Theme: Homophones - The last words of the three theme answers are homophones.
20A: Sophisticated taste, foodwise: REFINED PALATE
36A: Studio item with a thumbhole: PAINTER'S PALETTE
47A: Portable shipping platform: FREIGHT PALLET
The bees (Barb & Melissa) blogging.
We didn't recognize the constructor's name. So we looked him up. Gary Whitehead is a poet, painter, teacher and crossword constructor. Get this. He also wrote this piece for the Christian Science Monitor titled A question of morels.
Homophones are words that are pronounced the same, but are different in spelling and meaning. PALLET can also mean a mattress or small, temporary bed. There are probably a lot of visiting family members sleeping on pallets this week. That might be next for Barb B, a.k.a. Goldilocks. The futon is too hard, and the couch is too soft. Maybe a pallet would be just right. Or maybe she just needs a massage.
Lots of expensive scrabbly letters, but alas, no K, Q or W.
Across:
1: Job detail, briefly: SPEC.
5: First appearance: DEBUT.
10: Irish dances: JIGS.
14: Prefix with space: AERO.
15: Really peeved: IRATE. Michael Smith's famous mad bluebird photograph. What's your pet peeve?
16: Campus south of Sunset Blvd: UCLA.
17: Investor's goal: GAIN.
18: Subsidiary building: ANNEX.
19: Thoughtful: DEEP.
23: B&Bs: INNS. Mother and daughter, too.
24: Jane Fonda, to Peter: SIS.
25: Ping-Pong need: PADDLE.
28: Airing, as an ESPN game: ON TV.
30: Schmooze: GAB.
33: See eye to eye: AGREE.
34: "Night" author Wiesel: ELIE.
35: Nod off: DOZE.
39: Datebook entry: Abbr.: APPT.
40: Improves in the wine cellar: AGES.
41: Western: OATER.
42: Guitarist ____ Paul: LES. June 9, 1915 – August 12, 2009. Moonglow. RIP Les.
43: 1982 Disney sci-fi movie: TRON.
44: Pessimistic types: CYNICS.
45: Sidekick: PAL.
46: Sargasso et al.: SEAS. The Sargasso Sea is in the heart of the Bermuda Triangle, and named for the sargassum seaweed that floats in it. Wide Sargasso Sea is a prequel to Jane Eyre, made into a movie.
53: "The Haj" novelist: URIS. Haj = pilgrimage to Mecca. Haji = one who has made a pilgrimage. Who remembers this Hadji?
54: Racetrack borders: RAILS.
55: Giant screen format: IMAX.
57: Vitality: ZEST.
58: Els on the links: ERNIE. Crossword staple. Currently ranked 16th. Career earnings: $35,810,558.
59: Free from doubt: SURE. And 4D: Free from doubt: CONFIDENT. Nice echo. Nice echo.
60: Foreboding date for Caesar: IDES.
61: Dublin-born poet: YEATS. From A Prayer For My Daughter: Have I not seen the loveliest woman born...
62: Romanov ruler: TSAR.
Down:
1: Droop: SAG.
2: Anjou or Bosc: PEAR. Homophones: pair and pare.
3: Toledo's lake: ERIE.
5: California senator Feinstein: DIANNE.
6: Maritime raptors: ERNES.
7: Robinhood's merry men, e.g.: BAND. Including Maid Marion and Friar Tuck.
8: Longhorn State sch.: UTEP. University of Texas at El Paso.
9: Oil, informally: TEXAS TEA.
10: Biblical traitor: JUDAS.
11: Rapper-turned-actor: ICE T.
12: Tickled-pink feeling: GLEE. Right Dennis?
13: Maple yield: SAP.
21: Bay or cove: INLET.
22: Actress Tyler: LIV. Aerosmith's Steven Tyler's daughter.
25: Of the Holy See: PAPAL. "See" comes from the Latin word sedes, meaning the seat or residence of the bishop.
26: Showing shock: AGAPE.
27: Plumbing problems: DRIPS.
28: Jimmy of the Daily Planet: OLSEN.
29: Playful bites: NIPS.
30: Gangster dubbed "The Teflon Don": GOTTI. Dapper Don. John Gotti Jr. is following in his father's footsteps. He's on trial for racketeering and murder, current jury deadlocked after three hung juries.
31: Ancient Mexican: AZTEC.
32: Tavern round: BEERS.
34: Consequently: ERGO.
35: Academic honor: DEAN'S LIST.
37: Tea named for William IV's prime minister: EARL GREY. Infused with bergamot.
38: True blue: LOYAL. Hey! What?
43: Mai ___: cocktail: TAI.
44: Breaks off: CEASES.
45: Roaches, ants, etc.: PESTS.
46. Bowler's headache: SPLIT. Also the word that starts Bananagram game. We've been playing. Barb B keeps winning.
47. Wilma's mate: FRED.
48. Greet the day: RISE.
49: Cocksure Aesopian racer: HARE.
50: "Saturday Night Live" alum Fey: TINA.
51: Outback runners: EMUS. Have you tried Emu oil?
52: O'Hara home: TARA. Rhymes.
53: Action film gun: UZI.
56: Gen-____: boomer's kid, usually: XER. Generation X.
Answer grid.
Barb & Melissa
20A: Sophisticated taste, foodwise: REFINED PALATE
36A: Studio item with a thumbhole: PAINTER'S PALETTE
47A: Portable shipping platform: FREIGHT PALLET
The bees (Barb & Melissa) blogging.
We didn't recognize the constructor's name. So we looked him up. Gary Whitehead is a poet, painter, teacher and crossword constructor. Get this. He also wrote this piece for the Christian Science Monitor titled A question of morels.
Homophones are words that are pronounced the same, but are different in spelling and meaning. PALLET can also mean a mattress or small, temporary bed. There are probably a lot of visiting family members sleeping on pallets this week. That might be next for Barb B, a.k.a. Goldilocks. The futon is too hard, and the couch is too soft. Maybe a pallet would be just right. Or maybe she just needs a massage.
Lots of expensive scrabbly letters, but alas, no K, Q or W.
Across:
1: Job detail, briefly: SPEC.
5: First appearance: DEBUT.
10: Irish dances: JIGS.
14: Prefix with space: AERO.
15: Really peeved: IRATE. Michael Smith's famous mad bluebird photograph. What's your pet peeve?
16: Campus south of Sunset Blvd: UCLA.
17: Investor's goal: GAIN.
18: Subsidiary building: ANNEX.
19: Thoughtful: DEEP.
23: B&Bs: INNS. Mother and daughter, too.
24: Jane Fonda, to Peter: SIS.
25: Ping-Pong need: PADDLE.
28: Airing, as an ESPN game: ON TV.
30: Schmooze: GAB.
33: See eye to eye: AGREE.
34: "Night" author Wiesel: ELIE.
35: Nod off: DOZE.
39: Datebook entry: Abbr.: APPT.
40: Improves in the wine cellar: AGES.
41: Western: OATER.
42: Guitarist ____ Paul: LES. June 9, 1915 – August 12, 2009. Moonglow. RIP Les.
43: 1982 Disney sci-fi movie: TRON.
44: Pessimistic types: CYNICS.
45: Sidekick: PAL.
46: Sargasso et al.: SEAS. The Sargasso Sea is in the heart of the Bermuda Triangle, and named for the sargassum seaweed that floats in it. Wide Sargasso Sea is a prequel to Jane Eyre, made into a movie.
53: "The Haj" novelist: URIS. Haj = pilgrimage to Mecca. Haji = one who has made a pilgrimage. Who remembers this Hadji?
54: Racetrack borders: RAILS.
55: Giant screen format: IMAX.
57: Vitality: ZEST.
58: Els on the links: ERNIE. Crossword staple. Currently ranked 16th. Career earnings: $35,810,558.
59: Free from doubt: SURE. And 4D: Free from doubt: CONFIDENT. Nice echo. Nice echo.
60: Foreboding date for Caesar: IDES.
61: Dublin-born poet: YEATS. From A Prayer For My Daughter: Have I not seen the loveliest woman born...
62: Romanov ruler: TSAR.
Down:
1: Droop: SAG.
2: Anjou or Bosc: PEAR. Homophones: pair and pare.
3: Toledo's lake: ERIE.
5: California senator Feinstein: DIANNE.
6: Maritime raptors: ERNES.
7: Robinhood's merry men, e.g.: BAND. Including Maid Marion and Friar Tuck.
8: Longhorn State sch.: UTEP. University of Texas at El Paso.
9: Oil, informally: TEXAS TEA.
10: Biblical traitor: JUDAS.
11: Rapper-turned-actor: ICE T.
12: Tickled-pink feeling: GLEE. Right Dennis?
13: Maple yield: SAP.
21: Bay or cove: INLET.
22: Actress Tyler: LIV. Aerosmith's Steven Tyler's daughter.
25: Of the Holy See: PAPAL. "See" comes from the Latin word sedes, meaning the seat or residence of the bishop.
26: Showing shock: AGAPE.
27: Plumbing problems: DRIPS.
28: Jimmy of the Daily Planet: OLSEN.
29: Playful bites: NIPS.
30: Gangster dubbed "The Teflon Don": GOTTI. Dapper Don. John Gotti Jr. is following in his father's footsteps. He's on trial for racketeering and murder, current jury deadlocked after three hung juries.
31: Ancient Mexican: AZTEC.
32: Tavern round: BEERS.
34: Consequently: ERGO.
35: Academic honor: DEAN'S LIST.
37: Tea named for William IV's prime minister: EARL GREY. Infused with bergamot.
38: True blue: LOYAL. Hey! What?
43: Mai ___: cocktail: TAI.
44: Breaks off: CEASES.
45: Roaches, ants, etc.: PESTS.
46. Bowler's headache: SPLIT. Also the word that starts Bananagram game. We've been playing. Barb B keeps winning.
47. Wilma's mate: FRED.
48. Greet the day: RISE.
49: Cocksure Aesopian racer: HARE.
50: "Saturday Night Live" alum Fey: TINA.
51: Outback runners: EMUS. Have you tried Emu oil?
52: O'Hara home: TARA. Rhymes.
53: Action film gun: UZI.
56: Gen-____: boomer's kid, usually: XER. Generation X.
Answer grid.
Barb & Melissa
Good morning, C.C. and the beautiful blogging B's - this might've been my fastest LAT puzzle yet, but I forgot to look at what time I started. No pauses, and once the first theme answer fell, the other two were gimmes.
ReplyDeleteI liked the juxtaposition of Earl Grey and texas TEA. Several old reliables in this one, such as 'aero', 'els', 'ernes', 'UTEP' and others. And yessiree on 'glee'. Also, I've been following the Gotti trial, and I think the jury's trying to decide if it's better to be deadlocked or just dead.
What a perfect day for 23A, B&Bs! And I have a much better answer for 24A, but I'll leave it alone.
Nice job blogging, Bees, and an interesting tidbit on Mr. Whitehead's piece about his search for morels - no doubt he has company on here.
Today is......NOTHING!! It's an unnamed day. Any ideas?
Today's Words of Wisdom: "I honestly think it is better to be a failure at something you love than to be a success at something you hate." -- George Burns
Still more from the Washington Post contest:
- Gargoyle: Olive-flavored mouthwash.
- Lymph: To walk with a lisp.
Good morning to the Bs, C.C. and all, I also found the puzzle to be easy and a quick fill this morning. To the two Bs, a very nice bit of blogging on today’s crossword and some nice links. Les Paul was a favorite of mine back in the day. Dennis, I also have another word for 24A and almost put in spy as soon as I got the “s”.
ReplyDeleteNot much else to comment on this morning.
Hope you all have a great Tuesday
Good morning B's, CC and all,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the Blog and very well done!!
My only issue was I wrote Irked instead of Irate. Band made me erase and that block filled right in. Nice puzzle, just went by too quickly.
This is pile 100 pounds of shit into a 5 pound bag day! I'm taking tomorrow off and we've got a long weekend because we trade Columbus Day for the day after Thanksgiving. Same amount of work needs to get done!
My thoughts are with a friend of ours who is in ICU at West Penn Hospital battling H1N1. Positive thoughts to her and her husband.
Hope all here are in good health!
Good morning.
ReplyDeleteNothing like two free from doubt clues to make one sure and confident at solving this puzzle. One could even enjoy the 'teas' in the puzzle.
Dennis, it took me 7 1/2 minutes from start to end. Your answer for 24A: I'm pretty sure I know what line you are thinking on.
To the Bees: Confident and Sure are turned around - confident is 4D and sure is 59A.
Dennis - I found one. It is celebrate Your Unique Talent Day.
Have a great Tuesday.
Loved the link to the bluebird of unhappiness. Also, it's D. B. Cooper day. Remember him?
ReplyDeleteMorning, CC, B&B and Friends. This was one of the fastest and easiest puzzles I have done in a long time. There were some really good clues, though.
ReplyDeleteDid Texas Tea make anyone think of the Beverly Hillbillies?
Leon Uris wrote a number of wonderful historical fiction, some of which were difficult to read due to the graphic display of the violence we inflict upon each other. He died in 2003.
I remember seeing Tron when it first came out. I really liked it. It is not infrequently a crossword answer.
It is very, very foggy here today. Driving will be very dangerous. Still, the fog makes things look really beautiful.
QOD: Never believe anything in politics until it has been official denied. ~ Otto von Bismarck.
Notice that PAL appears in PAL, PALATE, PALETTE, PALLET and PAPAL. Yes I know that the three theme enders are homophones but that's a lot of PALs. The constructor must have added a couple more PALs as a kind of wink to us.
ReplyDeleteMartin
Is D.B. Cooper that guy that jumped out of the plane with all that money and was never seen again?
ReplyDeleteOK, I just have to comment here, since I used to play way back in college. The actual name is a Table Tennis Bat, although people do call them paddles or rackets. The blade used in official competition must be red on one side and black on the other. Here's a completely serious article on how to choose your rubbers. Good advice, I must say, no matter how experienced you are, or for that matter what "sport" you are considering...
ReplyDeleteDrDad, yes indeed, that's the guy. I always admired his ingenuity.
ReplyDeleteAl, as you said, that's always good advice.
Good morning to the B's and everyone else.
ReplyDeleteI agree it was easy today, but fun too because some needed some thought. I started with CONVINCED for CONFIDENT, for example, and changed only after figuring out REFINED. Like others, once that first theme entry fell, the others were gimmes, except I hesitated a bit over their spellings. I'd never thought about the differences before.
That bluebird sure does look IRATE, but cute because he's so small. I found a dead male cardinal outside our house the other day--so sad, because he'd broken his neck flying into a window. That'll teach me to clean them!
I have too many pet peeves to innumerate.
A fairly easy Tuesday. I do cw's in ball point which forces me to look ahead at the perps so as to minimize strikethroughs. Also easier to read black ink. Don't look at the clock normally, and sometimes toast an English muffin (8 grams fiber:-)) to get my second wind. Usually not in any particular hurry to finish because then its over, especially if a fun puzzle.
ReplyDeleteOnly error; had Keats for YEATS but then EARLGREY fell.
Spitzboov: I do the puzzles in a similar manner except that I use blue ink. I check the perps before writing in my response. I write lightly on the first pass. I figures the Irish poet was either Yeats or Keats, so was fairly confident with the end of the name.
ReplyDeleteHi gang -
ReplyDeleteI would call this "get ready for the big Thursday bash day." Lots of clean up and clutter removal. Taking a puzzle break from running the vacuum.
Yes, a quick and easy puzzle today, but fun.
The original meaning of glee was the joy of music. Here is a verse extracted from the Maxims section of the Exeter book:
Longað þonne þy læs þe him con leoþa worn,
oþþe mid hondum con hearpan gretan;
hafaþ him his gliwes giefe, þe him god sealde.
Longing is less troublesome for one who knows many songs, or can touch the harp with his hands. He has his gleeful gift that god gave him.
I'm not religious, but I love that verse. Found it reading a book about Tolkein, who was an Anglo-Saxon scholar.
On a totally different note, just for kix, I Googled "playful nips", and found Link this.
Not terribly cold this morning, but a little nippie out.
Cheers!
JzB the gleeful trombonist
Ooops. Forgot to say, great job, B's.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a honey of a Thanksgiving.
JzB
The turkey trombonist
Hello to the B's, C.C. & all,
ReplyDeleteAnother quick puzzle that we easily finished before my wife left for work. Today is the last day this week she has to do that with Thanksgiving making this a short week.
Hantool beat me to the Beverly Hillbillies song link, I thought of that song when I got Texas Tea.
Does anyone remember the Star Trek reference to earl grey tea?
'The fictional Captain Jean-Luc Picard of Star Trek: The Next Generation is frequently heard to request, "Tea, Earl Grey, hot" from a replicator'
Yikes! I would be in a "hess of a mell" if I tried using ink, even on one as easy as this!
ReplyDeleteI got the theme today, although I tried to make more of it by trying to associate the first words to one another. Couldn't make a connection, though.
I haven't felt well the last three days so I've had to rethink Thanksgiving plans. I'm sending hubby to the store for a rotisserie chicken! We have chicken (don't like turkey) and dressing several times during the year, so that is not particularly special. (One year I made Mexican food for T.G. and it was a big hit.)
Temp was 32º this morning. Looks like another beautiful day for us.
Does anybody else read "cozies"? Laura Childs has a series called "Tea Shop Mysteries." All of them have a type of tea in the titles. One of them is "Shades of Earl Grey." I enjoy cozies because they are fun and relaxing reads.
ReplyDeleteGangster dubbed "The Teflon Don": John GOTTI he was also referred to as the Capo di tutti capi (boss of all bosses)
ReplyDeleteJohn Joseph Gotti, Jr.
(October 27, 1940 – June 10, 2002)
Buon Anima, Mr. Gotti.
John Gotti
Gotti
It is my opinion that the RICO act violates the double jeopardy protections. They can roll other trials and non convictions to prejudice juries into convicting due to prior bad acts.
Terrific job from the B's! But no more Madonna, please. She's got about as much sex appeal as Mother Teresa.
ReplyDeleteJohn Gotti was a hero. Great puzzle it only took me 10 minutes.
ReplyDeletebuon anima- Used as a title of respect - in a similar way to God rest his soul.
I hear you RSD and I agree The RICO statutes should be repealed as they violate the double jeopardy standards.
BISCUITS & GRAVY
Hey Jerome did you see Madonna on Dave Letterman? She was hot and I would go out with her. She is the hottest 50 year old women I have ever saw!
ReplyDeleteGood morning Ladies and all. Wow, a double header for the blog meisters! Thanks for the info on the constructor. Loved the write-up and the links.
ReplyDeleteIn his piece on morels, he says, "[he]didn't recognize them for the magnificent creations they are, or I looked at them as I might look at any strange fungus: with great mystery, curiosity, caution, and (sadly) ignorance." I wonder what our DFettes thought about their first encounter with this proud appendage? Lois?
@dennis Love those new definitions today.
@hahtool Interesting QOD.
@jazzbumpa OMG! Thank you for that bouncy link. I especially liked the bearded guy in the left background who was fanning himself with his program!
Have a fantastic Tuesday.
Red state- Listening to Madonna is worse than hearing Sarah Palin give a speach on foreign policy.
ReplyDeleteJerome:
ReplyDeletegenerally agreed, but consider that if she only spoke about what she knows, it would be a very brief speech.
Madonna, on the other hand, at least has experience in the area she writes and sings about: sex. But you're right, she can't sing a lick. (no pun intended).
I'm afraid my fellow Kentucky guys are thinking with the little brain today, as we all often do. And of course, there's nothing wrong with that.
Good afternoon everyone.
ReplyDeleteGreat blogging, Bees.
I had many left undone when I went for my haircut. When I returned, it all fell into place. I do not understand how the human mind works (or frequently doesn't).
When I lived in Socorro, NM, it was an accepted deal that one had green chilis in one's stuffing. And it's great. DH finally dug up the recipe, so here it is for you adventuresome friends.
1 8x8 pan cornbread (make ahead)
approximately 1 bag Pepperidge Farm
stuffing mix
about 1/2 small onion, minced
2-3 stalks celery
Saute the onion and celery in 1/2 cup margarine
Crumble the cornbread in a bowl. Mix cornbread with vegetables + a little less than bag of stuffing mix. Mix up some chicken broth. Use this to moisten the stuffing mixture "to right consistency". Then add 1 small can green chilis.
Stuff your turkey and bake.
The vagueness of the amounts is how I received the recipe. But it's always good.
Hello all.
ReplyDeleteSorry B's. Having been to Bermuda
and San Juan many times, never saw the Sargasso Sea. While the western tip may be in the Triangle,
most of it lays well to the East.
Hope no one missed UTEP this time.
Am cleaning out the fridge today
before shopping for the turkey.
Have a great holiday.
eddyB
Good Morning All, What a nice surprise to see the Busy Bees at work. Their blogging made this puzzle that much nicer. I laughed at their reference to the serendipitous 24A B&Bs.
ReplyDeleteBTW, thanks for the Yeats poem and the nice link to Western Michigan University Poetry Anthology site. There's some really good stuff there.
Phew, I'm finally over my UTEP blind spot. I wonder what other tidbit of information has slipped away to make room for it.
Beside PEAR (Pare), other fill with homophonic matches for future puzzles, ERIE (Eerie), ERNES (Earns), TAI (TIE), SEAS (Sees), RAILS (Rales), HARE (Hair). There may be more.
About Madonna's sexiness, I don't think she is beautiful, but she certainly keeps her body in muscular condition. Attractive?. Nothing wrong with being 50, or more, but stage makeup (and a few nip/tucks) can make anybody look 10 or 20 years younger. My personal pick is Jamie Lee Curtis, who has willingly displayed herself as what a 50+ woman is more likely to look like.
Hi "Bees"...great job in blogging!!
ReplyDeleteI just loved that bluebird!!! He's too cute to look that disgruntled.
How about today being Pet Peeve Day???
I am with Kazie on that...I have so many it would be hard to pick only one. Slow drivers are right up there at the top though!!
I tried Earl Grey tea once and thought I would die! That HAS to be an acquired taste!(same with scotch)
To the puzzle: Very enjoyable and easy. Had to laugh at the only one I could not get and that was 30A. I just didn't think of GAB and I didn't have GOTTI yet so that took a while.
eddyB, according to bermuda-triangle.org, "The heart of the Bermuda Triangle is covered by the strangest and most notorious sea on the planet— the Sargasso Sea."
ReplyDeletewindhover, good to see you again; things well with you?
Dennis:
ReplyDeleteOn a day when the sublime Mustang Mel and one of my favorite Modern Philosophers, the deep-thinking BarbB, are in the driver's seat, how could things not be well?
I am fine.
Dennis, I could be wrong. But, we
ReplyDeletesailed right through the Triangle
when we tried to invade Cuba. Always thought that the Sea was closer to the Azores.
eddyB
Carol,
ReplyDeleteIf the Earl Grey was too strong a taste, you should have tried it the way most English and aussies drink it: with milk and sugar. It'a a totally different drink then.
That I spelled speech "speach" is the best reason why Rich Norris makes the big bucks.
ReplyDelete@clear ayes Some of those are triples as well: PAIR, PEAR, PARE; SEAS, SEES, SEIZE.
ReplyDeleteGood afternoon B's,CC and pals,
ReplyDeleteGrrreat write up; you are quite a team. Enjoyed Moonglow; Madonna brought me back to when my girls were in H.S.. never a fan of hers, nor Prince.
The B&B comments reminded me of a sports bar grille that opened some years back called Double D's.Many complained about the DF name they chosen.The newspaper enlightened the complainers that it was named after the 2 brothers, Darren and D?
Well, I actually got the theme today which helped. Earl Grey and Gotti were a-ha's.Bowlers headache was my fav clue.Always forget oater.It was a quick and fun.
When we were in Cape Town, we drove out to the wineries.Ernie Els' vineyard was spectacular.
Jerome@ 11:53 LOL
Carol, I agree about that tea. Yuck! Kazie, maybe sugar and milk would help. It helps my coffee.
On that link, go to Gallery, and then, "select a gallery" Choose "vineyard" to see So. Africa's wine country. My pictures were taken on an overcast day, so these are much better.
ReplyDeleteIt is the oil of bergamot that gives Earl Grey tea the distinctive flavor.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know the distinction between "grey" and "gray"?
Hahtool, my understanding is that 'gray' is the American spelling of the original word 'grey', which is used mostly outside of the U.S.
ReplyDeleteHello All--MelissaB and BarbB, great job of blogging. I especially liked the link to the Yeats' poem.
ReplyDeleteThat said, the CW was easy for me today, except that I miss-read Actress, Tyler for Taylor. A Z instead of a V made for a problem in the middle area. Finally did get it smoothed out, but not before pulling my hair. Duh.
My favorite clue was Cocksure Aesopian racer. Poor Hare.
Earl Grey is my favorite tea. For some reason Bergamot is a flavor that I do like. I also like bergamot in perfumes.
DC Cannon, I have read a couple of the tea shop mysteries. Fun easy reads. I'm reading one of the "A Cat Who---" mysteries right now. Another easy, not too deep reads. Our thrift shop, where I volunteer, has a huge used book section and I buy about 6-8 books at a time and the Cat mysteries were two of my most recent purchases.
This could be Cook up a storm day. I've finished three of the side dishes for the freezer and am working on tomorrow night's dinner, because I will have 8 extra people for overnight. I'll rest tomorrow!
Have a great Thanksgiving everyone.
B's, you were wonderful; I felt as if I had a brain massage.
ReplyDeleteCrockett; you can have your quad with CEES, the dreaded mark of medicority, but often future wealth. The richest lawyers I know were not the top of the class.
Speaking of top, I found the young LIV TYLER an enchanting girl, especially in Empire Records and That Thing That You Do .
It is not only RICO laws which are ridiculous, but the Conspiracy Laws, which have only been enacted in two places, the other being Nazi Germany, where talking about a crime, is a crime. be careful out there.
Yes, TEXAS TEA, can only mean the Ballad of Jed Clampett .
As far as the Teflon Don, in my life as a trial lawyer, I have known many mobsters and wannabes, and truthfully most of them would steal the gold teeth from their mothers. They can be really charming, entertaining and certainly often know how to spend money lavishly, but they ultimately have no respect. The old saying is still true, "some of my best friends are..." is not really an endorsement.
Good Afternoon C.C., The Bees and all
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this puzzle very much. Loved the link to Yeats poem as well, thank you!
I have a break from family duties, so am heading out to Vegas for Thanksgiving with friends! Robin is heading out with her merry band! One is a police officer, so we are hoping to have an advantage in "adversity"....Wishing you all a great holiday. TTYL, Robin and Riley
Good evening all:
ReplyDeleteSolid "A" grade puzzling from the Bees. Loved your description of "expensive scrabbly letters."
Flew fast through this "palatable' puzzle. Still had to think here and there.
LIV Tyler had a breakout role in the so-so film "Stealing Beauty" and she was as lovely as the Tuscan countryside depicted in the movie. Not too much GLEE otherwise in the story.
I too don't care for Earl Grey/Bergamot. I stick to green tea mostly, or cinnamon around wintertime. I confess that I once had to look up the pronunciation of Bergamot because I was making it sound like the Italian city, Bergamo! Double D'Oh moment.
I'm destined to forever confuse my AZTEC/Inca/Maya as well as K/Yeats, despite how often they appear in puzzles/quiz shows. I grasp the differences only momentarily, then POOF, they're gone.
Let's hope we get a little snap, crackle and kick in our Wednesday puzzle!
p.s. The new avatar (less scary than the b/w eye, eh?) is from Socotra Island off the coast of Yemen. Lots of flora found there that exists no where (or close to it) else. Hard place to get to but it is on the bucket list!
ReplyDeleteGood night, all
There is an art to making tea correctly, otherwise it is nothing more than "hot leaf juice". First, if it's in teabag form, it's already compromised. It should be prepared from either loose leaf or a "blooming flower" so that it can expand evenly. About one teaspoon to a cup of water is the right ratio, less is too weak, more would be too strong. Then, the water temperature should never exceed 195 degrees. Directly using boiling (212 degrees) water will make it bitter. Teas that are actually from a tea plant should be steeped for barely two, to at most, two and a half minutes. Longer than that will also make it bitter, and black teas can be pretty strong anyway. Also, buying a cheap brand, or having it be old, dried out and stale can all contribute to a bad taste. Tea needs to be stored in an air-tight container. So given all of that, could it be possible to just have had a badly made cup, rather than for it to be a bad tea in general?
ReplyDeleteCrockett and Lemonade, Very good homophoning. I took the ones that were just a phone home, and you came up with the more interesting ones.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a tea fan for just the reasons that Al detailed. I don't drink enough before the leaves get stale. The good stuff is too expensive to let it go to waste like that. My English brother-in-law makes a nice cuppa, so I do have some when he and sis visit.
Just curious, BISCUITS & GRAVY, why do you consider John Gotti a hero?
Thanks to everyone for your oh-so- generous comments about our blogging. I was a little nervous until I saw the puzzle. Wow, what a gimme. Not only was it easy, but there were two references to Texas (my birth sate) And the B&B reference. You think Rich Norris saw me coming? Just kidding.
ReplyDeleteWindhover, here’s a special smooch for you, for calling me a deep thinker. I’m often deep, in something; looking for ponies.
Al, thanks for the tea instructions. We lived in Canada when Melissa was in first grade, and they made proper tea there. It was very good, but I’ve never been able to do it myself. They made terrible coffee though.
As for bergamot, I don’t think I’ve tried it in tea. I use it in some creams and salves, because it smells really good and is good for dry skin.
I don’t know a lot about the RICO laws, but doing research about John Gotti didn’t inspire any sympathy on my part. I agree with Lemonade. When I was a lot younger I sort of accidentally dated a small time mafia guy. One date, and a second, just to be sure I wasn’t imagining things. It was one of the scariest experiences this country girl ever had.
windhover
ReplyDeleteMadonna can't sing then Why has she sold more CD's and every concert tour she has is sold out if she can't sing. If you think she can't sing I wonder who think can?
BISCUITS & GRAVY
Clear Ayes,
ReplyDeleteIt has to do with being feared. If you fear someone there is some respect for that person. You go through life being a nice person and it gets you know where because people see niceness as a sign of weakness then they think they can walk all over you. No one walked over John Gotti.
My grandfather on my mothers side was involved in OC and the worst thing she ever did was move away from NJ and keep me away from him. I was robbed of knowing my grandfather I never knew my father.
I hope this answers your question.
:-)
BISCUITS & GRAVY
Barb B,
ReplyDeleteDo some research on the RICO statues. If you are not convicted of a crime the prosecution is not allowed to bring up prior bad acts because it prejudiced the jury so are convicting the defendant for the current case or for previous cases. RICO is an end run around double jeopardy.
BISCUITS & GRAVY
Liv Tyler is the daughter of Steve Tyler, frontman for Aerosmith.
ReplyDeleteB&G said, If you fear someone there is some respect for that person.
ReplyDeleteWhat?? People feared the D.C. sniper, but I doubt anyone 'respected' him. People feared the guy in Atlanta who was killing kids, but I seriously doubt anyone 'respected' him.
I knew what UTE? was looking for,and that I SHOULD know it, but couldn't remember what the last letter was!
ReplyDeleteTrying to get away from drinking so much coffee, I started drinking green tea this past year. My favorite has been an Earl Grey Green tea. I love the scent when I first open the packet!
About 2 years ago, a friend loaned me the "Cat Who" books she had, which was nearly the whole collection. I read them straight thru, in order, and was so disappointed to be done. You're right, it's a very light, pleasant, easy read when you just need to relax and not be tasked. I'll have to look into that Tea series.
While reading the paper today, I came across an ad from Dillard's for ladies pajamas that have a crossword puzzle design: pjs
I'm heading out EARLY tomorrow and doubt I'll get much time for the puzzle. So I wish you all a very safe and Happy Thanksgiving!
thanks all for the kind comments, we had fun doing it together.
ReplyDeletebrewing tea is an art. i carry some high quality bulk teas at the shop, and they come with pretty precise instructions. my favorite is a genmaicha green tea with toasted brown rice.
love bergamot essential oil, and use it in massage oil blends. it's a citrus, but has a little edge.
never been a fan of madonna's.
as for the unnamed day, i'm calling it 'good news day.' landed a killer new job. :))
RE: Edsels. June 1958 LAMA RAMA DING DONG - Released in Apr 1961 as RAMA LAMA DING DONG. ref: Rock On by Norm N. Nite (the solid gold years). Nite has several pubs based on the era.
ReplyDeleteGene Carter CSM(R)