Tag: Medium Difficulty

Categories
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

Categories
Themed

A Little Dot’ll Do Ya

Statue of 16 Across in front of the Archeological Museum in Constana, Romania, where he was exiled after seducing various nobles’ wives with his love poems. Photo taken July 2023.

Words:  76

Average Length:  4.74

Here’s a mind-expanding puzzle, including a little dirt on an ancient Roman poet, some Yiddish, Weird Al, and – oh yeah – a potential acid trip.

I’m posting this a day early because I’m getting on a cruise ship this afternoon and have no idea what the Internet access will be like.

If anyone’s interested, I’m on yet another trip – so far I’ve visited Monaco and Èze (France); the links are to write-ups on my PuffinlessTravel blog.

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Midi

And Then It Hit Me

See 1 Down (Mykonos, July 2014). Not that kind of Greek house!

Words:  28 (9×9)

Average Length:  5.00

The two top row entries were the seeds (so to speak).  My favorite clue, though, is 21 Across.

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
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

Categories
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
Word Ladder

Keep ‘Em Separated

See the clue for 31 Down (this guy was meant to scare off the seagulls from the balcony of our AirBnB at the Jersey Shore)

Words: 76

Average Length: 4.71

Word ladder puzzles have been around forever, but somehow, this is the first one I’ve ever constructed.   It’s also a pangram, with help from 9 Down and 21 Across.  Enjoy!

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
Supersized

Someday We’ll Find It

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, photo taken Dec. 2022 through a bus window

Words:  138 (21×21)

Average Length:  5.29

This supersized puzzle was inspired by 104 Across, a beautiful song that my daughter and I recorded a version of in my son’s home studio, then danced to as the father/daughter dance at her wedding five years ago.  It was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life!  I’ll spare you the video of our dance, but I will link to a gorgeous performance of the song by Willie Nelson.

As for the theme answers, most are well-known, a couple are obscure (sorry, but people don’t write many songs with the necessary colors in the title), and one (87 Across) is wrong from a spectrum standpoint but has the virtue of fitting.

online | puz | pdf | solution