749 pieces. That’s what the box should’ve said.
We looked everywhere but we never could find a shoulder for our sheep.
But isn’t it incredible?
Steevenson and I had so much fun pressing it together this weekend…we may never pull it apart! I mean, does this place really exist? This Christmas Market inside of a big, red barn? If not, I may need to create one someday. 😉
Wouldn’t you just love it? A big, fieldstone-anchored barn all wood washed in red…winter white trim and X’s on every door…trimmed in evergreens and frosted with snow?
It’s chilly outside, let’s go in…
Inside it’s lively and warm. Dean Martin’s “Marshmallow World” is floating down from the speakers mounted on top of the chestnut beams above. Can you hear it?
Ooh, let’s look at the vintage ornaments! There’s a whole wall full of them where the chicken coop used to be. German Kugels, glass figurals, indented baubles, dioramas, spun cotton fruit, finial toppers, tiny wooden rocking horses, shiny brites, glass Santas, and bottle brush trees. Can you see them?
And what good are ornaments without a Christmas tree? There are several varieties to choose from here. Look at the Scotch Pine, with its strong, bright green needles. Mmmm, and the dark green ones that smell so good, those are the Balsam Firs. And the White Spruce is so pretty too. Its blue-green needles are sturdy and well suited for all kinds of ornaments. Should we tie one to the top of your car? 😉
There are so many fun things to smell, and taste, and touch, and see! Fuzzy animals at every turn. Fresh evergreen wreaths still wet from this morning. Old-fashioned Christmas lights and stockings made from antique quilts. Thick-handled mason jars full of apple cider that simmered together with butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt. A whole room devoted to Department 56.
On our way out, we’ll ooh and ahh over tables full of colorful tins and tiered stands stacked high with spicy pumpkin fudge, eggnog creams, pistachio cranberry bark, peanut butter snowballs, peppermint meringues, homemade gingerbread marshmallows, and bite-size mulled wine jellies.
Then, we’ll wander back out into the moonlight and marvel at how the snow looks like from within. (I loved when Susan Branch said that in one of her books!)
*sigh*
I know its nearly New Years Eve now, but I’ve still got 749 Christmas-y puzzle pieces over here and every one of them is whispering, “dream”. 🙂
Layla
PS- The 750-piece version of that puzzle is currently out of stock, but here’s a link to the 300-piece version in case you want to give it a whirl: Christmas Barn
Hi Layla,
Just wanted you to know I was thinking about you today and hoping you’re doing well.
Wishing you a happy and healthy 2020🎊
Mom and I love putting puzzles together, I enjoy the more complicated, she likes the more traditional pieces, we swap puzzles, especially during winter months
How fun Sandy! I like to swap puzzles with my mom too!
Happy new year to you too, Gwen! I’m hanging in there, how about you? Feels good to slow down a bit this time of year, doesn’t it? 😀
Layla, I was stopping the story pics today to stare at this beautiful puzzle. A friend of mine sometimes uses a certain kind of spray or glaze to paint over her puzzles she wants to keep together. They dry and then then she has framed them very simplisticly on her own or, of course, you can take it and have it professionally framed. No one would ever notice the little piece missing from the little lamb. It would just be a sweet memory for you and Stevenson.💙
Hi, Candy! Thank you for sharing that idea about painting over the puzzles. I love it and might have to give it a whirl myself! 😀
I now have christmas present for next year for DIL who likes to do puzzles with my 6 yr old grandgirl! Thank you! 🌸
Yay! And you’re so welcome, Sarita. It’s definitely the prettiest puzzle I’ve ever put together!
Layla,
I love your trips to HomeGoods and the like! Great idea with the spools to be displayed on shelves, and I also love the little brown booties of yours that kept appearing in the mirrors! I’ve been looking for something like that. Can you share a link to them please?
Thank you
Theresa 🙂
Thank you, Theresa! I’m not sure this comment landed on the right post though. I’m not sure which brown boots you’re referring to- LOL! 😀
Oops! LOL. After reading this puzzle post, I was enjoying some of your Let’s Go videos. The boots you were wearing were seen in the one where you are finding Pottery Barn window pane looking mirrors at HomeGoods. Does that ring a bell? 🙂
Hmmm…maybe they’re my old faux suede boots from American Eagle?
They sure look warm and comfy!
Well now I’m ready for Christmas again. I felt like I was there! Thank you
You’re so welcome, Jessica! I’m so glad you enjoyed the visit! 😀
I had to zoom in to see where the piece was missing! If you do end up leaving it together, you could give the spot a touch of paint to help it blend in. I think that would be a wonderful puzzle to keep together!
I think I would also contact the company that made the puzzle. Just let them know how much you and your son enjoyed putting it together but that it was missing a piece.
I think I might give that a try, Stahli. Doesn’t hurt to ask, right? 😀
Hi Layla,
In Northeast Ohio (east of Cleveland), we have a wonderful place called Sunrise Farms, which reminds me of your puzzle. Whatever the season (but especially at Christmas), Sunrise Farms http://sunrisefarmgifts.com/
is decked out with exquisite gifts, local greenery, produce and cider, local and gourmet food items such as dips, jams and butters, and beautiful décor items. I call it my happy place. If you are ever near Burton, OH, I hope you and your family can stop in at Sunrise Farms for a happy stroll.
Happy New Year!
Ooooh! Sunrise Farms! I love that name! I will definitely put it on our must-visit list!!
I love how the borders of this puzzle curve and meander around the scene! Almost like a big hug. Your description pulled me right in. Puzzles are such a fun way to spend time together as a family.
I love the border too, Kristin! It took me a while to figure out that you really can do that part first if you are just patient with it. I think I’m going to order the 300-piece version and give that a whirl. I think it would be nice to have less lines on the picture! 🙂
If you pull out the same Christmas puzzles every year like we do, a fun tradition is to date the last piece with the day and year it was completed. I’ve read that you can request missing puzzle pieces from puzzle manufacturers. It’s worth a try! Wishing you a blessed New Year!
I LOVE that idea, Rita!! Thank you for sharing it here…and Happy New Year to you as well!
Hi Layla,
I bought my 81 year old mom a puzzle for Christmas this year. I think it was her best present EVER because she has worked on it almost everyday since Christmas. And for me too. We both have enjoyed spreading out all the pieces, discussing what this or that piece looks like or where it might go. I have loved this time spent with her. Best memories ever! Thanks for sharing yours…and when you build that barn let me know, I’ll be there in a heart beat.
I felt warm and fuzzy reading about your mom loving her new puzzle, Sara. What sweet memories y’all are making!
And I’ll keep you posted on the barn…it really would be a dream come true!
Dream big, Layla! I can see it in my mind and heart!
Happy New Year!
Me tooooooooo! 😀
There is a magical place like this in Indiana – Chandelier Country Christmas at Wilson’s Farm in Montgomery, Indiana. Old barns – chandeliers – vintage Christmas ornaments – hot cocoa – greenery – food trucks – bonfires – hundreds of vendors with beautiful Christmas decorations/gifts.. It’s beautiful and magical! http://chandelierbarnmarket.com/
Oh, wow! Thank you for posting about that market, Shelly! I went to their website and it looks like a dream!!!
Merry Red Barn Christmas Layla..I dream about Christmas Markets and so now it has come true.
A blessed 2020 to you and the Boys.
Hi, Sunny! It’s always so fun seeing your name pop up! Wishing you a happy new year, too!
This is beautiful, trust me one day you will find that sheep shoulder. I once was in the hospital getting a test and the nurse had several very intricate puzzles mounted on her wall. I commented how beautiful they were and she said that she and her son (teenager at the time) worked on them together and that was when they had their most precious conversations, it kept the door of communications between open. Brilliant if you ask me.
Happy New Year!
Oh, I loved reading that, Susie! I’m so glad you came by and shared it. And I will definitely continue to keep an eye out for that stray piece of our sheep too. 😉
I love this puzzle the the dream of Christmas that it represents. I love everything about Christmas and hate to leave the cozy world it brings. I hope you find that missing piece. But it is still perfect without it.
We found it this morning! 😀 Steevenson and I did a very boisterous “happy dance” and high five for several minutes straight! 😀
I’ve never really liked puzzles. As a teenager I was too busy with my friends cruising up and down 4th street in the next town. When I got married and had a child I was too busy with my own family.
When my mom hit her mid 50’s and started having her own “private summers” she’d lay on her bed with a huge board my dad made for her and spend her day working on a giant puzzle. And when my son and I would come over for a visit, we’d jump on the bed and help her find just the right pieces to fit the spot.
It was at that moment I started understanding what puzzles were about…Slowing down enough to connect with your family, or friends.
Thanks for the reminder to slow down and reconnect! I think the next time I visit my mom (she 4 hours away) I’ll have to bring her a puzzle we can work on.
Oh, Eva! Thank you so much for sharing that story! What a treat it was to read!
We completed a large puzzle and one piece was missing. We looked everywhere but finally gave up finding it. Much later it was found on the floor behind the curtains. I was so glad to find it. Maybe you can look again and find it. Good luck.
Also after completing a puzzle we turn several pieces in one of the top corners over and put the date and the people that worked the puzzle.
Dianne! YOU helped us find our missing piece! 😀 This morning, after I read your comment, I went to check under the curtains behind the chair Steevenson was sitting on in the picture above. It wasn’t there, but I was inspired to take a second look in the nooks and crannies of that wicker chair and, sure enough, THERE IT WAS! 😀 Thank you, thank you, for encouraging me to continue the search…and for helping us find that last piece!!!
I give a puzzle every year as a gift for someone in my family and we get to enjoy the fun of assembling it. Today is the day I was going to open ours. Yours is a gorgeous puzzle! I love the non-linear edges. As so many have said in their comments, there are many places in the mid-west where you can find a similar atmosphere to the one in the puzzle. I share your love of all things old-fashioned, cozy, and nostalgic, especially this time of year. It’s refreshing to me to know I’m not alone in that.
Happy new year, Kris! Sounds like another trip back to the midwest is in order next Christmas! 😀 I’m sort of hoping to find one in New England though too. That place is just calling my name this year! Here’s to lots more old-fashioned, cozy and nostalgic to come!
This was just so fun to read!! You have such a beautiful way with words! Also, I love how put together your blog is! I can tell you’ve put tons of work in! Happy new year!
The same thing happen to my husband! His 550 piece puzzle was one short! So annoying!
Look in the side of your wicker captain’s chairs…under the cushion…that’s where we found it- LOL! 😀
Oh my gosh! My family did 2 new puzzles this year (right out of the shrink-wrapped boxes), and one was missing TWO pieces, and the other was missing ONE! We couldn’t believe it! We love puzzles! Yours is adorable!
Layla,
My daughters and I have been watching Hallmark Christmas Movies and we always say, “does a place like that really exists”. I am having the same reaction with your puzzle. Thank you to those who have commented with a couple of real suggestions. By the way, I first came to know you and read your blog when you hosted the market in the Chapel. Let me just say, you are pretty good at creating some magical places yourself.
This puzzle does indeed, exist. We went to the Christmas Markets in Austria…and there it was! One even had sheep and a manger. Quite beautiful!