Autumn Traditions

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

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

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

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!

Hi Puzzlers,

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

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

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

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

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

Happy Puzzling!

Meet Artist Mary Thompson

Hi Puzzlers,

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

Happy Puzzling!

Nautical Terms

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Happy Puzzling!

Dog Days of Summer

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

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

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

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

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

Happy Puzzling!

Custom Puzzles

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Happy Puzzling!

Become A Follower

Hi Puzzlers,

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

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

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

Happy Puzzling!

Meet Artist Gary Patterson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.