I feel like the last 3 weeks have been a year! So many things have happened and I have talked to so few you you, my friends:

These last few weeks Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 has been streaming through my mind:

I have missed being a part of all your lives this last three weeks and hope to be settled and in communication again soon.

We did run into a little poison oak, but that was easily avoided. I think Bill and I were the only ones close enough to maybe get some on our clothes, and we didn’t have any problems. But it was a good lesson in identifying it, especially since it was still all nice and green with no tell tale reddish leaves. Poison Oak spreads it’s toxin through an oil it excretes. These oils spread easier when in heat, sweat, hot water or steam. But because it is an oil, it does not easily come of with soap and water. For those of you who are not used to dealing with poison oak here are a few basic tips:

1. Take off all your clothes and bath in cold water immediately after exposure. (never warm or hot)
2. While bathing rinse any areas you think might be exposed in rubbing alcohol. Then rinse again with soap and water.
3. Keep all these clothes separate from others and prewash usng rubbing alcohol. (You may want to make sure it will not bleach your clothes, but I haven’t had any problems.) Then follow with a regular wash.

Following these basic steps we have never had an out break in our family. But enough about poison oak, we saw so many other beautiful things. Like the Sacramento River in the morning, red tail hawks soaring, great egrets, wild roses, jack rabbits, not to mention the elderberries! It was a beautiful and productive morning! I am very greatfull to Bill and Wildlands for all their help with this field trip.

I always freeze the berries immediately when get home, they are so much easier to get off the stems when frozen. This time I laid them on cookie sheets and before placing them in the freezer. This made it easier because the did not get tangled in one another.

Then I took them out one cookie sheet at a time and shook the berries off. It worked very well. I rinsed them a few times in a bowl of ice water to clean them. I like to try to keep the berries cold, so they are less likely to pop and let some of the juice leak out. I think next year, I might try washing them while on the stems and before freezing them. I am still experimenting with the best way to wash them with out loosing the juice. Even so, I still had plenty of juicy berries left.

Next I place them all in a large pot with just enough water to cover them all. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes.

I then juice the berries in batches. I place a layer of cheesecloth in a strainer and them mash the berries in the strainer and collect the juice in a bowl below. I them place the remaining pulp in a bag before throwing away. (It doesn’t have the most pleasant smell).

This time I then poured the juice into ice cube trays to freeze it. After they are all frozen, I transfered them to a freezer bag. That way, I can take out what I need through out the year to make the syrup.

Recipes on the next page…

Elderberry Syrup

1. Boil 3 cups of elderberry juice with 15 whole cloves for 10 minutes. Optional: I also add 1 cup raspberry or dark cherry juice (unsweetened).
2. After the 10 minutes, you can choose to remove the cloves, or leave them in the syrup.
3. Take off the heat and add 1 cup honey and 1 cup sugar. Many recipes call for twice the amount of sugar, so you can add sugar until desired taste, but remember it will taste sweeter as it cools. I like using half local honey because consuming local honey can help build the immune system.
4. I place the syrup in jars (makes 6-7 cups) and can using a water bath method (bath 10 minutes).
5. Let cool completely before storing the well sealed jars in a cool dark place until opened. Once opened store in the fridge.

Since I already had enough syrup right now, I set aside 1.5 cups of elderberry juice to experiment with elderberry jelly. I liked it, so here is the recipe…

Spiced Elderberry-Cherry Jelly

1. Boil 1.5 cups of elderberry juice, 1/2 cup unsweetened, dark cherry juice, and the juice of 1/2 a lemon with 3 whole cloves, 2 whole all spice, and 1 cinnamon stick for 10 minutes.
2. While the juice is boiling, mix in a separate bowl 1/2 cup honey with 2 t pectin powder (use the amount as specified on your pectin package).
3. At this point, remove the spices and add 2 t calcium water (use the amount as specified on your pectin package).
4. Take off the heat and add the honey/pectin mixture and 1/2 cup sugar. Return to a boil.
5. I place the jelly in 1 cup (2-3) jars and can using a water bath method (bath 10 minutes).
6. Let cool completely before storing in well sealed jars in a cool dark place until opened. Once opened store in the fridge.

Let me know what you think and if you have a few recipes of your own!

But I will still try to follow up on the elderberry field trip and the Motherlove Giveaway before I leave. For those of you who just can’t wait for the elderberry syrup recipe, here is last years: ELDERBERRY SYRUP. I will hopefully be improving upon this recipe and adding another if I can.

Also, there are still 4 days left to enter to Win the FREE GREEN SALVE from Motherlove! Just click on the link and make a comment.

We will dearly miss our home, family, friends, and community here in Sacramento more than I can express right now. And as soon as I can slow down enough for my head to stop spinning, will feel it even more. I want all of you in Sacramento to know how much you friendships and community has meant to me. And even though my children don’t know it, how much you have helped to shape and improve their lives. We will forever be indebted to you and leave a piece of our hearts hear forever.

I am looking forward to new experiences, new friends, and a new community in Boise. So stay tuned for more…I don’t know exactly what…but more …

Here is the basic information for or field trip:

• We will meet at their elderberry mitigation site Tuesday, July 27 in the morning at 10:00 AM. For those of you who sign up, I will email you the directions this weekend. I would allow yourself 45 minutes from downtown Sacramento to get there.
• We will first be given a guided tour of the elderberry mitigation site as one large group.
• Then we will proceed to a riparian area adjacent to a levee where we will harvest the elderberries.
• The children and I will stay at the riparian area at base of the levee and explore while the adults harvest.
• Then we will all leave together.

What to bring:

• Water, Water, and Water.
• Sunscreen and Hats
• Snacks
• Thick plastic bags or a few plastic shopping bags (the stems can poke holes in the thinner bags)
• Shears or scissors

I would recommend everything you bring fit into a backpack or something you can wear and keep your hands free. Also the same for infants. There will not be a good place for them to be on the ground, so I would recommend packing them too!

I am very excited about this opportunity and grateful to Wildlands for their generosity. For more information about elderberries, please see my previous post: Come with Me to the Harvest.

I am so excited! Thanks to the wonderful people at Wildlands Inc. I have arranged for 10 lucky people to attend an elderberry harvesting field trip on one of their mitigation sites. “

What is an Elderberry?

Elderberry shrubs can get quite big and are often confused with trees. They have large clusters of white flowers in the spring that ripen into dark berries in the summer (when I say elderberry, I am referring to the Sambucus nigra elderberries, not the red). They are considered riparian and often associated with rivers, streams, and creeks and in grasslands adjacent to water. Here in the Central Valley, they are home to the Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle (it is currently listed as a threatened species). The beetle spends most of it’s life as a larva in the stems of the shrub, so we need to be careful when harvesting. Normally the elderberries are usually best to harvest in August, but it varies every year.

Why Elderberries?

If you read my blog regularly, you will know that I am a huge fan of elderberries. If you are sick, have a sore throat, sniffles, a cough… my first question will be have you been taking your elderberry syrup? Elderberry is an anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and antioxidant. It helps build the immune system and is especially helpful for respiratory illness such as asthma or bronchitis.  We all take elderberry syrup twice a day at the first sign of a cold or virus and we usually recover quicker, coughs don’t linger, and rarely does anyone get a secondary infection. It can be taken regularly during an allergy season. I also give it to my children for a few days to a week before and after getting immunizations, traveling, or the first days of school or if a virus is going around. Here are a few links to some other sites with interesting information on elderberries:

• Medicine Hunter
• Herb Wisdom
• Wikipedia
• USDA

What do you do with elderberries?

We have been taking elderberry syrup for years, but buying it can be very expensive. So last year I started making my own. After harvesting the berries, I immediately juice them and then freeze the juice in 3 cup portions. Then I can make and can the syrup as I need it. This way it does not go bad before we can use it. I use local honey to make the syrup and by making it seasonally, I can use seasonal honey (this helps in fighting local  and seasonal allergens). CLICK HERE for my previous post on Making Elderberry Syrup and CLICK HERE for the Cough Syrup recipe. I am just on my last batch now from last year, just in time! As this syrup does contain honey, I do not recommend it for children under 2. You can make it totally with sugar or purchase Herbs for Kids Elderberry Syrup. There are many things you can make with elderberries. They are good as a jam, a compliment in a pie or other baked good, tea, wine, etc.  Many people also use the flowers for teas, liquors, jellies, etc. I still have a lot more experimenting to do.

But ONLY use the flowers or RIPE BERRIES and make sure you cook them! Elderberries should not be eaten raw. All parts of the plant contain the toxin hydrocyanic acid which is destroyed by cooking. Red elderberry (S. pubens) is considered poisonous and should not be used at all since cooking does not destroy enough of the toxin. Most of the berries in the Sacramento area are S.nigra elderberry. The stems and leaves have the highest concentration of hydrocyanic acid that is why I recommend removing them. I have seen some recipes that say not to worry about the smaller stems, especially if you are boiling it. I have also seen some recipes that do not boil the juice, I would strongly advise against eating the berries or drinking the juice raw. I have also seen people suggest using the leaves. I would NOT advise using the leaves as they have higher concentration of hydrocyanic acid.

So how can You come harvesting?

The field trip is set for July 27, 2010 (subject to change if berries aren’t ripe enough), some time in the AM to avoid the heat. As I said there are only 10 spots available, so I have decided to have it on a first come first serve basis. If you would like to attend the field trip, please leave a comment on this post, not on Facebook. The first 10 received will reserve their spot. I will also have two back up spots, in case some one can not attend. If there are too many people responding at the same time, I will draw names. I hope this sounds fair. I would love to take everyone, but C’est la vie.

I don’t really like lining dresses. It seems like a lot of work to make a lining that nobody sees, so I prefer making a reversible dress with the inner dress (what would be the lining) 2-3 inches longer than the panel dress. I had some of the fabric left over from the skirt we made Claire in January. I needed a little more fabric, so I bought a pack of pillow cases a Target.  Now that we have our fabric, let’s get started…

First Night

Pick your pattern and design: First wash your fabrics. They are all going on the same dress, so if you can not wash them all together in one load, you’ve got a problem!

While the fabric is washing, make your pattern. Choose a single pattern (I used the Absolutely A-line front pattern) for both the front and back panels of the dress. I always make a muslin copy of a pattern, instead of cutting the paper pattern. That way I can also make any adjustments, like using a size 3 for the width and a size 5 for the length. I use wax paper that you place face down over the folded muslin then pin the pattern on top of all the layers. Then you just trace with a pencil or wheel over the pattern you want. The wax transfers to the muslin and I then cut out the muslin. I fold the muslin, so that I have one complete front panel for a pattern. That way I can hold it up to Claire and make sure it will fit and adjust if necessary. When making a reversible dress I use snaps on the shoulders for a closure instead of a zipper, so I added 1 inch to the shoulders of the pattern. Also, choose the length you want for the longest dress and add 2-3 inches for a wide hem. This pattern has an 1/2 inch seam allowance, which I like because it gives you a lot of room for error. If you do not have a pattern, take a sleeveless dress you like, fold it in half. Then trace by adding a 1/2 inch all the way around the dress. Then add one inch to the shoulder and 2-3 inches to the bottom. There is your pattern. If you want you can make two patterns, one for the shorter dress and one for the longer dress, but I usually use just one pattern and fold up the bottom when cutting the shorter dress.

Switch your fabrics from the washer to the dryer while you work on the design. I already had the design of the Candy Stripes dress from Absolutely A-line. It is basically 5 strips of fabric sewn together (kind of like a quilt) to create one rectangle of pieced fabric (mine ended up a square 24×24). For more details on how to make the Candy Stripes dress, please refer to You can use use the same design for both dressed if you like, using different fabrics for diversity (CLICK HERE to see pictures of previous reversible dress). For the longer dress, I decided I wanted to use the solid blue, cut out some of the flowers from the floral pattern for the bodice, and place a ribbon of the striped fabric across the bottom seam. I actually drew a few different pictures and placed fabrics here and there to get my final design.

Finally, iron your fabrics. This is very important if you used a dryer, if you line dry it can wait. Make sure you have everything you need to make the dress: correct thread, snaps, applique backing, ribbons, etc. If not, make a list for tomorrow.

Second Night

Cut dress panels and add any details: I am assuming that you have already gathered all the materials you will need before continuing. At this point, I made the two 24×24 inch pieced fabrics for the Candied Striped dress as outlined in Absolutely A-line.  Now its time to cut two panels of each fabric. To cut the panels, fold the fabric with right sides facing each other, making sure to fold the fabric lengthwise (the grain arrow should be parallel to the selvage).  If you made your own pattern, 9 times out of 10 the grain line arrow with be going the length of the dress from top to bottom. Place the folded pattern over the folded fabric and cut around the pattern. Since the pattern is for the longer dress, fold up the bottom  until you have the desired length for the shorter dress (don’t forget at least 1 inch for the seam). Repeat the process for cutting out the two panels for the shorter dress. You should now have two panels for each dress. You should also cut out any details you may need. For example, I cut out the flowers I wanted from the floral print for the longer, blue dress and strips of the striped fabric for a boarder along the hem.

Once you have your panels, I like to add whatever details or designs to them that I can before sewing them together. This requires that you think through the process a little, but I find it easier, especially with applique if I am only having to work with half a dress than with a whole dress or even two dresses (if you wait until the very end). You will want to pin everything in place (including a hem) before you sew and details on. Then place the longer dress right sides together, place a panel of the shorter dress on each side of the longer dress, right side facing out, and pin it together at the top. This way you can judge whether or not your stitching and designs for you dresses will show or interfere with one another. It can also help you decide if you should add the details now or wait until later.  It was after I placed the flower cut outs on the blue dress that I realized it looked blah, so I cut out a piece of the striped fabric to go under the floral, framing it and liked it much better. I also decided I would put on the striped fabric after I hemmed the dress.

Add the applique or details to the dress that you think best at this time. I chose to iron on applique the flowers on the bodice. (I wish I had also stitched the edges using the machine at this point, instead of planning on hand stitching it later, but live and learn).

Third Night

Sew the sides of the dresses and hem: Stay stitch (long basing stitch) along the curved edges (arm holes and neck) within the seam allowance (about 1/4 inch). Take the two panels of the longer dress (for me, the blue dress) and pin them right sides together. Sew a straight stitch up the side seam with a 1/2 inch seam allowance. I often find out at this point that I have cut the pieces less than perfect, so I use the “widest” edge as a guide as I sew. I feel like this helps to even out any errors I’ve made in cutting. Repeat for the shorter dress (for me, the Candy Stripes dress).

Try dresses on to make sure they fit. Then cut excess fabric at the seams, but leave enough to easily be ironed down. Iron the seams open. Then hem the bottom of both dresses. Hem the shorter dress first. Begin by, fold the bottom edge up about 1/2 inch and iron it down. Then fold again about 1/2 inch and iron. Pin the hem if necessary before sewing a straight stitch along the edge of the folded fabric.

Place the longer dress inside the shorter dress right sides facing in and determine the desired length of the hem. Remember that you do not want the hem seam to show out from under the shorter dress. 2-3 inches should be fine. Mark the finished hem with a fabric pencil or pin. Remove the longer dress and fold the bottom edge up and iron down (as before). Then fold the fabric again until desired length as marked. Iron down the fold. Pin if necessary before sewing a straight stitch along the edge of the folded fabric.

Note: if you are following my design and placing the striped fabric (or ribbon) over the seam of the blue dress, this is a good time to finish that detail. It is easier to work with one dress than two.

Forth Night

Sew the two dresses together: Turn the shorter dress (for me the Candy Stripes) inside out. Then take the longer dress and put it inside the shorter dress. The right sides of the two dresses should be facing each other. If you have a front and back to your dresses (i.e. applique) the front panel of the longer dress should be facing the back panel of the shorter dress. And the wrong sides of the shorter dress should be facing out.

Then pin the front panel of the shorter dress to the back panel of the longer dress at the neck and arms. Do the same for the other panels. Remember you do not sew the same fabrics together. This is had to explain, so I hope this picture will help.

Then using a straight stitch (1/2 inch seam allowance), sew from one arm hole all the way around the two arms and necks, to sew it all together. This should be one consistent stitch. Leave the needle in and lift the foot as needed to turn corners etc.  Trim any excess seam allowance and clip the edges.

Once that is done, then you turn the dresses right side out using the dull end of a seam ripper to get the straps completely right side out. Now at this point you may end up with two dresses side by side, don’t panic. Just put the one dress back inside the other. One dress should be facing out and one dress should be facing in. Press the dress alone the neck and arm holes. Then top stitch then by using a straight stitch from the bottom of one arm hole all around the edge to finish at the same place. This is the same as before when sewing the dress together, except you are stitching on the outside of the garment. Remember to take your time as this stitching will show.

Fifth Night

This is the night of catch up. If you did not get the top stitching completed or have not finished all the details of your design, this is your chance to finish. The final item is to place two snaps at the ends of each set of straps. I always try to place my snaps to the the front panel is going on top of the back panel (if you do not have a front or back, it does not matter. Another tip I have learned is to place the snaps in an order. This is hard to describe to I will provide this picture. But I always start with the bottom- outside snap (Bottom = the strap going under. Outside = at the arm hole, not the neck). Then mark where the corresponding snap needs to be on the top panel and add it. Then I place the top-inside snap where I think it looks best on the strap and use it to mark where the corresponding snap should go on the bottom panel. MAKE PICTURE OF SNAPS.

And voila you have a very cute dress ready for the weekend!

P.S. I hope this is helpful. I find it very hard to write sewing instructions. It always seems more confusing to me written down. So please let me know if you have any questions or suggestions. Thanks!