Theme: H-H-H-H - What the "H"s in 4-H stand for. Celebrating its hundredth year.
16A. *Place to prop a pillow : HEADBOARD
29A. *Vital central section of a country : HEARTLAND
36A. Youth organization whose focus areas begin the answers to starred clues : FOUR-H CLUB
47A. *Effortless way to win : HANDS DOWN
61A. *Recuperative resort : HEALTH SPA
Argyle(former 4-H member) here. It appears to be a debut for Melanie Miller here on the Corner. The shortness of the themes, nine letters, meant the fill had to be on the long side to keep the word count in check. Also note the three letter fill on the sides. An interesting Monday.
I pledge...
My head to clearer thinking,
My heart to greater loyalty,
My hands to larger service,
My health to better living
for my club, my community,
my country and my world.
My heart to greater loyalty,
My hands to larger service,
My health to better living
for my club, my community,
my country and my world.
About the Pledge. Link.
4H website.
Across:
1. No. on a utility bill : ACCT. (account)
5. Show of affection : KISS
9. Dust and grime : DIRT
13. Old woman's home, in a nursery rhyme : SHOE. Poem Where was Child Protective Services?
14. Capital NNW of Copenhagen : OSLO
15. TV's Uncle Miltie : BERLE
18. Win by __ : A NOSE
19. St. Francis's home : ASSISI
20. Emulate Georgia O'Keeffe : PAINT. Before she went west, "Lake George".
21. Well-suited : APT
22. Luck of the draw : CHANCE
25. French girlfriend : AMIE
27. Deadlocked : TIED
31. Sawbones : MEDICO
34. Joint-bending ballet move : PLIÉ. Bending of the knees outward by a ballet dancer with the back held straight.
35. Actor Beatty : NED
39. Leave open-mouthed : AWE
42. Oklahoma tribe : OTOE. They were Nebraska natives on Friday.
43. Spread here and there : STREWN
50. Length x width, for a rectangle : AREA
51. Wheel holder : AXLE
52. "... nothing to fear but fear __" : ITSELF. FDR's First Inaugural Address.
55. Unspecified high degree : NTH
56. Bundled, as hay : BALED. A 4Her would know something about that.
58. Pretenses : GUISES
60. Chutzpah : NERVE
64. Raring to go : EAGER
65. Part of ISBN: Abbr. : INTL. (International Standard Book Number)
66. Resting on : ATOP
67. Small bills : ONEs
68. Barely passing grades : DEEs
69. Spoil, with "on" : DOTE
Down:
1. Bat wood : ASH
2. Any product at a dollar store : CHEAPIE
3. Rolled with the engine off : COASTED. A cheapie saving on gas?
4. "Bill & __ Bogus Journey" : TED'S. 1991 sequel to their Excellent Adventure.
5. __ ball: rubber toy fad of the '80s : KOOSH
6. Old Testament prophet : ISAIAH
7. Camera type, for short : SLR. (single-lens reflex)
8. Roll-your-own grass : SOD. A 4H project?
9. "It wasn't me," e.g. : DENIAL. Now isn't this convenient, right after 8-Down.
10. Armored superhero : IRONMAN
11. "Goosebumps" series author : R. L. STINE. "Goosebumps".
12. Casual shirt : TEE
15. Sheep's bleat : [BAA!]. Bring it on!
17. Ballpoint brand : BIC
20. Hazards : PERILS
21. 24-hr. cash source : ATM
23. Brothers of nieces : NEPHEWS
24. Differential or integral math subj. : CALC. (calculus)
26. Onetime Leno announcer Hall : EDD
28. "What's the __?": "Seems the same to me" : DIF. Shortened "difference".
30. German: Abbr. : TEUT. (Teutonic)
32. Lovey-dovey murmurs : COOs
33. Surpassed in performance : OUTDID
37. Ginger or ginseng : ROOT
38. Lingerie top : BRA
39. "I get it!" : "A-HA!"
40. Yellow-podded veggie : WAX BEAN
41. Make bigger : ENLARGE
44. Che's given name : ERNESTO
45. Slippery area to mop up : WET SPOT
46. "Let's not" : "NAH"
48. Probes, with "into" : DELVES
49. Prove false : NEGATE
53. Calm spells : LULLS
54. Strong and healthy : FIT
57. Suffix with auction : EER
59. Herring known for its roe : SHAD
60. Recent: Pref. : NEO
61. Stayed out of sight : HID
62. WSW opposite : ENE
63. Mimic : APE
Argyle
