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The Big White Farmhouse

intentional living, little by little

July 3, 2025

No.932: A Summer Integrated Humanities Program // Week Four

“Calais Pier, with French Poissards Preparing for Sea, an English Packeet Arriving” by J.M.W. Turner (1803)

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission of any sale made at no extra cost to you.

Welcome to Week 4 of the Big White Farmhouse’s Summer Integrated Humanities program!  This week’s task is to explore the themes of courage and bravery.

Just jumping in?  You can find the links to the previous weeks here: Week 1 // Week 2 // Week 3


ARTIST OF THE WEEK: JOSEPH M. W. TURNER

“Joseph Mallord William Turner, known in his time as William Turner, was an English Romantic painter, printmaker and watercolorist. He is known for his expressive coloring, imaginative landscapes and turbulent, often violent marine paintings.” (via)

Spend some time studying these beautiful pieces.  I especially love all of the architectural details.

“Interior of Salisbury Cathedral”
“Mount Vesuvius in Eruption”
“The Decline of the Carthaginian Empire”

“IF” by RUDYARD KIPLING

This poem ranks among Rudyard Kipling’s most beloved works and is about a father giving paternal wisdom to his son.

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!


THE VIRTUE OF FORTITUDE
“Fortitude” by Sandro Botticelli (c.1470)

Fortitude is the moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. It strengthens the resolve to resist temptations and to overcome obstacles in the moral life. The virtue of fortitude enables one to conquer fear, even fear of death, and to face trials and persecutions. It disposes one even to renounce and sacrifice his life in defense of a just cause. “The Lord is my strength and my song.” “In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” – Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1808

What does Thomas Aquinas have to say about the virtue of Fortitude?  This video from the Thomistic Institute could be helpful.


BACK TO THE STARS

This week, we’re returning to the night sky and learning about two important constellations known as Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, the Big and Little Dipper or the Great Bear and the Little Bear.

The Great Bear

Long ago in Arcadia there lived a king named Lykaon who had a beautiful daughter called Callisto.  The princess was a huntress and a follower of the virgin goddes Atemis and had sworn to her that she would never love any man.  But one hot summer afternoon while Callisto was sleeping under a tree in the forest, Zeus, the king of the gods, saw her and fell in love with her.  At first, remembering her promise, Callisto resisted him; but presently she returned his love.

When Artemis’ other maidens learned what Callisto had done, they would hunt and play with her no longer.  Sad and lonely, she wandered off into the woods of Arcadia, where there were no people, only wolves and bears and other wild beasts.  There she gave birth to a baby boy whom she named Arcas.

Now when the queen of the gods, Hera, heard what had happened she became jealous.  She descended to earth and appeared before Callisto, full of rage.  Calling out words of power, she flung her to the ground.  At once the princess’s robes dropped from her, her arms and legs thickened and became shaggy with fur, and her face lengthened into a muzzle.  She tried to beg for mercy, but her voice had changed into a roar; she had become a great white bear.

Her little boy, Arcas, did not know her any more; he screamed and ran away out of the forest into the open fields.  There he was found and adopted by a kind farmer.  Callisto could not follow him, but had to hide deep in the woods to escape the hunters, her former companions.

As Arcas grew up he inherited his mother’s skill at hunting with bow and arrow.  He ranged further and further into the great forest, and at last one day he came upon Callisto.  When she recognized her son she forgot her bear’s shape and ran to hug him, growling with joy.  Arcas thought he was being attacked, and drew his bow.  He would have shot Callisto to the heart if Zeus, who sees all things, had not come to her rescue.  Zeus seized the bear by her tail and swung her up among the stars.  Then, so that Callisto might never again be separated from her son, he changed Arcas also into a bear, and tossed him too into the heavens, where they became the Great Bear and the Little Bear.

– from The Heavenly Zoo: Legends and Tales of the Stars retold by Alison Lurie, p.11-13

Things to Do…

  • After dark, look up at the night sky and find the North Star and Big Dipper.  “There are four stars in the bowl of the Big Dipper and three in the curved handle. A line drawn through the outer two stars of the bowl, if extended, will touch the North Star, or Polestar.  It is very important for us to know the Polestar, because the northern end of the earth’s axis is directed toward it, and it is therefore situated in the heavens almost directly above our North Pole.” (from Handbook of Nature Study, p.818)
  • Now find the Little Dipper!  “The Little Dipper lies much nearer the Polestar than does the Big Dipper; in fact, the Polestar itself is the end of the handle of the Little Dipper.  Besides the Polestar, there are two more stars in the handle of the Little Dipper, and of the four stars which make the bowl, the two that form the outer edge are much the brighter.  The bowl of the Little Dipper is above or below the Polestar according to the hour of the evening and the night of the year, for it apparently revolves about the Polestar as does the Big Dipper.  The two Dippers open toward each other, and as someone has said, ‘They pour into each other.'” (from Handbook of Nature Study, p.819)
  • If you’re more of a visual learner, check out this interactive sky chart.

MISCELLANEOUS RABBIT TRAILS…
Corrie ten Boom shows the hiding place in her home in Haarlem, the Netherlands

+ “In World War II [Corrie ten Boom] and her family risked their lives to help Jews and underground workers escape from the Nazis. In 1944 their lives were forever altered when they were betrayed, arrested, and thrown into the infamous Nazi death camps. Only Corrie among her family survived.”  Read Corrie’s incredible story in The Hiding Place or you can watch the movie adaptation too.

+ The Lord of the Rings trilogy is the quintessential series for finding themes of fortitude and perseverance.  Those humble hobbits have a lot to teach us!

+ Inspired by Turner’s art, learn more about classical architecture with these lectures from The Institute of Classical Architecture & Art.

June 26, 2025

No.931: A Summer Integrated Humanities Program // Week Three

“On the Bank of the Seine, Bennecourt” by Claude Monet (1868)

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission of any sale made at no extra cost to you.

Welcome to Week 3 of the Big White Farmhouse’s Summer Integrated Humanities program!  This week, we’re investigating love and friendship.

Just jumping in?  You can find the links to the previous weeks here: Week 1 // Week 2


ARTIST OF THE WEEK: CLAUDE MONET

Claude Monet was a French painter who became the initiator, leader, and unswerving advocate of the Impressionist style. (via)

I’ve loved Monet’s artwork since I read Linnea in Monet’s Garden as a kid.  His continued study of the bridge and water-lily pond as he lost his eyesight is fascinating to me.

“The Japanese Bridge (The Water-Lily Pond)” (1899)
“The Artist’s Family in the Garden” (1875)
“The Garden” (1872)

THE STORY OF GUNNLAUG THE WORM-TONGUE AND RAVEN THE SKALD

The Story of Gunnlaug the Worm-Tongue and Raven the Skald is an Icelandic saga composed in the 13th century, detailing the tragic rivalry between two poets, Gunnlaugr Ormstunga and Hrafn Önundarson, for the hand of Helga the Fair, the daughter of Thorsteinn Egilsson.  The result is a competition leading to a deadly duel of honor.

There was a man called Thorstein, the son of Egil, the son of Skallagrim, the son of Kveldulf the Hersir of Norway. Asgerd was the mother of Thorstein; she was the daughter of Biorn Hold. Thorstein dwelt at Burg in Burg-firth; he was rich of fee, and a great chief, a wise man, meek and of measure in all wise. He was nought of such wondrous growth and strength as his father Egil had been; yet was he a right mighty man, and much beloved of all folk.

Thorstein was goodly to look on, flaxen-haired, and the best-eyed of men; and so say men of lore that many of the kin of the Mere-men, who are come of Egil, have been the goodliest folk; yet, for all that, this kindred have differed much herein, for it is said that some of them have been accounted the most ill-favoured of men: but in that kin have been also many men of great prowess in many wise, such as Kiartan, the son of Olaf Peacock, and Slaying-Bardi, and Skuli, the son of Thorstein. Some have been great bards, too, in that kin, as Biorn, the champion of Hit-dale, priest Einar Skulison, Snorri Sturluson, and many others.

Now, Thorstein had to wife Jofrid, the daughter of Gunnar, the son of Hlifar. This Gunnar was the best skilled in weapons, and the lithest of limb of all bonderfolk who have been in Iceland; the second was Gunnar of Lithend; but Steinthor of Ere was the third. Jofrid was eighteen winters old when Thorstein wedded her; she was a widow, for Thorodd, son of Odd of Tongue, had had her to wife aforetime. Their daughter was Hungerd, who was brought up at Thorstein’s at Burg. Jofrid was a very stirring woman; she and Thorstein had many children betwixt them, but few of them come into this tale. Skuli was the eldest of their sons, Kollsvein the second, Egil the third…

Read the rest of the story with the book or you can read for free online or on Kindle via Project Gutenberg.

Gunnlaugur and Helga the Fair meeting by Charles Fairfax Murray

WALTER GIESEKING PLAYS DEBUSSY “SUITE BERGAMASQUE”

“Suite bergamasque is a piano suite by Claude Debussy. He began composing it around 1890, at the age of 28, but significantly revised it just before its 1905 publication.  The popularity of the third movement, Clair de lune, has made it one of the composer’s most famous works for piano, as well as one of the most famous musical pieces of all time.” (via)

Walter Gieseking was a German pianist and was known as an interpreter of Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel, Domenico Scarlatti, Mozart, and Beethoven.  His interpretation of Suite bergamasque is particularly good.


WILDFLOWERS

Flowers and love often have a special connection, so let’s focus on them this week!  A word of advice from the Handbook of Nature Study:

Some flowers are so abundant that they can be picked in moderation if the roots are not disturbed, if plenty of flowers are left for seed, and if the plant itself is not taken with the flower….Everyone should have the privilege of enjoying the natural beauty of the countryside. Such enjoyment is impossible if a relatively small number of people insist upon picking and destroying native plants for their own selfish interests. (p.460)

Things to Do…

  • Use a field guide to identify the flowers you see in your backyard or on the side of the road.
  • Collect and press a wildflower.
  • This tutorial for flower pounding looks fun too!

MISCELLANEOUS RABBIT TRAILS…
“Still Life. Wildflowers.” by Pyotr Konchalovsky (1938)

+ Philia is an ancient Greek concept of love and refers to deep friendship between individuals who share common interests and experiences.  How Many Friends Should I Have? ‘A Lot,’ says Thomas Aquinas, is a talk from Fr. Aquinas Guilbeau, O.P. that may be helpful to ponder this.

+ Learn the language of flowers.  What do your favorite blooms symbolize?

+ Pull out your art supplies and learn how to paint Monet’s Water Lilies with this acrylic paint tutorial.

+ Much Ado About Nothing “includes two quite different stories of romantic love. Hero and Claudio fall in love almost at first sight, but an outsider, Don John, strikes out at their happiness. Beatrice and Benedick are kept apart by pride and mutual antagonism until others decide to play Cupid.”

+ Read through the 10 Greatest Love Poems Ever Written compiled by The Society of Classical Poets.  Which one is your favorite?

June 19, 2025

No.930: A Summer Integrated Humanities Program // Week Two

“Basket of Fruit” by Caravaggio (1596)

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission of any sale made at no extra cost to you.

Welcome to Week 2 of the Big White Farmhouse’s Summer Integrated Humanities program!  This week, we’re really digging into the human condition and diving deep into the concepts of revenge vs. justice.

Just jumping in?  You can find the links to the previous weeks here: Week 1


ARTIST OF THE WEEK: CARAVAGGIO

“Caravaggio was a leading Italian painter of the late 16th and early 17th centuries who became famous for the intense and unsettling realism of his large-scale religious works.” (via)

I love the way Caravaggio uses darkness and light to highlight important parts of his paintings.  Your eye is drawn immediately to one spot, both by the direction of the light as well as way the characters are looking.  So interesting and powerful.

“Supper at Emmaus” (1606)
“Conversion on the Way to Damascus” (1600-1601)
“Calling of Saint Matthew” (1600)

A FABLE FROM AESOP

The Farmer and the Fox
A Farmer was greatly annoyed by a Fox, which came prowling about his yard at night and carried off his fowls. So he set a trap for him and caught him; and in order to be revenged upon him, he tied a bunch of tow to his tail and set fire to it and let him go. As ill-luck would have it, however, the Fox made straight for the fields where the corn was standing ripe and ready for cutting. It quickly caught fire and was all burnt up, and the Farmer lost all his harvest.


AESCHYLUS’ “AGAMEMNON”
“Clytemnestra hesitates before killing the-sleeping Agamemnon” by Pierre-Narcisse Guerin

Agamemnon is the first play in a trilogy, the Oresteia, which is considered Aeschylus’ greatest work.

“It details the homecoming of Agamemnon, King of Mycenae, from the Trojan War. After ten years of warfare, and Troy fallen, all of Greece could lay claim to the victory. Waiting at home for Agamemnon is his wife, Queen Clytemnestra, who has been plotting his murder. She desires his death to avenge the sacrifice of her daughter Iphigenia, to exterminate the only thing hindering her from taking the crown, and to finally be able to publicly embrace her good-time lover Aegisthus.” (via)

Watch Part One and Part Two of this 1983 adaptation…with subtitles!


LOOK UP AT THE NIGHT SKY

There’s nothing like looking up at a dark sky on a warm, summer night!  What can you see?

Things to Do…

  • Have a bonfire at dusk and observe the light vs. dark.
  • Start a phenology wheel, tracking the moon phases, weather, and other natural world observations.
  • Learn the full moon names.
  • Put the next full moon on your calendar: July 10 is the Buck Moon!

“EVENSONG” BY C.S. LEWIS

Evensong is a poem that reflects on day turning to night and the assurance of God’s safekeeping during sleep.  I chose it to continue the theme of light turning to dark, day into night.

Now that night is creeping
O’er our travail’d senses,
To Thy care unsleeping
We commit our sleep.
Nature for a season
Conquers our defences,
But th’ eternal Reason
Watch and ward will keep.

All the soul we render
Back to Thee completely,
Trusting Thou wilt tend her
Through the deathlike hours,
And all night remake her
To Thy likeness sweetly,
Then with dawn awake her
And give back her powers.

Slumber’s less uncertain
Brother soon will bind us
—Darker falls the curtain,
Stifling-close ’tis drawn:
But amidst that prison
Still Thy voice can find us,
And, as Thou hast risen,
Raise us in They dawn.


MISCELLANEOUS RABBIT TRAILS…
“Priam Pleading with Achilles for the Body of Hector” by Gavin Hamilton (1775)

+ Homer’s The Iliad is an excellent choice for thinking about the ideas of revenge vs. justice.  Does revenge give us peace?  What lengths will we go to achieve that revenge?  Are we happier or more content after?

+ Read Medea by Euripides for an ancient Greek tragedy that you could easily imagine hearing about on the latest true crime show.  Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned and Medea’s dramatic decision for revenge is tragic.  You can also watch the play here.

+ Discover what Thomas Aquinas said about justice in this video from The Thomistic Institute.

+ Picture study is a common subject in some homeschool curriculums.  This Caravaggio Picture Study playlist walks you through the process and is helpful for both kids and adults alike.

June 17, 2025

Due to some unforeseen medical issues, I will be stepping away from the blog for the time being.
I have completed six of the twelve Summer Integrated Humanities program posts and will try to post them each week.
One day I hope to finish the rest. 
I would appreciate your prayers.
Your friend, Ashley

https://thebigwhitefarmhouse.com/22223-2/

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