Easy as...

Louis loves doing things he has seen book characters do.

"Mama, I want to ride a horse?" he'll ask. "I can get a net and catch butterflies?" He wants to go fishing, drive a train, and climb into a rocket ship and go to the moon. And the list continues to grow.

I often find myself explaining that although I--in my apparently drab life--have never done any of these activities, he may well be able to do them himself--one day.

This morning Louis asked for blueberry pie. "We don't have any," I told him. "But we could make one."

He was delighted. Pie making is something people do in books. Rolling out dough? With a rolling pin? Just like Arthur? Or Amelia Bedelia?

Louis couldn't wait to get started.

When he woke up from his nap, we rushed downstairs to the kitchen and--for once--he didn't ask for a snack. There was work to be done.

We picked through the berries. We added sugar and flour and cinnamon and vanilla and a little water. Measuring, schmeasuring. Louis was in charge--or thought he was. Making the dough was a little trickier, but Louis (especially Napped Louis) is a good listener and he loves to help.

And when the rolling pin came out of the drawer, he squealed with joy.

We pressed the two balls of dough between pieces of waxed paper and beat them like drums. He laughed and laughed.

Then he got serious. There was, after all, a pie to make.

I usually find rolling out the dough the most tedious part of the pie-making task, but today it was by far the most entertaining.

It was hard work, too.

And Louis didn't want to be distracted by the camera.

I had thought Louis might lose interest along the way. After all, his water table and pool were waiting for him outside. But when Louis takes on a task, he makes sure it is complete. He wanted to handle every step.

He crimped the edges of the crust with a fork.

 

He poured...er...sprinkled sugar onto the top of the pie.

Then we put it in the oven to bake.

"Would you like to make another pie sometime?" I asked Louis.

"Yes!" he said. "Make another one...and then another one!"

It may be a while before I decide flying kites in the house is a good idea.

But after enjoying a delicious, warm dessert tonight, I suppose I could be persuaded to make another pie. And maybe even another one too.