As it happened (from my Journal archives)

September 7, 2008

Sunday 3:17 pm - Just returned from the shop. I cut parts for three more Compulsory Stands, I now have seven sets of parts for all the Compulsories I plan to cut this month. Tomorrow I'll sand them as needed, stain them and glue them together. I'll spend the rest of the week cutting and painting the seven Compulsories.

Exactly three years ago I took the following photograph from Coronado, looking towards San Diego. This photo will be used for the October 100 Puzzles Project puzzle. A short while ago I went to the same location and attempted to shoot the identical scene.

A lot has changed. Going from left to right - A high hedge to the far left is gone, a pathway has been constructed reducing the areas for the white chairs and tables, some still there (when the pathway was not there, the place where I was standing was a little dead-end nook - the path now connects to a shopping area). The plantings to the right are completely different and now surprisingly includes one of those vilified big invasive species of pampas grass like the ones I dug up at Mixed Media. A large dark green plant, far right, is gone. The grass has been re-sodded. The fence to the right is gone. Just to the left of the cluster of three palm tree trunks is a metal sculpture (from one of the Urban Tree shows like the one The Puzzle Tree was in), also a white pole with a dark blue or black oval sign. In the skyline between the two tall buildings right center, there is construction, plus a bunch of new buildings to the far right. One again I was able to get a "bird" and "boat" plus this time a "bike". While the date for the original picture is correct, the time which I thought was late morning must not be correct because the shadows are clearly different, the top photo must have been taken later in the day.

I sighted the light poles and palm tree trunks against the skyline, referring to a copy of the first picture I brought along with me in attempt to get at the exact same spot.

Year 2016 edit: Eight plus years later, I added this photo:

Very nearly the same location - September 25, 2016

October 17. 2008

Friday 6:52 pm - Started work on #806, Coronado and San Diego, 2005 (I may improved the title of this puzzle). Due to the size of the print I've reduced the projected Long Round puzzle piece count from around 500 to around 450, in keeping with three pieces per square inch for my smallest piece size. I got about 225 pieces done, so for looking real good.

October 18, 2008

Saturday 6:20 pm - I managed to get in some cutting, now have about 330 pieces done for #806, Coronado and San Diego, 2005, 120 to go. Tomorrow I'll have far less interruptions and an all day marathon is planned: finish #806, and completely cut #807, and get #805 ready for shipping.

October 19, 2008

Sunday 6:32 pm - In one of the longest and most intense days of cutting ever, I accomplished a lot today. I completed #806, Coronado and San Diego, 2005; and cut two mini Geometric Pattern Puzzles: #807, Squares & Triangles and #808 The Great Pattern, for a total of about 450 pieces. I need a cutting break, so tomorrow will see no cutting. I did nothing today to prepare #805 for shipment, so this will be the primary focus tomorrow plus actually shipping it; I won't be going to the shop again until this puzzle is shipped. I also plan to launch the auction for #806 tomorrow afternoon. Pictures later. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

October 24, 2008

Friday 7:11 pm - Auction launched.

Year 2024 edit: I added this photo of a painting my late mother did using the first photo as the source. The painting was likely done within a year or two of the photo. She liked the pigeon on the grass.