Ecru Puzzles - Kawase Hasui Shiba Benten Pond Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle

I am an adult with ADD. My whole life I have been accused of having poor impulse control as if that is some horrible behavior. After six and a half decades I concluded that sometimes “poor impulse control” can be a wonderful asset. It has an essential place in this world.I have worked wooden jigsaw puzzles from companies other than Artifact and they are interesting and attractive; they are OK however they have never given me the rush or surprise that Artifact puzzles communicate. Honestly they bore me. It would be like sharing a cigarette sans cigarette load, where is the fun in that?Exhibit “A”: "The Pond at Benten Shrine in Shiba" by Kawase HasuiNeither large nor expensive, call it intimate in scale and investment. The puzzle is not very difficult to finish. By looking at the box I was done in 35 minutes. Knowing what I do now this puzzle is a good candidate for changing my habit of referencing the box. I would have received more of an entertainment return on my investment. Several very attractive whimsical pieces when built around help complete areas of the whole puzzle.What distinguishes Artifact puzzles from so many other wooden jigsaw puzzle makers is:1) The attention to detail, often pieces are cleverly cut to provide minimal or no clue to adjacent pieces. One has to really scrutinize the pieces; the design is not condescending in this way.2) Call it Cracker Jack syndrome, the prize in each box. The “poor impulse control” that Artifact designers and management exercise to package magic and sizzle in every box; they go beyond in imagination and execution all their competitors. It is enough to make me sincerely envious, share your time with talent that will not be hidden.Wise men say we should be accepting and grateful for every aspect of ourselves, be it trivial like freckles or a serious congenital life long condition. I am not wise but I can appreciate “poor impulse control”, in my spontaneous puppy, in children at play and in devious puzzle designers who wow me with clock like regularity.Am I going to spill the surprise? No but I’ll offer you a smoke.

Absolutely beautiful puzzle :), extremely well made and so fun to assemble on a rainy day.