Monday, December 19, 2011

Are you familiar with waldorf house swap?

Have a look, maybe you'll find o house to swap for your next vacation. Our house is listed, too.

What is House Exchange?
House Exchange is actually about having a private, unconventional and intriguing holiday, away from all the tourist mess. The usual concerns about finding the cheapest travel company, (boring) hotels and on and on, is not present here. Imagine yourself packing your stuff, getting a plane and then arriving in a foreign country. Here you would live for a couple of weeks, in a lively house inhabitated by a family (now staying at your house) who normally lives where you are now having your holiday. You will be surprised how quick you'll learn to relax and enjoy the foreign country and your holiday from a down-to-earth perspective. It's like you get a 'sense' of that country in another way than you normally would by rushing through tourist crowded areas and hotels labelled "recommended by your guide", while sighing over the packed swimmingpool.

And the procedure is very simple: Look through the WaldorfWide House Exchange database, and when you find a house to your taste, make a contact with the other waldorffamily, and talk things over. It's always good ideĆ” to get the other family better to know, so you all have some trust in each other, because in the end swapping houses is a very private thing - but once that is overcome the joys are many. After that you simply make an appointment, both families should sign the house exchange agreement form and send a copy to each other (for safety's sake), and then there's only a beatiful, relaxed and private holiday waiting for you. 
In the end it's not that complicated - like a woman, very familiar with house exchange, once said to a danish newspaper: "You simply have to remind yourself that you are swapping keys".

So, with that said; have trust and enjoy the adventure - isn't reality often just a little bit more exciting than "a marvellous breakneck adventure to the most beautiful beaches on mother earth (probably packed with tourists)"?
If you have any concerns or other thoughts, do not hesitate to writehouseexchange@waldorfwide.com right ahead.


The Advent spiral



It is the time of the year to walk the advent spriral. If you wander what this is about you can read more about it:



Adventsong by Eugene Schwarz
(To be recited while walking in a spiral)

In the deep and dark wood's heart
Where moans the North Wind cold,
You will find a sun-filled cave
When you walk a spiral road.
Shimmering stars will sing above
To the crystals that glitter below,
While you draw your light from a flame so bright
Bringing warmth to the sparkling snow.

I have found an article about the Advent spiral in Erziehungskunst (in German). 


It is the time to light ourselves the Light that we receive at the opposite festival (St. John's). 
Saint Michael protects our body from danger, 
Saint Martin  heats our body and soul,
while Saint Nicholas  heats our body and soul and strengthens the powers of life and so enchanced we can walk along the path to revive the Light.

Gnomes on webloomhere.blogspot.com


I have found an inspiring blog posts, I believe you will find it great, too.

Here are some pinecone gnomes:


check also the Jumping pixies. I have seen a similar game to buy somewhere on internet but this is a homemade style and I like it even more.