A few years back Blind Pig Reader Kenneth Roper left the following comment:
“Mama use to tell us boys that March 4th (March forth) was the command day of the year.”
I was intrigued by Kenneth’s comment and a quick google search showed the obvious play on words that can be used every year when March 4th rolls around: March fourth = March forth.
I found March 4th is the only day of the year that can be considered a sentence and I read various accounts of folks using March 4th as a command day-just like Kenneth’s mother taught him and his brothers.
A lot of folks said they used March 4th (forth) as a day to move forward with a personal project that needed to be completed. Others said they used the day for taking the first step in a new goal they’d decided to attain.
So what will the Blind Pig Family be marching forth to achieve today?
- The Deer Hunter will march forth to change the water pump on the girls car
- Chatter will march forth to Peachtree to teach a new friend who’s visiting from Finland how to make lotion
- Chitter will march forth to her workbench in the basement to work on her latest jewelry design
- I will march forth to complete my Saturday chores so that I can plan what I want to talk to you about in the coming week
Tipper
Catching up on your blogs and find this so intriguing. March 4th (forth) will have new meaning for me from now on. Thank you!
Yes a metal detector and no we didn’t find nothing-but there’s always next time I guess : )
Tipper,
It was COLD up at the house this morning, in the high teen’s. I looked just after dark last night soon
as I got home and it was 23 then. We had a big Frost this morning, guess there’ll not be any pears this year. The Coyotes are thick up at the house. I keep the 30-30 leaning up at the door facing just in case. I have to keep a keen eye on Whisky and tell him to not get out of the porch light. He knows what they’ll do. …Ken
I had planned to March Forth with planting today but we’re getting enough more rain than expected to make that impractical. Yay! not that I’m not “marching forth” – there’s always something to “march forth” toward – but that we are getting much needed rain!!!! Timing is just right to help with the dewberry crop that already is in full out bloom – we usually pick the wild dewberries around Mother’s day, but think they are going to come in a month ahead of that! Apparently spring is Marching Forth also!!
Is there any safe place in Appalachia away from the hubbub of towns that an old lady alone can camp in a small motorhome? Just wondering.
Liz
May one assume March 4th to be the only day that makes a complete sentence? One May. If one doesn’t read dates the military way.
I never would’a thunk of that. I usually say the day first, like “the fourth of March”.
I marched forth this morning and did a quick about-face. It was cold out there.
What in the world does that youngin have in her hand? Looks like it has a light or some kind of display in it. Is that a metal detector? Did you find anything?
I’ll be marching forth beginning patch, paint, and repair work on my new property I just closed on Fat Tuesday. (Feb 28.
Well I’ll be. Never heard that before. Seems that should be a day significant to the military.
On a different subject, I went to the Farmers Exchange on Tuesday and they had Irish Cobbler red potatoes. I had not seen or heard tell of them in decades. But in the 1950’s they were all that was planted in southeast Ky. Then the Kennebec variety replaced them.
That’s a lot of marching you all got planned for today but then as far as I can tell you do quite a bit of marching every day!
I’m gonna march to the gym for a workout then I’ll drop by your house to see how everything is coming along.
It sure is cold this morning (22 degrees) compared to how warm (80 degrees) it got a week ago!
What a great idea! I have never heard of this, Tipper, but by having this on your blog it may assure another Appalachian saying will not fall by the wayside. I tend to get bogged down in too many goals and projects, and I have certain goals I must reach before I can turn my attention to spring and summer gardening. So, my day will be more focused knowing March fourth gives me another chance to “get with it.”
I absolutely love that picture of your family walking along the stream. They seem so carefree and enjoying all the sights and sounds of nature. Sometimes your photography says volumes, and is a welcome early morning sight.