waldorf...

i feel blessed to live in southern california. the weather is SO nice - year around - and it is such a diverse place. travel 2 hours in any direction and you will reach the ocean, the mountains or the desert - all while living in the heart of a large metropolis with a multitude of cultures all around.

as homeschoolers, we are lucky, not only to live here, but to be curious enough to want to explore all the things around us AND to have people within our community who are able to constantly expose us to new ideas. for mini me and i, waldorf is one of those new ideas. i'd heard of waldorf for many years, but i never explored it. i'd seen ideas about it, but nothing made me particularly want, or need, to pursue it. i just don't think i'd seen a grand enough example of it.

until this weekend...

this beautiful, craftsman style building is a waldorf school in pasadena where we attended their annual 'elves faire' this past weekend. just walking onto the campus makes you drool to go to school there! i mean - my gosh!!, just look at it (ok, my inner geek is showing. i studied art history in college and lots of architecture during those classes - so buildings tend to *get* to me)!

this little beauty of a crystal was acquired from 'father winter', a gentleman who walks around dressed as, um - santa-ish? - and allows the children to take a small gift. minime and mini-belfry pulled crystals. there are many nature-based crafts to partake of and a yummy bake sale. they have many food selections and quite a bit of entertainment - folksy guitarist, taiko drummers and bag-pipers.

and then, there is this guy - 'the acorn man'

(is 'do you know the muffin man' playing in your head too? you're welcome!)
clearly, there is still some part of me not totally connecting with 'waldorf'. i found him just a *bit* creepy - he reminds me of the evil guy collecting all the children in "chitty, chitty, bang-bang". but maybe that's just me...

overall, we had a great experience at the faire and i look forward to going again!