FHYTE = HEFTY
HOTOB = BOOTH
MUNSOM = SUMMON
SNIPTL = SPLINT
CARTOON ANSWER:
THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE FURNACE BECAUSE THE ONE THEY HAD WAS – – –
HTOOONST = NOT SO HOT
Good morning, Jumble friends! The first puzzle of October gives us four anagrams that are in alphabetical order, but their clue word solutions were recycled favorites from various months of 2017. SPLINT was the only one that wasn’t immediately visible so it’ll be my choice for the most difficult anagram of the day. The fact that the anagram started with SNIP threw me off at first but it quickly came into view after staring at it for a few extra seconds.
Today’s cartoon is a situation that many of us can relate to at this time of year. With temperatures starting to drop in the northern states, we’re at the point where it’s time to start our dormant furnaces to take the morning chill off. I’ve already started mine and luckily there were no mechanical issues. The couple that we see in today’s panel weren’t as lucky and they’re in the basement trying to figure out what went wrong.
Mr. Fix-It has removed the front panel of his “Crosswords” brand furnace and moves in for a closer look with his screwdriver at the ready. This appears to be a gas fired furnace as there’s no visible oil line leading to the burner. Just above his head we see a pipe that has a shut-off handle which may be the gas feed. The handle is not crossed so there is a fuel supply to the unit and most likely not the problem. He thinks it just isn’t able to put out enough heat to battle the bitter cold temperatures and his wife thinks it might be time to have a new one installed.
There were some mighty fine details in today’s cartoon that you may have overlooked. The first one was the crack in the basement wall just behind the gentlemans rear end. Talk about a well placed detail! The female is bundled up from head to toe and Jeff lets us know that it’s brutally cold by drawing their breaths in front of their faces. There appears to be a spiderweb inside the furnace just above the gentlemans left hand. My favorite detail was the tiny mouse lurking in the shadow under the furnace. I missed it in my print copy but it was quite visible in the online version.
The letter layout for the final solution was an 8-letter anagram. The three O’s bunched together made it appear cryptic but the HTO in the front allowed me to instantly see HOT. NOT and SO came next to finish off this rather easy puzzle. I’ll take my win for today as we’ll most likely be challenged later in the week. Have a marvelous Monday, and I’ll see you tomorrow!
Jumble Answers 
Good Morning, Mike! 👏🏻 I applaud your HVAC prowess! 😉 Nicely done! Happy October! 🍁🍃🙋🏻
Happy Monday! 🙂👋🏻
Same to you! 🍁🙋🏻
Good morning. Found jumble in my junk mail again. This has been going on for a week now. If it’s not there than I have to use the calendar to get access. Thank you Mike for all your information. I certainly missed most of what you saw. Agree that splint was the hardest of the words. It was the only one that took a second look. The cartoon answer was easy and very clever. Until tomorrow stay well.
Hi, Paul! Not sure what’s going on with your email but I’m glad you eventually found today’s post. I agree that this was an easy yet clever puzzle. I wish you a great start to the week! 🙂
Easy one today which is a good way to start off the week. Appreciate your analysis as always, Mike. Didn’t see the mouse in the house but am so impressed with the detail in the drawings. Happy Monday everyone.
Good morning, Betty, and you’re most welcome. The woman in the cartoon had slippers on and I could just imagine her scurrying up the stairs if that mouse popped out. To be honest, it even shocked me when I first noticed it. All my best for a great week! 🙂
Even though his arm was in a SPLINT, the HEFTY farmer was able to SUMMON enough strength to ring the bell at the carnival BOOTH.
Great eye for details Mike but when I went online, I was struck, not literally, by the big RED wrench on the cellar floor. No teeth so it must not be a pipe-fitters tool. What do you think?
I have to go back and look for the mouse.
Back to work–later.
I didn’t see the toothless wrench so great catch! I wonder if Jeff trudged down to his basement and scribbled down what he saw…
Great sentence as always, Earl, and I can just picture the farmer on the midway playing the game. Have a great Monday and don’t work too hard!
LOL..Hey SPUD…Struck, huh? 👏🏻 Good one! Good Afternoon, Earl…They’re called Spud Wrenches, and they’re used mostly to install gas valves on furnaces…Good pick up! …And Kudos on your sentence! Have a good one. Earl! 🔧🙋🏻
4 words were a snap as was the final solution.Odd that there were only o’s and no a’s or e’s available for the final solution .Not came quickly followed by so hot.Living in Illinois, my friends are rooting for a Cubs victory today in their playoff game,fortunately my Indians are already in and are getting ready for their playoff vs the Astros on Friday.
Nice job on noticing the lack of vowels, Chuck! My approach was different, but it all worked out for an easy solve. Looking forward to all the playoffs as well. Take care! 😎⚾️
Hi all – Yes, the Jumble guys really took it easy on us after last week.
So Angela, you’re saying he dropped that SPUD WRENCH like a hot potato?
I only learned that term recently, and now that I think of it, it must have been when I was looking up different kinds of files, possibly when the Jumble showed workmen fixing Big Ben.
The cartoon reminds me of a friend telling me of a winter night in Aurora, Illinois, when he had his heat cranked up as high as it would go, yet stood there watching the indoor thermometer on his thermostat sloooowly, inexorably falling.
Mike, I’m sure the Sox are “tanned, rested and ready”, awaiting a tired and beat-up Yankee or A’s team. Good luck to all, though, and here’s hoping for a good show!
Have a great Monday, everyone.
Can’t wait for the games to get underway! Happy Monday, my friend!!!
Hey Steve…Could very well be! 👏🏻👏🏻😂 Hot SPUD Wrench! You say recently, but it’s really not that recent. We did the workmen on Big Ben Puzzle back on September 28th, ’17…A few days over a year ago! So as I said the other day, you have a good memory…(OR you had the data filed away in those infamous notes of yours)!! 😂 I’ll tell you a good “Heat” story…Cold winters’ night in Brooklyn…Cranking up the thermostat..and Nothing…Going down to check and finding the boiler off…(?) Turning it back on…Nothing…(Lather, rinse) Repeat…(No, seriously, I washed my hair in the interim)! 😉 …Still Nothing…Upon the third attempt to turn on the boiler, noticing you’re really dizzy…Place was filling up with Carbon Monoxide…and the boiler was shutting itself down…Who knew? So…I obviously lived, developed a relationship with the Fireman who carried me out,😉 learned all about Spud Wrenches…and bought my own house! I tell myself everything happens for a reason…And if we don’t learn from all if it? Shame on us! And yes, three Carbon Monoxide Detectors in my home here, and after that night in Brooklyn? That Christmas…Everybody on my list got one! 😉 Ah, memories! 😂😂 Have a good one, G…Play Ball! ⚾️🙋🏻
GREAT story! And great advice not to forget about carbon monoxide detectors along with the smoke alarms (I have them.) 🙋🏻♂️
Maybe good story now…Then? ..Not so much! 😂 And yes..We sound like a PSA! 😉🙋🏻
Just found your site after being a long time Jumble fan. I really enjoy the attention to all the details of the picture. Where do I find the on-line color version?
Keep up the good work!
Hello, Barbara! I’m so happy that you found us and thank you for the kind words.
There are several different websites out there that feature the Jumble in color. I use the one from the Seattle Times the most.
Here’s the link: https://www.seattletimes.com/games-universal/
A little sad fact for me today. I passed my first real job which was Safeway grocery store on 94th street and 3rd Avenue in Bayridge Brooklyn, which I know became another grocery store when Safeway moved out of the east coast. The Brooklyn Dodgers (some) used the barbershop across the street, then shopped in our store. Well when I passed it today, which I hadn’t done in years, it is now a Walgreens. Another part of history gone with the changing of times.
Hey Brooklyn…Sorry to hear it. But you can’t let it get you down. The entire landscape of Brooklyn’s changed…Nature of the beast…It can never be the same…But my Father used to say that if Brooklyn survived the Dodgers leaving…we can survive anything! Hope your night improves, Bud…Take care…😘🙋🏻