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.
Words: 12 (6×6)
Average Length: 4.67
This was a mind-wandering-before-falling-asleep puzzle, when the idea for 1, 2, and 3 Down popped into my head. Over breakfast the next morning – after my normal routine of Wordle, Connections, the Atlantic puzzle, the NYT puzzle, and Simply Daily’s Easy Cryptic Crossword – I filled the grid. Since the seed answers may be hard to get, at least at first, I clued this puzzle to play easier than my usual.
Words: 10 (5×5)
Average Length: 5.0
Here’s the second of my late-night-in-the-Hong-Kong-airport puzzles. This one should play smooth and easy (I hope), just like the Glenmorangie I had at the airport bar.
This revised version has a corrected clue for 7 Across.
Words: 10
Average Length: 4.80
Don’t get lost in 1 Across. (“Danger, Will Robinson” – and if that means something to you, you’re at least as old as I am!) Please enjoy, and come back Sunday for a medium-difficulty themed puzzle.
[Photo: see 1D; taken in the Hungarian Parliament, July 2023]
Words: 10
Average Length: 4.60
This one should be solvable in 1 Down/3 Down. Enjoy!
I just returned from a fascinating trip from Bucharest to Budapest. If you’d like to see some photos and read about it, please check out my travel blog, PuffinlessTravel.com. In addition to the travelogue, the final post is a point-by-point comparison of Viking River Cruises and Tauck River Cruises, if that’s of interest.
Words: 11
Average Length: 4.73
I’ve seen this concept done as a word ladder, but a mini-puzzle doesn’t allow for such sleight of hand. Nothing fancy here; I clued 1 Down the way I did because that show perfected the technique of starting out fabulous, keeping it up for three seasons, then cratering. Just my opinion, of course.
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: 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: 79 (16×15 grid)
Average Length: 5.06
Housekeeping note: the clue to 70 Across should read “One who might assist in the birth of a 64 Across.” Thanks to Sommersmith for pointing out the need for an edit – and be sure to check out his puzzles over at Crosshare.org; they’re excellent!
I think this is one of the easier puzzles I’ve ever constructed. It’s a straightforward themed puzzle clued at a Monday/Tuesday level. There are a lot of proper names, but they’re all reasonably well-known. Enjoy the respite: next Sunday’s grid will be a tough themeless. First, though, come back Wednesday for MMM 24.
Jeff's Puzzles