Landon is nine!

Happy Birthday, Landon!  Landon is nine years old now and will begin third grade with online instruction due to coronavirus.  He celebrated with a socially distanced birthday party/drive by party in his front yard and had a great time playing with the kids that did attend.  Can't wait to see what the next year holds - hopefully more puzzles!

Pixxibook.com ~ Making a Blog Into a Book

I made a book for Jenny from our blog posts for a Mother's Day gift.  I've had a blog for over ten years but this is the first time I've used any blog-to-book service.  Jenny's book only included the "Landon" posts, not mine, but covered a period of over two years, from the beginning of the blog to May 1st, 2020.  It ended up at around sixty pages in the printed book. 

I checked out a few services but chose Pixxibook because I liked their collage cover and the layout of photos.  None of the services I tested printed the blog post's labels, which was a negative in my eyes.  I consider the labels to be not only a sorting method but also a continuation of the text.  

I ended up having to go through all of the blog posts and reformatting the blog itself before I could order the book.  I tend to like there to be a space after photos in the layout of the blog, but this didn't translate to the layout of the book, so I had to remove them within the blog posts so that the autoformatting of the book would look correct.  On the good side, I now know how to format posts going forward so that when we're ready to print the next volume it will be ready for layout without additional work.

The book came out so nicely that I want one of my own! 

Dowdle "Maui" by Eric Dowdle

This land and ocean landscape from Dowdle represents Maui in 500 pieces.  Once again Landon and Jenny travel via puzzles and imagination.  Finished, it measures 16"x20"

Channel Craft North American Wildlife Puzzles "Bear Cub" by Ken Jenkins

This bear measures 18" x 24" when complete.  I'd think so much black space in a puzzle would be daunting, but Jenny and Landon knocked out this 550 piece puzzle in short order!  It's copyright 2006 and made in the USA.  It's part of a series that includes a fox pup, racoon, and fawn in addition to the bear, so we'll have to keep our eyes open for the others in thrift stores as they're all considered vintage today.

Impact Photographics “Grand Canyon National Park: Rim to Rim” by Dick Dietrich & Tom Till

Since the Coronavirus pandemic is forcing everyone to stay home, Jenny & Landon have been digging out some travel puzzles.  This panoramic puzzle from Impact Photographics transports them to the Grand Canyon in just 500 pieces.  The back of the box gives history and details on the park.  At 11.5in x 35.5in they spent some time getting to know this vista, and almost had to upgrade to a bigger work surface.

Lafayette Puzzle Factory "Amazing Coral Reef" by Gerald Newton

Lafayette Puzzle Factory is a company I'd never heard of before.  This thrift store find from their Puzzle Collector Art series is copyright 2011.  It's a vibrant ocean scene that measures 18"x24" and advertises "unique shaped pieces."  The art is by Gerald Newton.  Jenny and Landon make quick work of puzzles in the 500 piece category, like this one.

Ceaco "Earth Blanket" by Schim Schimmel

How cool is this Glow in the Dark puzzle from Ceaco?  Titled "Earth Blanket," it's by artist Schim Schimmel and is copyright 2006.  It measures 20"x20" for ages 12 and up. At 550 pieces, the sky looks challenging to me!

Buffalo Games Eyes of the Wild "Blue Eyes" by Collin Bogle

This close-up shot is courtesy of Buffalo Games Eyes of the Wild" Realistic Wildlife Paintings Series.  It also comes with a poster in the box.  It's a 500 piece puzzle measuring 21.25" x 15in.  The interesting thing is that the box is marked ages 14+.  Clearly Landon has skills to complete this level of difficulty!

Golden Unnamed Puzzle "4729-44" by Tony Stone

This cute pet puzzle is a vintage Golden thrift store find.  Marked 550 pieces, unfortunately, it was missing two of them.  Finished size measuring 15 1/2" x 18", the box is marked ages 10 to adult.  Puzzles continue to keep Jenny and Landon busy during the Coronavirus pandemic school shutdown.

Springbok “Route 66”

Jenny bought this Springbok "Route 66" puzzle because it looks like her cousin's workshop, with many electric signs.  She and Landon completed this together, and they're now sending it to the cousin that inspired the purchase.  At 1000 pieces, the finished puzzle measures 24"x30".

Impact Photographics "Yosemite National Park" by Brian Ernst

This interesting souvenier puzzle from Impact Photographics had over 500 pieces.  Jenny said this one was a difficult puzzle due to the shapes of the pieces.  Its finished size measures 17.5" x 23.5".  The puzzle image was photographed by Brian Ernst, and it was made in Korea.  There was a lovely little description of the park on the back of the box, but I don't see a copyright date for the image. It definitely made me want to go visit Yosemite!

SunsOut “Animal Kingdom” by Howard Robinson

Here's another wild animal themed puzzle, this one by SunsOut, titled "Animal Kingdom" from artist Howard Robinson.  At 300 pieces this is definitely a puzzle Landon could do on his own, though mom Jenny may have kept him company.  Its finished size is 24"by 18.  It's made in the USA.  I love the combination of animals and the tropical leaves lending a jungle feel. 

Landon and Jenny may be ready for a little puzzle break, after completing eight puzzles in just over a week.  I'm sure they'll be back with another puzzle before the school year ends. 

Ravensburger "Colorful Marina" by David Stern

This 500 piece "Colorful Marina" is one of a few Ravensburger puzzles I've thrifted for Landon to complete.  Ravensburger is known for high quality in its puzzle construction, but I find myself drawn to this image.  Landon and Jenny knocked this one out quickly.  It measures 19 1/3" x 14 1/4", copyright 2015.

RoseArt Brand Encore "Up, Up and Away" No. 06052

This RoseArt Brand 500 piece puzzle is clearly vintage, but I can find no copyright year to date it.  It was thrifted, but is complete.  A beautiful image of hot air balloons that makes me want to attend a festival!  It's titled "Up, Up and Away" and I wish I could do just that.  Great job, Landon!

Hasbro Cardinal "Junior Jungle" Super 3D Puzzle by Howard Robinson

Landon and Jenny mastered this Super 3D Puzzle by Howard Robinson titled "Junior Jungle"!  This 500 piece puzzle must have been difficult to study as the pieces changed dimension.  It measures 24 x 18 inches and is copyright 2014.  It was made in China.

Ceaco "Life in Calico Country" by Ellen Eilers

Here's the next 550pc puzzle Landon and Jenny completed during the Coronavirus shutdown.  I love this tranquil scene of country life!  It's completed size is 18" x 24".  Made in the USA, there's a bio of the artist, Ellen Eilers, on the back of the box.  The box is also marked for ages 12 and up.  Landon is only eight years old!  So proud of his patience and problem solving skills.

Dowdle Folk Art "Nativity" by Eric Dowdle

It may not be Christmas, but Jenny and Landon are celebrating their time together.  This 500 piece puzzle by Dowdle Folk Art was made in Utah, not far from where I spent my middle and high school years.  I love the idea of supporting this family owned USA company.  The finished puzzle measures 16" x 20"

Ceaco "Mother and Father" by Schim Schimmel

This 550 piece puzzle by Ceaco Glows in the Dark!  It's from a line of three designed by Schim Schimmel featuring wildlife.  It's made in the USA, and the finished puzzle measures 20" x 20".  Copyright 2008, it's design is eco friendly.  The box is marked for age 12 and up, again much more mature than Landon's age.  

Landon looks so much more like his mom Jenny as he grows older.  Even in the short time we've had this blog up, it's so much fun to see how he's grown and changed.

Karmin International "Cat Bookshelf" by Randal Spangler

Now that all California elementary schools have switched to online learning due to Coronavirus Pandemic, Landon and his mom Jenny are returning to their puzzle hobby.  I know Landon misses his buddies, but I think he's awfully lucky to have his mom and dad's undivided attention.

This puzzle from Karmin International features the artwork of Randal Spangler in 550 pieces.  It measures a finished size of 24" x 18".  The box mentions an earth friendly design and is copyright 2017. 

This was a thrift store find that seems to be complete!  I'll be passing it along to my cousin.

Golden Movie Poster Puzzle "Walt Disney Pictures Presents The Rescuers Down Under"

At a final size of 2x3 feet, this puzzle is almost as big as Landon!  Now that Landon is eight, he's been so busy that puzzling has taken a back seat to other activities (mostly sports).  But since the advent of "stay at home" orders in the state of California due to Coronavirus as of March 16th, 2020, Landon's finding his old pasttime to be a great hobby once again.

This Movie Poster Puzzle is made by Golden and Western Publishing Company Inc.  It features the Walt Disney Picture "The Rescuers Down Under."  It advertises "extra large, fully interlocking, brilliant color" in its 300 pieces.  A thrift store find, Landon will have fun passing this along to a friend now that he's done with it.