{This and That}

Happy Monday, friends!  It is exam week in our home--we just finished up Term 3 last week.  I'm sure you know what that means: I've got the Year 4 books out and have already started drawing up plans. ;)

Our Keeping Company link-up for March already has lots of wonderful posts.  Feel free to read, post, and share!

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In the midst of planning, I have re-discovered Traditional Catholic Living's wonderful hymn-a-month series.  I'm looking forward to using this as a resource starting next term.  If you are Catholic and looking for free Sacred Music study, this is a do-not-miss!

And speaking of traditional Catholic hymns, Kimberlee's son has provided simple piano arrangements perfect for Lent: Stabat Mater and the chant Audi Benigne Conditor.  I printed them out and my kids have been playing them all month.  Thank you Kimberlee and Jonathan!

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Have you checked out this month's Charlotte Mason blog carnival? Remember, now it's in link-up format, so feel free to add your posts.  Lots of good reading there!

Also, I shared a little blurb for Flourish e-magazine this month.  You know me--I couldn't help but give Keeping a little shout-out. ;)  Go take a look!

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This past term's artist was Georgia O'Keeffe, and we looked at her Jack in the Pulpit series, among others.  The children asked why it was called Jack in the Pulpit, so I pulled up a picture of the flower alongside the painting. (Thanks to here and here.) 

Just as I was going to explain the name, the kids saw the pictures and squealed, "Oh!  I understand now!  It looks like Father doing his sermon!"

One of the many blessings of going to a parish with a very Jack-in-the-Pulpit-ish pulpit!

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Last week, we read the chapters in Our Island Story about George II's ascending the throne and his battles during "The Forty Five" with Bonnie Prince Charlie's Highland Stuart-supporters.

Then it was time for music study, and Handel's "Zadok the Priest" was on the schedule.  (What can I say?  My husband is Champions League fan.)  Before playing it, I read a bit about the history of its composition: it was written for the coronation of George II.

My kids were listening but mostly just waiting for the music to begin.

I repeated myself.  "George the Second. OF ENGLAND."

"OHHH, GEORGE THE SECOND!?  The George II we just read about TODAY??"

And then they started making all the other connections.  "So the king that ordered the water music, and the fireworks--was that George I?  And that's why German Handel ended up in England?  Because he came along with the king?  Maybe he knew him in Hanover!"  Their eyes lit up as they remembered this tidbit or that.  They talked together about the scenes in Wheeler's biography with a new understanding.

The neat thing was that this was the first time our music studies lined up with our history readings, so even though we plot out musicians on our map and our timeline, they don't think of them as particularly historical figures--they think of them as composers and connect with their music.  But it's fun to have the historical connection too.  And best of all: I didn't even have to plan it!  Love those coincidences.

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Happy big boys at the firehouse!

,,,and happy big girls out for Cate's belated birthday outing with Mommy.

They insisted on posing with their cups and the little homemade date coupon. :)  And can you believe the barista spelled all three of our names right?

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I'm hoping to share a bit this week about our recent nature Keeping, as well as some ideas for spring art projects.  Spring is right around the corner, after all, even for those of you still under snow!  Wishing you warm, sunny days ahead.