Friday Funnies (Not)

First, there's nothing funny about the snow from last weekend's snowstorm, which will be around for quite a while. Nashua, NH, received about 20 inches total.

There's so much remaining in downtown Nashua that these sidewalk snow banks will most likely be carted away over the weekend. In the past, the city has done the same trucking the snow to fields of a nearby park These images were taken yesterday when I walked to the library. Most city sidewalks had a packed snow cover.

Snow clearing began at the mill apartments on Tuesday morning after the storm. This is the parking lot in the front of the building. The reason for no cars is that residents had to move them by 8 am for snow plowing. Most times, my photos show of the back of the mill buildings as that's our view with of the Nashua River and downtown.

These snow piles were in the parking lot of a shopping plaza which houses a supermarket, gym, restaurants and a few retail stores. The parking areas were completely clear of snow on Wednesday.

Brrr it's really cold outside. Temperatures this week have remained frigid in the single digits overnight and barely getting 20 degrees during daytime hours. The snow will not be melting a lot until possibly next week when temps are predicted to be in the mid 30s.

Enough. That's it for snow photos until the next storm, which hopefully won't be too soon.

Enjoy Your Weekend, Everyone

We're going on a short road trip next week to celebrate my 🎂🎉

Puzzle Day and Penguins

Today is a day to celebrate puzzles

Did you know that today, January 29 is National Puzzle Day?

That was news to myself as well, but since 2002, it's been celebrated annually to honor all types of puzzles including, but not limited to, jigsaws, crosswords, Sudoku and word searches. The goal is to celebrate the mental benefits of puzzle solving which can include improved memory, cognitive function and problem-solving skills. 

Who wouldn't want to exercise their brain while having fun?

Puzzle Day was founded by Jodi Jill, a puzzle maker, writer and syndicated columnist and celebrated on her birthday (why not?). There's even an official website day at with all sorts of info at PuzzleDayFun.com.

For myself, this is a timely celebration especially after the completion of my first jigsaw puzzle in a few years. While last weekend's snowstorm was a headache for many, being indoors gave me a lot of time to work on this Christmas gift.

This puzzle was a Christmas gift from family

Of course, the only thing better than receiving a penguin jigsaw puzzle could have been one with frogs as well. But, after searching online, I found puzzles with either penguins or frogs, not both. This wooden puzzle (Leogor) consisted of 200 pieces, some with unique shapes like a Christmas tree, boat anchor, shark, mushroom, octopus, lighthouse and whale, some of which were challenging to fit together.

This puzzle mat was received as a Christmas gift

My holiday gift also included the felt puzzle mat (Gourbette) shown above for puzzles up to 1500-pieces with printed reference guidelines on the mat. The mat is a stow and go. It came with an inflatable tube and pump so the puzzle can be rolled up and inserted in the provided carrying case for temporary storage or moving it to another place. As I'm skeptical if rolling would dislodge any pieces, the mat will stay flat when working on a puzzle. It  also came with those four colorful puzzle sorting trays, nice but hardly enough for a larger puzzle.

Completed during last week's 2-day snow event

The penguin puzzle was completed and shown above on the felt puzzle mat. I'll confess to some a lot of frustration when first getting started as it's been a few years since my last one.

This 7-pack stacking puzzle trays is coming in handy

Last week, I purchased this set of puzzle sorting trays to continue this new pastime. The price was relatively inexpensive (under $10 Amazon). They've already been filled with pieces from the current jigsaw puzzle. Has anyone else had the same difficulty making these sorting decisions?

Jigsaw Puzzle Facts

Jigsaw puzzle is a specific type of puzzle involving the assembly of interlocking pieces to form a complete image and is made from cardboard, wood or plastic. Puzzle is a broader, term for any problem, game or toy testing ingenuity, like crosswords, Sudoku, logic puzzles, or Rubik's cubes. 

A lover of jigsaw puzzles is called a dissectologist which dates from the 18th-century, when early jigsaw puzzles were known as dissected maps invented in the 1760s. Today, fans are usually known as a puzzler or puzzle enthusiast. 

The term jigsaw puzzle didn't happen until 1906 and comes from the jigsaw, a specialized saw with a thin, fine-toothed blade used to cut intricate, interlocking shapes of puzzle pieces from wood or cardboard. The jigsaw was invented in 1855. 

Jigsaw comes from the nickname jig, used to described the saw's rapid up-and-down motion. The term emerged in the early 20th century when this tool became the production standard. The modern portable jigsaw was introduced in 1947.

Individual parts of a puzzle are called pieces by manufacturers and enthusiasts.

Most 1000-piece puzzles rarely have that many pieces, but range between 999 and 1026. Why? because of manufacturing cuts, grid layouts and rounding for marketing purposes Using rounded numbers, like 1000, is easier to advertise than exact figures like 1026 or 999. 

Start & Popularity of Jigsaw Puzzles

An early dissected map puzzle

Cut out puzzles originated in 1760 when John Spilsbury, a London engraver and cartographer who invented the first known puzzle. by mounting maps onto mahogany wood and cutting it into small pieces along country lines with a marquetry saw. 

Spilsbury called these dissected maps. His goal was to teach geography in a playful manner. They soon became a trendy pastime among adults as well. However, made of wood and handcrafted, only the very wealthy could afford them. Queen Victoria was known to be a puzzle enthusiast, solidifying puzzles as a favorite pastime among the upper class. 

In the 19th century, puzzles gained in popularity among adults becoming a parlor activity. These puzzles were often made from wood with intricate designs and complex cutting patterns. Themes included landscapes and famous paintings to educational subjects.

Cardboard jigsaw puzzles appeared in the late 1800s, but were slow to replace wooden ones. Why? Manufacturers felt that cardboard puzzles would be seen as low-quality, also the profit margins on wooden jigsaws were larger.

Jigsaw puzzles became a craze in the U.S. from 1907 to 1910 and later in Europe. These were typically made from solid wood and were often non-interlocking, which made them a challenge, especially as there was usually no image on the box. (I am so thankful for the full color image in current jigsaw puzzle boxes.)

Popularity climbed during the Great Depression (1929-1939) with long-lasting and recyclable entertainment. The invention of die-cutting and mass-production techniques, made cardboard puzzles attractive, popular and cheaper to mass-produce. Jigsaw puzzles were given away in product promotions or used in advertising with customers completing an image of the promoted product. 

Drugstores, bookstores and supermarkets sold inexpensive die-cut cardboard puzzles and puzzles could be rented for a nickel per night. These often featured movie stars, famous paintings or scenic travel posters. By 1933, U.S. sales reportedly reached millions per week. 

In 1945, after the end of WW II, sales of wooden jigsaw puzzles fell as improved wages led to price increases. The shift to cardboard jigsaw puzzles became a permanent standard making them an affordable hobby. Major revivals happened in the 1970s and the late 1990s, as 3D and mystery puzzles became popular. 

In the 2020s, the demand for jigsaw puzzles surged comparable to that in the Great Depression as people sought indoor activities during the Covid-19 pandemic. I read that Ravensburger, a popular puzzle manufacturer, reportedly sold over 28 million puzzles worldwide in 2020 alone. That’s an amazing statistic.

Currently, jigsaw puzzles remain popular and feature diverse, intricate designs. Top U.S. puzzle manufacturers, recognized for quality and popularity, include Buffalo Games, SunsOut, Springbok, White Mountain, and MasterPieces.

The above puzzle is the next one that’s been started in our home. Most of the outer borders have been completed. Remaining pieces will be sorted in the trays this week.

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This current puzzle uses most of the mat and our dining room table

Did you know that buying jigsaw puzzles can be pricey? The good news is there are less costly alternatives. For example, our local library has a puzzle exchange area. Also, the senior center we're members of has an entire cabinet of donated puzzles in various sizes, free to borrow and return for another selection. These options might also be available in your areas.

Your Turn — Are you a jigsaw puzzle enthusiast (dissectologist) and, if so, do you have a favorite brand or theme ?

What River ?

Most folks who have viewed this blog on a regular basis (or irregular) basis well know my fascination preoccupation taking views of the Nashua River from our 5th floor mill apartment window.

Totals as of an hour ago are around 18 inches according to Patrick who has been  monitoring weather reports. Needless to say we are not going anywhere.

In a panoramic view an hour ago this morning it was hard to tell where the land ended and the river started. But, as you can see from the bit of water on the left side, there is a water there.

This 3-image collage is a familiar view of as much of the river as we can see from our apartment window. It's still snowing with light snow expected to continue until into the afternoon. Totals as of an hour ago are around 18 inches according to Patrick who has been  monitoring weather reports.

This was the morning view on Saturday with leftover snow from the previous weekend. The light coating of river ice created interesting and beautiful patterns. 

By Sunday morning about 10 am, our view was of cloudy skies, but there was no snow falling.

That soon changed as within a couple of hours, the snow was coming down and visibility was very limited. It worsened over the course of the storm. However, opening the apartment window and screens would be to invite the storm indoors, so I resisted taking photos.

This first major snow storm of 2026 not only impacted New England, but so many other parts of the U.S. with over 30 states affected by over a foot of snow and ice. While Nashua, NH, only received snow, followed by bitter cold temperatures and winds this week.

A homemade pot of chicken soup and fresh baked bread will be enjoyed today.

Work on the jigsaw puzzle continues with completion and a reveal later this week.

Stay safe and warm as possible

Shelf snowmen outside our apt door

Friday Funnies

This funnies post is for the birds, seabirds and water fowl or specifically gulls, mallards and Canada geese. WIntry weather this week provided sightings of them on the Nashua River.

These Canada geese had snow on their backs, so I thought of snow geese which is a totally different type of geese. This snowy photo was taken from our 5th floor apartment window during last weekend's snowfall. Snow and Canada geese are both members of the larger goose family (Anatidae), but are distinct species with different appearances (white/dark morphs for Snow, brown/black for Canada). Both share North American migratory patterns. 

When these mallards had gathered after the snowfall had cleared, the expression getting your ducks in a row came to mind because they seemed to be doing just that.

Here's another expression that these gulls brought to mind this week, standing on thin ice as they were doing just that after a thin coating had formed on the Nashua River.

Thanks, as always, for your comments on my recent snow posts. Predictions are that another bout of significant snow could impact Nashua, NH, and other states late this coming weekend. If that's the case for your area(s) too, we hope everyone is safely indoors.

Enjoy Your Weekend, Everyone

Perfect one to start my Christmas gift, a penguin jigsaw puzzle

Snow Monday After

A post earlier this week showed images from a couple of weekend snowstorms. Those photos were taken from the comfort of our 5th floor apartment windows.

But to fully appreciate the beauty of a fresh snowfall, we walked outdoors through the recently completed Parc De Notre Renaissance Française. This pocket park is adjacent to the mill apartments and the newly-installed park walkway leads to Main Street in downtown Nashua.

La Dame de Notre Renaissance Française 

The park's centerpiece is the bronze sculpture, La Dame de Notre Renaissance Française also known by the shortened name, La Dame. The sculpture depicts a female mill worker with her schoolboy son who is showing her a book written in French. The mother has a spindle in her pocket to symbolize her work in the mills. 

For several hours, the view from the park to Clocktower Place mill apartments and along the Nashua River was a winter wonderland.

Cottonmill (top photo) and Lofts 34 (bottom photo) are also former mill buildings along the Nashua River that have been converted to apartment housing. The walkway shown above is part of the river walk and extends back to the park near Clocktower Place, our residence.

In downtown Nashua, Main Street was snow-free and had been cleared to the pavement; however, trees and sidewalks were still snow-covered.

By the time we were nearing the end of our walk, skies had nearly cleared which provided some wonderful reflections from buildings along the river front.

These snow-covered trees were at the main entrance of our apartment building. Overnight, a period of light snow revealed a light dusting early today, but without the winter wonderland effect as earlier. However, this weekend another, possibly significant, snowfall is predicted for late Sunday into Monday. We hope everyone else in the path of this storm remans safe.

While some folks may be far less fond of snow, we always enjoy its quiet beauty — after all, it's winter in New England.

• The first fall of snow is not only an event but it is a magical event (J.B. Priestley).
• The snow doesn't give a soft white damn whom it touches. (E.E. Cummings)
• A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water. (Carl Reiner)
• If you choose not to find joy in the snow, you will have less joy in your life but still the same amount of snow. (Anonymous)

Snowy Monday

This morning, we awoke to winter wonderland in Nashua, NH, as did folks in many parts of the U.S. and Canada. These snow scenes were taken early this morning from our mill apartment window.

There was about a 3 to 4 inch snowfall both days of the past weekend.

Currently, light snow is falling once again; however, it's expected to end within the next hour.

Meanwhile, it's creating some beautiful snow scapes along the Nashua River. We're going on an outdoor walk to enjoy and capture more of this winter beauty.

This lone kayaker was on the river yesterday afternoon during a break in the snow.

Your Turn — Did anyone else awake to a wintry wonderland, if so, where ?

Friday Funnies

This photo gives an entirely new meaning to the term, shoe tree.

Not sure how or why, but this was exactly what was seen in front of a downtown restaurant on Main Street in Nashua, NH, earlier this week.

Enjoy Your Weekend, Everyone

Our holiday decos will be taken down this weekend (sigh)

Only 343 days until Christmas as of today

9/11 Memorial & Museum

One World Trade Center or Freedom Tower (far left) is the tallest U.S. building

This post details the final destination of my December 2025 spotlight NYC tour. While the tour visit to Ellis Island and the immigrant experience was sobering, this visit to the World Trade Center (WTC) site was the most overwhelming, so many lives lost.

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 will always be remembered no matter how much time has passed. I was living in my native NJ and remember exactly where and what I was doing that morning, countless others can do the same. The words Never Forget are seared in our collective memory.

Previously, I had been in the World Trade Center when the North and South towers were under construction and later attended a concert in the plaza. The December 2025 visit was my first trip back to the site. 

So much has changed in the years since the attacks and subsequent rebuilding. This post shows some of the buildings and structures there now.

Completed in 2014, One World Trade Center, known as One WTC or the Freedom Tower, is the main building of the rebuilt complex. It was designed by American architect David Childs, who recent died (March 2025). It's a prominent landmark in lower Manhattan with its distinctive spire. The skyscraper is the tallest U.S. building, the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, the 7th-tallest worldwide, and is the only U.S. building on the top 10 tallest list (Dubai has the tallest, then Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and China with the most at five.) . 

One World Trade Center or Freedom Tower

The skyscraper bears the same name as the original WTC North Tower destroyed in 2001. It's on the northwest corner of the 16-acre WTC site, on the site of the former 6 World Trade Center. Construction started in 2006 and was completed in May 2013 when the skyscraper's spire was installed making the building and its spire reach a total height of 1,776 feet. Yes, a deliberate reference to the year the U.S. Declaration of Independence was signed. 

The Koenig Sphere, damaged but still standing in Liberty Park

It was quite amazing to see this sculpture. The Koenig Sphere is a monumental 25-foot, 25-ton metallic sculpture made of cast bronze. Although badly damaged, it was the only remaining work of art to be recovered largely intact from the ruins of the Twin Tower. 

Created by German artist Fritz Koenig as Sphere for a Plaza Fountain, the sculpture was formerly positioned at the center of Austin J. Tobin Plaza between the Twin Towers from 1972 until 2011. After being dismantled and stored near JFK International Airport, the sculpture was installed in Battery Park between 2002 and 2017, when the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey moved it to Liberty Park, overlooking the 9/11 Memorial and its original location. 

North Tower Memorial Pool 

The footprints of the North and South Towers of the WTC are marked by twin reflecting memorial pools. These two large, nearly acre-sized pools sit in the original square footprints of the towers each nearly an acre in size. Each pool features the largest man-made waterfall in North America. Each pool has a 30-foot waterfall that cascades into a deep, central void, where the towers once stood to symbolize loss and remembrance. The names of 9/11 victims are engraved around the edges of the pools on bronze panels. A flower is placed by the name on his/her birthday.

The National September 11 Memorial & Museum

The National September 11 Memorial & Museum or the 9/11 Memorial & Museum honors the 6 people killed in the February 26, 1993 explosion at the WTC and the 2,997 who died September 11, 2001, and those who risked their lives to save others.

It is operated by a non-profit institution whose mission is to raise funds to program and operate the memorial and museum at the WTC site. The museum contains exhibitions and educational programs that highlight events before, during and after 9/11 through artifacts, photos, and testimonies. 

The Memorial Exhibition (In Memoriam) honors victims with a Wall of Faces and also with exhibits of personal items. There is a very emotional impact standing inside the room of this exhibit even though I did not know any of these people, such sadness for lives lost both ion the attacks and rescue attempts.

Here are photos and descriptions of some of the other exhibits. As with any tour, there was limited time, so I tried to take in as many exhibits as possible.

WTC North and South Towers before 2001 attacks

Construction of the WTC started in August 1966. At 110 stories each, 1 World Trade Center, North Tower and 2 World Trade Center, South Tower, provided nearly 10 million square feet of office space. The towers were the tallest buildings in NYC, and briefly were the tallest buildings worldwide at over a quarter of a mile high. The North Tower stood at 1,368 fee and the South Tower at 1,362 feet. In 1974, they were surpassed by the Sears (Willis) Tower.

Dedication pedestal was found damaged, but largely intact

The first tenants moved into 1 World Trade Center in December 1970 and into 2 World Trade Center 13 months later before construction of either was completed. The world’s then tallest buildings were dedicated in 1973. A stainless steel pedestal was installed on the 5-acre plaza to commemorate the event: In commemoration of the skill and industry of the thousands of construction workers and Port Authority personnel whose efforts created the World Trade Center | World Trade Center dedication day April 4, 1973

Trying to Remember the Color of the Sky on That September Morning

The quote, No Day Shall Erase You From the Memory of Time, is from The Aeneid by Roman poet Virgil. New Mexico artist Tom Joyce forged each letter from pieces of recovered WTC steel. The mosaic is by New England artist Spencer Finch. Each of the 2,983 squares represents a victim of the 1993 or 2001 WTC attacks. Every one of the watercolor squares is a shade of blue. The artwork revolves around memory showing that our perception of the color blue might differ from that of another person. 

Remnants of box columns

Steel columns, called box columns, formed the rectangular shape and hollow center provided structural support for the Twin Towers to create their distinctive facades. At the end of the recovery period, what remained of these columns was cut to a level elevation leaving the remnants visible. The North Tower footprint was outlined by 84 columns; the South Tower had 73 columns.

Survivors' staircase

This 37-step portion of staircase made of granite and concrete was the last visible remaining original structure above ground level at the WTC site. It was originally an outdoor flight of stairs and two escalators, which connected Vesey St to the Austin J. Tobin Plaza at the WTC. The stairs were an escape route for hundreds of evacuees from 5 World Trade Center, a 9-floor building adjacent to the Twin Towers. In 2010 it became part of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. Prior to the attacks it weighed 175 tons and was 22 feet high.

South Tower column

This column once stood in the core of the South Tower, probably between floors 30 and 33. During the tower’s collapse, extreme stresses caused the multi-ton piece of steel to fold over onto itself. Three of the four welds that held the column together split open.

Section of steel facade, North Tower, floors 93-99

Highjacked Flight 11 ripped through the north facade of the North Tower and created a gash from the 93rd to 99th floors tearing apart steel columns weighing many tons. The underbelly of the aircraft mangled this facade segment with force sufficient to twist and shred the steel. 

Segment of radio & TV antenna, formerly on North Tower

A transmission tower, about 360 feet tall, assembled on top of the roof of the North Tower began broadcasting TV signals in 1980. Transmissions for most stations failed after Flight 11 hit the North Tower on 9/11/2001. All transmissions ended by 10:28 am when the tower collapsed.

Lady Liberty stood outside a NYC firehouse

Weeks and months after the WTC attacks, a Statue of Liberty replica stood honor guard outside a NYC firehouse on 8th Ave and West 48th St. It's uncertain how the fiberglass statue suddenly appeared there. Its arrival soon resulted in ongoing, spontaneous ornamentation with messages and tributes left. Neighborhood volunteers arranged the offerings, along with other items that accumulated on sidewalks near the firehouse.

Covered with uniform patches, miniature American flags, money, mass cards, rosary beads, condolence notes, souvenir postcards, angel figurines and mementos from mourners and passersby, this unique memorial was donated to the 9/11 Memorial Museum in memory of firefighters from Engine 54/Ladder 4/Battalion 9 which lost 15 men on 9/11. 

Garage door from Brooklyn Heights fire company

This garage door is from a firehouse in Brooklyn Heights, home to FDNY Engine Company 205 and Ladder Company 118. The door features a mural honoring 8 members of the fire companies who were killed responding to the 9/11 attacks. Lt. Frank Visco, a former member of the firehouse helped develop the tribute with FDNY colleagues and a high school student, Kit Carbone, who sketched a design which includes the Brooklyn Bridge and a star for each firefighter who died. Vesco, Kia and her artist father painted the mural in 2002.

Ladder Company 3 Truck, NYC Fire Department

This battered fire truck is a central and very powerful artifact at the 9/11 Museum. FDNY Ladder Company 3 is located in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan. Ladder 3 responded to the WTC and when the North Tower collapsed, the truck was crushed and damaged beyond repair. It symbolizes the ultimate sacrifice of first responders, particularly its crew led by Captain Patrick (Paddy) John Brown, who perished when the North Tower fell. Recovered from the rubble, it was lowered into the museum's exhibition space and is preserved with other artifacts, including rescue tools, as a tribute honoring fallen firefighters.

The Last Column is a 58-ton, 36-foot high piece of welded plate steel that was part of Column 1001B, one of 47 columns that supported the inner core of the South Tower. When the tower collapsed, this remnant remained anchored in bedrock, buried beneath the wreckage. It now stands in the center of the 9/11 Memorial Museum’s Foundation Hall, the column is covered in thousands of markings and tributes placed on the beam by workers and family members. 

Here's how and why the markings began to appear. George Luis Torres, FDNY Squad 41, began searching for survivors of 9/11 and also for six men from their unit who were missing. In March 2002, a tool marked Squad 41 was found.  When it became harder for Torres to keep track of the beam, he asked an on-site construction manager, the brother of a missing Squad 41 firefighter, to mark the location on an exposed beam. 

SQ 41 was sprayed on the column in yellow paint to indicate where traces of the men were found. Later, recovery workers asked the manager to spray E 214 and L 111. Within 24 hours the column was covered with other unit identifications and the first attachments of memorial tributes that grew over the months.

The Last Column beam became a symbol of loss, remembrance and of the community at ground zero. It was removed from the site on May 30, 2002, to mark the end of the recovery effort. The beam was brought to the 9/11 Museum in 2009.

The Oculus, directly across from the 9/11 Museum, is a transit hub and mall

Directly across the street from the 9/11 Memorial & Museum is The Oculus, an architectural landmark, transit hub and shopping mall designed by noted Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. It serves as a major gateway connecting PATH trains, NYC subways, shops, restaurants and the  WTC complex. All seven buildings of the original were destroyed, along with the PATH train station that served millions of commuters who traveled daily to Lower Manhattan.  

Construction began in 2004 and 12 years later, it opened to the public. The structure’s white metal-clad steel ribs reach up and out to symbolize a hand releasing a dove, symbolizing peace and resilience after 9/11. The Oculus is in alignment with the sun’s solar angles each September 11 from 8:46 am, when the first plane struck, until 10:28 am, when the second tower collapsed. Called the Way of Light, Calatrava positioned the building slightly tilted from the street grid to achieve the effect.

Interior view of the Oculus

The Oculus is the third largest transportation center in NYC. (I checked and read that Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal are larger.) Its lays claim to being one of the most expensive train station worldwide. Opening 10 years later than planned, it cost double the original $2 billion dollars budget due to the elaborate design, use of custom-made materials and the need to hurry construction. 

About its name, I learned that it comes from the strip of windows or skylights along the spine of the roof. Oculus is the Latin word for “eye,” which, in architecture, refers to a round or eye-like opening usually in the center of a dome or wall which serves as a natural light source usually with a view of the sky. 

* * * * * *

This was quite a long post about my first (and most likely last) visit to the WTC site post 9/11. If you should, you may be amazed, like myself, by the quiet atmosphere and whispered voices of others touring the grounds, especially in the museum.

Just wondering if anyone wants to share where you were and what you were doing what on 9/11/2001. It was my first day of being downsized. I was home when a friend called and told me to turn on the TV. I did for the next 48 hours.