A nice set of circumstances just occurred which inspired me to write this entry. Anyone who knows me knows I loooooooooooove my TiVo and tonight I finally got around to watching some older Oprah shows I had taped. Lo and behold, she does a segment on “puzzle heads” a.k.a. those who are obsessed with crossword puzzles. While I wouldn’t call myself necessarily obsessed with crosswords (Doesn’t everyone keep crossword puzzle books and pens laying around?  Or, yeah, own about 12 dictionaries?  Own several crossword dictionaries on top of that?  Do crosswords just to relax?  Have a copy of Wordplay, the documentary on crossword puzzles sitting right by the DVD player?  Or, need to just get that one more puzzle in that just might be the one you complete all on the first run?).  No, I would definitely say I have a healthy regard for crosswords but I wouldn’t say I am obsessed. Funnily enough, the other day a little bit of decorative art came into play. 6-letter word for “It may come as a big relief”.  Frieze! That was cute.

Here’s where the coincidence comes in.  I was looking through some older decorating magazines recently and came upon this picture. I loved it and the colors — and talk about incorporating a favorite pastime into your home’s decor.

                        Crossword Pic.jpg

I think it’s great when you can bring in an interest to your design scheme. Some nautical accessories or equestrian goodies never hurt anybody. Incorporating your travel finds or a collection of African masks works, too. Or even go a little cheekier than that: We saw some hidden designs in an Italian fresco that I’m sure made the owner privately laugh knowing his companions weren’t looking too closely!  That’s taking your love of pranks to a new, albeit elegant, level.  Although I’m fairly sure I would not duplicate the crossword ceiling in my home (it would drive me nuts that it was already solved or worse, unsolved), I like to know that just for the briefest of moments, I could honor something that brings so much joy (and sometimes, some unmentionable language) to my life.  And what’s a 9-letter word for that?  Priceless!

…you know, I just realized I may never live this down…;-)