Tag: puzzles

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Wonder in the West

ellenparkerwrites

What comes to mind when you hear the phrase — the American West?

Cowboys? Mountains? Buffalo?

Are you drawn to the scenery in classic western movies? Or do you think of switchback roads climbing a mountain?

Do you ever think of canyons?

No photograph, or puzzle based on a photograph, will be able to capture the majesty and grander of this canyon. The size-measured in miles. The colors of the different strata. The shapes of individual rocks and formations. A person needs to look with care and intent to see the river winding along the bottom.

Have you visited? Do you have it on you “to do” list?

On a smaller scale, Morning Tryst introduces the reader to several Missouri State Parks. https://amzn.to/35gH37S

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Classic Puzzle

ellenparkerwrites

I was a few months ahead of the curve when the topic was puzzles. I had assembled the one I owned and discovered the shelf at the library before Covid-19 kept us home and revived interest in the pastime.

Lucky me received a gift of boxes of gently used puzzles early in lockdown.

Puzzles and television. Puzzles while primarily listening to television. Puzzles to occupy hands so they are not putting food in my mouth.

Puzzles to bring a little fine art to visit in my home.

A pleasant surprise when this was featured in a travel show broadcast recently.

I usually travel in books when time, money, and energy prevent the in-person kind. Maybe it’s time to add puzzles as a travel method. How do you travel?

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A Day in the Park

ellenparkerwrites

Shall we go for a ride?

Perhaps rent a canoe.

Or would you rather try your hands, and legs, at a bicycle?

The puzzle artist has accomplished his task well. A variety of features and activities woven together by the park path.

On this mid-December day this scene may warm you. Can you think back to a walk or park visit when the weather was similar to the puzzle picture? In this more modern era, I’ll opt for dressing in jeans and a T-shirt and sneakers on my feet. No parasol required — I’ll wear a cap and a dab of sunscreen. (If I remember.)

Serena Carter, the heroine in MORNING TRYST spends large portions of time in parks. However, they are of the more rugged variety. Forest, rivers, hiking trails, fishing streams, and historic homes and sites are more typical of Missouri State Parks. For more about this sweet romance, click here: https://amzn.to/35gH37S

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Desert in Bloom

ellenparkerwrites

December’s a little early. You’ll find more color in the desert in another month or two.

This pair, however, look right at home in this puzzle.

Unlike many puzzle artists, this series appears to blend photographs. I wonder how many they used. One for each bird? How many for the yellow blossoms? How many to get the cacti this straight and close together?

Have you visited the desert? Remember the sunscreen! And a hat! Check for critters before you sit on the ground. If you’re lucky, you may see a road runner darting between the clumps of vegetation.

The “Gusto Gang,” a group of women who became best friends in US Navy boot camp years ago, meet for a hiking adventure in National Parks. Sign up for my newsletter and get a free copy of the short DESERT ENCOUNTER. http://mailchi.mp/0e2c43fb8029/newsletter-plus-gift

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Time for Nostalgia?

ellenparkerwrites

December:

A month often filled with celebration and parties.

The final month of the calendar year. (In the West.)

An ideal time to assess the past and plan the future.

As I select and assemble jigsaw puzzles, I suspect the artists for these projects dive deep into nostalgia. How else to explain the prevalence of horses and horse-drawn vehicles. Often the emphasis is on rural or small-town life. In a cleaned-up idealized form.

Oh, I appreciate they have an assignment to follow. They need to put a lot of different elements into a small space. Most manage to keep it colorful and hide a few little items a person doesn’t notice when they pull the box off the shelf. Have you assembled a puzzle this year?

In COMFORT ZONE, a sweet romance set in St. Louis, the hero designs puzzles — but not the picture kind.

For more information or to buy for your Kindle, click here: https://amzn.to/2ZvL0Av

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On Silent Wings

ellenparkerwrites

Seek a little silence. Escape from the hustle and bustle of the modern world. Unplug for a time.

All good advice to help a person regain some balance and perspective.

Does this seem impossible? Too many obligations to others? Lack of transportation or mobility?

Perhaps a picture will need to substitute.

This puzzle, assembled a little more than a year ago, gives a peaceful winter view. Can you imagine yourself following a trail along a creek after an early snowfall? Sounds are muffled. The snow sparkles as the sun sets. And then–the majestic snowy owl glides past on silent wings. No harm to you — he’s seeking much smaller creatures who have strayed from their cozy dens.

What’s one way you find calm in your life?

Starr Tree Farm — a winter story set in Wisconsin — includes the heroine seeking solace in a walk on the Christmas tree farm. Two collies, Taffy & Cocoa, hike along for security and humor. Find details here: https://amzn.to/2zqIQEw

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Farewell Autumn?

ellenparkerwrites

In the United States, Thanksgiving is past and thoughts have turned to the end-of-year holidays.

However, autumn is a colorful season where I live and let’s give it one more shout-out.

This puzzle, one of many assembled during 2022, features many harvest and autumn themes. The banner proclaims a Harvest Moon Festival. Orange pumpkins and bright, new straw give vibrant color. Trees wear their autumn best. The horses hold their heads as if enjoying cool air with a sent of delicious grain on the breeze. Let’s dance! One last party before the wind turns cold and brings snow with a different sort of beauty.

Looking for a sweet romance to go with the season? I suggest SEED OF DESIRE. Concentrated from August to November, this small-town contemporary features interesting people — and dogs. Always a winning combination. And advice from a wise old woman — You can tell a lot about a man by how he treats a dog.

Kindle: https://amzn.to/2RDFgxH

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Fun and Puzzles

ellenparkerwrites

The manufacturer calls it a “puzzle within a puzzle”. At 550 pieces and a nice size for my coffee table (puzzles are for TV reruns, news, and other programs where sound is more important that picture), I’ve assembled this more than once.

Authors are cautioned not to use cliches — or at least very few.

So they can let the pent-up cliches flew free finding them in this scene.

My personal favorite is the fellow in the lower left corner.

Does a certain one catch your fancy?

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Rise Above It All

ellenparkerwrites

Up! Up! And Away!

Have you ever wanted to just get up in the air, away from all the clutter, and see the big picture?

One item on my personal “bucket list” is a ride in a hot-air balloon. I’ll need to be a paying passenger: balloon pilots are not among my friends.

Now which one looks the best? The hippo has a certain charm. Then again, the bees on the honeycomb make a statement. Fierce like the dragon? Perhaps the goose laying the golden egg. A mushroom? Snowman? Pig or sheep?

Any one, with the right pilot and weather conditions, would help you “rise above it all” for a brief time.

Until then — I’ll enjoy the puzzle.

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Learning Limits

ellenparkerwrites

Have you made and kept a New Years resolution for 2022?

Have you set one or more goals?

The experts (I have no idea how you get to be an expert in these sorts of things.) counsel a person to set goals that are attainable. That’s right — if it’s impossible and you know it — don’t bother to claim it as a goal. You’re only setting yourself up to fail.

Not sure about you — but I don’t need to go looking for more failure.

Sometimes, a person doesn’t realize the goal is unattainable — you know, you think you can, you give it your best effort, and …ooops. Flat on your face.

Like thousands of other people — I reconnected with assembling jigsaw puzzles during the pandemic.

Most of them have worked out fine. More pieces usually means more days to complete. My table is 19″ wide so I’ve learned to check dimensions before starting. However, this one was a puzzle too far — or too dark. After just over two weeks of working during TV news, football games, and drama re-runs, I decided to let the puzzle win. It came from the library and they always include a slip of paper asking if pieces are missing. I’m sure I don’t know — perhaps the next patron will be more patient, or have better eyesight.

Have I learned a lesson? Well, the next puzzle I assembled had bright colors.

When setting goals — ask — Can I actually do this? I’d hate to see all your plans turn into a “puzzle too far.”