Puzzle #613

New players! Read the rules before you join, please, and be prepared to host the next if you win!

These are the rules:

* 1. You may only guess one letter at a time.

* 2. After you have guessed a letter, you must wait for another player to guess a letter before you can go again. (see also rule #9)

* 3. The host of the game responding to a guess does not count as a turn. Should you choose a letter, then receive a response from the member host, you must wait for the next member to guess a letter.

* 4. One point will be awarded for each correct letter, 2 points for vowels.

* 5. Only six misses are allowed in the game.

* 6. If you wish to guess the phrase, send it to me via Pet Talk Private message. (This is accessible via the 'PM' or 'Profile' buttons on any of my posts). DO NOT post it on the forum. If you wish to guess a letter, post it on the forum.

* 7. You must have submitted a correct letter to submit your solution. Unlike letters, if you submit a wrong solution, you are disqualified from continuing in that puzzle.

* 8. The player who correctly guesses the phrase wins the game. If no one has guessed it correctly after six misses, then the player with the most points wins the game.

* 9. Only 5 guesses allowed in total until the host updates the puzzle. Any guess after 5, before the next update, won't be counted as a guess. And as always, someone else has to guess a letter before you can guess another letter.

And here is what you win ... you get to create the next puzzle.

(Should you win the game and are unable to host the next puzzle, you may pass it to the member with the next highest points)

(Hope I'm doing this correctly, since it's my first time to create a puzzle here!)


Here's the puzzle:


--- --- ----’- ----. - --------- --- ----- ----- ------ ----- -- -- ---------. ---- --- ------ -- -- -- ---- --- ---- ---- ---- --- --- ------- ---- - ---- ---- ---- -- - ---’- ----. -- ---- ----- ---, ---- --- ----- -- ------ ----.
“---- --, ---,” ---- -----. --- --- ------ --- ------ ----. -- ----’- - ----- ---. ---- --- --- - --- ---- ----- -----, -- ---- ------ --- ---- ---- -- ----- -----. -- -- ----- --- - ----, -- ----- -- ------- --- ----.
“----- ---- -------- ---- --- -- ----, -- --’- -------. -- -- ---- ---- ------, --- --- ------ ---- ---- ----- --- ---- --- --- -- --- --- --------.”
“---- --, ---, “ - ------. --- --- ----’- -----.

---- -------
-- ------- ------



Letters left to guess:
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

It looks fine, good job so far and thanks for hosting!

I will start with a T, please!

(Cold evening, tea is needed!)

N, please.

Cold evening, here, too, Karen. Darjeeling with dinner.

Rather difficult at this end, I see, getting all the letters counted out correctly!

Here we go ...

T-- --- ---n’t ----. - ----t---- --- ----t ----- --n--t ----- t- -- ----t----. T--- --- ------ -- -t -- --t- --- ---- ---- ---- -n- t-- ------t ---- - ---- ---- ---n -n - ---’- ----. -- ---- ----- ---, t--- --- ----- -- ----n- ----.
“---- -n, ---,” ---- -----. T-- --- ------ --- ------ t---. -t ---n’t - ----- ---. ---- --n --- - --t --t- t---- t----, -- ---t ------ --t t--- ---- -- t---- t----. -- -- -t--- --- - t---, -t ----- -- --t---n --- ----.
“----- ---- -------- t--- --- t- -t--, -- --’- -t---n-. -- -- --t- ---- --n---, t-- --- ------ ---- ---- ---n- -n- ---- --- --- t- t-- --- ---t----.”
“---- -n, ---, “ - ------. T-- --- ---n’t -----.

---- -t-----
-- ------- ------


Karen: T(42) = 42
Felicia's Mom: N(16) = 16

Letters left to guess:

ABCDEFGHIJKLMOPQRSUVWXYZ

M, please!

R please

M it is, only twelve of them. Doesn't fill in too much yet ...


T-- --- ---n’t m---. - ----t---- --- ----t ----- --n--t ----- t- -- ----t----. T--- --- ------ -- -t m- --t- --- ---- ---- ---- -n- t-- ------t ---- - ---- ---- ---n -n - ---’- ----. -- ---- ----- ---, t--- --- ----- -- ----n- ----.
“--m- -n, ---,” ---- -----. T-- --- ------ --- ------ t---. -t ---n’t - ----- ---. ---- --n --- - --t --t- t---- t----, -- ---t ------ --t t--m ---- -- t---- t----. -- -- -t--- --- - t---, -t ----- -- --t---n --- ----.
“---m- ---- --m----- t--- --m t- -t--, -- --’- -t---n-. -- -- --t- m--- --n---, t-- --- ------ ---- --m- ---n- -n- ---- --m --- t- t-- --- ---t----.”
“--m- -n, ---, “ - ------. T-- --- ---n’t -----.

---m -t-----
-- ------- ------

Karen: T(42), M(12) = 54
Felicia's Mom: N(16) = 16

Letters left to guess:

ABCDEFGHIJKLOPQRSUVWXYZ

S please!

That fills in plenty of blanks!

T-- --- ---n’t m---. - s---t---- --s ---st ----- --n--t ----- t- -- s---t----. T--s --- ------ -- -t m- --t- --s ---s ---- ---- -n- t-- s----st ---- - ---- ---- s--n -n - ---’s ----. -- ---s ----- ---, t--s --- ----- -- ----n- ----.
“--m- -n, ---,” s--- -----. T-- --- ------ --s ------ t---. -t --sn’t - ----- ---. ---s --n s-- - --t --t- t---- t---s, -- ---t ------ --t t--m ---- -- t---- t---s. -- -- st--- --- - t---, -t ----- -- --t---n --s ---s.
“S--ms ---- s-m----- t--- --m t- st--, s- --’s st---n-. -- -- s-ts m--- --n---, t-- --- ------ ---- --m- ---n- -n- ---- --m --- t- t-- --- --st----.”
“--m- -n, ---, “ - ------. T-- --- ---n’t -----.

---m St-----
-- ------- ------

Karen: T(42), M(12) = 54
Felicia's Mom: N(16) = 16
Pinot's Mom: S(34) = 34

Letters left to guess:

ABCDEFGHIJKLOPQRUVWXYZ

L, please, and don't forget Asiel's R!

Sorry about that, Asiel! Looks like you posted while I was counting out letters and I missed it after I posted earlier today. I'll be more careful after this!

Here we go ...


T-- --- ---n’t m---. - s-r-t---- --s ---st ---r- --n--t l---- t- -- s-r-t----. T--s --- l----- -- -t m- --t- --s --rs l--- ---- -n- t-- s----st l--- - ---- ---r s--n -n - ---’s ----. -- ---s ---l- -r-, t--s --- ---l- -- -r--n- --r-.
“--m- -n, ---,” s--- --rr-. T-- --- ------ --s ------ t--l. -t --sn’t - ----- ---. ---s --n s-- - l-t --t- t---r t--ls, -r ---t ----l- l-t t--m ---- -- t---r t--ls. -- -- st-ll --- - t--l, -t ---l- -- --t---n --s l--s.
“S--ms l--- s-m----- t-l- --m t- st--, s- --’s st---n-. -- -- s-ts m--- l-n--r, t-- --- ---l-r --ll --m- -l-n- -n- ---l --m --- t- t-- --- --st-ll-.”
“--m- -n, ---, “ - ------. T-- --- ---n’t -----.

-r-m Str---r
-- ----rl- -l--r-

Karen: T (42), M (12) L (29) = 83
Felicia's Mom: N (16) = 16
Pinot's Mom: S (34) = 34
Asiel: R (20) = 20

Letters left to guess:

ABCDEFGHIJKOPQUVWXYZ

H please!

H it is, and it's a rich one. Thirty-three of them!


Th- --- ---n’t m---. - s-r-t-h-- h-s -h-st -h-r- --n--t l---- t- -- s-r-t-h--. Th-s --- l----- -- -t m- --th h-s --rs l--- ---- -n- th- s----st l--- - h--- ---r s--n -n - ---’s ----. -- ---s ---l- -r-, th-s --- ---l- -- -r--n- h-r-.
“--m- -n, ---,” s--- --rr-. Th- --- ------ h-s ------ t--l. -t --sn’t - h---- ---. ---s --n s-- - l-t --th th--r t--ls, -r -h-t ----l- l-t th-m ---- -- th--r t--ls. -- h- st-ll h-- - t--l, -t ---l- -- --t---n h-s l--s.
“S--ms l--- s-m----- t-l- h-m t- st--, s- h-’s st---n-. -- h- s-ts m--h l-n--r, th- --- ---l-r --ll --m- -l-n- -n- h--l h-m --- t- th- --- --st-ll-.”
“--m- -n, ---, “ - ------. Th- --- ---n’t -----.

-r-m Str---r
-- ----rl- -l--r-

Karen: T (42), M (12) L (29) = 83
Felicia's Mom: N (16) = 16
Pinot's Mom: S (34) H (33) = 67
Asiel: R (20) = 20

Letters left to guess:

ABCDEFGIJKOPQUVWXYZ

A Y please

Only 12 Y's, but it does fill some things in. And all of the y's in the passage function as vowels, so I'll score them accordingly. (There's the reading teacher in me coming through!)

Th- --- ---n’t m---. - s-r-t-h-- h-s -h-st -h-r- --n--t l---- t- -- s-r-t-h--. Th-s --- l----- -- -t m- --th h-s --rs l--- ---- -n- th- s----st l--- - h--- ---r s--n -n - ---’s ----. -- ---s ---l- -ry, th-s --- ---l- -- -ry-n- h-r-.
“--m- -n, ---,” s--- --rry. Th- --- ------ h-s ------ t--l. -t --sn’t - h---y ---. ---s --n s-y - l-t --th th--r t--ls, -r -h-t ----l- l-t th-m ---- -- th--r t--ls. -- h- st-ll h-- - t--l, -t ---l- -- --t---n h-s l--s.
“S--ms l--- s-m----y t-l- h-m t- st-y, s- h-’s st-y-n-. -- h- s-ts m--h l-n--r, th- --- ---l-r --ll --m- -l-n- -n- h--l h-m --- t- th- --- --st-ll-.”
“--m- -n, --y, “ - ------. Th- --- ---n’t -----.

-r-m Str---r
-y ----rly -l--ry

Karen: T (42), M (12) L (29) = 83
Felicia's Mom: N (16) = 16
Pinot's Mom: S (34) H (33) = 67
Asiel: R (20), Y (12) = 44

Letters left to guess:

ABCDEFGIJKOPQUVWXZ

I always have to figure out whether the "Y" is a vowel or a consonant in calculating someone's totals - proving both elementary school English and math class do have a use in life!

Anyway, P, please!

P doesn't give you a lot - only six of them; but it may fill in at least a couple of words for you ...


Th- --- ---n’t m---. - s-r-t-h-- h-s -h-st -h-r- --n--t l---- t- -- s-r-t-h--. Th-s --- l----- -p -t m- --th h-s --rs l--- ---- -n- th- s----st l--- - h--- ---r s--n -n - ---’s ----. -- ---s ---l- -ry, th-s --- ---l- -- -ry-n- h-r-.
“--m- -n, ---,” s--- --rry. Th- --- ------ h-s ------ t--l. -t --sn’t - h-ppy ---. ---s --n s-y - l-t --th th--r t--ls, -r -h-t p--pl- l-t th-m ---p -- th--r t--ls. -- h- st-ll h-- - t--l, -t ---l- -- --t---n h-s l--s.
“S--ms l--- s-m----y t-l- h-m t- st-y, s- h-’s st-y-n-. -- h- s-ts m--h l-n--r, th- --- ---l-r --ll --m- -l-n- -n- h--l h-m --- t- th- --- --st-ll-.”
“--m- -n, --y, “ - ------. Th- --- ---n’t -----.

-r-m Str---r
-y ----rly -l--ry

Karen: T (42), M (12), L (29), P (6) = 89
Felicia's Mom: N (16) = 16
Pinot's Mom: S (34), H (33) = 67
Asiel: R (20), Y (12) = 44

Letters left to guess:

ABCDEFGIJKOQUVWXZ

I'd like to try a W, please!

Eleven W's for you ...


Th- --- ---n’t m---. - s-r-t-h-- h-s -h-st wh-r- --n--t l---- t- -- s-r-t-h--. Th-s --- l----- -p -t m- w-th h-s --rs l--- ---- -n- th- s----st l--- - h--- ---r s--n -n - ---’s ----. -- ---s ---l- -ry, th-s --- w--l- -- -ry-n- h-r-.
“--m- -n, ---,” s--- --rry. Th- --- w----- h-s ------ t--l. -t w-sn’t - h-ppy w--. ---s --n s-y - l-t w-th th--r t--ls, -r wh-t p--pl- l-t th-m ---p -- th--r t--ls. -- h- st-ll h-- - t--l, -t w--l- -- --tw--n h-s l--s.
“S--ms l--- s-m----y t-l- h-m t- st-y, s- h-’s st-y-n-. -- h- s-ts m--h l-n--r, th- --- ---l-r w-ll --m- -l-n- -n- h--l h-m --- t- th- --- --st-ll-.”
“--m- -n, --y, “ - ------. Th- --- ---n’t -----.

-r-m Str---r
-y ----rly -l--ry

Karen: T (42), M (12), L (29), P (6) = 89
Felicia's Mom: N (16) = 16
Pinot's Mom: S (34), H (33), w (11) = 78
Asiel: R (20), Y (12) = 44

Letters left to guess:

ABCDEFGIJKOQUVXZ

a G please

Good choice, that fills a few things in. There are 20 of them.


Th- --g ---n’t m---. - s-r-t-h-- h-s -h-st wh-r- --n--t l---- t- -- s-r-t-h--. Th-s –g l----- -p -t m- w-th h-s --rs l--- ---- -n- th- s----st l--- - h--- ---r s--n -n - --g’s ----. -- --gs ---l- -ry, th-s --g w--l- -- -ry-ng h-r-.
“--m- -n, --g,” s--- --rry. Th- --g w-gg-- h-s ------ t--l. -t w-sn’t - h-ppy w-g. --gs --n s-y - l-t w-th th--r t--ls, -r wh-t p--pl- l-t th-m ---p -- th--r t--ls. -- h- st-ll h-- - t--l, -t w--l- -- --tw--n h-s l-gs.
“S--ms l--- s-m----y t-l- h-m t- st-y, s- h-’s st-y-ng. -- h- s-ts m--h l-ng-r, th- --g ---l-r w-ll --m- -l-ng -n- h--l h-m --- t- th- --g --st-ll-.”
“--m- -n, --y, “ - ------. Th- --g ---n’t ---g-.

-r-m Str---r
-y ----rly -l--ry

Karen: T (42), M (12), L (29), P (6) = 89
Felicia's Mom: N (16) = 16
Pinot's Mom: S (34), H (33), w (11) = 78
Asiel: R (20), Y (12), G (20) = 64

Letters left to guess:

ABCDEFIJKOQUVXZ

D, please, just to confirm a couple words ....

I've been waiting to ask for the D! Thirty-nine of them should fill in quite a few words!


Th- d-g d-dn’t m---. - s-r-t-h-d h-s -h-st wh-r- --nd-t l---d t- -- s-r-t-h-d. Th-s d-g l----d -p -t m- w-th h-s --rs l--d ---- -nd th- s-dd-st l--- - h--- ---r s--n -n - d-g’s ----. -- d-gs ---ld -ry, th-s d-g w--ld -- -ry-ng h-rd.
“--m- -n, d-g,” s--d --rry. Th- d-g w-gg-d h-s d----d t--l. -t w-sn’t - h-ppy w-g. D-gs --n s-y - l-t w-th th--r t--ls, -r wh-t p--pl- l-t th-m ---p -- th--r t--ls. -- h- st-ll h-d - t--l, -t w--ld -- --tw--n h-s l-gs.
“S--ms l--- s-m---dy t-ld h-m t- st-y, s- h-’s st-y-ng. -- h- s-ts m--h l-ng-r, th- d-g ---l-r w-ll --m- -l-ng -nd h--l h-m --- t- th- d-g --st-ll-.”
“--m- -n, --y, “ - -----d. Th- d-g d-dn’t --dg-.

-r-m Str-d-r
-y ----rly -l--ry

Karen: T (42), M (12), L (29), P (6), D (39) = 128
Felicia's Mom: N (16) = 16
Pinot's Mom: S (34), H (33), w (11) = 78
Asiel: R (20), Y (12), G (20) = 64

Letters left to guess:

ABCEFIJKOQUVXZ

B please!

13 B's, lots more things are filling in!


Th- d-g d-dn’t m---. - s-r-t-h-d h-s -h-st wh-r- B-nd-t l---d t- b- s-r-t-h-d. Th-s d-g l----d -p -t m- w-th h-s --rs l--d b--- -nd th- s-dd-st l--- - h--- ---r s--n -n - d-g’s ----. -- d-gs ---ld -ry, th-s d-g w--ld b- -ry-ng h-rd.
“--m- -n, d-g,” s--d B-rry. Th- d-g w-gg-d h-s d----d t--l. -t w-sn’t - h-ppy w-g. D-gs --n s-y - l-t w-th th--r t--ls, -r wh-t p--pl- l-t th-m ---p -- th--r t--ls. -- h- st-ll h-d - t--l, -t w--ld b- b-tw--n h-s l-gs.
“S--ms l--- s-m-b-dy t-ld h-m t- st-y, s- h-’s st-y-ng. -- h- s-ts m--h l-ng-r, th- d-g ---l-r w-ll --m- -l-ng -nd h--l h-m --- t- th- d-g b-st-ll-.”
“--m- -n, b-y, “ - -----d. Th- d-g d-dn’t b-dg-.

-r-m Str-d-r
by B---rly -l--ry

Karen: T (42), M (12), L (29), P (6), D (39) = 128
Felicia's Mom: N (16) = 16
Pinot's Mom: S (34), H (33), W (11), B (13) = 91
Asiel: R (20), Y (12), G (20) = 64

Letters left to guess:

ACEFIJKOQUVXZ

Oooh, I may have a guess in later, pretty close ....

C, please :)

Oh, good. I was afraid we'd been forgotten.

18 C's, and for the first time in this puzzle, one word is completely filled in.

Th- d-g d-dn’t m---. - scr-tch-d h-s ch-st wh-r- B-nd-t l---d t- b- scr-tch-d. Th-s d-g l----d -p -t m- w-th h-s --rs l--d b-c- -nd th- s-dd-st l--- - h--- ---r s--n -n - d-g’s --c-. -- d-gs c--ld cry, th-s d-g w--ld b- cry-ng h-rd.
“C-m- -n, d-g,” s--d B-rry. Th- d-g w-gg-d h-s d-c--d t--l. -t w-sn’t - h-ppy w-g. D-gs c-n s-y - l-t w-th th--r t--ls, -r wh-t p--pl- l-t th-m ---p -- th--r t--ls. -- h- st-ll h-d - t--l, -t w--ld b- b-tw--n h-s l-gs.
“S--ms l--- s-m-b-dy t-ld h-m t- st-y, s- h-’s st-y-ng. -- h- s-ts m-ch l-ng-r, th- d-g ---l-r w-ll c-m- -l-ng -nd h--l h-m --- t- th- d-g b-st-ll-.”
“C-m- -n, b-y, “ - c----d. Th- d-g d-dn’t b-dg-.

-r-m Str-d-r
by B---rly Cl--ry

Karen: T (42), M (12), L (29), P (6), D (39) = 128
Felicia's Mom: N (16) = 16
Pinot's Mom: S (34), H (33), W (11), B (13) = 91
Asiel: R (20), Y (12), G (20) = 64
cassiesmom: C (18) = 18

Letters left to guess:

AEFIJKOQUVXZ

OK - I have to do it - can I have an A please?

That fills in a lot! 39 of them.


Th- d-g d-dn’t m---. - scratch-d h-s ch-st wh-r- Band-t l---d t- b- scratch-d. Th-s d-g l----d -p at m- w-th h-s -ars la-d bac- and th- sadd-st l--- - ha-- ---r s--n -n a d-g’s -ac-. -- d-gs c--ld cry, th-s d-g w--ld b- cry-ng hard.
“C-m- -n, d-g,” sa-d Barry. Th- d-g wagg-d h-s d-c--d ta-l. -t wasn’t a happy wag. D-gs can say a l-t w-th th--r ta-ls, -r what p--pl- l-t th-m ---p -- th--r ta-ls. -- h- st-ll had a ta-l, -t w--ld b- b-tw--n h-s l-gs.
“S--ms l--- s-m-b-dy t-ld h-m t- stay, s- h-’s stay-ng. -- h- s-ts m-ch l-ng-r, th- d-g -a-l-r w-ll c-m- al-ng and ha-l h-m --- t- th- d-g bast-ll-.”
“C-m- -n, b-y, “ - c-a--d. Th- d-g d-dn’t b-dg-.

-r-m Str-d-r
by B---rly Cl-ary

Karen: T (42), M (12), L (29), P (6), D (39) = 128
Felicia's Mom: N (16) = 16
Pinot's Mom: S (34), H (33), W (11), B (13), A (78) = 169
Asiel: R (20), Y (12), G (20) = 64
cassiesmom: C (18) = 18

Letters left to guess:

EFIJKOQUVXZ

You've almost got it ... just a few letters to go ...

I sent a guess .... The C really helped!

And you were so close! Unfortunately you missed by one word ... I was bummed. But you're all so close to the solution ... keep it coming.

K, please

7 K's ... a few more things filling in ...

Th- d-g d-dn’t m---. - scratch-d h-s ch-st wh-r- Band-t l-k-d t- b- scratch-d. Th-s d-g l--k-d -p at m- w-th h-s -ars la-d back and th- sadd-st l--k - ha-- ---r s--n -n a d-g’s -ac-. -- d-gs c--ld cry, th-s d-g w--ld b- cry-ng hard.
“C-m- -n, d-g,” sa-d Barry. Th- d-g wagg-d h-s d-ck-d ta-l. -t wasn’t a happy wag. D-gs can say a l-t w-th th--r ta-ls, -r what p--pl- l-t th-m k--p -- th--r ta-ls. -- h- st-ll had a ta-l, -t w--ld b- b-tw--n h-s l-gs.
“S--ms l-k- s-m-b-dy t-ld h-m t- stay, s- h-’s stay-ng. -- h- s-ts m-ch l-ng-r, th- d-g -a-l-r w-ll c-m- al-ng and ha-l h-m --- t- th- d-g bast-ll-.”
“C-m- -n, b-y, “ - c-a--d. Th- d-g d-dn’t b-dg-.

-r-m Str-d-r
by B---rly Cl-ary

Karen: T (42), M (12), L (29), P (6), D (39) = 128
Felicia's Mom: N (16) = 16
Pinot's Mom: S (34), H (33), W (11), B (13), A (78) = 169
Asiel: R (20), Y (12), G (20) = 64
cassiesmom: C (18), K (7) = 25

Letters left to guess:

EFIJOQUVXZ

Bounce! I need someone to call a letter!

Yes, please! We're so close to solving it!

I'll guess a V although I am disqualified from solving the puzzle!

F, please

Those two letters should fill in most of the question marks ... not a lot left to guess! Just eight F's and four v's, but they're in crucial places.


Th- d-g d-dn’t m-v-. - scratch-d h-s ch-st wh-r- Band-t l-k-d t- b- scratch-d. Th-s d-g l--k-d -p at m- w-th h-s -ars la-d back and th- sadd-st l--k - hav- -v-r s--n -n a d-g’s fac-. -f d-gs c--ld cry, th-s d-g w--ld b- cry-ng hard.
“C-m- -n, d-g,” sa-d Barry. Th- d-g wagg-d h-s d-ck-d ta-l. -t wasn’t a happy wag. D-gs can say a l-t w-th th--r ta-ls, -r what p--pl- l-t th-m k--p -f th--r ta-ls. -f h- st-ll had a ta-l, -t w--ld b- b-tw--n h-s l-gs.
“S--ms l-k- s-m-b-dy t-ld h-m t- stay, s- h-’s stay-ng. -f h- s-ts m-ch l-ng-r, th- d-g -a-l-r w-ll c-m- al-ng and ha-l h-m -ff t- th- d-g bast-ll-.”
“C-m- -n, b-y, “ - c-a--d. Th- d-g d-dn’t b-dg-.

Fr-m Str-d-r
by B-v-rly Cl-ary

Karen: T (42), M (12), L (29), P (6), D (39), V (4) = 132
Felicia's Mom: N (16) = 16
Pinot's Mom: S (34), H (33), W (11), B (13), A (78) = 169
Asiel: R (20), Y (12), G (20) = 64
cassiesmom: C (18), K (7), F (8) = 33

Letters left to guess:

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