Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Jigsaw

Summer is a time of swimming pools and tag, ice cream and late night sleepovers. Hot, overcast summer days always meant something for me and my friend next door...those days meant puzzles and hoping for thunderstorms. (though we rarely got them) We both loved our puzzles, we would pull out my 300 piece movie poster Disney puzzles and put them together countless times. My mom let us take over the whole dining table! Of course, it was usually July, and we were usually in our "Christmas can't come soon enough" phase. We played a game that we were elves in Santa's workshop, we were the head of the puzzle department. And before we could package up any puzzle to send with Santa on Christmas Eve, it had to be put together and double checked. After all, who wants a puzzle with missing pieces? It was a fun game, often accompanied by contraband Christmas music when my mom wasn't paying attention. Our barbie's also celebrated Christmas all summer long in our elaborate, full room setups...in both our houses.

Last week my mom told me to watch a movie or something to distract me from my throat. I started with Star Wars, but my eye also caught on this lovely, 1000 piece Mickey Mouse puzzle that the bf gave me when he discovered that I loved puzzles. It's been sitting on my table for a while, waiting to be put together. I broke out the card table, and began sorting. Took me a week, but I finally finished it! It's still sitting on my kitchen table because I can't bear to break it apart just yet. Can't say much for mono, but it took me back to those rare stormy summer days with my neighbor, and helped me rediscover my love for jigsaws. I bought a new 1000 piece Thomas Kinkade puzzle yesterday. I'm going to start it tomorrow, I'm so excited! I made the bf take me to two different stores before I found the perfect new puzzle to work on. This one might take me a bit longer to put together since I doubt I'll be working on it in the wee hours of the morning, since I can actually sleep through the night now and not wake up in pain. That's always fun. It looks like a beautiful puzzle, I can't wait to get started!


19 comments:

Momma Bean said...

Oh, I wish you were around the corner! I love puzzles too! J never understood my fascination but I love how it starts out a jumbled mess and that I can, with a little patience and understanding, make it into something beautiful! I'm going to buy myself one on the way home!

Jaina said...

How much fun would we have? We could have puzzle parties! You explained my puzzle love perfectly there. You'll have to take a picture to share when you're done with your new puzzle!

Trooper Thorn said...

I fogot to add puzzles to my "I Like Things That are Great!" post. I used to do puzzles at the cottage, even giving up sunny afternoons to find more sky pieces, or brick pieces or that one piece with the only open window in the whole Seveille skyline.

I hated any help though. Some mornings I'd get up and find my Dad had put a few pieces in for me. I always knew.

I'd still finish the puzzle, but it was dead to me after someone else had 'helped'.

Kellan said...

My mom and Alexis love doing puzzles and often have a puzzle going on a table. Have fun - and hope you are feeling okay. See you - Kellan

Jaina said...

Trooper Thorn- You'll have to add it to your list then, definitely. :) Thanks for stopping by! I hope you "see" you around.

Kellan- glad to hear they enjoy puzzles, they're quite the fun thing to have around. :)

Bottles Barbies And Boys said...

Isn't it funny how the simple things can take us back to our childhood.

I hope I leave my children with great memories as your mom did!

Jaina said...

It really is. I'm sure you're making wonderful memories with your children even as I type this. :)

Cecily R said...

I admire puzzle minds. My sister has one. Since she was tiny she could put together huge complicated puzzles like they were nothing. I on the other hand have a hard time with the 100 piecers...

If I did the one you did it would take months and I'd never take it apart. :)

Jaina said...

Haha, shall I admit that I haven't taken it apart yet? I figure it deserves to be left together for at least a week.

MamaGeek @ Works For Us said...

I LOVE ME SOME PUZZLES! Having said that, my son now steals pieces so I'm never realy done!

If only we could do a puzzle party, eh? :)

Jaina said...

A puzzle party would be tons of fun! I'll bring the spinach dip and a bottle of wine. ;)

Anonymous said...

Glad you are feeling better! I can't get into puzzles...I think it's due to my lack of patience. ;-) I want instant gratification!

Jaina said...

Thanks! I understand the instant gratification thing, I definitely have that in a lot of things. But puzzles are just one of those things for which I seem to have infinite patience.

Don Mills Diva said...

I haven't done a puzzle since I was a kid and no I'm yearning to do one - it just seems like such a lovely, leisurely way to spend time...sigh...

Jaina said...

You totally should! Just pick one up and start it somewhere where it will be out of the way, and work on it a little bit at a time. They're fun to work on while you're listening to music or watching a movie.

Anonymous said...

Oh Jaina, I am so sorry that you have been sick. I have been away from my computer (my puppy chewed the cord up). I am glad you are feeling better. Take it easy.

The puzzle of Mickey Mouse is so beautiful. It is such a great feeling to finish a puzzle. When we are at the beach, we always have a puzzle going during the week. I use to hate doing them, I was not good at them and would get frustrated. However, I enjoy doing them with my family, it is a nice way to spend an evening.

Happy 4th of July.
XOXO

Jaina said...

I'm sorry to hear about your computer cord Eileen, that's no fun. Thanks for stopping by. I did a bit too much this weekend with the 4th of July and all, but I'm taking it easy again. I'm glad you get to enjoy puzzles with your family.

Kellan said...

Hi Jaina - Hope you had a good 4th - a good weekend. See you soon - Kellan

Jaina said...

Thanks Kellan! I had a great 4th and weekend. I should be getting a new post up by the end of the day. I've been slacking a bit. See you soon, thanks for stopping by.