I tried to resist, I really did. I even tried to borrow it! What am I talking about? When I last visited the Dollhouse, I really wished I had my puzzle board with me. I had come across some intriguing mystery puzzles and was itching to try my hand at one. I don’t have a table at the Dollhouse that’s large enough to put together a 1,000-piece puzzle, and even if I did, working puzzles on a puzzle board has completely spoiled me. The thought of leaning over a table until my back aches (which usually doesn’t take very long!) kinda ruins the whole fun of doing a puzzle. I would rather just wait until I have a board available.
Since I didn’t have my puzzle board with me (it was back in Georgia) I asked my daughter-in-law if I could borrow the one I bought for my grandsons a few years back. There was just one problem, it was already occupied with a puzzle that the boys had been working on. She offered to ask them if they would mind removing it, but I couldn’t bear the idea of having them do that.
I checked online and the puzzle board that I like so much was out of stock. The projected in-stock date was several months out. Drat. I was surprised and happy when a few days later it showed back in stock! The price was great, too—quite a bit lower than I’m used to seeing it. I immediately ordered it, and it arrived just a few days later.
I already knew exactly where I wanted to place it. I had brought up a folding utility-type table with me on a previous trip, thinking I could use it to place my lamp on until my desk arrived. That table fits perfectly to the right of my desk and it is ideal for placing the puzzle board on since it is adjustable to 4 different heights. I love having it on the next to the lowest setting because it’s perfect for working a puzzle on the puzzle board. (Adjustable table is available here: Adjustable Height Folding Table.)
When I’m in the mood for some puzzle time, I just rotate my desk chair to the left, roll a couple of feet over and I’m in business! I ordered some clip-on lights for it, but those hadn’t yet arrived when I took the photo below. (Puzzle Board is available here: Adjustable Puzzle Board.)
The puzzles that I’ve been loving are really a puzzle within a puzzle—each one is a murder mystery. What makes them especially fun is how the photo displayed on the box is slightly different from the image that appears once the puzzle has been completed.
For example, the image on the box looks like this.
But the completed image looked like this! Some of the clues are hidden in the images along the sides of the puzzle, too. The nice thing about these puzzles is they aren’t super hard to solve. There’s a tale that comes with each puzzle that explains the circumstances and the characters surrounding the murder, then you observe the changes in the puzzle to solve the mystery. My 10-year-old grandson and I were able to figure it out in just a few minutes. So much fun! (The lights I purchased for the board are currently on sale here: Clip-on Lights with Remote.)
This was the first one that I completed with the help of my grandson. Having visited Egypt a few years back, I really enjoyed this one. (Puzzle is available here: Mystery Puzzle, Set in Egypt.)
Before I left to return to Georgia, I ordered another one so it would be waiting for me when I arrived back home. I liked the theme of this one since it was set in England. By the way, I looked up Little Piddling to see if it is a real place. I found a medieval village in England called Little Piddle, so I guess that’s the inspiration for Little Piddling, the village where the story takes place. One thing I like about these puzzles is they aren’t frustrating to do. The images are nice and clear and there is such a variety of color, the different sections go together nicely. There was only one thing I wasn’t too keen about with this puzzle.
In the narrative that goes with the murder mystery, one of the suspects, Roger, is said to have shot a dog by accident who was chasing his sheep. Roger claimed it was an accident, but the owner of the dog was heartbroken. That part of the puzzle upset me, so when I was putting it together, I purposely left out the puzzle piece that completed the gun in Roger’s hands. There will be no accidental dog shootings in my puzzles! I figured if I didn’t put that part together, that meant it never happened, at least not in my puzzle world. Did you notice the missing piece in the photo above? The missing piece is resting on the bottom of the puzzle board. They definitely should have left that out of the story and devised a different scenario. If you’re sensitive to stuff like that as I am, you may wish to skip this mystery puzzle.
I still enjoyed working the puzzle because of the scenery and the setting, but not sure I would have bought it if I had known about the dog part of the story. This mystery puzzle is available here: Mystery Puzzle, Set in England.
I just ordered this mystery puzzle last night—I’m hooked on these! This murder mystery is set in Paris. I had it shipped to the Dollhouse, so it will be waiting for me when I’m next there. (Puzzle is available here: Murder Mystery Puzzle set in Paris.)
This is the most recent puzzle that I completed a few nights ago. I’ve had this one for a while—I can never resist a puzzle that features a beautiful beach house, a lighthouse, and birds!
Don’t you love the house?! I would love to see the other side of it!
If you’d enjoy a great end-of-summer puzzle to work, you’ll find this one available here: Beach-Themed Puzzle.
Looking forward to sharing an update on the office very soon! The plantation shutters for this room are scheduled to be installed in early October. The two windows in the kitchen will get shutters that same day, too. Looking forward to sharing those updates!
The dog shooting part of the puzzle would upset me also, especially since we have a Siberian Husky and a mini Goldendoodle! I bought 3 puzzles back in January but haven’t had the time to work on them. Want to get a table with legs to work on.
Yeah, that bothered me a lot, had to make it not happen!
Maryann, I had forgotten to share the table that I have the puzzle on but I went back and added that to this post. This is the table that I’m using: https://amzn.to/3ZFf3EY
It’s perfect for that since it’s adjustable to 4 different heights. I have mine on the next to the lowest height setting, and that’s working great for sitting while doing puzzles.
What size table ( ht,width, length,) did you purchase for your puzzle table? I have one and can’t figure out what size table I need!
Thanks, Annie
In Georgia, my puzzle board sits atop my desk which is 23 inches deep and 29 in height and quite long. It’s actually a little bit higher than I would like for working a puzzle. You can see the exact size of the puzzle board itself here: https://amzn.to/3zmWpa9
I didn’t buy the table that I’m using in the Dollhouse for working puzzles, but it has turned out to be perfect since the height of the table is adjustable. You can see its exact measurements here: https://amzn.to/3MYY2Od
I’m using the table in the next to the lowest setting and that has worked out great for working a puzzle.
My DIL gets puzzles from the library. I gifted her “your” puzzle board for Christmas a few years ago and she loves it! I wondered what you do with the puzzles you have already worked.
I’m so glad she’s enjoying it! I keep most of them and occasionally do them again. I am going to take a bunch of them, maybe all of them, when I next head up to the Dollhouse. My grandsons love puzzles, so they may want to do some of them. 🙂
I like that you left the last piece out on the dog puzzle. It’s weird that of all the scenes they choose that to put in a puzzle. Rings of Elsagate. It is disturbing. I can’t wait to complete the mystery puzzle gift I received from my BFF. Your office setup looks fantastic.
I agree! What were they thinking?!
Oh, I can’t wait to hear how you like it! That was a fun one to do! 🙂
My beloved dogs were Border Collies. I believe there must be a typo and that it meant to say that he shot AT the dog, implying that he missed. Because they are so fast and agile. Yeah, the more I think about it, the more sure I am it’s a typo.
I like your version of the story way better! ♥
Susan, You are “cozying” yourself into the Dollhouse. I have the same puzzle board but the only place that I can put it is on my dining table but since I am 5′ tall I have to stretch or stand either of which can be tiring. I’m trying to figure out a place in my den that might work for the table. Would you be able to change the height of the table while actively working a puzzle with the puzzle
board? I’d really like to do a couple of Christmas during the holiday season but don’t want everything out on my dining room table. The mystery puzzles look intriguing. I’ll check them out.
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Thanks, Iris! It would be a little tricky to do it with the puzzle board on top, but actually I did do that with mine. I had it in the lowest setting at first, and wanted to move it one notch up and I did it with the board on top.
By the way, I found the easiest way to adjust the legs is to do it one leg at the time. The instructions that come with the table explain how. Once you figure that out, it’s very easy to adjust the height, but probably better to do it without anything on it.
You know what would really be great…one of those desks that you can raise and lower with a remote. Have you seen those? They are for folks who like to stand occasionally while working. I’m not sure how low they go, though. I love how low this table that I’m using goes, much easier for me than when I have the puzzle board atop my desk at home, which is a good bit higher.
Love seeing all you are doing at both homes!
When you do your office update, would you please be able to include the link for your green magazine holders? Thanks!
Thanks, Karen! I just looked back at the post where I first shared that closet and it looks like I purchased those from Ikea back in 2012. They were called Kassett Magazine File Box, and the color was Sage Green.
I just did a search and it looks like there are some on eBay, but they are a bit pricey: https://bit.ly/4gPbQsy . If you don’t need that many, it might be worth it.
I don’t see them at Ikea now, but Ikea does still carry magazine boxes, just not the exact style in green.
https://www.ikea.com/us/en/cat/magazine-files-10567/
Hi Susan, I also love to work on puzzles, but I have never tried one where you have to solve a murder mystery, it sounds like fun and I’ll have to try it. When I work on a puzzle, I use my large kitchen island as I prefer standing when I’m working on a puzzle. I’m five feet tall and it’s the perfect height for me. I use a portable puzzle board, so when I’m done working on the puzzle for the day, I just pick up the board and place it on top of the bed in the guest bedroom that’s hardly every used.
Hi, Susan! I’m so pleased that I’m able to get your posts again at my Gmail address and can now keep up with all your doings! My husband and I do puzzles too and greatly enjoy our own cozy setup with him working on his own puzzle and me on mine…but what do you do with your completed puzzles? We have many puzzles and store them on our bookshelves (like your office shelves in GA), but they’re taking over! Thanks, Marie
I love puzzles and mysteries! I read mystery books all the time, but I’ve not put together a regular puzzle since I found jigsawplanet.com. There are lots of categories from which to choose, different shapes of puzzle pieces, a timer, and even the option to have the pieces rotate. It takes the challenge of working a puzzle to another level. I’ve not tried using my phone, but it works on my desktop, laptop, and tablet. I greatly enjoy working the puzzles and not having to decide what to do with a puzzle once it’s been completed.