Words: 31 (9×10)
Average Length: 4.90
The seeds for this midi should be obvious. 13 Across was first in time but then 4 Down popped into my head, and I was glad to be able to clue it with four different meanings of the word. Then came 19 Across.
Category: Midi
Words: 40 (11×11)
Average Length: 4.75
The main seed for this puzzle, 35 Across, is a term I hadn’t heard until around three weeks ago and hope never to hear again. After finding two more suitably frozen seeds, the puzzle came together quickly. There’s lots of good music (3 Down, 16 and 37 Across) and books (10 Down, 11 and 30 Across) in here, also – perfect accompaniments for a frigid February.
PS – I’m posting this a day early because I’ve got two full days of travel coming up as I head to Rapa Nui. If you’re interested, please follow along on my PuffinlessTravel blog!
Words: 28 (9×9)
Average Length: 5.21
I was reading something about classic movies, and 1A popped up. Sounds like a seed to me! Then I went looking for something to pair it with, and 24A came to mind. I spent untold hours listening to 4D when I was in high school (arrgh, half a century ago!) and could have clued it with the more famous “Fragile” album, but when I filled 18D I had to go for parallel clues.
Words: 28 (9×9)
Average Length: 5.07
Almost every night, Sandy and I eat some 10 Down and watch Jeopardy! followed by a baking show/The Voice/AGT/baseball, depending on the season. Often, once Jeopardy! is over – for the show is sacrosanct – I’ll multitask, crafting/cluing/cogitating about a puzzle while absurdly talented kids/singers/acrobats/athletes are strutting their stuff. So, while casting about for an idea for this week’s midi, I looked at the 10 Down-filled bowl in front of me and inspiration struck.
Words: 42 (11×11)
Average Length: 4.71
This is my entry for Crosshare’s monthly midi contest, the theme of which this month is “Spice.” Four of the clues – those ending with exclamation points – are cryptic in nature. Each of these asks for an anagram of either “spice” or “spices” that answers the rest of the clue. I hope you find this savory and satisfying!
Words: 55 (11×14)
Average Length: 4.45
After a year of strife, here’s a peace-focused puzzle.
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My puzzle-making colleague, Jeanne Breen, published a terrific acrostic puzzle yesterday based on a passage chosen by the incomparable Frank Bruni as one of his favorite bits of prose from 2025. You can solve it here, and you should, unless (as she put it) “you’re a proud supporter of POTUS 45/47.”
Categories
Solve Like an Egyptian
Words: 42
Average Length: 4.71
I’m nearing the end of two phenomenal weeks in Egypt, during which I’ve gotten to see the pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, the new Grand Egyptian Museum, Abu Simbel, and the temples and tombs of Luxor. The sights have been spectacular and the Egyptian people warm and welcoming. Here’s a puzzle celebrating this wonderful country.
I’ve been blogging about the trip on my PuffinlessTravel blog – please stop by to see photos and read all about it.
Categories
To My New Grandson
Words: 30
Average Length: 4.73
At 10:36 this morning, my wife Sandy and I welcomed our second grandchild, Noah, into the world. Noah is 20 inches and 8.2 pounds, and he and his parents (Andrea and Eli) are doing great. I had to mark the occasion with a puzzle, of course!
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).
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!
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.
Jeff's Puzzles 