SPARTANLAUREL

POETICJUSTICEReward or punishment that may be ironic PRACTICALJOKEFilling a friend's car with balloons, e.g. SENSELESSNESSIdiocy ROLLINTOABALLArrive à la Cinderella? GRANNYSQUARESPieces of crocheted fabric that make four-sided shapes ... or a hint to the theme words at 16a, 44a, 7d, and 41d: 2 wds. PRIMARYCOLORSThey can be mixed to make orange, green and purple SEASONTOTASTESpring roll or summer sausage? OLDWIVESTALESFoolish traditions APOSTLESPOONSPieces of silver handled by disciples? MOTHEROFPEARLGround opal, the former material for shiny ornamentation PUTINTHESHADETo eclipse HUGHMCDIARMIDScottish poet whose works include A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle SUNKINDESPAIRUtterly depressed NEILARMSTRONGThe first man on the moon