by Norman A. Rubin

Created on: April 09, 2008   Last Updated: December 04, 2011

When the clouds were dark and threatening during the winter nights both my wife and myself did not ponder the gloomy weather, but found ways to liven the atmosphere. Television was a thought, but a flashes of lightning heralding a coming storm saw momentary cuts to the electric power. It didn't seem much fun watching a program and for it to be interrupted now and again by the inclement weather.

My dear wife found the answer, "let us work on this jigsaw puzzle." Then I realized this was one of my wife's hobbies, which she had many enjoyable hours fitting the pieces of various jigsaw puzzles. It was also a joy for her to share her hobby with other people, mainly children.(When new jigsaw puzzles were bought, the old ones she enjoyed fitting the pieces at numerous times were donated to the children's ward in the local hospital.)

Before I was able to agree, she placed a small board on the coffee table and emptied the pieces of the puzzle on it. "It shouldn't be difficult, as the jigsaw is only five hundred pieces.."

Working on a jigsaw puzzle is fun for people of all ages from the small children to retirees. It a hobby that can be enjoyed in one's leisure hours and for the lonely or the housebound it is quite an interesting way to occupy the mind during a long day.

Take a step back, for a moment or two, into the days past when things were quiet and simple. The times when people relaxed and amused themselves by sitting around a small table or on the floor, working jigsaw puzzles. Small talk on this and that ensued, from the events of the day to dreams and memories, even a bit of political discussion. You can take part in this relaxing, interesting and wholesome pastime.

Jigsaw puzzles usually come with completed picture shown on the cover of the box, which is a guide to complete the puzzle. You could hide the picture until the work is completed makes the job harder, but more fun. You might fit a jigsaw puzzle on your own or it can be a bit of entertainment for your entire family.

A jigsaw puzzle today consists of a picture cut in irregularly-shaped small pieces and the amount of pieces in a box run from ten to a hundred for children to more complicated jigsaw puzzles might contain five hundred piece 750-piece, and 1,000-piece sizes; currently the biggest commercially available size is 18,000 pieces.

Log on to Jigsaw Jungle. Choosing a jigsaw puzzle - a first timer may wish to try 500 or 1000 piece jigsaw puzzles, and progress to a larger number of pieces from

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