I found where Santa summers

Yesterday was my birthday and to celebrate, I decided to get out of town for the day and explore a bit more of my beloved home state.  But where to go?  Obviously to the quintessential birthday location.  A kaleidoscope factory.

Kaitlyn, her friend Becky, and I all set out on the road towards Pomeroy, IA.  On the way we saw a weird shaped hill, a horse mailbox, a funny old tree, and a sorta precious/sorta creepy metal sculpture of a dad and kid riding bikes.  We also ate at a pizza place/record store in Storm Lake where we became best friends with Randy, the owner, and ate delicious pizza with honey for the crust.

But the real magic was of course, in Pomeroy.  Pomeroy, IA is home to about 700 people and possibly elves.  Because Santa lives there you guys.  We entered the town and made our way to the factory.  We stepped inside and it was clear to me that we had just stepped into Santa's shop.  There were toys everywhere, and wood chips on the floor, and paints sitting on shelves.  There were even little elf/gnome doors.  And once you see Leonard, you can see why all of this existed.

 Appears to be a caricature but is actually fairly accurate

Leonard is an old computer programmer who had a heart attack, received a kaleidoscope as a gift, and then decided to build them.  He gets visitors from all over the world, loves playing in the street, is about 5'4", is dating the old widow from down the street who cleaned for him and then they fell in love, and runs a college where he teaches people how to dye their own silk scarves.  He's awesome.  Leonard was super friendly and passionate about making people happy and proving how small town Iowa can still be viable.  He also apparently owns keys to half the town because he offered to let me into a building that I don't believe he even owns.

Leonard makes beautiful kaleidoscopes and teleidoscopes (There's a difference! Click on the links to see.) and it really is cool what he can do.  He gave us a demonstration on how he makes the whole thing and was really excited to show us everything.  It was so nice of him!  He also taught us the business knowledge that all the grandmas have the money and all the grandkids control the grandmas, so that should really tell us who we should be marketing to.  I highly recommend checking out his website and seeing what he makes.  It's worth it to support small businesses! 

Here are more pictures of Leonard's shop.  Is it not just precious to the extreme?!

 Leonard, aka Santa, demonstrating how to drill a hole into the wood to make a kaleidoscope

 A view of Santa's workshop.  Note the little elf door on the right.

The front door factory sign.  Obviously part of Santa's workshop.

Want to see just a taste of what I got to see?  Visit the Kaleidoscope Factory website and see a video where Leonard shows how he makes a kaleidoscope.  You also get to see his jewelry!  This man's talents just never ends.