Words: 42 (11×11)
Average Length: 5.00
A few weeks ago, I wrote that I’d clued a certain flower cryptically because I was tired of seeing it clued as “daisy relative.” Then came my granddaughter’s fixation with a certain cartoon mouse and her best friend. A cruciverbalist’s mind is never at rest, so while I was pretending to be 1A for my granddaughter’s amusement – my impression isn’t exactly spot-on, but it does the trick – I decided the 1A/4D combination would be a good seed for today’s midi.
Words: 74
Average Length: 5.05
The two seeds for this puzzle were 39A (a phrase I heard from my son) and 18A (the debate over which amuses me greatly). My original plan was to make this a themeless, but then I realized that 39A could be part of the title of a well-known book about grammar. Poof, a themed puzzle is born.
Words: 76
Average Length: 4.87
I’ve been passionate about baseball since 1969, when the Miracle Mets blew past the 109-win Baltimore Orioles to win the World Series, four games to one. To my then-11-year-old self, this was a triumph of cosmic significance.
I’ve posted a few baseball-themed puzzles over the years, but this year is special: I had the great good fortune to co-construct this puzzle with Jeanne Breen, a super-talented maker of all sorts of word puzzles who is as ardent about baseball as I am. If you’re not already following her site, In Pursuit of Puzzles, you should be!
Words: 70
Average Length: 5.34
The “theme” of this one is a stupid joke (19A/52A) that popped into my head one morning. Other than that, I think the factoid in the clue for 6D is amusing (my amusement threshold is exceptionally low), and I’m unreasonably happy with the cryptic clue for 33A.
I just got back from three weeks touring Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Chile, Argentina, and Brazil. I wrote extensively about the trip and posted lots of photos on my travel blog, PuffinlessTravel.com. Check it out!
Words: 40 (11×11)
Average Length: 4.75
The main seed for this puzzle, 35 Across, is a term I hadn’t heard until around three weeks ago and hope never to hear again. After finding two more suitably frozen seeds, the puzzle came together quickly. There’s lots of good music (3 Down, 16 and 37 Across) and books (10 Down, 11 and 30 Across) in here, also – perfect accompaniments for a frigid February.
PS – I’m posting this a day early because I’ve got two full days of travel coming up as I head to Rapa Nui. If you’re interested, please follow along on my PuffinlessTravel blog!
Words: 70 (17×13)
Average Length: 5.11
I’m jumping the gun on Presidents Day by a week, but so are the mattress sales.
Over the course of a few years pre-Pandemic, I read biographies of every US president. What a mixed bag (the presidents, not the bios): a very few were excellent (Lincoln, FDR, Washington), some seriously underappreciated (Truman, Carter), some overpraised (Jefferson, JFK), some maddeningly flawed (LBJ, TR, Nixon, all of whom accomplished great things but also wreaked harm), some terrible (Pierce, Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, Bush 2 , 47), and some (most) mediocre.
This puzzle concerns three presidents who came to the presidency after brilliant careers in public service, only to flounder or flunk during their time in the White House. I hope it’s fun and maybe even educational.
I’m leaving in a few days for three weeks in Chile (including Rapa Nui), Argentina, and Brazil. I’ll be writing about it and sharing pictures on my PuffinlessTravel blog, so please stop by if you’re interested. The first post probably will come late next week.
Words: 28 (9×9)
Average Length: 5.07
Almost every night, Sandy and I eat some 10 Down and watch Jeopardy! followed by a baking show/The Voice/AGT/baseball, depending on the season. Often, once Jeopardy! is over – for the show is sacrosanct – I’ll multitask, crafting/cluing/cogitating about a puzzle while absurdly talented kids/singers/acrobats/athletes are strutting their stuff. So, while casting about for an idea for this week’s midi, I looked at the 10 Down-filled bowl in front of me and inspiration struck.
Words: 70 (17×13)
Average Length: 5.11
I don’t remember where I came across the amusing little poem underlying this puzzle, but as soon as I saw it, I thought it deserved a grid of its own. I hope you find the poem, and the puzzle, entertaining.
Jeff's Puzzles