HUCKLEBERRY HAPPINESS - Releasing June 24th

                              by Judy Ann Davis
My latest novella, Huckleberry Happiness, is being released today. It’s the historical story of a young woman, Emelia Stone, who runs a bakery and her best friend from childhood, Joe Sawicki, who owns an ice company with his brother. Amelia bakes pies from native Pennsylvania huckleberries and buys ice from Sawicki Ice Company. She wants to make a special huckleberry ice cream to enter in the Pennsylvania Railroad’s dessert contest.

Huckleberries are edible, small, round berries resembling blueberries. In fact, in some parts of the United States, huckleberries might be called blueberries and blueberries might be called huckleberries, although they’re not the same fruit.

The various species of huckleberries range in color from bright red to dark purple to blue. The purple and blue huckleberries taste sweeter. In addition to humans, many animals enjoy huckleberries, including bears, red foxes, opossum, skunks, squirrels, chipmunks and white-footed mice.

Huckleberry bushes are native to Pennsylvania and stay green all year. A patch, discovered near Losh Run, north of Harrisburg, has two plants that botanists determine are 13,000 years old, older than the Sequoia trees of the West. The gigantic patch sprang from the same plant thousands of years ago as the ice cover was melting. 

Huckleberries also grow wild in many different parts of the U.S. Perhaps this is why the huckleberry inspired many different phrases dating back to the 1800s.

Because huckleberries are small, the word “huckleberry" was often used as a nickname for something small, unimportant, or insignificant. Scholars believe this was the meaning Mark Twain had in mind when he named his Huckleberry Finn character. People at that time would have understood that “Huck" Finn's name was a clue that he was a small boy who was of a lower class than his companion, Tom Sawyer.

       MY FAVORITE PASSAGE:

Emelia jabbed furiously at the mixture inside the bowl with her pastry cutter. How could her very own sister abandon her without an ounce of misgiving? Couldn’t she have waited until the end of the month and, at the very least, earned her pay before leaving the bakery?

Joe watched her work, his hands shoved in his pockets. “Are you trying to kill the lard…or is it the flour that has you so riled?” He peered over the rim of the bowl.

“Be careful,” she shot back and gave him a lethal glare that would stop a rattlesnake from making a fuss. “This place is armed with sharp knives.”

AMAZON LINK

 

Celebrating "MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB" ~ by Judy Ann Davis

Now that I have a seventeen-month-old grandson, born in Alaska, I consider it my duty as his Grammy to introduce him to books and send them to him for all major holidays and life events.

While searching for poems, I stumbled upon the information behind the nursery rhyme, “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” which was published by the Boston publishing firm, Marsh, Capen and Lyon, as a poem by Sarah Josepha Hale on March 24, 1830—189 years ago on this date.

Supposedly, the idea for the poem came from a true story of a fourteen-year-old girl, Mary Sawyer, who took her lamb with her to school after some encouragement by her brother. Naturally, the pet did not go unnoticed and ended up a distraction for the children.

There is speculation that parts of the poem might have been written by a young John Roulstone, who was visiting the school that day, but Sarah Josepha Hale is given credit. Later, the musical sheet was written by composer Lowel Mason in the 1830s.

What I believe is most amazing is that this simple poem, starting with Mary had a little lamb, its fleece was white as snow, has survived centuries upon centuries and is still sung or recited to young children even today. Can you remember all the words? If not, here is the complete poem.

Mary had a little lamb,
Its fleece was white as snow;
And everywhere that Mary went,
The lamb was sure to go.

He followed her to school one day,
Which was against the rule;
It made the children laugh and play
To see a lamb at school.

And so the teacher turned him out,
But still he lingered near,
And waited patiently about
Till Mary did appear.

"What makes the lamb love Mary so?"
The eager children cried.
"Oh, Mary loves the lamb, you know,"
The teacher then replied.

       ~ Author: Sarah J. Hale - 1788-1879 (1830)

If you have a favorite children’s poem you remember from childhood, or one you liked to use with your children or grandchildren, please share in the comments box. Grammy is always on the lookout for suggestions.

My Latest Release: 

WILLIE MY LOVE

Now Available 

https://www.amazon.com/Willie-Love-Judy-Ann-Davis-ebook/dp/B07P87GNCZ/ 

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE:

https://www.amazon.com/Judy-Ann-Davis/e/B006GXN502/r 

"Can two stubborn hearts find love under the tall white pines?"

Potato Pancakes for Lent

by Judy Ann Davis 

Pancakes have existed since prehistoric times. They are round, flat cakes prepared from a thick batter made of flour, milk, and eggs as well as other ingredients like corn and potatoes. Cooked in oil in a  frying pan or on a griddle, they are made in almost all countries of our world—from the delicate French dessert crepes to the hearty ones served for breakfast with eggs and sausage. The first pancakes made in the United States were called griddle cakes, flapjacks, and Johnny cakes. There is a national holiday in the United States for the recognition of pancakes in November.

In Poland, potato pancakes known as Latke and Nalesniki Ziemniaczane, are very popular. Traditionally, they are eaten on Fridays as a meat substitute for Catholics and often consumed during Lent.

POLISH POTATO PANCAKES

4 large potatoes (russet, Idaho, and golden potatoes work well)

1 small onion

1 egg

tsp. salt

black pepper to taste

2-4 TBSPs flour

(2 cups vegetable oil for frying)

3 tsp. butter

Turn oven range onto low, about 200 degrees F or 95 degrees C. [This is needed

to keep the pancakes hot while frying the entire mixture.]

Finely grate potatoes with onion into a large bowl and drain, squeezing out the liquid.

Beat eggs in a bowl and add to potato mixture along with salt and pepper.

Add enough flour to make mixture thick. (2-4 TBSPs)

Heat ¼ inch oil in bottom of skillet over medium heat and add a teaspoon of butter

Drop two or three  mounds into hot oil.  Flatten to make 1/2 inch thick pancakes.

Fry until golden brown, turning once.

Drain on paper towel-lined plate and keep warm in low oven until ready to serve.

Continue until all the potato mixture is used, adding more butter with oil

as needed to fry entire amount.

VARIATIONS: Serve with eggs and sausage. Serve alone as a meal. Top with sour cream, or

applesauce or cranberry sauce. These are also served with melted cheese or meat and fish

mixtures on top.

In my novel, “Willie, My Love,” to be released April 15th, 

the heroine is eating a pancake on her birthday:

EXCERPT:

             Jonathan found her at the table hacking a flapjack into a million pieces. It didn't take any more brains than an earthworm to see she was in the vilest of moods for someone about to celebrate her twenty-fourth birthday. Following his explicit orders, no one from the entire household staff had made mention of it, and she was moping.

Whistling merrily, Jonathan dropped into a seat facing her.

Release Date: April 15

“People who are so joyful in the morning should have their hearts ripped out,” she muttered and poured more than a generous stream of maple syrup onto the shredded pancake.

A smile ruffled his handsome face. “You're just in a poor mood because you didn't find your birthday presents we stashed in the stables. Everyone knows you've tipped this house upside down in search of them. Think all that sugar might help your disposition?”

“I should have known,” she sputtered, coming to her feet, “only buzzard bait like you would stoop to such a childish trick.” An unexpected stir of excitement rose inside her. “So what are we waiting for?”

He followed her out into the summer sunshine. The first rays of dawn had already burned off the dew from underfoot. The doors to the stables were flung open, and he had to quicken his pace to keep up with her.

“I guess in all fairness, I should show you where we hid them.” Inside the barn, he led her past Silver Cloud's stall to one at the far end of the stables. Her eyes sparkled luminously when she saw a pure white horse, prancing in the stall, still uneasy with its new surroundings. His coat glistened like new snow in the slanted sunlight filtering through the stable windows.

She was so shocked, she could only stare.

“Happy birthday.” He leaned a shoulder against the stall. “A new saddle from the staff is arriving from Maryland next week. I ordered it special to fit the mount.”

            “Oh, Jonathan, he’s beautiful. Thank you.” She blinked back a tear. 
            No one had ever given her such a splendid gift since the day she received her first horse.

Now Available for PRE-ORDER on Nook and Kindle:
https://www.amazon.com/Willie-Love-Judy-Ann-Davis-ebook/dp/B07P87GNCZ/

Rainy Days in May

                                              by Judy Ann Davis

Living in Pennsylvania is always a treat when spring rolls around. This year was exceptional because we had a late spring with endless days of rain. As glossy raindrops drum against my dining room window again, I think of the farmers’ axiom, “Rain in May, a barn full of hay.”

Our flowering crab tree in bloom

In such a busy world, I’m thinking the Almighty sends down the rain to allow us time to slow down and take a breath. Rainy days are for dawdling. This is the time when we can enjoy our second cup of coffee, or we can peruse that tall stack of magazines or paperwork we’ve labeled, to be read.  We can listen to a favorite song, read a good book, and finish an art project or indoor chore that’s been bugging us for months. It’s also a great time to write without the guilt that outside tasks are awaiting us.

I often say I’m glad that humans can’t control the weather, because it reminds me who’s really in charge. It also teaches us to embrace the unpredictable, to be flexible, and to welcome change in our lives. For those who like to plan or follow a daily routine, inclement days remind us that deviations from our conventional days can be enjoyable… and maybe, just maybe, there might be a rainbow as an added bonus.

What do you like to do on a rainy day? 

A GENTLE REMINDER:

"Four White Roses" in digital is on sale for $0.99 only until May 31sr. It's a romance and mystery with a touch of paranormal. "Can a wily old ghost help two fractured hearts find love again?" https://www.amazon.com/Four-White-Roses-Judy-Davis-ebook/dp/B06XPBKY7F/

Amazon: https://www.amzn.com/B06XPBKY7F 
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Judy-Ann-Davis/e/B006GXN502/ 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JudyAnnDavis4 
Twitter ID:  JudyAnnDavis4 
Blog Link: “A Writer’s Revelations” ~  http://judyanndavis.blogspot.com/ 
Website: http://www.judyanndavis.com/ 
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4353662.Judy_Ann_Davis 
Yahoo Groups:  wrppromo@yahoogroups.com and ahachat@yahoogroups.com and pennwriters@yahoogroups.com 
ITunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/four-white-roses/id1222189126/ 
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/four-white-roses-1