for the love of gnomes

When we first came to Waldorf, we came to the method of education and understanding of child development from a lifestyle that was already very aligned with Waldorf, but not knowing there was a name to put to it. (Well, at least with an -ish on the end...Waldorf-ish.)

We had a love of fairies, of nature, or wonder. But...I couldn't wrap my head around the Waldorf love of gnomes. (And truth be told, I don't think Rudolf Steiner, founder of Waldorf education, ever once mentioned gnomes, so really, they are just an extension of that same wonder and enchantment.)

Fast forward a few years and I was more accepting, although not fully embracing, until my brother helped me rewind a bit to my own childhood, with the aid of a book he gave Little Brown Mouse, called Gnomes, by Wil Huygen and Rien Poortvliet. It was a book he and I had had in our own childhood, he remembered, had loved, and thought his niece and nephew would love. He was right.

From time to time, I find the kids outside, building fairy houses and gnome homes. There is a row of them still out there from months ago and two, in the middle of the yard from a few weeks ago, which Little Brown Mouse is certain has been visited, as there is, apparently, now a hole in the floor where the gnome came in. 

This year, Saint Nicholas brought each child another gnome book; Lala Bug received The Way of Gnome and Little Brown Mouse received A Donsy of Gnomes, both by Sieglinde de Francesca.

We seem a love of gnomes happening around here. Today, it took us to 'the log pile' to look for 'bits' for building gnome homes. Yes, we can find bits right around us, but we live on a small, urban parcel, so extra 'bits' are always welcome. The log pile is the name we gave a spot nearby where the city dumps wood cut from trees they have to prune or remove for safety reasons. It is our standard stop for firewood. It is great for gnome houses, too, apparently.

For a little extra serendipitous enchantment, as the kids and I drove to the log pile, I put on the day's story from the Sparkle Stories audio Advent story book and the young character spent her day building homes in her yard for all the fairy folk, as her holidays gift to them! Magic.