National Puzzle day is coming
HUGHESVILLE – Upon hearing there’s a designated National Puzzle Day, some had said, “There’s a day for that?” And yes, it celebrated on January 29 which in 2021 falls on Friday.
Our three local puzzle enthusiasts include (left-right) David Nelson, Ann McMahon and Art Karge, all of the Hughesville, Picture Rocks area.
Retired from Grumman and lastly as a bank currier in 1999, Nelson said, “In the winter I do puzzles and in summer I read. I prefer scenes with prominent buildings or structures that I can more easily visualize.” In the past, he’d left two puzzles unfinished, a 3000 piece and a three dimensional one.
All three interviewees said, “No more” when asked the sizes they now attempt, with McMahon saying, “We’ve de-graduated from large puzzles down to 500 or less. We like those specifying ages 12 and up and there’s no question, we’re on the upside.”
McMahon has been piecing puzzles for many years. After downsizing living space, she opted to piece puzzles on a board atop a snack table. “This way I can pick up and move it out of the way,” she said. She has also glued several together, some framed to be hung. “In 2020 I glued four and already this year glued two. Some were for Karge’s son Phil, a Star Wars trekkie. “These were small 250 pieces, two each within two souvenir tins.” McMahon’s personal favorites are those by Charles Wysocki who created stylized versions of American life of yesteryear.
Possibly having an unfair advantage over the others due to being an engineer, Karge admitted, “We are not competitive. We don’t keep count the pieces each places or anything like that.”
The enthusiasts acquire puzzles as gifts, by purchasing or exchange with others. When done and the rounds have been made, the boxes of pieces may end up at the Salvation Army Store for others to enjoy.
The butterfly and flower puzzle in the photo is a 300 piece,18 x 24 inch size by Sandy Williams.