Meeting Karen Andreola {A Special Gathering}

When your friend asks you if you'd like to come for a gathering of ladies at the home of Karen Andreola...first, you pinch yourself to be sure that you're not dreaming, and then you rearrange your calendar and make travel plans because you know that you are not going to miss this golden opportunity!

A recent summer morning found us riding the rolling hills of beautiful Lancaster County, Pennsylvania,

past Amish buggies and vibrant farmland,

iced coffees in hand (of course),

each of us with our own plans for the day. Ron would be going antiquing, Bekah would be hanging out with Deanna's daughters, and I would be going with Deanna to this special gathering of like-minded ladies.

What a thrill it was for me to meet Karen! Her "purple book," A Charlotte Mason Companion: Personal Reflections on the Gentle Art of Learning, has been such an inspiration to me on my homeschool journey. I have read it several times on my own, referred to it countless times, twice studied it with a group, and, most importantly, implemented many of the helpful thoughts and ideas in my own homeschool. I have also read Karen's Pocketful of Pinecones and Lessons at Blackberry Inn, as well as her delightful blog Moments With Mother Culture. 

Click to visit Karen's blog.

What a delicious afternoon we spent together! Yes, the food was delicious (the tantalizing aroma of homemade bread greeted us as we walked it...and that was just the start!), but so was the fellowship. Karen's hospitality and our common ground made us at ease with one another, and we quickly moved into conversations about homeschooling, children, decorating, food, and books...some all together around Karen's farmhouse table or seated in her cheerful family room, some in smaller groups or one-on-one. I especially enjoyed getting to know Heather, a blog acquaintance whom I now consider a friend. 

L to R: Jennifer, Bonnie, Heather, me, Deanna, Karen

Of course, I adored the Andreolas' Pennsylvania farmhouse! Karen and I share a love for colonial decorating, and I oohed and aahed through every room. It is such a gorgeous home with carefully chosen furnishings, simple accents, and lots of homemade touches. (I also appreciated the fact that many of her "treasures" were bargains or clearance finds!) She graciously allowed me to take some photos, but I showed restraint and limited myself to only a few (when what I really wanted was to record every nook and cranny for later enjoyment ~smile~). 

The afternoon flew by! But we all left enriched...and with hopeful plans to spend time together again in the future. 

And now my "purple book" bears a message by its dear and gentle author.

Thank you, Karen, for a most lovely afternoon of fellowship! And thank you, Deanna, for bringing us all together!