I'm glad that was helpful enough for you!
That hot blob is tricky. You'll have to do something you probably weren't expecting, and it's going to involve curiosities for sure. Something to make the heat less intense...
As for the second part you mentioned, the curiosities on the mansion grounds, a little patience will see you through... There are a few folks that sometimes appear in the hedge maze as well with helpful tips if you haven't spoken with them yet.