Jigsaw
This is another small wooden jigsaw of oddly shaped pieces. It’s called ‘Summer Badgers’ by Lucy Grossmith, and has eighty-three pieces. Unlike other jigsaws, the pieces do not fit closely together.
It was fiddly, but fun to do. I have some ‘normal’ jigsaws to do one of these days. Not yet, though, as I need the dining room table for Sunday lunch.
I can’t lay out a jigsaw anywhere that the cats might access, as they are attracted to them and will stretch across them, even as I attempt to put the pieces together.
Why do we do jigsaws? What’s the point? I know some people frame them, but I’ve never been inclined to do that. I suppose it’s a challenge, a way of bringing order out of chaos. My time would be more usefully occupied in domestic chores, but where’s the fun in those? Move the dust around and it will settle somewhere else. Mop up the spatters and someone will spill something more.
I know there are badger setts in the woods, but have never discovered them, or perhaps I just haven’t recognised them. Occasionally, I see a dead badger on the side of the road – always a sad sight – but haven’t seen a live badger for an exceptionally long time.
Government marksmen - paid assassins - are still secretly killing badgers. They were here on this island before humans. And bollocks to the TB mythology.
ReplyDeleteWe shall live to rue the day and be attempting to reintroduce badgers in future centuries.
DeleteI think there is something calming, and at the same time intellectually stimulating, about focusing on a jigsaw puzzle. However, Cricket would love to participate in any effort to lay out a puzzle, so alas I don't do them.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what attracts them. Maybe it's a way of reminding their servants that Cats Rule!
DeleteIt's a lovely one! I think it helps keep the mind sharp. My walking friend loves doing them. She also has several friends who enjoy putting them together. Sometimes they come over to her house and socialise and do them together. After she has finished them, she photographs them, bags and boxes them up and shares them with others.
ReplyDeleteWhen we were cleaning out Aunt Jane's house we found several new ones still in boxes and I gave them to her. She showed me photos of them when done. Jane had several she framed. They were mostly of lighthouses. Unfortunately, they were too big for anyone to keep.
I'm sure Aunt Jane would have been pleased to know that her unopened jigsaws went to an appreciative home.
DeleteProbably good brain exercise and you know what they say about brain exercise and aging.... That's a lively badger picture. I never did get to see a live badger other than in a zoo of sorts.
ReplyDeleteIt's always a thrill to see wild life, but foxes are more common and urban than badgers.
DeleteI have the same cat problem, so my jigsaws stay in their boxes on the shelf. I have a couple of large ones that are framed and hang on my walls here, One done by my brother and one by my niece, both framed by my brother.
ReplyDeleteThose are nice mementoes.
DeleteAs for badgers, their quiet existence in the woods contrasts with the unfortunate reminders we sometimes see by the roadside, making a live sighting all the more special.
ReplyDeleteI suppose it's enough to know that they are 'out there' somewhere. Most of us don't live in the countryside.
DeleteIf every jigsaw that you do is more or less the same size, line the finished jigsaws up and place them right down the centre of a coffee table. Place a glass cover over the entire table and be impressed by your "art" when you drink your coffee.
ReplyDeleteI did it with photos which also look terrific.
That sounds like a wonderful talking point.
DeleteWe bought a very large jigsaw with so many pieces. We started it but it was slow going. After a couple of weeks and it still being far from finished, we needed the dining room table for visitors, and just pulled what we had completed apart, and we never tackled another since. I've given about five jigsaws to the charity shop.
ReplyDeleteI have a jigsaw board, but it takes up quite a lot of room and the pieces move around when it's picked up.
DeleteI read or I'm outside in our garden, house work is bottom of my list of things to do. I've never been a puzzle person, did loads before I was married, mum always had huge ones at home.
ReplyDeleteHalf my family enjoys puzzles, the other half not.
DeleteP always has a jigsaw puzzle on the go. As soon as one is finished he takes it to the jigsaw exchange at the local community centre and brings home a new one. It is great for calming him down as he is generally quite hyperactive although it doesn't keep him quiet as he is always rattling the box to look for pieces!
ReplyDeleteThat's so funny - you need quieter boxes!
DeleteThat's a very quirky kind of jigsaw, isn't it? Very attractive too. xx
ReplyDeleteThe pieces are very odd shapes.
ReplyDeleteAs a child I was really bad at putting puzzles together, so have never attempted one since then, I also lost every game I ever plaid, so don't play games. maybe I need to get one and see if I am better at it in my 2nd childhood
ReplyDeleteYour talents lie in a different direction. How boring it would be to be like everyone else.
DeleteWe used to do puzzles together. Hubby lost interest and I do occasionally by myself. Better that way, he thinks it is some kind of competition. Takes the fun out. I have ones I've done over and over. Peepers used to simply looooovveee to help, lol.
ReplyDeleteIt's very sweet when cats want to be involved in everything. 😺😸
ReplyDeleteThat's a nice puzzle. I do jigsaw puzzles on my iPad. I never have to worry about losing a piece or picking things up to get them out of the way
ReplyDeleteThat's a definite advantage.
DeleteYou nailed it when you said bringing order to chaos!
ReplyDeleteIf only it applied to other areas of my life!
DeleteI can do puzzles now I have no cats helping. Mostly it's just a piece now and then, because I get bored after a few minutes. But there's a little jolt of pleasure when you realize how a section fits in to another. I borrow from the library collection, better than owning, I think.
ReplyDeleteI get involved in them, particularly if I'm listening to a book at the same time.
DeleteThe only jigsaws that I can really participating in were at the cottage many years ago.
ReplyDeleteTime for another try??
ReplyDeleteI haven't done actual jigsaw puzzles since my childhood/youth I think, but I have an ad-free puzzle app on my tablet that I use sometimes and find kind of relaxing while still keeping the brain busy...
ReplyDeleteThat's a neat way to complete a jigsaw - no fear of losing any pieces.
DeleteI haven't done a jigsaw in ages. I'm sure if I did I would get lots of helps from Bess, though :-)
ReplyDeleteLoving the quirky badger one you've done! xxx
I'm sure Bess would love that! 😹
DeleteThat looks a very nice puzzle ... must admit I don't even own a jigsaw puzzle!
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
I find my total absorption in a jigsaw stops my mind wandering to dark places. Or just busy places.
ReplyDelete