Found Kitten, Christmas Shopping

I stepped out into the front hall yesterday evening to check my mail, and I ran into my friend Dave.  Dave lives at the end of the hall, while I live in the middle.  I have always seen and spoken to Dave outside.  I knew he was tall, but I never realized how tall until we talked in the hall last night.  His head almost touched the ceiling light.  Now, I know I'm short - 5 feet, 1 inch; Dave must be 6 feet, 8 inches at the least.  Anyway, we had a nice talk and Lovey decided to join us in the hall - and actually walked right up to Dave and let him pet her.  Nedi peeked out, then ducked back inside.  I came back inside and began to read.
   About 30 minutes later, there was a knock on my door.  I opened it, and there was Dave with a handsome grey marmalade-swirled kitten.  Dave had found it in the laundry room, when he went to do his wash. The kitten had popped out from behind a washing machine, and followed him down the hall.  It was a little boy, about 4 months old, very confident, and extremely loving.  Dave didn't know what to do with him - leave him in the laundry room, or take him home.  He ended up going to the laundry and staying with the kitten - and finally someone who lives in building B showed up, looking for the kitten.  We were both relieved.  If Dave hadn't kept him, and he had gone unclaimed, I'm afraid I would have had another kit in my brood...
  I found a few books I was looking for at The Bookworm yesterday, but I'll be visiting the other used bookstores today, in hopes of finding more Joe Grey mysteries.  And I'll also be keeping my eyes open for small stocking-stuffer gifts...  I hope I'll find plenty.  Beatrice is going to wander about the Pearl Street Mall with me today, and I plan on having a good time.  One of the stops that we must make will be at the Liberty Puzzles shop - I love the wooden jigsaw puzzles that my nephew makes, and the whimsey pieces from Liberty make them really special! (See:  http://www.libertypuzzles.com/about)
   Watching the introduction interview/commentary right now with the University of Florida introducing Jim McElwain as the new Gator head football coach.  Having seen him in action on the sidelines when he coached at Alabama, and this year (plus the past two) as head coach for Colorado State, I'm very happy for my alma mater's football program.

Various Photos

Bear Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park

Nephew Mike working at Liberty Puzzles

Nephew Mike and co-worker check a puzzle piece for quality control

Moon trail dream

Interesting bathroom

Really.    Diet water?

Body paint is art...

Liberty Puzzles in Boulder, Colorado

I had a great tour of Liberty Puzzles here in Boulder the other week.  They make wooden jigsaw puzzles that are cut by lasers on 1/4-inch maple boards.  Liberty Puzzles has a wide variety of puzzles available - square, round, rectangular, and fancy irregular cut-outs.  They make puzzles for children, puzzles for adults, and will even make a custom-photograph puzzle for you.  One of the most spectacular things about Liberty Puzzles is their use of whimsy pieces - in a puzzle titled "Cats and Doves," a lot of the pieces are made up of cats and birds; in an ocean oriented photo, there are pieces that include a man on a surfboard, many kinds of fish and sharks, a sea turtle, starfish, lobster, and different kinds of boats.  These pieces are fascinating - and they cause the puzzle to lock together.
  Besides your custom-made puzzle, they have over 300 puzzles available - paintings by the Old Masters, Americana, Currier & Ives, old advertising, Impressionists, maps, illustrations - you name it, and they seem to have it. Prices vary from $39 (plus shipping and handling) to $145.  They also sell a double-glassed frame, so that you can view the front work of art or photo, and the back, which is the intriguing laser-cut pattern. They look easy, but are difficult to put together - I spent over an hour playing with the pieces of two partially completed puzzles at the front of their store-office.  They have a great website that may be viewed at:  http://www.libertypuzzles.com/

   Here are a few samples of the puzzles, the whimsy pieces, and a partial view of the back of one of the puzzles:

Irises by Vincent Van Gogh

This is less than a quarter of the back of "White Shadows in the South Seas"

Whimsy pieces used in "Water"

The Falcon and the Cherry Tree

Currier & Ives - The American Express Train

Whimsy pieces from "The Denver & Rio Grande Rail Road"

"Storm in the Rockies" with a cut-out western border

Photos From Liberty Puzzles

Wooden jigsaw puzzles made in Boulder with laser-cut pieces...

"The Marriage of Jenny Wren" -  this puzzle is available in both adult and children versions

"Dragon" - this puzzle has irregular edges and a negative space between the head and neck

Whimsy pieces from the "Cats and Doves" puzzle

Whimsy pieces from "The Tree of Life" puzzle

"Foxy" - this print/puzzle is by local Boulder artist Phil Lewis

If you like what you see, please visit the Liberty Puzzles website at:  http://www.libertypuzzles.com/