So, I bought my first puzzle in Dec. 2019 as a form of stress relief, and when my niece came to visit in Jan. 2020 (last house guest before the pandemic, maybe) she helped me make real progress on it. But then March 2020 came, and my partner had dementia, and the cats kept knocking over the pieces, and when we wanted to eat at the dining room table, I had to cover the puzzle. So, the layers on the dining room table were as follows: table cloth, puzzle cloth, puzzle, towel (to keep it from the cats) and, occasionally, a second table cloth.
As time went on, I basically gave up on the puzzle, and the second table cloth stayed on permanently. But after my partner died in early 2022, the friend who came right afterward wanted me to admit defeat on the puzzle and reclaim my dining room table. I said no.
I really, really, thought I would finish the puzzle. And then I never did. Those five layers stayed on the dining room table for more than FIVE YEARS. And then a few weeks ago, when I was taking the top table cloth up to wash it, I thought, fuck it, and I took the puzzle apart and put it back in the box. Now, my dining room table has only a single table cloth on it.
The lesson, I guess, is that things take the time they take. I wasn't ready until I was.
But, in other news, after the election, I refocused on the novel I'd been writing in fits and starts since 2021, and I am actually writing it. So maybe I traded the puzzle I wasn't doing for the novel?
I tell myself that I will try again with the puzzle another time, but who knows.
Sue, What a story -- thank you for sharing this, and I'm so sorry for your loss. I absolutely agree that we do things when we are ready to, and love that you said to your friend, no, I will not move this now. And that the novel eventually made its way into view?! YES!!!!!!!! Way more important than a puzzle, but I love the puzzle as gateway, perhaps. x
Yes! I spent yesterday (Sunday) “puzzling” out the first draft of a novel and shouting the equivalent of “there are so many white pieces!” It doesn’t help that the actual puzzle on deck is made of circular pieces for an added challenge. Also, if any advanced puzzlers want the most painful puzzle ever, it’s John Darien’s Three Carrots. 🥕 Happy to send along and exorcise it from the house.
Welcome to the land of puzzlers. (Wow, there was no way to say that without sounding like an absolute dork, which, fair.) In my ideal office set up I have a table for puzzles and I always bring them on retreats; there is something about doing a thing with your hands that is completable while doing the thing that feels like it will never be completed. The cat has recently made my puzzle urges impossible (I even bought a whole thing to store it in so he can’t get to it, but alas, he does) but I have a retreat coming up and I’m gonna finish the one I began last summer. Definitely have a list of favorite brands because I am indeed a dork like that if you want ‘em!
My favorite brand is Pomegranate, which does art puzzles but the pieces are good and also for the most part you don't get a ton of single-color spaces. Choose carefully! This is the fatal flaw of puzzles, IMHO! People love art based/pretty/sophisticated (lolz) images but don't think about how boring it is to do an image that has a massive sky or other dominant color in it, and for a beginner, doing ones based on paintings can be frustrating because the images aren't as clear as illustrations. A lot of detail is actually easier because it's specific in terms of finding pieces. White Mountain are good starter puzzles because they have lots of little detailed areas and sharp imagery. As far as pieces, the Ravensburgers are nice but images aren't as fun as say a Buffalo, which I love, especially the super cheesy ones. Pieces are good and detail ratio is great. Do not fall for New York Puzzle Company! The pieces are oddly shaped and the images are not great for puzzling because of the backgrounds. Ok, I have dorked out enough here. Happy puzzling!
We’ve all had that puzzle! The one with huge swathes of single colors, which drives you insane—for me, sadly, it was a custom photo puzzle of me and the kids reading, a sweet gift from them—and I love, love the simile you’ve found in it; I’d never thought of it, but you’re so right in comparing it to writing a novel. (And so glad you’re watching GG!)
This inspired me to open a puzzle I've stuffed in a closet for another time. Perhaps leaving one on an empty small table would be a great way to connect with my teen, even when she's not interested in having a conversation but is interested in being close.
So, I bought my first puzzle in Dec. 2019 as a form of stress relief, and when my niece came to visit in Jan. 2020 (last house guest before the pandemic, maybe) she helped me make real progress on it. But then March 2020 came, and my partner had dementia, and the cats kept knocking over the pieces, and when we wanted to eat at the dining room table, I had to cover the puzzle. So, the layers on the dining room table were as follows: table cloth, puzzle cloth, puzzle, towel (to keep it from the cats) and, occasionally, a second table cloth.
As time went on, I basically gave up on the puzzle, and the second table cloth stayed on permanently. But after my partner died in early 2022, the friend who came right afterward wanted me to admit defeat on the puzzle and reclaim my dining room table. I said no.
I really, really, thought I would finish the puzzle. And then I never did. Those five layers stayed on the dining room table for more than FIVE YEARS. And then a few weeks ago, when I was taking the top table cloth up to wash it, I thought, fuck it, and I took the puzzle apart and put it back in the box. Now, my dining room table has only a single table cloth on it.
The lesson, I guess, is that things take the time they take. I wasn't ready until I was.
But, in other news, after the election, I refocused on the novel I'd been writing in fits and starts since 2021, and I am actually writing it. So maybe I traded the puzzle I wasn't doing for the novel?
I tell myself that I will try again with the puzzle another time, but who knows.
Thanks for this!
Sue, What a story -- thank you for sharing this, and I'm so sorry for your loss. I absolutely agree that we do things when we are ready to, and love that you said to your friend, no, I will not move this now. And that the novel eventually made its way into view?! YES!!!!!!!! Way more important than a puzzle, but I love the puzzle as gateway, perhaps. x
Beautiful, Abby! You captured that feeling I get when I hesitate to return to my works-in-progress.
Yes! I spent yesterday (Sunday) “puzzling” out the first draft of a novel and shouting the equivalent of “there are so many white pieces!” It doesn’t help that the actual puzzle on deck is made of circular pieces for an added challenge. Also, if any advanced puzzlers want the most painful puzzle ever, it’s John Darien’s Three Carrots. 🥕 Happy to send along and exorcise it from the house.
Hahahah I love the idea of the puzzle being exorcised from the house. Thank you for the offer. Sadly we already have a pile of untouched ones... xx
Welcome to the land of puzzlers. (Wow, there was no way to say that without sounding like an absolute dork, which, fair.) In my ideal office set up I have a table for puzzles and I always bring them on retreats; there is something about doing a thing with your hands that is completable while doing the thing that feels like it will never be completed. The cat has recently made my puzzle urges impossible (I even bought a whole thing to store it in so he can’t get to it, but alas, he does) but I have a retreat coming up and I’m gonna finish the one I began last summer. Definitely have a list of favorite brands because I am indeed a dork like that if you want ‘em!
Yes! Please do share fave brands, and I love this office set up. (We can dream, right?) xx
My favorite brand is Pomegranate, which does art puzzles but the pieces are good and also for the most part you don't get a ton of single-color spaces. Choose carefully! This is the fatal flaw of puzzles, IMHO! People love art based/pretty/sophisticated (lolz) images but don't think about how boring it is to do an image that has a massive sky or other dominant color in it, and for a beginner, doing ones based on paintings can be frustrating because the images aren't as clear as illustrations. A lot of detail is actually easier because it's specific in terms of finding pieces. White Mountain are good starter puzzles because they have lots of little detailed areas and sharp imagery. As far as pieces, the Ravensburgers are nice but images aren't as fun as say a Buffalo, which I love, especially the super cheesy ones. Pieces are good and detail ratio is great. Do not fall for New York Puzzle Company! The pieces are oddly shaped and the images are not great for puzzling because of the backgrounds. Ok, I have dorked out enough here. Happy puzzling!
We’ve all had that puzzle! The one with huge swathes of single colors, which drives you insane—for me, sadly, it was a custom photo puzzle of me and the kids reading, a sweet gift from them—and I love, love the simile you’ve found in it; I’d never thought of it, but you’re so right in comparing it to writing a novel. (And so glad you’re watching GG!)
OMG, what a gift!! I'd hate/love to stare at my own face for weeks on end on the coffee table! xx
This inspired me to open a puzzle I've stuffed in a closet for another time. Perhaps leaving one on an empty small table would be a great way to connect with my teen, even when she's not interested in having a conversation but is interested in being close.
YES! This I can vouch for. x