"Scale Back" - April 29, 2022

[WSJosh]

Once again, at sea, but without much work on it. Busy weekend.

[Bonnibel]

OMG I finally had the AHA moment....

I literally danced around this all weekend.

I was not about to let Covid win this one!

Still, just water rocks.

Cheers!

[Hammertime]

Didn’t spend stupid time on this, but tried nonetheless and got commensurate results. Count me among Isaac’s patrons for the official tally.

[Deb F]

LAS. Haven't had a lot of time to devote to this. When I first saw the puzzle, thought it could be solvable--then I tried to solve it. Sigh. So, spent the weekend in La La Land. Not connecting this week. With only 12 pages, seems I'm not alone!

Good luck, Muggles.

[LadyBird]

It took not one but two Coast Guard cutters to haul me to shore. Thanks to the kind muggles who offered help. The nudges allowed to still have some of that AHA excitement! Obviously, no mug submission but I can put my poor mind to rest. Many kudos to those who solved and good luck with that darned mug!

I've already had my drink--a margarita at the Cinco de Uno dinner with my mother-in-law after the handbell concert.

[Colin]

Once again, I AM in a sERIous meta slump--I see nothing beyond the first step as I sCAN the grid. I was sAVing my bird post until the end, in hopes that I could say I was swimming through the OCean on my way to shore. And yET, here I am--still at the bar. Maybe lightning will strike in the next few hours.

I even went to a concert this afternoon (handbells), but no meta inspiration.


Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, Nevada, April 2012

For a moment, I thought you were going to call out the AMERICAN ROBIN, which has become my arched nemesis this last couple of weeks. Nice to see them around the house and hear their song, but being territorial birds, they attack other robins that encroach in their patch… including their own reflections in our many windows: tap, tap, tap every morning and all through the day. I put wire plant frames in the way, but those just made a perfect perch - and we all know what birds do when they perch… eeuughhh! After scrubbing the door step clean today, I used screen mesh with painters tape to reduce the reflection. After a short silence, he has now moved up to the large window above our door which is tougher to cover. If anyone has a tried and tested simple solution, a PM would be much appreciated!

[Magistra]

Hail Mary time for me. Haven't been connecting for a few weeks now.

[Joe Ross]

[Joe Ross]

[PhantomPhan]

SO GOOD. We were on the wire on this one. Sent it in around 9pm Colorado time. Great meta.

[ZooAnimalsOnWheels]

DoCENT was my way into this one. I spent a little while staring at the answers to the starred clues before I went back to the starred clues themselves and noticed that at least some of them were ripe for alternate answers. I had to back-solve for ReACHES, because even after I knew it had to start with an A and probably end with an S, I said "RE-ACHES" to myself about five times before realizing how to pronounce it.

[escapeartist]

DoCENT was my way into this one. I spent a little while staring at the answers to the starred clues before I went back to the starred clues themselves and noticed that at least some of them were ripe for alternate answers. I had to back-solve for ReACHES, because even after I knew it had to start with an A and probably end with an S, I said "RE-ACHES" to myself about five times before realizing how to pronounce it.

same here!

[mheberlingx100]

Tiara first then Docent were my path on this. Reaches was the last one for me too.

[PhantomPhan]

Docent here, too, was the way.

[hcbirker]

Before I made the do re mi connection, I took the 56 down clue as a hint. Went down a rabbit hole of computer keys that fit the clues (support in times of stress -( bracket) bejeweled topper(-star) unimportant(-less than) and then hit a wall. Wadded it up and started over. Saw "thered with fa- in front and that was it.

[CopperRiver]

I had to back solve REACHES too. My early grid mistake of putting TIARA for CROWN finally got me to see how to use the scale notes. With seven clues and the title I knew the scale had to be in use somehow. Took me awhile to see it.

[Joe Ross]

On the beach!

It took a couple of looks before I figured out what was going on.

And why the heck is the pdf named XWDtreacherous instead of XWD04292022? (Not really a spoiler but I'm playing safe.)

XWDenchanted, I'm sure

[Abide]

My entry point was thinking seven asterisks equal seven notes, and then CROWN/TI-ARA. I had Museum DO-NOR in my first runthrough so that took a little time to sort out.

[whimsy]

For this musical puzzle, I too had a tune running through my head --

"...And the vision that was planted in my brain....still remains..."

[31 Down]

A most noteworthy meta! As I said before, one of my all-time faves even though it took awhile. That TRIAD in the center was a devilish deke.