Cryptoquote Spoiler – 07/07/20

“The changes we dread most may contain our salvation.”   —   Barbara Kingsolver

(“Change” is so much easier when you’re young.  It gets incrementally harder as you get older.  Barbara K has led a very interesting life.  And, it looks like we’ve seen her at the Cryptoquote at least once before.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Image courtesy of Google

Jumble Spoiler – 07/07/20

Visual Description:  Bob Ross redux?

RIHTD  =  THIRD,  ESBLS  =  BLESS,  KAQUWS  =  SQUAWK,  CRLOED  =  COLDER   —   Giving us:  THRBSSSUKOER

Clue/Question:  To complete the painting of the golf course’s thicket, the artist took – – –

Answer:  BRUSH STROKES

(Another excellent, stinky pun.  We don’t really hear the word “thicket” all that much these days, so I’m glad that the boys are using it here today.  Keep Vocabulary Alive!  Maybe they can come up with a Python-esque Jumble, giving us a “shrubbery” some day?  Or, for our Southwestern friends – or amigos – maybe a “chaparral”.  Ooh, now we’re talkin’!

There were no new clue words today.  And/but, all the jumbles did come up as new, for me.  I noticed that David L. Hoyt has never used the word “squaw” before.  It’s from the Algonquin, and it simply means woman/wife.  Although NOW, the dictionaries say the word is dated, usually disparaging, and usually offensive.  Our American forebears ran with the word for a few hundred years, kind of figuring all “Indians” were alike.  But, they were/are actually quite diverse.  So, don’t hold yer breath, waiting for Hoyt to use “squaw”!  The answer letter layout was another very impressive twelve letter jumble.  The first thing I noticed – even before glancing at the cartoon and clue/question – was that there were only three vowels!  I think this played a factor in my getting the final answer so quickly.

Great cartoon of a Bob Ross wannabe!  I can hardly believe the real Bob Ross has been dead for 25 years now.  Not exactly high art, he was more known for the speed in which he created very serviceable paintings.  He was also know for his quiet tones, and saying things like “happy little trees”, or “happy little clouds” and “There are no mistakes, only happy accidents.”  And, he regularly used brushes that most of us would use to paint a room with!  His show was on PBS, and it ran for 11 years, in the ’80s and ’90s.  It’s funny, because in some ways he’s even bigger today than when he was alive.  People be funny!  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Images courtesy of Google and Fine Art America and Art and Design Inspiration