Puzzle Description Suppressed:Click below to view spoilers

#1: Norma Dee (norm0908) on Jan 24, 2017

To the person who first rated this puzzle giving it a 2: Either you did not realize this is NOT my puzzle, but is a colorized version of one designed by Jan Wolter who created this site. Or you can't recognize a good puzzle when you see one. Or you have no respect for Jan and in that case you should do your puzzle solving elsewhere.

Very nice tribute Norma. It doesn't matter who made it. This image is worth at least a 4 for quality. :)

Thank you Aldege. I really liked how he made this puzzle and that's why I was a bit angry when some mean spirited individual disrespected it with a 2.

But then we all know there is at least one person who loves to mess with the ratings. I know that as soon as I post a puzzle this person (or persons) is going to give it a poor rating. It's like having a fly or mosquito buzzing around in your face.

A very fitting tribute Norma. As a relative newbie to the site I keep finding little features and think "that's clever". It's amazing that someone created it all just so others could enjoy themselves.

Thank you, Robert. It's mind boggling what he accomplished. And without charging one red cent. We are so indebted to him.

He'll be honored! Thanks Norma!

I know what you mean Norma. It's upsetting when you get someone who screws around with the ratings. These people have no idea what is involved in making a quality puzzle. Thankfully there are a lot of solvers who truly appreciate the effort that creators put into our puzzles. If you think about Jan as a person you can see how unselfish he was. Most people who are at a level of intellect that Jan was are mean stuck up think they are better than everyone else types. Jan was generous,caring,down to earth and brilliant. When someone created a great puzzle he would praise them. He was a wonderful creator himself. I consider my joining WEBPBN as one of the highlights of my life. That's saying a lot because everyone here knows that I feel like I have had a great time on this earth. :)

You are so right, Aldege. I often think of the people I have gotten to know here and feel how enriched they have made my life. Since I no longer drive I'm very much the home body and not much interests me on TV so it's really great to be able to visit and enjoy WEBpbn.

Wonderful way to honor Jan, Norma.

Thank you, Teresa.

Lovely tribute, Norma! The day I joined WEBPBN, my work productivity suffered. But what fun I have had and what amazing people I've interacted with.

WEBPBN is my favorite addiction / diversion / pastime. My life has been changed for the better by Jan and stalwarts like you, Norma, and Aldege, Teresa, Jota, Genuine, Sensei, and all the rest of you creators and solvers. A fantastic and diverse community, which I am grateful to be a part of.

Thank you Claire and Bill. It's the puzzles that draw us here, but it's the people who keep us here.

Ditto Aldege, claire, Bullet, and everyone else. I couldn't have said it better! It's funny how many friends I have that I wouldn't know if I passed them on the street. But you guys have gotten me through some tough times. Even if you didn't know it you/ve made such a difference in my life. Love you all!!!

Well said, Lisa.

Ditto #12 and #14! Thanks everyone.

Great tribute, Norma! Also, it's so nice seeing people comment that I don't recognize as frequent commentators!

Thank you Phyllis and Carol. It's interesting to browse the Users and take a look at how many puzzles people have solved. I see quite a lot of people who have solved a large number of puzzles but don't comment. At least on a regular basis.

I am not one to comment often. I believe it's lack of self esteem. I feel like everything I say is stupid. Or that it's already been said.

comment away, Lisa! the more you open up, the better your experience will be.... :)

very nice, Norma! and now I've got the image of Jan mapping out his puzzles in my mind as well :)

By all means, Lisa. It took me a long time to comment and I finally realized how nice the people are here and how much they encourage new friendships. So join in the fun.

Thank you Kurt. It's a strong image.

Wow! I can sure feel the fellowship going on here. The comments say so much.
Wonderful tribute.

Thank you, Jewel.

well done norma and well said in comment #13 :)

Thank you, travis.

Here Here!

Thank you, Susan.

Tears well up in my eyes and spill down my face as I type. Thank you, Norma. I loved and admired Jan from the first, when I understood he not only created this site, but actually underwrote it financially so we all could come here and play. I loved his comments on solving puzzles and how he developed the filters for finding them. The community he allowed to grow on this site has seen me through some tough nights and sad times as well as happy ones. I too, feel as though I have many friends I wouldn't recognize if I passed them on the street...but my heart knows your heart. We owe this all first of all to Jan...and now to Valerie. Thank you!

When you read through all the instructions, information, advice, etc. it is all so totally awesome. He did it because he loved doing it, not because he was hired to do it, and it shows. And he loved that we love it.

Just one of the many wonderful examples of all the friendships and family that we share is that we are all aunties and uncles to Aldege's beautiful daughters and we are all watching them grow up through his great puzzles.

I don't pay any attention to ratings. I won't let other opinions keep me from trying a puzzle or watching a movie or reading a book. Norma, I see your name and I know the puzzle will be quality. Shrug off the "negative nellies" and remember who you are and who made you.

Thank you, Joanne.

I just found this puzzle, and Norma I see your comment about how Jan used to plan out puzzles on paper before creating them here. He did that with a lot of things. Long after he died, when I was cleaning up his papers, I found *so* many paper drawings where he had planned a wide variety of projects that he was working on. Computer programs, holiday cards (he made amazing homemade holiday cards!), his novel. It was interesting to see a record of how his mind worked.

Sigh. He would have turned 60 this Thursday. I try to picture him at 60 --- and I can't imagine it. He is forever younger than that.

It was so obvious that Jan was able to focus on so many areas and be so knowledgeable about all of them. (Me? I'm lucky if I remember how to tie my shoes.) And, to us, who never saw him in person, he was and always will be ageless.

So bittersweet!

Thanks for sharing that Jan tidbit with us, Valerie. And thank you for sticking around and chatting with us. Getting to know you better helps relieve the hurt of missing Jan. We know you were the inspiration for Jan's creating webpbn, the friendliest, funnest place on the Internet. We appreciate you. (✬‿✬)

Teresa, you are so sweet!

Wednesday was five years since Jan died. It's hard to believe that it's been that long already.

Amazing ... Valerie! (((Hugs)))

Five years? Surely it was only a few days ago. I can clearly remember my excitement at finding this site. I was looking online to try to find some puzzles I could buy. I found one site in Europe that had some but there weren't very many offered and were way over-priced. I had been in touch with them and they were quite rude so I told them never mind. Shortly after that I found this site swo I contacted them again and bragged how I had found this site and besides there were over 290 puzzles and sill counting and besides that, it is FREE!

Five years. *sigh*

290 puzzles and counting. Hahahaha. I think there were over a thousand when I found the site, and I thought I had discovered a gold mine. King Jan rules forever in our hearts and on the web. Queen Valerie, I curtsey to you. (✬‿✬)

Aw, Queen Teresa, I curtsey to *you*! You -- and so many other people here -- are such a sweet person. And an amazing puzzlemaker!

Back to the topic of things that Jan drew and planned, here is a Facebook thread with some of the pictures that I found, years ago, when I was sorting through Jan's papers. The two pictures here remind me of his style of paint-by-number puzzles:
https://www.facebook.com/valeriemates/posts/10206237065034021

What a fascinating peek into the inner workings of Jan's mind.

Amazing!

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