Tales from the Cryptic

Cryptic Mini #000000052:   "Peeps & Stickers" obscuration level: 🌔 (dark roots growing in) This is probably more of a 🌕 but I wanted to leave room on the scale to soften things a bit... Hope you enjoy solving it as much as I enjoyed making it!

Cryptic Mini #000000051:   "Dumb and Anachronistic" obscuration level: 🌓 (goldilocks would be proud) allo again! Another oblongy guy for ya. I'm traveling right now so had to rush this grid a bit. Hope it's not too rough! Remember to take a lot of breaks and drink plenty of water 🌊

Cryptic Mini #000000050:   "Under Stephen King's Home" obscuration level: 🌓 (the best of both moons) Happy 50th cryptic mini, solvers! 🥳 To celebrate, I bring you a collab with the inimitable Quiara Vasquez , who helped reshape some of the clunkier parts of the puzz. If there's anything still clunky about it... I take full credit :) Enjoy!

I'm traveling this week and unable to make a solid puzzle to tickle your fancies with. I'll be back next week, but I think this is the right time to switch to a weekly puzz. I've had less time to cryptic-craft lately, and I've felt my standards have been slipping a bit. So hopefully just one puzzle per week will make them all shine a bit brighter. So look out for one this Saturday... and all Saturdays from now on! in the meantime, enjoy your hump day! -Bob

Cryptic Mini #000000049:   "Don Mario" obscuration level: 🌑 (i pray 4 u 🙏🏻) [NB: After some feedback, I modified 1A to make it easier (but still tough! get those crosses!). Apologies to the 5 people who tried the puzzle already today. Shoot me an e-mail and you'll get a full refund!] It's hot out! Stay inside and stress over a tiny crossword for hours :-)

Cryptic Mini #000000048:   "Curtains for Twitter" obscuration level: 🌕 (more like 😇) This puzzle features a very special guest: the very first cryptic clue I ever wrote! I don't remember exactly when, but approx. 10-12 years ago, this little ditty popped into existence. I'm still quite proud of her, so I gave her the best seat at the table: 1-Across. Please give her a warm welcome! 😇

Cryptic Mini #000000047:   "End Human Suffering" obscuration level: 🌒 (80% cacao) This definitely has a lot of 🌑 energy, but I tried to water it down with some easier bits. Just a splash of milk in the coffee. Hope it's how you like it!