Tag: Mini

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Mini Themed

A Python Menagerie

See 3 Down. Photo taken at Birdworld Kuranda, Kuranda, Australia, Jan. 2024

Words:  16 (7×7)

Average Length:  5.25

Among my many useless talents, I can pretty much quote Monty Python and the Holy Grail (and many other Python offerings) word for word.  Here’s a puzzle built around some of my favorite bits (and links to each of them).

3 Down: here

5 Across: here and here

9 Across: here

15 Across: here

I’m returning home today after three wonderful weeks in Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. I’ve been writing about the trip (and posting lots of pictures) on my travel blog, PuffinlessTravel.com. Please check it out if you’re interested!

online | puz | pdf | solution

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Mini Themeless

Minsk No Words

See 11 Across (photo taken in the Vatican Museum, July 2014)

Words:  18 (7×7)

Average Length:  5.00

As you can probably tell, the seed for this puzzle was 1 Across, which I first heard from a fellow traveler on my recent trip to Australia and New Zealand.  (The female counterpart is “werewife.”)  The puzzle’s title, by the way, is a pun on the capital of 4 Down.

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Mini Themed

Play Ball!

I like Davey Martinez a lot, but I miss Dusty. Happy retirement!!

Words:  18 (7×7)

Average Length:  5.00

February is finally ending (save for one quadrennial last gasp tomorrow), which means Opening Day is just a few weeks away.  Here’s a grid welcoming the new season, including my predictions for the NL, AL, and World Series champs.

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Mini Themeless

Hide the Roaches

Me feeding a cassowary. This has nothing to do with the puzzle. I was amazed at how utterly prehistoric the creature is.

Words:  10 (5×5)

Average Length:  5

The title comes from Pre-Road Downs, a CSN deep cut with the line “hotels and midnight coaches/be sure to hide the roaches” – obviously a different kind of roach than in 1 Down, but apt nonetheless.  Other than that, I tossed in some Jewish cuisine, a Beach Boys reference, and that white fluffy stuff that ends up all over the house after my dog has finished destroying a chew toy.

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Mostly Musical Mini

Mostly Musical Mini 6

Words:  16

Average Length:  5.5

Difficulty:  A gentle May breeze with one or two gusts

The seed for this one was 13 Across – to me, one of the greatest songs ever written.  It’s a Leonard Cohen classic, and it was covered (gorgeously of course) by Judy Collins.  You can listen to his version here, and hers here.

Check back on Sunday for a special Mothers’ Day Puzzle.

puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Mostly Musical Mini

Mostly Musical Mini 4

Words:  18

Average Length:  5

Difficulty:  Moderato ma non troppo

1 Down is way up on my favorite bands list and Robbie Robertson is a great songwriter, but after 50 years I still can’t tell you what The Weight means.  2 Down is the first Police song I ever heard and I still enjoy it, notwithstanding the lame couplet noted in the clue.  In 6 Down, I added the reference to Fantasia because I have clear memories of seeing the movie, being a little scared by the Sorcerer’s Apprentice section, but loving the sound of the instrument in the answer.

puz | pdf | solution