Words: 12 (6×6)
Average Length: 5.33
This was a weird puzzle to construct. I had two seed entries, neither of which survived the filling and editing process. Then I spent far too long trying to come up with a clever title before deciding just to literally bestow a title upon the puzzle.
Words: 68
Average Length: 5.62
The three grid-spanners were the seeds for today’s themeless. Actually, I’m not sure how “themeless” the puzzle is, given that all three grid-spanners are temporal in nature, but, to quote the great Kurt Vonnegut, “so it goes.”
Words: 72
Average Length: 5.42
The seeds for this themeless were 20 Across and 50 Across. I’ve lived by 20 Across plenty of times, and taken 50 Across in many places around the world. The advice in 18 Across comes from a jazz band director I had in college; unfortunately, I’ve used it plenty of times as well.
I got back last night from two phenomenal weeks in Egypt on a trip booked through Smithsonian Journeys. If you’d like to read about it and see lots of photos of pyramids, temples, and colorful royal tombs from 4000 years ago, please check out my Puffinless Travel blog.
Words: 70
Average Length: 5.34
The seeds for today’s puzzle were 33 Across (snarky clue included) and 8 Down (a “wrong” answer in a trivia game a few months ago, the same game that gave me the clue/answer to 42 Down).
By the way, Flossie and Freddie in 16 Across come from the “Bobbsey Twins” series of children’s books, which were all the rage around 60 years ago. (Their older twin siblings were Bert and Nan.)
Words: 68
Average Length: 5.74
35 Across and 5 Down were the seeds for today’s puzzle; they came from two terrific books I’d recently read, Rick Steve’s account of his decision to become a travel writer and Catherine Nixey’s Heretic: Jesus Christ and the Other Sons of God.
Apologies – it was just brought to my attention that 5D in the originally posted puzzle was misspelled. I’ve fixed it in the puz and pdf version but haven’t been able to do so yet in the online version.
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.
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!
Words: 72
Average Length: 5.31
4D and 19D were the seeds for today’s puzzle. I don’t remember where I first heard 4D – possibly as an answer on Jeopardy or in a shipboard trivia game – but I’m surrounded by them, as reflected in the décor of my house. And 19D is just plain true, as I find out a couple of times a week.
Words: 72
Average Length: 5.36
I had lots of fun cluing this one – consider that fair warning to expect a bit of silliness. The seed was 37 Across, which originally was going to be one of a suite of answers for a themed puzzle. I couldn’t come up with enough other decent themers, so it’s been repurposed here.
Jeff's Puzzles