Jigsaw Puzzles - a Gardeners Winter Hobby

I do not believe I am alone when I say that nothing is more enjoyable and satisfying than passing the long, cold winter months putting jigsaw puzzles together. Although I put jigsaw puzzles together when I was a child, I never really knew much about them, other than the interlocking pieces go together to create a picture. When I made putting together jigsaw puzzles a hobby several years ago, I did some investigation and found that the origin of the jigsaw puzzle dates back to 1767, having been invented by John Spilsbury, a geography teacher. In 1880, Milton Bradley made the first jigsaw puzzle for children, which set in motion putting jigsaw puzzles together a popular hobby for all ages.

Jigsaw puzzles come in all shapes and sizes, and every imaginable scene or picture known to man. My preferences are those that depict a winter scene and are at least 1000 pieces. I also have specific rules or as I refer to them, restraints, about this hobby, such as I never start this hobby until after Christmas, even though the jigsaw puzzle urge starts hitting me at Thanksgiving. I know that sounds funny, but if I start putting together puzzles before Christmas, everything else stops. My holiday shopping is put on hold until the last minute. I will burn my Christmas cookies because I lose track of time while working on a puzzle. I know I have a jigsaw addiction, so that is why I need restraints in place.

Once Christmas is over, or I feel I have everything ready for Christmas, the shopping done, the cookies baked, I set up a card table and two folding chairs in my sewing room and bring out the first puzzle. All year long, I have scoured online stores for bargains or hit the malls looking for what I feel are special puzzles. It takes me about two weeks to put a 1000 piece puzzle together, so I make sure I have at least three or four new puzzles for the coming months. I sometimes put an old jigsaw puzzle together, but not often, and it has to be one that I have not put together for several years.

Between January and March, I will spend several hours each evening and on weekends putting jigsaw puzzles together while sipping a cup of hot tea, cocoa or apple cider. Sometimes I may get a little help from my husband or a visiting friend, thus the extra chair, but most often, it is just me. Putting jigsaw puzzles together during the winter is a good indoor hobby, especially for someone like myself who loves to garden. However, once spring arrives I have to be outdoors digging in the dirt.

Source: Ideafinder.com