Happy Beads In Progress…

Happy Beads by Elspeth McLean – Ravensburger – 500 pieces

I fell in love with a couple of puzzles by this artist at the store, and bought two of her 500 piece puzzles. Of course I got them home, opened the boxes and looked at the pieces and thought “Why in the world didn’t you recognize how difficult these were going to be?” That’s me all over, if I love the image then damn the consequences – I’m buying it!

Actually this one seems like it’ll be the easier of the two that were purchased, and even though I knew going in it would be challenging it hasn’t been as horrible as I’d prepared myself for. Actually it’s been much more enjoyable than even I thought.

Last night I was working on this and one bead led to the next; things were connecting and even though I knew I needed to get out of my chair and go lie down it was extremely difficult to crowbar myself away from this puzzle. In the end a bargain was made (in my mind) that once the pieces were pared down from four trays to three that would be the end of work for the night. It was difficult, but eventually the last piece was put in for the evening and finally got myself to bed. 🛌💤

It’s going together slowly, bead by bead, but it’s been nice just zoning out and searching for the pieces of one bead or another; it’s almost meditative as focus is definitely required. When a puzzle takes that much of my concentration it almost shuts out the rest of world.

Isn’t that something we all need from time to time? I certainly do!

Northern Lights

Northern Lights by Nancy Wernersbach – Ravensburger – 500 pieces

This wintery image with the gorgeous Northern Lights in the background was pretty darned entertaining to assemble, and isn’t it just a beautiful puzzle? Loved it!

Ravensburger quality – as usual. This one had a fantastic fit though; in addition to the thick pieces, crisp image reproduction, variety of shapes, and wonderful cut. The pieces are larger than normal, and the finished image is approximately the size of a regular 1000 piece Ravensburger puzzle. The larger size made it even more surprising that I was still able to get one of my favorite, silly pictures…

Look at that edge, it’s barely distorted at all and standing up almost perfectly straight. I almost never get to do this with such a large puzzle, and this made me happier than it should – I was pleased as punch to be able to stand this one up. 😁

You know I love to see a beautiful canine fur baby in a puzzle; and I can’t resist getting a close up picture of them either.

Precious puppy puzzles please this passionate puzzle practitioner. 🤎🐶

The Flintstones

The Flintstones – Ravensburger – 1000 pieces

My sweet, beautiful daughter got me this puzzle for my birthday, and she did such a good job picking it out – it was so much fun! It was definitely a Goldilocks puzzle; not too easy, not too challenging – it was just right. Of course I loved it. ❤

Wonderful Ravensburger quality, as usual. The feel of a Ravensburger puzzle massage (running my hands over the completed puzzle) is like no other, it’s so satisfying. Perhaps that’s just my little ritual, but the feel of a great quality puzzle when it’s finished makes me very happy.

Maybe I’m just being pedantic again, but if it’s 3,000,000 BC – how would they know? Wilma is reading a “magazine” with that date on it; but B.C. means before Christ, so how do they know he’ll be born in exactly 3 million years? It’s such a minor detail, I know, but these things jump right out at me and I can’t stop myself from seeing these little, insignificant details and then pointing them out to you. I think it’s the former executive secretary in me, I’m hard-wired to find mistakes.

All the black and white sections were the hardest to do, and the last bits to be assembled. After putting together the colorful scenes I assembled the slightly colored frames, and ended with the grayish sections. I really enjoyed every part of this image, it was VERY entertaining.

Alright, it’s time to reminisce. Anyone watch The Flintstones when it was was a prime time cartoon? How about in reruns during the 70s? The series was no longer being made when I was born, but I remember watching the reruns when I was younger. The theme song has permanent residence in my brain; I think most of my generation could sing it from memory. It’s iconic.

The opening of the show, which changed several times, at one point had the family going to a drive-in restaurant where Fred ordered a slab of dinosaur ribs that tipped over the car when they were brought. Also an iconic image that is forever stuck in the far recesses of my brain. Nostalgia, huh?

This puzzle was so much fun, it is definitely recommended. If it looks like something you’d enjoy – go for it – it gets two Brontosaurus ribs way up!🍖🍖

Christmas Day (What If? #15)

Christmas Day by Geoff Tristram (What If? #15) – Ravensburger – 1000 pieces

Another wonderful What If? puzzle from Ravensburger; great quality, hilarious image, and fun all-around puzzling. Was there any doubt as to whether or not I’d enjoy this one? Nope.

This one’s been hanging around my house for about…..seven years or so. Oh my! It’s been constantly moved down on the list of puzzles to be done, because I have this irrational dislike of Christmas puzzles. Even though I know that images by Geoff Tristram are always entertaining and funny it still took me forever to get this one done.

As per my usual I do not show the finished puzzle, as it’s a mystery what the image is. You have to figure it out as you assemble. The box says “We all dream of the perfect Christmas, a day full of happy family memories, where gifts are gratefully received, everyone is full of festive cheer, and the catering goes without a hitch. But WHAT IF Christmas Day wasn’t perfect? And WHAT IF our family’s Christmas wasn’t that merry?” The image on the box top shows the type of Christmas we all dream about, but the puzzle inside shows the holiday many of us really experience.

Normally I never show anything other than the small hint on the box top, which is usually one of the characters – but this time there was a little joke that actually made me laugh out loud, so I wanted to share it with you too…

As I was assembling it I thought it would be Monopoly, but this is so much better! Actually, that’s how I feel about Monopoly, it takes so long and I find it mind-numbingly boring. Hours of misery for all the family! 😂

This was a great puzzle with a hilarious image, it is most definitely recommended. I’m giving it two snowflakes way up! ❄❄

Northern Lights In Progress…

Northern Lights by Nancy Wernersbach – Ravensburger – 500 pieces

Unfortunately there hasn’t been a lot of puzzling going on here the past few days, but I did manage to get this one going yesterday at least.

It already looks pretty good, don’t you think? Those Northern Lights are beautiful in the sky. 😍