Published: May 09, 2009 09:31 pm      

A puzzling picture

BY STEPHANIE DEBOLT

Correspondent

Lyman Hug of Goshen readily admits he isn’t a great fan of puzzles. When his wife Sherry and family members break open a new puzzle box and get started on the border pieces, Lyman usually finds something else to do.

“I’ll tell you, I’m not crazy about puzzles,” Lyman said.

What Lyman is crazy about is photography.

Recently, on a day trip to St. Joe, Mich., Lyman and Sherry ventured into an antique store called Days of Yore and the unique displays caught his eye. The scene was of a display in the store, a hodgepodge of antique items including hats and hat boxes, furniture, china and clothing.

The shop “had small, related displays that were organized into interesting groups,” Lyman said.

The fact that the lighting in the store was great didn’t hurt, Lyman said. So some pictures were taken.

After the pair returned home, they looked at the images and Sherry thought one of them would make a good jigsaw puzzle. Sherry then sent the image to her favorite puzzle company, White Mountain Puzzles.

A few weeks later, the Hugs learned that their photo had been selected for production.

“I loved the look of the shot, all the wood tones in it. I think it will make a good puzzle,” Lyman said.

As a token of appreciation for the opportunity to photograph items in the store, Lyman sent the owner a 16-by-20 print of the photograph used for the puzzle.

“I told her about the puzzle, and we’re sending her one of those too,” Lyman said.

As the boxes of puzzles began arriving in Goshen, Sherry once again broke the seal on a new challenge. She said that within a few days, the 1,000-piece puzzle was complete. It now sits in the front window of the Hugs Main Street store, ShutterHugs, where the puzzles are also for sale.

It also seems that Lymans’ interest in piecing puzzles has grown exponentially.

“I actually helped put this one together,” Lyman said with a laugh.

Lyman added that the puzzle company has already asked him to start looking for his next puzzle inspiration, and he’s considering submitting one that is Goshen-themed.

“I think that will be what I work on next,” Lyman said.

“Antique Shop” puzzles are available for sale at ShutterHugs, 132 S. Main St., Goshen, or at the Web site www.whitemountainpuzzles.com