Pocketful of Pinecones: Nature Study With the Gentle Art of Learning : A Story for Mother Culture

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, but I have to say I am SO encouraged by it. I have always loved diary-style books, so I immediately liked that aspect of the book. I find this book so encouraging because it feels like the mother is just a normal mom like me, one who doesn’t always know what she’s doing, who sometimes makes mistakes and gets frustrated sometimes, who values Charlotte Mason’s way of teaching children and desires to do the same. I look forward to reading the other books by this author. Highly recommend!

Okay, I wasn't raised in the 30's, I am a 70's child, but many things mentioned by Ms. Andreola in this book still evoked memories of "days gone by." I found it a joy to read!The book is set up as a diary. The only thing I found annoying through-out the book is that sometimes it reads as a diary, but then switches to a book/story. It was kind of choppy in this respect, especially at the beginning. Towards the latter part of the book the "diary entries" were kept down to at the most two pages, making it seem more like a diary by then.The entries with nature references are especially helpful. I've gone on nature walks with my children but realize that there is a lot lacking in this area. I hope to discipline my children more to watching nature, observation, and awe rather than letting them make a hasty sketch of what they observe and then scampering off!To the readers who state this book is unrealistic...I ask "why?" Why do we have to assume or think that men today cannot be a strong support system, or that they are as handsome as Cary Grant? Remember, Cary Grant was the standard for handsome in the 30's! (Today, it would more like Pierce Brosnan!) One only has to read books primarily written prior to 1950 to get solid conversation, proper dialect, and MANNERS. I cringe every time I ask my children something and they respond with "YEAH." I can't figure out when being proper became passe....About the only other thing that bothered me about this book is the size...it did not make comfortable bed-reading material as it is kind of large and bulky. I appreciated the size when I read on the couch because I could write in it and make notes, but I like to read in bed, too, and this book was not very accommadating. Other than that, no other issues.Check this book out of the library, then make a decision to buy it. I sure am glad I did!

Before purchasing this book, I read all the reviews and was honestly not sure what to expect. Some of the reviews are quite harsh.However, I really enjoyed reading this. I didn't think it was too nostalgic or the children were "too good". On the contrary, I found that the main character, Carol, faces challenges not so different than the ones many of us face to today.Her son was starting to dislike school and his personality was changing because of that, and her daughter was labeled as "slow", so she she decided to try homeschooling. Many of us can relate to that. School at home is not all smooth sailing. Her son gets frustrated, wads up his drawings and throws them away. Check. There are problems some days with the kids dawdling over their math. Check. Cabin fever sets in on a snowy day and the son becomes morose... check. It all sounds very familiar to me.In addition, Carol faces several problems: her husband loses his job, she has to make a move she doesn't want, she worries about miscarrying her baby...again, these are problems many people today face.I was inspired by how Carol persevered with grace and faith. Her nature study outings with her children are very similar to what my family does- and here I had been thinking we weren't doing "enough". I appreciate, too, all the notes, book lists, and resources listed at the back of the book. Very helpful.Overall, I was very inspired by this book and enjoyed reading it so much. I hope the author will continue the series past Lessons at the Blackberry Inn.

I’ve seen this book often over the past several years as I’ve learned more and more about Charlotte Mason and her educational philosophy. I now wish I would’ve bought it sooner! What a well written, encouraging read that draws you in from the first page. Highly recommend!

We are new to homeschooling and this book came highly recommended by SO many people. I've read other Andriola books and liked them just fine but I don't think fiction is her strong suit. The story felt forced and parents struggling to incorporate nature study won't really relate to the story of a woman from almost 100 years ago who doesn't likely struggle with the same distractions that we have today. The diary entries seemed hokey and I would have preferred it to just be written as a story than a string of diary entries that end as poorly as my diary entries from my childhood. I did enjoy the storyline about the inn, but that's pretty much it. :(

I love this book so much! Each day I look forward to reading it! How wholesome and sweet the story is yet with reality of that life does have stressors but it's our faith and attitude that makes the difference!

Loved this story on incorporating nature study in your homeschool routine. Karen Andreola is a fantastic author and this book was such an encouragement for me.

This was just what I needed to renew my mindset with homeschooling my boys! I loved it!

Because of the unusual format of this book, and because of the mixed reviews here, I was unsure if I would like this book--but I purchased it anyway, because I very much enjoyed Karen Andreola's Charlotte Mason Companion. Fortunately, I was not disappointed, and indeed I was pleasantly surprised.Let me say first of all that this book is an EXCELLENT resource for homeschooling mothers who want to incorporate nature study into their children's lessons, but aren't quite sure how to go about it. Within each chapter of this "journal," Carol describes in detail what she and her children do for nature study, the drawings the children make for their journal, etc, so clueless people (like me!) can really get a concrete idea of what nature study looks like.It's also a useful resource in that Carol uses Comstock's Handbook of Nature Study extensively, and she writes in her journal about how she uses it and about what information she found there. I have heard many homeschooling moms say that they like the Handbook of Nature Study but that they aren't sure how to use it.At the end of the book is a wonderful list of "living books" with a nature theme that Karen recommends.I feel confident after reading this book that I can successfully bring nature study into our homeschool.Now, as for the story--yes, as one reviewer put it, it IS unrealistic. Carol's husband seems "practically perfect in every way," just like Mary Poppins, and in fact everyone that Carol knows seems to be strangely delightful. I don't think there is one unpleasant person or incident mentioned in Carol's journal. But, perhaps Carol just thinks the best of everyone? Perhaps she tries to always focus on the positive? Regardless, the story is pleasant to read. I found it enjoyable and refreshing to take a break from my busy day and read this sweet and gentle story. I didn't mind at all that it was unrealistic. I get enough realism in my daily life already!So thank you Karen for writing a book that has blessed me in many ways. :)

I'm almost halfway through this book and so far I have enjoyed it. It is a very light, nice read.

Encore un très bon livre de Karen Andreola.Un outil intéressant pour les familles pratiquant l'instruction en famille et suivant l'influence de Charlotte Mason.Elle donne des pistes pour la découverte de la nature, avec l'utilisation du fameux cahier de la nature.