Category: Mini

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Mini Themeless

Cavendish Calling

Mercado La Carolina, Quito, Ecuador (Sep. 2022). See 1 Across, duh.

Words:  18

Average Length:  5.00

I’ve been constructing for several years now, with several hundred puzzles under my belt (keeping all the gelato, chips, etc. company).  For the first couple of years, I focused mostly on learning how to construct a grid with minimal dreck and interesting fill.

Now, I feel like the greatest challenge in crossword construction – and one that is not often enough met in major outlet crosswords – is coming up with clues that exploit the vagaries of the English language, entertain, educate, and reflect the constructor’s personality.  (I promise I have one, though it’s sometimes well-hidden.)

This puzzle is an example:  7 of the 18 clues (1, 8, 10, 14, and 16 Across and 1 and 5 Down) might not or definitely wouldn’t be seen in a major outlet puzzle – not because of failing a “breakfast test,” but because of quirkiness.  I hope you like them!

online | puz | pdf | solution

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Mini Themed

Clue Done It

See 19 Across. Santuario Nossa Senhora dos Remedios, Lamego, Portugal (Oct. 2022)

Words:  23 (9×8)

Average Length: 4.87

Let’s get the obvious out of the way:  this is by far the ugliest grid I’ve ever designed.  Alas, after far too much time trying to fit what I wanted into a symmetrical, esthetically pleasing mini-midi grid, I gave up and settled for what you see. 

Having said that, I hope you enjoy solving the clues, just like 9 Across and 3 Down.  And if crime fiction is your thing, I can’t recommend Ian Rankin’s Rebus series highly enough.  He just released the 25th book in the series, and they’re all terrific.

online | puz | pdf | solution

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Mini

Darn Head Pin

Tower, Sentra City Hall (Oct. 2022). See 4 Down.

Words:  10 (5×5)

Average Length:  5.00

Way back in high school, I used to go bowling every weekend, reaching a greater level of success than in any other sport (it’s a low hurdle indeed).  I had my share of 1 Acrosses, but got pretty good at converting the smaller ones.  Difficulty-wise, I’d put today’s puzzle in the category of knocking down the 10-pin for a spare:  quite doable but not a slam dunk, to mix sporting metaphors.  (Dunking a bowling ball is not recommended.)

online | puz | pdf | solution

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Mini

Without Excuses

See 4 Down. Photo taken in Blenheim, New Zealand, Jan. 2024.

Here’s a different kind of mini for you. I think it should play on the easy side.

As sometimes happens, the Daily Crossword Links email missed the puzzle I posted Sunday (Themeless 87). Here’s a link to that puzzle if you’d like to solve it (and I sure hope you will!).

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Mini

Make It Big

Nothing to do with the puzzle – the Black Church, Búðaklettur, Iceland (Aug. 2024)

Words:  18

Average Length:  5.00

Here’s a straightforward puzzle with some simple math, imaginary lines, and a soul music giant.

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Mini

APR, Fools

The advertisement doesn’t lie – I took several train trips on the Isle of Man and loved them all (July 2022)

Words:  18 (7×7)

Average Length:  5.00

Once I had 1 and 16 Across in place, the rest of the puzzle (including the title) came readily.  14 Down is the type of junk fill I try to avoid, but I figured I’d own it here by tying it to the photo.  If you’re a train enthusiast, a Thomas the Tank Engine fan (or parent thereof), or just love riding in comfort through beautiful scenery, the Isle of Man is fantastic.  It’s an easy hop from Ireland, England, and Scotland and worth spending a couple of days.  Here are two posts (1 and 2) I wrote about a weekend visit.

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Mini

Tank Yu for Solving

Nothing to do with the puzzle, just an atmospheric picture from Reynisfjara Beach, Iceland (taken Aug. 2024)

Words:  18

Average Length:  5.00

1 Across was the seed.  The idea behind it is that you open your mind to daily moments of peace, calm, amusement, wonder – whatever makes you feel gratitude.  It’s a simple yet effective attitude adjustment, blunting the effect of “triggers,” calming stress, and promoting happiness.  And the more I practice it, the easier it gets to recognize and assimilate these joyful moments.

I’ll give you an example: a couple of days ago, I was walking one of our dogs.  In itself, this is a source of 1 Across if I focus on him exploring the world instead of thinking about the things I have to do.  We passed a house where young kids were shrieking with delight while kicking a ball around the backyard.  I couldn’t see the kids, but the enchantment of their play wove a blanket of bliss that warmed me for hours.  Try, it, you’ll like it!

Oh yeah, like the title says, “Tank Yu” for solving  – and for putting up with my digressions!

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Mini

Penguins They Ain’t

Adelie penguins, Pleneau Island, Antarctica, Feb. 2022

Words: 18

Average Length: 5.00

Until last month when I visited Iceland, I had an unblemished track record of never seeing 1 Across in the wild, even in places where they normally gather by the thousands.  Hence the now-inaccurate name of my travel blog, [1 Across]less Travel.  As any self-respecting cruciverbalist/travel blogger would, I had to commemorate the momentous occasion of seeing flocks of 1 Across with a puzzle.

By the way, if you want to solve an actual penguin-focused puzzle, here’s one from 2022.

One last self-promoting note: I recently posted two new poems on my poetry blog, It-Could-Be-Verse.com. One is about a visit to Hong Kong, and the other is about a visit to Vietnam.

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Mini

Peace Pipes

Nike, goddess of victory, Ephesus. Photo taken July 2014. See 5 Down.

Words:  10 (5×5)

Average Length:  4.80

1 Across and 5 Down were the seeds, as well as my two favorite clues in the puzzle.

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Mini Themeless

A Lot of It

Nothing to do with the puzzle, just a cool pic from my recent trip to Iceland (the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, to be precise)

Words:  18

Average Length:  4.89

1 and 7 Across were the seed entries.  I spent far too long trying to configure them and fill them in a way that worked, then clued everything, then relaxed – and realized I’d violated a cardinal rule of construction:  avoid duplication of entries or parts thereof.  Alas, a certain 2-letter word appears three times in this mini, but what are indie puzzles for if you can’t break the rules once in a while?  So I decided to embrace the iconoclasm in the title.  (Also, my apology if you find 4 Down offensive.  But if the sandwich fits ….)

online | puz | pdf | solution