"Drawbacks" - October 2, 2020

[BeTheLight]

As is often the case, this was less complicated than I originally thought. Very clever. There was definitely a red herring in there but whether or not it was on purpose is hard to say. On shore!

[Bob cruise director]

Good morning fellow muggles

We have our newest muggles - NDSegs (Joe and Cathy)

and we have had a succession of muggles struggling on shore and making their way to the ship's bar so we have 19 on the ship and 96 on the shore

new to the ship are
Colin
Annabelle
JeanneC
and NDSegs

Making their way to the shore are
flamingbear
sanmilton
michaelm
tmitchell300
Anita
hector
Notbitter
MaineMarge - who did finish planting the bulbs on the ship's stern garden
Cap'n Rick
Cindy N
Mister Squawk
whimsy
FKelly
Janet P
Plymouth Rock
and BeTheLight

Good luck to all making their way to shore and winning the mug

[PJM]

On shore!

I'll be celebrating with this delicious fall cocktail :

https://oursaltykitchen.com/honey-bourb ... -rosemary/

(a dash of orange bitters works in place of the orange peel, btw)

[Janet]

Still chasing rabbits on the ship!

[NaluGirl]

Ashore but only after a slight nudge.

[TPS]

I finished my second attempt at a meta puzzle yesterday - thank you to those who tried the first and put up with the wonkiness and inelegances - This grid should be a little easier and hopefully follows the rules of construction better but the theme answer maybe a bit more difficult. If anyone would like to try it - PM me with your email and I will send it to you as a PDF.

[RichA2]

On shore. Got it in five minutes today after an hour’s unsuccessful staring at the grid yesterday.

[Homer Buckle]

I think my solving abilities are as frosty as the morning today. Back to Isaac's for some inspiration.

[Streroto]

Wow. I thought the grid was pretty straightforward. I see absolutely nothing meta wise. Have tried all the usual tricks. I must be missing something obvious based on all the “easy meta” comments...have spent hours grid gazing.

Not ready to throw in the towel quite yet though. Hoping for post enlightenment.

Stay well all

[burak]

Did the grid last night, had no clue. Slept on it (almost always helpful), woke up this morning, had my breakfast, had my coffee, remembered this was a Mike Shenk meta and solved it in ~15 seconds.

I also realized that what I initially thought was an inelegance is actually an elegance so kudos for that too.

[TPS]

remembered this was a Mike Shenk meta and solved it in ~15 seconds.

I would say this was pretty key in my quick solve as well.

[C=64]

I went back and read through the entire thread for solving resources

Yep.

[Joe Ross]

There are (at minimum) 2 past WSJ Contest Crosswords that use a very similar mechanism. Seeing their solutions will solve this puzzle's meta.

Post within this topic that you wish to receive both puzzle's titles & their publication dates and you will, via PM.

[EDIT: If you've submitted your answer, send it via PM & I will reply with the two puzzles.]

[Dow Jones]

Ashore

[haari]

after chasing many rabbits to no avail, using various methods, i decided to just come up with possible answers but have found no reasonable pathway to any of those chosen. i don't know what the inside of a coroner's office looks like, but after two and a half days of dissection, my notes are looking more and more like one scrambled mess! i'm sure there is a forest out there amongst all these trees, but i ain't seeing it... as they say, all good things come to an end, as it seems so will my recent solving streak!

[boharr]

after chasing many rabbits to no avail, using various methods, i decided to just come up with possible answers but have found no reasonable pathway to any of those chosen. i don't know what the inside of a coroner's office looks like, but after two and a half days of dissection, my notes are looking more and more like one scrambled mess! i'm sure there is a forest out there amongst all these trees, but i ain't seeing it... as they say, all good things come to an end, as it seems so will my recent solving streak!

Keep at it.

[whimsy]

Still here with the ever growing team Isaac, many of whom have been happy to help in the stern garden this weekend. So far the newly planted hops is behaving itself...
———
The only drawback to living in the Pine Tree state is the looong winter. Our snow cover usually arrives in early November, so it’s time to get planting those 200 spring bulbs now.
Jumping ahead

0D62FBF1-EC0C-4DFD-A57C-43483B3BFCD4.jpeg
A June 2 photo. Tulips, paddle leaved bergenia with early Nosegay peony.

Yup. (or maybe that should be ah-yep? )
When I sit on the porch these days I seek the sunny spots rather than the shade, and when some motion catches the corner of my eye, I turn and look for a bird, or butterfly or other creature; but inevitably, it's a falling leaf.
Certain lines from Robert Frost always go through my head at this time of year --

Ah, when to the heart of man
Was it ever less than a treason
To go with the drift of things,
To yield with a grace to reason,
And bow and accept the end
Of a love or a season.

But why, even though they theoretically could also be applied to April, don't I come up with them then?!
(Everybody from Southern California or Florida, please disregard the above. )

[whimsy]

Ashore and looking forward to celebrating with a proper pint of porter, tonight.

Picked by Peter Piper, I presume.

[boharr]

Still here with the ever growing team Isaac, many of whom have been happy to help in the stern garden this weekend. So far the newly planted hops is behaving itself...
———
The only drawback to living in the Pine Tree state is the looong winter. Our snow cover usually arrives in early November, so it’s time to get planting those 200 spring bulbs now.
Jumping ahead

0D62FBF1-EC0C-4DFD-A57C-43483B3BFCD4.jpeg
A June 2 photo. Tulips, paddle leaved bergenia with early Nosegay peony.

Yup. (or maybe that should be ah-yep? )
When I sit on the porch these days I seek the sunny spots rather than the shade, and when some motion catches the corner of my eye, I turn and look for a bird, or butterfly or other creature; but inevitably, it's a falling leaf.
Certain lines from Robert Frost always go through my head at this time of year --

Ah, when to the heart of man
Was it ever less than a treason
To go with the drift of things,
To yield with a grace to reason,
And bow and accept the end
Of a love or a season.

But why, even though they theoretically could also be applied to April, don't I come up with them then?!
(Everybody from Southern California or Florida, please disregard the above. )

Fall not spring because Frost is writing about the oak tree (and also love obviously) which hangs on to its leaves longest, not wanting to see its season (or love) end.

[SusieG]

Joe, I would like to see the two previous puzzles that may push me to solving. Thanks.