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That sounds like tree-son.

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Muggles of the world, let's do this! In contrast with the supersized Thanksgiving meta, we have a smaller one this time around. My pledge is to make one Level 1 or Level 2 a month in '24, but some of these are planned in advance, so my apologies, haha. (Don't worry, I'll still challenge you some in the new year!)

It probably won't reach the heights of a Level 4, and that isn't my intent here, but I've done some underestimating, so let's overestimate the difficulty and see what happens, haha.

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76. Back to the Beginning

The answer to the meta is my 3-word holiday message.

This is the meta going in my Christmas cards to all my friends (I hope they're still friends afterward), so there is a "soft" deadline of Saturday, December 16 at 1 pm ET, but in the spirit of the season, I'll probably delay the reveal a bit. (Last year, we did have two of my college friends solve it, who also solved that wild acrostic from years back.)

Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful!

Mikey G

Another great puzzle—thanks Mikey!

Gneiss!

Mikey, 7d is among your worst ever. I love it!

Thanks for all the wonderful clues!

Solved; lots of fun!
Please accept our verbal high four.

I really enjoyed figuring this one out! Thanks so much!

Solved! Thanks, Mikey!

As always, loved the clueing. I found what HAS to be step one, but will need to POAK at this a bit more to find the rest...

MikeyG wrote: ↑Sat Dec 09, 2023 1:00 pm ... that wild acrostic from years back...

Ok you have my attention... I don't suppose that's still floating around somewhere, is it?

schmidzy wrote: ↑Sat Dec 09, 2023 8:01 pm

MikeyG wrote: ↑Sat Dec 09, 2023 1:00 pm ... that wild acrostic from years back...

Ok you have my attention... I don't suppose that's still floating around somewhere, is it?

I'll have to post it on the website or send you a copy. I'd love to make one again, but that was definitely a labor! (Of love, of course!)

Thanks for fun puzzle, Mikey.

Thanks for the puzzle, Mikey! Very clever one.

Wow, Mikey, really great! You’ve outdone yourself again with the concept, theme, execution and fabulous cluing… thanks!

Great puzzle Mikey! And right back at you!

MikeyG wrote: ↑Sat Dec 09, 2023 10:53 pm

schmidzy wrote: ↑Sat Dec 09, 2023 8:01 pm

MikeyG wrote: ↑Sat Dec 09, 2023 1:00 pm ... that wild acrostic from years back...

Ok you have my attention... I don't suppose that's still floating around somewhere, is it?

I'll have to post it on the website or send you a copy. I'd love to make one again, but that was definitely a labor! (Of love, of course!)

I'd love to solve but no pressure to go digging through old files on my account!

Finally had some time to solve this week's POAK — thanks for the fun, and [insert solution here] right back at ya!

Masterful.

We're up to 30 correct answers so far on Monday morning, and I'm happy about that! Looks like a solid Level 3 or so, and I'm humbled by all the great feedback on this one. Perhaps a mini-clue, but despite how dense the puzzle looks, this definitely took a while to create!

Keep on keeping on, Muggles!

Mikey G

I had the right idea, but missed part of step 1. Much clearer after a nudge. Thanks, Mikey. As usual, I loved the clues!

Solved, with a nudge. Masterful construction!

It's a beautiful feat of construction when the answer fits perfectly with the mechanism, and in this puzzle, it's doubly so, or maybe triply.