17. September 2009 by admin.

Hi. I plan to blog each day, if I can, about our annual trip back to New Hampshire to ‘man’ the Information Tent at the New Hampshire Highland Games which are held
Sept. 17-19 at Loon Mountain Ski Area in Lincoln, NH. My husband, Richard, has the distinction of being the longest continuous volunteer. We believe he started back in 1982. September 16 at 4 a.m.: Up and finish the packing, then cook eggs and the last of the maple sausage for Rich, son Eric and myself. The cat, Blaze, senses something is going on.  Eric has never slept over before, and why are all these bags clogging up the foyer? By 5 a.m., Eric’s Sonata is packed. My laptop and I are happily ensconced in the back seat, and we are on our way. Packed to the gills with bags, maps, and a cooler of food and drink, we start our trip here in Raleigh, North Carolina and head north.  Don’t forget the music! We listened to the local station long enough to hear it was going to be a beautiful day. Already a warm 72 degrees, we wondered if we would be dressed appropriately for New England. Rich says he forgot to grab a coat. Wonderful. I had packed enough gloves for all as we froze our fingers last year. We end up going through our CDs. Trace Adkins joined Bon Jovi and Seven Nations. (Love those bagpipes) 

Rich was amazed how close we live to Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Manassas. I feel another road trip coming on. Later.  Right now, New Hampshire and the Highland games are calling. We stop for coffee and a rest room break in Thornburg, VA. ($7.60) and then again at 10:15 at a lovely rest area south of Baltimore. Purple pansies in September. Cheery. I have worked on my manuscript in progress and add another 1700 words as I edit. Stopped for gas in Newark, Delaware ($36.07) While Rich pumped and paid, and I made bologna sandwiches in the back seat, Eric raced over to the Wendy’s restaurant where he used the facilities, felt guilty, so bought French fries. He ate half of the single order then passed them to me. I am in Heaven.  We raced over the Delaware Memorial Bridge into cloud-covered New Jersey. Made a small wave towards the north from where Dad’s relatives hail. Most have since retired to sunny Florida. I still keep in touch with several cousins and their children (Hi, Nancy! Hi, Christine!) Now it is raining as we stroll along the narrow New Jersey Turnpike heading towards New York City. Some bumper to bumper in construction zones, but not bad. Rich has made it clear we better not be traveling through NYC. NOT his favorite place. Been through often enough when he started dating me, a native of Huntington, Long Island. We shall see what Ginny the GPS says. South of Albany, NY is our destination and we arrive a little past 3 p.m after about 10 hours and 609 miles. About 200 more to go. Tomorrow. Decided not to think of tomorrow. Checked into the Best Western in West Coxsackie (about $187 for 2 rooms) and swam in the heated pool then relaxed in the hot tub. Little girls wearing float tubes in the pool, not another soul in OUR hot tub!  Dinner out at the Ambrosia Diner in nearby Catskill, NY. Just in time for the senior citizen specials (don’t ask…please) Great food and tons of it. Eric could not finish the largest piece of red salmon I’ve ever seen! Chicken Cordon Blue and Crabmeat stuffed chicken for the ‘old folks’. ($55 including salad or soup, fries, rice or baked, teas or soda. And dessert)Back to our rooms by 7 p.m. with a chance for Rich to read today’s paper as we figure out why the flags are all at half-mast. I check on my e-mails, post this on my blog, and plan for tomorrow. Lots to do!Good-night, Nancy Lee Badger

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15. September 2009 by admin.

A No. 2 pencil and a dream

can take you anywhere. 

Joyce A. Meyers, author

Posted in Quotes | 2 Comments »

13. September 2009 by admin.

I mentioned I have been under a lot of stress this week. Why? Because I held back some crucial news so that I could stand up at yesterday’s Heart of Carolina Romance Writer’s meeting here in Raleigh and announce I had made my first sale!

I have signed a contract with RED ROSE PUBLISHING for my full-length novel ‘Secret Love Match’. I am very happy to take this next step while I continue to try to sell two other novels.

I have a feeling all my hard work and persistence will pay off and I will be able to share my stories with you all.

Nancy Lee Badger

Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments »

11. September 2009 by admin.

I have been under a bit of pressure this week and I totally forgot to mention my guest blogger article on History Undressed! my theme was the origin of  Scottish myths and here is a small excerp:

Unexplained observations (thunder, lightning, movement of planets, and other complicated events of nature) were the basis of stories. These word-of-mouth explanations changed with the frequency of their telling which is why one myth could have many different descriptions or endings.

The entire article, which posted Sept. 2nd, 2009, can be found at

http://historyundressed.blogspot.com

Thanks!

Nancy Lee Badger

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

10. September 2009 by admin.

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers

-Charles W. Eliot (1834 - 1926)

Posted in Quotes | 6 Comments »

7. September 2009 by admin.

      The USA Today Bestselling Author has come through again with the third installment of her Children of the Sea series. Our hero, Selkie Prince Conn ap Llyr denies his sensual nature to rule on Sanctuary, but is drawn to World’s end, an aptly named island off the coast of Maine. He’s searching for two missing Selkies, and comes across the woman seen earlier in a vision. 

      Schoolteacher Lucy is content with her quiet life until Conn walks into her life. She had no idea her mother was Selkie. He does, and he vows to never let her go.  

     As a demon threat grows, our hero, heroine, and their extended family learn to work together to save their people. Again, this is book three but Ms. Kantra gives enough back-story to make a new reader understand what’s going on. I recommend all three in the series for hours of great reading!

      ‘Sea Lord’ was published in 2009 by Berkley Sensation.

 Nancy Lee badger 

Posted in My Favorite Books | 9 Comments »

5. September 2009 by admin.

You either have to be first, best, or different.  -Loretta Lynn, singer & songwriter 

Posted in Quotes | 3 Comments »

3. September 2009 by admin.

2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon baking powder

3 teaspoons ground cinnamon

3 eggs

1 cup salad oil

1 ½ cups sugar

2 cups Zucchini, grated

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Confectioners sugar

      Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 13” by 9” by 2” pan. Sift the flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon onto a square of wax paper.

      Combine the eggs, oil, sugar, zucchini, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Beat until well mixed. Stir in the flour mixture until smooth.  

      Pour into the prepared pan. Bake about 40 minutes or until center springs back when lightly pressed with fingertips. Cool in pan on a wire rack.

      Mix a small amount of Confectioners sugar with water in a small measuring cup. Pour this glaze in big ‘Z’s over the bread. Zorro, my favorite Spanish Hero,  rides again! Yum!

Nancy Lee Badger

Posted in Recipes | 4 Comments »

1. September 2009 by admin.

If we take care of the moments, the years will take care of themselves.

-Maria Edgeworth, novelist

Posted in Quotes | 3 Comments »