Yesterday I mentioned the trouble I had with the Sunday crossword puzzle.  This helps explain some it - and it turns out that it wasn't a snowflake after all!

The big revealer is at 56A: [Like the squares that comprise this puzzle’s special letters], which is BLANK. Yes, you need to leave several squares in this puzzle blank to complete it, skipping over the appropriate spaces to form the special letters. The answers to the [White Christmas piece, literally] clues are all entirely blank.

Take those four special letters formed by blank spaces in order and they spell XMAS — a white Christmas literally illustrated in the crossword.

In three of those corners you’ll notice six identical clues written as [White Christmas piece, literally], and four other long theme clues hint at some special letters in this puzzle:

• 6D: [Fast food symbol associated with one of this puzzle’s special letters] is GOLDEN ARCHES, the symbol for McDonald’s. What letter is associated with this corporate symbol? An M, formed by the shape of the arches.
• 14D: [Literary character associated with one of this puzzle’s special letters] is HESTER PRYNNE, the protagonist of “The Scarlet Letter.” She’s associated with the red letter A.
• 85A: [Hunting item associated with one of this puzzle’s special letters] is TREASURE MAP, a hunting aid for a pirate. That’s associated with an X since X marks the spot.
• 100A: [Reporter associated with one of this puzzle’s special letters] is CLARK KENT, the alter ego of Superman. He’s associated with the S on Superman’s costume.

FYI: I did much better on the Monday puzzle (the easiest of the week), needing no hints or help, and finishing up in a timely fashion:

You completed the puzzle in 12 minutes, 32 seconds

Alex, not having eaten all day yesterday, was starving when he got home from quail hunting, so the three of us went out for an early dinner at Valle Luna.  Then he went back to relax (he'd had to get up at 3:30 to shuttle Aja to the airport) and Tom and I watched an impressive documentary, Mountain, "An experience about the highest peaks around the world."

Of course with my fear of heights it doesn't take much to scare me.... but I lost track of how many times Tom commented on how crazy the climbers, skiers, bikers, snowboarders, etc. were.

I'm still going to walk with Mimi and her dogs this morning, but without Tyga.  Alex, not surprisingly, wants to sleep in this morning, and my coming over to collect Tyga around 9:00 would interfere with that.  

Had almost forgotten about deviling eggs for tomorrow, so first thing this morning I boiled up a dozen, which are currently chilling in the fridge. Then some time later today I will take care of the final step.  Not much else on my agenda for today, so I may even get in some sewing.