It is SUMMER TIME!

 

Have I told you how much I enjoy getting up early, pulling out the lawn chair and bucket of sunflower seeds, and welcoming my neighborhood critters? A carrot brings out two rabbits including the little fellow (above).

I love to read and am currently getting paid to read, but I am also trying to write more stories that keep screaming to be put on paper.

What's next? 

I finished a Scottish historical adventure, set around a medieval Christmas. A GIFT FROM THE SEA will be released November 1st in an Anthology created by a group of authors we are calling YULETIDE KISSES. Yum!

In January 2023, I will release the third (fourth?) book in my Treasure Tales series. The series actually started with LOVE, HAMISH, a novella, then was followed by full-length historical novels THE EARL'S TREASURE and THE DUKE'S DIAMOND

Writing and reading keeps me busy and I hope you are enjoying the weather and 'friends' like I am doing.

Nancy Lee Badger

Cover Reveal CLAN OF DRAGONS Boxed Set

Summer starts this month, although temperatures around the south have been climbing since March. Flag Day is June 14th here in America, and our yard is dotted with small flags. Our youngest son's birthday is coming (need to change those lottery numbers!) That's right...I almost forgot...our son was born on Father's Day way back, but it's not on the same day this year. 

My hubby and I will be celebrating another anniversary and it happens to fall on Father's Day this year. That day, June 19th, is also being called JUNETEENTH and I am working to understand its true meaning. 

I believe this fairly new Federal Holiday is called: Juneteenth National Independence Day; Jubilee Day; Emancipation day; Freedom Day; and Black Independence Day.

It's a busy month so I thought I should do something simple. Today I am releasing the cover of the upcoming boxed set called Clan of Dragons. Two novellas and three full-length stories are together and will be released on July 8th. The boxed set is over 800 pages and will be available in ebook. 

PREORDER IS AVAILABLE HERE

Nature Calls with Nancy Lee Badger

While reading books outside in the early mornings (before the temperatures here in Raleigh, North Carolina rise above 85 F) I enjoy nature. New bushes are thriving after several dead trees were removed. 

A baby rabbit is usually out in the grass, and several chipmunks show their faces. I throw a carrot to one and sunflower seeds to the others. Heading inside for the day, I can look out my kitchen window at my bluebird house, the birdbaths, and two feeders.  I surprised a deer who must have really good hearing to notice me up high. 

Reading keeps me calm as do my little visitors. The temperature is a cool 72F so I am off to set up my folding chair, grab a book from my extensive library, and relax. Join me?

Find all my BUY LINKS HERE 

Memorial Day Weekend is About More Than Parades

"Every citizen should be a soldier. This was the case with the Greeks and Romans and must be that of every free state." --Thomas Jefferson

When the United States of America celebrates its armed forces who have died in service to their country, certain people consider the weekend at the end of May as time off from work. They obviously have never lost anyone during war. My family has been unlucky in that regard. 

On Memorial Day, we remember those who served, but are no longer with us and they include my uncle, Lt. David Lee Johnson who died in WW2; my husband's great-uncles Sgt. Richard Ayers and Pvt. Gerald Ayers who both died in WW2, and my great-great-great-great uncle Pvt. Enoch Lee who died at Petersburg, near the end of the Civil War. The last person lost was Bruce Lyle Badger who died during the Vietnam Conflict. 

We also remember two special family members who served in the Civil War.

Joseph Abner Bean is my husband's great-great-great grandfather. He died in Libby Prison in Richmond, VA before the end of the war. He hailed from Vermont.

My great-great-great grandfather was Brownell W. Lee, who joined from upstate New York. He was wounded at the battle of Malvern Hill by a bullet to his chest. He was captured and also imprisoned at Libby Prison, but he was released. He then returned to fight again and survived though he lost his brother, Enock.

My dad, Robert F. Beegle, joined the navy during WW2 and was lucky not to see combat, but he was always proud of his service. Dad passed away in February 2019 at the ripe old age of 94. We miss him daily. All we and his grandsons can do is raise a glass while we celebrate the holiday with family.

 

The last person to serve and return home safe was our son Sgt. Eric Badger. We thank him for his service often.

p.s. check out my steamy contemporary

 military novella 

UNWRAPPING CHRIS 

Find buy links for all my books

 HERE

Enjoy your weekend and remember what Memorial Day is all about. Fly the American Flag, place flowers on a soldier's grave, watch a parade, or read a book, but NEVER FORGET!

Sugar-Free Lemon Blueberry Cake

A recent gathering of family members called for a quick and easy dessert. Now, I usually shy away from using box cake mixes, but when I saw this box of Sugar-Free Yellow Cake Mix by Pillsbury, I had to try it. My sister said I had made a lemony cake with blueberries one year and asked if could make that again.

Seeing this box in the store gave me an idea for a simple sheet cake, where only a few calories came from sugar. It contains non-nutritive sweeteners and does have calories, but I had to try it.

After baking the cake mix with parchment paper lining the 13 inch by 9 inch metal pan, (including 3 eggs, water, and canola oi)l I baked it for 34 minutes. After cooling, I turned it upside down on a glass cutting board. I mixed about 1/2 cup of substitute confectioners sugar then added the juice of a lemon. The mixture was not quite sweet and tasty, so I added some real confectioners sugar (sugar!) The lemon juice was the best part! 

Whisking the glaze thoroughly, I poured it over the cake and spread the thin coating gently with a rubber spatula. I then decorated the top with fresh blueberries. I placed it in the refrigerator until the next day. The glaze hardened and kept the berries intact.

The family enjoyed it and I will try experimenting with the box mix again. They also make sugar-fee chocolate cake. Hmmm...add cherries? How about their many flavors of sugar-free Brownie Mix, but I enjoy my homemade brownies using Hershey Cocoa. (Sorry, Pillsbury!) Enjoying a few calories and real sugar as infrequently as I do is okay.

I might make brownies this week since the cake is long gone. Then I can sit outside in the sunshine and read a book. If you are in need of book ideas, here are a few:

Find all Buy Links HERE

Low Sugar Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

I tweaked a favorite recipe to keep the sugar content lower than normal while keeping the flavor and juiciness. Strawberries were on sale, so I grabbed two boxes and a handful of Rhubarb stalks. Yum!

Nancy's Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie

9" Double Crust pie (I used 2 frozen shells, defrosting 1 for the top)

1/2 Cup white sugar

1/2 Cup sugar substitute (I used Splenda)

1/2 Cup flour

Approx. 1 pound Rhubarb stalks

2 Pints fresh strawberries

2 Tablespoons butter          Cooks @400 35 to 40 minutes

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place pie shell on cookie sheet to catch drips. Mix flour and sugar then add sliced fruit (thinner the better). Toss and set aside about 30 minutes. Pour fruit mixture into unbaked shell. Dot with butter slices. Cover with top crust and seal edges. Cut about 8 slits in the crust for steam. Cover top loosely with foil for the first 20 minutes. Remove foil and continue cooking about 15 to 20 minutes or until top is golden brown and fruit is bubbling.

Best served cold (to solidify) but can be gently reheated. Vanilla ice cream is a great addition.

Enjoy a slice while reading a book or two, all of which you can find HERE.

Why I Do Not Fear FRIDAY THE 13th

by Nancy Lee Badger

The 13th of a month rarely falls on a Friday. In fact, last year during the widespread Covid-19 Pandemic, it only appeared once, in August 2021. This year, May is the only month, although January 2023 will return with another special Friday for me to celebrate.

I have heard the stories that warned of "Black cats crossing your path" while others said "Don't walk under a ladder." Who can forget to be careful and to not break a mirror? These and other superstitions have swirled around the number 13 for centuries.

Many have made money off the fear of Friday the 13th (sound like any movies you may have watched?) I never watched those movies, and I have owned two black cats. I own ladders as well, but why would I walk under one? I will admit to being extremely careful when carrying a looking glass.

The Author at Age 5

The truth is, my parents had something miraculous happen on a Friday long, long ago. I was born. Yep, they welcomed their first child. Was it unlucky that the calendar said I was born on the 13th? Is it true when I hear that "Friday's child is loving and giving." That's me!

The Author enjoying the sea, decades later

I play the lottery weekly and the Powerball number I play on my tickets is always 13. It comes up quite often. So, when you think of superstitions and curses, especially on the 13th of anything (my lucky number) think of me and my books, which you can find HERE

My latest book was released last Friday. 

Yep, I like Fridays, too!