Author: Jeff

Categories
Cryptic

Cryptic 4 – No longer thoughtful? Dear!

1 Across was the seed for this cryptic.  For those who aren’t baseball fans, “de la Cruz” in 5 Down refers to a young superstar for the Cincinnati Reds. Explanations below the photo.

online | puz | pdf | solution

Monte Carlo harbor, Monaco – the epitome of 1A

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Explanations:

1A: No longer = ex + thoughtful = pensive —> expensive (dear)

6A: Anagram of “realities”

7A: Double definition

8A: “H” inside spy agency (CIA) —> chia (seed)

10A: “Within” signals a letter string

11A: Queen of Sheba’s = Leda’s + platter = tray —> led astray

1D: Anagram of copies + synonym for mate

2D: “I hear” signals homonym; incomplete (part) + bookworm (nerd) —> partnered (joined with)

3D: Trotsky backs into = Noel (reverse of Leon), a synonym for carol

4D: Begin —> first letter of each word + cold one (beer), with Harp repeated as the definition

5D: de la Cruz (Elly) cradles (contains) e.g. (for example), ant (tiny crawler) —> el+eg+ant+ly

Categories
Themeless

Themeless 113

See 17 Across – a nature reserve in Senegal, not a safari, but I did use a 400 mm lens (Dec. 2022)

Words: 70

Average Length: 5.37

The seed for this puzzle, 8D, is a refuge from a themed puzzle that wouldn’t work out.  After I crossed it with 20A – another seed I’d been hoping to use – the rest of the puzzle came together pretty easily.

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Mini

Gendered Geography

I’m posting this from 3 Down. A votre santé!

Words: 11 (5×6)

Average Length: 5.09

Re 1A: Cars, not being familiar with Shakespearean English, assume “wherefore” means “where,” just like lots of people do.  Any way, who am I to ignore a pun that’s just sitting there. Not surprisingly given the title, 3D and 7A were the seeds.

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Themed

Going Underground

Replica of Lascaux (April 2023)

Words: 70

Average Length: 5.20

In April 2023, I took a wonderful tour offered by  Smithsonian Journeys visiting caves in France and Spain containing paleolithic art.  (I wrote about it extensively on my PuffinlessTravel blog if you’re interested – just search for posts tagged Smithsonian.)  Today’s puzzle isn’t archeologically significant, but then again, there’s no risk of running into any bats, so no worries if you’re chiroptophobic.

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Midi Themed

AFRICA

Cape Town, South Africa’s legislative capital (Dec. 2023) – the only African capital I’ve been to so far

Words: 42 (11×11)

Average Length: 5.00

I love travel and I love puns – hence this puzzle, seeded by six different African capitals.  Five are clued punnily; the sixth resisted my considerable efforts to come up with an even mildly humorous clue.  Sad to say I’ve never been to any of these cities (yet).

online | puz | pdf | solution

PS – I’m leaving today for a couple of weeks in France, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. I’ll be writing about the trip and posting lots of photos on my PuffinlessTravel blog. Please stop by if you’re interested!

Categories
Themeless

Themeless 112

Tonga, where I tried 8 Across (meh) (Dec. 2024)

Words: 68

Average Length: 5.56

Some cheek, some politics, lots of puns, a brilliant author (21/23 Across), another brilliant author (Shakespeare), and Ken Kesey.  Enjoy!

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Midi Themed

It’s Autumnatic!

Staffen im Breisbau, Germany (Oct. 2019)

Words: 42 (11×11)

Average Length: 4.71

This is my entry into Crosshare’s Monthly Midi Crossword Contest.  The theme for the contest is “Fall,” but not strictly in the seasonal sense.  Taking up the challenge, 11 of the 42 entries relate to some meaning of fall.

I learn things from crosswords almost every day, but in cluing this one, I learned something that truly surprised me – check the clue for 5 Down. 

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Themed

Like a 4.0 GPA

See 16 Across. Douro river, Portugal, Oct. 2022.

Words: 75 (16×15)

Average Length: 5.12

Here’s a straightforward themed puzzle, which you don’t need a perfect report card to solve.

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Cryptic

Cryptic 3 – Wiccan’s Choice Word Overheard

See 3 Down. Photo taken in Kinderdijk, Netherlands, Oct. 2019

Here’s my third foray into the world of cryptic crossword construction.  Sending out huge thanks to @Nate, an experienced cryptician  (if there is such a word) and member of the wonderful Crosshare community, for providing detailed comments and helpful suggestions on my first draft. 

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Themeless

Themeless 111

Nothing to do with the puzzle – just a photo I like, taken in Cartagena, Colombia in July 2025

Words: 75 (16×15)

Average Length: 5.49

The seeds for today’s puzzle were the clue/answer combos at 3 Down and 9 Down, along with 35 Across (I’d heard “I Will Follow You into the Dark” just before sitting down to construct) and 42 Across.  I was able to include quite a few unusual longer answers, but at a price:  there are three pieces of 3-letter fill (8 Across, 45 Down, 66 Across) that are downright dreadful.  Please forgive me!

online | puz | pdf | solution