Because we’ve had such great puzzle discussions, I have to show you my latest puzzle. It’s called Hippie Heaven.
As you can see I’m done with this one. (I’m always missing 2 pieces.-crazy cat lady syndrome!) Now it’s time to pick out another puzzle to do. But here’s the thing. I just don’t want to do ANY puzzle. It has to be inspiring to me. Hmm…sounds like that reading/writing thing, doesn’t it? So, how long do you spend looking for a puzzle or book? It’s such a combination of things for me. Subject matter, colors, size, length, characters.
Okay–Onto today’s subject. If you look at the sliders this month, I have one for my book, Rich in Hope. It’s a Christmas novel and October is the Christmas novel debut month. :) The blurb I’m using is:
One scarred model.
One grounded photographer.
One Christmas that will change their lives forever..
As a writer I did love telling this story of Jenny’s journey from wanting an isolated Christmas to becoming a fake fiance to Stephen, taking care of a blind child, Phoebe, and learning that beauty is much deeper than your skin. Christmas is a time for hope and Jenny didn’t have any hope at the beginning of the novel. And I have to admit that this novel ended differently than I had imagined. (Not going to give away spoilers!)
All characters grow differently. As we flesh them out they sometimes surprise us. But, hey, isn’t that a part of Christmas? In this novel, Jenny receives more than one surprise. Which brings me to a topic of discussion about surprises. Do you like them?
I love them. As a child, I dug around all the closets and other hiding places until I found my Christmas present. White leather go-go boots! Just what I asked for. But it wasn’t Christmas day. And I couldn’t let on that I knew. And Christmas morning came and I opened my present knowing full well what was in the box. It pretty much took the joy out of the morning. Don’t get me wrong, I still loved my boots, but from that point on I never wanted to know what I was getting Christmas day. My parents could say “don’t look in the blue bag in our closet” and I wouldn’t look in the blue bag in the closet. I love being surprised.
When my family planned my 50th birthday party (a while ago) I knew they were planning it. I was part of the planning but they still managed to surprise me with a couple of things that brought me to tears.
So, what about you? Do you like surprises? I’d love to hear stories of why or why not. Please, tell all!
USA Today featured author Lindi Peterson lives in north Georgia, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, with her husband and a lively array of cats, dogs and birds. She loves sharing life with her family and friends. Her passion for reading led her to writing, and then God spoke words of love into her heart and changed her life forever.
Hi, Lindi!
I’m out of practice with puzzles. All our flat spaces are occupied right now. We usually go for something large from our TBPT (To Be Put Together) pile. For books, it’s similar but there are so many to choose from in our library. It’s almost a case of close your eyes, scroll down and click!
I can’t say that I *prefer* surprises, but I usually enjoy the nice ones. I, too, have learned to wait for the presents to be unwrapped. :-P
I went and added Rich In Hope to our library. I’m looking forward to it since I enjoyed book one in the series.
So, now I guess we need a surprise gift of a puzzle which, when put together, showcases the blurb from a really good book. Makes sense to me. :-D
My daughter does a lot of jigsaw puzzles. Mainly old favorites.
I just go with what I feel like reading when it comes to books. Favorite authors and genres.
My children have never snooped. I never did either. The surprise and anticipation are part of the fun.
I love that puzzle. My mom and I worked puzzles for the 9 months she lived with me. I haven’t worked one since she passed 5 months ago yesterday. Hopefully I can try soon. Blessings
PS I get embarrassed over surprises.
I never snooped, though I know that my older sisters did! One of them would even unwrap her presents under the tree to find out what it was, and then re-wrap them! I like surprises, as long as they’re nice surprises! I had one this year for my birthday, in fact! I knew A friend and I were going to lunch on my birthday. The surprise was that 6 other friends joined us! That was a great surprise, and one of my best birthday’s ever!!
I do love surprises. Mom started this tradition with us five kids. We would have our regular birthday party and a birthday party with friends. Then when these were over, she would surprise us with something special. One year she surprised me with the two of us taking a class to learn to hand quilt together. So cool. She had taught me to sew at age 6. We worked on this quilt together. But I just got so bored after awhile. It TOOK FOREVER TO GET ONE SECTION DONE. LOL So I stopped. When our two kiddos were in school full time, I went to a quilting class at church. They made baby quilts for a crisis pregnancy center that the church supported. Oh my goodness, this was so fun and so fast (compared to hand sewing LOL)
When I married, my husband loved to do puzzles. So I joined in and became addicted. We had a nice dining room table (that we still have 38 yrs. later) our son loved to sit on dads lap and help. Our daughter found it tedious. Havent done a real puzzle in over 13 years because of cats liking to help. So I do them on my tablet.
Lincoln—Thanks for adding Rich in Hope. And update to my puzzle—I found both pieces!! One in the pocket of my robe—?????—–not sure, and one on the floor. No crazy cat lady excuses now. :) Thanks for always visiting–and clear some space soon.
Mary—Yes–I agree about the surprise being part of the fun. You had well-behaved children in that area. :) Beautiful to see those smiles when they opened a special package, I’m sure!
Lucy—I can imagine how that memory will live on with you, yet you need time to process such special time together. I’m sorry for your loss…Mom’s are so special. :) she’ll be looking down helping you when you decide to do another puzzle.
I can see the embarassment side, but don’t be embarrassed too long–then enjoy!
Trudy—Ha—I had a friend whose brother not only opened, but took the car radio out of the box and installed it all before Christmas. He just wrapped the empty box and claimed surprise Christmas morning. Not sure I’m that good of an actor. And what a lovely birthday surprise!! I love people surprises especially!
Lori—What a special birthday every year to look forward to. And I’ve never learned to sew…wasn’t good when I had to do it in school. That sounds like a special bonding time with your mom. My mom does her puzzles on the tablet as well. :)
I guess it would depend on the surprise. I’m not one to generally enjoy surprises, because like Lucy said, I get embarrassed easily. Especially if the surprise involved a lot of people, for example, a birthday party. I do like when my husband surprises me with little gifts though :-)
I used to do jigsaw puzzles, but don’t have the room or time to do them. I’ve resorted to doing the crossword puzzles in the paper. It’s not only fun for me, but keeps my mind sharp too!
I don’t like surprises only Christmas gift surprises.
I love puzzles I do them year round.I stared doing them when I was 4 years old and now I’m 23. I would do them with my grandma lots of the time she did them up until she died last year at 90 years old.I like the puzzles with bright colors
Trixi—I do understand. And I like to do crossword puzzles as well. :)
Kendra–I love bright colors in puzzles as well. Especially with me being older, the darker colors are sometimes hard for me to see. What a special memory you have with your grandma. I love that.
I love the puzzle, Lindi. We’re kindred spirits on that front. But missing pieces drive me insane. If a piece is missing, the puzzle goes in the trash. I love Abraham Hunter and Chuck Pinson puzzles. Landscapes with lots of pastels. Thankfully, my cat doesn’t bother the pieces, he just lays in the middle of the puzzle, whether in progress or complete. And my board has drawers for the loose pieces, so it works out.
I love surprises sometimes. Like a gift or a party or something. I don’t like surprise guests. We have family members from out of state who used to love to just show up. Don’t do that to me. I need to clean my house and prepare for guests.
I used a mirror to peek under the door once when my mom was wrapping my Christmas presents. I saw my Barbie camper. And wished I hadn’t. I still loved my camper, but it wasn’t near as fun opening it as it should have been. I never peeked again. And I had white leather go go boots too.
I know what you mean about puzzles I tend to go for scenery, (mountains) and cats, tulips etc. tigers, I found some really nice ones and would buy a few knowing I would do them for Christmas. I have 2 cats, One would be like yours but way worse. I haven’t done one since getting them. I had other cats that never bothered the jigsaw but Libby likes to “help” in everything I do.
Books I too have to be in the mood for certain books.
Oh and looking for gifts. Yes that was me imagine my surprise when the gift I knew was for my brother was for me! (a tennis ball on a elastic cord to practice the swing). But I use to be so bad. It changed (as I got older) it was mum who had to open the moment she got a Christmas gift even it a couple weeks early. I will keep it til Christmas as I want something to open on Christmas day. (not that I get much anymore).
Some surprises are good, not sure I would like a surprise party as I don’t like being the centre of attention.
Yes. I love surprises. I am usually the one who gives the surprises. It is not often that I receive a surprise. My husband and I share a birthday. When he turned 40, I through him a surprise party. I was careful not to let on that it was my birthday too. I wanted it to be all about him. There were some friends and family who knew it was my birthday too. So I also had a few gifts. During his life, his parents had never thrown a birthday party for him. He threw himself a party when he turned 30. He suspected, but enjoyed himself. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
I rarely experience those kinds of surprises, so I don’t really have a reason to like or dislike.
I use to be good at puzzles but have not been doing them in so long. I love to read surprises & also get ones. My most favourite was when I was 13 & had a surprise my mom did & also about in 2009 about my boss when working did a surprise lunch for my birthday!!
I don’t do jigsaws right now. My favourite surprise was my 20th birthday but I’m not as big on them now. I like to be with my family on my special day.
I usually like being surprised when it comes to gifts, but otherwise I like to know what’s going on. I also enjoy being able to look forward to things, which can be lost if it’s a surprise.
I love surprises! Especially, surprise vacations!