The Flu Season Already?

Last week we brought Megan home from church with a temp somewhere over 103. We took her to the Pediatrician the next day who confirmed it was just a virus. Last night we went to the ward camp out. (We had already decided not to stay over night because a pretty significant rain was forecast. - Call me a wimp if you want but, 8 wet sleeping bags, 8 wet pillows, and 6 possibly wet/muddy/cranky kids...) I noticed Kaylyn seemed warm as we sat around the campfire, she was also just snuggling with anyone who would hold her. Sure enough, when we got home, she had a temp over 102. Glad we came home instead of camping, eh? She continued to run a fever this morning. The boys got up achy and running fevers too. Today we were going to go to the Illini game as a family, Papa included. We have gone to a 'Special Spectators' tailgate and game every fall for the past several years. It's a fun family activity. Thomas, Papa, and the three girls who are NOT sick left just a bit ago. (Yes, I am pouting a little.) I get a little bummed out when we miss out on family activities. I was so looking forward to just being together and doing some fun things this weekend. So, the boys and Kay have some Disney movie on in the living room and I put a Star Trek movie in. If we could just be productive when we're sick, maybe it would almost be worth it! :D

Elderberry Jelly and Syrup

I don't know if using elderberrries is something our mother brought from her childhood or learned from a friend or just found out about on her own. I wish I did know... Picking elderberries with my sisters and our mother is a bright childhood memory for me. Near where we lived in Northern Illinois there were bushes and bushes of elderberries growing wild alongside country roads. As a mother now, elderberry jelly and syrup are not necessitates for our family. We get plenty of produce from Papa's farm and other places to keep us busy and fill our shelves with jars of produce. Elderberry processing is time consuming and can be messy, ie purple berry juice everywhere, especially when you have the children help. Having grown up on elderberry jelly, which for some, can be an acquired taste, I have successfully converted my husband and most of the children to appreciate this wonderful flavor. :D It is great on toast, in a PB&J, and the syrup is great on pancakes. I personally love it on blueberry pancakes. As a diabetic, I make our version of a German pancake(lots of egg, little flour), add a ton of fresh blueberries to the pancake, and just a teaspoon of the syrup when I put the pancake on a plate. Soooo good and my blood sugar doesn't spike. Even a small bowl of the healthiest-bran filled-so healthy it doesn't even taste good-cold cereal spikes my blood sugar. So this is definitely a happy breakfast for me! In searching for different recipes for these berries I am finding that they have some natural benefits for our bodies. I knew they were full of vitamin C and potassium but there are other benefits including but not limited to helping one to overcome the flu more quickly... I don't think I am a skeptical person, but having 'learned' a few things on the internet that have been later proven untrue, I am cautious. I think the following article is interesting. It mentions research done at Austria's University of Graz, and an experiment showing that elderberry concentrate reduces stress.

An interesting article about the health benefits of the elderberry.
http://health.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/01/20/elderberry-the-power-fruit/

S0me photos destemming, crushing, and juicing out the berries.

Purple hands and stained cheesecloth. We are getting close to having jelly!

I just use the sure-gel recipe. 3 cups strained juice, 4.5 Cups sugar, .25 cup lemon juice, and 1 box Sure-gel. I don't use the butter. Whenever I make jelly I just spoon the foam off into a small bowl and the kids(mom and dad too), use it on homemade bread or toast. YUM! We fill the jars and process them for the appropriate time. I usually use double batches-not everyone is sucessful doing this but I haven't had a problem. This year I am experimenting with the syrup recipe. I did one triple batch and two double batches omitted the sure-gel, put the sugar in first, and added one bag of Certo to each-at the appropriate time for using Certo. (I needed to use it up and thought it might thicken the syrup just enough. We'll see how it turns out when the jars are cool.)

Peaches and More!

Soooo, March was our last posting.... August 16 now and I am finally posting something. Nothing terribly exciting in our "hum drum" lives - as Lena Lamont would say anyway. But we are having fun! We have done a lot of swimming this summer the weather has been great for that. Grandma and Grandpa came for a visit, 5 of the kids were in a Peter Pan play. Now we are reaping the fruits (and veggies) from Papa's farm. We have made a ton of peach jam, put up some peach halves, tomatoes, and blackberry jam. We have also enjoyed so much of the food just fresh for the table. Spinach, tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, onions, radishes, cherries, blackberries, peaches, rhubarb, zuchini, and yellow squash so far. There are still pumpkins, winter squash, pears, and apples yet to be harvested. Wild elderberries for elderberry jelly and syrup too. Hopefully we can also make the time to make some more of that yummy green tomato salsa. We have more to post and hopefully we can get to that soon. :D

Left, peach halves.

Peach Jam.

Funks Grove

Summer was nearly over and, being busy with the play, we hadn't gone many places. We headed out for 1/2 a day to see Funks Grove. There's a nature center and you can stop to get some real maple syrup too.

A staring contest?... The turtle just might be winning Jen!

Morgan offers us a mug of muddy creek water... "The best part of wakin' up is...not havin' mud in your cup?"

July 4, 2010

Isotech hosted a cookout on the fourth again, Yay! They always do a great job. Great food, great games for the kids, and great seats for the fireworks! Kenny brought one of his toys and was very generous, even letting the boys try it out.

Water games.

Dad liked it too!

Andrea and Corbin and their children were there too.

We cant blame Grandpa, there are a few hours between food and fireworks!

Weston doesn't like the wait either. Actually he was in time out here. Yep, it still makes 'em think about what they have done when they are 12.... :D

? No comment.

Another great afternoon on Independence Day!

July 3, 2010

The drama club was in charge of some kid's games at a celebration in Farmer City. Jameson dressed as a clown, the kids got their faces painted and helped with some games, and Grandma and Grandpa came too! It is great when they can visit.