For today’s Saturday Shenanigans, I wanted to share my love of puzzles. I’ve always loved word puzzles. Crosswords. Scrambles. Word Search. You name it: if it’s word-related, I’m in! It’s a pleasant way to pass the time that also keeps your mind sharp. I decided to pair my word-nerd hobby with something else I love – our country.
Sometimes it feels like the things that made our nation what it is get swept under the rug, hidden in shame, and forgotten by generations to come. So I decided that a special kind of project was in order. I want to celebrate America.
So today, I’d like to share (absolutely free) some of the puzzles from the new books I’ve been creating for people who, like me, love our country. I started making a line of word search puzzle books with lists I think you’ll enjoy. It’s a relaxing pastime and can be educational if you look a little further than just circling the words.
I used to do stuff like this when I was a homeschool mama, and my daughter loved it.
These are puzzles for people like us, who are sick to the teeth of many of the degradation in our current culture. That’s why I decided to name it The American Dreamer Book Company!
I really needed something to do while I am at home with a severe ankle injury. As many of you know, I have a ruptured tendon that simply does not want to heal. (Proceeds from this project will help fund the medical care not covered by insurance and the mobility device that I’m going need for the next year or so.)
I talk a lot about enjoying life and how prepping shouldn’t be grim and serious. I believe that things like this occupy the mind in a pleasant, positive way. I’m super excited about the project and am going to learn how to make crosswords and other types of puzzles, too – just let me know what types of word puzzles you like in the comments section!
Now – get your free puzzles!
Doomsday Dictionary Dive
This one is for preppers! It’s filled with word lists about different kinds of supplies and disasters.
Download a free PDF, printable puzzle to enjoy: Emergency Lighting – Doomsday Dictionary.
If you’re interested in this one, check it out on Amazon. It contains 50 puzzles just for folks like us.
America the Beautiful
Sometimes, I think how lucky we are to live in a country filled with natural wonders and fascinating history. This puzzle book contains trivia about each state, some of our most important cities, historical sites, rivers, beaches, and much more!
Download a free PDF, printable puzzle jam-packed with natural wonders from all over the country: America the Beautiful
If you’re interested in this book, you can get it here on Amazon. You’ll get 75 puzzles in this one.
American Presidents
This one is for my fellow history nerds. I went all in on this puzzle about our American Presidents. It contains loads of trivia about First Ladies, personal lives, and accomplishments of each president who has held the highest office in the land.
Download a free PDF, printable puzzle about our second president: John Adams – American Presidents
If you’re interested in this book, it’s in a large print format, contains 50 puzzles, and you can order it here on Amazon.
What do you think?
To clarify: prices for the books are based on printing costs for the books. The longer or larger the book is, the higher the printing costs are.
Please help me make American Dreamer puzzles a success! You can leave a review on Amazon based on the samples or a purchase, and five-star reviews help me immensely. These books are different from the generic, mass-produced, AI versions on the market. They’re done with research and a personal touch, which I think makes them special.
This project has helped me deal with the specter of at least half a year more of sitting here with my foot propped up on a pile of pillows. I hope it brings the same love of learning to you that it did to me when making these puzzles. I have a long road ahead, and this gives me something positive and enjoyable to focus on.
I have a homesteading word search in the works, and a list of ideas, but I’d love to get more!
I’d love to know your thoughts! What are some other topics you’d like to see? What kinds of puzzles do you enjoy doing? Is this something you might use for your homeschooled kids?
Let’s talk about word puzzles in the comments section!
Good ideas; bravo! As time goes on, perhaps you might be interested in How To puzzles, where the puzzle contains instructions to do something or words that are related, important or trivia. Best wishes. You’re on the right track. God bless.
Perhaps situational awareness puzzles. Scenes with various threats-some obvious and others not so.
Bug out bag items, first aid word searches.
Great work Daisy 🙂 Thank you!
Keep up the amazing work you do, stay strong and positive through your recovery.
All the best to you.
Kudos for finding a way to use your time while you’re laid up! What about a set of puzzles for the 50 states, with highlights for each? You could even separate history and geography and come up with two books.
I love this! I printed off the samples to use in our homeschool this week, and am ordering the books.
Love this idea! Just ordered all 3 books. What about puzzles for medicinal herbs or cooking? Take care and God Bless, Daisy!
Thank you Daisy! Great ideas! I printed off these for my Mom. She is coming to visit in a few weeks. She loves puzzles.
These new books will be great for Christmas gifts. Keep them coming!
Love the creative way you are looking at and utilizing your down time! I ordered the Doomsday Dictionary. I used to do crosswords and word searches all the time. A pastime I need to get back into. I know crosswords are more labor intensive to create, but I would definitely buy them if you choose to create them!
You buy a magazine then get your knickers in a knot because there is an article (or two) you don’t like? Then decide, well, this is Anti-American so I am going to publish my own magazine for “real” Americans. I thought you were mentally tougher than that. A puzzle book that is mass produced for well, the masses.
What are you talking about?
Where did Daisy say anything about buying a magazine?
She’s referring to what I wrote in my email about why I decided to create these books. It’s insane to me how she made something negative out of a personal preference.
It was a perfectly innocent explanation of why I enjoy making this product and why I think other folks may like it.
Hi Daisy, thanks for everything. Praying for your full and quick recovery! About the puzzles (I didn’t get to them on Feb 10, darn!)…can you basically remove the extraneous letters and gridlines, and produce crossword puzzles? As a homeschooler, the word finds are good as an intro to a person or topic, and the crossword is better as a check for comprehension and memory.
There’s a bit more to making crosswords but I am definitely planning on creating them down the road. I agree – they’re awesome for homeschooling!