Friday, April 2, 2021

Peggy is partial to purple and pink; “With a cluck-cluck here & a buck-buck there...” Birds do it, bees don’t, educated fleas? Maybe... Keeping cool in the heat of competition; The cryptic mystery of the cross... word

 P/UZZLERIA! SLICES: OVER 6!p SERVED




Schpuzzle of the Week:

“With a cluck-cluck here & a buck-buck there...”

It is Sunday, April 10, 1960 in Mayberry, North Carolina. Andy and Aunt Bee pay a visit a poultry farmer named Aldy MacDonald. 

Bee needs to bake a birthday cake for Opie. And Easter is just a week away!

Aldy and Andy were boyhood pals, and young Andy often bicycled to the MacDonald Family farm to play. Andy, a precocious lad, had made up a nickname for Aldy that consisted of the last three syllables in the refrain of an obvious nursery rhyme/song. 

It is a nickname Andy still occasionally calls Aldy by, as a joke.

The trio visit the henhouse where Bee begins gathering three-dozen Grade-A eggs. 

Aldy helpfully hands Bee a wicker container, but gives her some dubious advice that consists of a common eight-word idiom, minus its initial word. 

When she is done hunting and gathering, Andy gives his aunt a three-word, five-syllable instruction, then they drive home now amply prepared for cake-baking and Easter morning.

Take the seven initial letters of what Aldy said to Bee. The first three spell a word. Say that word and the remaining four letters aloud. The result sounds like what Andy said to his aunt.

What did Aldy say, and then what did Andy say?

Appetizer Menu

Very Good Friday Appetizer:

The cryptic mystery of the cross... word

It’s Good Friday, a day associated with a cross.

But this particular Friday is particularly Good. 

Why? Because it will also be associated with a cross... specifically, a cryptic crossword puzzle created by our friend Patrick J. Berry (screen name cranberry).

This is the nineteenth cryptic crossword puzzle with which Patrick has graced Puzzleria!

Here are the links to Patrick’s eighteen previous cryptic crosswords on Puzzleria! Each is a masterpiece of crypticism!

ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX SEVEN 

EIGHT NINE TEN ELEVEN TWELVE THIRTEEN 

FOURTEEN FIFTEEN SIXTEEN SEVENTEEN EIGHTEEN

For those of you who may be new to cryptic crossword puzzles, Patrick has compiled a few basic cryptic crossword puzzle instructions regarding the Across and Down clues and their format:

The number in parentheses at the end of each clue tells how many letters are in the answer.

Multiple numbers in parentheses indicate how letters are distributed in multiple-word answers.

For example, (6) simply indicates a six-letter answer like “jalopy,” (5,3) indicates a five-and-three-letter answer like “cargo van,” and (5-5) indicates a five-and-five-letter hyphenated answer like “Rolls-Royce.”

For further insight about how to decipher these numbered cryptic clues, see Patrick’s “Cryptic Crossword Tutorial” in this link to his November 17, 2017 cryptic crossword

The Tutorial appears below the grid that contains the answers in that edition of Puzzleria!

Have a good time solving. After all, any Friday you get to solve a Patrick J. Berry cryptic crossword puzzle is a Good Friday...

Make that more than "Good"... it's an excellent Friday!


ACROSS

1. Some head off, taking car trip around part of California(9)

6. Picasso’s top pieces are beautiful, lasting originals(5)

9. Foreign correspondent’s report depicts a corrupt organization(7,8)

10. Attractive girl would be good in comic role(6)

11. Go on one to get back in shape(8)

13. Soul? It's in a different city(5,5)

14. A little for a lot, it’s said?(4)

16. Bachelor has wild party(4)

17. Silly to get groove back, “defying the odds” in story about singer?(4,6)

19. Hymn to go with return of spring?(4,4)

20. Unable to sleep during bad weather—almost a blackout!(6)

23. Accident here—sadly, all the miners die!(5,4,6)

24. Fancy a cracker? Yes(5)

25. Turned on radio, initially calm—getting latest from meteorologist, ultimately fear it’s bad weather(9)



DOWN

1. Dance around piano? Cut!(5)

2. Lingerie pervert craves? It’s erotic!(9,6)

3. Game allowed to get in way?(8)

4. Piece of turkey, no bread?(4)

5. Last-minute entertaining, having no budget(10)

6. Murphy Brown’s heart breaking (apt to break?)(6)

7. Operation in bar?(5,10)

8. “Scream”? Put in less recent film(3,6)

12. Note placed inside gift, as rule(10)

13. Journalist lover gets in the sack?(9)

15. Movie with Lemmon and Matthau—not the first duo to turn up on ocean, primarily (in questionable taste)(3,2,3)

18. “Number one” perfect beauty, raised in New York(6)

21. Passenger I had in back, needing first aid(5)

22. Drop in, humiliate a relative?(4)


MENU


Brrr-umal Slice:

Keeping cool in the heat of competition

Name a type of competition, in two words. 

Move the first letter of one word to the beginning of the other to spell what sounds like something cold and a word that describes cold air.

What is this competition?

What is something cold?

What word describes cold air? 


Riffing Off Shortz And VanMechelen Slices:

Birds do it, bees don’t, educated fleas? Maybe...

Will Shortz’s October 11th NPR Weekend Edition Sunday puzzle, created by Greg VanMechelen of Berkeley, California, reads:

Name something birds do. Put the last sound of this word at the start and the first sound at the end, and phonetically you’ll name
something else birds do. What are these things?

Puzzleria!s Riffing Off Shortz And VanMechelen Slices read:


ENTREE #1

A pair of cinematic legends – a female and a male – with roots in the same European country are not related but share the same surname. Their first names begin with the same vowel.

One of the legends was an actress who in a classic film said, “Richard, I tried to stay away. I thought I would never see you again, that you were out of my life.” As she speaks, the eyes of the viewers are drawn not to her eyes or lips but rather to another facial feature – a feature down which, as the film is rolling, something else is also rolling.

However, spending hours on end on a sofa or in a theater watching classic films is not wise. It might make you sluggish. Health professionals therefore encourage you instead to (1) move more. They also recommend that you (2) get more sleep, (3) reduce stress, (4) avoid smoking, (5) limit alcohol consumption, (6) eat a nutritious diet, (7) avoid added sugar, (8) stay hydrated and (9) be social. If you follow these nine recommendations, say the experts, you will boost your ______ _____.

Rearrange the combined letters in the surname of the two cinematic legends, the actress’s facial feature, and what health professionals say you can boost. The result is the name of a puzzle-maker and his hometown.

Who is this puzzle-maker and his hometown? 

What are the four words you rearranged?

ENTREE #2

“Fastenation”

Name two fasteners, one and two syllables,

(If you’d purchase them, both would be “billables.”)

One is shaped like a U

And the other’s a glue...

Write them down in these  blanks: ______, _____                                                      (...both are “fillables”).

From the first, strike the final two letters

Then switch first and last sounds, like typesetters

Will at times have to do.

The result, when you’re through,

Sounds like Word Number-One, you go-getters!

Okay, okay, enough of that silliness... here’s the prose version of this puzzle:

Name two fasteners, in one and two syllables. The first is shaped like a U, and and the other is a glue. 

Remove the final two letters from the U-shaped fastener. Put the last sound of this result at the start and the first sound at the end, keeping the vowel sound as it was. The final result, phonetically, will sound like the “gluey” fastener... you go-getters!

What are these two “fastenating” fasteners?

ENTREE #3

Take the surname of our most athletic U.S. president, one who once played a game against the Chicago Bears, and who chose law school over an opportunity to play for the Green Bay Packers! He was also a scratch golfer. 

Put the last sound of this name at the start and the first sound at the end, and phonetically you’ll get the name of a fictional character featured in a series of direct-to-video comedy films focusing on golf, auto racing, fishing, football and baseball.

Who are this president and fictional character?

ENTREE #4

Take a two-word synonym of “initial attempt” in which two identical letters appear consecutively. Remove the second one.

The first word has remained intact after the letter removal. Put the last sound of this word at its the start and the first sound of this word
at its end.

Now move the space between the two-word synonym one place to the left and replace it with a hyphen. The  result is something you prepare in a wok.

What is it?

ENTREE #5 

Name an idiom for an especially irritating, aggravating, or obnoxious person, thing, or situation. 

The fourth and final word in the idiom is a body part.

Take a part of that body part, specifically the back part. 

Put the last sound of this word at the start and the first sound at the end, and phonetically you’ll name the first word in the idiom. 

What is this idiom?

What is the “back part” of the body part in the idiom

ENTREE #6

A mascot who resembles a miniature version of Peter Pan appears on a cereal box. 

The mascot is associated with a nationality and a holiday.

Take the month associated with the holiday. 

Put the last sound of the month at the start and the first sound at the end to spell the singular form of a word that appears on the cereal box along with the mascot. 

What are this month and mascot?

Hint: The name of the mascot rhymes with “Chuckie.”

ENTREE #7

Take one of the fifty U.S. states. 

Put the last sound of this state at the start and the first sound at the end, and phonetically
you’ll name a word that appears somewhere in the text of this puzzle. 

What state is this?

What is the word in the puzzle?

ENTREE #8

One of the great players in NBA history was known by a nickname that was an abridgement of his given first name. 

Put the last sound of this nickname at the start and the first sound at the end, and phonetically you’ll name one of the benefits he reaped for being so talented.

He played on championship teams with two franchises led by Phil Jackson and Pat Riley, who appreciated his capacity to stay calm, steady and focused, even under extreme
pressure – in other words, this player did not _____ under pressure.

Take the word in that blank. Put the last sound of that word at the start and the first sound at the end, and phonetically you’ll name the title of the role played by Jackson and Riley.

Who is this player?

What benefit did he reap?

What didn’t he do under pressure?

What role did Jackson and Riley play?

ENTREE #9

Name an eight-letter hyphenated word that means “of the highest quality, first-rate.” It is an adjective that many would use to describe four presidents surnamed Roosevelt, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln, for example.

Put the last sound of this word at the start and the first sound at the end, and phonetically

you’ll name counsel that a fifth president’s conscience may have once whispered to him, when he was a lad, during a time of temptation, in two words.

What is the synonym of “first-rate?”

What did the future president’s conscience perhaps whisper to him?

Dessert Menu

Filling The Basket Dessert:

Peggy is partial to purple and pink

During the morning hunt, little Peggy puts only the ones with pink and purple shells into her basket. 

What is curious about what Peggy does and what she does it to?

Hint: The curious nature about what Peggy does is related to wordplay.


Every Friday at Joseph Young’s Puzzleria! we publish a new menu of fresh word puzzles, number puzzles, logic puzzles, puzzles of all varieties and flavors. We cater to cravers of scrumptious puzzles!

Our master chef, Grecian gourmet puzzle-creator Lego Lambda, blends and bakes up mysterious (and sometimes questionable) toppings and spices (such as alphabet soup,


Mobius bacon strips, diced snake eyes, cubed radishes, “hominym” grits, anagraham crackers, rhyme thyme and sage sprinklings.)

Please post your comments below. Feel free also to post clever and subtle hints that do not give the puzzle answers away. Please wait until after 3 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesdays to post your answers and explain your hints about the puzzles. We serve up at least one fresh puzzle every Friday.

We invite you to make it a habit to “Meet at Joe’s!” If you enjoy our weekly puzzle party, please tell your friends about Joseph Young’s Puzzleria! Thank you.


56 comments:

  1. I just solved the Schpuzzle. It took some figuring out, what your sentence about the initial letters meant, Lego,because it wasn't at all clear to me, till I finally caught on (because I kinda knew where it was trying to go.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, ViolinTeddy,
      I just did a bit of editing of the Schpuzzle to clarify things a bit... I hope.

      LegoWithGratitude

      Delete
    2. I have some more suggestions for clarifications, if you woulnd't mind, Lego. I've solved everything now except Entree #2 and the Dessert.

      But in Entree #4, I would have been stuck by the directions about "two instances of the same letter appear consecutively", if I hadn't already ID'd the synonym phrase. It made it sound as if there were FOUR letters involved, two of the same in a row, and then another two of a different same in a row.

      THen in Entree #8, when we're told to perform the switcheroo operation on 'the name', I didn't know WHICH name (the full first or the shortened version, i.e. nickname) to do it on...until after searching lists and lists, since this was the hardest entree for me, other than #2 which I coudln't solve, I finally found the right person..only then did I know it was the nickname.

      As to the last entree, calling it the 'future president' after mentioning the Roosevelts, etc, was really confusing, given who it turned out to be.

      Delete
    3. Great suggestions, "ViolinTedditor"!
      I have tweaked my text. Hope it helps.

      LegoWhoNotesThatTheWordplayInvolvedInTheDessertIsTheTypeOfWordplayThatTheMajorityOfAllNationalPublicRadioAndPuzzleria!PuzzlesPossess

      Delete
    4. Indeed, great improvements, especially on Entree 9.

      Delete
  2. BUt I really liked the Slice. BUt don't have a clue how to do the Dessert (as sometimes happens, i.e. I got to myself: "HUH?"

    ReplyDelete
  3. Congrats to Cranberry on puzzle- Cryptic crossword 19. "Hey 19."

    ReplyDelete
  4. Good Friday to all(and I hope we all have a Happy Easter this Sunday, too)!
    Thank you, PS, for the congratulations. Especially the Steely Dan reference at the end. One of my favorite groups. I'm just glad you didn't try to work in "COVID-19" after this past year!
    Mom and I just had supper, some kind of chicken pot pie from one of our "box meals" we get. Not only was it delicious, but we've also got leftovers for lunch tomorrow! I've also heard the latest "Ask Me Another" episode, and solved the latest Private Eye Crossword. And after this, it's the latest Prize Crossword on the Guardian website. Weather-wise, we won't have any more storms until next Thursday. We can only hope there won't be any more tornadoes that day. I'll keep y'all posted. High of 71 degrees on Easter. Perfect egg-hiding weather!
    Pretty easy puzzles this week(not counting my own contribution, of course). I stayed up late last night and got everything except the Brrr-umal Slice, though I'm a little unsure about the Dessert. On the one hand it seems so obvious, but on the other hand there may be something about it I'm missing. Of course, any hints/clarification will be greatly appreciated. I also have to say I think the Schpuzzle is quite clever this week, though as a "nickname" I do find it rather unusual, even for a farmer.
    Good luck in solving to you all, and if any of you need any hints for the cryptic, I'll see what I can do. I don't normally try to have a specific degree of difficulty with my clues, but of course some will be harder than others. If you remember any of my past puzzles, you probably know I try to be challenging, but not impossible. Think outside the box, if necessary. Also, please stay safe, and if and when you celebrate this Sunday, please wear a mask. Cranberry out!
    pjbWillActuallyCelebrateHisNextBirthdayInTwoWeeksInFt.WaltonBeach!SeeY'AllThere!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Happy and blessed Easter to all here :)

    To this point, have all the Entrées, the Schpuzzle, two [both likely alternate] answers to the Brroom Slice, and one for the Cryptic. No idea on the Dessert.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have the straight scoop on the Dessert from Peggy herself.

      Delete
    2. The wordplay in the Dessert is anagrammatic.

      LegoWhoStoresHisAnagramsInHisAnagramAttic!

      Delete
    3. My alternate may also be playful?

      Delete
  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
  7. Monday Hints:

    Schpuzzle of the Week:
    Aldy MacDonald may not have been "Old MacDonald" yet when Andy and Bee visited his farm back in 1960... but he certainly would be today!

    Very Good Friday Appetizer:
    The cryptic mystery of the cross... word
    I will defer to Patrick regarding hints for hisexcellent and challenging cryptic crossword puzzle.

    Brrr-umal Slice:
    The word that describes cold air sounds like something an orthodontist might do.

    Riffing Off Shortz And VanMechelen Slices:
    ENTREE #1
    The first names of pair of cinematic legends both begin with an "I".
    ...If you follow those nine recommendations, say the experts, you will boost your ______ _____. (The words in the two blanks begin with an "E" and an "L".
    ENTREE #2
    One “fastenating” fastener might be used during tummy tucks, the other might give you "lockjaw" when you brush your teeth!
    ENTREE #3
    The most athletic prez: not a Lincoln, but a...
    ENTREE #4
    "If at _____ you don't succeed, ___ ___ again."
    ENTREE #5
    "Hey, I fear there is a shard of glass in the fretwork of that Guee-tar!"
    ENTREE #6
    The cereal in the box upon which the mascot appears originally contained marshmallows in the shapes of pink hearts, yellow moons, orange stars, and green clovers.
    ENTREE #7
    The state is syllabically unique.
    ENTREE #8
    The NBA great was an LSU grad.
    ENTREE #9
    The future prez's profile appears on two-bits and his mug on a simoleon.

    Filling The Basket Dessert:
    As I mentioned in a recent comment on this space (immediately above), the answer involve anagramming.
    George Wallace and Lester Maddox would have approved of what little Peggy did.

    LegoMyPurpleOrPinkEggo!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Never heard of the word "simoleon" (but had solved #9 already, so no loss). At first, thought it was a typo.

      Now have half of the Brr Slice, but not the first word. I still like my 1st alternate better.

      Delete
    2. OK, now I get the point :)

      Delete
    3. Still don't get the Brrr-umal Slice, and I guess the Dessert involves "color-separating"?
      pjbSaysJustBecauseHe'sFromTheDeepSouthDoesn'tMeanHeCanAutomaticallyUnderstandAnyMentionOf"Segregation"InAPuzzleHintFrom2021!

      Delete
    4. So are you watching "Soul of America."? Little late for me.

      Delete
  8. Lego -
    Loved the pic with the fans on the bleachers.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks, geofan. The image took me a while to create.
    In the Brrr-umal Slice, cranberry, competitors in the competition wear maillots.

    LegoWhoSupposesThat"Discriminating"PuzzleSolversAreMoreAptToSolveTheNonColorBlindDessert

    ReplyDelete
  10. Finally got the Slice(the word "maillot" was what did it), but now I need any kind of clarification possible to get the Dessert.
    pjbKnowsYouCan'tSpellPeggyWithout"Egg",ButThat'sAboutIt

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "The ones with pink and purple shells" (but the ones having other colors too) are what Peggy "does it to." Find a one-word anagram of all these "ones."
      "All these ones" is a two-word noun. The anagram of that noun is a verb.

      LegoWhoNotesThatGymnastsAlsoWearMaillots

      Delete
    2. Okay, I finally have an answer for this puzzler, although I can't really tell if it is the COMPLETE answer. I'd been trying so hard to anagram PEGGY somehow along with 'pink' and 'purple'.

      Delete
    3. Do you know that anagram had occurred to me already, but I wasn't even thinking about the Dessert at all? Just now I made the connection, but earlier my mind was only wandering!
      pjbIsSometimesAmazedByTheAnagramsHeDiscoversWhenHe'sNotEvenReallyTrying!

      Delete
    4. VT,
      The name "Peggy" and the colors "pink" and "purple" were just arbitrary. I just pulled them out of my hat... just like a magician might pull an Easter rabbit out of a hat!
      The only "trick" to this puzzle was that words that begin with an E and an E anagram into a verb that begins with an S.

      Lego'sEggEggCrate

      Delete
    5. Yes, that's what I got, of course. Thks...

      Delete
  11. See that clip about a girl who ran out of hair spray and used a certain glue instead? She ended up having to have plastic surgery on her scalp with resultant hair loss. It was a hairtastrophe.

    ReplyDelete
  12. PUT ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET / PAY EIO, BEE
    B + HAS > BASH
    PiecesAreBeautifulLastingOriginals PICASSO
    BICYCLE RACING > ICICLE BRACING
    PAIN IN THE NECK > NAPE
    EASTER EGGS > SEGREGATES

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Paul,
      I have always appreciated the manner in which you approach our blog. You are not a "glutton," you do not "gorge..." (not that there is anything wrong with that!).
      No, Paul approaches P! as one might approach an hors d'oeuvres tray, buffet table or pu pu platter. Picking. choosing. He is "discriminating," but in the very best sense of that word.
      I truly value Paul's participation on our space. He has been with us since the "bitter beginning," but has made batches of sweet contribiutions throughout our nearly seven years of existence. He is a gem.

      LegoGratefullyAndSincerely

      Delete
  13. Schpuzzle: Put all your eggs in one basket & Pay EIO, Bee

    Appetizer: Most of it eluded me. Sorry. Maybe next time. My compliments though, pjb. Very clever. I look forward to seeing all the solutions.

    B-Slice: Bicycle racing; Icicle; Bracing

    Entrees:
    1. Greg VanMechelen & Berkeley; Bergman, Cheek, Energy level
    2. Staple & Paste
    3. Ford & Dorf
    4. First try & Stir fry
    5. Pain in the neck & Nape
    6. March & Lucky (Lucky Charms)
    7. Maine & Name
    8. Shaquille "Shaq" O'Neal; Cash; Choke; Coach
    9. Top-notch & Chop not

    Dessert: I know this isn't the official solution; however, since it was related to me pre-hint: Peggy is a beachcomber. When she isn't at The Beach, she combs the banks of inland waterways for Potamilus alatus, the Pink Heelsplitter mussel (sometimes called the Purple Heelsplitter according to authorities). The name derives from the color of their - you guessed it - shells. Peggy, as we know, being partial to those colors, puts them into her basket. Peggy also looks for currency on her morning hunts along the river banks. Being partial, she only picks up $1 bills. She puts "only the ONES with (the) PINK and PURPLE shells into her basket. Curious, but if Peggy says it's so. . .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Where can you find these Pink Heelsplitters? Sanibel Island.

      Delete
    2. Very nice, GB...
      Little did I realize that little Peggy was a conchologist!

      LegoWhoAssumesThat"SheSeeksSeaShellsByTheSeaShore!"

      Delete
    3. Plantsmith, they are much like Lego's Snake on a Rake from a couple of weeks ago in that it's probably best not to step on either of them.

      Delete
  14. Schpuzzle: Put All Your Eggs Into One Basket → PAY EIO, BEE

    Cryptic Crossword:
    13A SAINT LOUIS
    23A THREE MILE ISLAND
    15D OUT TO SEA
    21D RIDER

    Brrumal Slice: Alternates:
    1. DICE ROLL → ICE, DROLL (droll meaning with a low-key “cold” humor).
    2. TRAIN RACE [e.g. Chicago-NYC: 1930s 20th Century Ltd (NY Central) vs Broadway Ltd (Penna RR)] → RAIN, TRACE (each can be cold).
    3. [post-Mon-hint] BICYCLE RACING → ICICLE, BRACING

    Entrées
    #1: (Ingrid/Ingmar)BERGMAN, ENERGY LEVEL, CHEEK → GREG VANMECHELEN, BERKELEY
    #2: STAPLE → PASTE
    #3: FORD → DORF [never heard of him]
    #4: FIRST TRY → FIRST RY → STIR FRY
    #5: PAIN IN THE NECK → NAPE [of the neck]
    #6: MARCH → CHARM [hint: LUCKY]
    #7: NAME → MAINE
    #8: SHAQ(ille O'Neill) → QASH sounds like CASH; COACH → CHOKE
    #9: TOP-NOTCH → CHOP NOT [George Washington wrt the cherry tree]

    Filling the Basket Dessert: SEGREGATE – EASTER EGG (?) [post-Tues-hint]

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Two very nice Brrumal Slice alternative answers, geofan. I especially like Train Race/Rain Trace... There ought to be a movie made about that!

      LegoWhoNotesThatThereWasHoweverAMovieMadeAboutAGreatLocomotiveChase!

      Delete
  15. 4/6/21 81 *- first day of ?

    Schpuzzle Put all your eggs in one basket-. Pay Ally-i-oh

    Appetizers: Need another tutorial for me..at some point

    6. Across -legit
    13A. Seoul Korea
    21.A deal
    24A. Polly
    11A Unicycle


    Slice. Chill rhymes with drill??

    Entrees:
    1. Greg Van Mechelen, Bergman , Cheek , Berkeley, Energy level
    2 Clip?? Super
    3. Ford, Dorf?
    4. First try- stir fry
    5. Pain in the neck - nape
    6. March, Lucky Charms
    7. Maine, Name
    8. ??? Choke, Coach- //John Thompson book supposed to be good.
    9. Top Notch, Chop not


    Dessert - Peggy Segregates/ Easter eggs.
    *Alt . Peggy prefers the pink and purple pericarps.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Plantsmith,
      I would say you fared pretty darn well on the ACROSS clues on Patrick's very challenging cryptic crossword.

      LegoWhoBelievesThatBothLittlePeggyAndPolycarpPreferredThePinkAndPurplePericarps!

      Delete
    2. Well it is an ongoing. process.

      Delete
  16. SCHPUZZLE: PUT ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET => PAY EIO, BEE

    SLICE: BICYCLE RACING => ICICLE & BRACING

    ENTREES:

    1. INGMAR & INGRID BERGMAN => BERGMAN & CHEEK & ENERGY LEVEL => GREG VANMECHELEN, BERKELEY

    2. At last!!!!: CLASP => SPACKLE [Altho I fail to understand the hint, i.e. tooth brushing and tummy tuck]

    3. FORD => DORF

    4. FIRST TRY => FIRST RY => STIR-FRY

    5. PAIN IN THE NECK; NAPE => PANE/PAIN

    6. MARCH => CHARM [LUCKY]

    7. MAINE => NAME

    8. SHAQ => CASH; CHOKE => COACH

    9. TOP-NOTCH => CHOP NOT

    DESSERT: EASTER EGGS => SEGREGATES

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OOPs, I had forgotten about the 'strike last two letters' for Entree 2. Sigh....

      Delete
    2. I like YOUR CLASP and SPACKL(E) as an alternative for Entree #2, VT. (I don't see a need to strike the last 2 letters, either. It works fine. "Sound" puzzles are more loosey-goosey.)

      LegoWhoIsAlsoImpressedWithViolinTeddy'sEntree#8Solve!

      Delete
    3. Yes and she is the sports- challenged one while i came up empty. Kept going for Wilt the Stilt..

      Delete
  17. Replies
    1. The clue for OUTTOSEA did not come easily, believe me.
      pjb'sMottoConcerningCrypticClues:TheyCan'tAllBeGems!

      Delete
  18. Schpuzzle
    PUT ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET, PAY "EIO", B(Bee).
    See Lego's official answers for the fully solved cryptic crossword.
    Menu
    Brrr-umal Slice
    BICYCLE RACING, ICICLE, BRACING
    Entrees
    1. GREG VAN MECHELEN, BERKELEY; (Ingmar and Ingrid)BERGMAN, CHEEK, ENERGY LEVEL
    2. STAPLE, PASTE
    3. (Gerald R.)FORD, DORF(a Tim Conway character)
    4. FIRST TRY, STIR-FRY
    5. PAIN(in the neck), NAPE
    6. MARCH(the month of St. Patrick's Day), (Lucky)CHARM
    7. MAINE, NAME
    8. SHAQ(O'Neal), CASH, CHOKE, COACH
    9. TOP-NOTCH, CHOP NOT(referring to the cherry tree George Washington did not chop down)
    Dessert
    EASTER EGGS, SEGREGATES
    Some more bad weather headed our way here in AL, folks! Overnight until tomorrow afternoon! Please pray for us!-pjb

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  19. Where are the Cryptic answers?

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  20. This week's official answers for the record, part 1:

    Schpuzzle of the Week:
    “A cluck-cluck here & a buck-buck there...”
    It is Sunday, April 10, 1960 in Mayberry, North Carolina. Andy and Aunt Bee pay a visit a poultry farmer named Aldy MacDonald.
    Bee needs to bake a birthday cake for Opie. And Easter is just a week away!
    Aldy and Andy were boyhood pals, and young Andy often bicycled to the MacDonald Family farm to play. Andy, a precocious lad, had made up a nickname for Aldy that consisted of the last three syllables in the refrain of an obvious nursery rhyme/song. It is a nickname Andy still calls Aldy by, as a joke.
    The trio visit the henhouse where Bee begins gathering three-dozen Grade-A eggs. Aldy helpfully hands Bee a wicker container, but gives her some questionable advice that consists of a common idiom minus its initial word. When she is done hunting and gathering, Andy gives his aunt a three-word, five-syllable instruction, then they drive home now amply prepared for cake-baking and Easter morning.
    Take the initial letters of what Aldy said to Bee. The first three spell a word. Say that word and the reamaining letters aloud. The result sounds like what Andy said to his aunt.
    What did Aldy saym, then what did Andy say?
    Answer:
    Aldy: "Put all your eggs in one basket."
    Andy: "Pay E-I-O, Bee."


    Good Friday Appetizer:
    The cryptic mystery of the cross... word
    (The cryptic crossword grid, filled-in with the answers, appears just above this week's Comments Section.)
    ANSWERS:
    ACROSS
    1. Some head off, taking car trip around part of California(9)
    DIVERS-D(synonym for "some")inside RIDE
    6. Picasso's top pieces are beautiful, lasting originals(5)
    P(ieces)A(re)B(eautiful)L(asting)O(riginals)
    9. Foreign correspondent's report depicts a corrupt organization(7,8)
    DEPICTSACORRUPT anagram
    10. Attractive girl would be good in comic role(6)
    OK inside ROLE anagram
    11. Go on one to get back in shape(8)
    UNIT reversed inside CONE
    13. Soul? It's in a different city(5,5)
    SOULITSINA anagram
    14. A little for a lot, it's said?(4)
    hidden inside fORALot
    16. Bachelor has wild party(4)
    B+HAS anagram
    17. Silly to get groove back, "defying the odds" in story about singer?(4,6)
    sToRy containing INANE containing RUT reversed
    19. Hymn to go with return of spring?(4,4)
    DIE containing ARISE reversed
    20. Unable to sleep during bad weather---almost a blackout!(6)
    UP inside STORM-M
    23. Accident here---sadly, all the miners die!(5,4,6)
    ALLTHEMINERSDIE anagram
    24. Fancy a cracker? Yes(5)
    RITZ+Y
    25. Turned on radio, initially calm---getting latest from meteorologist, ultimately fear it's bad weather(9)
    NO reversed+R+(EASE containing T)+R
    DOWN
    1. Dance around piano? Cut!(5)
    REEL containing P
    2. Lingerie pervert craves? It's erotic!(9,6)
    CRAVESITSEROTIC anagram
    3. Game allowed to get in way?(8)
    LET inside ROUTE
    4. Piece of turkey, no bread?(4)
    WHITE MEAT-WHEAT
    5. Last-minute entertaining, having no budget(10)
    E+COMICAL containing NO
    6. Murphy Brown's heart breaking(apt to break?)(6)
    O inside APTTO anagram
    7. Operation in bar?(5,10)
    INBAR could be considered a TRANSPLANT of the letters in BRAIN.
    8. "Scream"? Put in less recent film(3,6)
    YELL inside OLDER
    12. Note placed inside gift, as rule(10)
    MI inside DONATION
    13. Journalist lover gets in the sack?(9)
    SUITOR containing BED
    15. Movie with Lemmon and Matthau---not the first duo to turn up on ocean, primarily(in questionable taste)(3,2,3)
    DUO-D reversed+O inside TASTE anagram
    18. "Number one" perfect beauty, raised in New York(6)
    I(one)+TEN reversed inside NY
    21. Passenger I had in back, needing first aid(5)
    I'D inside REAR-A
    22. Drop in, humiliate a relative?(4)
    hidden inside humiliaTEARelative

    Lego...

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  21. This week's official answers for the record, part 2:

    Brrr-umal Slice:
    Keeping cool in the heat of competition
    Name a type of competition, in two words. Move the first letter of one word to the beginning of the other to spell what sounds like something cold and a word that describes cold air.
    What is this competition?
    What is something cold?
    What word describes cold air?
    Answer:
    Bicycle racing; Icicle, bracing

    Riffing Off Shortz And VanMechelen Slices:
    Birds do it, bees don’t, educated fleas? Debatable!
    ENTREE #1
    A pair of cinematic legends – a female and a male – with roots in the same European country are not related but share the same surname. Their first names begin with the same vowel.
    One of the legends was an actress who in a classic film said, “Richard, I tried to stay away. I thought I would never see you again, that you were out of my life.” As she speaks, the eyes of the viewers are drawn not to HER eyes or lips but rather to another facial feature – a feature down which, as the film is rolling, something else is also rolling.
    However, spending hours on end on a sofa or in a theater watching classic films is not wise. It might make you sluggish. Health professionals therefore encourage you instead to (1) move more. They also recommend that you (2) get more sleep, (3) reduce stress, (4) avoid smoking, (5) limit alcohol consumption, (6) eat a nutritious diet, (7) avoid added sugar, (8) stay hydrated and (9) be social. If you follow these nine recommendations, say the experts, you will boost your ______ _____.
    Rearrage the combined letters in the surname of the two cinematic legends, the actress’s facial feature, and what health professionals say you can boost. The result is the name of a puzzle-maker and his hometown.
    Who is this puzzle-maker and his hometown?
    What are the four words you rearranged?
    Answer:
    Greg VanMechelen of Berkeley, (California); Bergman; Cheek, Energy level
    ENTREE #2
    “Fastenation”
    Name two fasteners, one and two syllables,
    (If you purchase them, both will be “billables.”)
    One is shaped like a U
    And the other’s a glue...
    Write them down in these blanks: ______, _____ (... both are “fillables”).
    From the first, strike the final two letters
    Then switch first and last sounds, like typesetters
    Will at times have to do.
    The result, when you’re through,
    Sounds like Word Number-One, you go-getters!
    Okay, okay, enough of that silliness... here’s the prose version:
    Name two fasteners, in one and two syllables. The first is shaped like a U, and and the other is a glue.
    Remove the final two letters from the U-shaped fastener. Put the last sound of this result at the start and the first sound at the end, keeping the vowel sound as it was. The final result, phonetically, will sound like the “gluey” fastener... you go-getters!
    What are these two “fastenating” fasteners?
    Answer:
    Staple, Paste
    ENTREE #3
    Take the surname of the most athletic U.S. president, one who once played a game against the Chicago Bears, and who chose law school over an opportunity to play for the Green Bay Packers! He was also a scratch golfer.
    Put the last sound of this name at the start and the first sound at the end, and phonetically you’ll get the name of a fictional character featured in a series of direct-to-video comedy films focusing on golf, auto racing, fishing, football and baseball.
    Who are this president and fictional character?
    Answer:
    Gerald Ford; Dorf

    Lego...

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  22. This week's official answers for the record, part 3:
    Riffing Off Shortz And VanMechelen Slices (continued):

    ENTREE #4
    Take a two-word synonym of “initial attempt” in which two instances of the same letter appear consecutively. Remove the second one.
    The first word has remained intact after the letter removal. Put the last sound of this word at its the start and the first sound of this word at its end.
    Now move the space between the two-word synonym one place to the left and replace it with a hyphen. The result is something you prepare in a wok.
    What is it?
    Answer:
    Stir-fry
    FIRST TRY=>FIRST RY=>STIRF RY=>STIR FRY=>STIR-FRY
    ENTREE #5
    Name an idiom for an especially irritating, aggravating, or obnoxious person, thing, or situation. The fourth and final word in the idiom is a body part.
    Take a part of that body part, specifically the back part. Put the last sound of this word at the start and the first sound at the end, and phonetically you’ll name the first word in the idiom.
    What is this idiom?
    What is the “back part” of the body part in the idiom
    Answer:
    Pain in the neck; Nape (pain)
    ENTREE #6
    A mascot who resembles a miniature version of Peter Pan appears on a cereal box. The mascot is associated with a nationality and a holiday.
    Take the month associated with the holiday. Put the last sound of the month at the start and the first sound at the end to spell the singular form of a word that appears on the cereal box along with the mascot. What are this month and mascot?
    Hint: The name of the mascot rhymes with “Chuckie.”
    Answer:
    March, Charm; "Lucky the mascot appears on boxes of Lucky Charms cereal.

    Lego...

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  23. This week's official answers for the record, part 4:
    Riffing Off Shortz And VanMechelen Slices (continued):

    ENTREE #7
    Take one of the fifty U.S. states. Put the last sound of this state at the start and the first sound at the end, and phonetically you’ll name a word that appears somewhere in the text of this puzzle.
    What state is this?
    What is the word in the puzzle?
    Answer:
    Maine, name
    ENTREE #8
    One of the great players in NBA history was known by a nickname that was an abridgement of his given first name. Put the last sound of this name at the start and the first sound at the end, and phonetically you’ll name one of the benefits he reaped for being so talented.
    He played on championship teams with two franchises led by Phil Jackson and Pat Riley, who appreciated his capacity to stay calm, steady and focused, even under extreme pressure – in other words, this player did not _____ under pressure.
    Take the word in that blank. Put the last sound of that word at the start and the first sound at the end, and phonetically you’ll name the title of the role played by Jackson and Riley.
    Who is this player?
    What benefit did he reap?
    What didn’t he do under pressure?
    What role did Jackson and Riley play?
    Answer:
    Shaquille O'Neal, Cash; SHAQ=>(K-sound)ASH=>CASH
    Choke, Coach; CHOKE=>(K-sound)OACH=>COACH
    ENTREE #9
    Name an eight-letter hyphenated word that means “of the highest quality, first-rate.” It is an adjective that many would use to describe four presidents surnamed Roosevelt, Roosevelt, Jefferson and Lincoln, for example.
    Put the last sound of this word at the start and the first sound at the end, and phonetically you’ll name counsel that a fifth future president’s conscience may have once whispered to him during a time of temptation, in two words.
    What is the synonym of “first-rate?”
    What did the future president’s conscience perhaps whisper to him?
    Answer:
    Top-notch, "Chop not!" ("Chop not thy father's cherry tree) TOP-NOTCH=>CHOP-NOTT=>CHOP -NOT

    Filling The Basket Dessert:
    Peggy is partial to purple and pink
    During the morning hunt, little Peggy puts only those with pink and purple shells into her basket.
    What is curious about what Peggy does and what she does it to?
    Answer:
    Peggy SEGREGATES EASTER EGGs, choosing only the purple ones. SEGREGATES and EASTER EGGS are anagrams of one other.
    Shelly surveys her haul after the morning hunt. She places just the purple and pink treasures into her basket. What Shelly does is an anagram of what she does it to. What are these anagrams?

    Lego!

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    Replies
    1. What's the "Shelly" part for? Isn't it just the same thing, only different names?
      pjbWondersWhichCameFirst,ThePeggyOrTheShelly?

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    2. Oops, sorry cranberry. Just a goof. As I was composing this puzzle, "Shelly" was just one of the names I was considering for my little egg-hunter. Shelly was one of the other candidates.

      LegoWhoCannotRemember"WhoCameFirst"(Clevercranberry!)ButCanTellYouThat"Peggy"CameLast

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