According to research, Mark Twain,
born Samuel Langhorne Clemens 1835. He was the writer and journalist who became a member
of the Sagebrush School, and was later known as its
most famous member. Twain's first important work was "The Celebrated
Jumping Frog of Calaveras County," published in the New York Saturday Press on November 18,
1865 and credited to helping launch his writing career. Books he wrote include, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Adventures of Huckleberryfinn, and The Innocents Aboard to name a few. He was a master of colloquial
speech and helped to popularize a distinctive American literature built on
American themes and language. 
One of the longest running fairs in California, is the Calaveras County Fair
and Jumping Frog Jubilee. It is a four-day event draws participants from towns
not only all around the country, but also all around the world, held the 3rd
weekend in May each year.
How to train your frog: Did you know you can train a frog? That’s right! It’s up to contestants and their frogs teach the frog to go the distance. Professional Frog Teams travel from all over the world to compete. Each contestant will place their frog on the starting lily pad and sing, leap, dance, whistle, stomp, yell, or blow to get their frog to begin jumping–but whatever you do, remember that in order to qualify, once your frog is on the starting lily pad, you cannot touch your frog.
In 1986 Lee Guidici whose frog Rosie the Ribiter, jumped 21-feet, 5-3/4 inches. He was the world-record holder and receive international media attention and a $5,000 cash prize. However, but you would also receive a brass plaque in the Frog Hop of Fame.
Angels Camp was part of the gold rush and besides the gold, many semi-precious stones were also found in the area. 
Turquoise
In My Country Heart, Book 4 in Sierra Creek Series, the characters take a trip to a small imaginary town of Calaveras City, to hunt for stones.
“If you love small towns, second chances, and real-to-life characters, the Sierra Creek books are for you!”
There are new people in Sierra Creek, a small town in the California foothills, including a jewelry designer and a firefighter. Lauren Walsh is in town to work with a renowned silversmith. Chance Williams is the new fire chief. A jewelry designer and a firefighter have little in common. Still, forced to live in close quarters, sparks fly.
The engaging characters in the other Sierra Creek books return for another heartwarming read. Find out how Amy, Vanna, Sophie, and their partners are doing. Also, a mystery is an added ingredient in book 4. Buy Link My Country Heart Sierra Creek Series
Excerpt: My Country Heart byReggi Allder
A car’s horn honked and Laurie ran out onto the cottage’s porch as a Jeep pulled up the driveway and stopped. Chance learned out of the driver-side window. “Ready to go?”
“Be right there.” She ran back into the living room and grabbed her leather bag and a jean jacket.
Holding the door for her, Chance stood aside and she hopped into the passenger seat. “Your car. Right?”
“Yeah. I don’t use it much these days. I keep it in a garage at Smithy’s place.” He glanced at her. “You look great, Laurie.” He backed out of the drive and headed toward the local highway. “That yellow shirt brings out the gold in your hair.”
“It’s just plain brown.”
“Laurie, nothing about you is plain.” He hesitated. “Your hair sparkles in the sunlight.”
“That’s the nicest thing anyone ever said to me.”
They rode in silence. The scenery changed from barren hills to more woodland with a proliferation of black oaks. On the small two-lane highway, they met only two vehicles, both of them going in the other direction.
“Not much action around here.”
“Tranquil country.” He agreed. “Must make a teenager growing up here long for the big city.”
“Probably.”
A faded sign appeared on the road. It read, Calaveras City Pop. She could only guess the number as someone had used the plaque for target practice. She could only observe it had three digits.
In a little while, the insignificant hamlet of Calaveras City came into view, a monument to a time gone by. Nearly empty enough to be called a ghost town, rather than a city, the limited population carried on.
Near the end of October, a banner celebrating Summer Gold Rush Days still hung across the street.
“I wonder if it stays up all year to advertise the festival?”
“I’m told the shindig is known as a way to drink and have a good time without worry. Guess the resulting profits keep the town going until the next time.”
Lauren surveyed the area. “I’m glad the retail stores are open.”
Though there were few patrons on the street, clerks stood at the entrances of their outlets, most likely to greet anyone who might be cajoled into coming in to browse.
“Chance, search for a sign that says, The Rock Hound.”
He glanced at her, then back to the main street. “There.” He pointed to a blue and white sign over a building. By the architecture, back in the day, it might have been a one-room schoolhouse.
He parked in front and she saw “open” written on the door.
“Thank goodness. I thought it might say gone fishing or some such thing.” She laughed.
“You wouldn’t be too far off the mark. Except I think it is hunting season at this point.”
“Couldn’t prove it by me.”
They entered and she found the retail space was larger than expected. Rows of tables filled the room. Each presentation was marked with the names of the rocks being displayed. She stopped and took a deep breath.
“Hello,” a middle-aged woman with greying hair and thick glasses called.
“Hi, this place is amazing,” Lauren answered. “I don’t know where to begin.”
“Well, everything is marked with the name and where the samples were dug up. I’d be happy to try and answer any of your questions.”
“Thank you.” Lauren turned to Chance. “Hard to believe this is here in such a small town. It’s a candy store for me. Rocks to you.” She smiled, and then gasped. “You should see this amethyst!”
She roamed the room choosing items that would work with her designs and found a piece of flawless cut crystal. Gorgeous. The stone could be placed in a creation she’d wanted for her brooch. She shook her head and put the crystal back on the table.
“You don’t like it?” Chance held the gem up to catch the light.
“I love it.” She leaned closer and whispered. “Too expensive. Anyway, I’m here on business, not to buy something for me.” She moved toward a table marked turquoise.
In thirty-five minutes, Lauren had the stones she needed, including the turquoise and a card from the store’s owner. The woman promised to ship other stones to her as needed and would give her a dealer discount.
Chance asked to pay, but Lauren declined. “This is a business expense.” Still, she kissed him. “Thanks for the offer.”
Links:
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Reggi-Allder/e/B00G05PJRS/
Check out my Sierra Creek Series starting with Her Country Heart
For romantic suspense try my Dangerous Series Dangerous Web book 1 of 4
Bookbub
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/reggi-allder
https://www.facebook.com/reggi.allder
Blog
http://reggiallder.blogspot.com
Come by and visit the Christmas Party on December 3rd for a chance to win an eBook and or and an Amazon gift card. 12-03-25 12:15 Central time.zone.
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4 comments:
How fun! I've never seen a frog jumping contest, but I do remember 2 things from childhood. My brother and I were around 5 & 7 and there was a creek behind the house we lived at that time. He and I would load out little red wagon with frogs and basically do nothing with them. The other thing I remember is the frog jumping contest on the Brady Bunch and how Bobby's frog ended up on top of Greg's girlfriend's head. Fun times. Thanks for the memories, Reggi!
21 feet! that's amazing. How fun that people made a "sport" out of frog jumping.
Hi Julie, glad this blog brought back such happy memories! Thanks for sharing! :)
Hi Gini, yes. Who would have thought that someone come up with that? Lol Thanks for stopping by :)
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