Geometric

Geometric by Josie Lewis – Buffalo – 500 pieces

Unfortunately I did not enjoy this puzzle as much as I’d hoped. The image was difficult; I knew it would be, but it was just not entertaining for me at all. I think because it was one of the first puzzles back after dealing with a serious medical issue and being stuck in bed most of the day for almost two weeks. My brain just couldn’t seem to get in gear and I felt stupid and slow trying to assemble it.

There was absolutely nothing wrong with the quality, the quality was excellent.

I started with the reds/pinks…

Then the purple/blue pieces…

Greens and yellows were last.

I should have known better, but I got sucked into the pretty picture. I need to remember this puzzle the next time a beautiful gradient image catches my eye. Gradient puzzles are so interesting and gorgeous to me, but many times they’re much more difficult than they look.

Or it could be that I’m losing my touch.

Dogs Rule

Dogs Rule by Janna Krupinski – Buffalo – 300 pieces

Fun and quick puzzle that was the first one back at the board after too many days stuck in bed. What an adorable puzzle – look at all those sweet faces!

Great quality puzzle, although I’ve found that most companies that make 300 piece puzzles make certain that the pieces are thick and easy to hold. Many older people who puzzle prefer this size because the pieces are larger – both easier to see the image and easier to hold for those whose fine motor skills may be deteriorating. I enjoy this size because they’re normally very good quality and a nice palate cleanser after a larger piece count.

There’s really no need for any closeups of the dogs, you can clearly see all of their faces.

Except for this little one in the corner. There’s something about that smile.

My apologies to any cat lovers out there, but this sign made me laugh. It reminds me of Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey – that famous quote from Sassy, the cat. “Cats rule and dogs drool”. 🐶😸

Focus

Focus by Karen Bloomfield – Mr. Bob Puzzles – 40 pieces

My first mini puzzle from Mr. Bob – I liked it very much! I chose this one specifically because it looked as though it would be a challenge. It was.

It was the usual well made wooden puzzle from Mr. Bob Puzzles, with beautiful reproduction. Normally an image like this isn’t my pile of pieces, but being stuck in bed and only able to do small puzzles made me desire something a bit more demanding than the regular mini wooden puzzle. This one fit the bill perfectly.

As always there is a whimsy of Australia, plus some other fun shapes as well. Seeing all the great whimsy pieces is the best part of opening a new wooden puzzle – at least it is for me.

Schmetterling!

Schmetterling! – MicroPuzzles – 150 pieces

Such a beautiful puzzle image, and the dark background makes the colors really pop. I love having these mini puzzles around since not only am I in bed a lot, they’re also perfect for leaving on the table in our master bathroom. They’d also be great for someone who doesn’t have much space for puzzling. You could buy a cookie sheet from the dollar store (or it’s equivalent) and have a portable puzzle table you could take with you almost anywhere. 😁

When my infection was diagnosed and we realized I’d have to be in my room in bed almost all the time, I started with a few of my mini wooden puzzles that I have hanging around the house. After a couple of those I wanted a little bit more of a challenge so I took our current bathroom puzzle out into the bedroom to work on it.

Hubby got a little upset that I took this one out of the bathroom to complete it; he was having too much fun with it, and was “slow walking” it trying to make it last longer. Oops! Sorry hon. ❤


*In case anyone is wondering, schmetterling is the German word for butterfly.*

Vortex Spiral Tunnel

Vortex Spiral Tunnel – Wentworth (Mini Mindful) – 40 pieces

This little beauty was MUCH harder than it looks, at least it was for me. Once half of it was finished I realized I had to start all over; both the repetitive tessellating pieces and the image gave me a run for my money! It’s beautiful though, and conquering it gave me a great sense of accomplishment.

The Mini Mindful puzzles from Wentworth have been very enjoyable to assemble. The interesting cut of the pieces and the great images make for an almost meditative experience. They truly do make you slow down and be more mindful of what you’re doing and in the moment. Loved it! 🧡


When I was done I disassembled it and put it in the powder room for hubby to do; he saw the pieces and loved that they were geometric. When he brought it to me once it was finished he said he would have preferred either the same image with regular pieces, or the geometric pieces with an easier image.

Apparently the two of them together put him to the test as well. 😇