2026-09-11

I visited a church in Hagen, Germany - and remembered 9/11

 Childhood memories related to this wonderful roman-catholic church, dedicated to Virgin Mary, located next to the Osthaus Museum


The first Christians in the region date back to the 7th century—though the first documented mention of a place of worship does not appear until the late 11th century, and at a different location. In the mid-12th century, the old church was demolished and replaced by a Romanesque basilica. A baptismal font from that period still survives.
 
 In 1825, the church’s vault collapsed, but it was rebuilt starting in 1826 along with a larger church.

1943–1945 > During the first air raid in October 1943, St. Mary’s Church sustained only minor damage. In December 1943, however, the windows were destroyed. They were provisionally repaired by 1945. In March 1945, however, the church was almost completely destroyed along with Hagen’s city center.
 
The church was restored as early as 1954, and the altar was consecrated on December 11, 1954. 
 

60 metres long, almost 30 metres wide
 The “Double Madonna” is a characteristic feature of churches in the Sauerland region. 
This one dates from the 18th century.
 
 

 The huge cross was made by Paul Rautzenberg 1945
 
 
A baptismal font (early 21st c.), a sculpture of Jesus Christ rising from the tomb (mid 16th c.) and a romanian-orthodox cross (late 17th c.)
 
The high altar, dated 1656 
 
A sculpture of virgin mary, dated earliest 16th century.
 
This is where I lit a candle and prayed
 

 

2026-09-06

Completed 5th September 2026

  

6x 99 pcs

Ravensburger "Puzzle Moment", 2025 

Completed 5th September 2026


 9 pieces for me :-) 


I bought this jigsaw puzzle in 2012, opened the box and laughed. I closed the box and posted a message in our forum about a "puzzle relay." This means that anyone interested can sign up to assemble the puzzle and then pass it on to the next person interested. The sender charges the shipping costs—that's all.

In fact, the "hiking trail" took more than 13 years until now. After its final participant completed it, I received it divided into 9 plates

About this masterpiece:

The painting is named "A Sunday Afternoon on the island of La Grande Jatte" by Georges Seurat. Pointillism, Oil on canvas, painted between 1884-1886. Dimension: 207 x 308 cm  **  On display at the Art Institute of Chicago.

And if you're wondering where you've seen this face before, check out "Ferris Bueller's Day off"

>> video
 













 

 

2026-09-01

Forum Meeting in Vallendar, Germany - jigsaw puzzles completed 28th + 29th August 2026

 A forum meet-up means meeting up with friends in a lovely hotel, having lots of chats, doing jigsaw puzzles and taking photos. Everyone brings something to eat; some sit working on a big jigsaw puzzle, whilst others like to do several small ones whilst chatting with different friends from time to time.

Last weekend, we met in Vallendar at a guesthouse run by the Schoenstatt Apostolic Movement. If you want to learn more about this worldwide community, please check wikipedia  ... the Schoenstatt Apostolic Movement was founded in 1914 in Vallendar, Germany.



Sunset at Vallendar Branch of the Rhine: A quiet, structurally diverse tributary of the Rhine that is well-suited for fishing. Recommendation: the Italian restaurant RIVA SEI

 
Here are the jgsaw puzzles I assembled with friends
 
 200 pcs.
"Pool Party" by Jonas Loose
Ravensburger, "Puzzle Moment", 2024 
 
1000 Pieces
Fashionista - by Demelsa Haughton
Manufacturer: Ravensburger, 2020 
 
 
 4x 99 Pieces
Ravensburger "Puzzle Moments"
 
500 pcs.
"Cow Wow" manufacturer: Cherry Pazzi

 


 

2026-08-30

Did I mention that I love toucans? (updated 10th Sept.)

 Sometimes, having an appointment at a doctor, you have to wait. No place (and even time) to do a jigsaw puzzle. Therefore I started to "paint" with my finger some digital pictures on my cellphone and the portfolio offers many many many toucans. Okay, no jigsaw puzzle by now, by who knows what happens next?

The App is named Happy color

The bird is named Toucan.

Here we go

















 

2026-08-24

Completed 23rd August 2026

  

1000 pcs.

Vintage Posters by D-Toys: "Les Prevoyants de l'Avenir" 

a huge celebration with nightly fireworks, marking the 10-Millionth member of a pension fund in France 1893. At that time, the Eiffel Tower had been standing for exactly 4 years—it was built as the entrance gate to the 1889 World's Exhibition.

 Admission to the celebration on the Champ de Mars cost 50 centimes. Here’s a brief aside on purchasing power (today, 50 centimes is worth about €2.00–2.50) - but what could you buy with that in 1893? For example

    1.3 kg of bread
    2–3 liters of milk
    a plate of stew at a soup kitchen
    2–3 daily newspapers
    a ride on the omnibus carriage in Paris
    admission to the celebration at the Eiffel Tower

 

 

2026-08-16

Completed 16th August 2026

500 huge pieces

Cat café

by Kat Uno

Mudpuppy, USA

 

Find more about the illustrator and designer on her website

 

2026-08-15

Completed 15th August 2026


1000 Pieces

Vintage Knitting & Crochet

Aimee Stewart (2024)

Ravensburger UK, 2024


 

It's too hot to just sit there in the dark living room (keeping the heat out of the house), 

but doing nothing in the evening isn't really an option.

So I started knitting


 

2026-08-02

Development process of a 2000pcs. "Favole"-jigsaw puzzle - started 25th July 2026 - update: 4th September 2026

 A friend and I have the same jigsaw puzzle in our collection. And we’ve had it for at least 15-17 years. 


 The first brilliant idea: we’ll start assembling it at the same time. 

The second brilliant idea: we’ll only work on it during our weekly phone calls. 

Crazy? No! Okay, here we go

 

Day 1 (25th July) 

unboxing with Herfried, the Octopus. It was amazing opening the foil and bag for the first time after this jigsaw puzzle has been produced and sealed

and my friend
 
Day 2 (1st August)

 and my friend

 

 Day 3 (8th August)

 I started to assemble the frame and my friend worked on the mask


 
Day 4

I managed to complete the frame and moved everything onto two white boards. Day 4 brought some success on the long hair of the lady and the chest of the man. 
 
My friend worked on the mask and the robe of the lady.
 

 Day 5
 

 
Day 6 (4th September)