First, let me introduce this fantastic puzzle from Numinous, a name I recognized from the Rex Parker blog comments. Visually arresting and Just Plain Fun, this LH5-ish bucks trends, kicks ass, and takes names.

Next, not only did we experience a period of torpidity (big “torpid” fan here), but I will be away until 10/6. If I can figure out how to, like, schedule a post I will be sure to put up a great Sunday 9×9 we recently received.

Last, thank you to all who have submitted L’il High Fives n’ Nines– your puzzles are in good hands and will be posted in the upcoming weeks. Thank you for participating in this Fête des Mots Croisés! APRÈS NOUS LE DÉLUGE!

L’il High Five #14

September 21, 2015 Lena Webb1 Comment

What better a way to close that pesky first day of the workweek than with Jon O’Rourke’s second L’il High Five! Sure, I made a good cop/bad cop reference in the submission guidelines, but we aren’t *really* the Puzzle Police so we welcome repeat offenders. Encourage them, even. That’s right, so get down with your bad selves and make another.

L’il high nine #3

September 20, 2015September 20, 2015 Lena Webb3 Comments

I used to have real mixed feelings about Twitter– sometimes Tweeting petulantly about how stupid and self-serving and useless it is while, well, using it. But since starting to roll with the Crossword Crowd, it mostly makes me feel warm and sometimes fuzzy. The media has allowed me to be social with so many fun, funny, smart and sweet people that I can’t stay mad at it.

Tony Zito, today’s constructor, is an example of someone who I’m very glad to have met on Twitter. When he reached out with an interest in constructing, I happily gave encouragement and information and, in return, received some very awesome puzzles right out of the gate. I hope you enjoy his Sunday offering as much as I did! And maybe in the future we’ll see another great indie puzzle blog pop up (hint-hint, Tony).

l’il high five #13

September 19, 2015 Lena Webb3 Comments

…And we’re back! Consider the last two days to be the calm before this microburst of a puzzle storm from Andy Kravis. To quote Rex Sharper’s excellent Satuday write-up, this LH5 definitely “produce[s] nice feelings in the pleasure centers of the human brain.” I’d say “please enjoy this puzzle” but it’s dumb to plead for things that are unavoidable.

l’il high five #12

September 16, 2015 Lena Webb2 Comments

Good evening. Yup, It is a good evening because you are here solving Erin Milligan-Milburn’s LH5! Mere hours after I sent a few pokes and nudges her way on Twitter, I was sent this wonderful puzzle! Lucky me, and lucky you.

Erin has also made a BIG puzzle and here is a link to her construction debut on Erik Agard’s site, GLUTTON FOR PUN. And now your dinner plans are all set: appetizer = LH5, main course = BH15.

l’il high five #11

September 15, 2015 Lena WebbLeave a comment

I’m going to take a L’il moment here to say what a pleasure it is to be working with Michael on all things puzzle related. His enthusiasm? Boundless. His expectations? High. His puzzles? Rad. Please do enjoy this one, and give the man a high five. Literally. Send us L’il High Fives.

l’il high five #10

September 14, 2015 Lena WebbLeave a comment

With all the submissions pouring in, I forgot I had a L’il High Five of my own kicking around! I can’t remember if this is my only LH5 to use black squares, but they there are– 6 of them. Enjoy filling in the rest of the squares!

Although the puzzle is titled #8, don’t be fooled! It was just #8 at the time and I am lazy.

Also of great importance, Michael started putting the apostrophe in “L’il” and that’s probably how it should have been all along. Lih-uhl.

l’il high nine #2

September 13, 2015 Lena Webb4 Comments

I’m sure everybody has favorite constructors, and I’m no exception. Wait, actually, just sitting here thinking about it, it’s impossible for me to pick a single favorite constructor. Everyone’s puzzles have their own personalities and recognizable voices, and the more you do a particular constructor’s puzzles, this can actually help you out while solving. For instance, if it looks like your answer is turning out to be BROKEN CONDOM and you’re doing a Peter Broda puzzle, you’re probably right. That answer was featured in the very first one of Peter’s puzzles that I did. Obviously I started doing them all the time. Wanna try one out? Well you’re in luck because Peter just posted a fresh themeless yesterday!

After that, I highly recommend going back in the archives. You’ll also find Vowelless puzzles in there, which I think are super fun.

Guys, it makes me so happy when I get little puzzles in the e-box! Don’t you want me to be happy? You know what to do!

Lil high five #9

September 12, 2015 Lena WebbLeave a comment

This puzzle from Erik Agard is great. Remember those little gel caps you could drop into water to unleash animal-shaped sponges? Remember how awesome those were? Yeah well welcome to this puzzle.

THANK YOU to everyone who has submitted LH5/9s! This is a lot of fun.