Words: 14 (7×7)
Average Length: 5.57
I figured I’d construct a Thanksgiving-themed mini but 8 Across popped into my head and I ended up with a puzzle better suited for St. Patrick’s Day. I did construct a Thanksgiving-themed puzzle a couple of years ago (“I’ll Never Be Your Feast of Burden”), which you can find here. Have a wonderful holiday, y’all, and sláinte!
Words: 75 (16×15)
Average Length: 5.39
The seeds for this moderately challenging themeless were 22 and 37 across. 22 across is a question I hear all the time (the answer usually is “no”). I first heard 37 across while on one last fall; it fits!. Finally, if you aren’t familiar with Jason Isbell (see 55 across), check him out. I think he’s one of the best songwriters working today, and his music kicks ass, to use the technical term!
I’ve published several posts about my recent trip to Cuba. Please visit my PuffinlessTravel blog if you’re interested.
Words: 10 (5×5)
Average Length: 5.00
Here’s a mini I constructed on the airplane last week. It’s amazing how quickly a flight can go in the “flow state” of crossword construction. I’ve got a 16-hour flight to Australia coming up in January – who knows how many puzzles I’ll construct!
Words: 88 (17×17)
Average Length: 5.30
I’m writing this while sitting in the lounge at the Houston airport on my way from Cuba (land of scarcity) to Washington DC in the super-size everything USA. Hence a supersized puzzle. Enjoy!
Cuba is a fascinating place whose wonderful people are suffering greatly as a result of the Cuban government’s regressive policies, the ill effects of which are exacerbated by the US government’s nonsensical and inhumane embargo. I’ll be posting write-ups of my trip all week on my PuffinlessTravel.com blog – check them out if you’re interested or just want to see some pictures of what life is like 90 miles from Key West.
Words: 66
Average Length: 5.67
I’m calling the cluing of this one “treeky” – a combination of tricky and cheeky. Actually, it’s probably more cheeky than tricky, so maybe it’s “chicky.” Either way, I hope it’s enjoyable. I’ll post the next puzzle on Monday, Nov. 13. It’s a super-size (17×17) grid called “Place Names.”
Words: 16
Average Length: 4.75
As promised, after last week’s heavenly-focused mini, here’s one playing devil’s advocate. Happy Halloween! Bit of a different schedule this week: Tuesday instead of Wednesday for the mini, and I’ll post a full-size grid Friday before heading to Cuba for a week. Next puzzle probably will be Monday the 13th.
Words: 70
Average Length: 5.17
Even though I’m red-green colorblind, I’ve always been fascinated by the way different colors combine to form other colors. Here’s the first of three puzzles in this vein. The primary color theme answers for this one are two excellent, very well-known songs (19 and 32 Across). 19 Across, to me, is one of Dylan’s best, from the album of his (Blood on the Tracks) that I like the most. 32 Across also is a great song, from Joni Mitchell’s brilliant Ladies of the Canyon album (which also has “The Circle Game” and “For Free,” two other terrific tracks). At first I was reluctant to include the relatively unfamiliar 49 Across as the secondary color theme answer, but I’ve always had a sweet spot in my heart for it, and it is, as the clue notes, considered the first bubblegum pop hit to make it to #1. Here’s a link.
Words: 72
Average Length: 5.28
It’s too bad this wasn’t Themeless 42, as you’ll understand once you’ve solved the puzzle. I called this a themeless even though the one of the two seeds (1 Down/8 Down, with 17 Across the second) and a few other entries relate to a hysterically funny, warm-hearted Douglas Adams series that I would make compulsory reading if I were 1 Down/8 Down. Constructor’s prerogative – if it’s 72 words or fewer I get to call it a themeless, especially if the related answers aren’t placed symmetrically. (There’s also a bit of a baseball mini-theme.)
Note: please excuse the poor wording of the clue for 40 Across. The answer is plural.
Words: 32 (9×9)
Average Length: 4.00
Some crosswordese comes from architecture (OGEE, APSE, EAVE), some from geography (ARAL, URAL, RIA), some from the arts (ASTA, SMEE, IAGO). And then there’s food and drink, perhaps the richest source of this less-than-nourishing fill. I usually try to eschew these stale words, but for this week’s mini I stuffed as many commonly-used, calorie-laden words as possible into the grid. Bring an appetite, and come back Sunday for a meaty, well-seasoned themeless.
Jeff's Puzzles