Labor of Love

In the United States today is Labor Day. I never really got Labor Day. It sounds like a Soviet holiday which celebrates "the workers" which you celebrate by not going to work. In truth, it's the door which slams shut on the tail of summer and opens into the school house.

I used to dread Labor Day. We were not big shoppers, so the sales held little enticement. The only way to spend the last few precious hours of freedom was preparing for captivity and watching the Jerry Lewis Labor Day telethon as a cold ball of anxiety grew in the pit of my stomach. Would I like my teachers? Would they like me? Was my wardrobe cool enough? Would I be able to understand the classes and do well? Would I be able to remember my locker combination? My recurring school nightmare for many years was that I was late for school, couldn't remember my schedule (which was different day to day), my schedule was in my locker, and I couldn't remember my locker combination.

Now that I'm an adult I'm almost free of the beginning of school dread. I say almost, because now I'm the teacher. I have been homeschooling my kids for 18 years now. My anxieties are no longer about what I'll wear (we joke that pajamas are our school uniform), or will the other kids like me ( hugs and kisses allay that fear). I worry about whether I will do a good job, whether my children grow up to be capable, competent, and kind and whether we can survive another year of math. In baking it's hard to know the end product when you're just stirring the eggs into the creamed butter and sugar and your recipe is very sketchy with no pictures. Raising children is the same. I just pray that God will fill in the gaps that I leave and trust that He will see my kids through to the end goal. In the meantime, call before you drop by. It's highly likely that at least one of us is still in pajamas.

So here is my salute to the end of summer and the garden's bounty, in particular my fabulous blueberry bushes and the beginning of a new year of learning adventures.

Celebration Blueberry Crepes

Crepes - I used the crepe recipe from pg. 233 of The Perfect Scoop (ha, you thought I could go a whole post without mentioning The Perfect Scoop?). It made beautiful crepes with nary a throwaway.

Blueberry Filling:

1/2 cup sugar
2 Tbsp cornstarch
1 cup cold water
4 cups fresh or frozen blueberries

1- In a large saucepan, combine the sugar and cornstarch. Stir in the water until smooth. Add blueberries. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat; cover and keep warm while you make crepes.