The Sweetest Man

On March 20, 2020March 20, 2020 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzling16 Comments

My husband is the sweetest man. Perhaps not everyone would agree, but to me he is kind, attentive and loving and after almost 32 years of marriage he continues to surprise me with the thoughtful things he does for me. 💖

He told me a few days ago that he was having a puzzle made for me and that it would be delivered soon. I was looking forward to seeing what he chose, wondering where he got it from, and what brought this on.

He wouldn’t tell me anything at all other than that he did a LOT of research on the “puzzle project”. He said he wanted a very special puzzle for me to complete, so after he did all his research he commissioned this puzzle to be made with the image he chose and the whimsicals he wanted incorporated into it. He said he’s been working on this since January! Wow.

Yesterday he gave me my new puzzle. He worked with Bob at Mr. Bob Puzzles in Australia to craft a special custom puzzle for me; I didn’t think Mr. Bob Puzzles did any custom work! The moment he gave me the box just seeing it made me cry….

Stacey & Ruth

How adorably sweet is my husband? So sweet! I knew it had to be a picture of me and mom, but I had no idea which one he chose. As soon as I looked at the pieces I saw one with some flowers – it was immediately recognizable to me as my wedding bouquet. Aww! It’s a picture of me and mom on my wedding day! 💞 I looked through the pieces and it’s going to be such a beautiful puzzle, with such sweet and wonderful whimsies; I am so excited to assemble it and it will be on my puzzle board first thing this morning.

He said he was planning to give this to me on Mother’s Day this year, he wanted to be sure that my first Mother’s Day without her wasn’t too sad. But he just couldn’t wait until May – once the puzzle arrived and he saw the box and looked through the pieces he was too excited for me to see it and assemble it. He’s so adorable.

There was a lot of leg work involved in this “project”. He had to take our over 30 year old wedding pictures to a professional photographer to get high resolution digital pictures made. We do have the negatives, but he had no idea where they were and of course he couldn’t ask me. So they had to take a picture of the picture and turn them into files that could be uploaded for Mr. Bob Puzzles to use. I’m surprised he was able to keep all of this a secret. Well done hubby!

I thought that was it, but there was more. 😱 He had another puzzle made at the same time that he was planning to give me for our anniversary, and again he couldn’t wait until May…

Stacey & David

Another picture from our wedding day, but of course this one is of hubby and me.💕We don’t normally exchange gifts for our anniversary, we’d rather just spend time with each other. I’ll let this one slide though, because I absolutely love it! The whimsies are GORGEOUS and I can’t wait to share both of these special puzzles with everyone.

It’s getting syrupy sweet around here, I know, but bear with me…

I can’t even express how much I love this kind, generous, selfless man. He is one of the sweetest men I know, and he continues to prove it to me time and again. What thoughtful and beautiful gifts he had made for me, I’m overwhelmed!

I am so looking forward to putting these puzzles together, and seeing the finished images; I could cheat and get out our wedding albums and try to figure out which pictures he chose, but I’d rather just enjoy the assembly and watch the images come together as I go along. (Get ready for some 80’s hair and fashions y’all!)

Stay tuned, these are going to be something special!

Got More Time to Puzzle? 1000 Piece Puzzle Giveaway!

On March 18, 2020March 18, 2020 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzling24 Comments

With the Coronavirus taking hold across the globe, people around the world are finding that they have much more time on their hands. With “shelter in place” orders, people being encouraged to work from home if possible, needing to care for children who are no longer in school, and people being asked to quarantine themselves at home – we all seem to have more time than we normally do for more sedentary pursuits.

It will be no surprise that I’m encouraging everyone to try working on jigsaw puzzles with some of their extra time; you might find that not only is it an extremely enjoyable pastime, but that it also helps to relieve some of the stress and anxiety that most of us are feeling these days. My regular readers know that I’m constantly emphasizing that jigsaw puzzles are not only entertaining, but actually good for both your physical and mental well-being.

Did you know that assembling jigsaw puzzles can help lower your blood pressure, relieve anxiety and stress, improve your mood, help you to deal with chronic pain, and even increase your IQ? These are just a few of the health benefits one gets from puzzling – there are many, many more. Most important of all in these troubled times is that puzzles can take our minds off of the day-to-day burdens and worries that we are all carrying and allow us to relax. Couldn’t we all use a bit more relaxation, stress relief, and improved health these days?

To that end I’ve moved up the timing of my next puzzle giveaway. It was just last month that My Jigsaw Journal gave away a lovely 500 piece Milton Bradley puzzle, and the plan was to hold another giveaway for Mother’s Day at the beginning of May. We all could use some cheering up, so instead of a few months down the road I am holding a new giveaway right now. 🙂

Christmas at Hogwarts is a 1000 piece puzzle by the New York Puzzle Company with artwork by Mary GrandPre, unopened and still shrink-wrapped. It looks colorful and fun, but a little bit challenging too! Would you like a chance to win this puzzle? Wouldn’t it be nice to spend some of your free time at home assembling this beautiful image?

This giveaway is open to everyone, and all you have to do is leave a comment on today’s post to be entered. Every comment/entry will be given a number, a random number generator will choose the winner and the results will be posted one week from today, Wednesday, March 25, 2020.

Stay home, stay healthy, and stay safe my friends. 💖

Good luck, and Happy Puzzling!

Cake Shed In Progress

On March 15, 2020 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw PuzzlingLeave a comment

Cake Shed IP — Cake Shed by Steve Read – Buffalo – 2000 pieces

There hasn’t been as much progress on the Cake Shed as I’d have liked, but a family member was visiting this week and I didn’t spend as much time at home as I normally do. I’m back at home now; a bit worn out, but ready to get back to my big puzzle. 🧩

My apologies for the wonky picture, it looks to me as though it’s leaning at the top – it makes me tilt my head to the left every time I look at it!

The green dresser and shelf are next up, and hopefully that will fill things out a bit – but there are many, many green pieces so it may also take a bit of time. It’s been a pretty entertaining puzzle so far, and I’m enjoying it very much.

*I do admit to wishing it were only 1000 pieces at times; it’s taking up most of my puzzle board, and it’s sometimes anxiety-inducing when I walk into the puzzle room. #anxietysucks 😐

I hope you’re working on a fun puzzle today. Happy puzzling!

Almost In Progress

On March 12, 2020 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzling4 Comments

api32zqpf__85190.1534533449 — Cake Shed by Steve Read – Buffalo – 2000 pieces

While I have chosen the next puzzle, I haven’t gotten any work done on it yet – it’s still mostly in the box – it’s almost in progress. 😉

I have sorted a bit of it, but it’s 2000 pieces so it takes a little longer to get through them all. I think it’s going to be really fun once I get going though, I just have to get through my least favorite part, the sorting. Hopefully I’ll have time today to at least finish sorting and get ready for some actual assembly.

Happy International Women’s Day!

On March 8, 2020March 8, 2020 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw PuzzlingLeave a comment

Whether she gave you love, kindness, support, encouragement, friendship, or life itself – there’s a woman, or most likely many women in your life to whom you owe a debt of gratitude. Celebrate today by letting those women know how much you appreciate them for who they are and for all they’ve done to make you the person you are today. 💗

Today I want to be sure to appreciate my daughter who has become my bestie in this past year. We’ve been through a lot and held tight to each other and have grown incredibly close. She’s made me a better mother, a better friend, and a better person. I love you to the moon Baby Princess!

Also, to all my women puzzle friends both online and in “real life” – you have supported, encouraged, and enabled me, and brought smiles to my face when I needed it most – you are awesome ladies!

Happy Women’s Day, and as always, happy puzzling! 🧩