Name: CHEC Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-06-12T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-06-14T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Denver, CO

This topic has 13 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 1 month ago by Kristen.

Viewing 14 posts - 1 through 14 (of 14 total)

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April 9, 2010 at 11:11 pm
Sharity
Member
I’m reading this book for the second time. I read it many years ago and really liked it, so I thought I would pick it up again since we are actually doing nature study now. Has anyone read her newest one Lessons at Blackberry Inn? I’m hoping it is just as good.
Sharity
April 9, 2010 at 11:59 pm
suzukimom
Participant
I’ve ordered it, but am still waiting. I did hear from one person that they didn’t like it as much…..
April 10, 2010 at 12:02 am
Renelle
Participant
Hi Sharity,
I love Pocketful of Pinecones and am just starting Blackberry Inn. They bring me to a beautiful place where I can prioritise again and do what is nourishing for my whole family’s body, mind and soul. Enjoy it and I’ll let you know what I think soon.
Renelle
April 10, 2010 at 2:30 pm
Jodie Apple
Participant
I finished Blackberry Inn and enjoyed it as much as I did Pocketful of Pinecones. While reading these I felt like I was getting a little retreat each day.
Enjoy!

April 10, 2010 at 2:58 pm
Polly
Participant
I likes it a lot too.
April 12, 2010 at 4:12 am
marstar
Participant
I am reading PofP and am enjoying it so much. It is a delightful book and so informative on nature study and CM philosophy. I also enjoy her gentle weaving of trusting God in life. It is just what I needed at this time and I’m looking forward to Blackberry Inn which I plan to order this week…
April 12, 2010 at 5:44 pm
Sharity
Member
I feel the same way you ladies do as I read Pocketful of Pinecones….so now I can’t wait to get the new one!

Sharity
April 13, 2010 at 1:44 am
faithjrny
Member
I have read Pocketful of Pinecones 3 times now and Blackberry Inn once. I loved them both! I am in the process of writing to Karen to encourage maybe a third book, but I have read that she had some health issues, so I don’t know what she is planning at this point.
After 17 years of homeschooling, and many more to go, I have to admit that Karen Andreola and now, Sonia here at SCM, are 2 of my favorite CM authors. Both keep things simple and gentle. I thrive on reading them both and have been so inspired over the years in reading and re-reading Karen’s CM Companion.
Sorry to go on, but just had to voice how much I enjoy the ‘gentle’ side of CM. Some resources out there, though wonderful in scope, are so overly academic in nature that I think many get caught up in striving to get ‘it’ all in. Pocketful of Pinecones and Blackberry Inn remind us that learning, and excellent learning at that, can take place in such simple, gentle ways.
Blessings,
Lori
April 13, 2010 at 2:10 am
tandc93
Participant
Y’all convinced me to get our library to do an interlibrary loan for it! I’ve hemmed and hawed about it, but it sounds like something I could use right now.
On the subject of Karen Andreola, I saw on her site the Parents’ Review Back Issues. Anyone have these? These aren’t the same as what’s on AO site though, right? Thanks!
April 13, 2010 at 6:43 am
MommaK5
Participant
I really loved “Pocketful of Pinecones”! I am glad to hear that “Blackberry Inn” is comparable as I recently ordered it. 🙂 The gentleness of CM has saved my sanity. After so many years of textbook teaching I have watched in amazement as my children are flourishing and enjoying our school days. Among other things it has reignited my own love of nature, art and good literature that got shoved into the background of life’s “daily grind”.
Happy Reading!
Kathy
April 13, 2010 at 1:51 pm
Des
Participant
You ladies are killing me!!!! LOl, just kidding! I’ve decided to ask for Pocketful of Pinecones and the SCM all day seminar as my Mother’s day presents. Thank you guys for such wonderful reviews.
April 13, 2010 at 10:51 pm
marstar
Participant
LOL!
Des, that’s a great idea….I’m also thinking CM’s home education books for me!
April 16, 2010 at 1:06 am
faithjrny
Member
Hi, tandc93!
I think what’s on the AO site are excerpts from past issues of PR, but I’m not sure. Can anyone else answer that? As far as the ones on Karen’s site, these also have articles in them from PR, but include guest articles and ones by Karen herself. I gave mine away last year, and I have been pining for them again! Maybe for Mother’s Day! LOL I just loved them, I wish she could do something like that again. This time, I think I’ll save them to pass on to my dc when they homeschool my grandchildren…looking forward to the day!
Blessings,
Lori
April 16, 2010 at 1:19 am
Kristen
Participant
I got both books from our library and while I really liked Pocketful of Pinecones and got alot out of it, I didn’t care for Blackberry Inn as much.
Just my thoughts and sorry, I can’t really say why I didn’t like it as much but I didn’t.