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Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

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Piecing It Together

March 21, 2025 By Robin Lee Hatcher

One of my favorite things to do (although this isn’t a Sunday post) is to put together jigsaw puzzles. I especially love to work jigsaw puzzles during the fall and winter seasons, when the days are shorter and the darkness comes earlier.

I treated myself to a puzzle board a couple of Christmases ago, when Princess Pinky was still with me. There is nothing like a cat to cause a person to lose puzzle pieces! The board I got swivels 360 degrees and has four drawers and a cover to protect it when the human is away and a cat is at large. Pinky crossed the rainbow bridge last October (I still miss her), so the cover doesn’t get used now. But the board continues to see lots of action.

Puzzle and board on my dining room table

I love that I can just walk up to the table, poke through random pieces, and find one or two to put into place before I return to writing. At other times, I’ll have a very focused session with the puzzle. About half an hour is my max. Or whenever my back starts to hurt from bending over the table. Although I try to sit, I seem to do better when standing.

My favorite puzzles come from Ravensburger. I’ve tried others and been disappointed. I always get the Large Piece format, easier for older eyes and fingers. The largest size my puzzle board can handle is the 750 large piece puzzles, but that’s about the perfect size for me. Takes me long enough to complete without it being so long I get frustrated.

Spring is almost here. Very soon, I will put the puzzle board away and let it rest until fall arrives again. But here are a few photos from the puzzles I’ve completed this winter.

This is my favorite puzzle from winter 2024/2025
I’ve completed this puzzle twice. Who doesn’t love a library full of books?
I love dogs so this one was fun.
This one was trickier than I expected.
The photo for this puzzle was off by about a half inch, so completing the left edge was tricky because it was completely “blind.”
I really loved finishing this puzzle within a puzzle.

Do you like to work jigsaw puzzles? What’s your favorite puzzle maker?

~robin

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Robin Lee Hatcher

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Best-selling novelist Robin Lee Hatcher is known for her heartwarming and emotionally charged stories of faith, courage, and love. Her 90+ books have won multiple awards, including the RITA, the Christy, the Carol, the FHL Reader's Choice, and the National Reader's Choice Awards. Robin makes her home in Idaho.
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Comments

  1. Deborah Raney says

    March 21, 2025 at 4:08 am

    We do a jigsaw puzzle or two every Christmas when all the kids are home. We play a “game” where everybody hides one puzzle piece in their pocket hoping to be the one who “finds” the last missing piece that completes the puzzle. 🙂 We try to pick puzzles that are 1000 pieces or less and have some easier sections for the younger kids, but our grandkids—even the little ones—are all pretty sharp (and much more sharp-eyed than me!) and they always amaze me!

    • Robin Lee Hatcher says

      March 21, 2025 at 8:06 am

      Oh, that sounds wicked with all those missing pieces!!

  2. Lorraine Groom-Ashmore says

    March 21, 2025 at 7:14 am

    Oh boy, I covet that library puzzle.

    • Robin Lee Hatcher says

      March 21, 2025 at 8:08 am

      It’s called “Dream Library.” Here’s a link to it: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BS78MQ3V

  3. Karen Witemeyer says

    March 21, 2025 at 7:36 am

    So fun, Robin! I enjoy puzzles, too, though I usually do them mostly in December. Ravensburger is also my favorite. In fact, I have the last one you posted. Loved the puzzle within a puzzle plus all the books. I love puzzles with lots of bright colors so it is easier to sort the pieces (my least favorite part). One of my daughters-in-law is a puzzler too, so whenever I have one going, I always encourage her to help me. It’s nice to have something the two of us can do together.

    • Robin Lee Hatcher says

      March 21, 2025 at 8:12 am

      My daughter does puzzles in December too. That seems to be a common, fun holiday pastime for many. And the puzzle within a puzzle one was one of my favorites to put together.

  4. Amy M. says

    March 21, 2025 at 7:42 am

    I love doing puzzles. There’s something so relaxing about it and a sense of accomplishment when you finish and see the results.

    • Robin Lee Hatcher says

      March 21, 2025 at 8:12 am

      I agree, Amy. Relaxing and yet motivating to see it come together.

  5. Amy B. says

    March 21, 2025 at 8:49 am

    Fun post! I too love puzzles and my puzzle board with drawers so I can work at my own pace and move it when needed. My favorites are Lawrence King’s The World of….(Jane Austen, Shakespeare, Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes, et al.) and Galison’s Michael Storrings puzzles, like city scenes of London. A little challenge, but not frustrating.

    • Robin Lee Hatcher says

      March 22, 2025 at 5:15 pm

      I’ll have to check those out. Thanks.

  6. D'Ann Mateer says

    March 21, 2025 at 8:57 am

    I love puzzles, too! I got two “bookish” ones for Christmas. I’ve finished one and haven’t yet started the other. My puzzle time changed drastically when I got a rolling puzzle table with a cover, so I could work on my puzzle at night in front of the TV, then roll it away to my bedroom if we have people over! I enjoy Ravensburger puzzles, but also Laurence King ones!

    • Robin Lee Hatcher says

      March 22, 2025 at 5:16 pm

      That’s two recommendations for Laurence King. I’ll take a look at them.

  7. Joyce Jamieson says

    March 21, 2025 at 9:19 am

    Hi Robin: It’s great to know that you are a fellow puzzle-lover! Our favorites are by Charles Wysocki. He always has an American flag in it somewhere (very patriotic) and generally cats. Since I’m a cat lover, he speaks my language. 😁 My mother, who is turning 90 in a couple of weeks, also loves puzzles. She always has one going and the family gravitates to it whenever they visit.

    Take care and keep on puzzling!

    • Robin Lee Hatcher says

      March 22, 2025 at 5:17 pm

      Thanks for that recommendation, Joyce. I’ll check out those puzzles.

  8. JOAN ARNING says

    March 21, 2025 at 10:44 am

    I don’t have a favorite brand. Guess I don’t pay much attention to that! However, I am working on the absolutely hardest puzzle I have ever done! It is by Ceaco. It’s Thomas Kinkade’s 1000 piece 70 Bridge Street. I started it the first of October and am still working. It is on my closed in porch so in really cold weather I could not work on it but as long as the sun is shining, it warms up there. I am hoping to move in a couple of months so hope to get it finished so I don’t have tear it up to move! I also like to work puzzles standing up! I don’t seem to see as well sitting down. Friends have helped me too–sometimes without getting a single piece in! I always find Thomas Kinkade puzzles more difficult but this is ridiculous!

    • Robin Lee Hatcher says

      March 22, 2025 at 5:18 pm

      LOL. I have Thomas Kinkade paintings, and I can understand how difficult they could be as a puzzle.

  9. Gloria Anderson says

    March 21, 2025 at 11:58 am

    I love puzzles as do our kids and grands but my husband does not. I like Ravensburger as well and have one called The Reading Room, a tough one that was a group effort. I do stand up to work them quite a bit. The puzzle box is a great idea that I need to check out. We just spent Spring Break with our families at a lake cabin and had one going so are not limited to when we work them.

    • Robin Lee Hatcher says

      March 22, 2025 at 5:19 pm

      I don’t think I have the Reading Room. I’ll have to look for it.

  10. Becky Wade says

    March 21, 2025 at 12:10 pm

    I’ve recently taken to doing puzzles when I spend time at our lake house! Because I’m typically there over a weekend, I gravitate to puzzles I can begin and end in that time frame. My favorites have been the 300 piece puzzles of Charles Wysocki’s Americanana art that I buy at Target. 🙂

    • Robin Lee Hatcher says

      March 22, 2025 at 5:20 pm

      I have two or three of the 300 pieces. They definitely go faster than the 500 to 1000 piece ones.

  11. Deena Adams says

    March 21, 2025 at 1:28 pm

    My husband really enjoys working puzzles. I’m not very good at it. I bought him a puzzle board like yours for Christmas last year and he’s worked three puzzles on it so far.

    • Robin Lee Hatcher says

      March 22, 2025 at 5:21 pm

      The puzzle board definitely makes it easier to work on a puzzle over time.

  12. Brenda Murphree says

    March 23, 2025 at 1:08 am

    I love all your beautiful puzzles.also love to put puzzles together. I guess I would say it’s my second hobby. Reading, puzzles & crocheting.
    I buy puzzles from several different companies. I wish I could show you some of mine. The last one I put together was a zebra that looked like it was made from stained glass. I’m actually going to frame it for my bedroom. My husband built me 2 storage benches and they are covered in zebra material. I love them. My husband passed away August of 2021 so money can’t buy those benches.

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