Words: 12 (6×6)
Average Length: 5.00
This mini is brought to you by one of my favorite Donovan songs (there are many, led by “Jennifer Juniper” and “Sunshine Superman,” with the seed for this puzzle close behind; the title of the puzzle refers to a line in the song (“is gonna be a sudden craze”).
Words: 66
Average Length: 5.85
I enjoy cluing well-known people’s names with obscure facts, as in the clue for 21 Down.
Spaceballs (see 53 Across) is one of my favorite all-time comedies, Mel Brooks at his irreverently silly finest. Prince Valium, Princess Vespa, 53 Across, Lone Starr, Barf, Dark Helmet, and of course, “just plain Yogurt.”
Words: 34 (10×10)
Average Length: 5.18
Happy 420 to all who indulge. Please enjoy the puzzle in whatever mental state you wish!
Words: 10
Average Length: 4.80
[THE CLUE FOR 1 ACROSS SHOULD BE PREFACED BY “FAMILIAR NAME FOR”]
I never know, when I’m constructing a puzzle for which the title or clues reference an old saying or nursery rhyme, whether the reference will be understood by people half my age. This is one such puzzle. Whether or not you get the reference, I hope you enjoy it!
Words: 70
Average Length: 5.37
When I started constructing seriously a couple of years ago, I would have been astounded to learn I’d hit a half-century of themelesses. Yet here we are – with a puzzle that’s built around a wonderful Sunday morning radio show and a classic movie, which (for those of you who know me, this is redundant) I’ve never seen.
Words: 76
Average Length: 5.00
Here’s a gently springy puzzle for early April, as well as a poem that I wrote after walking around the neighborhood.
Spring in My Feet
Einstein-haired forsythias wave
To daffodils who bow and brave
The bagpipe drone and wheeze of blowers
Lofting leaves among the flowers
Callow cherries blush with pride,
Their elders slumber on and bide
The time til arthritic limbs
Break out in pinkly glorious hymns
Zoysia steals more Zs before
It grudgingly comes green once more,
For now the onion grass stands guard
While squirrels scrabble ‘cross the yard
Weekday children walk to school
In shorts though temps be cold not cool,
Weekend farmers make their beds
With shredded hardwood, blacks and reds.
I’m glad my verse you did indulge;
My friends I thank you very mulch.
Words: 11
Average Length: 4.55
This is the last Venn Mini for a bit – they’re a bit of a pain to construct, to be honest. Same rules as always: each half of the clue is like a circle in a Venn Diagram; the answer falls in the intersection of the clues and is something they have in common – it could be a name, a place, the same word used in different context, or some other commonality. Explanations follow the photo.
1A – You BASTE a turkey and a seam
6A – Shaq and the Great One both played CENTER, though in different sports. (Seeing Shaq ice skate might be interesting!)
7A – HAVANA was a hit for Camilla Cabello, and the USS Maine sank in Havana harbor, igniting the Spanish-American War
8A – EDITS as a verb includes cuts; director’s cuts may be considered EDITS used as a noun. I apologize for this one, which is the real weak link in the grid.
9A – Spike LEE; a shelter is on the LEE side
1D – BEAD is associated with drops of sweat and Mardi Gras
2D – One of the bones in your ear is the ANVIL, which is also used in a forge
3D – STATE of matter (liquid) and of the union
4D – Future is a TENSE, a cliffhanger is tense
5D – ERA – as an acronym for the Equal Rights Amendment, which was supported by NOW (the National Organization for Women), and for Earned Run Average, a key pitching stat
6D – CHE is the narrator of Evita, and Michael Che is known from SNL
Words: 74
Average Length: 5.05
Well here’s a surprise: a puzzle combining music and food. Whatever conclusions you might draw from my proclivity for this combination likely are correct. (For another example, see Meals in Motown.)
Jeff's Puzzles