Tuesday, December 12, 2006

CHRISTMAS PUZZLE

I have enjoyed seeing all the blogs with your Christmas decorations, trees, ornaments, and stories. It almost makes me feel like putting up a tree. But alas, that will not be happening. Instead, I will enjoy all the decorations at my son's house. It will be all decorated when we arrive, but usually I help put it all away after Christmas. The fun part, right? Seriously, I don't feel that bad about not decorating here, because to me, the fun of it is for the kids.
We do have a tradition that MUST take place every year in our house, and that is the Christmas Puzzle! My husband bought this puzzle at least twenty years ago. And every year he has put it together with the help of whomever is around. We keep looking for a new puzzle, but have never found one that we like as well as this one. At this point, we would like to buy a new one just like this one! You would think we could put it together in our sleep, but no, every year we struggle over which piece goes where. We pick up each piece with great affection, recognizing many from years gone by. Still others surprise us when their spot is finally located and we see a well known picture reappear! The triumph we feel at placing each piece in its proper spot is ridiculous! You would think we were splitting atoms or something. So even with no tree, no decorations, no stockings hung by the fire, this is one tradition that must go on! The kids are gone, but the Christmas Puzzle remains!


My Christmas Wreath is a treasure! I saw something similar in a Mary Engelbreit Magazine a few years ago. It is loaded with old ornaments from my mom's house from when I was a child. Let me tell you, she had TONS! Maybe some of you will recognize some of them from your childhood as well. It was so much fun to make! So that is my little contribution to the Christmas decorating theme in blogland!

15 comments:

Angie said...

No wonder you would like to find a new one just like it--that's an adorable puzzle! And hmmmm yes I think I spy an ornament or two from Christmas' past. :D

Anonymous said...

We have that very same puzzle! We used to do it during the holidays also when the kids were still home. We have a couple other Christmas ones, but that is the one we always started with.

Patti - who can't sign in because beta has forgotten who I am!

Silverthimble said...

What a special wreath!

Sweet P said...

Doing a Christmas puzzle . . . what a wonderful tradition. I can just picture all of you sitting at the table picking a familiar piece and sharing a story. I bet you make more and more memories every year with it.
The wreath is extraordinary. Is that you in the picture?

Vicky said...

I love the wreath! I think I do recognize some of those ornaments! :)

Susan said...

Wow, what a wreath! I'll have to suggest that to my sons.

Anonymous said...

It's a beautiful wreath and I love the tradition of a Christmas puzzle.

Libby said...

I love your tradition of putting the puzzle together. It's not really about the decorations or how many, just that you enjoy the traditions of the season.

Hanne said...

What a lovely and special wreath ! A Christmas puzzle is a good tradition.

Shelina said...

Those are both such sweet traditions - both the tree and the wreath. I understand about the puzzle. I have a much smaller one, with irregular edges, so it is a special challenge to get it all together, but I love doing it all year. All of my other puzzles, I have given away and am in no mood to do more than once, but for some reason, this one begs to be mad over and over again. I am still on the lookout for another puzzle that will strike me the same way.

Mary Johnson said...

We're not decorating at all this year either - we'll be in the temporary apartment in Minneapolis and I'm just not in the Christmas spirit anyway.

For me the fun in getting ready for Christmas was having our tree decorating night - Keith would set up the tree, the boys and I would decorate it, and we'd have homemade Christmas cookies and sparkling cider.

Quilts And Pieces said...

Merry Christmas Marcie! That is the PERFECT xmas puzzle!

Cher said...

that was our very favorite puzzle too! and I too did it each year for many, many years...thanks for the memory!

Holly said...

Marcie, I do the Christmas puzzle thing, too, by myself though since I'm the only one that likes puzzles. Mine's not always the same and is usually quilt related. I agree, it's fun :)

Nancy said...

I used to love to do puzzles but with 5 cats in the house I can't leave them out and it's too much trouble to use a puzzle roll just to place a few pieces at a time.

It's been quite some time since you posted. I sure hope it's just because you're busy with home and family and not because you're unwell.