Impressionist Jigsaw Puzzle



Impressionist Jigsaw Puzzle Item #901



Hi Puzzlers,

Every time I see our Impressionist jigsaw puzzles I have to stop and pick it up to look at it. I’m captivated by the images of everyday life and the beautiful scenery. Swoosh! It is like a time machine is transporting me back to 18th century France and giving me a snapshot of the lives of its citizens. That for me is what great art is all about. The Impressionist topic has made me realize, other than how this puzzle made me feel, I know nothing about this wonderful branch of art. This realization leads me to wonder, what exactly is, Impressionist art?

The Impressionist art movement began in France in 1860 and developed itself through 1890. Its style can best describe as art that captures a peek or glimpse of an ordinary scene. It uses bright, bold colors to capture the image, not finely painted details. Special emphasis is placed on lighting and its subtle changes. Small, thin, broken brush strokes are used and very little is blended. Each scene is depicted from an unconventional angle, much like the works of today’s top photographers. Impressionist art is like a snapshot, it captures the moment.

Many of Frances future Impressionists grew up during Napoleon III rule, this time is also known as the Second Empire (1852-1872). Napoleon preferred academic art and used his might as ruler to govern the Academy of Fine Art and its views on new art forms. This ultimately forced a split between official art and independent art.

The differences were felt on many levels: Politically most Impressionist disagreed with Napoleon’s forced takeover of the Art Academy. Many of the new artists came from the working class and could not relate to the aristocracy. Artistically, future Impressionist wished to express the simplicities in life and in nature, not history or mythology.

Frustrated by the continued rejection of their artwork Monet, Renoir, Pissarro, and Sisley decide to exhibit their artwork independently and organized the Société Anonyme Coopérative des Artistes Peintres, Sculpteurs, Graveurs in 1874. The exhibit showcased the work of thirty progressive artists.

Art critic Louis Leroy despised the show and wrote a disparaging review. With a play on words he calls Claude Monet’s Sunrise- Impression, Sunrise and titles the article The Exhibition of the Impressionists. In his article Leroy writes: “Impression—I was certain of it. I was just telling myself that, since I was impressed, there had to be some impression in it ... and what freedom, what ease of workmanship! Wallpaper in its embryonic state is more finished than that seascape.” The public, as well as most of the artist, embraced the new name, thus giving birth to the greatest art movement in recorded history.

Artwork, old photos and even great puzzles can leave beautiful impressions for all to enjoy. The next time you come across an Impressionist painting try to look for the small, thin, broken brush strokes the artist unconventional angle of the scene. There will always be critics including the Great Napoleon that will have trouble finding beauty in this kind of art. But like all art “beauty is in the eyes of the beholder” and I for one will always see the beauty in the Impressionist art.

Happy Puzzling!

Boston, MA Jigsaw Puzzle

Hi Puzzlers,
 

Boston, MA Jigsaw Puzzle Item #07

 Last night I dreamt of a Boston Cream Pie. This pie has always been an Achilles heel of mine. It takes all my will power and my family’s tough love to prevent me from eating a whole pie. For this reason it is almost banned completely from my house. Only a slice per person is allowed in and anything leftover must be thrown immediately; no saving it for later! This delicious pie is said to have originated from the Parker House Hotel, now called the Omni Parker House Hotel , located in lovely downtown Boston, Massachusetts.

Claims by the hotel state it has been serving Boston Cream Pies since it opened in 1855 and its French chef Monsieur Sanzian, is credited with its creation. Originally the pie was called the Parker House Chocolate pie but after the New York Herald referenced it as a Boston Cream Pie, the name was forever changed. The popularity of this pie spread quickly to other parts of the country and it found its way into the “The White House Cook Book” by Fanny L. Gillette in 1887. Today the Boston Cream Pie is also the official dessert of Massachusetts.

Boston is also home to many other wonderful culinary creations; take for instance Boston Baked Beans. This scrumptious dish was said to have been created sometime between the1600s and 1700s. During this time New England had an abundance of beans and molasses. The Native Americans were eating beans long before the settlers arrived and during colonial times molasses was imported and used as a main ingredient in the distilling of rum. Rum manufacturing was one of the largest industries for early colonist. Somehow (maybe under the influence of rum) the beans got mixed with the molasses and the Boston Baked Bean was born. This they say is how Boston got its “Beantown” nickname.

Boston is one of the oldest cities in America and its port played a vital role in the American Revolution. But this intriguing city is also home to many American firsts, below is a quick list.

In 1634 the Boston Common is established, this is our countries first public park.

In 1716 the first American lighthouse was built in the Boston Harbor.

In 1806 the African Meeting House opens. It is the country’s first church to be built by free slaves.

In 1896 Revere Beach was declared a public beach, making it our nation’s first public beach.

In 1897 America's first subway is built in Boston.

So the next time you are traveling through New England, make sure to visit the wonderful city of Boston. Find a nice quaint café, put in an order and let your fork slice its way through the thick custard filling, topped with a wonderful chocolate frosting and enjoy your big slice of Boston Cream Pie!

Happy Puzzling!

Grandma's Kitchen Jigsaw Puzzle

Hi Puzzlers,

Grandma's Kitchen Item #528

This week we are continuing with our nostalgia theme and looking at our Grandma’s Kitchen jigsaw puzzle. I think the photographer that took this picture must have broken into my family’s antique keepsakes collection and used them to design this picture.

Do you see the genuine feather dusters by the phone? They look just like my great grandmothers. She would wander around her house with one tucked into the string of her apron and could pull it out with the grace and elegance of a ninja warrior ready to attack any dust or cobweb that dare enter.

Next, did you notice the tin washtub and scrub-board under the phone? My Mémère would use this to clean my Pépère’s (Grandfather) dirty work clothes because she didn’t want to get the washing machine too dirty! She would sit on a stool next to the tub and scrub the garden dirt off in a rhythmic rocking motion, strangely it looked almost relaxing. When she finished she would hang the clothes on a square rotating clothes line and I would hand her the wooden clothes pins. Then as a reward for helping, she’d let me pick out a stick of rhubarb from the garden to snack on. Of course I would always pick the biggest one and when we got in the house she would give me a little cup of sugar for the dipping. I just couldn’t get enough of that sugary-tart stuff. Yummy!

Once the clothes were dry, which usually only took a few hours in the summer, we would remove them from the line and take them in to be ironed. (This must be were my family got its insatiable need to iron everything!) The ironing board was made of wood and extremely sturdy; nothing like the tin and metal ones of today. The board opened easily and quickly with no tugging, pulling or screaming required! This may sound dramatic but if you have ever used the ironing boards found in most hotels you know what I’m talking about. As my Mémère plugged in the iron she would tell me stories of how “back in her day” they used cast iron versions, and explained how much easier it was to iron with electric ones.

People around the globe have been ironing since antiquity using various methods, but it the Chinese who were first to use hot metal to iron. Typically a pan would be filled with hot stones or coals and pressed against the flattened material.

In Europe prior to metal irons, people used warmed stones, wood and glass to smooth cloth. Ironing in Korea and Japan during the 12th Century was done with pairs of ironing sticks which would be used for beating clothes smooth. The Japanese typically used only one stick and a stand called a kinuta to beat the clothes. Western travelers and missionaries described the sound made by the beating ironing sticks as musical, each having their own distinct sound and percussion.

A New York inventor named Henry W. Seeley is credited with inventing the first electric iron in 1882. This handy gadget weighed 15 pounds and took a half hour to heat up. It could do the work of three irons and didn’t carry ash and soot! By 1930 the electric iron had become a Grandma favorite found in almost every kitchen, second only to the radio.

Happy Puzzling!

The Olde General Store

Hi Puzzlers,



The Olde General Store Item #229



Do you have an Old General Store in your town? We have one here in Jackson called Flossie’s and another one a few towns over in North Conway called Zeb's. I can spend hours in these quaint stores just browsing. Both these stores capture your imagination and take you back in time to an era when there was only one place to shop for all your needs! Our General Store puzzle does this as well.

Our wonderful puzzle beautifully depicts the scene of a youngster perched on a crate enjoying a sweet treat as she waits for her Mother to select fabric. Her brother, full of Christmas dreams, gazes wishfully at the sled displayed overhead. But the pièce de résistance for me is the potbelly stove!

Potbelly stoves were a commonly used to heat churches, town halls, general stores, schoolhouses, railroad stations, saloons and just about any business in the 1800s. Towns’ people would gather around the stove to warm themselves and talk about the weather, debate politics, and to gossip. Just imagine what stories these rotund stoves could tell! Many historical paintings and advertisers also feature the potbellied stove. It is as American as you can get.

The potbelly stoves of the 1800s were made from solid cast iron and capable of burning both wood and coal. Stoves of this era were available in three sizes. The small stoves would burn six to eight hours, making them great for smaller rooms and offices. Medium stoves could provide warmth for as long as 8 to 12hours and could easily heat the average general store. The large stoves burned for 14 hours and would be typically found in a dance hall. The portly ring around the middle of a potbelly stove gave it a distinctive look and it also prevented people from knocking into the stove and burning themselves.

Some potbelly stoves featured cook-tops. With a cook-top one could make soups and stews, scramble eggs and warm coffee. This model was a popular choice for the one-room schoolhouse because teachers of this time were often responsible for making lunch for all of the students.

And the final thing I’d like to tell you about the potbelly stove is how it got its name. Originally the stoves were called Cannon Stoves but because the shape of the stove resembled the stomach of middle aged man, the stoves quickly became known as potbelly stoves. So the next time you wander into one of those old General Stores buy a hot cup of coffee and take a little time to browse and take your imagination back to a simpler time and place.

Happy Puzzling!

Television History




Television History Item #270

 

Hi Puzzlers,

It looks like our Television History puzzle has made it into our top 50 again this month.  I have to say it is one of my favorites too!  Looking at it is like looking through an old photo album filled with pictures of family and friends.  Wow! So much of how we conduct ourselves as a family and a society has change as a result of its invention. 

Studies reveal most people are so attached to the “tube” that they wouldn’t give it up even for a million dollars!  Most feel it’s their best resource for information and entertainment.   According to the Nielsen’s Television Audience Report more than half the homes in America have 3 or more televisions sets and in 2009 the average U.S. home had only 2.5 people verse 2.86 television sets.  Televisions have made their way into our bedrooms, bathrooms and even our kitchens.

One of televisions best buddies is the TV dinner.  Many claim it was invented by Gerry Thomas in 1954.  Gerry is also credited with inventing the name; he called them Swanson TV Dinners.  These handy little frozen meals could be cooked with no fuss or hassle in the oven and cleaned up was a snap because of that disposable aluminum tray.  Early choices included Meatloaf, Salisbury Steak, Turkey and Fried Chicken; each meal included mashed potatoes, carrots or green peas.  The yummy deserts were not added until later to increase customer appeal.  Imagine all that for just 98¢ each.

In 1987, the Smithsonian Institution placed a TV dinner tray on display to commemorate its impact on American society.   How many of you remember the whole family seated in a semicircle around the television eating these?  Maybe Gun Smoke, I Love Lucy, or The Jackie Gleason Show was on.

My old friends include Charlie’s Angels, Wonder Woman, The Bionic Woman and Star Trek.   I just loved seeing these smart, take charge, and get the job done, kind of women week after week.  And if that wasn’t enough they proved you could look great doing it!  Star Trek offered me to boldly go where no man has gone before.  Places were men, women and people of all races and religions worked together for a unified goal. Thanks Gene!

My new favorites include some reality television shows like American Idol’s tell it like it is or was, Simon Cowell and Dancing with the Stars Len Goodman…uhm maybe we should do a reality television puzzle, what do you think?

Happy Puzzling!

Memorial Day



Civil War Puzzle Item #107



Hi Puzzlers,

This weekend we celebrate Memorial Day.  Many people across the country take this time to visit and honor their deceased relatives.  Church services are held, parades, fireworks and fairs also take place during this three-day period.   For others it marks the beginning of summer and the start of beach trips, barbeques and the camping season.   National events like the world famous Indianapolis 500 auto race are also scheduled annually for this weekend.  Factoid: The Indi 500 has been held on the Sunday of the Memorial Day weekend, since 1911.  WOW! Talk about a hodgepodge of events all encompassing one three-day weekend.  It leaves me wondering about the true significance of this national holiday.  Why was it really established?

Memorial Day is an American federal holiday held annually on the last Monday of May.  In its earliest days it was known as Decoration Day, a day to remember the soldiers who had died in battle during the Civil War.   Many records exist on the holiday origins and here we will examine three. 

Our first record begins with evidence found in a hymn published in 1867 which suggests various groups of southern woman were already decorating the graves of fallen soldiers prior to the war ending. The hymn titled "Kneel Where Our Loves Are Sleeping", by Nella L. Sweet contained the following dedication: "To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead" (Source: Duke University's Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920).

Next we will examine records from a site now known as Hampton Park located in Charlestown, South Carolina.   The park was once used as a Union prisoner-of-war camp and estimates suggest that as many as 200 soldiers died here.   In an effort to pay tribute to the Union soldiers the local Freedmen (freed slaves) in conjunction with the area teachers and missionaries organized a celebration that was held on May 1, 1865.  Prior to the celebration the newly Freedmen beautified the area and burial ground and erected an enclosure and arch with the inscription “Martyrs of the Race Course.”  Nearly 10,000 people attended the event which was covered by the New York Tribune.  The celebration included a parade, speech, decorations, lying of flowers at the burial site and area picnics.

 In 1966 President Lyndon Johnson officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day to be Waterloo N.Y.   Records indicate a druggist named Henry C. Welles of Waterloo, was the first to suggest honoring the fallen soldiers of the Civil War by adorning their graves with flowers in 1865.   In 1866 Welles approached General John B. Murray with his idea.  With Murray’s and the towns support a committee was developed to organize the day’s events.  Various bouquets, wreaths and crosses were made for each soldier’s grave and the village was decorated with evergreen boughs and black streamers and all flags were flown at half mast.  Ceremonies included lengthy speeches and religious services held in the local cemetery as a way to honor the fallen soldiers.

After WWI, Memorial Day was extended to include all men and women, who died in any war or military service act.

Happy Puzzling!

Pencils



Pencil Collage Puzzle Item #730



Hi Puzzlers,

Recently my family and I watched an episode of “How It’s Made” on the Discovery Channel; it was a feature piece on how pencils are made. I immediately thought of our Pencils puzzle by artist Maureen Rupprecht. I remember her bringing the original artwork into the office and asking everyone what we thought of it. It was love at first sight! Brightly colored and intriguing to look at, we just had to make it into a puzzle.

Upon closer examination of the pencils, I noticed some were very old and unique. Intrigued by this, I asked her where she found the collection. Maureen said that it was her own collection and she has been collecting pencils for as long as she could remember. Her love of pencils and her desire to preserve them is what inspired her to make the piece. I loved that answer and it made perfect sense that an artist would collect pencils.

Pencils can be traced back to ancient Rome, Greece and Egypt. Small lead discs were used to make guide lines on papyrus (ancient paper) to keep writings straight. Before long someone realized that a thin rod of lead could be used to draw fine lines and detailed images. The word “pencil” derived from the Latin word penicillus, meaning tiny brush.

In 1564 a large deposit of graphite was found in Borrowdale, England and local farmers began using it to mark their sheep. They called this new substance plumbago, Latin for “lead ore”, because the substance was believed to be a type of lead. It would be known as lead until the eighteenth-century when geologist, Abraham Werner, identified and named it graphite after the Greek word meaning “write.” Early graphite rods were wrapped in various encasements including wax, string and sheepskin, to prevent breakage and dirty hands. By the early 1600’s many began inserting the graphite rods into hollowed-out wooden sticks, resulting in the classic wood-cased pencil!

The pencil as we know it today was invented by Nicolas-Jacques Conté in 1794 at the request of Napoleon. France at the time was under economic embargo due to the French Revolution and a substitute for graphite was needed. Conté developed this new lead in just eight days. He discovered that if he mixed clay with a low quality graphite powder and then baked it he could produce “leads” in varying degrees of hardness. A similar recipe is still in use today making Conté the father of the modern pencil.

So how did the pencil get the bad lead rap you may wonder? Well, it had to do with the paint being used to coat the wood. Those beautifully colored paints were loaded with lead! And if you are like many people who chew or suck on the tip of your pencil you would ingest the lead!

Personally I prefer a brightly colored pencil to a pen any day.  They never explode, and if they do happen to mark something it can easily be washed away.

Happy Puzzling!

Yard Sales




Yard Sale Item # 534

 

Hi Puzzlers,

The end of May is fast approaching and you know what that brings don’t you?  The season of the yard sale!  I have to admit I’m addicted to them.  I have been scouring the local free dump store all year looking for wonderful treasures to keep and sell.  You know the old saying, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”  But this little tradition is also an eco friendly way to find new homes for perfectly good items that would otherwise end up in a land fill.  Below is a plan I developed for hosting a successful annual yard sale. 

*Collect, collect and keep collecting. When you have an item you no longer need or use, store it in a clearly marked “yard sale” box and keep the box in a closest until it is full.  Once it is full move it to the basement, attic or garage for long term storage and repeat as necessary.  I also like to make a list and tape it to the top of the box so I know what is in it.  This will make organizing the sale easier too. 

*Prepare and have a plan, do not wait until the last minute.  Start preparing a few     weeks in advance with a to-do-list.

*Check to make sure that there are no restrictions on having a yard sale in your area or neighborhood.  Do you need to buy a permit?

*Think about how you’ll be displaying your items, do you need extra tables and clothes-racks.  Remember to make your displays look attractive and not overly cluttered.

*Price every item; do not have a table that says everything is a dollar.  I like to purchase the pre-priced stickers in vibrant colors.  The size of the price tag should match the size of the item.  If you are selling a lazy boy recliner use a 3X5 index card.  Also, price these items to sell.  The appeal of a yard sale is to find a deal. When pricing, ask yourself, “Is this a good bargain?” 

*Advertise your sale. Clearly marked signs can make or break your sale.  If you live in a tough to find location make sure to use brightly colored signs and lots of them.  Once you have staked your signs do a drive-by to check how visible they are.  Advertise your sale in the local newspaper and post it daily on Craigslist which is free!

*Have plenty of change and keep back up in the house.  Keep your money secure in a fanny pack and never pull out a wad of cash.  Also keep a calculator handy for totaling merchandise.

*Have plenty of plastic grocery bags; they are perfect to put sold items in.  Also have newspaper available to wrap breakables and fragile items.

*Be ready and waiting for the early birds.  They come can up to an hour early.  I always welcome these people because they want to beat the crowd and have first dibs.  So don’t negotiate a price with these people, stand firm, you have the rest of the day to sell the item.

If you have a yard sale tip please share it with us.

Happy Puzzling!

Lily of the Valley

 

Perennials Puzzle Item #368



Hi Puzzlers,

The official flower of May is the Lily of the Valley.  This tiny fragrant flower, also known as the May lily, has captivated people for centuries.  There is so much legend and lore associated with this flower I just had to share with you.  But first let’s examine the flower.

The Lily of the Valley is an old-fashioned, shade-loving perennial with tiny delicate bell shaped flowers.  But don’t let that fool you, this flower is anything but delicate, it is a tough-as-nails perennial that keeps growing after many others fail, and it spreads quickly. It is also important to note that these tiny beauties are very poisonous. 

According to the Language of Flowers, the Lily of the Valley represents a return of happiness.  The May lily also serves as a symbol of love, purity of heart, modesty and kindness.  

The popularity of the Lily of the Valley as a wedding flower began during the Middle Ages and for some brides it is the fifth item to be carried along with something old, new, borrowed and blue.  Many brides including Kate Middleton designed their wedding bouquets by selecting flowers not only for their aesthetic appeal, but for their meaning. Click here for more on Princess Kate’s wedding bouquet and its meaning.

In ancient times the Lily of the Valley was planted by gardens to protect them from evil spirits and it was also used as an amulet against witches' spells.  Many considered the May lily to be the flower of the fairies and it was thought to give men the power to envision a better world.  In Europe, the Lily of the Valley was thought to bolster one’s visions of heaven and to bring a brighter future.  In Germany and Scandinavia this tiny flower is considered a symbol of good luck. 

The Lily of the Valley has a deep rich history with the Catholic faith and its mention can be found in the Bible 15 times.  The flower, also known as Our Lady's tears or Mary's tears, serves as symbol of the Virgin Mary tears during the crucifixion of Jesus and the tears of Eve after she was banished for the Garden of Eden.

King Charles IX is said to have received the Lily of the Valley as a gift of luck on May 1, 1561.  He was so taken with the gester that he continued the tradition of giving the Lily of the Valley to the ladies of his court each year on May 1st.  Today in France, any Lily of the Valley sold on May 1st can be sold tax free. 


So here’s to the Lily of the Valley and the return of happiness!

Happy Puzzling!

Back Yard Birds

 

Item #267 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzles



Hi Puzzlers,

April is such a wonderful month, the days get longer and warmer and the backyard springs to life.  We encourage the local chipmunks to take residence in our yard by feeding them.  When they see us coming with the can of seed they line up to greet us like long lost friends.  These little furry creatures even engage our dog Mario in a well-timed game of chase.  This is a very funny sight to see as the chipmunks always get the best of Mario.  The chipmunks appear to work in tandem; one gets Mario’s attention and the chase begins and just when it looks like Mario is going to catch the little guy he juts into one of his many holes.  Then across the yard at another hole, a fellow chipmunk chirps to divert Mario’s attention.  Then the chipmunk starts running across the yard knowing Mario will be in hot pursuit.  This game continues until Mario gets tuckered out.  At this point an exhausted Mario is content to lie across the deck, with his face resting in his paws, watching the birds of our backyard at their feeders.

Among Mario’s favorites are the Chickadees.  Okay, these little black, white and grey birds are just about everyone’s favorite backyard bird.  They are considered to be “the cheerful darlings” of the backyard bird feeders.  Chickadees generally feed one at a time at the feeder.  They carefully select the heaviest seed, then fly away to eat it, but, not before they have called out to their mate to announce they have found food.   How sweet is that!

Hummingbirds also rank at the top of Mario’s list.  He has learned that in order to see these little beauties he must remain very still.  Hummingbirds can reach speeds of 25-30 miles per hour and some species up to 60 miles-per-hour!   Twenty-five to thirty percent of a Hummingbirds total weight comes from their wings, which can flap up to 80 beats per second.  Ancient Spanish explorers called these tiny wonders Flying Jewels but it was the American colonist who first referred to them as Hummingbirds.

Next on our list of backyard birds is the Wild Turkey.  I know this is not the typical backyard bird but if you live in Northern New Hampshire it is.  During colonial times these amazing creatures were forced to find a new habitat due to over hunting.  Luckily the 1940’s Wild turkey reintroduction program worked so well that the turkey can now be found in 49 states.  (The only U.S. state without turkeys is Alaska.)  Benjamin Franklin so revered the turkey that it was his choice for our Nations national bird. 

So here is a toast of Cheers to the birds of the backyard for bringing us such pleasure and joy!

Happy Puzzling!

Tapestry Cats

Hi Puzzlers,

It happened again! I must have hit the wrong button or icon on my computer and ended up at a site I didn’t intend on visiting. But to be honest, I do not think I hit the wrong key or button, I think my computer is possessed! In any case, this unintended site visit was a pleasant experience; I ended up at a tapestry web site. It was loaded with tapestries from all over the world and from every time period! It got me thinking about tapestries and how they are like snapshots of history, each portraying and capturing a moment in time and preserving it for future generations.

The art of tapestry weaving is centuries old and can be traced to many diverse cultures throughout the world. The Greek Empire covered the walls of Parthenon and other significant civic buildings with tapestries. Burial garments, woven with tapestry designs were used by the ancient Egyptians and Incas. But, it would be the Medieval French who would solidify the tapestries place in history.

Many of the earliest tapestries were commissioned in the 13th and 14th century by the Catholic Church. They were used to depict Bible stories to the churches many illiterate parishioners. The Apocalypse of St John is the oldest existing set of church tapestries. It was woven in Paris from 1375 to 1379 and contains six hangings, each 18 feet high, totaling 471 feet in length!
Only church monarchs and the most affluent had tapestries during the Middle Ages, and as such, the tapestry became a status symbol for wealthy aristocrats. Kings and nobleman would often take their tapestries with them for comfort and prestige when traveling. Tapestries were used to insulate large rooms from the damp and cold weather, to cover formal walls of big castles and to provide privacy around a bed.

During the 15th century an estimated 15,000 people were employed in the tapestry craft. Weaving skills would be passed down from father to son. A skilled father and son team could weave just one square foot of tapestry in two months. Many of the most famous tapestries, including the “Lady with the Unicorn” series were woven in Loire Valley in the 15th century.

Tapestries are time machines of woven art that are meant to be shared with future generations.

Happy Puzzling!

The Three Stooges

Hi Puzzlers,

The new Three Stooges movie is scheduled to hit theaters Friday April 13th! I can’t wait! Like many of you I have been watching the Three Stooges my whole life and am very happy that their legacy is continuing on. The Three Stooges have been entertaining us for over 80 years! How many acts/shows can make that claim! N’yuk, N’yuk, N’yuk! So I thought it would be fun to take a quick look at how it all began.

The “Godfathers of Comedy” got their start in 1921with an act known as Ted Healy and the Southern Gentleman. In the beginning it only had two of the three stooges, Moe and Shemp. WOW! That factoid supersized me too, I always thought Curly came before Shemp. The shows premise was based around lead comedian Healy attempting to tell a joke or to sing, while his cohorts would keep interrupting him. Healy would counter these antics with verbal and physical assaults known as slapstick comedy. Violinist Larry Fine was added to the trio in 1925 and success was quick to follow.

After a few years Larry and Moe decided to take a two year hiatus from the group in order to be closer to their families, as luck would have it, they returned in the knick of time to join Healy and Shemp for the Broadway revue of A Night in Venice. This extremely popular act became a permanent show, and after 175 performances finally closed due to the Great Depression.

Immediately following the closing of the show a scout from Fox signed Healy, Moe, Larry, and Shemp to star in the movie Soup to Nuts. Healy and the trio parted ways in 1931 due to financial discrepancies but reconciled in 1932. Shemp fed up with all the drama decided to leave the trio to pursue a solo career. This is when Shemp and Moe’s brother Jerome Howard, AKA, Curly joined the group.

Healy and the new trio signed a movie contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) in 1933. They would go on to appear in feature films, short subjects and musical comedy shorts, either together, individually, or with other actors. The contract with MGM ended in 1934 and so did the Stooge’s association with Ted Healy.

In 1934 Moe, Larry and Curly sign with Columbia Pictures to appear in two comedy shorts. This is when they officially became “The Three Stooges” and their popularity soared worldwide. The Stooges would remain with Columbia for 23 years and appear in 190 film shorts and feature films.

Shemp returned to the Stooges in 1947, after Curly suffers a stroke. He continued performing with Moe and Larry until his sudden death in 1955. Joe Besser joined the group in 1956 and remained until 1958 when Columbia Pictures cancels the comedy shorts.

The next Stooge to join Moe and Larry was Joe DeRita. DeRita played Curly Joe from 1958-1971. Along with Moe and Larry, Joe created Comedy III Productions, a company that still owns all the copyrights, trademarks and merchandising of the Three Stooges!

The Three Stooges were one of America’s greatest talents and I’m happy I got to witness part of their journey.

See you April 13th at the opening of the new Three Stooges movie!

Happy Puzzling!

National Parks

Hi Puzzlers,

With spring finally here many are turning their attention to summer and the family vacation. For many, that vacation includes a trip to one of our National Parks. I for one am grateful that our Nations leaders had the foresight to protect and preserve these areas for future generations. Can you image the planet without the great Sequoia trees? How sad it would have been to only have heard the tales of the enormous trees and not seen them.

The National Park concept derived from a quote from artist George Catlin. Catlin was a self-taught artist, whom had a keen interest in Native American life. He wanted to preserve its heritage before it was lost with the westward expansion. Catlin wrote, “They might be preserved, "by some great protecting policy of government . . . in a magnificent park . . . . A nation's park, containing man and beast, in all the wild and freshness of their nature's beauty!”

By 1864 Catlin’s idea had gained enough approval and Congress donated Yosemite Valley to California for preservation as a state park. In 1872 an act of Congress authorized the establishment of Yellowstone National Park; it was the first time our nation had set aside land "for the benefit and enjoyment of the people." Ah! But wait! That little piece of history has been rewritten.

Our National Park Service was established on August 25, 1916 when President Woodrow Wilson signed the Organic Act which created the National Park Service. The NPS was in charge of protecting the 40 national parks and monuments already in existence.

The first recorded piece of land set aside by our government for the peoples use, was the Hot Springs Arkansas Reservation. It was established on April 20, 1832 and renamed Hot Springs National Park in 1921. Congressional documents from 1872 list Yellowstone as our Nations second national park, not our first. So why the re-write? Many speculate that someone in the park service in 1930 changed the listing to Yellowstone because it was a “better” personification of what a “park” should be.

Well it doesn’t matter to me if it was the first or last National Park. They are all amazing in their own unique way and I will remain forever grateful for their preservation.

Happy Puzzling!

Olive Oil "Olio"

Hi Puzzlers,

In keeping with the “pairing” theme from last week’s wine post I thought it would be fun to explore the topic of olive oil. Olive oil served with parmesan cheese and bread for dipping, is a wonderful appetizer by itself or served with a glass of wine. I love olive oil and use it on everything. But to be frank, I know nothing about it. Is there really a difference, between extra virgin oil olive and regular olive oil? Does cold pressed mean they squash olives in a freezer to make the oil? Why, are some olive oils golden in color and others are green? Below is a quick synopsis of my findings.

The term cold pressed refers to the temperature at which the olive oil paste (ground olives and seeds) is heated to during the malaxation process. Malaxation is the process of adding water to the olive paste. Adding water to the paste forces the oil drops to stick together and consolidate; heating of the mixture accelerates this process. As long as the mixture remains 82 degrees or lower it is considered "cold pressed." That doesn’t sound cold to me! I’m a New England girl and I’d be heading for the nearest beach or lake with a temperature like that!

Now let’s look at oil types. There really is a difference between extra virgin oil (EVOO- thanks Rachael) and regular oil. Both oils are made from the same olives; the difference lies in how the oil is processed. All extra virgin olive oils and virgin oils come from the first press of the olives. That is it! Nothing else is done to the oil. But that doesn’t mean all EVOO’s will taste the same, other factors such as olive type, acidity and peroxide levels will affect the taste. Oil tasters look for those levels as well as the positive attributes of fruitiness, bitterness and pungency, when grading the oils. Those with the best flavors are awarded the Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil label, but, like the Rudd wine from our last post, are much more expensive.

Basic olive oil is made with the oil that did not meet EVOO and virgin oil standards. This oil may have had an unpalatable flavor, high acidity level or undesirable aroma; therefore it must be refined. Several different methods can be used in the refinement process including chemicals, heat and filtration. This process renders the oil odorless, flavorless and clear; perfect for foods packed in oil such as tuna. These oils can also be blended with other virgin oils which are great for cooking because they can tolerate heat well.

Next, what the color of the oil can tell you. Green colored oils come from unripe olives and have a sharp, pungent flavor. Those oils with an emerald tone boast fruity, peppery flavors and will steal the show, so pair these oils with neutral foods to showcase their grassy flavor. Golden colored olive oils are made from ripe olives which produce oils that are not bitter; they are smooth, mild and buttery. Their subtle flavors accentuate delicately flavored foods.

And, my final suggestion is to pair the Wine Country puzzle with our Olio puzzle to make the most of your puzzling experience.

Happy Puzzling!

The Taste For Wine

Hi Puzzlers,

Do you remember your first glass or taste of wine? Ah, what memories. The encouragement you got from your friends to just “TRY IT.” The thinking to yourself it looks good, and lots of people like it, why not give it a try. You gaze at the glass and the beautiful dark red liquid being poured into it by your server. With eager anticipation you bring the glass to your lips and let the liquid flow into your mouth. The flavor of tannins hits you first followed by the alcohol, then if you are like most young people you think, “This tastes AWFUL!” Oh God! What have I done, I’ve just wasted $3.75 and I have to swallow this stuff. You vow, “NEVER AGAIN!” But somehow ten years later your ordering it and you like it! What happened? Did growing older sever my taste buds? Was it osmosis from being married to a red wine loving Italian? How did I get here? I had to find out.

It turns out that most Americans go through what is called wine taste progression. Many believe this is due to our cultures natural inclination to serve our youngsters soda and juice and never exposing them to alcohol in their youth. Europeans on the other hand, serve small amounts of wine, sometime mixed with water, to their children. So, as adults most Americans who like wine, have gone through this wine taste progression to develop the taste for wine.

The progression starts with the sweet and chilled stuff. You remember that type of wine that was sweet, light and served cold. Often it came in beer sized bottles you could buy in a four pack. The really good stuff had a little spritz or carbonation in them. Some Blush and most Fruit wines fall into this category as well. But, soon these little buggers begin to taste too sweet and you are moving on to the next step; the semi-dry and chilled.

Semi-dry wines are served chilled and pair well with some food. These wines have a slight sweet taste, but are not as sweet as the first group, and are balanced by a higher acidity. Most German and several Blush wines come from this group. After enjoying wines from this group for awhile the palette shifts again and no longer prefers sweetness in wine and you are off to the next group: Dry white wine served chilled.

This group of wine includes Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio and the most popular of the bunch, Chardonnay. These wines pair well with chicken and seafood. The palette can take several years to develop in this stage before it is ready to move to the next group, light reds.

This group includes wines such as Beaujolais and inexpensive Pinots Noirs. These wines have a stronger flavor than their white counterparts, and are served lightly chilled. Because of their higher acidity level, they are an excellent choice to serve with fish and chicken. Once the taste for tannins develops it is on to the next group; dry rich reds.

Dry, rich reds have higher levels of tannins and should be served at a cellar temperature of approximately 65 degree Fahrenheit. Allow this wine to warm in the glass. The most popular grapes in this group are the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

The final group is the dry complex wines. They come from the same group as above but are at the peak of perfection, requiring decanting before being served and a bigger wallet for buying. I have a hard time spending that much money on wine, so we share a bottle and the cost, once a year, with our wine buddies. This habit led us to a wonderful bottle of 2005 Rudd. It was truly worth every penny, and because you only get one glass you are forced to savor it.

Caution, puzzling and wine consumption can result in missing pieces!

Happy Puzzling!

St. Patrick's Day...Another Story of the Irish

Hi Puzzlers,

My husband came home last week and asked me this question. “What country, after Ireland, celebrates Saint Patrick’s Day the most?” Ohm, I thought to myself, tough question. After a few seconds I said, Scotland! “Wrong” he says with a smirk, “guess again.” With furrowed eyebrows, I considered all the possible answers and decide that the United States, with our melting pot of people, had to be the correct choice. With a wide-mouth, ear-to-ear grin, my husband shakes his head no, and then taunts me; “You’ll never guess.” Alright fine I say, then, enlighten me with the answer. With both arms swinging in an upward motion befitting a vaudeville star, he says… MEXICO!

Yup, he was right. I would have never guessed Mexico. Bewildered, I asked him how he had learned about this little known factoid. He said he learned it from Dave, one of his co-workers, who had read a book on the subject. WOW! How intriguing, I thought to myself. I just have to share this story with my puzzlers.

Our true story begins in Texas in 1845. At this time the United States was forcibly expanding the Texas territory into Mexico. This annexation is believed to be a primary cause for the Mexican American War (1849-1848). Meanwhile in Ireland, wide spread famine, intolerance and religious prejudices by the ruling British, forced the Irish, in record numbers, to immigrate to America. Once in the United States immigrants were recruited into the Army, with the promise of land, money and citizenship. With tensions increasing in the west, the newly recruited Irish soldiers were sent to Texas to protect and defend the annexed land acquired by the US.
Unfortunately the Irish soldiers would have to endure the same Catholic prejudices by their Protestant officers, and their commanding officer General Taylor, as they did in Ireland under British rule. Some accounts state the Irish would fight the Mexicans through the week, but, on Sundays a truce was called and the soldiers would leave their weapons and cross the border to attend church services and play soccer.

It is estimated that approximately 800 soldiers, led by Captain John Riley, left the US Army to join the Mexican fight against the United States. Many have speculated that the Irish soldiers left because they had made friends with the Mexicans and felt they shared a common religious bond, and understood the struggle of those oppressed by the English and their American descendants. Other speculation states it was due to the Irish soldier witnessing countless crimes against humanity including, murder, rape, robbery and the desecration of many Catholic churches. (These crimes were committed by Texas Rangers and other volunteers that General Taylor, by his own admission, could not control). Still others speculate that the Mexicans offered the soldiers more money, land and privileges.

The United States considered a soldier who left before the war a deserter, any soldier who left his post after the war had begun was considered a defector. Conversely, the Mexicans thought these men to be heroes and called them “Los San Patricios” the Saint Patrick’s Battalion or “Los Colorados” because of their red hair. Armed with the knowledge that if captured they would be put to death; the San Patricios fought fiercely and refused to surrender. Many battles were won by this brigade but ultimately the Mexican war would be won by America and Mexico would be forced to cede half of its land.

The Irish soldiers who were caught and considered deserters received 50 lashes to the bare back and were branded in the face with the letter “D”. Those captured (50) as traitors were hung. These hangings remain the largest lynching in US military history and serve to remind us all of the cost of intolerances against a race, religion or culture.

In honor of the San Patricios, Mexico celebrates both September 12, the anniversary of the lynching and March 17th, Saint Patrick’s Day. In addition, a plaque listing the names of the San Patricios who died while fighting can be found in San Angel, a suburb of Mexico City.

Happy Puzzling!

Vincent van Gogh

Hi Puzzlers,

Look what the warehouse just got in…don't worry your vision is not failing...it’s a Vincent van Gogh puzzle! I am so excited I feel like I won the lottery! Vincent van Gogh is one of my favorite artists. Whenever I look at one of his pieces I feel like the painting is alive with energy. Take for example his most famous piece, Starry Night, look at the sun, clouds and the night air; they all seem to be moving and vibrating. I never tire of looking at it. His art work is as inspiring and captivating as the story of his life.

Vincent was born on March 30, 1853 in Groot-Zundert, Holland to Anna Cornelia Carbentus and protestant Reverend Theodorus Van Gogh. The name Vincent was a family named handed down generation to generation. It was also the name of his still born brother who had had been born the year before. The reusing of a name was common practice at this time!!! The Van Gogh’s also continuously gravitated towards the occupations of art and religion. Vincent’s grandfather had a degree in theology and three of his uncles were art dealers. Vincent would soon follow both of these callings.

By the age of 20 Vincent had become a successful art dealer for Goupil & Cie located in London. According to his sister-in-law’s account this was the happiest of times for Vincent. He was earning more money than his father and had fallen in love with Eugénie Loyer, daughter of his landlord. But Eugénie was secretly engaged to a former renter and rejected Vincent. Soon afterwards Vincent started isolating himself and became devoutly religious. In 1876 Goupil & Cie terminates Vincent.

After a quick stint as an unpaid supply teacher for a boarding school and bookstore worker Van Gogh decides to devote his life, as his father did, to religion. Vincent believes this is his calling. With the support of his parents Vincent is sent to Amsterdam to study theology but fails the entrance exam. He then enrolls in a three-month course at a Protestant missionary school in Laeken, where he also fails. Not one to give up, Van Gogh moves onto Christianity and takes a missionary post in the village of Petit Wasmes. Vincent enjoyed preaching and chose to live like the villagers. Church authorities did not approve of his squalid living conditions and dismissed him from his post.

Finally after years of encouragement from his brother Theo, Vincent decides to take up art and enrolls in the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels. He would remain in Brussels for nine months studying anatomy, perspective and standard rules of modeling, then return home to Etten to perfect his craft. Vincent would go onto study with many other famous artist of the time and create the masterpieces we have today. Vincent’s mental illness began to show at the end of 1888. He suffered from epilepsy, psychotic attacks, and delusions. After mutilating his ear in a psychotic attack Vincent commits himself to an asylum. It is here that he creates The Starry Night.

“On July 27, 1890 Van Gogh attempted suicide by shooting himself in the chest. He survived, but died two days later from the wound. Theo, who had collected the majority of Vincent's work from Paris, died only six months later. His widow took the collection to Holland and dedicated herself to getting the now deceased Vincent the recognition he deserved. She published his work and Vincent became famous nearly instantly.”

His troubled life and artistic talent has been featured on Dr. Who, a British sci-fi series. Vincent played by actor Anthony "Tony" Curran captures what I have imagined Van Gogh to be like. He gave a truly inspirational performance and the story line incorporated some of Van Gogh’s greatest works of art into the plot. Not to mention Tony looked strikingly similar to Vincent.

Vincent worked and strived his entire life to make a difference and to leave a mark in the world, he said, “...to try to understand the real significance of what the great artists, the serious masters, tell us in their masterpieces, that leads to God; one man wrote or told it in a book; another in a picture.”

Happy Puzzling!