SWORD Play 
Orchard grower PEARTREE
Theme: anagrams crossed in six places
SPOUTS + TOSSUP
TOSSUP + PASTA
PASTA + TAPAS
MOTET + TOTEM
TOTEM + MANTLE
MANTLE + MENTAL... and
ANAGRAMCROSSING in the center of the grid summarize the theme
It’s not often we get RUTH(s) and MANTLE in the same puzzle!
It took me as long to find the anagrams as to complete the puzzle.
RATING:
Three grins = Excellent: Loved it; Two grins = Good: Enjoyed it; One grin = Satisfactory: A bit bland for my taste; One teardrop = Unsatisfying: No fun
