I’ve been spending some of my reading time doing jigsaws. I began in January whilst I was reading The Pattern in the Carpet: A Personal History With Jigsaws by Margaret Drabble. Jigsaws are good for you – doing them renews the brain cells, and because they have no verbal content they exercise a different part of the brain, bringing different neurons and dendrites into play.
I began with a Thomas Kinkade jigsaw: Sunday Evening Sleigh Ride (1,000 pieces):
Then a Ravensburger puzzle of 500 pieces – much easier to do – of a thatched cottage:
Finally, A Bird’s Eye View, a House of Puzzles jigsaw, 1000 pieces, some are varied shapes, making it a bit different from the other jigsaws – this jigsaw has a piece missing!
You can see the different shapes (and the space for the missing piece) in the photo below:
BooksPlease 
Wonderful post, delighted to see the jigsaws you’ve been doing. At long last I have my jigsaw spot back in the conservatory (we emptied the kitchen into it) and I’ve managed to finish the one I’ve had on the go since ‘Christmas’. And now the bit you won’t believe… I started a new one that my daughter picked up at Budleigh Salterton library. And it is… wait for it…. that third jigsaw of yours with all the birds. How odd is *that*?
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I forgot to say how much I love the Thomas Kincade one… I like doing puzzles with his paintings very much. Not seen that one before.
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Well, that is a coincidence ‘“ not just the same jigsaw, but also at nearly the same time. I hope yours doesn’t have a piece missing. I go to a coffee morning once a month at the local chapel where they have lots of used jigsaws and the birds and cottages ones are from there.
I’ve had the Kinkade one for several years – this is the second time I’ve done it. It’s one of a box of three puzzles, all beautiful pictures.
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good for the brain, and hands. enjoy
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These are lovely, Margaret! I like jigsaws, too, and you’ve chosen some beautiful ones.
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Oh, how I admire your patience doing these! I love the one with the birds, and the way the pieces vary in shape.
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Winter is our jigsaw season too, but I had no idea that they were good for your brain! Those ones are lovely, and I so know that sense of frustration when you get to the end and there’s a piece missing.
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My favourite is the one with the missing piece – so much interest! The Kinkade must have been quite difficult.
My step-daughter & ! did several jigsaws last winter, before my grandson (who lives with us) started walking and got to be level with the large coffee-table we used as our working surface. 😉
Thanks for sharing these with us – great post.
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Lovely pictures! I’ve read of people finishing puzzles and then framing them to go on the wall; the lines add to the look, almost.
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I can’t do the ‘real’ ones, but I do enjoy the online ones I’ve found. I find them very soothing; almost like a meditation because I don’t think of anything else when I’m doing them.
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