Here’s a CLUE for Nancy Drew

“I don’t promise to forget the mystery, but I know I’ll have a marvelous time“

Nancy Drew

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Bushes make a clever screen while you eavesdrop on unsuspecting suspects.

The Secret Of The Old Clock

(1930)

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Hello. My name is Nancy Drew.

When getting a call from a guy makes you send your slippers flying to the nether regions of your bedroom, you might just be infatuated!

The Clue in the Diary

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Which brings me to Ned:

This is my special friend Ned Nickerson, he attends Emmerson College. He has been my ‘special friend’ since 1932 when he assisted me on our first detective adventure together, The Clue in the Diary.

Although my first mystery was The Secret of the Old Clock two years prior.

Ned has been a great buddy for the past 94 years. We both live in River Heights. I live with my father Carson Drew, who is a successful attorney, along with our housekeeper Hannah Gruen. I lost my mother when I was a small child. I have a dog Togo and a cat Snowball.

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Always Dress For Success

I solve mysteries together with my friends Bess Marvin and George Fayne. They are cousins.

Bess has a lovely face but sadly she is slightly plump, (compared to the rest of us stick thin girls), and George is a tomboy. Together we are helped by their boyfriends, Dave Evans and Burt Eddleton.

Always give your hair special attention and wear pretty dresses for the boys!

Mystery of Crocodile Island

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Look! It’s a message from Bess and George coming in through the wireless.

Well Ned, we have a mystery to solve. Let’s go!

Here’s a CLUE for Nancy Drew

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Currently Sleuthing…

One thing is for sure, she thought. Work is the best antidote for worry.

I’ll get back to Twin Elms and do some more sleuthing there.

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The Case of the Safecracker’s Secret

I Am Also An Excellent SafeCracker

This One Was No Problem

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Eavesdropping

While it does toe the line of privacy,

eavesdropping on the telephone extension is a necessary tactic for staying informed and catching criminals.

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Some Days a Stake Out is in Order

Ned’s Roadster Always Comes In Handy

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When Casing A Joint, Or Following A Bad Guy

Cocoa and Cookies make a great accompaniment to a Midnight Stakeout!

The Clue of the Tapping Heels

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If you’re taken prisoner, unobtrusively knock off a button so that your rescuers will be able to better trace your whereabouts.

The Quest Of The Missing Map

Canada Or Greenland?

Pretty Sure Ned’s Roadster Can Get Us There and Back

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Ned Nickerson is so keen to help in investigative work.

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Mrs. Nickerson’s Cookies and Hot Cocoa

Maps are a Must when on a Stakeout

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Julie

What Happened To Julie On Her Honeymoon?

Starring:

Doris Day, Louis Jourdan, Barry Sullivan and Frank Lovejoy

Has beautiful Julie Benton married a murderer, an insanely jealous man who killed her first husband in hopes of marrying her? When Julie learns the answer is yes, she escapes him in a desperate attempt to forge a new life, taking a job as a stewardess. But her husband has no intention of letting Julie go ever. Doris Day and Louis Jourdan star as pursued and pursuer in this nonstop, double Oscar nominated thriller built around the kind of woman in peril plot that always jangles audiences nerves and is a specialty of writer/director Andrew L. Stone (Cry Terror!. The Last Voyage). As if a mad stalker isn’t enough, Julie tosses in a great Hollywood ending: our heroine piloting a jetliner to a San Francisco landing, the fate of passengers and crew in her hands.

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Assembling My Display

When I was putting this display together, I found that the only spot I had available in the house was the T.V. stand. I placed a vintage yellow tablecloth over the T.V. in an attempt to hide it, while I started stacking my Nancy Drew books in front of it. It was while I was doing this that I wanted to watch T.V. and I didn’t think I would be able to because of all the stuff in front of it, but I pressed the buttons anyway. Viola! It worked! It was then that I got the idea to put in a movie to play in back of the books. I know that I used to own the Emma Roberts version of Nancy Drew on DVD so I tried to find it, but no luck. I then thought that it would be great just to find any old movie I had and have that playing in the background, that is when I spotted Julie.

I thought it would be great to have it playing so when it came time to doing the shoot I put the movie in and then this great backdrop came onto the screen,

Now Playing

Julie

Perfect! Funny thing is this wasn’t planned.

In fact, most of the things that I do I don’t plan, they just tend to evolve and I just go with the flow. I just like to think that my subconscious is guiding the way. 🙂

Julie

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Everyone Wants To Know…

What Does Nancy Drew Keep In Her Handbag?

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Now Playing

Julie

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When I was young and reading all the books Nancy always seemed to have everything she needed in her handbag.

I even remember thinking at the time that her handbag would have to be huge in order to carry all that she does, yet the illustrations of her always seemed to have her carrying some small clutch or handbag. Which is why I decided to show you through the magic of Hermione Grainger just how it is possible to carry so much in such a small vessel.

So, what are the contents?

A Framed Photo Of Me And My Boyfriend Ned

Road Maps to get around River Heights and the Surrounding Towns

Note Pad and Pen/Pencil

(You never know when you need to jot down license plate numbers of suspicious vehicles. Or for leaving your phone number with cooperative witnesses so they can get in touch with me.)

Sewing Kit for mending my Skirt Hems when I hide behind bushes to Spy and they get Snagged on Thorns

A Compass for when I get Lost, Binoculars for Far Away Distances

Pay Days, Baby Ruth’s, and Packs of Crackers

Carrying an emergency package of crackers and a candy bar can be a ray of light to a just- rescued fellow!

The Spider Sapphire Mystery

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Oh, and handy games to play when the stake out’s last longer than they should.

Lipstick and a Mirror

The lipstick is for making my lips lovely and supple for Ned, and the mirror is for signaling passing airplanes when stranded in the middle of nowhere.

My Travel Flashlight

(For searching for CLUES at night.)

A Scarf and Sunglasses also make for a Quick Disguise when Necessary

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Keeping an emergency five dollars in your purse is a great idea—until your purse is stolen!

The Mystery at the Ski Jump

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Oh, and One More Thing!

My Magnifying Glass For Examining CLUES

So, There You Have It!

My Entire Collection, Paperbacks Included

Nancy Drew is the reason that most of the time I have the largest and heaviest purse of anyone I know. She is the reason I carry binoculars and a compass in my car. She is the reason why I have notepads and pens in my purse and car. She is the reason I carry food with me whenever I go anywhere. She is the reason I have old maps. She is the reason I have various flashlights everywhere within arms reach. She is the reason that if I am ever stranded on a desert island with my purse I will be able to signal overhead airplanes and get rescued. She is also the reason why I will never part with my Nancy Drew books and why I get them out occasionally and just flip through them visiting my old friend.

And she is the reason that my mother will always ask, “Julie, why in the world do you have to carry everything you own with you all the time?”

🙂

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NANCY DREW “It’s Locked!”

Well Ned, it looks like no one is home. You stay here and keep guard.

Whistle if you see someone. The Bob White signal will do. I’ve got a lock to pick.

Almost there….

I’m IN!!

I’ll be careful. 🙂

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MORE NANCY DREW TO COME!!!!

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(I wrote this in my Julie Vintage Archives around 2012.

I wanted to add it here as a continuation of my love of Nancy Drew.)

Remembering Nancy Drew

Nancy Drew and the Secret of the Old Clock

Me, having dug out my old Nancy Drew and Dana Girls Mystery books from my youth.

August 9^th, is ‘Book Appreciation Day’ and I wanted to focus on my favorite all time books growing up, the Nancy Drew series of books, written under the name of Carolyn Keene. I do have to say that Nancy Drew saved my life. If you have read any of my blogs then you will know that I grew up moving around a lot. I was the new kid in school 9 times in 12 years from grades 1 – 12. I didn’t make many friends and the ones I did, I would leave behind to move onto the next place. I didn’t grow up with stability, something that I desperately needed as a child. Nancy Drew gave me that stability that I needed to function. Reading those books, I was able to escape from my life of loneliness to a life of adventure and excitement and friendship. Nancy Drew became my best friend and her adventures became mine. I was able to escape into her world and that helped me to survive mine.

Me about age 12 or 13 during my big Nancy Drew days. We were living in Roanoke, Virginia at the

time.

I’m blown away by how thin I am in this photo when all everyone ever said about me was how plump that I was.————————————————————————————————My Nancy Drew Collection

There is just something about those vintage yellow books that are so special.I have 1 – 59 of the yellow hardback and 60 – 79 of the paperback books. I don’t want to diss my upbringing totally as it has helped me to survive as an adult as well. In my husband’s 20 year military career we moved around quite a bit and because I was so used to moving I adapted much quicker and easier than your average person. I am never lonely because I learned how to entertain myself. I am fiercely independent and can speak truth to power. I also adapt to change more easily. Gordon and I can move to a new state/town/country etc. and adjust as easily as if we never left our own neighborhood. So my upbringing has helped me in many areas. I’m a survivor. But, Nancy Drew does hold a special place in my heart because she was special. Her friends Bess and George were special and even her boyfriend Ned was special as well. Nancy was someone to be admired for her bravery, her smarts, and her values. I know that she was a fictional character, but she was a fictional character to be admired and emulated. Although Nancy had a boyfriend she was too busy living life to obsess over him. Ned was always trailing after her. Nancy never let some boy get in the way of her doing what she wanted to. She did what was best for her and her life and not what was best for some boyfriend and his life. For that I admired her tremendously. That is a good lesson for all of us. Live YOUR life for YOU!!

Nancy Drew

Nancy Drew also taught me valuable skills. Back in 1978 when my family and I were on a cross-country trip out west our Winnebago broke down on the side of the highway. My step-father was too proud to use the CB radio that was right in front of him so I grabbed the flashlight and headed to the back of the camper. It was at night so I started sending my SOS signals out the back window. Soon a car stopped to help us. My step-father asked the man how he knew we were in trouble and he said that he saw the SOS signals and stopped. The man was able to help us get the camper started and get to the next town where we found a mechanic to fix it. Julie saves the day thanks to something that I learned in my Nancy Drew books. Did I ever get a ‘thank you’ for that? I don’t think so!

My Nancy Drew Paperback Books

There were many Nancy Drew’s to come and go over the decades. The first was in 1938, her name was Bonita Granville. She starred in ‘Nancy Drew Reporter’ and ‘Nancy Drew Detective’. I came across an old Nancy Drew movie on T.V. a few years ago staring Bonita Granville and I just had to watch it. I couldn’t get over the ‘over acting’. Acting has apparently advanced since the 1930’s. I also noticed that her boyfriend was not named Ned, but was named Ted Nickerson played by Frankie Thomas.

Bonita Granville was the First Nancy Drew

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My favorite Nancy Drew, Pamela Sue Martin.

In 1977 Pamela Sue Martin teamed up with Parker Stevenson and Sean Cassidy to star in The Hardy Boys/ Nancy Drew Mysteries. I adored her in The Poseidon Adventure from 1972 so I was excited about the series. Unfortunately the show only lasted until 1978.————————————————————————

Another actress to grace the Nancy Drew role was Maggie Lawson of Psych fame. She starred in the 2002 T.V. movie, Nancy Drew.

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Emma Roberts also played Nancy Drew in the 2007 movie entitled ‘Nancy Drew’. I did see it. I thought it was a cute movie for the average “tween” but I was a bit disappointed in it. I had hoped that they would be able to “revive” the Nancy Drew franchise for this current generation but it just didn’t seem to take.Emma Roberts was really cute in it but the whole premise just seemed to fall flat. Maybe Nancy Drew is just better off in our own heads. Written down in books. Our own ideals and our own fantasies. She is what we want her to be and not what some director makes her out to be.

These are just a few of the actress’s that have played Nancy Drew over the decades. Nancy, Bess and George will always be special to me and a big part of my growing up. That is how I shall always remember her. So every now and then I like to dig out the books and have another look at them, read one or two before I pack them back up and send them to the attic. Hopefully someday my daughter will show some interest in them and decide to read them as well. But until then it’s just me, Remembering Nancy Drew.

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More Nancy Drew

Nancy Drew Ghost Stories

Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys

Nancy Drew PuzzlesNancy Drew Files

My mother’s Nancy Drew books are pictured below. Inside each book is written, Copyright 1930, Grosset & Dunlap, Inc. But it also lists the books that had been written at the time, numbering 29 in total. Although my mother only owned these 5 books listed.

The Secret of the Old Clock

The Hidden Staircase

The Bungalow Mystery

Nancy’s Mysterious Letter

The Mystery of the Ivory Charm

Written inside each book it says, ‘Made in The United States of America’.

My mother’s Nancy Drew books. I LOVE the old graphics!

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Gordon’s Hardy Boys Books were written by Franklin W. Dixon.

Gordon only had three of them. Franklin W. Dixon was also a pen name for several Hardy Boys authors.

The Mystery of the Chinese Junk

The Mystery of the Spiral Bridge

The Clue of the Hissing Serpent

I think they were all gifts to him that he never read. Two of them have written inscriptions.

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“1974 Easter To: Gordon Whann from Auntie Hester from Sharpton MD. Had nice visit with you and your family – See you again soon. Love, Hester”

The next one said, “To Gordon Whann from John Bunch, Charlotte, 1977”

Whenever you give the gift of a book to someone always be sure to sign it. It means so much more many years later to find something so nice and personal as that.

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Dana Girls

Photo below my Dana Girls books

I do have a few Dana Girls books, actually 15 of them, but I never really got into them. I think it was because they were two sisters solving mysteries. I just couldn’t relate to having a sister. I grew up with 3 brothers. Nancy Drew was more my speed. Nancy was an only child. So was I up until age 8 when my brother Johnny was born. So I know what’s it’s like to be an only child, and the oldest child of the family as well. But having a sister is very alien to me. Maybe that’s why I never learned to share. 🙂

The Dana Girls were also written under the name of Carolyn Keene.

When I was looking inside one of my mother’s Nancy Drew books there is a listing of the old Dana Girls books and none of the titles match the ones that I own. So either they rewrote those old books and updated them or else they changed the titles. I own 15 of the first 16 Dana Girls books with titles such as:

1.Mystery of the Stone Tiger

2.The Riddle of the Frozen Fountain

3.The Secret of the Silver Dolphin

4.Mystery of the Wax Queen

5.The Secret of the Minstrel’s Guitar

6.The Phantom Surfer

7.The Secret of the Swiss Chalet

8.The Haunted Lagoon

9.Mystery of the Bamboo Bird

10. The Sierra Gold Mystery

11.The Secret of Lost Lake

12.The Winking Ruby Mystery

13.The Ghost in the Gallery

14.The Curious Coronation

15.(Don’t have this one)

16.Mountain Peak Mystery

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The Dana Girls Mystery Stories titles from 1930 are listed as:

1. By the Light of the Study lamp

2.The Secret at Lone Tree Cottage

3.In the Shadow of the Tower

4. A Three-Cornered Mystery

5. The Secret at the Hermitage

6.The Circle of Footprints

7.The Mystery of the Locked Room

8.The Clue in the Cobweb

9.The Secret at the Gatehouse

10.The Mysterious Fireplace

11. The Clue of the Rusty Key

12.The Portrait in the Sand

13.The Secret in the Old Well

14.The Clue in the Ivy

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Carolyn Keene

Carolyn Keene was a pen name used by several authors. I can remember as a child people telling me that Carolyn Keene was really a man and not a woman. Actually Carolyn Keene was several women and a few men. The name Carolyn Keene was a pseudonym. Various authors such as Harriet Stratemeyer, Mildred Wirt Benson, Walter Karig, Leslie McFarlane, James Duncan Lawrence, Nancy Axelrod, Margret Scherf, Charles Strong, Wilhelmina Rancan, Priscilla Doll, Alma Sasse, and George Waller Jr. They were ALL Carolyn Keene.

Mildred Wirt Benson, just one of the authors that wrote under Carolyn Keene.

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Stake Out Recipes Start Here

Every Sleuth Relies On A High Powered Camera To Photograph Evidence and Suspicious Looking People

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Mrs. Nickerson’s Holiday Cookies and Cocoa

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My Nancy Drew Cookbooks

(2005)

Same Cookbook, Different Printing

The Nancy Drew Coookbook

Clues to Good Cooking (1974)

By Carolyn Keene

Mrs. Nickerson’s Holiday Cookies

Making Ned’s Mother’s Cookies

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Ingredients:

1 Stick Butter

2 Eggs

1 Cup Sugar

1 T. Milk

1/2 t. Vanilla Flavoring

1/2 t. Salt

1 t. Baking Powder

1 1/2 Cups Flour

2 Squares Bitter Chocolate, Melted or 2 T. Cocoa

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(Nancy’s Added Ingredient, Holiday Fruit)

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(I am writing the recipe as it is written in the cookbook.)

You need 3 mixing bowls!

Mix Butter, Sugar, Salt, Baking Powder, and Flour Together In One Of The Bowls

In Another Bowl, Beat The Eggs and Stir In the Milk And Vanilla

Add Slowly To The Dry Mixture And Stir

I Used Cocoa In Place Of The Melted Chocolate

Place 1/4 of the batter in a third bowl. Add the melted Chocolate or Cocoa.

(I didn’t do that. I went ahead and placed the Cocoa in the mixer’s batter.)

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The Batter

Heat The Oven To 350F

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Grease a Cookie Sheet. (I used Parchment Paper.)

Using a spoon drop the batter on the cookie sheet. I added some Holiday Fruits on top.

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Place Into The Oven

Bake For 12 Minutes Or So

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When Done Place Onto Cooling Racks

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Cookies Are Cooling On The Racks

A Drew CLUE:

To keep cookies fresh in a jar, put half an apple in with them.

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Stakeout Cocoa

Ingredients:

2 Cups Water

1/4 Cup Hershey’s Cocoa Powder

1/4 Cup Sugar or to taste

Pinch of Salt

1/4 Cup Milk

1 tsp. Vanilla

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Add your water, Cocoa Powder, Sugar and Salt to a medium sized pot. Turn the heat to medium high heat. Don’t bring the liquids to a boil, but low simmer.