MEOW #136, "So March!"

A weekly meta crossword on the forum started by member Josh (aka madhatter5). These puzzles are often very creative with solving mechanisms out of the norm and skewing towards the more challenging. Puzzles are posted every Wednesday, and the solution appears the following Tuesday.
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Wendy Walker
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MEOW #136, "So March!"

#1

Post by Wendy Walker »

I had a lot of fun making this one at the request of @DrTom, who asked for something "patriotic" to befit the July 4 holiday. It all came together over a quick breakfast-for-dinner at Perkins with my boyfriend Mark. Three Post-it notes of scribbling and we had seven beautiful themers, plus a few in reserve that I'll use for nudges. Thanks to @DrTom for feedback, @Abide for the perfect title, and @Joe Ross for his technical wizardry.



"So March" crosshare

"So March" PUZ

"So March" PDF

"So March" spreadsheet


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Good luck, fellow Muggles!
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KayW
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#2

Post by KayW »

:crossed_swords: :rabbit: :couch_and_lamp: OTC

@Wendy Walker you are definitely the Rookie of the Year Constructor :trophy: :medal: And have already advanced out of the rookie class. Well done!
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boharr
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#3

Post by boharr »

The cat has fled the couch. Nice one. Thanks, Wendy.
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ky-mike
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#4

Post by ky-mike »

OTC. What a tough fill. I had fun solving this one.
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edestlin
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#5

Post by edestlin »

Fun! Some tough fill but it was fun looking for the meta throughout... nice job! Thanks, Wendy!
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Cinny
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#6

Post by Cinny »

Off the couch. I was slow to catch on, but a nice "aha" moment. Thanks, Wendy! Nicely done.
Cindy Heisler
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Meg
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#7

Post by Meg »

Wait a minute!! Hold the sofa pillows! This is a MEOW puzzle. Why are people posting about couches? Did you lose your cat in the cushions?? Great puzzle, Wendy! I particularly enjoyed 63a, which, thanks to Ben, I know how to pronounce correctly. This cat has departed the Doritos bag.
Lovely title!
Check out and support http://CrosswordsForCancer.com.
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MatthewL
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#8

Post by MatthewL »

The cat has been set free. Nice one Wendy!
Matthew
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boharr
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#9

Post by boharr »

Meg wrote: Wed Jul 05, 2023 9:45 am Wait a minute!! Hold the sofa pillows! This is a MEOW puzzle. Why are people posting about couches? Did you lose your cat in the cushions?? Great puzzle, Wendy! I particularly enjoyed 63a, which, thanks to Ben, I know how to pronounce correctly. This cat has departed the Doritos bag.
Lovely title!
The cat is always getting lost in the couch cushions. Doesn't know which day it is, but did grok the title.
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whimsy
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#10

Post by whimsy »

Untitledzzcats.png
They're out and about!

Spectacular puzzle! Thanks, Wendy!
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BarbaraK
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#11

Post by BarbaraK »

The cat is out of its very cute bag. Thanks, Wendy!
If you want help with a meta, feel free to PM me. The more specific you are about what you have and what you want, the more likely I can help without spoiling.

(And if I help you win a mug, I’ll be especially delighted.)
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ChrisKochmanski
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#12

Post by ChrisKochmanski »

Bag is cat-free.

Cute! Thanks, Wendy!
Last edited by ChrisKochmanski on Wed Jul 05, 2023 12:07 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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hcbirker
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#13

Post by hcbirker »

Out of the bag! Thanks Wendy!
Heidi
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DrTom
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#14

Post by DrTom »

Loved it when you were making it, love it more with Peter's title.

Cat has been out of the bag for a while, but what a bag....
Flag Cat.jpg
NUDGES!I am always willing to give nudges IF ASKED; metas should be about fun, not frustration. PM me what you have done so far, because often you are closer than you think, and I will try to help you move along.
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rjy
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#15

Post by rjy »

The bag is off the couch, and the cat is out of the bag... challenging and very elegant puzzle, Wendy, but you've been constructing for years - right?! - so we expect nothing less!
Ray
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ajk
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#16

Post by ajk »

Fun stuff, and very timely. Thanks. :)
Nearly forgot to decode the title, which I agree is pretty great. :)
Check out this very cool project by many of your favorite muggles to raise money to fight cancer. You get a fun puzzle bundle and good causes get $. Win-win: Crosswords for Cancer
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woozy
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#17

Post by woozy »

Great Fun! Really.
GUAVA is not an anagram of VAGUE and PEPPER is not a palindrome.
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lbray53
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#18

Post by lbray53 »

Very fun and appropriate. And I agree that the fill posed a fun challenge with several little AHA moments.
My avatar proves that it is sometimes better to be lucky than good!
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ReB
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#19

Post by ReB »

Enjoyable time.
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Bob cruise director
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#20

Post by Bob cruise director »

Off the couch albeit with a few missed things.

Very clever @Wendy Walker and Mark
Bob Stevens
Cruise Director
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