You know what? I love puzzles. Specifically, 1000 piece jigsaw puzzles. Who knew?! I did not know this about myself.

I bought one on a whim while I was at Target before Christmas. I was thinking that it would be a great diversion when we had my mother-in-law over for Christmas dinner. You know, something to ease all those awkward silences when we have next to nothing in common to talk about. Well, it turned out that my mother-in-law (who is now my ex-mother-in-law) has no interest in puzzles and it didn’t ease the awkwardness at all but it was super duper fun for me.

I opened it on Christmas Eve, just to see what it looked like and figure out where to put it in my house. It turned out that it was too big for anywhere but my dining room table. This was not optimum because I needed to serve Christmas dinner on my dining room table but by the time I realized this I was already hooked. It’s so fun!

A few neighbors stopped by and so we pieced a few pieces while we had a cup of tea or two…

A few more pieces went together before breakfast…

Then Toby came over and he got into it too. He declared it so fun that we should all eat dinner in our laps and puzzle all afternoon. Who needs a dining room table for Christmas dinner? We have more important things to do!

Then my mom and dad came over and they got sucked in too (though I failed to take photos of them, sadly). In fact, we were all so into it that my poor mother-in-law felt completely left out or bored or something and asked to be taken home early. It was weird and I do feel kind of bad about that.

But the puzzle was so fun! It was a painting of bridges of San Francisco by Heronim. I’m not a huge fan of this style of art but I do have a soft spot for the city of San Francisco since I did live in the bay area for three years when I was in college. It’s the one big city that I really do know my way about. I’ve walked all over it. You could even drop me in the middle of the Tenderloin and I’d be able to get myself out without too much trouble. I love San Francisco. So I loved this puzzle.

And I love that the artist signs all of his work with a little black cat. I think I’m going to have to make these puzzles a tradition. A new city every year.

Around half past nine on Christmas night we finally finished it. Bug put the last piece in. It was something to celebrate. After spending that much time on it and enjoying it so much I can see why people frame these things. I was tempted. But I’m a snob about how my house looks.

After a moment of silence, I broke it down this morning and put it away in the box. Who knows maybe I’ll take it out and do it next time I have guests over who I don’t really know how to deal with.

But if it’s you who I take this puzzle out for, please don’t take it the wrong way. Just get down to business have fun!