Carlotta

For a Monday puzzle, this takes the CAKE! I often love a challenge but sometimes it’s nice to take a breath and ease into a new week. Was enjoying the fresh clueing…. And then I was swept away by aha of the revealer! Who knew so many phrases include “take a ____”, and then that putting two of them together would also form phrases? Quite the feat!!

POY! This was an awesome puzzle, an incredible feat of construction with a fun theme and wonderful bonus at the end!

What an amazing and creative double theme! Fantastic feat. I do love a rebus, and some of them still snuck up on me even after I got the theme. Wonderful aha moment. POY !!

Killian, i’ve been trying since late last night to reply to your post, but for some reason it’s not being submitted. It’s not the emus, it isn’t even getting that far. Anyway, I love your debut, and your notes. I won’t try to repeat all the reasons or my anecdotes about tumbleweeds, but I certainly hope we see more of you and thanks for your encouragement to other constructors… That’s not me but it’s so nice to see people building mentorships like that 😍

Nice aha moment and love the graphics at the solve!

That was so much fun! Clever theme and fresh brilliant clues, especially loved GAYDAR and LOANSHARK

Magnificent! I seldom attempt a Saturday, but today I happened on the column when I was in search of a link for another game. The photo intrigued me and so I kept reading, and I’m so glad I did. I would’ve hated to miss this one. Getting some revealers simply made the solve enjoyable and doable for me. I think the only clues I got without direct help from column crossings were TANYA, PIANO, LEAF, and LET. Super clever clueing for GOSSIPER, SESAME, PASTORS, just to name a few. But of course, what really struck me the most was the constructor notes. So touching! As a newly ordained PASTOR in a predominantly gay denomination, I lead a discussion group… we have had some interesting talks about queer theory (and the related queer theology) so I truly appreciated that reference. Owen, your authenticity and vibrant personality really shone through and resonated. You are an inspiration. Hope to see a lot more from you.

Wow! Great feat of construction and such a wonderful aha moment, and many clueing smiles! Truly love seeing the constructor notes and responses to comments! 😍 Looking forward to more from him.

I thought this was a fun theme! I’m terrible with names so I needed a lot of help. When I go to the column I prefer to go to tricky clues first, one at a time, so that I can still get that aha moment with the theme. Trouble is, with the biggest crossword of the week, we tend to have the least amount of Help with the tricky clues. Caitlin, love your columns & your wit…. pretty please could you be a tad more generous with the tricky clues on Sundays?

SUHWEET puzzle! Really struggled until I got to the Kristofferson song that Janis rocked. Great theme & impressive construction! Never could have finished without the shaded squares.

I am completely blown away by this masterpiece. Such an elegant and intricate theme! Figuring out the theme was easy enough but each entry— and there were plenty—was a joy to discover. And the INSIDEs! Wow! The constructor notes are delightful, how cool that it evolved like it did. What a great collaboration! More please! I’m not a one who keeps up with streaks or minds looking up a few names or running to the column when I’m stuck…I never look at theme first. So Caitlin I really appreciated that you gave us AHNOLD, and INDEBT sealed it for me. I sure wouldn’t mind if you were a teensy bit more generous with your Sunday tricky clue entries? More please

I loved this theme with the colorful party-goers and the clever clueing. Once upon a time I was a great square 💃🏻

Brilliant theme. Perfect Thursday, thanks!!

Amazing! POY!

Wow this was a fun one. I started out a bit lost but got the grid-spanning theme immediately so my solve rolled smoothly from there. I’m so grateful for amazing constructors like this! POY?

Loved this theme! Nice Sunday, hope to see more!

Theme: excellent word play! Loved 🥰 it. Got a bit confused about CATAN but someone mentioned a game?

I adore this sweet theme!!

Thoroughly enjoyed this experience! Including the numbers in yellow. I actually did struggle at first and the northwest was the last to fall (can for JOHN, d’oh!!!)…so many great clues. The theme answers started coming together slowly and I then saw the relationship to the numbers , then when I saw “SWEET….SPOT” it was a second aha moment that made it so fun. I’m in awe.