I guess it wasn't that much of a stretch.

Well, the zendoodles were a big hit. We even had a little online store for a bit. I've shared a few here on my blog. And today, I have another one for you.

Isn't this little Christmas Choir the sweetest? I think it would be adorable as a print to frame or as even a gift to give.

All you need to do is click on THIS LINK (or the picture) and you will be directed to Google Drive. There you can download a PDF of the print.

The finished copy will not have the SassyFrass watermark on it...so don't worry about that.

My favorite materials to use for coloring are a couple of things.

First, everyone must have a set of Prismacolor Coloring Pencils. They are truly beautiful and so great to use.





You can use a set of Dollar Store colored pencils, but I think that once you try these you won't ever feel the same way about colored pencils again.

There is also a bigger set (72 pencils) for some of you more ambitious coloring hobbyists. This set has a pencil sharpener (which is a necessity) included.




I don't like to use markers for these projects...they bleed through and are too heavy. Instead I opt for Gel Pens. I LOVE a good Gel Pen. They make me happy.

One of my favorite brands of gel pens are these from Sakura. They are called the Gelly Roll pens. the set you see here is the metallics. I adore anything shy and glittery and these are so smooth to use.




I also any of these pens and pencils would make a terrific gift or stocking stuffers for your Bible Journaling friends or budding artists. I know I would be thrilled to find any of these in my stocking (hint, hint).

So that's it. I hope you enjoy the sweet little Christmas Choir girls. You can find a few more Zendoodles underneath my Free Printables tab.

Some of my favorite FREE Printables (that I've made)

Who doesn't like a FREE Printable?

If you are a homeschooler this might be one of the most used Google search terms.

FREE. Printable.

I'm joining the TOS Crew Blog Round-Up this week to share some of the FREE. Printables I've created over the years.

Each link will take you the original post (where I featured them)....so I apologize in advance if there is any unnecessary rambling.

JUST GIVE US THE FREE PRINTABLES, LADY!

Am I right?

These Grocery Store Printables happen to be one of my most Pinned post on Pinterest. And they are pretty stinkin' cute.

I have to include this next set of Notebooking Pages. We are currently reviewing a great book about George Washington Carver. We happen to have visited the George Washington Carver National Memorial several times and these were a result of our last visit.

This last link is one of my favorites. Technically, I use it in the fall, but I think it's a cute study for any time of the year. It's a whole bunch of wonderful activities, notebooking pages and a lapbook about Johnny Appleseed and Apples! I have been doing a Johnny Appleseed unit since I was a young teacher. I'm going to be doing a Johnny Appleseed unit when Josiah is in college. Just watch me!

Of course, you can always click on my FREE Printables tab above and see what else I've come up with. I need to make more! I really enjoy making them....I need to get my act together.

Sigh.

Maybe when all the laundry gets caught up.

You can click on the banner below to find more FREE Printables from my Crew Peeps.

A FREE Zendoodle download for you!

Yes siree Bob! (whoever Bob might be)....

It's gowgeous here in the Ozarks! We need some rain...though I can't believe after the soggy summer we've had that is even a problem.

Today I have some extra special just for you my friends.

It's because I love you.

Annnndd...because our little SassyFrass shop (at Molly Green) needs some love.

I don't have all of my P's and Q's taken care of (still trying to figure the whole thing out), but at least you can see some of the lovely and exquisite and whimsical zendoodle art my Momma has created. I have done a few myself, but Mom has really outdone herself.

You know how I feel about owls. This one is probably one of my favorites.

And it is FREE for you.  Just click on the picture. It will take you to the shop where you will be able to download the PDF file. Be sure to check out what else we've created. AND stay in touch with the shop....there are bunches and bunches of Christmas Zendoodles I need upload.

P.S. I'm linking this to the TOS Crew Blog. If you need some extra special goodies for your lapbooking and notebooking needs you will find some there! The post will go live next Wednesday October 28.

George Washington Carver Copywork & Notebooking Pages (FREE)

I was searching through some of my files (in preparation for the Blog Hop) I have coming up next week and found this Treasure!

How did I forget to share this?

Or did I and it's lost somewhere in vast caverns of what is my Blog?

Anyhoo.

We live just about an hour away from The George Washington Carver National Monument. It is really one of the best National Parks we've ever been too. It is inspiring, educational and FREE!

I was inspired by our trip last fall with a group of homeschool friends to make this set of printables for a further study of this inspiring man of God.

There are 9 pages of copywork, notebooking pages and a time.

I used them for our little Reading Club that meets once a week. The kids had just taken the trip to the Monument so everything was fresh in their minds. We also read a biography to complete our study.

Enjoy!

FREE Valentine's Day Printables!

I {heart} Valentine's Day.

It's probably the chocolate. Or it could be that I have a fantastic reason to Celebrate the day.

Isn't he dreamy?

Of course, Valentine's Day wouldn't be complete without handing out valentine's to your special somebodies. If I happen to be your special somebody a pedicure would be really great right about now.

My mom and I have been creating something very special (that has nothing to do with chocolate or pedicure). Actually, they are "somethings."

In honor of Valentine's Day and the opening of our new online shop (SassyFrass) we would like to offer you a FREE download to one of Mom's zentangle creations.

Isn't it just darling. Of course your download will not have our watermark through it!

There are a few other Valentine's Zentangles available for purchase as well. I have been working on the shop forever and still only have a total of about 10 tangles on the store. Mom and I have created dozens.

Let me know if you are successful in your ability to grab the freebie or not. The shop is not in a format I'm used to working with so I imagine I have mistakes everywhere!

This are wonderful just to color or color and give as gifts. We find that using gel pens and colored pencils work best. Mom and I have both found very good gel pen packages at the Dollar Tree.

This particular Zentangle won't be free forever! But we will offer another FREE design next month. So download ASAP.

Also, I've created just a few notebooking pages that could be used for Valentine's Day. I plan on using these with out little reading club.

Just click each picture and the link should take you to my google drive. The borders I used came from Borders by Kelly. I just used vintage public domain graphics for the rest.

My last free printable I made for my littlest friends at our Reading Club. This is a matching game. You can print it out on cardstock or laminate. Or both. It depends on how hard your kiddos are on game pieces. The pictures are from old vintage valentines. I think they are just as sweet as they can be.

If you click on the picture it will take you to two pages of cards. Print 2 copies on cardstock or laminate.

I hope you enjoy these printables! Let me know how you use them.

I'm part of the Schoolhouse Review Crew Round Up! Go take a look at all the great resources...pretty please.

Abraham Lincoln Printables and Links (just in ti me for President's Day!)

One of our favorite subject in this house is history. It's more than just the places and events that intrigue us...it's the people. 

We might be just a little nosy. 

One of my particular favorite forms of literature are biographies. Again...I might be just a bit nosy. 

I have read several excellent biographies about Abraham Lincoln and one terrific one about his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln. 

I think he was just a fantastic person all the way around. I want to share with you a few links and ideas that you can incorporate into your own study of our 16th president. We tend to do more hands-on, interactive kinds of things. Which means I love to go poking around the internet so I can see it for myself (we do live in Missouri, after all). 

I created a group of notebooking pages for Honest Abe. There are 7 pages included. The majority of them are intended for a biography report I am going to do with our little reading group in a few weeks. The boys (in particular) seem to do with more graphic organization. You can do what you will with them. We are going to quite a bit of reading about the President and then make our reports. 

As far as books go...I have a few on my bookshelf that I've used for years. (I am not an affiliate of Amazon..they don't allow it in Missouri...so don't worry about using my links).

Abe Lincoln: The Boy Who Loved Books by Kay Winters. This is really a great book. There is also a FREE lapbook available at Homeschoolshare.com

DK Readers L3: Abraham Lincoln: Lawyer, Leader, Legend 

Abraham Lincoln -God's Leader for a Nation

 Abraham Lincoln: A New Birth of Freedom (Heroes of History) - A YWAM book! These are so well done. 

Abe Lincoln Grows Up  - I found this one at the Thrift Store this past summer. I am planning on pulling it out as part of our President's Day study. 

I am sending you to the Biography section at An Old-Fashioned Education. There are several links to FREE and just plan terrific older books. I enjoyed reading through Lincoln's Yarns and Stories: (a complete collection of the funny and witty anecdotes that made Lincoln famous as America's greatest story teller) by Alexander McClure. 

Anyhoo. Old-Fashioned Education has put all of those wonderful resources on one page for us to enjoy. 

Do you have any littles in the house that enjoys paper dolls? Here is a link for President Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln paper dolls. I adore paper dolls. Josiah...not so much. 

Next I'm sharing a few videos from youtube I looked up. 

This one is short and put out by Disney. Perfect for the young crowd. 

This is the full documentary from the History Channel. 

This is the 1939 movie starring Henry Fonda. It is partially fictionalized, but here is an interesting fact. In 2003, Young Mr. Lincoln was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

Here is a link to a webquest. I haven't tested all the links, but I am going to do this with Josiah. He loves webquests. 

This is a PBS resource page featuring "Looking For Lincoln." There are all sorts of fun and interesting tidbits here. 

Take a virtual field trip! The Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum, Mary Lincoln Todd House. the Lincoln Home National Memorial, The Lincoln Memorial National Monument and the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial are not near our neck of the woods,but we can visit online! 

This is a great page. It's perfect for kids needing to do their own research. She has quite a list of external resources; some I probably have mentioned here. 

Add a little science to your study. This video is fascinating! "What are the odds the coffee you are drinking has the same water molecules as Abraham Lincoln's?" Do I want to know?

Here is a nice poster to print and color from crayola.com. I think it would be fun to add to your notebooking pages or even collect a whole set of presidents.  

This video ,featuring the Gettysburg Address, is from the Library of Congress. 

This site has a few crafts and writing activities. We are going to make the stove pipe hat in our reading club. 

So that's about it for me. There are so many things to do! And I'm not talking about my laundry. 

I'm part of the Schoolhouse Review Crew Round-Up. Go check it out!

Winter Nature Study FREE Printables

We've had some bitterly cold weather here in the Ozarks.

Though my Indiana born and raised husband is complaining about our lack of snow.

I am resisting the urge to smack him...or at least rebuking that spirit of the cold stuff.

I love him. And he bought me a huge jug of olive oil.

You gotta keep a man like that.

Josiah and I have been keeping busy. At least, I am keeping busy. I have a feeling that Josiah is just pretending. I did find a pile of clean shirts in the dirty laundry basket.

I really need to throw him outside and let him run off some of his excess energy. We had to take both December and January off from swim team....and his PE class doesn't start for another 10 days. However, we live in a 2nd floor apartment in the middle of our town. Which is bigger than most, but not as big as some.

It doesn't mean we still can't enjoy the beauty of a winter day. This year I've created some printables that will, at least, focus our studies.

And I am going to share them with you. I apologize for any strange links, un-centered borders and misspelled words. I am only a girl with too much laundry to do and too many books to read.
Before I get to the nature-themed printables, I encourage you to check out THIS set of winter-themed writing prompts I made last week. There are a few that could be used with a nature study.


Here are some Observation pages for trees. There are separate files. Click here for the Deciduous Observation sheet. I kept spelling deciduous incorrectly. It could have all gone terribly wrong. The Evergreen Observation sheet can be found here. 

If you click on the picture you will get the Evergreen Page. I got tired of taking snapshots of my PDF's so I clumped pictures together.

This next printable is actually a little booklet. I found a really nice (and old) publication by W.S. Blatchley. It is titled "How Animals Spend the Winter." I didn't use the entire piece. I picked out a few animals (or groups) to focus on. I love writing older publications and the fact that they are now in the Public Domain is just terrific. I made this little booklet to take to our reading club. I chose a font that is easier for kiddos with reading issues (like Josiah) to read. The kiddos can also underline and highlight (or make notes) to their hearts content. I have also included a list of possible activities.

Here are some Winter-themed notebooking pages. I've used vintage images. There are a few that would be appropriate for a Nature Study.

This file has two printables. The first is a Winter Bird Watching sheet. I've used birds that are commonly found at my Mom and Dad's farm. But you can cross out or add birds that are common in your neck of the woods. The second is a generic Winter Animal Research sheet. I find that Josiah does better with graphic organizers. They allow him to clearly record and report.

This Winter Weather Report one of my favorites. Not because it is the cutest, but because it is the most practical right now for us. We are recording the weather. I have a budding weatherman at my house. He knows the forecast before we do. It's been fun to look up all the information on our favorite weather stations website everyday. Plus, he has been able to make his own observations.

Using another old publication (Bird Neighbors, 1897) I created this little booklet about Woodpeckers. Specifically, the Red-Headed Woodpecker. Don't let this page fool you. I have 2 pages of reading from Bird Neighbors, a notebooking page, a page with a few woodpecker poems and a few links for some fun. There is also this newspaper style report page. I made this up for our little reading club as well.

Finally, this Bird Observation page is another one you can use all year round. I love birds. They are so cheerful. Much like myself when my husband buys me large jugs of olive oil.

It doesn't take much to make me happy.

Go forth, my friends. Enjoy those chilly days.

I am joining my friends from the Schoolhouse Review Crew for a Winter Nature Study Round-Up. The post goes live Wednesday, January 14. Go check it out!

Winter Writing Prompt Printables. For FREE.

Hey Baby! It's cold outside.

And I'm spending a little more time on my computer than I need to.

Here are some Winter Writing Prompts (plus a handy place to write) for FREE.

Download them. Use them. Repeat. There are 9 prompts. I think. I'm pretty sure.

Celebrate Talk Like A Pirate Day! (with a few printables and ideas)

Apparently tomorrow is national Talk Like A Pirate Day.

It's also Baby Sister's Birthday (who is consequently not a Pirate).

Yes. I have shamelessly taken her Facebook profile picture and defaced it...Like any good sister would do.

This past summer my Mom and I put on a Pirate-themed Cousin Camp. It was fun. And then some. You can read about Day 1 of our Adventures here. I'm only including Day 1 because that's all I can manage right now. It's been a loooong day.

 

I want to share a few things with you before I lay my weary self down.

First of all, take a peek at my Pirate Cousin Camp Pinterest Board. I pinned a whole lot of wonderful on it. 

I might need to mention that we visited a variety of ports of call on our Pirate Adventure Trip around the world. 

Hence the tasty recipe for Butter Chicken. 

I've also made a few fun pirate printables. (for FREE)

This one is a fun ABC sounds match. Not to worry. Just click on the picture. It will take you to the cards (plus the sound cards). 

I also made up a set of Pirate Mission cards. This one instructs the student to make a treasure map. The link will take you to 8 different missions. Click on the picture!

 

I also created a few notebooking pages. These are a bit cutesy for Josiah. He likes his pirates crusty. I think they are adorable. Click on the pictures! 

Just a few more fun things.

I got to review Mango Languages a while back. Josiah had a lot of fun learning Pirate. Did you know that "Pirate" is free to learn with Mango? You can find out more about it here.


My mom painted this beautiful treasure map in about an hour. Oh yes she did. Because we had our Cousin Camp at their farm we renamed all of the "spots" on the farm. The barn became the "Port of Neglect" and the old oak tree at the back of the cow pasture became the "Gruesome Oak." You might not have a farm to spread out on, but you can certainly do something on a smaller scale inside the house or backyard. 

This is one of the signs we made to mark the spots.

Our Pirate Celebration will be light weight. I plan on making Pizza (because obviously pirates ate pizza) and we will work our way through Josiah's Pirate of the Caribbean collection.

I might do Popcorn. Because Pirates ate Popcorn as well.

I really need to get to bed.