Christmas Bazaar- Jul Basar

at the Waldorf School

The Waldorf school Christmas Bazaar provided us with the perfect chance to reintroduce the children to dagis-preschool after being away for 6 weeks.

We got to go as a family and discover how the school looked under the snow fall

And play together on the snow covered swings.

The window decorations reflected the white of the world outdoors.

This sweet pastel of a child exploring in the snow was on a wall in SwedeGirl's classroom.

The season table at SwedeBaby's dagis has changed from fall to Winter since we left.

The table in SwedeGirl's class has changed to winter, too.

Though cold outside, the Steiner inspired school always has a special warmth inside.

We were able to explore the classrooms of all the grades as there were activities through out the school.

A chalk board in the middle school had a magical winter drawing.

A table in the 7th grade classroom, where the kids did a holiday puppet show for the little ones with handmade puppets. It was a fund raiser for the big trip they will take in 9th grade, usually to somewhere in Africa.

The older children were also selling crafts they made.

Paper Lanterns

Bent Wire Wrapped Tomte

Felt Tomte

Wool Angels

Under the seasonal art work of the older children

there was glögg and pepparkakor for sale.

And a variety of homemade baked good are almost always on hand at school events.

A Seasonal Specialty of Sweden for Lucia time

Lussekatte buns

There was also a craft room where baskets of wool, felt, wire, beads, and sticks were on hand to make decorations such as these.

I met a few new English speaking families while making wool angels.

And SwedeDaddy and the Girl worked on a star of sticks and ribbon.

Tomorrow, we hope to head back to school and get back in routine of our Swedish life for a few weeks before the holiday break.

The Enchanted Waffle House

When driving back from Nusnäs, we saw this intriguing sign announcing 'coffee' and 'story village'. Sweden has this lovely concept of the waffle stuga, a little road side cafe with waffles, a service I have been hoping to avail myself of. And this was clearly not your average American 'Waffle House', which is a roadside chain of greasy spoons with bold yellow and black lettering on its very plain signage, filled with truckers and characters making stops off the American highway. From the roadside, we could see little child size play houses, and thought it would be nice to let the kids run around in hopes of getting them to sleep on the way home, so we made it our stop for a snack before the evening drive.

The darling wood work promised a bit of magic

Of the Troll Variety

Every little detail drew us in

In Swedish wood working is called snickeri....such snickeri!!

A bridge to a little magic land

A place to dip your toes in a stream

A little bench and dining area over the stream, with an open view to the waterfall flowing beneath

Troll village

The Enchanted Waffle Stuga in all it's Glory

Here you entered and could order waffles in a kitchen to the left, and looking in all directions were tiny items of interest that drew your eye and made you wonder what was around the next corner. The little lady who made the waffles was in her 60's or 70's , and very generous with the whipped cream. Her husband, the supposed snickerer, sat by watching us quietly with his cane in hand from a seat by the door of the magic cottage. I believe we saw their son, a man in his 40's walking around the grounds. I think the three owl theme represents their little family.

Swedes love to decorate their window sills so they are attractive from the outside

What an endeavor, a labor of love.

Every place we looked things were perfect. Like this little side porch, with a guardian troll and a fuchsia plant it full bloom. All the flower beds were raked and weeded and planted with the most lovely flowers, every table had a fresh bouquet.

It was so magic it reminded me of Hansel and Gretel, I wondered if we should even EAT the waffles, lest we be bewitched.

Curious little gnome under the trees protecting a gnome home

A gazebo with the owl motif repeated

Another bridge leading to the sand box and play ground

Dala horse land of fun and adventure. The perfect roadside stop.

A little play cottage

Snow white

Darling fairy flower door painting

And well appointed inside

A perfect kitchen set up

And the waffles were excellent, of course. I did eat them, even though I was wondering if they were cursed like the apple offered to Snow White by the witch.....

Little play stuga

Trolls at work over their cauldron

One stuga was a loppis, or sale

Full of magic and mystery

Wooden ships and carved Kitchen scene

The wise woman and her witchy ways was sure to turn up somewhere

But Ken on roller skates seemed to be the one up to something sinister

And what is up with this fellow we will never know.... but after dark he may just roam the stuga playing with the other toys before returning to this bed at dawn

A bridge, the wood work looks like the couple that run the place...

Like I said, every corner was perfectly groomed

There were number of bridges over the creek that ran through the land of enchantment.

There were stugas for rent, some were named after one of the seven dwarves

Even the chickens resided in a well maintained den of magic
They were the fattest, prettiest, healthiest chickens I have ever seen. Beware the child that is ever to be fattened up at this cottage, they know what they are doing.....
So many stugas, so much wood work!

An expansive garden with tables for enjoying waffles and coffee

One of the Fiddlers of Dalarna, in his full masculine aspect for Midsommar

Another Little Bridge, themed 3 Billy Goats Gruff

Across the Bridge, the grazing lands and stuga of the Three Billy Goats Gruff

With a lovely step down to a nice wading area in the creek, next to a little man made waterfall in the flow.

My only evidence the place was truly bewitched was that everytime I tried to blog this post for the last ten days my compter would break.....coincidence ?????