My name is Claudia and I’m addicted to jigsaw puzzles.
But only in the winter.
Once again, I neglected Stella and my dollhouse, summoned by the call of the jigsaw puzzle sitting on the kitchen table. See – it’s right there. Not up the stairs, not outside. There. In the kitchen. Calling to me.
I finished this puzzle yesterday. It was one of several sent to me last year by a reader of the blog. In the end, there were two pieces missing. But no big deal. I’m having fun and I’m very grateful for the gift of these puzzles. I have since done the same thing. I passed on some of my completed puzzles to Rick and Doug.
I immediately took the puzzle apart and started a new one. The newest consists of covers from bedtime stories. When I was a kid, as you know, we didn’t have a lot of money, so I didn’t have many children’s books of my own. I got them from the library and the bookmobile. We had a few of my mom’s childhood books and I believe I had copies of The Cat in the Hat and If I Ran the Circus by Dr. Seuss which were given to me as gifts, neither of which I was especially fond of. I found the Cat in the Hat obnoxious, to be honest. But two of my favorites are in this new grid – Madeleine and Eloise. I think I’m going to order my very own copies of them. I should have them, don’t you think? It’s been great fun seeing the covers in this grid. I love the illustrations found in children’s books.
Don is on his way to the store to pick up our groceries. It’s snowing a bit at the moment, very pretty flakes coming down. It’s supposed to hit the low forties today, so I’m thinking this snow might turn to rain. Next week: very cold temperatures and single digits at night. February is quickly becoming a pain in the tush.
Stay safe.
Happy Friday.
Love the puzzles. Love them. I get my second injection Monday, weather permitting…have to travel downtown-about 15 miles…then will move in about a month…so much to do. I also enjoy my jigsaw puzzles from October to March…then get tired of them…so much fun though…Prayers…I picked up groceries this am…easy…and so nice.
Yes, we’re all stocked up now. Good luck with your second shot, Brenda.
Stay safe.
I’m not a puzzle person – never have been, even as a kid – but I enjoy seeing yours because they’re so pretty. I guess our bitter cold is going to be coming your way. We had another snowstorm yesterday and now we’re having an Arctic blast. It’s -8 with the wind chill right now and it only going to get worse during the weekend. Ah well, nothing new for a typical winter here and I know, same for you where you live. As long as we remain warm and safe, all is well.
Yes, exactly. We have a roof over our head and we’ll just have to occupy ourselves indoors.
Stay safe, Melanie.
Hi Claudia. These puzzles have all been so great. I love jigsaw puzzles. I can listen to podcasts while I while a way my cold day. My Great Aunt babysat 6 of us kids and we all sat and worked a puzzle together. When we lost a piece, we would circle the spot on the front of the box so we wouldn’t go crazy trying to find it.
We watched the last episode All Creatures last night. Beautiful. Have a good day!
Good idea. Then you’d always know that was the missing piece!
Stay safe, Verna.
I’m with you on Dr. Seuss. And I loved Madeline. I bought the books and all the dolls for my daughter when she was little and even dressed her up as Madeline for Halloween one year. All the moms loved it. Lol. We have a gingerbread house contest in my area at Christmas and one year someone made the old house in Paris and it was covered in vines and it had 12 little girls in two straight lines! Miss Clavel and Genevieve were there too. I bring my granddaughters now hoping someone will make it again. It was amazing.
What a wonderful idea for a gingerbread house! I would have loved to see that!
Stay safe, Deb.
I’m beginning to love the puzzles that feature book covers, and other individual pictures, like a puzzle in a puzzle. Recently, I did one with my Mom on Retro posters of the National Parks. That one was so much fun.
I finally had my first masked socially distant outdoor visit in almost a year with two friends yesterday. Sitting in that sun was delightful. I wish I could send you some of our sunny days, Claudia! It won’t rain again for another week.
I just saw that National Parks puzzle. I may have to get it some day.
No sun and lots of cold coming our way, Wendy. Enjoy your sun!
Stay safe.
Raining here. I love puzzles too. When I was young, my foster grandmother (found out through ancestry is my great aunt–a story there.) gave me a puzzle without any type of picture. So I had to figure it out. Of the Dr. Suess books my favorite is Horton Laid an Egg and Are You My Mother. Could not stand Green Eggs and Ham. I have no idea when we are suppose to receive our vaccine. I have a Butterfly puzzle ready to put together. I want to finish a couple of quilts first. Working on a quilt that has elephants in it. Reminds me of my childhood where I rode on an elephant. Interesting how childhood is the topic in my remarks. Stopped watching the news. I had hoped things would calm down with this new administration between the two parties. Hope you have a lovely day.
Lucky you, to have had a ride on an elephant!
Stay safe, Trina.
I love Dr Suess books, but I do agree that naughty Cat in the Hat is obnoxious. Madeline was a favorite of mine and my daughters also.
We got some snow yesterday and last night. Looks like we must have gotten 8 to 10 inches. Its going to snow off and on along with colder temps for most of next week.
I think living through this kind of weather does make the summer just a bit sweeter. I find something in each season that I love, so I’m trying to focus on how pretty the snow is.
I think Stella and the dollhouse will be waiting whenever you get to them.
Stay safe
You got a lot of snow, Marilyn!
Stay safe!
It’s finished…that was quick! I really like it. I still haven’t started the puzzle I bought last April. Guess I’m not as into puzzles as I thought. However, we are now beginning our deep freeze state. Alert days until a week from Saturday….temps only in teens or below zero at night. Time for hibernation…so might have to start on the puzzle…lol.
Have you ever made a replacement for a missing puzzle piece? I was wondering how difficult that would be. My son completed a puzzle that he’s had for 15 years, and he had wanted to frame it. But, he’s hesitant to do that since it’s missing a piece. Just curious. I think he should frame it even if it’s missing a piece….it’s part of the story.
Stay safe! ;)
Same here, starting, I believe, on Monday. No, I’ve never made a replacement piece! I agree, frame it anyway!
Stay safe, Donna.
We are already starting to see those low temps. Today we have a high of 7 degrees F. Starting tonight, our lows are going to be in the minus digits and a couple of days, the highs are also predicted to be in the minus digits, so not looking forward to that. I’m hoping it’s only a few days despite predictions into the Saturday after this. I know we have had a mild winter so far and really could do without this. This is one of those times I always wish the weather people are wrong in their predictions and that it will actually be several degrees warmer. Regardless, try to stay warm. Extra sweater and double up the socks.
Usually, the weather people are right on about temps. Snow and rain forecasts can be off, but temperatures are usually pretty solid predictions. Stay warm, Ranee.
Stay safe.
happy puzzle-ing and happy friday.
stay safe and well.
kathy in iowa
sorry … that’s all i have today. results came back from last friday’s follow-up mri … “very little change” in bones and healing (seven weeks after initial mri, three months since first had pain and medical intervention). they are recommending another scan for something seen just a bit in the border of mri images that must be worrying them. so now i am worried. plus we are to get three inches of snow tomorrow and another three on sunday. i need some good news. we all do. hopefully we’ll get some soon.
xo and prayers
Oh, Kathy, I’m so sorry you have to go through this. I’m praying for you, my friend.
Much love to you.
Claudia
thanks very much, claudia. prayers are helpful and appreciated!
i don’t like the negativity in my words about the latest news on my back. i want to be positive in life and especially faithful to God, not a bummer. working on that. thanks.
xo and prayers
kathy in iowa
Kathy, you are allowed to be scared and negative. I know you won’t stay there, but give yourself a break. Positive is fine, but the grace to acknowledge pain and worry is not a ‘bummer.’ It’s real. Faith is complex and within that faith, we are allowed to have moments of worry and fear.
xo
true and well- said.
and needed. thanks, claudia.
xoxo
Kathy,
I am so sorry that you have yet another thing to worry about. Hopefully they can get this scan scheduled soon. Prayers continue for you. Take good care of yourself.
hej, donna.
thank you very much for the prayers and support.
should be able to schedule the follow-up scan soon and hopefully for next week. i don’t like to admit that i am a worrier … my trust needs to be in God! i also need to find another stress-reliever (running or even walking outside is obviously off-limits right now …. but hopefully only until spring weather gets here). maybe those are two of God’s goals for me in all of this …? working on it and myself!
hope all’s well for you and your family.
thanks again.
kathy in iowa
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE doing jigsaw puzzles. They have been a saving grace to us during this ‘shelter in place’ time. We have also had that problem of a piece missing and I, too, have put an ‘X’ on the picture to show where the piece is missing.
We have appointments to receive our first vaccine next Tuesday. Hearing about the shortages of vaccine around the country, I have my fingers crossed that we don’t receive a phone call cancelling those appointments due to a shortage. I wake up at night worrying about that.
Stay safe and enjoy ‘puzzle-ing’
I fear it will be a long time until we get the vaccine. The amount of vaccine on hand in NY is pretty bleak. I’m glad you’re going to get yours next week.
Stay safe, Cathy.
I love seeing your puzzles. My Mom said yesterday she might like a 500 piece puzzle to work on. I told her many people have taken up jigsaw puzzles during this time. I’ll find her one online and get it. I’m organizing my crafty stash and downsizing also. Making some bags of goodies to send out to some of my friends. Happy Mail during covid is a fun thing to receive. Hugs!
That would be a wonderful thing for your mom to do, Linda.
Stay safe!
We got a good chunk of snow yesterday and more to come today, I think. It’s pretty still. That’ll change!
Love the puzzle. I need to order a new one. That one’s cute. Still think I’m on the hunt for your Nancy Drew!
Have a lovely weekend. I’m having computer angst and our IT person from the station is coming over to look at it. She’s very safe, which is good. I have a feeling this fix will either mean a new hard drive or computer. Wish me well!
Sorry about the computer but how lucky you are to have someone you trust to look at it. Hope it’s a simple fix!
Stay safe, Jeanie.