Congratulations Eric!

Hi Puzzlers,

We would like to introduce you to one of our youngest puzzlers, Eric K from Indiana. Eric was kind enough to share his 4-H story and Grand Champion-Collection (1st place) win, with us.

Eric tells us, “One of the requirements of the project was to write and compile a notebook, including pictures of each of the 34 White Mountain Puzzles I had collected. With the photograph of each puzzle, I was required to record something about each one. I put the catalogues you sent into my notebook as well.

I also had to put together a display to show some of my collection. I photocopied puzzle boxes and glued the copies onto the display board.

I had fun putting together this project and hope to collect many more White Mountain Puzzles in the future.”

Puzzlers - please join me in congratulating Eric on his win and a job well done.

Happy Puzzling!

Meet Artist Mary Thompson

Hi Puzzlers,

We would like you meet one of our newest artist Mary Thompson. We just love Mary's bright colorful artwork.

In the early years of Mary's career she painted oils on canvas. She loved using brushes as well as painting knives to reveal vibrant strokes of light and shadows. Each canvas expressed harmony and a peek into Mary's romantic nature.

Born in Washington D.C., Mary Thompson has been making a living for over 30 years through art. She has often said, "I love my God-given gift". This is something Mary takes very seriously and she has continued to study and evolve.

Mary attended Suitland Community College and the College of Southern Maryland, and has also taken many private lessons from her respected peers. Her art has transpired into a satisfying lifelong career. Mary expresses on canvas personal views from her heart.

She has successfully raised four children. She also has a very adventurous spirit and has traveled extensively in the US, as well as Europe, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

Over a decade ago she freelanced in the print market. Because of the versatility of her work, she has had over 60 paintings published, all of which have sold internationally. Several years ago some of Mary's images were sold for tote bags and apparel at zoos. Portions of the proceeds were given to help the Rain Forest Alliance, Rivers of America, and Conservation International.


For years, Mary participated in art festivals and has had her originals displayed and sold in prestigious galleries from Miami, FL to Scottsdale, AZ. Mary also volunteered her time to paint on a mural at the Brevard County Zoo.

Mary has moved past all of that and opened a new door in the digital art field where she currently is expanding her horizons.

Happy Puzzling!

Nautical Terms

Hi Puzzlers,
Today’s topic is nautical terms. I have heard many sailors telling stories of their adventures at sea and sometimes find myself wondering what they’re talking about. Take for instance a Baggywrinkle. What’s a Baggywrinkle? It’s fun to say but what does it mean? It turns out to be clumps of frayed rope that protect the sails from chafing against the lines.

First, we need to know about the front and back of the boat as all sailing terms get their references from these positions. Aft is the back of a ship. If something is located aft, it is at the back of the boat. The aft is also known as the stern. Bow is the front of the ship. Knowing the location of the bow is important for defining two of the other most common sailing terms: port and starboard.

Port is always the left-hand side of the boat when you are facing the bow. Because “right” and “left” can become confusing sailing terms when used out in open waters, port is used to define the left-hand side of the boat as it relates to the bow, or front. Starboard is always the right-hand side of the boat when you are facing the bow.

Next comes wind direction. Leeward - Also known as lee, leeward is the direction opposite to the way the wind is currently blowing. Windward is the direction in which the wind is currently blowing. Sailboats commonly move with the wind, making the windward direction an important sailing term to know.

To catch the wind a sailboat has a mast. The mast is the long tall pole that extends vertically. The boom is the horizontal pole that extends from the bottom of the mast. The boom is adjusted towards the direction of the wind so it can capture the wind necessary to move the sailboat forward or backwards. Steering the boat is done with the rudder. The rudder is located beneath the boat. It is made of wood, fiberglass, or metal. Larger sailboats control the rudder with a wheel, and small sailboats will have a steering mechanism directly aft.

Getting from point A to B is usually done by tacking. Tacking is a basic sailing maneuver referring to turning the bow of the boat through the wind so that the wind changes from one side of the boat to the other side. Jibing has the sailor turning the aft of the boat through the wind. While doing these maneuvers the boom will swing from side to side, so watch your head!

Now, puzzlers- off we go to the docks to hear some sailing tales with terms we can understand.

Happy Puzzling!

Dog Days of Summer

Hi Puzzlers,
I have been hearing and reading a lot about the “Dog Days” of summer. Why is it called dog days? Are dogs really involved? Were they ever involved? What’s a dog got to do with a hot summer day? If this question has been burning in you, like it has been in me, read on for an answer.

As everyone knows, the dog days of summer revolve around the three H’s - hot, hazy and humid and usually occur between July and early August. The reference - association to the dog comes from astronomy. Because the star Sirius is in the sky at this time of year and is also the brightest star in the Canis Major (Large Dog) constellation it became known as the Dog Star. Sirius is only second in brightness to the sun. (This also answers another question I had, “Why does Sirius Radio have a dog as a mascot?”)

“The Romans sacrificed a brown dog at the beginning of the Dog Days to appease the rage of Sirius, believing that the star was the cause of the hot, sultry weather. In addition, Dog Days were popularly believed to be an evil time when the seas boiled, wine turned sour, dogs grew mad, and all creatures became languid, causing to man burning fevers, hysterics, and phrensies according to Brady’s Clavis Calendarium, 1813.”

“For the ancient Egyptians, Sirius appeared just before the season of the Nile's flooding, so they used the star as a "watchdog" for that event. Since its rising also coincided with a time of extreme heat, the connection with hot, sultry weather was made for all time: "Dog Days bright and clear / indicate a happy year. / But when accompanied by rain, / for better times our hopes are vain."

So puzzlers - if your region is being plagued by the dog days of summer I recommend staying inside, cranking up the A/C and start your favorite puzzle!

Happy Puzzling!

Custom Puzzles

Hi Puzzlers,
You asked for it and we are giving it to you! White Mountain Puzzles now does custom puzzles.

Turn your favorite photo into a custom puzzle for yourself or as a unique personal gift. Friends and relative will love putting the pieces together. I can attest to this from my own personal experience. I gave my oldest daughter two puzzles, one each of her two dogs (or her children, as she says). The puzzles come in a beautiful silver gift tube which she kept shaking trying to figure out what was in it, but because it’s so unique she couldn't figure out what was in the tube. It’s not easy to surprise a 23 year-old, as many of you may know!

We had the 99 piece 11" x 17" puzzles. She emptied the tube and asked what’s it a puzzle of? Well, I could have given her the pictures to explain but I didn’t. I had her start putting the puzzle together and as soon as she figured out it was her beloved Louis she said “Oh it’s Louis! This is the best present I have ever gotten! This is sooo cool!”

So choose your size and level and let the fun begin!

3 sizes, 3 levels of difficulty
Card-sized 4" x 6" (24 pieces)
Medium 8.5" x 11" (49 pieces)
Large 11" x 17" (99 pieces)

Prices
11"x17" - 99 Piece Puzzle: $19.95*each
2 or more of the same photo for $30.00*
8.5"x11" - 49 Piece Puzzle: $14.95*each
2 or more of the same photo for $25.00*
4"x6" - 24 Piece Puzzle: $9.95*each
2 or more of the same photo for $15.00*

Call to order yours today. 1-800-548-8009

Happy Puzzling!

Become A Follower

Hi Puzzlers,

We finally like the look and feel of our blog and want to make it known to all of you.

To kick off our new blog we would like all of our puzzle people (that's you) to sign up as a follower. Once you do you'll be automatically entered into our monthly drawing to win a free puzzle.

So enjoy what we've done so far and please share your puzzling adventures and photos with us.

Happy Puzzling!