Category Writing

When a FLIP goes wrong… Enter Puzzle Buddy!

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We’ve all been there. We decide to do something that is “tricky” too quickly to “get it done,” and we end up with a mess. That was me this morning.

I completed this beach puzzle. I wanted to frame it. I needed to flip it over, so I could tape it in place.

Well, this puzzle is HUGE, 24 X 30. I needed sturdy cardboard to lock it in place for the flip.

Instead, I had flimsy poster board. The flip did not go as planned.

As I was on the floor, trying to salvage pieces that were still connected…

I remembered seeing this PUZZLE BUDDY online. What a joke I thought!

However, now, I see the value of this product. For a “re-do,” I could definitely use this.

So, of course, I wonder… Why in the heck did I need to “re-do” half of the puzzle?

There must be a REASON, but WHAT?

When a puzzle design goes wrong…

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I’ve wanted to try this Ravensburger puzzle, Title: Colors on Colors, designed by Karen Puzzles for a while. It looked fun. However, I didn’t want to pay $24.99 for it.

Months have gone by, and I was at the thrift store and “there it was!” I got excited, but then my heart sank. The box was not taped closed. So, we know what that means… most likely pieces had fallen out.

Still, I had wanted it and for $1.99, it was worth a try.

From the get go, there were no end pieces. Not one. Were they lost or was that the design?

I continued… I was NOT enjoying this puzzle. It took me a while to figure out why.

Look at the photo below. The puzzle design from the box shows the distinct design of each puzzle piece. So, of course, we imagine that’s how “we” would be piecing the puzzle together.

Well, the designer did not think this through. The manufacturer put the puzzle cutting grid above the design. The result was a big mess, making this puzzle feel like your eye sight was out of focus. Definitely not like the design photo on the box.

At any rate, these things happen. I was glad I didn’t pay $24.99 for it.

I was amused at how many pieces were missing. I still think this “could have been” a FUN puzzle.

Glad I found it. Glad I did it.

Now, on to the next NEW puzzle find!

Supermoon – Does it change your mood?

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The other night, I stepped outside and was surprised to see the full moon. It was so bright, my first thought, before I saw the moon, was that a spot light was shinning down on me. Then I looked UP!

LOL – It was God about to talk… me feeling like a spot light was on me, laugh a little.

I didn’t know it was a supermoon until I Googled it. I was able to capture this picture.

Interesting, the IPhone usually takes clear night sky photos, but the ones I took were all a bit blurry.

Still, you can see how bright the moon was. Really a treat to see.

Go out tonight if you remember, you’ll be amazed! Oh, and I do think this is why I’ve been moody these past few days. Could be?

Book swaps, Puzzle swaps… A PLANT swap?

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I saw this Plant Swap. While the idea was nice, the plants available were interesting. All in water?

It reminded me of book and puzzle swaps. You go with ideas of grandeur and then you see what some people have brought and your heart sinks. Is this the best they can do?

Now, before you say, “I’ve been to GREAT book/puzzle swaps, etc.”. We know it’s hit or miss. You go and take your chances on what people bring.

So, with these plants it’s the same thing. Someone who really loves plants will want to bring the two on the left back to life. They would enjoy the challenge. The one on the right looks hearty.

Happy Gardening!

Halloween Hotline — May I help you?

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This was funny. I have a friend whose birthday is on Halloween. Imagine that!!

I was at the store and came across this Halloween phone. A shame, I think it needed a battery, so that the skeleton’s head would light up while dialing/calling someone.

Dialing the phone was fun, like the “old days,” when as you dial, you hear a clicking sound.

I imagined being in a haunted house, finding this phone and calling GHOST BUSTERS!

H-E-L-P —> Get me out of here!

I’ve seen a Ghost! 👻

I leave you with the Halloween Hotline!

Cheers to a great weekend!

Weekend Plans… A New Puzzle!

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Life can be interesting. I’ve never been to Mt Rushmore, but I think it’s beautiful.

A friend was just traveling and she went there and sent photos.

THEN… I was at a thrift store looking at puzzles and LOOK what I found. YES, Mt Rushmore.

Puzzling is perfect right now as the weather has gotten cold and the days are getting shorter.

I hope all the pieces are there.

What are your plans for the weekend?

Canada – I saw the Northern Lights!

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I was up in Canada and a friend said, “LOOK, there are the Northern Lights.”

Funny, I could not see them, but I indulged my friend and took a picture. GUESS WHAT – in the picture, I could see the Northern Lights. The stars were amazing, they felt so close as if you could touch them.

One night I saw the Big Dipper, it was so clear, but I did not have my cell phone with me to take a picture.

I loved how the sky would be mirrored in the lake. So many great nature photos.

Also, a Canadian magnet puzzle – that was funny!

Canada is beautiful, I look forward to going back. I’d like to visit Quebec.

Fall is a great time to be in nature.

Happy road tripping!

Speed Puzzling – So much fun!

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I was on Meetup.com looking at different events and found a speed puzzling one. I signed up. It was fun.

You could sign up Solo or in Teams of 2-4.

When I got there, there were two puzzles on the table. The 100 piece was for practice while we waited for other participants to arrive.

The 500 was for the competition. This was my FIRST time doing this. There was a time limit on completing the puzzle, I forgot what that was. As I was Solo, I wasn’t going to win.

I focused on 1) Making sure pieces didn’t fly all over and 2) I completed part of the puzzle.

Somehow, when I opened my bag, ONE piece flew into the open box. Of course, I didn’t see that until the end. The host laughed when he told me HE had seen it, but rules are rules, he could not alert me to this.

That was definitely a “newbie / rookie” puzzling mistake.

I believe the first and second teams won two Ravensburger puzzles each. Then those teams would have to flip a coin on WHO brings a puzzle home.

So, if you are getting bored at home, sign into Meetup.com or EventBrite, lots of activities out there.

Fun events at museums too. I haven’t been to a museum in ages, that will be NEXT.

Have a nice Labor Day weekend!