Puzzles

Last night was the second installment of my birthday gift from Ardyth--Puzzle & Game night. Only Ardyth opened it up to my other daughters and their husbands, as well as my sister-in-law and my brother. Snacky food was the menu of the evening, and there were plenty of chips, clam dip, Ardyth's home-made garlic dip, donuts, cookies, and Ezre's chili. Plus "drinkage" (our term for beverages). And Ardyth came armed with lots of crossword puzzle books, Sudoku books, other types of puzzle books, and photocopies of some of the puzzles, as she was planning a contest to see who could finish a crossword puzzle first (with prizes). Since Sudoku was new to some of us, so she wanted to be sure she had enough copies for everyone to try without waiting for a free book. And she even supplied mechanical pencils. What a girl!

Ezre and Pink Avenger and their hubbies were the only ones who were able to come. Heffalump & my sis-in-law were both sick, and Myra was recovering from the birthday party they had given for Princess T earlier in the day.

Some of us were new to crossword puzzles as well. I have done them off and on through the years, especially those in the newspaper. And from time to time someone will gift me with a crossword puzzle book. This was one of my mother's favorite pasttimes, so it brought her memory a little closer to us. Ardyth was 13 when my mother passed away, so she remembered seeing Mom doing the puzzles. Ezre and PA never met her--she died three years before they were born.

Ardyth finished the crossword puzzle first, I was second, and I'm not sure whether Ezre or her husband (aka Roman) was third. Ezre was one who had never done crossword puzzles before (I don't think she has, anyway), so it was fun as we all tried to give her hints when she got stuck. For example, a 4-letter word using "turkey" as an example. She had the MEA, but couldn't imagine what the last letter could be. I don't remember exactly what clue Roman gave her, but she cried out triumphantly "MEAL." Poor Roman, he laid his head down on the table and groaned while the rest of us who had already gotten it, laughed. She did get it after that (the answer was "MEAT").

I have tried Sudoku in the past but had always given up because I lack the patience to keep erasing when I discover a wrongly-placed number. So Ardyth showed me her strategy. Totally different than what the first book I had ever seen had given. No wonder I was frustrated. I will be giving Sudoku a better look now.

Thanks Ardyth, for a GREAT evening!