Random January

This was the night before we drove south for Marvin's big dental surgery.  I took this photo as I was returning home from taking Daddy his dinner.  Poor Marley had followed me all the way down to Daddy's house and I had to coax him back home.  Sweet boy was ready for some water when he got back.  He is still hanging in there - although we don't know for how long.  

This was me in the waiting room at the dental office during Marvin's oral surgery. I do not have a feeling of comfort in this place.  Many reasons... but we got a new one shortly after this visit.  Marvin got covid from this encounter.  And it turns out it was rampant in this office but no one really took it seriously.  I have a lot of thoughts but won't share them here.  However, I have a dental office to avoid in mid-Missouri.  

 

Incredibly Jonathan and I never tested positive for covid even though Marvin tested positive for 10 full days.  Have to assume that we had a mild case - living in the house with Marvin for all that time.  Thankful it wasn't bad and that we were all fully vaccinated and boosted.  Considering Marvin had two major surgeries in just a couple of weeks, we were a bit nervous about him being sick - but he came through it all just fine.  Very thankful.  

Sadly, wine club had to be moved to Zoom because of our covid positive household.  Love these ladies who stick with me through thick and thin.  

We were laughing and rooting Hannah on as she searched for a way to open her wine bottle... girl needs a new wine opener!  :) 

The sky was so beautiful on this particular evening... (Jan. 23)

Jonathan coming back from chores - with Goose and Marley  

Puzzle #10 - Bits & Pieces - London City View - 300 pieces

This was another one of those 300 piece Bits & Pieces puzzles that I really disliked before.  I tried this because I really liked the picture and wanted a smaller puzzle to do quickly.  Figured it would be tough and frustrating because of all those stupid and weirdly shaped pieces, but it wasn't!  Main difference between this one and the other one was the quality of the image.  You could actually look at the puzzle pieces and determine what it looked like - what it might be!  Big difference!  So, while those weird shaped pieces aren't my favorite, maybe all those puzzles aren't lost.  If the image is good, the puzzles can be okay.  Will try more in the future and not just give them all away.  (just wish it had a listing of what all the places in the picture are - to know names and locations.)  Note - some of the pieces, the picture part was lifting away from the piece... not many, but some.  :(

Finished on January 29, 2022

Puzzle #10 - Bits & Pieces London City View - 300 pieces - by Joseph Burgess

Puzzle #9 - Masterpieces - Travel Diary Barcelona - 550 pieces

This was the puzzle that I completed while we were (finally!) getting out of covid quarantine!  But by this point, I was totally hooked on jigsaw puzzles.  :)  I knew that even though we were returning to our 'regular' lives, I would continue putting together puzzles.  

This was my first MasterPieces puzzle and the first of their Travel Diary series.  This one was of Barcelona.  Truly, on a cold winter day, imagining travel to Spain is a very good thing.  :) 

Some of the pieces 'fit' more than one place.  But not bad and not detracting from the fun overall.  Nice scene.  9th puzzle - a real challenge, especially at the end!  I was realizing at this point how much I love having a poster included with a puzzle.  So much easier to hold and look at than the box.    

Finished on January 28, 2022

Puzzle #9 - Masterpieces  - Travel Diary Barcelona - 550 pieces

Puzzle #8 - Vermont Christmas Company - Biking Through Italy - 550 pieces

I remember this puzzle felt like a turning point of some kind.  I was ready to really seek out new puzzles and felt like I had a feel for what I liked (and didn't like).  This was my first puzzle from Vermont Christmas Company and definitely made me a stalwart fan.  This was also my first puzzle by artist David Maclean.  And while I didn't realize it then, he would absolutely become one of my very favorite puzzle artists - no matter the brand!

It was a 550 piece puzzle and was harder than I expected it to be.  The colors and print were quite vague so it was hard to tell what was what.  However, it was enjoyable - not frustrating like that Bits & Pieces puzzle had been.  It felt like a good challenge - and was very fun.  I even sent a photo of the completed puzzle to my friend, Donna... the bikes reminded me of her.  :)

Finished on January 26, 2022

Puzzle #8 - Vermont Christmas Company Biking Through Italy - 550 piece puzzle - David Maclean  

Puzzle #7 - CraZArt - Lady of the River - 300 pieces

Still in quarantine and working my way through that online order of puzzles... this one was sweet and easy.  Bright, colorful and fun.  But I was beginning to realize I wanted more challenge than 300 piece puzzles (for the most part).  

Finished on January 24, 2022

Puzzle #7 - CraZArt - Lady of the River - 300 pieces  (Mark Frost)

Beauty

January 7, 2022

I was so taken with the sky this particular evening - the light was just magical. 

January 9, 2022

I spotted these geese flying as I was heading down to Daddy's house.  They were flying south again... sigh.  

The light in the evening had been so lovely for several days in a row.  Stunning.  

January 17, 2022

Another gorgeous sky night!  Makes January much nicer to have these beautiful skies.  

January 23, 2022

More muted colors and heavier clouds, but still so pretty.  All that purple in the sky...

Puzzle #6 - Ravensburger - Cozy Wine Terrace - 500 pieces

I was so excited when this puzzle was delivered!  The minute I saw it online I knew I wanted to put it together.  It did not disappoint in any way.  This was also my first move 'up' from the 300 piece puzzles.  That felt a bit daunting!  :)  This was such an enjoyable puzzle - and of course I loved the image - it combined two of my favorite hobbies in one!  :) 

Finished on January 22, 2022

Puzzle #6 - Ravensburger Cozy Wine Terrace - 500 pieces - #167968 - Challenging and fun.  Good pieces in size, color and fit.

Puzzle #5 - Buffalo Games - Charles Wysocki The Three Sisters - 300 pieces

This was a balm to cover the frustration of that last one!  ha!  Simple, easy, sweet picture.  The images on the pieces actually looked like the puzzle was supposed to.  And I did love the larger poster included, too - especially since the box was small.  I now know this is offered in 1000 pieces, as well.  I think I would enjoy putting that one together, too.  This really was a lovely and relaxing puzzle.  Pretty sure I would enjoy hanging out with these 'three sisters'.  :) 

Finished on January 20, 2022  (yes, we were still in covid quarantine...)

Puzzle #5 - Buffalo Games puzzle - Charles Wysocki - The Three Sisters - 300 pieces.

Puzzle #4 - Bits & Pieces - A Visit to the General Store - 300 pieces

 By this time I had placed some online orders to feed my growing enthusiasm... :) They had arrived and I felt like a kid in a candy shop - or at the very least a kid with a brand new package of 64 crayons!  What to do first???  I chose this puzzle from Bits & Pieces and was soon feeling totally undermined.  I did NOT like the wonky shaped pieces.  This is when I realized my brain does not work 'sideways'.  (This puzzling experience truly has shown me many things about how I think... so very interesting.)  

Soooo, the Bits & Pieces 'random cut' is not for me... made zero sense to my logical brain.  I also felt the picture was so vaguely printed that nothing really looked clear or like it was supposed to.  However, I wasn't going to let it beat me!  I managed to finish it.  Looking back, this is so interesting that I struggled so much with a 300 piece puzzle.  I wonder if it would still be a struggle for me now or if I have strengthened my puzzling muscles enough that it would be easier today... hmmm....

Finished on January 20, 2022

Puzzle #4 - Bits & Pieces A Visit to the General Store by Ruane Manning - 300 pieces.  Love the picture - didn't care for the puzzle. 

Snow!

Snow throughout January...

We started 2022 with snow on the very first day of the year.  Grateful to Jackson for coming out to plow the driveways for us.  

Pretty sunset with snow - Jan. 2 - yard and porch

Mav enjoyed sledding in the snow on January 4.  

We had gotten about 6 inches of snow the night before this (Jan. 15) but we also had really high winds.  So the snow was blown around leaving bare areas and some good sized drifts.  

Julie sent this photo of her view of the bird feeders from her house.  

The next day was beautiful with the light blue sky and the snow.