White Mountain Puzzles

Lighthouses

2012-02-01T14:44:00.000-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Recently while channel surfing I caught the tail end of a television program on lighthouses. Just a quick glimpse of one of these majestic beauties got me to stop clicking and lay down the remote, something that rarely happens! Usually I can’t find anything to watch and I have 799 channels to choose from. This leaves me endlessly roaming, channel to channel, in a zombie like state before frustration sets in and I turn off the television. But not this time, I was completely mesmerized! Childlike curiosity took over my brain and I began diligently researching the history of lighthouses on my computer. Here is a quick review of what I found.

A lighthouse has two primary functions. First they give sailors a fixed point of reference to help them navigate day and night when offshore hazards cannot be seen. Secondly, they guide ships into harbors or anchorages. Today lighthouses also serve as symbolic monuments of civilizations efforts to reduce the hazards of seafaring. Just one look at these magnificent structures makes me stop and admire them with all their grandeur. How about you?

The first recorded lighthouse was built in 290 B.C. on the island of Pharos, by the Roman Empire. Records indicate the lighthouse used fire at night and a sun-reflecting mirror during the day to protect and guide ships around the Mediterranean. The Pharos lighthouse measured approximately 384 feet tall and stood for about 1,500 years, before succumbing to a series of earthquakes in 1326 A.D. Prior to the 1600’s lighthouses were referred to as Pharos.

America’s first official lighthouse is the Boston Light. It was built on Little Brewster Island in Boston Harbor in 1715. Prior to its construction colonist used small fires on hilltops or placed lanterns in the windows of houses overlooking harbors. The Boston Light was the first site to use a foghorn. The foghorn was a great-gun cannon, which was installed in 1719. It would be fired to warn sailors of pending dangers when visibility was low. In 1776 the original lighthouse was destroyed by the British, however, it was rebuilt in 1783 and is still operational today. “Although the Boston Light is considered the nation’s oldest lighthouse, the tower itself is only the second oldest. The oldest tower in the United States is the Sandy Hook Light at the entrance to New York Harbor, built in 1764.”

In the early years most lighthouses were lit by wood fires which required enormous amounts of wood. Coal became popular for burning during the early 1500s; it burned brighter and slower than wood, but required more attention to keep it burning bright. Candles and reflectors were also popular during this time as they produced a steadier flame and less soot and ash.
The next step in improving the visibility of lights was the oil burning lamps. These lamps used several flat, solid and round wicks. Also available was the Spider Lamp. It had a single oil reserve and used multiple wicks. A Frenchman named Ami Argand invented a lamp that used a hollow, circular wick in 1781. It allowed air to flow in on both sides of the wick, which enhanced the brightness of the flame. A large (18- to 20-inch) parabolic reflector was commonly attached to the center of this lamp to increase the lamps visibility.

In 1822, the Fresnel lens was created by Augustin Fresnel. This much thinner lens captured and focused larger fractions of light then did the reflectors, resulting in a brighter light that could be seen for longer distances. One Frensel lens could do the work of thirty Argand lamps.
The electrification of lighthouses began in the 1920s and 1930s. Once a lighthouse was electrified it could be equipped with a timer switch. Because electricity burns cleaner than oil it also eliminated the need for daily lens cleaning and maintenance. This made the need for light-keepers obsolete.

The lighthouse story does not end here. On our next post we will learn how lighthouses gave the National Guard its start.

Happy Puzzling!

Cats

2012-01-24T15:42:00.000-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

This week we pay tribute to the cat. More than 100 million American homes have a cat, making them the most popular pet in the United States. WOW! What a surprise! I thought dogs would have come in first, being mans’ “best friend” and all. Interestingly, these independent creatures have only been domesticated for the last 4000 years, but their lineage has been on the planet for 50 million years.

Miacis were small “weasel- like” animals that roamed the earth 50 million years ago. Bears, dogs, cats, raccoons and many other mammals are thought to be descendants of this prehistoric cat-like creature.

Evidence suggests African wildcats were being domesticated as early as 3500 B.C., by the Egyptians. Quickly these cats became highly valued for their ability to hunt and kill undesirable rodents like mice, snakes and rats. By 1500 B.C. cats were considered sacred by the Egyptians and anyone who killed a cat would be put to death. Cats were so idolized that in times of catastrophe they would be rescued before humans. “The cat goddess Bastet (also known as Bast or Pasht) became one of the most revered figures of worship. She had the body of a woman and the head of a cat.”

During the Middle Ages wide spread hysteria of devil worshipping witches and warlocks filled the streets of Europe. Cats were now seen as harbingers of evil, who possessed the power of black magic. They were thought to be witches in disguise. For this reason hundreds of thousands of cats were killed. Black cats were hunted close to extinction.

Genocide of this scale would eventually upset the natural balance of the rodent population, thus, greatly contributing to the spread of the “Black Plague” which was spread to people by flea infested rats. One-fourth of the European population died from this disease. Quickly Europeans realized the cats’ importance in controlling the rodent population and they eventually regained their popularity.

Cats are no longer revered as Gods or feared as demons. They have found a comfortable spot right in the middle as America’s most popular pet!

Happy Puzzling!

Rock 'n' Roll

2012-01-18T12:45:00.001-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Today’s topic to ponder is Rock ‘n’ Roll. People across the globe have been listening to this music, in one form or another, for decades. Just hearing a few notes from one of your favorite songs can transport you back in time. Let’s take a look at some of the inventions that made it all possible.

Interestingly enough it has been stated that Rock ‘n’ Roll got its start when Thomas Edison invented the phonograph in 1877. This makes sense, how would people have been able to play records and recordings otherwise. The creation of the phonograph paved for the way for the next major Rock ‘n’ Roll device, the juke box. It was created by the Chicago Automatic Machine & Tool Company in 1915.

Well that clears up the juke box mystery, but what about the term Rock ‘n’Roll? Have you ever wondered where that came from? The answer really surprised me! Note, reader discretion advised, some may find the following offensive. Now you are really curious aren’t you?

The term "rock" and "roll" originated from a black slang for sexual intercourse! Too funny! In 1922, Trixie Smith recorded "My Baby Rocks Me With One Steady Roll". This marked the first appearance of the phrased on a recording, and as they say the rest is history. I guess that also gives us a better understanding as to why some parents were so against this music.

The next great musical recording device was the 78 rpm record which was introduced in 1929. Seventy-Eight’s as they were called would play for four to five minutes per side on a 12 inch disc and three to five on a 10inch. The artist would sing into a horn and the power of their vibrating voice would cut the wax on a master disc. The sound was ultra acoustic.

In 1931 the electric guitar was invented by Adolph Rickenbacker and George Beauchamp. “It was a lap-steel guitar with an electromagnetic pickup in which a current passed through a coil of wire wrapped around a magnet. This created a field that amplified the strings' vibrations.”

Echo-delay, multi-track recording and many other techniques that expand recording possibilities are invented in 1945 by Les Paul. In 1948 Columbia Records introduces the vinyl 12-inch 33-1/3 rpm album. RCA Victor quickly follows suit with the introduction of the 45 rpm Record. The 45 rpm was easier to produce, smaller and cheaper than the fragile 78's. RCA Victor also created a small inexpensive record player to accommodate the new records size and speed.

While all these inventions were being developed, so too, was the sound that would be known as Rhythm and Blues. R & B changed rapidly in the formative years and thus giving birth to a new sound called Rock ‘n’Roll.

I can’t imagine a world without music and I am so happy that the inventions keep making it better and more portable.

Happy Puzzling!

Blue Plate Special

2012-01-11T10:12:00.000-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Don’t you love lunch room conversations? The topics can range from mild to wild and leave you laughing so hard you’ve fallen on the floor! But every once in a while one conversation will start out funny then turn serious and it stirs your curiosity. This happened to me recently. It was the Blue Plate Special. Okay stop laughing! Think about it! A blue plate special? Funny yes, but most have heard of the term and know what it stands for. But where did it start and why blue? Ah, now you are curious too aren’t you?

The tale of the blue plate special begins in the late 19th century as mobile food wagons began swarming U.S. cities. These wagons were the first fast-food restaurants and because they were set up much like a train’s dining car they quickly became known as diners.

During the Depression the original blue plates were manufactured. These disposable plates were sectioned into three quarters-one for meat, one for vegetables and one for a starch. The interesting fact about these sectioned plates is they were only available in BLUE! Because the plates were disposable, which saved on dishwashing, many diners would use them to promote daily specials. Hence the “Blue Plate Special”.

A common blue plate policy was "No Substitutions". This policy became a featured topic and spoof on several radio and television programs. “Our Man in Havana (1958) by Graham Greene has the following exchange regarding an "American blue-plate lunch": "Surely you know what a blue-plate is, man? They shove the whole meal at you under your nose, already dished up on your plate -roast turkey, cranberry sauce, sausages and carrots and French fried. I can't bear French fried but there's no pick and choose with a blue plate." "No pick and choose?" "You eat what you're given. That's democracy, man."

But wait; there is more on blue plates. Our lunch room blue plate special conversations veered off course when Matt mentioned the use of a blue plate as an appetite suppressant! That’s when I hit the floor laughing! It turns out he was right! Yes, Matt, I said you were right! The color blue reduces appetite because it stimulates beta waves which have a calming effect on the body, thus making you feel full and satisfied. This coupled with our primal nature to avoid foods that are poisonous makes eating anything blue, purple or black difficult. These colors do not activate our automatic appetite response. Weight loss plans suggest putting your food on a blue plate and a blue light in your refrigerator.

Curiosity does a body good! Here is to the blue plate special and its appetite suppressing ways!

Happy Puzzling!

Vermont

2012-01-04T14:58:00.000-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Over the holidays I noticed a trend. I had either given or received a gift that came from Vermont. Now, how cool is that? I live in New England and absolutely love that state! Have you ever been to the Vermont? If you haven’t and are planning a trip to New England I would highly recommend visiting this gorgeous place. In addition to all its natural beauty, it is the second least populated state in the union. Ah let’s see, beautiful location, check; getting away from it all; check, getting away from people; check. Oh, come on, you know sometimes you just want to get away from all the hustle and bustle of a big city and go to a place that is less hectic and more relaxed. Vermont is this place!

Vermont’s first inhabitants were the Abenaki and Iroquios Indians. During colonial times Vermont was governed by France. Many believe it is the French who gave Vermont its name. The French would say les Verts Monts, which means "the Green Mountains ". After the French and Indian war of 1763Great Britain took over control, but the state remained plagued by territorial disputes with New Hampshire and New York. During this time Vermont was called the New Hampshire Grants, but thanks to the Green Mountain Boys militia, the independent sovereign state of the Vermont Republic was founded in 1777. While independent, Vermont abolished slavery, and in 1791 joined the United States, it was the 14th state to do so.

Did you know that Vermont is the leading producer of maple syrup in the United States and it was the first state to establish a mandatory maple law? This law established purity and quality regulations. Vermont maple syrup100% pure & natural! Yum! Also, be sure to visit a sugar house so you can see for yourself how maple syrup is made and so you can pick up a few tasty treats.

Ah…what could be cozier then relaxing in front of a blazing fire in your flannel pajamas? That brings me to my next great Vermont product, flannel. I came across Vermont Flannel at the Big E in Springfield, Massachusetts. They have an outstanding product! High quality flannels made here in the USA! My daughter loves them so much she makes me promise to wash and dry them immediately so she continue to live in them! Note, buy several extra pairs to avoid this dilemma!
So, flannel and maple syrup aren’t your thing? How about the cheese? Not just any cheese, award winning Cabot Cheese. When they say the “World’s Best Cheddar”, that is no exaggeration! This wonderful creamery is a farm cooperative locate in Cabot, hence the name, Vermont. When you go, take the cheese tour. I happened across my first tour while camping in the 80’s. Let’s just say it wasn’t my first choice of “cool” things to do, but, once the tour got going I was hooked. Yup! I’m a Vermont cheese head! Relaxing in my flannels, shkoffing down pancakes with tons of maple syrup, far away from all the hustle and bustle of the city!

Happy Puzzling!

2012 Year Of The Dragon

2011-12-28T07:26:00.000-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

The New Year is right around the corner! 2012 is the year of the Dragon. The Chinese dedicate each year to a specific animal. The group of twelve animals includes the Dragon, Horse, Monkey, Rat, Boar, Rabbit, Dog, Rooster, Ox, Tiger, Snake, and Ram. It is thought that each animal bestows certain characteristics onto people born in their year. The dragon year officially begins, according to the Chinese calendar, on January 23rd. The 2012 dragon will be a Black Dragon or Male Water Dragon.

The experts use a system called the Stem-Branch System to determine the years attributes. This system/calendar counts the days, months and years and works in conjunction with the Five Element theory. The five elements are wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Each element has a color associated with it and a male or female energy. The system is a tad bit complicated but very interesting.

Water is said to have a calming influence on the Dragon’s fiery nature. Therefore Water Dragons are more receptive and open to other people’s opinions. This means that even the most powerful will listen to others, and will try to see from their point of view, thus forging better alliances and decision making.

A Dragon year is a year marked by intensity, unpredictability, excitement and exhilaration. People respond to the Dragon spirit with vitality, energy and unbridled enthusiasm. But one must use prudence and resist the urge to throw all caution to the wind and take an unnecessary risk - or, this urge may have you starring in your own real life drama.

Those born under the Dragon sign are passionate, brave, self-assured, innovative, enterprising, conceited, and quick-tempered. Dragons are generous and blessed with good fortune. They are smart, and have a wonderful sense of humor. Dragons are free spirits, restrictions quell their creative spark. So, they must be free and uninhibited. Dragons are extroverted bundles of energy, colorful, flamboyant gifted and irrepressible - everything a Dragon does is on a grand scale. Remember, this behavior is natural and not meant for show. You can always count on a dragon for help. Dragons can be solitary people at heart. Their self-sufficiency can mean that they have no need for close bonds with other people.

Famous Dragon People include: Calista Flockhart, Colin Farrell, Courtney Cox, Courtney Love, Dinah Shore, Isabella Rossellini, Julia Ormond, Juliette Binoche, Reese Witherspoon, Roseanne Barr, Sandra Bullock, and Wynonna Judd.

Happy New Year and Happy Puzzling!

Presents for Your Stress FREE Holiday

2011-12-21T08:28:00.000-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Christmas is only four days away! Yikers!!! If you are like me you’ll be stressed out right to the last minute. So dear puzzlers, I’m giving you the best holiday presents ever; quick tips to reduce stress. I’m not talking about taking a nice long bubble bath or a half hour yoga class. No siree! I am giving you real quick tips. Stuff that will get you relaxed before you walk into the house or holiday party. Tips that get you primed to enjoy all the festivities.

Present #1: The gift of breath. When people get stressed they tend to take short shallow breaths. When you take a long conscious breath it tells your brain you want to relax and unwind. You begin this technique by taking a long slow breath from the belly, not the chest and then exhale just as slowly. Repeat this for a few minutes and you will feel more relaxed.

Present #2: The gift of massage. As we all know when we get stressed we tense our muscles, this includes the muscles on our head. So, a few minutes before you head off to the office party give yourself a mini scalp message. If you don’t want to mess up your hair run a pencil/pen through your hair slowly and feel the stress slowly evaporating away.

Present #3: The gift of progressive muscle relaxation. This great technique can be utilized anywhere. The process begins by tensing, then relaxing your entire body. (Try to keep your mind completely focused on the tensing and relaxing while you do this). Next, tense and relax only the top of your head. Continue tensing and relaxing (one at a time) the neck, shoulders, arms, hips, legs and feet. I taught my teen-aged daughter this technique when she was young and she still uses it and teaches it to her friends.

Present #4: The gift of scent. Aromatherapy has been used for centuries to induce relaxation and no scent is more relaxing than lavender. Keep dried lavender in a sachet in your car, desk draw, and purse, anywhere. Then when you need to feel relaxed take it out and let the sniffing begin. Dried lavender not your style? Why not try dabbing a little lavender oil on your wrist and take a whiff every now and then. This wonder scent is very affordable and can be found in many forms. Just chose which is best for you.

Happy Holidays!

A Christmas Poem

2011-12-14T14:25:00.000-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Today we have a very special treat for you, a Christmas poem by King Kramer. It was composed by Alicia, one of his favorite elves. Enjoy!

By Kramer, with apologies to Clement Moore

It’s a White Mountain Christmas
And all through the warehouse
Felines are stirring
But not that old mouse.

My friends have gathered
From all over the East
For our yearly celebration
Of a roasted mouse feast.

Packages have been flying
Out of the door,
Bound for Christmas gifts
From shore to shore.

People will “ooh” and people will “ah”
When they open a puzzle sent from Grandpa.
Is it Divas, or Cheers, or perhaps Candy Wrappers?
Or Lewis & Clark, those historic mappers?

The White Mountain crew
Have worked hard for the cause,
While I’ve lounged around,
Grooming my paws.

Now the warehouse is quiet,
Except for MY crew –
Lew Johnson’s cats, Patterson’s too,
All gathered round for a big whoop-de-do.

We'll have Bar-B-Que, Fair Foods,
Maybe Spring Chicken,
Catfish with Olio --
That's so finger-lickin'

Washed down with Tea Time
A little Wine Country, too.
And when Comedy arrives
This will be a real zoo.

But I'm taking a moment
To thank one and all
Of our puzzling friends --
Who have decked our halls.

I heard FedEx exclaim
As they drove out of sight
Merry Christmas to All
And to all good night.

Happy Puzzling!

Eco-Friendly Present Wrapping Ideas

2011-12-08T15:13:00.000-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

I’m still on my wrapping paper jig. If your living room floor looks anything like mine at Christmas time it will be filled with crumpled paper and bows. According to the EPA the 25 percent hike in curbside trash between Thanksgiving and Christmas comes from wrapping paper! Yikes!!! And burning the paper in the fireplace is even worse as many foils and inks contain chemicals that are toxic when burned. Fear not! Listed below are several eco-friendly ideas.

Traditional Eco-Wraps: Use your old newspapers, magazine pages, wall paper (peel it off your wall if you have to) and greeting cards. Or try children’s drawings, coloring book pages or subway and topographical maps. Just layer them to add a creative textured look that doesn’t say cheap!

Give me shine: Why not use recycled aluminum foil or an empty potato-chip bag to dress up your gifts. Just take a peek inside a potato-chip bag; it is shiny white or silver inside! All you have to do is cut the edges with scissors then wash it with soap and water, and let it air dry. Next wrap the present and add some colorful twine or ribbon. Instant eco-bling!!!

It is not just a box: This is one of my favorites, just use a lovely container. Give that gardener in your family a bucket or watering can filled with gardening supplies. The next Iron Chef would love a mixing bowl or stockpot filled with their favorite spices and cookbooks. The container options are endless and they are part of the gift! It is a win-win in my book.

That’s a wrap: Why not try the ancient Japanese art of gift wrapping called furoshiki. Furoshiki uses scarves, towels, fabric scraps, blankets, any cloth will work. The cloth is then folded and tied to beautifully conceal the present. Click here for a few furoshiki tying techniques. The Hon-Tsutsumi will work great for wrapping two puzzles.

And that’s a wrap!

Happy Puzzling!

Wrapping Paper A Holiday Must

2011-11-30T03:43:00.000-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Let the countdown begin! There are 25 days left till Christmas! Or, it might be 24 days if you celebrate the big day on Christmas Eve. In any case, how many of you have thought about wrapping your presents? Have you already purchased your paper or thought of a way to, “hide”…oh...I mean, showcase your present? It may seem like a trivial item, but, wrapping paper may be the most important thing you buy for the holiday season. Has wrapping paper ever saved you?

It is a sad, but true fact, that at some point during your lifetime you will need to purchase a present at the last minute. You know the present; the one you hoped would stay wrapped until you left. It is that last second present you had to buy for Aunt Ethel who just decide to join you for tonight’s Christmas gathering. Yeah, it’s starting to come back to you isn’t it. You remember running to the only store still open, 7-Eleven, and purchasing the dreaded fruit cake or whatever that was. You remember driving home like a mad hatter, dashing to the box of wrapping paper and creating a masterpiece of deception! “Oh my, this present is so beautiful, the paper, the bows and ribbons; simply stunning! I just can’t open it now!”

Diversion tactic number 2: The Yankee Swap. The invitation said up to twenty dollars, but your budget says up to seven dollars and twenty-eight cents. What are you going to do? You deploy the “Aunt Ethel.” Wrap your present in the finest most enticing paper you have. Ooh! Look at that gorgeous foil paper, and that satin ribbon makes it look extravagant! At the party that gorgeous presents gets picked first. Great!!! As all the other presents get unwrapped everyone has conveniently forgotten all about the chinchy can of mixed-nuts. Don’t you just love wrapping paper?

Our next tip is for the re-gifters. When resorting to the fine art of re-gifting it is imperative to not, I repeat NOT, make the present look enticing. You will want to use that cheap, almost see through paper you bought on clearance that looked like a good deal. Then, take a used bow, YES USED, and attach it to the center with tape, and make sure the tape shows. Next, have your youngest child, (if you don’t have one borrow a neighbors) address a sticky label. Allow the child to place it anywhere on the present they want. This way if the re-gift gets noticed, you can blame it on the kids or in some cases the neighbor’s kids. Viola! Re-gifted like a pro.

Puzzlers as you can see by these examples, wrapping papers are a must for all your holiday festivities.

Happy Puzzling!

Internet Shopping Safety Tips

2011-11-23T03:59:00.000-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Black Friday is upon us! Let the shopping begin! Below is a list of our annual internet shopping safety-tips. Please take a look at them to refresh your memory. Your safety is important to us.

Trust your instincts - If you have a funny feeling about the site check it out before placing the order. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is a scam.

Find out what other shoppers say. Several sites like Epinions.com or BizRate have customer evaluations which can help you determine a company's legitimacy.

Protect your PC - Make sure your personal computer has recent updates installed for Spam filters, anti-virus and anti-spy software, and a secure firewall.

Trusted Websites - Shoppers should know whom they are dealing with. Confirm the online seller’s physical address and phone number. Anyone can set up an online store under any name. Do not respond to the pop-up asking for personal or financial information. Real companies would not ask for this type of information via emails and pop-ups (phising). Check for security seals, such as the tiny padlock icon and the http (URL) has an “s” in it. The https:// stands for secure.

Keep your Web browser updated - “Internet Explorer 9 provides another layer of protection with Web sites that use Extended Validation (EV) Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Certificates. The address bar turns green and has both https and the closed padlock. An EV SSL certificate not only helps ensure that communication with a Web site is secure, but it also includes information about the legitimacy of the Web site, which has been confirmed by the Certification Authority (CA) issuing the SSL Certificate.”

Don’t shop using Wi-Fi - When using Wi-Fi at a coffee shop, hotel, airport, or restaurant, you are making yourself vulnerable to identity theft. Your iPhone, Blackberry, Smartphone and laptop can easily be hacked on a free or paid public Wi-Fi spot.

Pay by credit or charge card - By using a credit or charge card you are protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act. This law gives you the right to dispute charges and temporarily withhold payment while the credit card company investigates your claims. Never use your debit card, as you have no rights protecting you from fraud or theft. Try to use just one credit card for all your purchases; this will make it easier to spot fraudulent charges.

Insure the safe delivery of your item - If you’re concerned about the safety of your package if there’s no one home to receive it, request it be sent with a signature required. Or, it may be safer to have the package delivered to your office.

Refund Policies and Delivery Dates -Make sure you know if you can return the item for a full refund and who pays the shipping for the return. Is the refund for a store credit or cash refund? Know when you should expect delivery of your item.

Print & Save - Keep documentation of your order. If confirmation was sent by email, keep the email and save any and all correspondence with the retailer.

Happy Puzzling!

Divas

2011-11-16T10:33:00.000-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

I have been noticing the term Diva everywhere. Sometimes the term is used as a good reference and increasingly it is not. To be truthful the negative references got my feministic side going. Why, oh why, does a woman always seem to have a name associated with a behavior? Do we call tantrum throwing men Divo’s? I didn’t even have to make that word up! Divo, in Italian, is the male version of diva. It refers to prominent male tenors. Oh, wait! I have inspired myself! Divo’s can be the title of our next all male entertainer puzzle!!! Ah, venting. It gets the creativity going! Now back to our topic…

A diva by today’s definition is a famous female singer and or actress. The term is used to describe a woman of outstanding talent in the world of opera, theatre, cinema and popular music. The meaning of diva is closely related to that of "prima donna". Prima donna is also Italian for “first lady” or a leading lady that gets all the best parts.

The earliest references of divas were found in popular English literature dating back before 1505. During the 1880s most of the popular operatic prima donnas would have been considered divas. These women clearly had some serious singing skills and talent to be held in such high regard. Some of the most famous operatic divas include: Maria Callas, Nellie Melba, Renee Fleming, Leotyne Price, and Joan Sutherland. It amazes me to think the term diva originated in opera. Most people today would not even think to consider an opera star a diva.

As time passed the term began to include other musical genres. A diva receives admiration not only for their talent but for their performances, looks, style and grace. Diva experts say, “Some people associate large amounts of artistic talent with short tempers and difficult personalities, and this probably explains why the word “diva” is used to describe women who are difficult to deal with. Many actual divas are in fact known for their gentle, generous, courteous personalities, as these women are far too busy with their professional careers to be petty or hard to handle.”

And so, as my Mother always says, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” Or, was that stick and stones may break my bones…?

Happy Puzzling!

Sunday Comics

2011-11-09T14:23:00.000-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Don’t you just love Sundays? It is a day when you can lounge around in your pajamas, have a second cup of coffee and leisurely read the Sunday paper. Ah! It's like a little piece of paradise. The first thing I do is pull out all the coupons then I head to the comic page(s). I like starting my Sunday on a happy note not stressed out by the happenings of the world. And, it appears people have been doing this very same thing since the inception of the comic strip.

The first American comic strip was created at the end of the nineteenth century as a way to increase sales of the Sunday paper. In 1895, staff illustrator Richard Felton Outcault created a one panel cartoon called "Down Hogan's Alley" for the newspaper called "The World".

The cartoon featured a buck-toothed, big-eared, bald boy dressed in an oversized frock usually worn by peasants. Within weeks of his first appearance the color yellow would be added to his smock and the character would soon be known as the “Yellow Kid”.

Journal America also had a one panel cartoon created by James Swinnerton called the "Little Bears". This panel would soon add kids and tigers to the strip. The strip would eventually morph into the extremely popular “Mr. Jack”, which featured a philandering tiger bachelor.

The first multi-panel comic strip appeared on December 12, 1897, it was created by Journal American’s Rudolph Dirk. The "Katzenjammer Kids" were the first comics to use a “word balloon” to indicate the speaker. “The Katzenjammers combined both the aspect of internal dialogue and panelized continuity, and in the process designed and solidified the form of the modern visual narrative strip.”

An astounding 150 comic strips were in syndication by the early 1900s. Comic strips of this time consisted only of single episode-humorous strips, no political satire or storyline. It would take almost thirty years before comics strips would make references and build a story lines based on the previous day’s strip.

It's so amazing to think about how a simple thing like a word balloon can add so much life and personality to a drawing that it becomes your Sunday morning coffee friend. You know the one you have to check in with once a week to see what they are up to.

Happy Puzzling!

The Old Farmer's Almanac

2011-11-02T15:00:00.001-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Today I would like to tell you about America’s oldest continuously published annual, The Old Farmer’s Almanac. Now, I’m not what you would call an “Almanacian”, okay I made that word up, but what I meant to say is I am not well versed on almanacs, other than knowing it is a book that can predict the weather months in advance. And, I do confess to once using it for planning an outdoor event under a tent that had to have great weather. It worked for me! The weather was perfect as predicted.

The first issue of The Old Farmer’s Almanac was published in 1792 under the watchful eye of its editor, Robert B. Thomas. It became an instant success, out selling several other almanacs published that same year. By the second year, The Old Farmer’s Almanac circulation had tripled from 3,000 to 9,000.

“An almanac, by definition, records and predicts astronomical events (the rising and setting of the Sun, for instance), tides, weather, and other phenomena with respect to time. So what made The Old Farmer's Almanac different from the others? Since his format wasn't novel, we can only surmise that Thomas's astronomical and weather predictions were more accurate, the advice more useful, and the features more entertaining.”

Thomas would predict the weather with an astounding 80% accuracy. He devised a secret formula made from observations of natural cycles. His secret formula is still used today and is safely stored in a protective black tin box in Dublin, New Hampshire, home of the Almanac’s offices.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac was so revered and trusted that it was once used by a young lawyer named Abraham Lincoln to clear a man of murder. The witness claimed to have seen the man by moon light, but according to the almanac there was no moon that night.

The almanac almost became the laughing stock of the community in 1816. The months of January and February were inadvertently transposed with the months of July and August, thus calling for SNOW that summer. When the error was discovered Thomas scrambled to destroy all copies of the almanac but could not. Little did Thomas know that the super-colossal eruption of Mount Tambora on the island of Sumbawa Indonesia in April of 1815 would cause temperatures globally to drop 3-4 degrees. This decrease in temperature would make the year of 1816 a year without a summer. And, it did snow in July and August saving the reputation of The Old Farmer’s Almanac. WOW! Divine intervention at its best!

Happy Puzzling!

Nostalgic Ads

2011-10-26T04:01:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Have you seen our new 2012 catalog? It is filled with all our latest and greatest puzzles including over SIXTY new titles! Yes, that little factoid impresses me too. We want to keep you puzzling and that is why we are committed to finding the best images out there. As I was thumbing through the catalog, as I often do, I noticed a trend beginning; several of our current and yet to be released puzzles were about nostalgic advertising.

Just look at the Candy Wrappers or Cheers puzzles, both are filled with our favorite brand labels. Some of which are so recognizable that if the text were removed you would still be able to identify the product. Here is a quick test: What is the chocolate covered peanut butter cups called? What beer prominently features a famous American patriot who was also a brewer? If you guessed Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Sam Adams you are correct. Next in our wonderful line is the Yankee Magazine puzzle and our vintage collage of WWII posters puzzle complete with our favorite riveter “Rosie.” I’m hooked! I love them all!

And that my fellow puzzler is just what the advertisers wanted me to do. Find their product, idea or service and buy it!

Advertising dates back to antiquity. Ancient Egyptians used papyrus to make wall posters and flyers, while the ancient Greeks and Romans posted papyruses of Lost and Found advertisements. “Commercial messages and political campaign displays have been found in the ruins of Pompeii and ancient Arabia.”

During the Middle Ages most of the general population could not read, thus signs would have images associated with the service or craft instead of being written. Take for instance a cobbler, his sign would be a boot; the tailor would have a suit; and the blacksmith a horse shoe. To assist people in locating the whereabouts of the fruit and vegetable carts, propitiators would use street callers, AKA town criers, to advertise their location in the city square. This still happens today at stadiums and ballparks around the globe. Hot dogs! Hot dogs! Get your hot dogs here!

By the 17th century the need for education and reading became more apparent and advancements in printing allowed advertisers to produce the first handbills. “However, false advertising and so-called "quack" advertisements became a problem, which ushered in the regulation of advertising content."

“In June 1836, French newspaper La Presse was the first to include paid advertising in its pages, allowing it to lower its price, extend its readership and increase its profitability and the formula was soon copied by all titles."

The intentional side effect of all this advertising is the nostalgia associated with old ads and the products, ideas or service. Just one look at an ad that ran when I was a kid brings me back to my childhood and memories of that time. Ah, memories and puzzling, can it get any better?

Happy Puzzling!

Halloween Part II

2011-10-19T10:58:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Today we will take a look at some of the most popular superstitions and traditions associated with Halloween. I was shocked and amazed to see how many there are. It turns out that many of our common everyday "superstitions" are directly related to our ancestors and what they believed happened on Halloween.

The “Trick or Treat” saying originated in Celtic times. During this time it was common belief that mischievous fairies would dress as beggars and go door-to-door asking for food. If one was kind and generous the fairies would bestow fine rewards, but if one was stingy and refused, then the fairies would subject them to all sorts of pranks and acts of trickery.

The much loved Jack - O’-Lantern began as part of the Samhain celebration. Families would bring home hot embers from the communal fires in hollowed out turnips. Too funny, Jack-O’ Lanterns began as Turnip- O’-Lanterns! Marc, who works in our warehouse, shared with me the Irish tale of “Stingy Jack”. He told me his Gram would tell him the tale every Halloween. How cool is that! Your Gram telling you old Irish tales and folklore every year, PRICELESS!

Stingy Jack, a cheapskate as the name implies, liked to play tricks on everyone, including the Devil. One day Jack tricks Satan into climbing up an apple tree and then cuts crosses around the trunk to trap him. Jack then forces the Devil to promise to never take his soul. Once Satan agrees Jack removes the crosses from the tree and frees him. When Jack finally dies he is refused entrance in to Heaven because he has led a miserable and worthless life on earth. With nowhere else to go Jack heads down to Hell, but, in keeping with their agreement the Devil also refuses him entrance. “As Jack left the gates of Hell the devil threw him a hot ember to light the way in the dark. Jack placed the ember in a hollowed-out turnip and wandered off into the world.”

Next, it is on to the mystery of the BLACK CAT!!! During the Middle Ages when witch hysteria struck Europe, dread of cats, especially black cats rose. It was common belief that a black cat was a WITCH! Witches were thought to have transformed themselves into cats so they could prowl the city streets undetected. So if on crosses your path you are in for some bad luck.

Puzzlers, I don’t know about you but I’m getting the salt shaker out and throwing a pinch of salt over my left shoulder. One can never be too safe!

Happy Puzzling!

Halloween

2011-10-13T03:01:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

It is getting closer to one of my favorite holidays, Halloween. My front porch and yard have been decorated with all the traditional autumn favorites, as well as with, cute versions of spooky creatures like witches, ghosts, spiders and a stuffed Dracula. He looks like the Count from Sesame Street, very cute and friendly. With all my electronic decorations I need my own small power plant to keep them running. This fun holiday has been celebrated for centuries and has a rich history.

It is believed that the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, enunciated “sow-in” is where Halloween originated. This three-day festival, which was held annually, began on October 31st. It marked the end of the harvest and ushered in the beginning of winter. It was commonly believed that during this magical time, ghost, fairies, demons and the spirits of the dead were free to mingle with the living and travel into the under world.

Druid Priests would meet on hilltops and light fires into which they offered sacrifices of animals and crops to appease the gods. In the morning the priest would take a hot ember to each family who would then start a new cooking fire. These embers/fires kept the home warm and evil spirits out.

Villagers also lit bonfires and sacrificed animals, fruits and vegetables, to honor the dead and to assist them with their travel to the underworld. The fires also served to keep the spirits away from the living. “Many people would parade in costumes made from the skins and heads of animals representing various gods of nature.”

Some speculate that All Saints Day, a Catholic holiday normally celebrated on May 13th, was moved by Pope Gregory III to November 1st in 835A.D, as an attempt to take over the pagan holiday. Traditional animal costumes used to chase spirits away were banished and villagers were encouraged to honor deceased saints by dressing up as them. So this is how costumes became a part of Halloween, one mystery solved!

In our next blog we will look at all the superstitions and traditions associated with Halloween.

Happy Puzzling!

Oktoberfest Cheers!

2011-10-05T06:30:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

It’s October! This month associated is with the world’s most famous beer bash, Oktoberfest! The beer festival is held annually in Munich, Bavaria and Germany. It runs from late September to the first weekend in October and is one of the most famous events in Germany. It is also the world's largest fair, with more than 5 million people attending each year. Today Oktoberfest isn’t just for Germans; it is celebrated in different towns and cities across the globe.

Bavaria’s Crown Prince Ludwig held the first festival in Munich. The festival was actually a celebration of Ludwig’s marriage to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on October 12, 1810. The prince wanted the citizen of Munich to attend the festivities and help celebrate his marriage. WOW! This guy would have surely gotten my vote. The celebration was held on the fields in front of the city gate. After the first celebration the fields were renamed Theresienwiese ("Theresa's meadow") in honor of the Crown Princess. Today the locals have further abbreviated the name to "Wies'n".

Prince Ludwig an avid historian, modeled the reception after the ancient Olympic Games. Sporting events of all kinds took place throughout the day and a horse race in the presence of the royal family marked the finale. The horse race soon became the most popular event and in 1811 the first Agricultural Show was added as a way to improve Bavarian agriculture. Sadly, horse racing ended in 1960.

The first carousel and swings were set up in 1818, and in 1881 the city council approved the sale of beer and and the first grilled chicken stand. These small beer stands allowed visitors to quench their thirst and quickly became very popular. With the backing of breweries, landlords set up the first beer tents and halls in 1896.

“Since 1850, the statue of Bavaria has watched the Oktoberfest. This worldly Bavarian patron was first sketched by Leo von Klenze in a classic style and Ludwig Michael Schwanthaler romanticised and "Germanised" the draft. The statue was constructed by Johann Baptist Stiglmaier and Ferdinand von Miller.”

So what does one wear to the world’s biggest party? Well anything goes, but if you want to attend with local flair, guys are going to need to sport a pair of Lederhosen leather shorts and the gals needs to wear the traditional Dirndl dress. Drindles ,when worn properly let others know the wearer’s availability. A bow on the right above the apron means she is taken if it is on the left she is available. Ahh! Courtship made easy! Love it!

Oktoberfest celebrated its 200th birthday in 2010! This event is certainly on my bucket list how about you?

Happy Puzzling!

Quilting

2011-09-28T10:45:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Does your family have a quilt that has been past down from generation to generation? My family has one that was made by my great-great-grandmother. It is made from square patches of brightly colored corduroy and has a solid blue backing. I have never weighed the quilt but it feels like it weighs 20 plus pounds. I can picture my great-great-grandmother sitting by the fire in her cabin quilting away. For many Americans this is the image that comes to mind when we think about quilting.

Unfortunately this image is a myth. Most colonial woman were so busy with sewing, spinning, food preservation, cooking, cleaning and caring for their large families they didn’t have time to quilt. Besides even the image of quilting by a fire is wrong. Fine quilting requires adequate lighting; colonial cabins were very dimly lit. There is however an exception, woman of wealthy families who could afford household help, would often have free time to work on decorative quilting. Very few examples of the average colonial quilt have survived. Those that have are generally fine quilts that were used by wealthy families for special occasions.

The most common colonial bed coverings were bed rugs and blankets. Bed rugs could be manufactured or handmade and coarse manufactured blankets were very affordable. Yes, that little factoid surprised me too! Early colonists were so frugal that there were very few “scraps” of fabric left to be used for quilting. It wouldn’t be until the 1840s, when the textile industries had grown enough, that fabric would be readily available.

The quilting by the fire myth got reinforcement in the 1920s and 1930s with the revival of interest in everything colonial. “Manufacturers and magazines took advantage of this fad by promoting as "Colonial Quilts" quilts that were actually made in the mid nineteenth-century.”

Wow! Another great fanciful image shot down. Oh well, I still love the fact that my great-great-grandmother made the quilt!

Happy Puzzling!

Flags of the World

2011-09-21T11:31:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

As I made my way to work today I kept noticing flags. Flags at the post office, flags flying high on the school flagpole, our company's “open” flag hanging in front of our store entrance. Once inside the office building I made my way to my desk only to find our Flags of the World puzzle had been left there. I began to wonder what was in my morning coffee? Why all the flags? Are the powers that be inspiring me to do a post on flags? All this nudging has certainly peaked my flag interest. How about you?

For over 4000 years people from all corners of the globe have been using flags. They are even study scientifically. Vexillology is the scientific term; it comes from the Latin word vexilloid which means, “guide”. Ancient vexilloid were made of wood or metal polls with carvings on top. Two thousand years later people started adding fabric and decorative metal to the tops. These ancient vexilloids closely resemble the flags of today.

Flags are generally used to give others information. Medieval Knights dressed head to toe in armor would use flags to identify themselves; this enabled fellow soldiers to see if they were friend or foe on the battlefield. Every country in the world has a flag and as the governments change so do the flags.

Designing a flag is no easy task. The message and information has to be understood without using many pictures or any words. Each flag color has a special meaning: Red - danger, revolution, bloodshed of war, courage, power: White - peace, surrender, truce: Orange - courage, sacrifice: Green - safety, land, youth, hope: Yellow - caution, gold: Black - mourning, death.

Also, there are five basic principles of flag design: 1) Keep it simple - so simple that it can be drawn from memory: 2) Meaningful Symbolism - colors, images, or patterns need to relate to flags symbology: 3) Basic Colors - Limit the number on the flag to three contrasting colors: 4) No Lettering or Seals: 5) Be Distinctive.

“Today the American flag consists of thirteen horizontal stripes, seven red alternating with 6 white. The stripes represent the original 13 colonies; the stars represent the 50 states of the Union. The colors of the flag are symbolic as well: Red symbolizes Hardiness and Valor, White symbolizes Purity and Innocence and Blue represents Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice.”

I think what I have learned most in my quick study of Vexillology is to make every little thing I do or say count and mean something…just like a flag.

Happy Puzzling!

Apple Picking

2011-09-14T13:48:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Today the ladies at the office and me were chatting about the up coming apple picking season. We were discussing all the yummy things we would make and how “nothing” taste better then an apple picked fresh from the tree. Jill even showed me some pictures of her apple trees. The first ones we looked at were of trees covered in blossoms. If you have never seen apple trees in blossom click here, they are stunningly beautiful and fragrant. Next we viewed the pictures of the trees with apples on them. It must be my New England up bringing, but to me, few trees compare in beauty to this tree, with its vibrant red apples ready for the picking.

The apple tree is thought to be one of the first trees to have been cultivated. They have been around some 4,000 plus years, and are now available in thousands; yes you read right, thousands of varieties. In the US alone there are approximately 7,000 varieties. This delicious fruits came to the United States in 1620 with the pilgrims. The US began exporting apples in 1741 from Long Island, New York to the West Indies.

American legend Johnny Appleseed, AKA John Chapman, was born in 1741 in Leominster, Massachusetts. He is said to have planted more than 10,000 square miles of orchards from Pennsylvania to Fort Wayne, Indiana, while barefoot and sporting a saucepan for a hat. He died in 1845 at the age of 71.

Apples store well and have many uses. Common apple products for the early settlers were apple cider, butter and the ever-popular apple pie. In 1824, Aemilius Simmons brought the apple seed to Fort Vancouver, Washington. The state of Washington is now the top-producing apple state in the entire country.

I can wait to go apple picking. I just love orchards with all the apple and peach trees. Some even have giant corn mazes and country stores loaded with homemade apple jellies, butter, fresh baked pies and all your favorite fall puzzles.

Happy Puzzling!

Country Music

2011-09-07T11:53:00.001-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Recently I was out with friends and in typical fashion a lively debate began about American music. I said there was only one music style to have come out of America and that was Jazz, all other forms had been imported with the early settlers. Well, let me tell you, that statement got the Blackberrys and the Googling going. Finally the truth was to be told… I WAS WRONG! Yes you read it right! I made a mistake…a blunder…a goof. The research queen had fallen face-first off her pedestal. The fact is, Country Music also started in the USA. So in a humbling attempt to regain my top research queen status I present to you, my fellow puzzlers and friends, a blog post on the History of Country Music.

The early settlers of the Southern Appalachian Mountains of North America, like most immigrants, could only bring with them their most valued possessions and for many this was an instrument. For the Scottish and Irish it was the fiddle, which could sound sad and melancolic or bright and cheerful. For German immigrants it was the dulcimer, the Italians brought the mandolin, the Spanish brought the guitar, and the West Africans brought the banjo . This fact surprised me a little. I was always under the impression that the banjo had a Southern American origin not an African one. Lesson learned…research the facts before you speak!!!

The intermingling of musicians from different ethnic groups thus produced a unique musical sound. These early 20th century Applachian string bands usually consisted of the fiddle, guitar, and banjo. These ethnic groups migrated to Texas and brought their music with them. Today this type of hillbilly music is commonly referred to as old-time music.

In the1920s radio stations began playing music by local performers from Atlanta and Fort Worth. Barn-dance programs also became popular among radio stations of this time. The radio stations quickly realized this type of music fit the lifestyle of the country's agricultural employees. One of the most significant occurrence in Country Music happened in 1925 when WSM-AMs radio aired the Grand Ole Opry.

As the singing cowboys and cowgirls gained popularity in 1930s-1940s for their Hollywood films so too did their music. Some western music bands infused Jazz into their sound and it would soon be known as Western swing within the dance halls. In 1935 Bob Wills added drums to his band’s instrument line up and in 1938 added the electric guitar. The integration of these two types of music became know as Country & Western music and as they say, the rest is history.

Happy Puzzling!

Meet Artist Linda Picken

2011-08-31T10:06:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

We would like you to meet artist Linda Picken. Linda joined our puzzle family earlier this year and we are proud to present to you four great new puzzles.

Linda Picken lives in America's Ozarks where she revels in the country life surrounded by a menagerie of dogs, cats, horses, ducks, Canada Geese, and an assortment of other birds and wildlife. Her love of animals is evident in her paintings of dogs, horses, and wildlife, which reveal the joy, humor and majesty of the animal kingdom.

Linda has been painting professionally for over 30 years and travels to art shows around the country to license her paintings on a wide variety of products including collector plate series for Hamilton, Lenox, and 52 plates with Bradford Exchange.

Linda studied at the Des Moines Art Center, majoring in Art at Drake University, and then very ably developed her own style of wildlife and animal portraiture. She is an award-winning artist, named an Honorary Trustee of Ducks Unlimited and recipient of its first Silver Palette and Chisel award.

Her paintings have graced dozens of magazine and catalog covers such as Cabela's, Nite Lite, Quail Unlimited and Fur Fish and Game. Many of her paintings have been selected by US Air Force Association, Ducks Unlimited and Quail Unlimited to be used as limited edition prints to raise money for those conservation organizations.

Welcome to the family Linda!

Happy Puzzling!

Lose Your Marbles

2011-08-24T12:07:00.001-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

We just released a new puzzle by Carole Gordon titled Lose Your Marbles and I just love it! It gives me yet another reason to take a stroll down memory lane, not to mention, I use marbles in as many decorative elements as I can, so it is a winner in my book!

Marbles have been traced as far back as prehistoric times. Can’t you just picture cave people lounging around the cave playing with marbles made of natural clay. Too funny! Ancient marbles made from clay and china have been found in ancient Aztec pyramids, Egyptian tombs--even King Tut’s, and on Native American burial grounds. But, alas, kids who played marble games were thought to be delinquents, and playing with marbles became a frowned upon activity much like bowling in its day. Just think famous marble players; George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Quincy Adams and even Abraham Lincoln would have been considered delinquents.

In the 1600s,Germany began using water-powered stone mills to produce polished marbles made from limestone, agate and brass. These mills could produce 800 marbles an hour, which was, quite a feat for the time, hence Germany became the capital of marble manufacturing for several centuries.

A German glass factory employee invented the marble scissor in 1848 and revolutionized the glass marble industry. By 1890 Germany had invented the first marble-making machine, which the USA would put into use later that same year. Today marbles are made from all sorts of materials, but the glass ones are still the most popular.

Marble playing could be very intense for kids. Just one look at the famous painting “Marbles Champ” by Norman Rockwell says it all. Just look at the expression on the boy’s face as the determined girl takes her turn on the marble game called “keeps”.

The greatest marble moment happened in 1960 when astronaut Neil Armstrong described what the Earth looked like from his space window; he said it looked like a big blue marble.

Happy Puzzling!

Plastics and Paper

2011-08-17T12:07:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Today I would like to share with you what I just learned concerning plastics. My lesson on plastics began last week when I went out to buy a few groceries. As I made my way to the checkout counter the clerk asked if I wanted paper or plastic? Wouldn’t you know it I left my reusable bags in the car. I quickly said, “plastic”. (Yes, I always recycle. I’m the nutty person you see on the beach chasing after the plastic bag that’s flying all over the place.) Once home I started to unpack my groceries with the help of my sister-in-law, Mary Beth. MB as we call her, is an environmental activist who stays up-to-date on all news regarding the environment.

She asked me why I hadn’t used my own bags. I said, I had forgotten them in the car…again. She makes her best MB disapproval face and says, “I bet you didn’t know plastics can only be recycled a few times and then they go to the landfills or float out to the Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch, paper is a better choice.” No, I didn’t know that I said and what is a Great Pacific Garbage Patch? She runs out to her car and gets me some information on plastics and the great patch. (Now I know why I fit so well into my husband’s family, we all keep everything in the car.)

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch stretches across hundreds of miles in the North Pacific, technically it links the Eastern Garbage Patch with the Western Garbage Patch. “Unlike most other trash, plastic is not biodegradable — i.e., the microbes that break down other substances don't recognize plastic as food, leaving it to float there forever. Sunlight does eventually "photodegrade" the bonds in plastic polymers, reducing it to smaller and smaller pieces, but that just makes matters worse. The plastic still never goes away; it just becomes microscopic and may be eaten by tiny marine organisms, entering the food chain.” Eventually this food chain makes its way to us…feel like fish tonight? Yuck!

Paper on the other hand breaks down into organic matter after many, many years. This fact alone, for me, makes paper the better choice when you’ve forgotten your own reusable bag. The Greenfeet blog has a great post on Paper vs. Plastic click here to read it.

Happy Puzzling!

Candy Wrappers

2011-08-10T11:40:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

As promised, today’s topic is on candy wrappers. We left the Sugar Rush post after the British colonized Barbados and Jamaica and began to almost exclusively produce sugar on these islands. With the forced labor of the African slaves, sugar prices dropped, allowing all social groups the chance to afford sugar and make candy.

In the 1830-40s glass jars were used to store and display brightly colored candies. Chocolate bars, invented in 1847 by the Fry’s chocolate factory, were “packed as unwrapped bars in wooden boxes with paper labels displayed on the shop counter.” The 1850s ushered in the invention of the fashionable and functional airtight tins, great for toffee and tin collectors alike. Tins also made toffees appear more luxurious and were great for gift giving.

The earliest wrappers came from street vendors who would wrap candies in recycled papers. Some crafty vendors would use brightly color paper and cut decorative edges around the wrap, then twist the paper around the treat. By the 19th century all sorts of candies were available to the public. These small candy pieces were sold by weight and bagged when purchased.

The first wrapped milk chocolate bar was produce by??? You guessed it! Hershey’s, in 1900, and it is still being produced today! During this time packaged foods were the only foods that offered people a safe, consistent tasting food, with a fixed price. This chocolate bar was the first of its kind and sold nationwide for a nickel. It’s “The bar that started it all.”

The next big hit was the Milky Way bar produced by Forrest Mars. This bar was very different from the Hershey’s bar-- it had a solid milk chocolate coating which kept the candy bar fresh and the inside was malt-flavored nougat. “The Milky Way was much bigger and tasted just as chocolatey, but cost much less to produce. “People walked up to the counter and they’d see this little flat Hershey bar for a nickel and right next to it, a giant Milky Way. Guess which one they’d pick?” bragged Forrest.

These two wrappers are great examples of what a successful consumer branding looks like. The wrappers have changed through the years but the yummy treats they hold have not.

If you love--candy wrappers you have to check out the Candy Wrapper Museum it is filled with tons of wrappers from around the world. And if you’re into learning more about consumer branding check out this Syracuse University thesis paper, A Century of Candy Bars: An Analysis of Wrapper Design by David Grager.

Happy Puzzling!

Sugar Rush

2011-07-20T12:43:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Have you seen our newest candy puzzles, Sugar Rush and Night Time Cravings? Just looking at them starts my mouth watering! I do try to refrain from eating too much candy or sweets, but often, especially after looking at these puzzles, I need to have a sugar fix. Candy by definition is any “variety of confections made with sugar or syrup, which is often combined with chocolate, fruit, nuts, etc.”

Honey was the first sweetener. Cavemen would eat it straight from the combs. The Egyptians, Greeks and Romans would use honey to coat fruit, seeds, flowers and stems. I’m thinking granola bar! Yum! Many historians believe that the first candies were eaten as medical treatments for digestion problems and sore throats. The marshmallow plant (yes -- you read right!) was ground and mixed with honey as a sore throat remedy. The much-loved Jujubes (also a plant) have been used for centuries to aid in digestion, mood, poor appetite and more. We have been masking the bad taste of medicine with sweeteners since antiquity.

During the Middle Ages spices were added to sugar with the intention to use the “candy” to help prevent digestive troubles due to over-consumption and food not being very fresh or balanced. These candies were very expensive and only the elite groups could afford them. They would be packaged in tiny boxes and given to guests, who would savor them at night in their rooms.

After the British colonized Barbados in 1627 and Jamaica in 1655, they began to almost exclusively produce sugar on these islands. Due to the forced labor of the African slaves, sugar manufacturing prices were much lower. The reduction in sugar cost allowed every social group the chance to afford sugar and as time passed more sugar, and thus candies, was produced. And, as they say, the rest is history -- until we get to the wrappers and that will be the topic of our next blog.

Happy Puzzling!

Flea Market

2011-07-13T09:54:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Have you ever been to a Flea Market? I have a few that I go to whenever I get the chance because they are just so much fun. I go to look at all the interesting and crazy items people are selling. I always seem to find something cool and unusual at a great price. Flea Markets are also a good way to start a business-just go to one and see all the entrepreneurs.

No one really knows when the first flea market began. Some say that flea markets began in the Middle East as outdoor markets. The first stories found on this topic came out of Paris in 1860. The market was called “marche auz puces” and it was open Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays.

The flea in the flea market name is in reference, as you may have guessed, to the insect. Old upholstered furniture that was sold in these markets was generally infested with fleas. Mainly poor people and slum dwellers visited these markets, which at the time was most of Europe. And yes, there were a lot of fleas and not just on the dogs and furniture! I am glad times have changed!!!

What hasn’t changed is the entrepreneurial spirit of all the vendors. People of all ages rent space and set up tables selling products to the general public. Do you want to have a multi-family yard sale that will guarantee a steady flow of customers? Looking for antiques and unusual novelty items? How about Girl Scout cookies? Do you have a new product you want to test market? Are you looking for a part for that old nostalgic refrigerator you just have to get running? Try a flea market! Are you worried about packing a lunch? Don’t be. Most markets have vendors selling yummy fried dough, sandwiches, sodas and much, much, more.

Today the United States has more that 5000 flea markets nationwide and countless numbers worldwide. Flea markets are as popular today as they were 150 years ago. Just check out our very own Cronan on our Flea Market puzzle-he is the one holding the portrait of the Sacred Heart.

Happy Puzzling!

How to Glue a Puzzle

2011-06-22T08:49:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

We were recently visiting with our friends at Piece Time Puzzles and they shared with us an instruction sheet on “How to Glue a Puzzle.” Well we were so impressed with it we just had to pass it along to all of you.

How to Glue a Puzzle

1) Slide a sheet of waxed paper under assembled puzzle to protect the table

2) Pour a small amount of clear drying craft glue on the face of the puzzle. (Mod Podge works well)

3) Using a brush, rubber spatula, or piece of cardboard; push the glue across the puzzle. This should force the glue between the pieces, leaving very little on the surface and reducing the risk that the puzzle will curl as the glue dries.

4) Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the face of the puzzle has been fully glued.

5) Let glue dry completely.

6) Peel wax paper away from the back of the puzzle and discard.

7) Place puzzle face down onto fresh sheets of wax paper.

8) Repeat step 2 and 3 to apply a very thin coat of glue to the back of the puzzle.
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9) Let glue dry.

10) Repeat steps 2 and 3 to apply a second, thicker coat of glue to the back of the puzzle. This stiffens the puzzle for hanging.

11) Repeat steps 10 until desired stiffness is achieved, allowing glue to dry between each application.

Please Note: This gluing method may not be appropriate for all puzzles. Ask manufacture for advice before gluing puzzles with special finishes (i.e. visual effects or foils).

Display Options:
Attach eye screws at both ends of a strip of wood that is slightly shorter than the top edge of the puzzle. Glue wood to the back of the puzzle and hang with picture wire.
Have puzzle matted and/or framed by your local Custom Frame Maker.

Frame the puzzle yourself with a Puzzle Framing Kit.

Happy Puzzling!

Sun Protection

2011-06-15T10:22:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Summer officially begins June 21st and this is the time of year when most of us start thinking about sunscreen and sun-protection in general. I’m kind of a crazy person when it comes to blocking the harmful effects of the sun. I do all I can to prevent burning and over exposure which leads to skin cancer. But every year I get more perplexed by all the choices in protection and which SPF’s are actually the best. Should I pay more for the 100 SPF and is it really that much better than 30SPF or 50SPF? Does a brand name guarantee a better product? Here is a quick look at what I found.

The best SPF choice for protection is the 15SPF to 30SPF range. Higher SPFs (Sun Protection Factor) only add 1%-2% more protection. Choose the higher SPFs if you are not diligent about re-application and also the 30SPF if you will be vacationing in an area with higher a UV indexes such as the Caribbean. Also, there’s not much difference between adult sunscreen and child or baby sunscreen. Don’t forget your lips - they burn too! Use SPF15 and above.

Buy products that state they are a “Broad Spectrum” protectorant or UVA/UVB protectorant. UVAs give you wrinkles and skin cancer and too much UVB exposure results in sunburns and skin cancers. Be sure to read the ingredients and look for avobenzone (this one can be irritating), titanium dioxide, or zinc oxide as one of their ingredients as these products insure UVA protection. Unfortunately, some sunscreens say they are Broad Spectrum but really aren’t. Also, if your skin is sensitive look for PABA free.

Waterproof or Water Resistant: Go with the waterproof as it provides 80 minutes of water protection versus the 40 minutes of protection from the water resistant. Plus waterproof provides better protection from sweating. It is best to always go with a waterproof even if you’re not planning on getting wet or swimming.

Brand name verse store brand: Consumer Reports says expensive isn’t always better and reports that some store brands that were the least expensive rated in the good to very good range!!!

Apply sunscreen properly…unfortunately most of us don’t!

Apply sunscreen 15-30 minutes before going out. It needs this long to be absorbed by the skin. Also apply enough! No skimping here; Adults need at least 1 ounce.

Apply sunscreen to all exposed areas and don’t forget your back, neck, ears, face, hands and feet. Use it rain or shine. You can be burned in cloudy weather.

Reapply sunscreen every two hours, it does not last all day. Reapply it after you come out of the water-YES! Every time.

Sunscreen and bug repellent: The sunscreen must be applied first and you should give it time to be absorbed (fifteen minutes), then apply the bug repellent.

Wear UPF Clothing: This is different than SPF as it rates how much the fabric reduces the UV radiation to the skin. “Only clothes with a UPF of 15-50+ may be labeled as sun-protective. Also, like regular clothing, sun-protective clothing may lose its effectiveness if pulled too tight or stretched out, if it becomes damp or wet, or if it is washed and worn repeatedly.” Or you can add a sunscreen to your clothes by using the laundry additive Sun Guard. It contains Tinosorb which increases the UPF of the fabric and last for up to 20 washings.

Finally, SPF made simple and easy.

Happy Puzzling!

Saving Money At The Pumps

2011-06-08T09:33:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Today’s topic is about the importance of regular car maintenance. My Dad always said to change your oil in your car every three thousand miles and if you do it without fail your car will last forever! He also said “Don’t listen to them (mechanics) when they say you can do it every five thousand miles.” My Dad was right most of the cars I’ve had have lasted at least 10 years! What my Dad didn’t mention was that with regular maintenance you also get better gas mileage. With gas prices cresting the four-dollar mark I thought this information was worth passing on.

My revelation began last week when we had one of our cars serviced. My husband Jack, being the diligent accounting professor he is, started to notice the mileage on his vehicle was considerably less then he had been getting. What could be wrong? The snow tires had been removed and the oil had been changed. Then it occurred to us that it had been quite some time since the air filter and spark plugs had been checked.

So off the car went to get a quick tune-up. After about an hour the mechanic came back and said the car was done and that the air filter was so clogged that he was surprised the car was even running! He said we would not only see an improvement in the mileage but in performance. Boy was he right! I thought the lack of pick up in the car was because it is a four cylinder. Wrong! It was the air filter. We also saw a 5-mile-per-gallon improvement in mileage!!! As a result, my car is scheduled for a tune-up next week too! The tune-ups will pay for themselves in saved trips to the pump. Here is a list of quick tips to help you save at the pumps too.

1) Tire Pressure: By having and maintaining the correct tire pressure you can expect to see a 2.8 % improvement in fuel efficiency. Your car owner’s manual lists the proper air pressure for your car tires. Also choose tires with the lowest rolling resistance. Maintaining tire pressure is a cheap fix. Most air pumps cost about 75 cents to use and you can do it yourself.

2) Proper Octane: Only 5% of all cars manufactured have engines that require high-octane gas. If you’re using high octane and your vehicle does not require it you’re wasting your money. Check you car owner’s manual for correct octane levels.

3) Slowing Down: Reduce your highway driving speed from 65 to 55 and use your cruise control as much as you can. Also, avoid fast stops and starts; you could see as much as a 15% improvement! This is a tough one for me-everyone calls me Mario Andretti.

4) Junk In Your Trunk: Remove anything you are not using, as extra weight decreases mileage. Also, remove any items that cause drag such as bike and ski racks when not in use. Place items inside the vehicle or trunk when ever possible and avoid using the vehicles roof rack. Washing and waxing your vehicle also improves the aerodynamics and mileage, and so does USING the A/C when traveling on the highway. Oh yes -- saving money can be comfortable!

5) Maintenance and Tune Ups: This is one of the most important things you can do for your vehicle. Regular maintenance keeps your vehicle in top performing condition and will save you money now and in the long run - 4% on average in increased fuel mileage! If you are a do-it-yourselfer, make sure to check for spark plugs, low transmission fluid, dragging brakes, air filters. If you’re hearing a carbon knock, check and service the fuel injectors.

Puzzlers, just think about all the new puzzles you could buy with all the money you’re saving at the pumps.

Happy Puzzling!

Loose Change

2011-06-01T09:40:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Have you seen our new puzzle, Loose Change? It makes me smile and reminds me of all the things we do with coins. My cousin Leo loves collecting coins and is always asking us to keep an eye out for his search of the moment. Remember as a kid saving all the loose change you could get your hands on to buy those must-have designer jeans or that awesome new Schwin five-speed bike complete with matching fenders? The funny thing is, most of us still save our loose change for that something special.

American coinage began in 1792 when our founding fathers realized our young country needed a respected monetary system and, with the help of Congress, passed the very first Coinage Act. Shortly after passing this act, the nations first mint was constructed in Philadelphia in 1792. Its first circulation comprised of 11,178 copper cents followed by gold, silver and nickel coins. It is believed that President Washington donated some of his own silver to be minted.

Some of the coin denominations were quite different then those of today. Between 1793-1857 there were copper half-cents; 1864-1873 copper two-cent coins; 1851-1873 silver three-cent coins; 1865-1889 nickel three-cent coins; 1794-1873 you could find half dimes made of silver, and between 1875-1878 silver twenty-cent coins were available. The penny, nickel, dime, quarter, half-dollar and dollar are still in circulation and they are no longer made of silver and gold.

So where did “In God We Trust” come from, you may wonder. In 1861 the treasury department received a letter from a minister requesting that God be recognized on our coinage. Finally, three years later on April 11,1864, through an Act of Congress, the motto “In God We Trust” was first printed on all two-cent coins. Other coins would soon follow suit. “The motto was omitted from all new gold coins issued in 1907, causing a storm of public criticism. As a result, legislation passed in May 1908, made "In God We Trust" mandatory on all coins on which it had previously appeared. On July 11, 1955, Legislation, made the appearance of "In God We Trust" mandatory on all coins and paper currency of the United States. On July 30, 1956, "In God We Trust" became the national motto of the United States.”

Only a few women have been portrayed on our coinage. The first was Susan B. Anthony, a school teacher, women's rights activist, social reformer, editor, and writer. She appeared on a dollar coin which was produced from 1979-1981. Next to appear on the dollar coin was Sacagawea, a Shoshone Indian woman who accompanied Lewis and Clark on their western exploration of the United States. Circulation of this coin began in 1999 and is still in circulation today. Also, Helen Keller appeared on the back of the 2003 Alabama quarter.

WOW! Coins are not only fun to collect and save but rich in history too!

Happy Puzzling!

American Red Cross

2011-05-18T10:44:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Today’s blog post was created from a conversation Jill had with fellow puzzler Chris P. who works for the American Red Cross. Chris orders puzzles to put in the rooms where people go to wait for processing or to recuperate after they donate blood. What a great idea we all thought. As most of you already know, puzzling is a great way to pass time and reduce stress-and having blood drawn can definitely cause stress. This conversation got us all thinking about the Red Cross, blood and blood types.

In 1901 Australian physician Karl Landsteiner discovered the first three human blood groups (A, B, O) and in 1940, with the assistance of Alexander Wiener and Philip Levine, discover the Rh blood factor.

Edwin Cohn, in 1940, developed cold ethanol fractionation, which is the process of breaking down blood into albumin, gamma globulin and fibrinogen. That same year “John Elliott developed the first blood container, a vacuum bottle extensively used by the Red Cross.” In 1941 the Red Cross began its National Blood Donor Service to collect blood for the U.S. military. This service was instrumental in the treatment of wounded soldiers; they were treated with dried plasma during WWII and with albumin for shock after the Pearl Harbor attack. In 1945, after collecting more than 13 million pints of blood, the Red Cross ended its WWII blood program.

The first civilian blood collection program began in Rochester, NY in 1948 and by 1949 there were 1,500 hospital blood banks, 46 community blood centers, and 31 American Red Cross regional blood centers. What a difference a year makes!

Hang on puzzlers-here’s where it gets wild! Since 1901 there have been over 300 blood types discovered, each fitting into one of the major four groups which are A, B, AB and O, and, the Rh positive and Rh negatives are as important as the major four groups, especially if you are receiving a transfusion.

The oldest of the blood types is O. It comes from the birthplace of humanity, Africa, and is associated with the hunter-gatherer societies. If you’re a type O you represent about 45% of the American population. Next oldest is A. It is thought to have evolved from the agricultural societies and represents about 42% of the American population. Then there is type B, which makes up for about 8% percent, and the AB’s are at about 5%.

Thank you American Red Cross, and remember "Every minute of every day, someone needs blood. That blood can only come from a volunteer donor, a person like you who makes the choice to donate. There is no substitute for your donation."

Happy Puzzling!

Crown Jewels

2011-05-11T10:38:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

The whole world is talking about the recent marriage of Prince William to Catherine “Kate” Middleton. Their engagement and marriage captured and continues to capture tons of media attention. For a lot of people, myself included, this has been a pleasant distraction from everyday life. Those two kids are just so darn lovable! Our office discussions and new puzzle got Jill and me thinking about the “Crown Jewels.”

Was Kate’s borrowed tiara part of that collection? It was made in 1936 for King George VI for his then Duchess (Queen Elizabeth-The Queen Mother). Princess Elizabeth received the tiara from her mother on her 18th birthday. Kate had several crown choices and, yes, this one is considered part of the Crown Jewels. WOW! It brings the “something borrowed” to a whole new level!

The term Crown Jewels refers to a collection of regalia and vestments (garments) worn by the sovereign during the coronation ceremony and at other state functions. “The collection contains crowns, sceptres, orbs, swords, rings, spurs (think cowboys here), colobium sindonis ( white sleeveless shirt), dalmatic (a Deacon's long white robe), armill (bracelets), and the royal robe and several other items related to the ceremony.” The largest and most impressive collection of Crown Jewels belongs to the British Monarch.

These famous jewels are kept at the Tower of London, which isn’t a actual tower but an fortress with six foot thick walls and portcullises. Prior to 1671 the jewels were kept in the Martin Tower. The towers were changed after an attempted robbery by Colonel Thomas Blood and three accomplices. Thomas pretended to be a Parson and hid the Crown Jewels under his cloak. All three men were caught and Thomas refused to speak with anyone but King Charles, who later released Blood and gave him a royal pardon and pension. Rumor has it that the King was behind the robbery, due to his lack of funds.

Two of the most famous diamonds in the world are among this collection-the Great Star of Africa discovered in Africa, in 1905, and the Kohinoor Diamond. The Great Star of Africa, also referred to as the Cullian diamond, weighed in at an impressive 530.20 carats after it was cut! Next is the Kohinoor, which weighs 108.93. This diamond was set in a special crown commissioned by the Queen Mother in 1937.

Ladies, how would you like to have that kind of jewelry box?

Happy Puzzling!

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-04T10:16:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Sunday May 8th is Mother’s Day, the one day a year set aside to honor those women who wiped our noses and helped us grow to into the wonderful people we are. Cultures across the globe have been honoring motherhood since antiquity. In ancient times only goddesses, mythological female deities and the Christian church was honored. The recognition of the human mother has come about only in the last few centuries.

The ancient Greeks dedicated the annual spring festival to Rhea the mother of many Gods, while the ancient Egyptians held an annual festival to honor Isis, she was considered the mother of the pharaohs. These celebrations would last several days with parades, games, decorations and food.

Prior to the 1600s, European Christians celebrated Lent and the Mother Church on the fourth Sunday during Lent. Christians would honor the church they were baptized in. It was know to them as their Mother Church and they would decorate it with jewels, flowers and other offerings.

In the 1600s a clerical decree allowed for the broadening of the celebration to include human mothers and declared it a day of Mothering, or Mothering Day. It was a day when servants and trade workers had permission to take the day off and go home to visit their families and honor their mothers. It also allowed for a one-day break from the penance of Lent. Mothers would traditionally receive flowers and cakes.

When British colonists came to America they chose, many believe because of the harsh living conditions, not to celebrate Mothering Day. Centuries later Appalachian homemaker Anna Jarvis, “organized a day to raise awareness of poor health conditions in her community, a cause she believed would be best advocated by mothers. She called it ‘Mother's Work Day.’ Fifteen years later, Julia Ward Howe, author of the lyrics to the ‘Battle Hymn of the Republic,’ organized a day to encourage mothers to rally for peace. Julia believed “mothers bore the loss of human life more harshly than anyone else.”

Anna Jarvis died in 1905 and her daughter, also named Anna, vigilantly continued campaigning for her mother. Finally in 1914, eight years later, Woodrow Wilson signed a bill making Mother’s Day a national holiday!

Happy Puzzling!

Administrative Professionals Day

2011-04-27T08:59:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Today is Administrative Professionals Day! It is not a public holiday but it is the most celebrated workplace event, second only to major holidays and employee birthdays. Actually Administrative Professionals Day is part of a weeklong celebration to recognize the efforts and contributions our administration staff makes to the day-to-day operations of companies.

As a result of World War II, the need for skilled administrative personnel increased, especially in the United States and the National Secretaries Association (NSA) was formed to attract new people to these types of careers. Mary Barrett, president of NSA and C. King Woodbridge, president of Dictaphone Corporation (both serving on a committee assigned to address theses shortages) along with the efforts of Harry F Klemfuss, a New York Publicist, came up with the idea of National Secretaries Week.

“The first National Secretaries Week was held the week of June 1-7, 1952 in conjunction with the United States Department of Commerce and various office supply and equipment manufacturers. The Wednesday of that week became known as National Secretaries Day.”

“As the organization gained international recognition, the events became known as Professional Secretaries Week® and Professional Secretaries Day®. In 2000, IAAP (formerly known as the NSA) announced that the names of the week and the day would be changing to Administrative Professionals Week and Administrative Professionals Day to keep pace with changing job titles and expanding responsibilities of the modern administrative workforce. Many work environments across the world observe this event.”

So lets’ give a big round of applause and a word of thanks to all the wonderful people who keep our offices coordinated and running.

Happy Puzzling!

Earth Day

2011-04-20T10:30:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Earth Day is fast approaching. It is celebrated annually on April 22nd. This year’s theme is A Billion Acts of Green, using the slogan of “Pledge an Act, Save Our Planet Pledge” and “Show Your Commitment to the Earth Share Your Act of Green.” Pledges can be as simple as “I will walk to work today” or “I pledge to turn the lights off every time I leave a room.” Or, why not organize a recycle program at a school or place of employment. Click here to make your pledge.

It is hard to believe we have been celebrating Earth Day for over 40 years. The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970. It was the culmination of seven years of work by Earth Day founder Senator Gaylord Nelson. At the time, Americans were facing the Vietnam War and industries running amuck with pollution and hazardous waste. Massive V8 cars and manufacturing plants were spewing out smoke, sludge and smelly air pollution without fear of legal consequences or bad press. Mainstream America was oblivious to the ramifications of all the chemicals they were using and the smell was accepted as the “smell of prosperity.”

In the spring of 1962 Rachel Carson book Silent Spring was the New York Times best seller. It cast a light and raised awareness of the environment and the effects the pollutants were having on the planet’s smallest inhabitants, the environment and the public health. The massive 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara California inspired Gaylord Nelson to infuse the growing concerns of the environment with a national teach-in idea that would force national attention to the environment. “20 Million Americans took the streets, parks and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment in a massive coast-to-coast rallies.” And as the old saying goes the rest is history!

“In December of 1970, Congress authorized the creation of a new federal agency to tackle environmental issues, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.”

1990 was the year Earth Day went global, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries. Now environmental concerns were present on a worldwide scale and lead to huge increases in recycling.

White Mountain Puzzles is proud to use recycled pressboard and vegetable base inks in the manufacturing of our puzzles. We pledge or continued commitment to the environment and all its inhabitants.

Happy Puzzling!

Cuteness Factor

2011-04-13T11:20:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Check out our new puzzle Baby Faces. One word describes it to a tee and that’s CUTE! When I look at it all I can do is smile. Then, I slowly get an almost irresistible urge to hug and hold them. Babies do the same thing for me. I am always saying I have to go visit so and so to get my baby fix. What is it about babies and animal babies that drive us to feel this way? Well, I called it the cuteness factor.

So what defines cuteness? The Webster’s Dictionary defines it as an “attractive or pretty especially in a childish, youthful, or delicate way.” Okay that’s nice but I want an exact description of cuteness. So I looked to infancy characteristics for a definition and found exact details. They include big heads, small eyes, large eyes, a small nose, dimples and chubby limbs. Also the personality traits of helplessness, playfulness and being affectionate all add to the cuteness factor. Oh much better I can identify with this. In fact, humans have been selectively breeding house pets for these characteristics too. Okay, that explains why many people say kittens are the cutest animals in the world.

In 1950, Konrad Lorenz theorized, “Infantile features triggered nurturing responses in adults.” Nature wanted to make sure we cared for our young, so it built in the cuteness factor into infant mammals. Mammals including humans seem to have a basic need to nurture. An example of the need to nurture, from the animal kingdom, would be the countless animal rescue stories stating mother dogs nursing orphaned kittens and baby goats. Interestingly enough with humans the cuteness factor is the same across and within cultures.

Cuteness is so prevalent that it is used as a popular marketing tool. “Stephen Jay Gould remarked on this phenomenon in an article for the journal Natural History, in which he pointed out that over time Mickey Mouse had been drawn more and more to resemble an infant—with a bigger head, bigger eyes, and so forth. Gould suggested that this change in Mickey's image was intended to increase his popularity by making him appear cuter.” It is nice to know the how’s and why’s of the cuteness factor. But I still have a massive urge to go hug something…look out Boo-Boo kitty here I come!

Happy Puzzling!

April Showers Bring May Flowers

2011-04-06T08:58:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

I have to say that I have had my fill of winter! The shoveling, sanding and salting are back breaking duties that have to be done for what feels like an eternity. Yes, I know I am being a bit dramatic, but after six months of snow I am ready to bury my snow blower and shovels. And let's not forget about the roof rake-you know that handy little item with a ten foot handle designed to “easily” remove snow from your roof. Ha! Let me tell you there's nothing easy about it!

In an effort to sway or ease my impatience, Jill at the office mentioned how important the snow is at this time of year. Apparently, snow in the spring is loaded with nitrogen and has been called "poor man's fertilizer." I think if I had a garden that informative tidbit would have had a better effect, but I am ready for the April showers that bring May flowers! Well, impatience doesn’t pay and Mother Nature must have had it out for me and my continued whining, because on April 1st, yes April Fool’s Day, she blasted us with six inches of snow!

In a manic frenzy, not knowing what else to do, I continued to sing "April showers bring May flowers." After repeating this for several days I began to wonder where this rhyme came from. Clearly the author must have felt desperate too. It turns out a man by the name of “Thomas Tusser compiled a collection of writing he called A Hundred Good Points of Husbandry.”

In the April section is where you will find “ Sweet April Showers, Do spring May flowers,” it was a poem. Wow, what a man, I thought. He wrote a book on being a good husband, uncommon for the times (1557). Jill at this point is rolling on the floor laughing hysterically and I am completely baffled. What is she laughing at? To my embarrassment, husbandry is the act or practice of cultivating crops and breeding and raising livestock, NOT being a good husband.

Okay-lesson learned. Good things come to those who wait. But I think some puzzling distraction will make the waiting easier to accept. So, if you are like me you might want to practice patience by distraction too.

Happy Puzzling!

April Fool's Day

2011-03-30T08:18:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Today I would like to take a look at my Nannie’s favorite holiday, April Fool’s Day. This feisty woman will celebrate her 80th birthday this year, and you may remember reading about her on the Lucky Strike post. Poor Lou, her husband of 60 plus years, has had to endure numerous pranks through the years but fortunately he is a great sport. I can’t wait to see what she will come up with this year. Among my favorites (that I can talk about) has to be sewing his underwear’s front opening closed, short sheeting the bed, or the famous salt in the sugar bowl. Then there is the plastic wrap over the toilet seat, or how about the Vaseline on the broom handle. She has done them all; she may have even invented them!

It is generally believed that April Fool’s Day, or All Fool’s Day, began around 1582 in France. This is when Charles IX introduced the Gregorian Calendar and New Years Day was moved from the week of March 25-April 1 to January 1st. At this time news traveled slowly across the country, for some it was years before they knew of the changes. A select few refused to acknowledge the new calendar and continued to celebrate New Years Day on April 1st. This group was thus labeled “fools” by the general populace, they were made fun of and sent on “fools errands” and were the butt of many practical jokes.

Joseph Boskin, a professor of history at Boston University, provides another explanation for the holiday. He believes the holiday began around the time of Roman emperor Constantine when court jesters and fools told the emperor they could do a better job of running the country. Entertained by the notion, the king allowed a jester named Kugel to be king for a day. "In a way," explained Prof. Boskin, "it was a very serious day. In those times fools were really wise men. It was the role of jesters to put things in perspective with humor." (This reminds me of John Stewart.) The first ordinance Kugel passed was a calling for “absurdity on that day, and the custom became an annual event.” Ah, alas the truth is told, Boskin made the whole thing up, and it took the Associated Press several weeks to realize they’d been victims of an April’s fools joke themselves!

Taco Liberty Bell: In 1996, Taco Bell took out a full-page advertisement in The New York Times announcing that they had purchased the Liberty Bell to "reduce the country's debt" and renamed it the "Taco Liberty Bell". When asked about the sale, White House press secretary Mike McCurry replied tongue-in-cheek that the Lincoln Memorial had also been sold and would henceforth be known as the Lincoln Mercury Memorial.

Left-handed Whoppers: In 1998, Burger King ran an ad in USA Today, saying that people could get a Whopper for left-handed people whose condiments were designed to drip out of the right side. Not only did customers order the new burgers, but some specifically requested the "old", right-handed burger. I wonder if Nannie was in on this?

Another interesting factoid is in Scottland April Fool’s Day jokes and spoofs all involve the buttocks. The “Kick Me” sign can be traced back to the Scottish.

So remember: The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year. -- Mark Twain

Happy Puzzling!

Made In The USA

2011-03-23T11:01:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Recently, we have had a lot of positive feedback about our puzzles being made in the USA. That, coupled with ABC's Made In America series with Diane Sawyer, got me thinking about my buying habits and how many American made products I have been buying.

In the special, which aired February 28, 2011, a family agreed to have all non-American made products removed from their house. Well, needless to say, the house was left virtually empty. As I search my home looking for American made items, I, too would have suffered the same fate. My only saving grace was my stack of White Mountain Puzzles. As my daughter would say, OMG! I have to make a better effort to buy American made, so the research began.

I thought looking at the bar code could tell you where the product comes from. If the first digits begin with 00-13, they are made in America or Canada; 690-695 made in China. But according to Snoopes.com looking at the bar code is NOT reliable. Why? Well, this example explains it best. If a company in Germany (40-44) imported product from France (30-37), then packages and ships the product from Germany, the product's bar code would indicate it was from Germany and not a product of France. So the best way to identify where a product comes from is to look for the Made In The USA label.

Making things even more complicated is the fact that a product can be made in the USA but the company is owned abroad, so all the profits and taxes head to the country of origin. Fear not! There are some great web sites that have done all the research work for you and they are just a click away. (Just click the highlighted areas and-POOF-you're there.)

Need some quick tips fast? Here they are from “Eleven easy ways to buy American”.

COTTON SWABS. The Q-Tips brand is made in America, but is owned by Unilever, which is a joint venture between England and the Netherlands. American alternatives are CVS or Walgreen’s brands, which are both made in USA and are American-owned companies based in the United States.

DEODORANT. Suave and Dove are both owned by Unilever. Buy Speed Stick, which has been made in USA by American-owned Colgate- Palmolive.

BATH SOAP. Irish Spring and Ivory soap are American. Jergens is made in America, but the company is Japanese owned, and Dial is German owned.

MUSTARD. French’s mustard isn’t French, it’s British. Grey Poupon sounds foreign, but it’s owned by an American company, and is made in America.

PASTA SAUCE. Unilever owns Ragu. Prego is an American brand owned by the Campbell Soup Company, and is made in the United States.

DISINFECTANT. Lysol used to be owned by Kodak, but Kodak sold it to a British company in 1995. Clorox is American owned.

COFFEE. Two of the most popular brands in the United States are Maxwell House and Taster’s Choice. Taster’s Choice is made by Switzerland based Nestle. Maxwell House is an American brand. The coffee beans for both brands are imported, however. For truly American coffee from tree to cup (the beans come from Hawaii) check out the USA Coffee Company at http://www.usacoffeecompany.com/.

COSMETICS. Revlon is an American owned company and many (not all) of their products are made in the United States. Maybelline was American-owned until 1996 when French-owned L’Oreal bought the company.

BOTTLED WATER. Dannon bottled water (and other Dannon products like yogurt) are French owned. Aquafina (owned by Pepsi) and Dasani (owned by Coca-Cola) are American brands.

PEANUT BUTTER. Choose Jif, because Jif is American owned and not Skippy which is owned by Unilever.

“American-made products create American jobs. Each time you choose to buy an American-made product, you help save or create an American job. There is a ripple effect in that every manufacturing job creates three to four other jobs.”

I certainly cannot replace everything in my home but I am definitely going to make small changes as I go and when I have to make another major purchase I will definitely look at the sites listed above to find American owned and made versions.

Happy Puzzling!

March is Maple Syrup Month

2011-03-16T10:54:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Did you know that March, in many states, is considered to be the maple month? I think this is great, as it gives you yet another reason, besides ushering in spring and warmer weather, to love the month. Growing up in northern New Hampshire it was a tradition to go to the sugar shack every March and watch the sapping and syrup making process. That was fun and interesting, but it was the gift store with all it’s sweet treats on the way out, that solidified the experience. We would always purchase some “real” syrup and maple candy. Just thinking about it gets my mouth watering. I hope I can resist the urge to go to the nearest sugar house and buy a trunk full of the sweet stuff. Oh will power, don’t fail me now!

No one knows exactly how and when the first maple tree was tapped but it is commonly believed to have been the Native Americans. They would make a V-shaped cut into the tree and insert a reed or piece of rolled up birch bark to run the sap into a birch bark bucket or clay pot. Hot stones were then added to make the sap boil. The sap was commonly processed past the syrup stage to create crystallized sugar, which does not spoil when stored. Sap is very perishable and must be boiled at once.

Sap also needs to be boiled because it is approximately 98% water. Traditionally this happens in a sugar house, which is an uninsulated building that has a steam vent in the roof and enough room for the equipment and wood/fuel. The water in sap is removed by heating the sap in an evaporator (a large sheet metal pan) over a fire. It takes 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup! It is boiled longer to make the maple sugar. All that boiling creates the massive amount of steam you see coming from the sugar houses vent.

Maple syrup can be stored short term, if unopened, in your cabinet but once it has been opened it needs to be refrigerated to prevent molding. But even if it does mold, just scrape it off the top and reheat it to 180 degrees to re-sterilize. If you plan on storing your syrup for an extended period of time it should be stored in the freezer to prevent darkening and flavor loss. Click here for more on maple syrup.

Puzzler what do you think about White Mountain Puzzles doing a scenic Sugar Shack puzzle?

Happy Puzzling!

Artist Jane Mayday

2011-03-09T07:06:00.000-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Today I would like to share with you the biography of one of our artists, Jane Mayday. I just love her work, especially the cardinals. When I was young I took art lessons from Mr. Abbott, a local artist, and I would always paint cardinals. I’d paint them in oils and watercolors oh what fun that was!

Jane Mayday began her career at 14 years of age, as a scientific illustrator for the University of Florida. After receiving a Bachelors degree from Ringling College of Art and Design, she was recruited by Hallmark Cards Inc, as a greeting card illustrator. Though her scientific past helps Jane add realism to her artwork, she soon discovered she enjoys painting the outsides of animals to the insides!

Jane left the corporate world after her children were born and moved to beautiful Colorado. Her work has adorned 25 children’s books, as well as collector’s plates, ornaments, cards, t-shirts, garden flags, jigsaw puzzles, and much more.

Recently Jane added author to her list of accomplishments, writing the best-selling art instruction book, “Adorable Animals You Can Paint” (published by F&W Publications), as well as numerous smaller works and magazine articles. Her newest F&W books are Cute Country Animals You Can Paint, and Landscapes in Bloom.

In addition to the breathtaking Colorado Landscape, Jane has two children, a menagerie of animals, and a garden for inspiration, and a wonderful husband to share it all.

Happy Puzzling!

King Kramer

2011-03-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Today, I, King Kramer, have decided to write the blog and share my thoughts on what it's like to run a puzzle company. Let me tell you-it is a lot of work and there are many things to oversee. There is wholesale, retail, office management, shipping and receiving, research and development. Ah! The list seems to be endless.

My morning begins promptly at 7:50 AM; this is when my ladies/servants arrive. The first one in has the pleasure of preparing her coffee and my breakfast,Kibbies. This is a special breakfast from my homeland, Bleski which is just north of Poland. While I wait, I go over the wholesale orders that have come in. Patsy and Melinda do such a great job I will have to remember to give them a treat.

Next it is off to the retail department. Alicia is going through all the mail while Jill, Cathy, Kathy and Jean are busy answering phone calls from all our puzzlers. I have such wonderful hard-working staff. Oh, what was that! A mouse! Don’t fear ladies, I, King Kramer will protect you! Oh wait, it was only Princess Toasty, my sister. She thinks it’s funny to act like a mouse and scare my ladies. If she weren’t related I would have her banished. But that’s just between us.

Bruce, Matt and Lori all work at the warehouse in Conway. Sometimes even I am amazed to see how many puzzles they ship. And if you want to see a clean warehouse, this is the place to go. Unfortunately, since my crate broke down I have not been able to visit. You all know how hard it is to find a good mechanic.

Now I’m off to the head office where I keep Kim, the office manager and bookkeeper. We go over several reports and I get a chance to look over some payables and receivables. I must confess the numbers thing is not my strong suit but thankfully Kim keeps thing going nicely.

WOW! It is already 4:30 PM. I will have to send my ladies home. Ah, they are so good to me; they made me dinner before they left. It is good to be the king!

Oh! This is my newest puzzle. Do you like it?

Happy Puzzling!

Batters Up

2011-02-23T10:27:00.000-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Sports fans across the nation have begun to rejoice- it's spring training time! So today I would like to tell you about a fact from our country's national pastime that seems to be fading from memory, the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.

During World War II major league baseball players were not drafted, but many of the young men who played on the minor leagues were. As a result most minor league teams disbanded. This disbandment left a huge gap in revenues generated by the Major League Baseball parks. Fear of collapse spurred Chicago Cub owner Philip K Wrigley to form a committee to search for possible solutions. The committee thus recommended using the girl’s softball league and so in 1943 the All-American Girls Professional Base-Ball League was born.

The first issue the committee needed to decide on was which game would be played. Women’s semi-pro softball teams at the time used a 12-inch softball and under handed pitching and teams consisted of ten players. In an effort to incorporate the two games the distance between bases were increased and men’s base running rules were incorporated; this allowed for the stealing of bases - and we all know how fun it is to watch for a stolen base! The team’s size was also reduced to 9 players.

Next, talent scouts scoured the country and Canada looking for players. Try-outs were held in all major cities and hundreds of women showed up looking for their chance to play for this new professional league. Sixty lucky women were chosen.

The women that were chosen had strict contracts forbidding any other type of employment during the season. Salaries ranged from $45 -$85 a week, which was higher than most of their professional parents. Strict moral codes of conduct would also have to be adhered to. Femininity was crucial. The girls received training on hygiene, etiquette, and dress codes. Charm school training also taught the girls how to act in every situation. “Physical attractiveness was a must and players received beauty kits and instructions on how to use them.” The All-American Girl Next Door, along with outstanding athletic ability was a top priority.”

The League's popularity peaked in 1948, selling 910,000 tickets to paying fans. By 1950, the league became decentralized and televised major league game saw to the demise of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, but not before giving over 600 women the chance to play baseball at a level never before obtained.

Happy Puzzling!

Who Let The Dogs Out

2011-02-16T10:44:00.000-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Last night's Westminster Dog show was amazing! I can’t believe the dog that won. Hickory, a 5-year-old Scottish deerhound, was named "Best in Show." I hadn’t even heard of a Scottish deerhound. I am familiar with several breeds including my very own Tibetan terror-Oops- I meant Tibetan terrier, Mario, but a Scottish deerhound? Nope-never heard of them. This got me thinking how and where did all the breeds come from?

Dogs, as many of you may already know, are said to come from wolves. It is believed that orphaned wolf pups taken at an early age could be tamed and socialized. These orphan pups were also, thought to have been nursed alongside human babies. Along with the tamed qualities, wild wolves that were the most social and least fearful (of humans) were bred together and overtime they would become more dog-like. It is also believed that dogs were used as beast of burdens, long before the horse and ox, and as a source of meat! WOW! Eat my dog? No way!

Over time the domestication of the wolves produced several physical changes including the reduction in overall size, smaller teeth and cranial cavities. The reduction in brain size affected the areas no longer needed by the domesticated wolves, such as alertness and the regurgitation of partially digested food to feed the pups.

As humans moved towards agricultural societies, desirable dog traits would also change. Now there are seven classifications used by the AKC. 1) The Sporting Group- bred to aid hunters by finding, flushing out and retrieving game. 2) Working Group-“bred to perform such jobs as guarding property, pulling sleds and performing water rescues.” 3) Toy Group- companion dogs. 4) Terrier Group- bred to hunt small animals. 5) Hound Group- bred to follow game by sight or smell. 6) Herding Group- bred to herd and control cattle and sheep. 7) Non-Sporting Group- breeds that don’t fit into these other groups. My Mario fits here.

Happy Puzzling!

Victory Garden

2011-02-09T09:28:00.000-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

The buzz here at the office has been all about getting ready for spring and picking out garden seeds. Well I don’t have a garden but I’ve been thinking about planting a small raised one, so I pulled out our Victory Garden puzzle and started looking at all the different seed packets to find inspiration. WOW! I really did find some inspiration.

I found out that the term Victory Garden was an actual term used to describe home gardens that were planted during both World Wars. These gardens were planted in backyards, empty lots, rooftops, and public parks and on community land. All this was done in the name of patriotism.

As a part of the war effort Allies across the world had put rations on foods like sugar, eggs, coffee, milk, cheese, meat and canned goods. Citizens were urged to produce their own “war garden” in an effort to reduce the pressure on the public food supply. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt even planted a “food garden for defense” on the White House lawn. Nearly 20 million Victory Gardens were planted yielding an estimated 9-10 million tons of fresh fruits and vegetables. This amount was equal to “all of the commercially produced fresh vegetables, so the program made a difference.”

Citizen were also encouraged to can their own fruits and vegetables so the commercially made items could be sent to the troops. In 1943, 315,000 pressure cookers were sold versus the 66,000 sold in 1942. Popular women’s magazines began including gardening and canning articles.

One of the oldest remaining Victory Gardens is the Fenway Victory Garden in the Back Bay Fens of Boston, Massachusetts. The gardens are located on 7 acres of the Fens. Presiding over the 500 plots, each 15 feet by 25 feet, is the famous Prudential building. “The gardens are named for Richard D. Parker, a member of the original garden organizing committee. Thanks to his efforts the gardens are now an official Boston Historic Landmark.”

In 2009 First Lady Michelle Obama planted a vegetable garden on the South Lawn of the White House. This is the first garden to be planted at the White House since Eleanor Roosevelt’s victory garden. The First Lady planted the garden to help “educate children about healthful, locally grown fruit and vegetables at a time when obesity and diabetes have become a national concern.”

Happy Puzzling!

Hen Pecked

2011-02-02T10:11:00.000-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Check out our newest puzzle Hen Pecked by artist Rollie Brandt. I just love it! It reminds me of my trips to Cape Cod. “Cape Cod and chickens?” I know, it sounds strange, but when we go to the Cape the first thing we do is go to my sister-in-law’s and pick up a dozen of what we call rainbow eggs. Sheri raises the chickens in her back yard, with the help of the family dogs, Ruby and Riley. These eggs are delicious and the different colors are just fun. Once we have the eggs picked everyone claims his or her eggs by color. I like the green ones; it’s like the Dr. Seuss book Green Eggs and Ham. Yes, its fun not to have to completely grow-up!

Sheri says the eggs are different colors due to the breed of the hen. She likes the rainbow effect and therefore raises several different types of hens. She also claims that free-range eggs taste better than any egg you’ll buy at the store. And I would have to agree. It did take me a while to get past the strange new colors of the shell. Growing up I had only seen white or brown eggs in the grocery stores. Also, the egg itself looked different. The yolk was a deep golden color and the white was not even a little runny. But, oh my yummy-ness they taste GREAT!!!

“The chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) is a domesticated fowl, a subspecies of the Red Jungle fowl. As one of the most common and widespread domestic animals, and with a population of more than 24 billion in 2003, there are more chickens in the world than any other species of bird. Humans keep chickens primarily as a source of food, consuming both their meat and their eggs.” Recent evidence indicates chickens have been domesticated for over 10,000 years.

Chickens are omnivores and may live for five to ten years depending on the breed. Hens of special laying breeds can produce as many as 300 eggs per year. The world’s oldest chicken died at 16 of heart failure. Domestic chickens aren’t able to fly long distances, though; they can fly short distances to explore their surroundings or to roost on a tree or fence.

Chickens live happily in flocks. They establish pecking orders as new hens are added or as roosters are removed. This disruption can lead to violence and injury but once the order is established the flock returns to a harmonious state. The more dominant hens will have priority on food and nesting areas. Hens like to lay eggs in nests that already have eggs in them. Some hens have been known to move eggs from another hens’ nest to their own. An old trick used by farmers is to put fake eggs or golf balls in a nest to encourage the hen to lay eggs in a particular nest.

Now on to the Easter Bunny’s best kept secret. The Araucana and Ameraucana, also known as “Easter Egg Chickens”, are the two breeds of chickens that are known for laying colored eggs. Sorry Sheri, AKA Bunny, your secret is out!

Happy Puzzling!

Kites

2011-01-26T09:48:00.000-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Just the other day I was driving by the park and notice a couple of kids flying kites. The brightly colored kites against the blue sky and the children bundled up like little snow-babies running through the snow was a beautiful site. I have seen children flying kites many times in the summer months but never in the winter.

Historians estimate that kites have been flying in our sky for at least 2000 years and many believe kites originated in China and the South Seas. “One legend suggests the first kite was made when a Chinese farmer tied a string to his hat to keep it from blowing away in a strong wind.” Kite flying was most likely invented for fun, but has had many uses thoughtout the years.

Militaries throughout the globe have used kites for target practice, and as bombs by attaching explosives to the kite and sending it over enemy lines, or by igniting it and crashing it into an enemy ship. Kites were used as a form of airmail between Maryland and Virginia during the American Civil War and during WWI kites were used for enemy observation and signaling. Kites in “WW II were provided with life rafts and intended for use in raising emergency antennas when sailors needed to abandon their ships.”

The scientific community has used kites for wind and weather research and to raise meteorological instruments and cameras into the skies. Most famous is Ben Franklin's use of a kite to prove that lightning was an electric phenomenon.

Kites were also used for measuring distances when it was difficult or dangerous to physically walk to another location. A rope would be attached to the kite and it was then flown over to the other side. This technique was used in the building of the bridge across Niagara Falls (New York to Canada) and to carry telephone wires.

One of the most unusual uses of kite power came from George Pocock in 1822. George used a pair of kites to pull a carriage; this use saved him on taxes as road taxes at the time were based on the number of horses a carriage used. Some of his trips would record speeds between 20 and 100 miles per hour!

Today’s kite uses include kite sailing, kite surfing, kite skiing and kite buggying.

Happy Puzzling!

Circus Thrills

2011-01-19T11:42:00.000-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Wouldn’t you agree that our Circus Thrills puzzle by Mary Thompson captures a great piece of American history? How many of you remember your first time at the circus? Just hearing the circus was coming to town could get one filled with excitement and wonder. I even imagined a few times I would sneak away and become a circus performer and travel the country too. For many, the circus was the only opportunity to see live exotic animals, and performers.

The first circus to come to the United States was brought in by an Englishman named John Bill Ricketts. On April 3, 1793 Ricketts opened the first circus building in Philadelphia. It was such a hit that by season’s end George Washington himself attended a show. Unfortunately the amphitheater burned to the ground in 1799 and Ricketts would die the following year, but not before America had caught circus fever.

At that time (1799-1865) the circus consisted of basically three different types of acts first the menagerie, with exotic animals on display; second, troupes of diverse acts, including juggling, acrobatics and riding; and third, the combined acrobatic show and menagerie. All three were popular, but it was combination circus and menageries that would eventually become the standard for the traveling circus. In 1833 Isaac A .Van Amburgh (considered to be the first animal trainer) entered a lion’s cage and stuck his arm and head inside the mouth of the large cat, thus ushering in a new era in menageries and audience excitement.

In 1841 P.T. Barnum opened Barnum’s American Museum, which was a far cry from the typical museum. Barnum had on display “Chinese jugglers, serpent charmers, glassblowers, ventriloquists, performing fleas, Native American chiefs performing war dances, trained chickens and dogs, an orangutan, a knitting machine and a scale model of Paris.” But his display of hoaxes, including the Fejee Mermaid, the Cardiff Giant mannequin and the introduction of the smallest man in the world, General Tom Thumb, would have people talking and wondering for years.

Unfortunately the traditional circus is becoming a thing of the past so hurry and bring your young loved ones to a circus or show near you.

Happy Puzzling!

Route 66

2011-01-12T12:59:00.001-08:00

Hi Puzzlers

Every time I see our Route 66 puzzle I get filled with curiosity. I try to envision what it would have been like traveling that highway in the 1930’s and then again in the 1950’s. Would I fear for my life or be getting my kicks?

Between 1916 and 1921, Cyrus Avery of Tulsa, Oklahoma and John Woodruff of Springfield, Missouri are said to have been instrumental in promoting the idea of a highway which would link Chicago and Los Angeles. Once their lobbying efforts were combined with the 1925 government expanded legislation for public highway construction, Route 66 would soon be underway. The official number 66 was assigned to the route in 1926.

Approximately 210,000 people migrated to California to escape the despair caused by the Dust Bowl of the 30s, which by 1934 had affected an estimated 100 million acres of farmland, thus Route 66 quickly became known as the “road to opportunity.” In the early years it was common to travel Route 66 in caravans which provided protection and assistance. During the depression years thousands of unemployed men from every state worked as laborers on road gangs to complete the final miles of highway.

“Completion of this all-weather capability on the eve of World War II was particularly significant to the nation's war effort. The experience of a young Army captain, Dwight D. Eisenhower, who found his command bogged down in spring mud near Ft. Riley, Kansas, while on a coast-to-coast maneuver, left an indelible impression. The War Department needed improved highways for rapid mobilization during wartime and to promote national defense during peacetime. At the outset of American involvement in World War II, the War Department singled out the West as ideal for military training bases in part because of its geographic isolation and especially because it offered consistently dry weather for air and field maneuvers.”

After the war many of the service men from the east coast chose to relocate to the warmer climates of the west and southwest with Route 66 facilitating their journey. Route 66 meant people no longer had to stay local and the west was an adventure waiting to happen. As a result gas stations, hotels, motels, restaurants, souvenir shops and entertainment spots sprang up along the highway offering tourists and weary travelers a place to rest and relax.

“As a result some of these small businesses developed into corporations, building franchised locations in state after state. Soon travelers deserted the small eateries, gas stations, and tourist camps located in the center of towns for the familiarity of heavily-advertised McDonalds, Whiting Brothers, and Howard Johnson.”

By 1970 most of Route 66 had been by-passed with four lane highways and it was officially removed from the US Highway System on June 27, 1985. Recently Historic Route 66 has begun to return to maps and the actual signs include historic information.

Happy Puzzling!

Winter Birds

2011-01-05T11:14:00.000-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Yesterday while sipping my morning cup of coffee, gazing, bleary eyed, out the window I noticed a couple of blue jays searching the ground for food. It got me thinking that it would be nice to have a bird feeder or two of my own so I could watch birds every morning! Ah, it’s little pleasures like this that make life grand. Then panic set in as I thought about making them dependent on me for food and what if I forgot to feed them!

Well, it turns out that birds find 80 percent of their food on their own and 20 percent from bird feeders, which increases their odds of surviving the winter. Some birds even store food. Crows, nuthatch, chickadee and jays, to name a few, have memorized where they store food (tree bark or under leaves…) and can even find it 6 months later. Birds also follow a daily route to gather food, so, if your feeder happens to be empty don’t worry, he will eat at the next feeder. But be sure to fill your feeder as soon as possible to ensure the birds keep your feeder on the route.

If you are looking to attract different species you will need to have different types of food in feeders hung at different levels. Black oil sunflower seeds attract several different types of birds including cardinals, woodpeckers, blue jays, goldfinches and chickadees. The goldfinch love Nyger even more than thistle, though it tends to be more expensive. Are you sick of squirrels and blue jays eating your sunflower seeds and scaring the other birds? Then try the smaller white safflower seeds.

Another must-have is suet. Suet is made of animal fat and other “yummy” bird treats that attract insect eating birds. Unlike us birds use massive amounts of energy (up to 10,000 calories a day) and any extra fat in their diet is good. Another great thing to keep in mind is that the birds that feed on Suet love to feed on the bugs found in your summer gardens. Don’t you just love a natural pesticide?

Also, please remember to provide fresh water for your visiting birds (unfrozen water is hard to find in the winter months) and to clean your bird feeder occasionally with a 10 percent solution of bleach. This will help reduce the spread of disease.

Happy Puzzling!

Chinese New Year

2010-12-29T07:32:00.000-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Here in the western hemisphere New Years Day is celebrated each year on the first day of January, but in the East, the Chinese New Year can happen any time between late January and mid-February. This happens because the Chinese calendar is based on tracking the ever-changing new moon, which results in this year Chinese New Year falling on February 3, 2011. It is the Year of the Rabbit. This eastern-based holiday is the equivalent of mixing our western Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day into one massive 15-day celebration.

Just like us, preparation for the holiday starts about a month in advance as people start buying presents, food and decorations. Ten days before the New Year's Day celebration the “Sweeping of the Grounds” or the annual housecleaning begins. Tradition states that every corner of the house must be swept and cleaned as a way to remove bad luck and negative energies.

Also very similar to western celebrations are the wearing of the color red and fire work displays. “One of the most famous legends is Nian, an extremely cruel and ferocious beast that the ancients believed would devour people on New Year's Eve. To keep Nian away, red-paper couplets are pasted on doors, torches are lit, and firecrackers are set off throughout the night, because Nian is said to fear the color red, the light of fire, and loud noises.”

“The lunar calendar has a sixty-year cycle. In the Chinese horoscope, the five basic elements of Metal, Water, Wood, Fire and Earth, which make up all matter, are combined with the twelve animal signs of Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Lamb, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig to form the sixty year cycle. One's Chinese horoscope is based on which lunar year in this sixty-year cycle one was born.”

2011 is the year of the metal-rabbit. A rabbit year is a calming year, a year that allows one nerves to be soothed, to catch your breath and relax. We all need it after the tough tiger year of 2010.

Happy New Year!

Winter Solstice

2010-12-22T06:35:00.000-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Today is one of my husband’s favorite days, the first day of winter or Winter Solstice. He loves this day because summer begins tomorrow with the days getting longer and longer. The Winter Solstice marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. While researching this topic I found the Earth is actually closer to the sun in January than it is in June by three million miles! But, because of the way the earth tilts and depending on your hemisphere, those leaning farthest away from the sun get the Winter Solstice.

Even more amazing is the fact that ancient people who studied the stars and heavens (without all the sophisticated equipment we use today) could predict with complete accuracy when these changes would occur. They knew when the Winter Solstice would arrive and they knew the sunlight hours would slowly increase thereafter. WOW! That is surely a testament to the skills of observation. If you need proof check out Stonehenge in England or Newgrange Megalithic Passage Tomb in Ireland. “But not so many people are familiar with Newgrange, a beautiful megalithic site in Ireland. This huge circular stone structure is estimated to be 5,000 years old, older by centuries than Stonehenge, older than the Egyptian pyramids! It was built to receive a shaft of sunlight deep into its central chamber at dawn on winter solstice.”

“The winter solstice may have been immensely important because communities were not certain of living through the winter, and had to be prepared during the previous nine months. Starvation was common in winter between January and April, also known as the famine months. In temperate climates, the midwinter festival was the last feast celebration, before deep winter began. Most cattle were slaughtered so they would not have to be fed during the winter, so it was almost the only time of year when a supply of fresh meat was available. The majority of wine and beer made during the year was finally fermented and ready for drinking at this time.”

Worldwide, interpretations of the winter solstice vary from culture to culture, but for most cultures it’s about the acceptance of rebirth. The rebirth concept is usually celebrated with holidays, festivals, gatherings, rituals or other celebrations around this time of year.

Happy Holidays!

The Twelve Days of Christmas

2010-12-15T08:47:00.000-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

I just learned that the cute holiday song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas", has three different stories behind why it was written. Gosh, even something that seems so simple can be complicated. I guess there is always a story behind the story, or in this case, stories.

Historical sources dating back 150 years all classify “The Twelve Days of Christmas” as a counting song for kids. In the 1842 edition of The Nursery Rhymes of England, author J.O. Halliwell details how the rhyme was used as a game. “Each child in succession repeats the gifts of the day, and forfeits for each mistake.” Well you know what they say, whoever "they" are, “Repetition is the mother of skill.”

Next, and the strangest to me, is that "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is a love song. University of Massachusetts classics professor Edward Phinney said in a 1990 newspaper interview, “If you think of all the things being presented, you realize they’re all gifts from a lover to a woman. Some of them are rather impossible to give, like eight maids milking, and nine ladies dancing and pipers and drums all imply this is a wedding.” I guess that makes sense, so going forward "The Twelve Days of Christmas" song will now be played at all holiday weddings!

Last on the list is that "The Twelve Days Of Christmas" was written “to be a catechism song for young children.” This tale states that back in the sixteenth century Roman Catholics in England were not allowed to practice their faith and would be persecuted, children and all, if they were caught. So this carol was written with hidden meaning and symbolism to teach young Catholics about the doctrine. Ace Collins describes the hidden meaning in his book, Stories Behind the Best Loved Songs of Christmas.

WOW! All those stories for one cute Christmas carol.

Happy Puzzling!

Politics

2010-12-08T09:48:00.001-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Have you seen our newest puzzle “Politics”, yet? Artist James Mellett did a great job capturing the theme. The political arena has certainly changed through the years and it makes me wonder what the founding fathers would think.

The Declaration of Independence states, “of the people, by the people and for the people.” With just a quick glance at the puzzle you can see this to be true as it is filled with people of differing backgrounds and ethnic origins. It’s all here, from peanut farmers to astronauts. Do you remember what presidential candidate said, “I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore.”(Taken from the movie Network). Do you recognize some American actors turn politician? Here a few hints, “I got you babe”, “Go ahead make my day” and “I’ll be back.”

The declaration also states, “that all men are created equal.” So, I’m not sure what the founding fathers would think of the rising number of women and ethnic minorities in politics. In particular, women trail blazers like Bella Abzug, Hillary Clinton and the unforgettable Sarah Palin whose has been portrayed by comedian Tina Fey with the infamous quote, “ I can see Russia from my house”.

How would they respond to an African-American man as president with his family living in the White House and Colin Powell as Commander in Chief, or the likes of civil and political activists such as Jesse Jackson, Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks?

Also tied to politics are the scandals. Will we ever forget hanging chads, Oliver North, Monica Lewinsky and Watergate? These scandals make for entertaining political television and radio with hosts such as Bill O’Reilly, John Stewart, Keith Oberman, Stephen Colbert and the infamous Rush Limbaugh.

Happy Puzzling!

Finding The Perfect Tree

2010-12-01T08:24:00.001-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

I just love the holiday season steeped in tradition. Finding the perfect tree has become a tradition for my family and I don't think it would feel like Christmas if we didn't do it.

Our tree search always begins at the Rocks Estate Tree Farm, on the coldest day of the year. Once at the farm we head to the furthest point, down by the wall, to find the Frazier Fir we love. We spread out looking for that perfect tree. Once we each find a tree, we all have to decide which is the best of the best. After several heated moments of debate and walk- a- rounds of each other’s tree, a decision is made.

With trusted saw in hand we begin the cutting down process. (Tip from prior years cutting: hold tree at the top and middle so it doesn’t land on your husband). After several passes of the saw the tree is down! Hurrah! Next we drag the tree to the waiting wagon a half a mile away. OMG’s can be heard as we can’t believe how big the tree is now that is down. “It didn’t look this big next to the other trees… I hope it fits through the door… What else can we do with the extra tree limbs? Sell wreaths? I think to myself.”

“WOW”! This tree weighs a ton shouts my husband, as my daughter is sitting on the back of the tree. Finally we reach the crest of the hill, sweat pouring off of us like a fountain, jackets opened flapping in the breeze, hair standing straight up from getting wet under our hats, something brown and squishy coming from under your boot, and meet the wagon. The attendant gives us a ticket and wraps one around the tip of our tree.

Exhausted we make our way back to the lodge for some homemade treats and local New Hampshire craft shopping while we wait for the tree attendant to wrap our tree for the ride home.

Now rested and refreshed we make our way to the wrapped trees. The attendant greets us and asks for our ticket. You have it. No, I gave it to you! Check your pockets!!! After five minutes of this we finally find the ticket and get our tree.

Back at the car with wrapped tree in hand we fold down the backseat so we can stuff the tree in through the trunk (Who needs a truck). Once the treetop reaches the front wind shield we know we are going to need the bright red flag you attach to things when they hang out of the trunk more than two feet.

Within a half hour we are ready to go and it only took twenty feet of rope! With our hands and boots covered in sap and squishy brown stuff, we head off on our one-hour trip home.

Ah! I just love a tradition.

Happy Puzzling!

Internet Shopping Safety Tips

2010-11-24T06:39:00.000-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Yes it’s that time of year again, Holiday Shopping Time that is! I started my online list last week and while ordering what I thought was the best priced dog bed I got a funny feeling about the website. This site looks strange, I thought. Then I remembered some of the tips we talked about last year on our “Internet Shopping Safety Tips” post, I immediately looked for the tiny closed padlock and the "s" after the http, and both were missing. Then I looked into the company and found several customer complaints and bad reviews. Needless to say, I did not place the order with them. We want to keep our puzzlers safe so here are the online shopping safety tips with a few updates.

Trust your instincts - If you have a funny feeling about the site check it out before placing the order. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is a scam.

Protect your PC - Make sure your personal computer has recent updates installed for Spam filters, anti-virus and anti-spy software, and a secure firewall.

Trusted Websites - Shoppers should know whom they are dealing with. Confirm the online seller’s physical address and phone number. Anyone can set up an online store under any name. Do not respond to the pop-up asking for personal or financial information. Real companies would not ask for this type of information via emails and pop-ups (phising). Check for security seals, such as the tiny padlock icon and the http (URL) has an “s” in it. The https:// stands for secure.

Keep your Web browser updated - “Internet Explorer 7 and 8 provide another layer of protection with Web sites that use Extended Validation (EV) Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Certificates. The address bar turns green and has both https and the closed padlock. An EV SSL certificate not only helps ensure that communication with a Web site is secure, but it also includes information about the legitimacy of the Web site, which has been confirmed by the Certification Authority (CA) issuing the SSL Certificate.”

Don’t shop using Wi-Fi - When using Wi-Fi at a coffee shop, hotel, airport, or restaurant, you are making yourself vulnerable to identity theft. Your iPhone, Blackberry, Smartphone and laptop can easily be hacked on a free or paid public Wi-Fi spot.

Pay by credit or charge card - By using a credit or charge card you are protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act. This law gives you the right to dispute charges and temporarily withhold payment while the credit card company investigates your claims. Never use your debit card, as you have no rights protecting you from fraud or theft. Try to use just one credit card for all your purchases; this will make it easier to spot fraudulent charges.

Insure the safe delivery of your item - If you’re concerned about the safety of your package if there’s no one home to receive it, request it be sent with a signature required. Or, it may be safer to have the package delivered to your office.

Refund Policies and Delivery Dates -Make sure you know if you can return the item for a full refund and who pays the shipping for the return. Is the refund for a store credit or cash refund? Know when you should expect delivery of your item.

Print & Save - Keep documentation of your order. If confirmation was sent by email, keep the email and save any and all correspondence with the retailer.

Happy Puzzling!

Ice Cream

2010-11-18T06:50:00.000-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Don’t you just love our newest puzzle Ice Cream Candy Swirls? Ice cream has always been my favorite treat. Notice I didn’t say dessert, because I eat it morning, noon and night, for any and every reason. People have been enjoying this scrumptious treat for centuries.

Prior to 1553 most frozen treats were more like today’s slushies or snow cones. Around 400 BC the Persians developed a dessert of frozen batter and rose water flavored with fruit and saffron, while Alexander the Great enjoyed mixing snow with fruit and honey. Roman Emperor Nero (AD 54-86) sent his servants to gather snow and ice so it could be served with fruit and juices.

Legend states it was Catherine de Medici, upon marrying King Henry II of France, who brought the ice cream from Italy to France. The recipe called for the use of cream rather than milk and this is why Italians are credited with being the first to invent ice cream. My Italian husband started dancing around like a crazy mad man when he found this out and the smile is yet to leave his face.

In America most everyone loves their pie a la mode. But be careful with the term in a European country! "In French cuisine, a la mode (literally 'in the fashion') refers to a dish of beef braised with vegetables and served either hot in a rich brown sauce or cold in aspic. In the USA, however, a la mode denotes a dish (such as apple pie) served with ice cream." The American a al mode phrase (served with ice cream) became popular in the late 1890’s.

When doing this puzzle please enjoy a dish of your favorite ice cream for added pleasure.

Happy Puzzling!

Team Building With Jigsaw Puzzles

2010-11-10T07:52:00.000-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Today Jill was speaking with one of you and was told that our puzzles were going to be used as a team building exercise. WOW, we thought-what a great idea. It turns out that jigsaw puzzles are being used world wide as a team building option.

Puzzling is a low cost, easy to use item that is fun to do. No hanging off a tree line 600 feet in the air required for this team building exercise! It can be done in the comfort of any building with enough space for tables to build the puzzles on and the weather will not ruin this planned event. You can team build with small groups or large, and the possibilities for tweaking the exercises are only limited by your imagination.

Here is how our puzzler planned to use the puzzles for her team building exercise in a business environment for about 80 customer service reps. “We cut up the colored photo of what the puzzle looks like, and then there is a trivia game that teams have to answer (kind of like Family Feud). Whoever answers the questions correctly wins a piece of what the puzzle actually looks like. There are several teams going against each other so not everyone gets a lot of pieces of the picture Then, the team has to work together to put the puzzle together with what they have. It's hard to put a puzzle together without knowing what it looks like.” This sounds like a ton of fun to me!

A good team building exercise will usually require team members to communicate, help each other, negotiate, work together to solve a problem, trust each other and discover how much the team members need each other. You’ll also want to give the team building exercise a long lasting effect by taking plenty of pictures and posting them where everyone can see them. You may even want to give the winning team a custom made puzzle of the team with an inspirational saying, such as, TEAM, Together Everyone Achieves More.

Happy Puzzling!

Election Day

2010-11-03T09:27:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Yesterday was Election Day and I am happy to report I did my civic duty and cast my vote. I am one of those people who always drag their kids with them so they can see the election process first hand. On the drive over my daughter started asking all kinds of questions regarding Election Day. Why is it always held in November on a Tuesday? When did women get to vote? Why do I have to be 18 to vote? (Oh no, having a flash back from the “Need to Know Everything” post). So began my search for the answers and here is what I found.

November was the perfect month for young America. During this time American society was mostly agrarian, which meant that by November farmers would have already finished up with the fall harvest and November was early enough to avoid any major winter storms.

Tuesday was chosen because people traveled long distances by horse and buggy to get to the polls. Sunday could not be used as a travel day because it would interfere with church services. The first day of the month could not be used as most businesses did their end of the month work on the first of each month. Also, November 1st is All Saints Day, a Roman Catholic holy day of obligation and Wednesday was when most towns had their farmers’ market.

“In colonial times, New Jersey permitted women to vote but that right was subsequently taken away. In 1869 Wyoming gave women the right to vote. By 1914, all states west of the Rockies, except New Mexico, had adopted full suffrage. Finally in 1920, the 19th Amendment gave all women the right to vote.”

The legal voting age was changed from 21 to 18 in 1971. Young people at this time were being drafted into the Vietnam War and campaigned rigorously to change it: “old enough to fight, old enough to vote.”

WOW! America definitely has some great history!

Happy Puzzling!

Meet Artist Suzy Toronto

2010-10-27T09:22:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzler,

Today we would like you to meet artist, Suzy Toronto. We have been receiving lots of kudos from puzzlers about how much you love Suzy’s work. I even heard from one of our puzzlers who said she had planned a girls-night puzzle-party around the Wonderful Wacky Woman puzzle! I wish I lived closer, I’d be crashing that party. Good friends, food, wine and a puzzle…. Ah, life is good.

This picture is of Suzy and Ted at a show in Atlanta. Suzy said, “When I'm not at an art show or sitting on the beach, this is where you'll find me -- working on a new idea or project that kept me awake the night before. The bottom line is I love to create. Whether I'm painting fine art in my studio, drawing my wacky characters on location at shows, sitting at my pottery wheel on my back porch, or writing at my computer, the creative process is liberating beyond words. I am forever exploring new ways to express the energy inside me. But I feel forever blessed to have these gifts and vow to never take them for granted.

I'm 47 years old, live in Tangerine, Florida in a house surrounded by 100 year-old oak trees. I share that space with my husband, Al, and my 28-pound cat, "Bob." I eat chocolate truffles while I paint -- and when they run out, I quit. I drink Perrier sparkling water so much I'm considering taking out stock in the company. I practice Yoga, which for some strange reason I think will help compensate for my horrible diet, and I go to the beach every chance I get.
I have five grown children and ten grandkids who love me as much as I adore them. I've taught them to dip their French-fries in their chocolate shake, make up any words they want to any tune they like and to never, ever color inside the lines. (However, they all feel the need to assure their friends that they also have another set of grandparents who are 'normal').”

Thanks, Suzy, for tapping into the souls of all Wonderful Wacky Woman!

Happy Puzzling!

Puzzle Of The Month Club

2010-10-19T09:51:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Is it just me or are you also, finding it difficult to find that perfect gift? You know, the one thing THEY really want that YOU can afford. Something that has meaning and won’t end in the trash by the end of the month-or worse, as a re-gift!

I went through the “experience gift” phase, which is when you give a concert, theater, sports ticket or a gift certificate to a favorite restaurant. This “experience gift” allowed us to give a memory. Having run out of ideas, and getting bored with it, this phase had to come to an end. So began the search for the next trend, which I am happy to report has been found! It’s the GIFT OF THE MONTH Club!

I was amazed to find OF THE MONTH Clubs on what seems to be every item from apples to perfumes! I want to give a gift that invokes happiness when received and keeps one looking forward to the next shipment. The excitement of getting something via the mail or FedEx. (other than a bill) is just plain fun! I occasionally get this feeling when I have ordered something for mail delivery and forgot I ordered it. I go to the mailbox and find the yellow package card in my mailbox and for a few moments I get excited and wonder what’s in there. Can you imagine giving that feeling every month? Well that is just what White Mountain Puzzles has done!

White Mountain Puzzles is now happy to offer the “Puzzle Of The Month Club”. For a very modest cost we will supply you or someone you love with a featured puzzle. It's the perfect way to enjoy this healthy and fun activity on a regular basis. It's a thoughtful and unique gift idea that keeps on giving year-round. Prices include shipping and handling. A note card will also be included to let them know they have been enrolled. It's a puzzle-lover’s dream!

Happy Puzzling!

Finding Holiday Money

2010-10-13T06:51:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Lately I have been reading a lot about the different ways to save money. Some articles even say SAVE a $1000 by Christmas. Oh really, I think to myself, how possible is that? These articles go on to give you all kinds of advice to shrink your daily living expenses and cut the so-called non-essentials like your landline telephone. I don’t know about you but I love my landline phone. There are no delays in conversations and the reception is much better than the cell, so how can I give it up? I won’t give up my landline but I like to save money, so I went on to experiment with a few of these tips and found that by just cutting my food expenses I saved the most.

The number one way to save a ton of cash is to make a weekly menu. Then make a grocery list of the items you need and stick to the list. I have been doing this for a month now and I can tell you it works. I have been saving on average $50 a week or $200 a month!

Next on the list is lunch. Lots of people eat lunch out each week or buy lunch at the work place café. These lunches average $8 to $10 dollars a day. My husband’s work place lunch cost on average $7 a day and my daughter’s school lunches are $3 a day. That’s $50 a week just for lunches or another $200 a month. While they still do eat the occasional lunch at work or school, I make sure they bring their own drinks. The saving on just this step is extreme. (Case of water bought at the store $3.99 divided by 24 equals less than 17 cents a bottle versus the $1-$2 they charge at the cafes.)

Last on my list is the favorite coffee shop. You know-the frappe, mocha, and latte joints, the place where you go and indulge on your favorite yummy caffeinated drink. Go on-you’ve worked hard-you deserve it! We would go to these places a few times a week as a family. The cost for these little indulgences were $10 a visit or $20 a week. Which, when I did the math, was $80 a month! What? $80 a month for coffee? After I came to on the kitchen floor I realized I would never knowingly spend this much money on coffee or any drink each month. Looking at my food spending habits and converting them into monthly expenses was a real eye opener and a wallet saver.

So, total saved in my one-month experiment with just food was $480! Yes, I get to keep my landline phone!

Happy Puzzling!

Legends Of The Rails

2010-10-06T07:05:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Hot off the press is our Legends Of The Rail puzzle by artist Mark Karvon. This puzzle is beautifully detailed and invokes thoughts of the past. Growing up in a small paper-mill town I was fortunate enough to see the trains pulling box, tanker and hopper cars. My favorite was the bulkhead flatcars filled with pine trees-oh, how I love the smell of fresh cut pines. It’s like your Christmas tree smell times a thousand!

Locally here in New Hampshire we are also fortunate to have The Cog Railway and the Conway Scenic Railroad operating as scenic passenger lines, the latter fully equipped with dining cars.

In 1852 Sylvester Marsh wanted a better way to reach the summit of Mount Washington and began building his mountain climbing train with assistance from inventors Herrick and Walter Aiken. The first cog-driven train climbed 6,288 feet to the summit of Mount Washington on July 3, 1869. “For the first forty years of Cog's operation, wood-fired boilers powered the train to the 6,288-foot summit. Around 1910, coal was introduced.” So if you want spectacular mountain views with a touch of exhilaration then this is the train ride for you.

The Conway Scenic rail line began servicing passengers in 1872 and its skilled carpenters designed the North Conway Station to be a masterpiece fit for a prestigious summer resort. “For nearly 90 years the station was a landmark for train travelers. Passengers, mail, express, and newspapers arrived and departed through the station. Snow trains began running in 1932 to the town that was home to the "birthplace of American skiing.” Countless skiers rode the snow trains as the sport of skiing grew with the development of ski lifts.

One of our local ski enthusiasts recounted his experience on the snow train. He said, “ I would get on the train in Boston with my friend and we would hurry up and get our homework done, and then watch the people. It was a long ride and when we finally got there my friend’s parents would meet us at the station. Other travelers were picked up by hotel wagon or cars and driven to the hotels they were staying at. The next day we went skiing at Mount Cranmore! It was very exciting and fun.” The Conway Scenic Railroad is now a National Historic Landmark.

Puzzlers, we would love to hear about your train stories.

Autumn Traditions

2010-09-29T07:06:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,
It’s autumn, that fabulous time of year when most of the bugs are gone, the temperature has cooled and the leaves are changing from green to brilliant hues of reds, oranges and yellows. This year I want to make sure I do all my fall favorites, so I began making a list. My list contains some of the usual, like apple picking, and some a little more unusual like trekking to the west coast to see thousands of monarch butterflies take up residence in the coast’s eucalyptus trees.

This list of traditions got me thinking, “What do other people like to do in the fall?” So off I went polling the girls in the office, poking and prying to get to the good stuff. Below is the list we came up with. Who knows- maybe one of these will become your new autumn tradition!

1. Take a trip to pick apples, visit a pumpkin patch and don’t forget the corn maze!
2. Watch “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”.
3. Redecorate your home’s interior by moving the furniture around and changing out your decorative pillows.
4. Decorate your exterior with fall window boxes filled with mini pumpkins, gourds and tiny scarecrows.
5. Let the baking begin and eat pie! Pumpkin, apple, cherry, peach, pecan …I’ll have a slice of each please!
6. Next on to chili, stews and soup.
7. Don’t forget to wash it all down with some apple cider, hot chocolate or a pumpkin spice latte.
8. Need something with more of a kick? How about a spiked hot apple cider, or a pumpkin martini. (I haven’t tried this yet, but oh my yumminess, it sounds good!)
9. Next you’ll need to work it all off by raking some leaves or taking a hike so you can enjoy the crunching of the leaves under your feet.
10. Last but not least don’t forget to capture all your autumn adventures on film.

Happy Puzzling!

Meet Artist Kate Ward Thacker

2010-09-21T07:53:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Today we would like you to meet artist Kate Ward Thacker. Kate’s lifelong love of vintage illustration, advertising, travel memorabilia and assorted ephemera has resulted in an unparalleled library of retro themes which she uses as inspiration for her designs in these collections.

As an avid artist from an early age, Kate Ward Thacker began selling her work at art festivals when she was in high school. After earning a bachelor's degree in design, she spent twelve years on commercial design projects while also developing and refining her painting techniques and style.

As a designer for Walt Disney Imagineering, Kate's talent and creativity were put to good use on theme park designs for Paris Disneyland and Walt Disney World. This creative atmosphere further enhanced her desire to turn to a full time art career, which she did in 1990.

Kate's vibrantly hued paintings are included in numerous corporate, public and private collections worldwide. She has shown her work for many years in galleries across the country. Also, some of Kates work has also been spotted on HDTV’s Color Splash with David Bromstad!

Happy Puzzling!

Wishful Thinking

2010-09-13T10:26:00.001-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Wishful thinking is a gift from the heavens. Most of us experience it when we buy a lottery ticket and our mind wanders to the, “What if I won?” mode. We fantasize about buying lots of stuff and vacationing at exotic locations or hiring a chef, maid and butler. (Okay, no butler for me, but definitely a maid to do the cleaning and laundry). So you can imagine my surprise when this happened to me as I followed the bus to my daughter’s first cross-country meet.

My parental brain took over and made me delirious as I thought of all the possibilities for her future success as a runner! Make way, Sports Legend puzzle-here she comes! I imagine her winning every high school cross-country meet in our area, and then it’s on to the state championship. My delusions continue as I visualize her winning and winning and winning through the next four years of high school. Records are smashed under the force of her feet. The scholarships from Harvard, Yale and Princeton are pouring in, offering her more and more if she signs with them.

Next it’s on to the Olympics! (I warned you I was delusional!) Look out Lynn Jennings she looking to break all your American records. I call Memere (French for Grandmother) and say “Did you see her on the box of Wheaties, and don’t forget to tape the Nike and Pepsi commercials she’ll be starring in.”

We come to a grinding halt and park next to the other fourteen buses. As I watch all 75 pounds of her exit the bus I get filled with pride from the fact she has the fortitude to do this, and I laugh to myself wondering how many of the other parents were thinking the same thing.

Happy Puzzling!

Country Fairs

2010-09-08T05:39:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,
I love this time of year when the weather cools down a bit and the leaves begin to change color, highlighting our beautiful mountains. The kids are back at school and life goes back to being very structured- well at least for me. I know for some that structure equals boredom but to save you from that boredom there’s always the good old country fair!

Country Fairs- Oh I’ve died and gone to heaven! How I wait so impatiently every year for the fairs to begin. There is just something about a fair I find hard to resist. I go and eat like I’ve never eaten fried dough, sausage subs, blooming onions and French fries before. My husband just shakes his head and laughs at my total and utter loss of control as I shove as much fair food into my mouth as I can, destroying my year’s worth of healthy eating in a single day.

I stroll the barns, sneezing up a storm, looking at all the livestock and farm equipment. I make my way past all the vendors selling their wares, stopping occasionally to watch the slicing and dicing of the latest new kitchen gadget I’ve gotta have. I stop at the midway to play a few games, jumping up and down like a crazy person when I win the tiniest of toys.

Next it’s on to the entertainment -you know-the horse and ox-pulls. I must say the skillet throw cracks me up every year, though I do suspect there is an art to throwing the skillet the furthest. Then there are the old-time performers blasting out tunes I haven’t heard since the 70’s or before. Oh wait! I’m not that old! Now it is on to the woodsmen with ax throwing and sawing stuff up. Talk about skill, one slip and you’re a goner.

By now I’m feeling like I need to sit but I continue to stagger through the crowds. I watch the people and wonder where they all came from. Are they as addicted to it as I am? Have they tried the baked stuffed potatoes at the Elks booth? How about the out of this world blueberry cobbler from the church? When I come to I find my husband has me seated at the horse track! Yee Ha- let the fifty-cent betting begin!

Happy Puzzling!

Congratulations Eric!

2010-08-31T06:51:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-25T06:23:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-18T05:32:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-11T05:31:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-04T06:08:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-01T09:04:00.000-07:00

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!

Meet Artist Gary Patterson

2010-07-14T05:45:00.001-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,
Today we would like you meet artist Gary Patterson. Gary’s work is instantly recognizable and captures the humor of his many subjects, be it Cats or Dogs. My dog Mario could have been the muse for Gary’s Dogs Puzzle. Yes, that’s Mario jumping into the dishwasher and licking the dishes!

“Gary Patterson is one of America's best-loved artists, and his
work is enjoyed and collected throughout the world.

Born and raised in California, Gary submerged himself in the
world of art as a child. He was influenced by his father's
artistic ability and was encouraged by his family to formally
pursue his artistic ability.

Gary attended UCLA and the Art Center College of Design for
a short time, but soon ran out of money and went out on his
own - learning by his own mistakes. He went on to gain
recognition in many fields of art, and finally decided to
specialize in humor because it made people smile. During his
career, Gary has achieved numerous prestigious awards
including acceptance to the Los Angeles Museum of Art.
Today, millions of people own or recognize the distinctive
characters of his illustrations and the intimacy of his unique
humor.

With the input of his family, friends and fans around the
world, Gary is able to create art that touches people's
hearts, and brings smiles to their faces.”

Gary’s work certainly makes me smile.

Happy Puzzling!

I Love Lucy

2010-07-07T08:57:00.001-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,
Last night I stayed up late because of the heat wave that has hit the northeast-it was just too hot to sleep. As I flicked through the channels looking for something to watch I found re-runs of the I Love Lucy show. I still laugh when I see all of Lucy’s wacky antics. She was a truly amazing actress/comedienne.

Lucille Ball was born in Jamestown NY on August 6, 1911. Her father died of typhoid fever when she was three. After his death, Lucy’s mother DeDe moved the family to Celeron NY to be with her parents. Lucy’s grandfather, Fred Hunt, enjoyed the theater. “He frequently took the family to vaudeville shows and encouraged young Lucy to take part in both her own and school plays.”

At 15, with her mother’s approval, Lucy left traditional high school and enrolled in John Murray Anderson’s Drama School. Some have suggested that the enrollment in the drama school was to prevent Lucy from dating a gangster’s son named Johnny DeVita. Lucy only attend a few weeks when the drama coaches sent her home, saying she had no talent and would be better off finding a different career. These comments sent Lucy out on a mission to prove them wrong.

In 1929 while living in New York City, Lucy, also known as Diane Belmont, began a thriving career as a fashion model. Her best-known campaign was that of the Chesterfield Cigarette Girl in 1933 which gained her national exposure. After being spotted by a talent agent on the streets of New York, Lucy moved to Hollywood and was hired as a contract player for RKO Radio Pictures. “The actresses of that time were the glamorous types and were not agreeable to taking a pie in the face or doing physical stunts. Lucy was not afraid to do either. Lucy herself once said, I’m not funny, what I am, is brave. How right she was.” Lucille became "Queen of the B's"

In 1940, while performing in the musical “Too Many Girls”, Lucy met popular Cuban band leader Desi Arnaz. They fell in love and married within the year. With their work keeping them apart, Lucy and Desi came up with a plan to save their marriage and keep them working together. They pitched their idea to CBS, about the unlikely marriage of a wild redhead to a Cuban band leader. CBS thought the American public would not accept that kind of couple and declined their offer.

Not wanting to take no for an answer, they formed their own production company, “Desilu”, and began filming the pilot episode of “I Love Lucy.” It premiered in October of 1951, and instantly became the most popular television show in America. “CBS picked it up before the show's thirty minute episode was over.”

And, as they say, the rest is history! What a great lady!

Happy Puzzling!

Historic Washington, DC

2010-06-30T07:33:00.001-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,
We have heard so many stories about our puzzlers using the resort, states and historic puzzles to plan their vacations we thought you would like to hear about our very own Jill’s trip to Washington, DC.

Jill and her daughter headed out to Washington, DC with our puzzle in hand. Jill reports that the puzzle was extremely handy for mapping out their route of must-sees. “We were able to tell from looking at the puzzle what sites we could walk to and which would require public transportation.” WOW! We thought our puzzles were just fun and educational but it appears the people at Rand McNally may have some added competition!

Among Jill’s list of must-sees was Union Station. Union Station opened on October 27, 1907 and is thought to be one of the best examples of the Beaux-Arts style of architecture. During this time period train travel was the primary mode of transportation, even for the President. Construction of a Presidential Suite began in the early 1900s and in 1909 President Taft had the honor of being the first President to use the suite. Through the years many kings and queens were officially welcomed here. Among the many were King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain, King Albert I of Belgium, King Prajadipok of Siam, Queen Marie of Rumania, and King Haasan II of Morocco. Jill says to take an official tour of the city; she took a trolley tour, “It is a must if you haven’t been there before”.

The Lincoln Memorial was the first stop on her tour and she was quite impressed with the memorial beginning “larger than life”. Pictures cannot prepare you for how you will feel standing next to this enormous memorial. Next was the Arlington Cemetery, which leaves one feeling awed, looking at how large it is. A whole day was spent in the Museum of American History, which was highlighted by seeing all the first ladies inaugural gowns. At the Museum of Natural History she got to see the Hope Diamond! Yes it was HUGE! “But I found the other jewels to be more appealing because of the different colors and stones and they were just as large.”

Jill says she would definitely go back, and that one-week was not enough time to see everything!

Jill also recommends dining at the Old Ebbitt Grill .

Thanks for sharing, Jill!

Happy Puzzling!

Bowling

2010-06-22T10:05:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,
I am happy to report to you that my Nanny’s bowling league took first place this season! Nanny and the gang are in their mid-to-late 70’s so I feel this is inspiring news. In the early 80s I played as a spare on a team but never fully caught the bowling bug, though millions of people worldwide over the last 5000 years have. Bowling has become a great American pastime. It is a sport of the people and of kings.

Bowling is one of the oldest sports in history. Ancient artifacts, similar to items used in today’s bowling, were unearthed from an Egyptian tomb dating back to 5200 BC. “Ancient Polynesians rolled stones at objects from a distance of 60 feet - the same distance as from foul line to headpin.” Some claim bowling originated in Germany around 300 AD and was used as a religious ceremony for determining the absence of sin. German monks introduced the “game” to the masses and it flourished as a “customary test of faith.”

By the 14th century, bowling, in its many forms, had become so popular it began to interfere with the national archery defense practices in England, causing King Richard II and King Richard III to ban the game from 1327-1399. “During the regime of King Henry VIII, the game gained popularity and was played as a symbol of nobility and social status.”

“In 1841, Connecticut banned ‘bowling at the game of ninepins’ because of widespread gambling. Other states followed suit. It is popularly believed that today's game of tenpins was devised to circumvent the laws against the game of ninepins. Bowling has been banned throughout the world for the "evil it leashes on society."

Over 100 million people in more than 90 countries play the game, making it one of the most popular and universally loved sports in the world.

Happy Puzzling!

Happy Father's day

2010-06-16T06:15:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Father’s Day is Sunday June 20th and we would like to wish all the Dad puzzlers a Happy Father’s Day!

Sonora Smart Dodd came up with the idea of having children honor their father’s after attending a church service honoring Mother’s Day in 1909. Sonora’s father raised her and her five siblings after her mother died during childbirth. She wanted a holiday that honored fathers like her own father, William Smart, a Civil War veteran who was left to raise his family alone and did so with loving compassion.

“So Father's Day was born in memory and gratitude by a daughter who thought that her father and all good fathers should be honored with a special day.”

What Makes A Dad

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it ... Dad

Author is unknown

Happy Father’s Day!

Artist Robert Duncan

2010-06-09T05:38:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

We would like you to meet our newest artist Robert Duncan. That's him in the front row with his wife Linda and their family.

Robert Duncan was born in Utah and began painting at age eleven. He spent summers as a boy on his grandparents' ranch in Wyoming where his grandmother gave him his first set of oil paints. It was there that he grew to love the country, the open spaces, and the rural lifestyle. Robert has painted professionally for about 25 years. He studied at the University of Utah and worked as a commercial artist before his full-time dedication to the fine art of the American West. Robert was elected into the Cowboy Artists of America at a young age and won two silver medals in their annual exhibition at the Phoenix Art Museum - a dream come true. Robert, his wife Linda, their six children, and a lively assortment of farm animals live in the little town of Midway in Northern Utah.

I decided years ago to paint the things that I cared most about. That decision has brought me a lot of joy and satisfaction and I'm especially grateful that my family has been such an important part of all of this."

"I grew up in the suburbs, but every chance I got, I would sneak out to nearby fields to watch the birds or play in the creek, and the summers I spent on my granddad's ranch really taught me how much we all need Nature in our lives. But change is all around us. The family farm is disappearing at an alarming rate. Development and sprawl cover fertile fields by the minute. I want my grandchildren to be able to walk through a field and hear a meadowlark call. We don't all have to live on a farm, but to pass by and see the cows grazing or just to know that there are wild places being kept wild makes our lives better. In a way, my paintings are a call to think about the things that have touched our lives and hope that we might all be willing to do our part to save these things for future generations."

Happy Puzzling!

Hot Air Balloons

2010-06-02T06:35:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

June 11-13th there will be a hot air balloon festival here in North Conway NH and I’m so excited to go and see them. I have always been mesmerized by their colorful, grand stature. What’s truly amazing to me is the fact that they can fly with just hot air.

British balloonist Julian Nott speculated that the Nazca culture of Peru could have used hot air balloons some 1500 to 2000 years ago to help design the famous Nazca ground figures and lines. Using the materials that were available at that time, balloonists determined it would have been possible for a hot air balloon to fly.

The first officially documented hot air balloon flight took place on September 19, 1783. The balloon was made by the French brothers, Jacques and Joseph Montgolfier, in the town of Alchemy located in southern France. The hot air balloon was fueled by burning straw, wool and dried horse manure and on board were a rooster, a duck and a sheep. After experimenting for a while Jacques took the first tethered ride on October 15, 1783.

With the approval of King Louis XVI, the first passengers/pilots of a free flight in a hot air balloon were Pilatre de Rozier and Francois Laurnet. Originally, King Louis wanted “condemned criminals” to take the first flight but Francois and Pilatre where finally granted the honor on November 21, 1783.

The balloon ascended 500 feet and then landed in a vineyard a few miles away. Upon landing, the “local farmers raced towards it with pitchforks, ready to attack this strange object from the sky. To prevent the farmers from destroying the balloon, Pilatre and Francois offered them a bottle of champagne, as thanks for allowing them to land in their field. Today, in memory of that first courageous flight, champagne (or an Australian sparkling wine) is often drunk after a hot air balloon ride.”

So cheers to the hot air balloon festival and puzzling!

Cape Cod

2010-05-25T09:11:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

I am just getting back from one of my favorite places on the planet, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. I just love it! There is so much to do! If you like shopping and antiquing they have it. If you are a foodie like me, they have a huge variety of restaurants to choose from. I just found this incredible Italian restaurant called Gerardi’s Cafe and let me say it was one of the best meals I’ve ever had! Yummy- just typing this has my tummy growling for more.

Cape Cod also has many outdoor activities available to visitors. There’s fishing, boating trips, kayaking and canoeing, both in the ocean and on several of the fresh water kettle ponds which can be found all around the Cape. If you love to camp my recommendation would be the Nickerson State Park campground as it is near the bike trails.

Biking is my favorite thing to do on the Cape. Yes, I’m a biker but not the motorized kind, though a ride along 6A on a motorcycle is highly recommended, I pedal my bike along the glorious trails of the Cape. “The Cape Cod Rail Trail follows a former railroad right-of-way for 22 miles through the towns of Dennis, Harwich, Brewster, Orleans, Eastham and Wellfleet. Its paved surface, few hills, and well-marked automobile crossings make it ideal for cyclists. The trail has a wide unpaved shoulder on one side to accommodate horseback riding, walkers, and runners.” Of course I over indulged and my legs are still a little sore, but it was well worth it!

I had to remove the poster and puzzle of Cape Cod I had in my office as I kept getting distracted. Oh was that the sound of the ocean or the ring of a bicycle bell? This puzzle is a wonderful keepsake or tour guide for this awesome vacation destination.

Happy Puzzling!

Space Shuttle

2010-05-12T06:39:00.001-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

We have a great new puzzle by Mark Karvon titled “Space Shuttle” and I have to say it is one of my favorites. As a kid growing up I was a big Star Trek fan and I still am. Once a trekkie always a trekkie! I spent many nights watching Captain Kirk, Spock and the crew, explore the universe. I was fully immersed in the scenes, imagining I was on the other planets investigating aliens as a member of the crew. I continued my space odyssey with the Next Generation, Deep Space Nine (DS9) and Voyager, which finally had a woman captain, Captain Kathryn Janeway! Shows like this really do take you away from it all!

I feel fortunate that space travel began during my lifetime. NASA and its scientists have definitely begun to “boldly go where no other has gone before” and have allowed us to learn so much about space. Just think- we thought Pluto was a planet all this time and it is actual a dwarf planet! And, just recently, what about that rogue satellite-Galaxy 15, which lost contact with ground control after a solar flare probably fried its brain. Not to worry- it is on a course to interfere with satellites that transmit to Luxemburg. Sorry Luxemburg - no TV for a few nights!

Luckily for us, astronauts on the Space Shuttle perform several different types of jobs in space. Their duties include work for the military, private and business sectors, as well as building, maintaining and repairing of the International Space Station (ISS). We may need to add chasing rogue satellites to this list soon.

“The launching, repairing and maintenance duties for objects like the Hubble Telescope, as well as military and commercial satellites, are carried out as needed.” Only trained astronauts are able to leave the shuttle and perform space walks. Without question, the riskiest and most specialized job that an astronaut can do in space is space walking, otherwise known as EVA or Extra Vehicular Activity.”

I would have liked to say that I am adventurous enough to have been one of the first astronauts but, truth be told, I’m not. I am so grateful to all the brave souls that have been the first to boldly go where no human has gone before and I feel privileged to watch all of their triumphs.

Happy Puzzling!

Meet Artist Fred Swan

2010-05-05T06:01:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

We would like you to meet artist Fred Swan. Fred lives in Vermont and graduated from the United States Naval Academy. He is a self-taught artist who works exclusively with acrylic paints. For over 30 years Fred has been developing his own unique style, all while teaching high school mathematics. Since retiring from teaching in 2000, Fred paints full time in his studio in Vermont.

Due to the length of time necessary to complete each piece (500 hours on average), he is often unable to fill the demand for his work. . Each image is richly rural, a way of life experienced by few but fondly remembered by many. These qualities have earned Swan a lofty reputation as one of our nation’s finest landscape artists. Fred's paintings are highly commercial and have been adapted for calendars and jigsaw puzzles and are sold as prints.

"Fred Swan's paintings are found in many public and private collections including those of Johnson & Johnson, Malcolm Forbes, and the Vermont Council on the Arts. He is a winner of the 1979 Saturday Evening Post Cover Contest, and his work has been featured in many national publications, including Yankee Magazine and Vermont life.”

Thanks Fred - your beautiful paintings make great puzzles!

Happy Puzzling!

P.S. Sorry puzzlers, we had technical difficulties with Fred's image and we will post it as it becomes available.

Celebrate Arbor Day

2010-04-28T05:55:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Arbor day is the day that is dedicated to the planting and care of trees and here in New Hampshire we celebrate it on April 30th.

People are encouraged to go out and plant a tree, be it in your own yard or in a community spot. You should remember to ask the community before planting. Homeowners, this is a good time to check existing trees for insect infestations and broken branches and, of course, to plant a new tree.

The first Arbor Day was celebrated on April 10, 1872 in Nebraska. Julius Sterling Morton, a Nebraska journalist and politician, thought Nebraska would benefit from the planting of trees. Trees, he felt, would add to the landscape and economy.

“He set an example himself planting orchards, shade trees and windbreakers on his own farm and urged his neighbors to follow suit. Nebraska’s first Arbor Day was an amazing success with more than one million trees being planted.”

“Windbreaks reduce heating and cooling cost to homes, and add value. They provide a barrier from sound and sight, smell, protect livestock, they look good and provide wildlife habitat for birds and little furry critters.”

Presently all 50 states celebrate Arbor Day although the dates vary according to local climates. I am also happy to report Arbor Day is now celebrated in other countries, with some adopting variations on the theme such as “Greening Week” of Japan.”

"Other holidays repose upon the past - Arbor Day proposes for the future.”

J. Sterling Morton

Happy Puzzling!

Firefighters Part II

2010-04-21T07:11:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

In today’s Part II post we will look at the history of female fire fighters. I feel it is always important to inspire our girls to believe they can do and be anything they want. Nothing, to me, says it better than showing ladies from our historic past. They made things happen at a time when it wasn’t socially acceptable, when they couldn’t vote or own their own property. Talk about overcoming adversity!

An African-American slave named Molly Williams was the first recorded female firefighter in US history. She worked on the Oceanus Engine Company # 11, where she became known as Volunteer # 11 and was said to be, “as good as a fire laddie as many of the boys.” Her bravery was especially noted during the blizzard of 1818. “Male firefighters were scarce, but Williams took her place with the men on the dragropes and pulled the pumper to the fire in the deep snow.”

Marina Betts, a resident of Pittsburgh in 1820, served as a volunteer firefighter. She claims she never missed a fire in the ten years she was a firefighter. Paul Ditzel stated: “Betts became famous for dumping buckets of water over male bystanders who refused to help fight fires.”

In 1851 Lillie Hitchcock began working on the Knickbocker Engine No. 5. Her journey began as she watched two other fire engine companies pass the understaffed men of the Knickbocker Engine, while enroute to a fire. As the other firefighters passed the Knickbocker they yelled out humiliating remarks. “Fifteen year old Lillie saw their plight and dashed to the vacant spot on the rope. Pulling with all her might she shouted to bystanders, "Come on, you men! Everybody pull and we’ll beat em!”

Can you imagine doing that at fifteen in the 1850’s?

A special note of thanks to all our firefighters.

Happy Puzzling!

Firefighters

2010-04-14T06:43:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Today’s blog is about Firefighters. I have always been curious about the fire fighting profession. I wonder if it was always volunteers trying to keep their communities safe? When did it become a paid profession? What about women firefighters? I have so many questions, in fact, that I am going to have to make it a two part series. In this post we will look at the early days of volunteer fire fighting.

Volunteers have and continue to be the backbone of all firefighting. The Union Fire Company established by Benjamin Franklin, in 1736, was the first volunteer fire department. Unlike other “Fire Clubs” of its day, which only protected property of its members, the Union Fire Company served everyone in the neighborhood. This became the role model for subsequent fire companies that sprang up all over Philadelphia. Each Fire Company of this time had to pay for all their equipment; luckily, wealthy volunteers donated the funds to keep the fire companies running.

Prior to this type of organization, “private fire brigades would compete with one another to be the first to respond to a fire because insurance companies paid brigades to save buildings. Even after the formation of paid fire companies in the United States, there were disagreements and often fights over territory.”

“New York City companies were famous for sending runners out to fires with a large barrel to cover the hydrant closest to the fire in advance of the engines. Often fights would break out between the runners and even the responding fire companies for the right to fight the fire and receive the insurance money that would be paid to the company that fought it.” I wonder how many buildings burned to the ground before the fight was settled? Yikes!

Here is a list of some famous volunteer firefighters: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Paul Revere, and Alexander Hamilton.

Happy Puzzling!

Baseball Parks

2010-04-07T06:27:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

It’s official baseball season and many of you may be cheering or jeering. I personally am in between. I am not a die-hard fan but I know a few of the players, watch the World Series and enjoy a day at the park.

The day at the park is definitely my favorite. The closest official ballpark to New Hampshire is Fenway Park, which is home to the Red Sox and the Green Monster, or “Monsta” as they say in Boston. Fenway is also the oldest ballpark in the country! It opened in 1912 on the same day the Titanic sank!

I can remember my first time at the park and how fun it was strolling down Yawkey Way. During the games half the street is closed off to traffic and lots of vendors line up selling all kinds of goodies. It’s like a giant street party with music playing, food everywhere and thousands of happy people enjoying the day.

I have yet to go to the new Yankee Stadium in New York. My husband has been a Yankees fan all his life and you can well imagine the taunting he gets from every one in our family for being a traitor. Yes, they are all Red Sox fans. But I so enjoy the parks I can’t wait to go and check this one out. The new stadium was opened on April 16, 2009 boasting new wider seats and more legroom. Most seats even have cup holders.

Next on the hit list would have to be the second oldest ball park in the country, Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, which opened in 1914. It went under several different names until 1927 when it was renamed after the Cubs owner William Wrigley Jr., owner and founder of Wrigley Chewing Gum Company. Hmm… Baseball and chewing gum- did that get started here?

Those are my top three - enjoy the season!

Happy Puzzling!

Moose

2010-03-31T05:44:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

It’s that time of year again here in New England when the moose begin to come out. Growing up in the Great North Woods area, or “Moose Country” as the locals like to say, has given me many opportunities to see moose. They are magnificent creatures.

Moose are the tallest mammal in North America measuring 6-7 feet from shoulder to feet! Female moose can weigh 800 to 1,300 pounds with males weighing 1,200 to 1,600 pounds. All moose have a bell sway, which is a flap of skin beneath their throats. It looks like a Goatee to me. The adult male or Bull Moose has antlers that stretch out to 4-5 feet. If you are ever lucky enough to find one of these antlers in the woods they make great serving trays/platters. Very rustic!

To maintain its body weight the adult moose must consume over 9,700 calories a day. All moose are herbivores and enjoy dining on twigs, leaves and the buds of hard and soft wood trees and shrubs. Moose also like to feed on aquatic plants like water lilies. So if you ever drive by a pond and see a moose in it, don’t be surprised when it sticks its head under the water to find a yummy snack. They can also completely submerge themselves under the water for as long as 30 seconds and can swim as fast as six miles an hour.

Moose have terrible eyesight but their excellent hearing and sense of smell guide them through the forest each day where they can travel up to ten miles a day. They are most active at dusk and dawn, so be careful driving. Remember moose mate in the fall and males can become aggressive. Should you see one, stay in your car and let him pass. Moose can run as fast as 35 miles an hour and trot at 20 miles an hour!

If you are planning a visit to the Great North Woods I would highly recommend booking a Moose Tour!

Happy Puzzling!

Artist Mort Künstler

2010-03-24T05:55:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

We would like you to meet artist Mort Künstler. “He's the premier historical artist in America - and now he focuses mainly on the American Civil War.

When Mort Künstler began his current emphasis on Civil War art in the early 1980s, he had already accomplished more than what a half-dozen artists could hope to accomplish in a collective lifetime. From portraits of prehistoric American life to the odyssey of the space shuttle, Mort Künstler had painted America's story - and was already renowned as "the premier historical artist in America.

When he placed his focus on Civil War art, Mr. Künstler quickly established himself as the country's most-collected Civil War artist, and earned unprecedented acclaim within the genre of Civil War art.

"Mort Künstler is the foremost Civil War artist of our time -- if not of all time," says Dr. James I. Robertson Jr., the dean of Civil War historians and the author of the celebrated biography, Stonewall Jackson. "To study his paintings," says Robertson, "is to simply see history alive." Pulitzer Prize-winning historian James McPherson concurs. "Of all the artists working in the Civil War field," he observes, "none captures the human element, the aura of leadership, the sense of being there and sharing in the drama, quite like Mort Künstler. He has that enviable talent of being able to re-create history on canvas and to translate events into art."

Click hear to read more about Mort.

Happy Puzzling!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2010-03-16T05:42:00.000-07:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! As a special treat I would like to share some highlights from my interview with an “Irish Girl”. She wishes to remain anonymous but I thought you would still like to hear what she had to say about this famous holiday.

First I was told that St. Patrick’s Day is actually a religious holiday in Ireland and St. Patrick is the patron saint for Ireland. He was born in Roman Britain and at the age of 16 he was kidnapped by Irish bandits who took him back to Ireland as a slave.

He later escaped by boarding a ship that was going back to Britain. Once home he studied to become a priest an in 432, Patrick, now a bishop, went back to Ireland to save the pagan Irish.

One of his favorite teaching tools was the shamrock. He used the shamrock and it’s three leaves to teach the concept of the Holy Trinity (the father, son and Holy Spirit). St. Patrick died on March 18, 461 AD after teaching for almost 30 years.

St. Patrick’s Day is said to be a one-day break from Lent, allowing the consumption of alcohol. Well, now we know how drinking got into the celebration!

My Irish girl also told me that the official color of Saint Patrick was blue, not green. She learned this when she met Lord Mayor Briscoe of Dublin when she was younger and inquired why he was dressed in blue.

Globally, St. Patrick’s Day is now more of a celebration of Irish culture than a religious holiday. Many cities around the world celebrate with parades and festivities. The first Irish parade was held in Boston MA in 1737, by the Irish Society of Boston. Ireland’s own first parade wasn’t until 1931 in Dublin.

Yes, you know I had to ask, being a foodie and all, about the traditional dinner of Corned Beef & Cabbage. My Irish girl said the Irish would more likely be eating boiled bacon and cabbage. Irish bacon is more like Canadian bacon. The Irish call our American bacon “streaky bacon.”

Well she was right the Irish used to eat what was called a ham (Gammon) or bacon joint, which was served with cabbage and potatoes. Cows at the time were used for milk and only royalty was feed beef. Irish immigrating to America began eating corned beef because it was affordable and considered a poor mans food. Yummy! I'm lovin' this poor man food. It is one of my favorite meals!

“Beannactai Na Feile Padraig!”
Translation: “Blessing on the feast of St. Patrick!”

Happy Puzzling!

Need to Know Everything

2010-03-09T09:02:00.000-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

It still amazes me how educational puzzles are. I always relate a puzzle with fun, relaxation and bonding time with my daughter. The educational aspect of puzzling rarely enters my mind except when I am asked a question such as, “What are the State Bird and Flower of Hawaii?” Yeah, I know-a strange question from a 13 year old, but Hawaii is her “have to go” spot. And, showing her friends her Mom does NOT know everything is fun for a 13 year old!

Now, I could have looked it up instantly on the Internet but remembered I had the State Bird & Flowers puzzle in the trunk of my car. I always keep a few puzzles in my trunk, along with catalogs, for people I meet who don’t know about our puzzles.

I ran out to the car, got the puzzle and came back in announcing loudly “The state bird of Hawaii is the Hawaiian Goose and the state flower is the Yellow Hibiscus. See-I do KNOW EVERYTHING!” Much laughter ensued and we all began looking at the puzzle. The girls then proceeded to quiz each other to see who could remember the most. All I could remember was that New Hampshire’s State flower is the Lilac.

Soon popcorn was popping, ice teas were in hand and the puzzle pieces were being sorted. Each girl picked a state and tried to find the pieces for that state. Once they got it done they loudly announced in a mimicking voice, “The state bird for Montana is the Western Meadowlark and the state flower is the Bitterroot! See I KNOW EVERYTHING!” It always got a laugh.

Ahh! What a fun educational night!

Happy Puzzling!

P.S. Now I make sure I have puzzles like Trees of North America or State Flags & Capitols on hand just in case I need to know EVERYTHING!

2010 Winter Olympics

2010-03-03T05:58:00.000-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

WOW! The Olympic games sure had a lot of action-packed drama. I love seeing all the athletes compete and also enjoyed watching the cameras as they panned the crowds for the athletes’ parents. I could feel the pride of those parents as they watch their child, and in a few cases children, compete - sharing the triumphs and defeats. Yes, I did get quite emotional a few times especially during figure skater Joannie Rochette’s performance. What strength!

Legends state it was Hercules who started the Olympic Games. The Games were played every four years for approximately 1200 years until Roman emperor Theodosius I banned the pagan Games in 393 AD.

Approximately1500 years later on November 25, 1892 a Frenchman named Pierre de Coubertin pitched his idea to bring back the Olympic Games at a meeting of the Union des Sports Athletiques in Paris; his “the cause of Peace will have a new and strong ally” speech did not inspire people to action. Two years later Pierre, being well connected and persistent, organized a meeting that brought together 79 delegates from nine countries. The auditorium they met in, was decorated to suit the Olympic theme and this time Pierre des Coubertins revival cry was heard.

He then was elected to “construct an international committee to organize the Games. This committee became the International Olympic Committee - Demetrious Vikelas from Greece was elected to be the first president and Athens was chosen as the location for the revival of the Olympic Games!”

In 1908 Coubertin created the Olympic Creed, which states, “ The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.”

Well said!

Happy Puzzling!

About Us

2010-02-24T06:27:00.000-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Today I thought we would take a look how White Mountain Puzzles got started.

Now celebrating its 32th anniversary, White Mountain Puzzles was started in 1978 by owners CRONAN MINTON and TED WROBLEWSKI.

Necessity was the mother of invention. Cronan and Ted needed to support their growing families. Freelance writing (Cronan) and running a country inn (Ted) were unreliable sources of income.

At first, the partners created illustrated posters of resort areas like CAPE COD, CARMEL, SEDONA, KILLINGTON, ASPEN, and VAIL. Traveling up and down the country, they sold advertising on entertaining “birds eye view” posters to restaurants, inns, and gift shops. Their first company, named MINTOWSKI PUBLICATIONS, was eventually renamed WHITE MOUNTAIN GRAPHICS, which flourished through the 1980s.

Customers often commented that their artwork – colorful, full of information, and geographically complex – would make great jigsaw puzzles. In 1988, needing new product ideas, they added puzzles to their line. Almost overnight, their puzzles STOLE THE SHOW.
By 1990, Cronan and Ted had renamed their company WHITE MOUNTAIN PUZZLES. They bought an office building, which included the Jackson, N.H. post office. The company is still headquartered here today.

While resort puzzles still play an important role in their business, Cronan and Ted now sell over a million puzzles a year. Not bad for two entrepreneurs who moved their families to the White Mountains because they loved to ski.

Now, Cronan and Ted have a whole warehouse filled with puzzles for their grandchildren to enjoy.

Happy Puzzling!

Artist Diane Phalen

2010-02-17T06:14:00.000-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Watercolorist Diane Phalen is known nationally for her exquisite quilt designs and her quilt-oriented portraits. The following is an excerpt from her web site.

“Most important to me is to be able to convey emotion in a painting: I want my viewers to be able to feel the summer day, the wind, or any other aspect of a painting. I want the scent of the flowers to be present, the mood of an autumn sky or winter sunset, a moment of peace and contentment connecting nature with our heritage and values. I want the eye to move through each painting and discover delightful, hidden elements like a butterfly on a bush or a cat resting among garden blossoms.”

Diane’s magnificent paintings have been featured in numerous juried, solo and group exhibitions, and she is represented in galleries throughout the United Sates. Her museum quality watercolors are in corporate, historical, and private collections in the United States, Canada, England, Germany, Japan, and Australia.

Due to the extraordinary amount of detail in Diane’s work, a painting can take up to two months to complete and often longer, depending upon her travel schedule. “I love to experiment with the medium. A favorite technique of mine is to use a palette knife to highlight hidden layers of color. I have also used salt, a nail file, fluorescent gouache, sand paper, and watercolor pencils to achieve various effects.”

Articles on Diane Phalen have appeared in most major American quilting publications, and she is a welcome speaker at quilt shows around the country. Her work appears on prints, cards, calendars, fabric products and in her books on quilting. Let’s not forget PUZZLES!

Happy Puzzling!

Presidential Hobbies

2010-02-10T09:42:00.000-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Presidents Day is Monday February 15th and I thought it would be fun to take a look at what some of the Presidents did as hobbies. Why HOBBIES, you may ask? Well, I think looking at the hobbies of the Presidents allows us to see a side of a President’s personality that we may have never known.

Take, for example, Calvin Coolidge. He liked to play the harmonica, ride a mechanical bull, and used “Indian Clubs” for exercise. First of all, what is an Indian Club? And, second, Calvin Coolidge looks so refined and proper that the image of him riding a mechanical bull, swinging around a club and blowing on a harmonica does not fit my preconceived notion of him. Ah!!! But things do change and things are not always as they appear, as the infamous saying goes.

John Adams enjoyed a daily swim in the District of Columbia’s Potomac River. Okay- not too unusual, I know, but he liked to do it nude! He also got caught swimming one day by reporter Anne Royall and was forced to give her an interview before she would leave so he could get out of the river. If that didn’t shatter yet another image of a President, picture him playing billiards. Yes, he played pool and even bought a pool table for the White House with his own money.

Warren Harding's favorite hobby was poker! He had nightly games in the White House and served alcohol….this was during prohibition! Harry Truman also enjoyed poker playing and Dwight Eisenhower enjoyed bridge.

Herbert Hoover exercised with a medicine ball! His cabinet and staff would join him regularly in the morning and soon became known as the “medicine ball cabinet.”

Richard Nixon enjoyed bowling at the White House Bowling Alley which was inaugurated by President Truman on April 25, 1947. President Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson also enjoyed the sport of bowling.

George H. W. Bush enjoyed playing horseshoes so much he had a horseshoe court installed on the White House lawn. He also went skydiving!

Our current President Barack Obama enjoys basketball.

Click here for a here a quick quiz!

Happy Puzzling!

Women Pilots Of World War II

2010-02-03T07:07:00.000-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

From the moment the puzzle of Mark Karvon’s Airplanes of WWII arrived I have been fascinated by these planes and with thoughts of the people who flew them. I’ve heard stories about warplanes of WWII having been piloted by women but had yet to investigate what capacity of piloting they really did and why it wasn’t in any of the history I had been taught in school regarding WWII.

As it turns out, women were pilots in WWII! The first squadron of twenty-five women was commissioned under Jacqueline Cochran at the request of the British to ferry airplanes for the British Air Transport Auxiliary. At the same time, in the United States, Nancy Harkness Love began recruiting women to ferry planes for the Air Transport Command.

In November of 1942 at the Municipal Airport in Houston, TX training began for the first class of 319th WFTD with Cochran as the commander. This class was known as the “guinea pigs”. In 1943 the name was changed to Women’s Airforce Service Pilots-WASPS!

Training consisted of 210 flight hours and 285 hours of ground school, taking seven months to complete. The 1,074 woman graduates went on to ferry 12,650 planes. “Half of all fighters planes manufactured were ferried by the WASPS who flew over sixty million miles. Thirty-eight of these women gave their lives serving their country.”

These women not only ferried the planes but tested new and repaired planes, which was extremely dangerous. They taught male pilots how to fly the new planes, towed targets, flew tracking, smoke-laying, staffing and simulated bombing missions!

These “guinea pigs” had to pay all of their own expenses, which included room and board, and their own way to Texas. Thirty-five years after being deactivated, in 1977 the US government finally gave the WASPs honorable discharges and veterans’ benefits.

WOW! Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “You go girl” doesn’t it!!!

Happy Puzzling!

Attic Treasures

2010-01-27T08:13:00.000-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

How many of you remember your Grandmothers’ attics! I was looking at our Attic Treasures puzzle and noticed it looked a lot like my Grandmother’s, or Memere as the French would say, and the memories came flooding back.

My sister and I would spend hours up in the attic, playing and pretending we were “old fashion people.” We’d feed the old dolls on the high chairs and made pretend phone calls while strutting around in the old dresses, hats and saddle shoes. It was a whole different world to us.

The smell of the attic and all those mothballs and cedar blocks could sometimes be overwhelming but we just cracked open a window and continued playing. In the heat of the summer the temperatures would make staying up there long almost impossible, so we would grab a few of the day’s treasures and be off to the back yard.

My Grandmother even had the same Electrolux vacuum. My sister and I would take turns pulling each other around on the back of the vacuum pretending it was a train. Next came the treasure hunt. How many of you remember the tin full of buttons-oh my, what a treasure chest that was!

One of my personal favorites was the trunk full of old uniforms, which we were never allowed to touch. We could only gaze with wonder and amazement that someone in our family had worn these impressive clothes.

So thanks to all the Grandmothers, Memeres, Mims, MaMos, Grammas, Ya Yas, and Nannies for saving those “Attic Treasures”. You’ve given us memories that will last a lifetime!

Puzzlers-we would love to hear a story about your attic treasures!

Happy Puzzling!

"Missing Pieces"

2010-01-18T08:23:00.000-08:00

Hi Puzzlers,

Today’s topic is the notorious “Missing Piece.”

We got inspired to write about this when our office cat, Kramer, was caught red handed messing with our puzzle. Yes, that’s him. Don’t let the cute brute fool you-he is a trickster!

As we sorted through some of the many, many missing piece explanations we’ve received through the years, a pattern started to emerge. It appears several of our loving pets seem to share this prankster behavior. Continue reading the true stories of fellow puzzlers who have also been victims of these shenanigans!

“I wrote to you about a missing piece and you were exactly right! We found the missing piece yesterday out on the back porch. We’re blaming the cat.”

“Great News!” I found both of my missing pieces. One was actually under the felt of the puzzle roll-up system, which was under the puzzle itself. So how it got there is anybody’s guess. The other one is an even bigger mystery. It was under the paper covering the floor of my parrot’s cage. I’ve lived here long enough to know the house isn’t haunted. But I do have some suspicions about my dog and bird being in cahoots to cause some mischief! Seriously though, this is a strange one.”

“It showed up today. Right in the middle of the living room, which had been vacuumed more than once since its disappearance? I am highly suspicious that the cat had something to do with this mystery.”

“My little girl found the last piece on her Dad’s bathroom counter. I’m not sure if she brought it there or if our kitten did.”

Please note a missing puzzle piece is a relatively rare occurrence, considering the millions of puzzles that we sell. Very infrequently a piece is actually missing from the box but more likely, the piece has simply been misplaced somewhere in your home regardless of how experienced and careful you are with your puzzles.

We ask customers to allow a few days, keeping an eye out as they go about their day-to-day routine. Nine times out of ten the piece will show up, and not necessarily in the same room where the puzzle is being constructed – or, sometimes, not even in the same house!

If you feel you’ve searched thoroughly and still cannot find your missing piece, give us a call at 1-800-548-8009 extension 19.

Happy Puzzling!

P.S. Kramer has yet to admit to any wrong doing!