I'm on it this morning

Order - 7

Apron - two-step food connection
Barbecue - same, maybe 1.5 step
Bell - could use it to alert attention, seems two-step-y
Bowler - don't see it
Christmas - order things for presents
Cotton - don't see it
Court - order in the court
Doctor - could force you to do something
Game - games have rules, seems weak
Hole - don't think so
Judge - says "order in the court"
Jupiter - 5th planet in order, weak
Leather - don't see it
Mammoth - all species have a taxonomic order
Map - prevents chaos, mildly weak
Memory - recite an order from memory
Page - menus have pages
Pan - two-step food connection
Penguin - see mammoth
Pumpkin - see mammoth
Server - takes your order
Story - story has an order
Sub - don't see it
Taste - 1.5-step food connection
Van - could order a van

So I really like Court/Server/Judge. Maybe Christmas next. After that, gets really weak really fast.

My list:

Yes:

Court
Judge
Server - Restaurant

Maybe:

Page
Story
Game
Memory
Map

Stretch:

Apron - Chef, order food?


----

Looking at yours, eb, I missed Doctor's Orders, and that goes onto my Yes list.

So I would bold Court, Judge, Server, Doctor, and go from there.

Do you see a Christmas connection at all?

Christmas Order?

If there were another word that screamed order, and tied right into that context, I could see it. But it feels like a leap as-is.

It might be it, but I guess it low in the queue.

Okay actually "Order by X to receive in time for Christmas" absolutely is a thing, so...

Do this?

Court
Server
Judge
Doctor
Christmas
Story
Page

I'd flip page and story, otherwise that looks peachy keen.

Court
Server
Judge
Doctor
Christmas
Page
Story

Order - 7

Apron
Barbecue
Bell
Bowler
Christmas
Cotton
Doctor
Game
Hole
Judge
Jupiter
Leather
Mammoth
Map
Memory
Page
Pan
Penguin
Pumpkin
Server
Story
Sub
Taste
Van

Court

Okay that wasn't expected.

def the hardest hit with both court order and order in the court

but neutral blockers are no big deal when you can clue 7 so I think ya'll are still ahead right now

hat - 3

Bowler is a lock

Leather and cotton are materials used in hats

The Penguin wears a hat

Apron is another item of clothing

Pan wears a hat

I agree with Nich. Bad beat to hit it first off, but we can't be doing too badly here.

Oh, it's on me. Sorry


Apron - Strong, IMO
Barbecue
Bell
Bowler - obvious yes
Christmas
Cotton - Strong, IMO
Doctor - They wear their little doctor beanies, but I wouldn't guess that here
Game - Lots of games have hats in them
Hole - baseball caps have the hole at the back
Judge
Jupiter
Leather - Is leather a common hat material?
Mammoth
Map
Memory
Page - I think this is also a kind of hat, but if I've learned anything playing this game it's that my brain makes things up.
Pan - I'll take your word on this, and I'll lump it in with Penguin
Penguin - Sure, as you said the Penguin wears a hat. This feels weak IMO
Pumpkin
Server
Story
Sub
Taste
Van

I'd go:

Bowler
Apron
Cotton

Leather
Page

Pan
Penguin

Game
Hole


And yes, I know that's too long a list of backup words

Penguin is better for hat than Pan

I don’t like page

Game and hole are ok

I think I prefer leather to apron but I’m ok with apron 3rd and leather backup



So:
Bowler
Cotton
Apron/leather
Pass

Leather/apron
Penguin
Pan
Game
Hole

That works for me.

Bowler
Cotton
Apron
Pass

Leather
Penguin
Pan
Game
Hole

Order - 7
hat - 3

Apron
Barbecue
Bell
Christmas
Doctor
Game
Hole
Judge
Jupiter
Leather
Mammoth
Map
Memory
Page
Pan
Penguin
Pumpkin
Server
Story
Sub
Taste
Van

Bowler

Court
Cotton

What a barn burner we've got here

You’re up

bump

On it today, was out of town for the weekend again...

play - 2