Explanation: Per 1A, YOU is often abbreviated by U. That, and the title, likely means look for the letter that "U" is upon! There are 8 Us in the grid, on the letters in the phrase NICE LIST, the answer to the meta and what I'm putting you on this festive season. Merry Christmas and happy holidays!
Nice! haha I saw that cow in the banner pic above and then saw UTTERS in the grid... so my ADHD kicked in for a minute and I got distracted by KID (goat) and YOU = EWE (which wasn't even there)... and then while pursuing a farm animal theme (Why not?) I found all those "horse shoes" (U's) hanging in the grid! Not the expected path, but I got there eventually! Oh my! :D Anyways, thanks for the fun! "Fish Ewe Mare Egrets Moose, Panda Hippo Gnu Deer!"
Well you have achieved your goal, but I'd have to say you missed an opportunity for a super "trick". WIth 8 U's you have 16 words containing a U. With some creative cluing it would have been easy to spell out, using the first letters of the clues, a 16 letter phrase: CHRISTMAS PAGEANT. Granted you would have probably been roasted, along with chestnuts, ove an open fire but....
Fun META my friend and one of many. Happy Holidays
OK, but don't pine away over it. it was good fir what it was good fir and regardless how yew spruce it up, you still end up with a cone of shame. I'm aspen you to let it go to float amongst the balsam and jetsam of your past conquests or failures. We shall needle you no more about it.