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a humble place

a humble place

Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing. Camille Pissarro

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About

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Me and the fam. - ahumbleplace.com

My name is Rebecca, and I’ve been on the internet in one form or another since 1996 when I made my first homepage, complete with marqueeing text and an animated gif of a spinning globe (I called the site “Reb’s World”). Since then, my web presence has gone through various incarnations, and this is the most recent.

I was raised by just my dad in Minnesota (with part of my summers in Wisconsin where most of my extended family lives) but currently reside in Colorado with my husband, E, our son, B, and our daughter, C. I have a BA in art history, though right now I fill the role of stay-at-home, homeschooling mom to two. I have dreams of one day moving back to the midwest, or to Ireland, whichever one happens to offer a living opportunity first.

(and Here are the rest of the characters you’ll see here…)

E. E and I got hitched in November of 2004. He was born and raised in Buffalo, New York and graduated in 2001 from a prestigious engineering school with a chemical engineering degree. In 2016, he started his own business and has been working hard at building it up. He is my best friend, and I am honored to be his wife. Someday he’d like to write a novel.

be

B. B came to us in August of 2010 and has been improving our lives ever since. He enjoys LEGO Technic, Snap Circuits, and anything that involves building or programming things. He is also a voracious reader. Next to E and C, B is one of my very favorite people on the planet, and I’m so thankful I get to spend my days with him. Someday he’d like to make robots for a living.

C. C came to us in January of 2014 and completes our little family quite nicely. She enjoys creating imaginary worlds for her toys, making homemade jesses and hoods for her eagle stuffed animal, and torturing petting the cats. She is also a voracious reader. She is another one of those favorite people of mine, and I can’t imagine our days without her. Someday she’d like to work with animals for a living.

(also, cats)

Gracie Pye. Gracie (the tabby) came to us along with Jenny in December of 2017 after she was found as a stray in New Mexico and subsequently brought to an animal rescue in Colorado. She enjoys gazing placidly around, CATNIP, singing along with her humans while they whistle, CATNIP, and ignoring all attempts by any of her humans to get her to come to them. She is a quintessential cat, and she’s pretty sure she has reached the pinnacle of all living things by being a cat. She also loves catnip.

Jenny Linsky. Jenny (the black DSH) came to us along with Gracie in December of 2017 after she was rescued with her kitten brothers and sisters in an oil field in New Mexico and subsequently brought to an animal rescue in Colorado. She enjoys clawing playing with curtains, laying on her back with her paws in the air (but not having her tummy rubbed), attacking and simultaneously licking Gracie and Sophie, purring while she eats, growling at random noises that might be something scary, and grunting like a pig when she’s held. She is also scared of everything in the whole world, and her tail is fat about 20% of the day.

Sophie Hatter. Sophie (the tortie-point siamese) came to us spontaneously in August of 2018 after I saw a random siamese kitten available for adoption in our neighborhood, didn’t get that one, got her instead, almost lost her to sickness, then nursed her back to health. She enjoys talking, playing with anything that moves or looks like it might possibly be moving, talking, eating, talking, laying in the middle of the floor, and talking. She is now our quintessential kitten who is just happy to be around.


The Blog. I’ve been blogging somewhat regularly since 1999 and as often as I’ve tried to quit and be done with it, I keep coming back. This is a personal site. I’m not skilled at offering advice or how-tos or even coming up with my own recipes from scratch. This is just my life. My view. I do talk about a few topics quite often, though, and these include my relationship with God, parenting (including homeschooling using the Charlotte Mason method), books, food, and photography. But anything else is up for grabs as well and you’ll probably see a little of everything here.

I use my iPhone for quite a few of the pictures here, but the better-quality ones come from my Canon EOS 6D. I have a particular fondness for my Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens for lovely bokeh, but I also use a Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Ultra Wide Angle Zoom Lens when I need wider shots or a Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 is II USM Lens for zooming in. I am definitely a Canon girl.

You can also find me here:

Common Place Quarterly (regular contributor from 2019 to 2021)

Charlotte Mason Educational Retreat (I am on the CMER planning team, and I led picture study workshops in 2020 and 2022)

YouTube Chat about Charlotte Mason Kindergarten with Joy Cherrick at Nature Study Hacking (June 2020)

Your Morning Basket Podcast with Pam Barnhill #76 (July 2020)

Morning Time Live (September 2020)

Homeschool Conversations Podcast (November 2021)

"There are so many persons who do not know one bir "There are so many persons who do not know one bird from another, one tree from another, one flower from another; who would not know one season from another did they not see the spring hats in the milliner's window or feel the need of a change of coat. I hope you are not one of them. I hope you are on the watch, instead, for the first phoebe or the earliest bloodroot, or are listening to catch the shrill, brave peeping of the little tree-frogs, the hylas." Dallas Lore Sharp (The Spring of the Year)  I have come to love the series of books from Dallas Lore Sharp covering the different seasons of the year. We take about ten minutes per week during our morning time to read through whichever one is relevant to the season we're in, and it has been so insightful and inspirational. They have given us a greater appreciation for nature, of course, and my kids love the personal stories and reflections he includes.  Some of my favorite parts are the "lists" he also provides. These include things to see, things to do, and things to hear in a given season, and they're a great springboard for getting everyone outdoors and actively keeping their eyes and ears open. It has also helped us to observe the natural world around us all the more closely.  This week marks the beginning of spring here in the northern hemisphere, so I thought I might share his list of things to see from 'The Spring of the Year' on the blog! I have also included links to resources that will help you through each of the items. You can find it at https://ahumbleplace.com/things-to-see-in-nature-this-spring/ or at the link in my profile!  #naturestudy #homeschoolnaturestudy #charlottemason #charlottemasoneducation #charlottemasonhomeschool #homeschool #homeschooling
Today marks the beginning of week 4 in the season Today marks the beginning of week 4 in the season of Lent. For this week in the Lenten Art Devotions, Volume IV, I chose one of my favorite pieces from Rembrandt (1606-1669): 'The Return of the Prodigal Son' (1668). This is his version of the final part of Jesus' parable from Luke 15 about the wayward son who has gone off to squander his inheritance (while his father is still alive). After hitting rock bottom, hiring himself out to feed pigs, and wishing he could eat what they're eating, he decides to go home and beg his father to allow him to be a servant in his house. This scene is the pivotal moment when the son kneels at his father's feet and tells him that he is no longer worthy to be called his son.  Admittedly, Rembrandt's style did not appeal to me when I studied him in college. Other than knowing what I needed to know about him and his work, I didn't pay much attention when he came up in my classes or readings. I remembered, primarily, that he made many, many, -many- self-portraits.  When we studied Rembrandt for picture study during the first year we were part of our homeschool co-op, I finally had a chance to -really- look at his work. And what finally made me a fan of Rembrandt was a foot. Specifically, the left foot of the prodigal son that has lost its shoe. For some reason, that exposed, and completely vulnerable foot caught my attention. This led me to the heel worn away from his other shoe. And then his bald head turned to the side. And finally, the hands spread out on his back, embracing this profligate son not only in complete and utter love and forgiveness, but also in rejoicing that he has returned. I see so much in the form of that son.  After not having appreciated his work for quite a while, this piece, along with his 'Storm on the Sea of Galilee' have become two of my favorite paintings. That's the power of picture study.  #lent #lentenart #lentenartdevotions #picturestudy #charlottemason
"Perhaps the least difficult of approach, and cert "Perhaps the least difficult of approach, and certainly one of the most joyous and satisfying of all those realms in which Intellect is invited to travel, is the very rich and glorious Kingdom of Literature." Charlotte Mason (Ourselves, p. 39)  #charlottemason #charlottemasonquotes #charlottemasonourselves #quotes
Ironically, in all of the hundreds of letters writ Ironically, in all of the hundreds of letters written by Vincent van Gogh that have been saved, he just barely mentioned this piece, referring to it simply as a "night study" in a letter to his brother Theo. I often wonder what he would've thought of how it is now one of the most recognizable images in the world.  Vincent was a voracious reader throughout his life and it's thought that he may have been inspired for this piece not only by the sky outside of his asylum cell in Saint-Rémy, but also by a book published in 1880 by Camille Flammarion that included illustrations of heavenly bodies. Either way, his vision was so unique and I'm thankful he was able to share it with the world in paint.  If you're interested in including Vincent van Gogh in your homeschool art study time, I have a Picture Study Aid and professional art prints for him in my shop! You can find it at https://ahumbleplace.com/product/vangogh-picture-study/ or at the link in my profile!  #picturestudy #charlottemasonpicturestudy #charlottemasonhomeschool #charlottemasoneducation #artstudy #charlottemasonartstudy #artiststudy #charlottemasonartiststudy #homeschoolarthistory #arthistoryforhomeschoolers
Finally getting a chance this very busy (supposed- Finally getting a chance this very busy (supposed-to-be-a) Sabbath week to finalize my plans for Term 3. I always go into these weeks thinking everything is pretty much done and then get to about Wednesday wondering how in the world I’m going to everything done by Monday. 🙃 Still, I am excited for the feast coming in the next term and Jenny Linsky was kind enough to help with my planning today. 😊🐈‍⬛  #homeschool #homeschoolplanning #homeschoollife #charlottemason #charlottemasoneducation #charlottemasonhomeschool #amblesideonline #amblesideonlineyear6 #amblesideonlineyear3
Claude? Poussin? Rembrandt? Rubens? Caravaggio? Ve Claude? Poussin? Rembrandt? Rubens? Caravaggio? Vermeer? Who is your favorite 17th-century artist? If you're not familiar with these names or are just looking for some options for artists to learn about in your homeschool, you're in luck! This week I have another list of artists from the 1600s that are great options for picture study. You can find it at https://ahumbleplace.com/25-artists-from-the-1600s-to-include-in-your-picture-study-time/ or at the link in my profile!  #picturestudy #charlottemasonpicturestudy #artstudy #charlottemasonartstudy #charlottemasoneducation #charlottemasonhomeschool #homeschool #homeschooling #homeschoolarthistory #arthistoryforhomeschoolers
Last week we finished up most of our Term 2 tasks, Last week we finished up most of our Term 2 tasks, including our art project for the term which was tiles painted with alcohol ink. The results are always unexpected as you never know how the different inks will interact, but the process itself is actually cathartic, and both the kids and I found ourselves doing it at random times when we wanted a little creative quiet time.  #homeschool #homeschooling #homeschoollife #homeschoolart #Charlotte mason #charlottemasoneducation #charlottemasonhomeschool
Random fun fact: When I was 19, out of the necessi Random fun fact: When I was 19, out of the necessity of being able to afford my rent, I got my Series 6 and 63 licenses and worked in the finance industry for 3 years. I learned a lot in that job, and though I didn't go on to pursue it as a career, it left me with an interest in personal finance. That interest along with the need to support myself on a relatively tiny income with no higher education in my back pocket also gave me a greater appreciation for budgeting. It was a challenging time in my life, but I'm thankful for the lessons I learned.  I recently came across this book after a friend told me about the @seedtime blog. I'm one of those strange people who like to budget, and we have been debt-free (aside from our mortgage) since 2008, but I still like to learn about new ways of handling our finances. This has been especially true since my husband and I now run our own businesses, and our income can vary greatly. When she mentioned that she and her husband had been learning more about SeedTime for their own finances, my interest was piqued.  I have looked into other personal finance styles (I'm sure you've heard of at least one of them), and I appreciate the importance they put on becoming debt-free. 'Simple Money, Rich Life' also offers steps to do this and talks about why it's important, but what I appreciated most about their plan is the emphasis on giving. It actually completely changed how I thought about giving and how much control I have (none) over our finances.  When income is not always guaranteed or can be significantly lower than what you thought it would be, looking at your finances can be a very stress-inducing task. This book, however, came at a perfect time in my life and has given me more of a feeling of freedom about our money than I've had in a very long time. If you have personal finances (and you do 😊), I highly recommend it! (You can find a link to it in my profile!)  #book #bookstagram #booksof2023 #financebooks #personalfinancebooks #budgeting #budgetingbooks #debtfree
➕ We have come to the third Sunday in the season ➕ We have come to the third Sunday in the season of Lent, and this week in the Lenten Art Devotions, I chose Vincent van Gogh's "The Good Samaritan." Throughout his later life, Vincent identified intensely with the marginalized and poor in society, and I can imagine that this passage from Luke particularly resonated with him. In this parable, Jesus told the story of a Jewish man robbed and left for dead on the side of a road with both a Jewish priest and a Levite passing by on the other side. Finally, a Samaritan, from a group of people who both hated and were hated by the Jews, stops, dresses the man's wounds, loads him on his animal, and brings him to an inn where he foots the bill for the man's convalescence.  Vincent painted this piece while at the asylum in Saint-Rémy in early 1890, just a few months before his death. In May of that year, he asked his ever-faithful brother, Theo, if he might move from that particular asylum to another as he was concerned that his "reason and capacity for work [was] absolutely in danger." He also wrote that he preferred "to be in an asylum where the patients worked to this awful idleness here, which really seems to me quite simply a crime." Theo continued the practice of sending him lithographs of famous paintings, which Vincent copied in his own swirling and colorful style while he was at the asylum, and this particular piece was his interpretation of Eugène Delacroix's "The Good Samaritan."  There's much to consider when looking at it, both about the artist and the story itself.  #lent #lentenart #lentenartdevotions #picturestudy #charlottemason
"Have you ever been in the fields on a spring day, "Have you ever been in the fields on a spring day, and heard nothing at all but your own voice and the voices of your companions, and then, perhaps, suddenly you have become silent, and you find a concert going on of which you had not heard a note? At first you hear the voices of the birds; then, by degrees, you perceive high voices, low voices, and middle voices, small notes and great notes, and you begin to wish you knew who sang each of the songs you can distinguish... Think how happy the person must be for whom every bird's note is the voice of a friend whom he knows!" Charlotte Mason (Ourselves, pp. 29 & 32)  #charlottemason #charlottemasonhomeschool #charlottemasoneducation #charlottemasonquotes #quotes
The Ghent Altarpiece is often described as Jan van The Ghent Altarpiece is often described as Jan van Eyck's most famous piece, though I would argue that 'The Arnolfini Portrait' actually holds that spot. Regardless, this piece, which is actually 12 different paintings combined to make one 15-foot-wide work of art, is definitely one of his greatest (and possibly his brother's) masterpieces.  What I like to imagine is the parishioners of St. Bavo's Cathedral in Ghent going to church on "regular" days during which they would've seen this altarpiece with the side panels closed. They would've grown used to the more muted paintings adorning the outside and learned each detail and face by heart. However, on feast days, upon entering the chapel, they would've seen it open in all of its colorful, bright, wide glory, with all the different figures and scenes surrounding God the Father in the middle top and the Mystic Lamb below. I can imagine this would've been another reason to look forward to feast days.  If you're interested in including 15th century Flemish artist Jan van Eyck in your homeschool art study time, I have a Picture Study Aid and beautiful art prints available in my shop at https://ahumbleplace.com/product/vaneyck-picture-study/ or the link in my profile!  #charlottemason #charlottemasonpicturestudy #charlottemasonhomeschool #charlottemasoneducation #picturestudy #artstudy #charlottemasonartstudy #picturestudyaid #arthistoryforhomeschoolers #homeschoolarthistory
It's been a rough couple of weeks for this guy. He It's been a rough couple of weeks for this guy. He spent a day in bed with a fever and a bad headache last week while he was missing his dad who was away on a business trip. Then on Monday of this week, his 2.5-year-old hamster, Helmer, died. While it wasn't a complete surprise as he had been declining for a few months and he was about the appropriate age, it was still very sad. We had a little funeral for him in the backyard and covered his grave with a heart-shaped, painted stone donated by my son's little sister. He's handling it well, but it's so hard to say goodbye to a pet, especially when he's been around for 1/6 of your life. He was a good little hamster and will be very missed.  We took Monday off, but the rest of this week has been an attempt to get back into the rhythm of our school routine before we take a Sabbath week next week between terms. Yesterday while he was doing some reading on his own, Gracie climbed into his lap and purred for him. I like to think it's her way of trying to comfort him.  #homeschoollife
I'm excited to announce that the newest version of I'm excited to announce that the newest version of the Charlotte Mason-Inspired Kindergarten Curriculum is now available in the shop! If you've been thinking about homeschooling, but aren't sure it's for you, kindergarten in particular is a perfect year for homeschooling for the first time. You can use this time when your child is still very young to see how you both can thrive through educating at home.  Because the kindergarten year doesn't have to be complicated and really shouldn't include the academic rigor that the upper grades will offer, you have the flexibility of going at their (and your!) own pace. This means that you can take your time and not put pressure on your child or yourself. You can educate your children in the way that best meets their needs.  With all that said, I understand, especially for those new to homeschooling, that facing that first year can be intimidating. Trying to sift through the many booklists, curricula, online programs, and advice out there sometimes results in feeling overwhelmed. In reality, as I said above, the kindergarten year does not have to be complicated, and really shouldn't be. That's why I began offering the Charlotte Mason-Inspired Kindergarten Curriculum seven years ago. It keeps the kindergarten year simple, while also being a gentle introduction to the world of academics.  I'm also sharing the booklist with anyone who is interested in crafting their own Charlotte Mason kindergarten year! You can find it all at https://ahumbleplace.com/slug  or at the link in my profile!  #charlottemason #charlottemasoneducation #charlottemasonhomeschool #charlottemasonkindergarten #homeschoolkindergarten #kindergartenhomeschool
The week 24 (or Term 2 week 12) edition of #sunday The week 24 (or Term 2 week 12) edition of #sundayhomeschoolplanning. I actually got the bulk of it done yesterday which felt good so I think I need to start transitioning more toward that. Last week was actually a bit of a bust as both kids were sick on Monday and we didn’t get any real school work done until Wednesday. Everyone is on the mend now, for which I am thankful.  This will be the last week of Term 2 and an end to several books and a farewell to a few new friends, including The Book of Marvels, The Story of the Greeks, Church’s Iliad for Boys and Girls, Animal Farm (I have many thoughts about this book), our weather science study, art of the Yuan dynasty, Vaughn Williams, Pericles, Coriolanus, and I’m probably forgetting others. It’s been a good term.  We’ll take a week off from lessons for a few days of exams and a break, and then start again in Term 3, which coincides with the beginning of spring and means switching to a different Dallas Lore Sharp book.  Also, I should probably get some Term 3 planning done in there somewhere…. 😶  #homeschoolplanning #homeschool #homeschooling #homeschoollife #charlottemason #charlottemasoneducation #charlottemasonhomeschool #amblesideonline #amblesideonlineyear6 #amblesideonlineyear3
➕ Today marks the beginning of the second week o ➕ Today marks the beginning of the second week of Lent, and in the Lenten Art Devotions, I chose a painting representing the story of Jesus healing the paralyzed man at Bethesda. Jesus saw this man, who had been paralyzed for at least 38 years, beside the pool. He asked him if he wanted to be healed and the man lamented the fact that there was no one to help him get into the water and someone else always got in before he was able. "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is troubled, and while I am going another steps down before me." Without addressing the hardship of his situation or the fact that the man didn't really answer his question, Jesus responded by healing him and telling him to pick up his mat and walk, which he did. Of course, because Jesus was a "rule-breaker," this was done on the Sabbath.  I particularly like the stories where he "breaks the rules," of which there are many.  The painting is by the Danish artist Carl Bloch (1834-1890) who I have shared before. He had a way of capturing light that I appreciate. In this piece, Bloch conveys the message that Jesus specifically sought this man out as he lifted the material that was apparently covering him. The man looks up in almost child-like surprise that we can just barely see in the shadows, probably not only because someone was near him and moving his roof, but also because it's Jesus! I suspect his flesh self had a way of surprising people with his presence in more than one way.  #lent #lentenart #lentenartdevotions #picturestudy #charlottemason
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Recent mother culturing posts…

Once per quarter, I write a post a little more on the personal side about what our family has been up to as well as how I’m growing myself. Here are the most recent ones:

Mother Culturing: Fourth Quarter 2022

Mother Culturing: Third Quarter 2022

Mother Culturing: Second Quarter 2022

Mother Culturing: First Quarter 2022

Read more Mother Culturing POsts

Favorite posts…

And here are a few of my favorite posts.

The Loaves and Fishes of Motherhood

Commonplacing: The Work is Not Ours (Celebration of Discipline) #motherculture #charlottemason #celebrationofdiscipline

Commonplacing: The Work is Not Ours (Celebration of Discipline)

Commonplacing: Curiosity and the Desire for Knowledge (from Charlotte Mason's "Ourselves") - ahumbleplace.com

Commonplacing: Curiosity and the Desire for Knowledge (Ourselves)

This is My Body, Broken for You

Read more of my favorite POsts

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