One Chalk Army

Sidewalk chalk drawing that says "Libraries are the heart of every community"

A quick drawing before the weather gets yucky again. My kiddo is at a Science Olympiad event in Liberty today, so I had to make it without my helper--I can always tell the difference in them when it's just me.

At Withers Mid-Continent Public Library

My kid showed me a poster yesterday that said, "I will turn this anger into something beautiful," and gave me a look. I've been thinking about that a lot today. Fear, sadness, anger (today it's rage), have prompted so many chalk drawings and painted canvases/ceiling tiles for schools and libraries.

Sidewalk chalk drawing that says "YOU ARE AWESOME (Just in case you needed a reminder)"

Sidewalk chalk drawing near a school entrance. The drawing says "YOU ARE AWESOME (Just in case you needed a reminder)"

I thought it would be too cold to make a chalk drawing this weekend, but it wasn't that bad when we went to run an errand, so I asked if we could make a quick one. I keep falling back on this one when I don't have a plan, but at least it's a new location.

At Oak Park (student drop-off entrance)

I don't follow many people here, but most days there's a long list of new things to read, no matter how often I check. But this afternoon, there was nothing new for hours, which was weird. This post is the first new thing to pop up for me.

... still uses Lemon Juice Historian instead of your name. And a note to @herberthistory.bsky.social as well. Thank you for building a community that reassures me by being there even if I just quietly lurk on the edges of it. (3/3)

... I'm terrible at remembering names, so whenever I told my family about posts or videos by one of you, I would include a description of which historian it was, but not always your names. The descriptions have shortened over time, and while I now remember your name correctly, my family ... (2/3)

Thank you for being a reassuring voice amid all the craziness. I will forever be grateful that Historians at the Movies popped up for me at the old place. Through that, I learned about you, Jason Herbert, and Heather Cox Richardson. I hope this story will give you a laugh... (1/3)

It was my way of honoring her during the moment of silence that morning.

... was just too much today (20 mph wind might as well be rain), so we skipped it. I appreciate my kiddo for sticking it out with me and helping me get it done. And here's to hoping the new black chalk we used stays put on it.

I wanted to chalk this quote the moment I heard it, but had to wait for an open day. It felt like it should go with the clasped hands drawing, so we refreshed the hands and added We the People. I had grand plans of including a parchment paper background, but the wind...

At Antioch Middle School

Sidewalk chalk drawing of a book with butterflies and sparkles coming out of it, along with the text, "Set your imagination free."

Sidewalk chalk drawing in front of a public library. The drawing is of a book with butterflies and sparkles coming out of it, along with the text "Set your imagination free."

We enjoyed the beautiful weather today. My shadow kept going over it, which made getting pictures a bit difficult.

At Antioch Mid-Continent Public Library

Sidewalk chalk drawing that says "KINDNESS CREATES CHANGE" The letters are in blues and greens with a heart shape in the center of the letters colored in pinks and reds.

Sidewalk chalk drawing in front of a library. The drawing says "KINDNESS CREATES CHANGE". The letters are in blues and greens with a heart shape in the center of the letters colored in pinks and reds.

Today was beautiful, so we took some time to go out and color. I remembered to sign it this time, but I forgot to bring the water bottle to mist it, so we went back later for that. I will always forget something one way or another, so balance was maintained.

At Antioch Mid-Continent Public Library

Sidewalk chalk drawing that says "The world is a better place because you are in it"

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing near a school entrance. The drawing says "The world is a better place because you are in it"

We're going work in more of the other schools again.

At Ravenwood

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing that says "WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER"

I still needed more time to be distracted from everything going on, so we made another drawing at the front entrance yesterday. When we'd finished, I mentioned that I would make a drawing at every entrance if I could, and my sweet kiddo replied, "We'll get the others next time."

At Oak Park

We were finishing it up when my kiddo said, "Mom, this is a good reminder for you too."

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing that says, "Act like what you do makes a difference BECAUSE IT DOES"

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing in front of a school entrance. The chalk drawing says, "Act like what you do makes a difference BECAUSE IT DOES"

Saturday was so miserably cold, I didn't think I would get to make any chalk drawings this weekend, but when we went to run an errand Sunday, it wasn't that bad, so I asked if we could go out for a bit.

Saw this on a church's marquee board, and we liked it.

At Oak Park Student Entrance

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing that says "LIBRARIES are the heart of every community"

My kiddo, aka Amazing Helper, was in a class here, so I colored for a bit.

At Claycomo Mid-Continent Public Library

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing that says, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only LIGHT can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only LOVE can do that. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr."

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing near a school entrance. The drawing says, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only LIGHT can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only LOVE can do that. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr."

My kid laughed at me when I asked if we could go over to make this because it was the warmest that it was going to be for a while. I had to clarify that I didn't say it was warm, just warmest. We skipped the contrast color that helps the text look nicer and more readable, but it's down.

At Antioch

Chillier than I'd like, but still happy to get out in January.

At Oak Park High School Student Entrance

...bringing complaints to a school or library about it being political, but I need to get it out. Today’s hidden message has a bit of both, but one is in GOOD and is simply “For Renee”.

...I’m not alone with my thoughts. Sometimes, on rough days when I’m able to get out to make a chalk drawing, there are secret messages under the colors. Sometimes it’s a note that wouldn’t mean anything to anyone else (like how I miss my dad), sometimes it’s a note that I wouldn’t want to risk...

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing that says, "BELIEVE THERE IS GOOD IN THE WORLD." The BE in believe and THE in there along with GOOD are done in yellow and oranges. The rest of the letters are in oranges and red to have BE THE GOOD stand out.

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing near a library entrance. The drawing says, "BELIEVE THERE IS GOOD IN THE WORLD." The BE in believe and THE in there along with GOOD are done in yellow and oranges. The rest of the letters are in oranges and red to have BE THE GOOD stand out.

Birthdays didn’t bother me until I lost my dad, but then they became a reminder that he isn’t here to call me anymore, and they can be a bit rough. Now, I look for distractions and appreciate days like today when my husband is able to take the day off, so...

At Antioch Mid-Continent Public Library

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing that says "This is your time to... Shine, Be brave, Work hard, Succeed, Follow your dreams, and Achieve your goals."

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing that says, "The world would be boring if we were all the same. Bring life, Bring color, Bring YOU." The first sentence is all in one color and the later lines are all different colors.

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing that says "You are awesome! (In case you needed a reminder)"

Refreshed the colors on the two drawings that were there and added a quick new one. I know the old drawings will be new to the new students, but I wanted something new for the staff, too, even if it was small.

At the Adult Education Center

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing that says "Libraries color our world". Each letter is done in multiple colors--I wanted all the colors.

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing in front of a library entrance. The drawing says "Libraries color our world". Each letter is done in multiple colors--I wanted all the colors.

Needed a distraction. There's another idea for this text, but it needs more space, and I didn't want to clear off all the salt stuff they had down because we’ll have yucky icy stuff again at some point.

At Antioch Mid-Continent Public Library

While adding this picture to the album, I was reminded that the first chalk drawing of 2025 was done at their other location.

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing that says "Libraries build community"

We visited family last week, and their weather was in the 70s, so I couldn’t pass up making a drawing. I’m not sure if it survived the rain that came later that night—it was in a covered area, but the sidewalk was wet when we were there.

At Irving Meek Jr. Memorial Library
McNairy County Libraries

I appreciate being included in their goal to encourage a friend and the chance to make something for them, since they have encouraged me through some rough times over the years. I know I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating... Everyone can make a difference for students and/or their families.

Photo of a painted canvas of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her quote, "Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you. - Ruth Bader Ginsburg" The person who requested the canvases favorite colors are any shade of blue and their friend's favorite colors are turquoise and purple. I used blues for the main colors here and hints of purple in the text to tie in the friend's.

Photo of a painted canvas of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her quote, "Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you. - Ruth Bader Ginsburg" The person who requested the canvases favorite colors are any shade of blue and their friend's favorite colors are turquoise and purple. I used turquois for the background and blues with a hint of purple in the text to tie it in with the other canvas.

These canvases were requested by an NKCSD staff member after they saw the RBG canvas I gave to one of our special teachers a few years ago. One canvas is for them to keep, and the other is a gift for their friend, who is also a part of NKCSD.

8″ x 10″ canvases

... pajamas, and making dinner when I saw my mistake, so I ate dinner and went back to add the word. But it's there, and it's readable.

And this did not go as planned at all. I ran out of room on the square, the high winds blew the chalk away almost as quickly as I drew, and it felt like I'd forgotten how to write the text. Then, to top it off, I skipped a word but didn't realize it until after I got home. I was already in...