Across
8. Sned thistle top and make strong fiber. (5)
9. Armor-plated creature (‘gator) uses transmogrification! (9)
11. Zinc mineral concocted by witch returning before dark in the U.S. (7)
12. Six-guns may be observed surrounding the little church. (7)
13. The point made before natural expectation means nothing. (6)
15. Sergeant may reform and alienate from friendship. (8)
17. In the middle of rewashing burnt remains. (3)
18. Painful sound in the media, but it’s a sign of bravery. (7)
19. Reynard’s a sly one in Scotland. (3)
21. See 5 down.
22. Scrag end always reveals the order of business. (6)
25. Poor Ron got around a lot, brought back bunting. (7)
26. Express disapproval and state (hush) it’s rude. (7)
28. Face peril – it could be a hot spot. (9)
29. Prod bird, fool. (5)
Down
1, 21 down. Alter original vow, if a writer. (8,5)
2, 18 down. You, it’s said, raised headgear with screwdriver for folk singer. (4,8)
3. Die by means of his mutation. (6)
4. Headless bishop’s staff makes willow twig. (5)
5, 21 across. X…where the monster lurks! Errors excepted, will dog food create a playwright? (9,8)
6. Prisoner (model type) somehow rots and twists out of shape. (8)
7. See 23 down.
10. Horrid gentleman displays raised crest. (5)
14. Initially, unseen protection with leather pistol case has a point, and covers with fabric. (10)
16. Eating at the same table calms me? No, funnily enough. (9)
18. See 2 down.
20. Poor Beth dead? She soon will be if she’s on this! (5,3)
21. See 1 down.
23, 7 down. English monarch bathing - not rising up for slave-owning freedom fighter. (6,10)
24. Convent road associated with the Beatles. (5)
27. The golf club to smooth cloth. (4)
Notes
E-mail your solutions of The Very Logical Prize Puzzle No. 241 by the closing date of 4 p.m. (EST) on Wednesday, Feb. 15 to stephaniepiro@gmail.com and include your name, postal address and your choice of a Strip T’s shirt, should you be the drawn winner. Please include a second choice (design number and size) just in case we are out of stock of your favorite T-shirt. The items on Café Press are not in our stock and consequently are not available as prizes.
Solutions can also be faxed, if you prefer, to USA code 1-603-755-2926, or mailed to John Nolan, 27 River Road, Farmington, NH, 03835.
All answers, except proper names, appear in Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary tenth edition and/or The Chamber’s Dictionary. In this "British-style" crossword, punctuation marks in clues are best ignored, as a rule.
The solution to The Very Logical Prize Puzzle No. 241, along with the name of the winner, and everyone else submitting correct solutions, will be published on this site towards the end of February.
And the winner is....
Mark Nichols of Rugby, England, is the name that popped out of the Hat this moth, and we will be sending off a Draw Blood T-shirt to him on Monday (if Stephanie remembers to go to the Post Office) or soon thereafter.
Other solvers in January include a brand new hammock swinger in a balmy island - Mark Navarrete of Quezon City in the Philippines, who is a friend of regular solver Jim Sempsrott. Welcome aboard, Mark...hot and steamy weather reports welcome to counter the six degrees below zero (fahrenheit!) that we woke up to in New Hampshire this morning.
Also in the Hat were, in approximate order of balminess, Calfan Dary of Bali, Keith and Huguette Simmonds and Condell "the D-less" Simmons of Trindad and Tobago, Nancy Mooney Hebert, Joan Bittrolff, Trudy Metzger and pards Carol Williams and Laura Bradfod (all in Florida), Jeanine and Veronique Bonnet of Rodez, France, David Nash, Keith Williams, Eddie Looby and David Simmonds, all in England, Jim Siirola of Utah, and Chris Rogers and Randy Taylor of -6F.
Thank you, everyone, for the entries and for the kind wishes for 2012.
Now, please enjoy TVLPP 241 above.
