Year’s ago Blind Pig reader Kenneth Roper shared the story of his mother telling him and his brothers that March 4th was the command day of the year.
I did some research and discovered March 4th is the only day of the year that can be considered a sentence—March forth. I also discovered there were other folks like Kenneth’s mother who thought of the day as a command day.
A few folks use March 4th as a day to begin a new project or goal while others use it as a nudge to finish a project that has been hanging over them for way too long.
Last year I listed the things our family would be marching forth to complete.
- The Deer Hunter will march forth to work where he will begin the installation of a new metal building.
- Chatter will march forth to work for most of the day and then give a guitar lesson to a nice young lady in Hayesville.
- Chitter will march forth to her workbench in the basement to work on her latest jewelry design.
- I will march forth to work on various things for the Folk School including filming an upcoming Morningsong.
Here’s what we will be marching forth to complete this year.
- The girls will march forth to pick up groceries for me.
- Upon returning with the groceries, Chatter will march forth to run wedding errands.
- Chitter will march forth to work in her shop.
- The Deer Hunter and I will march forth to the gardens where we will clean off beds and add a layer of compost.
Comparing last year’s list with this year’s list makes me very thankful that I won’t be marching forth to work for someone else. It also gives me a bittersweet feeling when I think of the wedding errands and realize this is the last March forth (fourth) Chatter will be living at home.
I hope you’ll leave a comment and let me know what you will be doing on this March forth day.
Last night’s video: How to Make the Best Easiest Biscuits PLUS 2 Other Quick Breads with the Same Recipe!
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You’re the only other person I’ve ever heard mention March Forth! as a command! For years my husband has kindly been indulging me as I spend most of the day marching around the house with whatever silly thing I can get my hands on. Marching forth with a new project or activity would be more productive! Happy 82nd to Granny, and best wishes to the newlyweds. I have just spent a fortune on Etsy buying myself a set of never used Texasware bowls in their original packaging. I’ll blame you when the Visa bill arrives!! I’ve learned so much from you Tipper! Thank you for sharing your Appalachian culture with us. Fondly, Donna in Plymouth, MA. “America’s Hometown!”
March 4 is one of my brother’s birthday, He always refers to it as “March Forth” day. He’s quite proud of his powerful, commanding birth day. (my birthday isn’t quite as bossy!) Thanks for the interesting discussion of specific ideas to fulfill the ‘command’ (march forth). I better get busy. I’m a day late.
We are Marching fourth….starting seedlings for our garden. Then to start getting the bed ready for Spring.
Today I will march forth to work on projects that I had to put on the back burner when Covid made an unwelcome visit to our abode and caused us to get behind on the daily chores and doings of life. I’m finally getting caught up enough to work on other things that being me joy. 🙂
This may or may not be the last March 4th your daughter will be living with you. Our daughter has returned to live with us twice since she moved out own her own.
Today I will March Forth and renew my interest in sketching. My drawing and painting got lost in the shuffle over the last year.
I’m so thankful for you sharing your life with us. All of you.
I’m thankful you can work from home now. What a blessing!
I had never heard march forth used as a command day. I’m not going to march fort today and do anything physical, but instead will do some bible study.
Does the Old Farmer’s Almanac or the Romano calendar say that it’s a good day for beginning something new? Any marching forth activities that either says not to do?
Only 8 more days with Chatter at home, Tipper! I suspect that will leave a big hole in your daily activities, but look at it as her marching forth into her new life . . . and the possibility of grand babies.
March fourth. Love this . WE feel poignant about YOUR emotions in this countdown to the wedding. Sigh!
Here, I have been marching forth adding vegetable seedlings to my garden here in Oklahoma, Zone 7a. And now I’m marching forth to take my fur kids to run at a nearby lake. Love me some Springtime!
Tipper, today I will March forth with building the tie in porch connecting my cabin to my bathhouse, making my house look like an old fashioned dog tent house!
Dog trot not tent. Sorry!
Today I will March forth remembering that ” this is the day that the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad.” Glad, because I found out Wednesday that the problem was my eyes is something that can be taken care of. 3 years ago I was diagnosed with macular degeneration and for those three years about every six weeks I have had injections into my left eyeball. So this Tuesday March 1st I went to my optometrist and he informed me that there was blood behind my left eye. Needless to say that was a cause for some alarm on my part. But he called my specialist that gives me the injections and they work me in Wednesday. They had to run dye into my arm to find out what was going on and my doctor informed me that it was a hemorrhage behind my eye. Yesterday there was not a lot of noticeable Improvement but today there is. For that I am very glad. I am a Pianist and although I can play most hymns without the need of being able to see the written notes, there are new songs that I like to learn for the congregation and for that I really need eyesight. So today I will March 4th and complete tasks that are needful. Thanking God for my improved eyesight.
I didn’t make New Year resolutions for the same reason I’m afraid to make any plans to march forth. Someone else will decide how my day will play out. My dog is in the hospital in an adjoining town and I will have to go pick him up or go visit if he doesn’t get released. Waiting to hear…A spa repairman told me he would be here ‘sometime today’ to fix a door on the sauna. With a million things to do, all I want to do is be outside and enjoy the warm weather before the next cold front moves in. Gardening is on my mind but I have to make a run to Lowe’s after I lay out my plans. With gas prices out the roof, maybe I can march forth to the grocery store, Lowe’s, and the vet in one trip to town.
Today I will March Fourth and enjoy our grandsons (ages 10 & 6). They are coming to spend the weekend with us. We are looking forward to a fun weekend! Take care and God bless ❤️
I love the analogy of March 4th to “march forth”. It inspires me to march forth and get busy and finish a project I started at the beginning of the COVID pandemic … researching and writing about my ancestors. It was just what I needed this morning. Thanks for this “march forth” nudge that inspires me to keep at it!
Marching forth sounds a bit too strong to fit me. My first marching forth is to update my To Do list in part to try to “peel one tater at a time” instead of having a host of mental hamsters spinning the little wheels all at once. I get to feeling overwhelmed too easily these days. I think electronic speed of light whiz has a lot to do with it. Speaking of which, I have to try and retrieve some (irretrievably lost maybe?) electronics documents next. Then I have to choose between garden digging, weed eating, buying a lawnmower, solving an auto battery problem or doing taxes. There I go, overwhelming myself again.
I will march forth to the gym this morning! I can’t believe that Chatter will soon be married and living in her own home with her husband. I look at her and I still see a little girl!
We will March fourth to visit Gibbs Gardens in Ball Ground and see some beautiful nature and flowers
I have about five projects going right now. Nothing major, but I go back and forth between them and will eventually finish each one…..kind of like I clean house. I just keep going until it’s all done.
I’d never heard of March fourth like a command before, but I think I’ll march forth and put the white stripe down the back of the needle felted skunk I’m making and put some touches on another project, and add some ideas to my “Big Idea” journal. I am inspired to “March forth!”
Today I will March forth to my home office for a usual work-from-home day–all the while contemplating tomorrow–a day off and anticipated 70 degrees with SON SHINE !!
Today I will March 4th to purchase a variety of fruits and chocolate hummus for a fruit platter for my granddaughters baby shower
March Forth as a command- never heard of it before today, but I like it! It’s way too early to tell what I will get into today but I’d like to deep clean. We will see if I can muster the ambition. My excuse? Same as in Fried Green Tomatoes- I’m over 50! It works for everything!!! I know you’re all getting excited about baby girl getting married and I find I’m getting excited for y’all myself!!! It’s bound to be a fine day filled with fine memories!!!!
Today I want to March fourth to use my time better ❤
March fourth to try a new product( blue bird flour) complete , the quest of finding it, paying for it, receiving it, fighting a rodent for ownership of it, making a batch of fry bread.
I’m going to march forth and start a new writing project I’ve been putting off. My first thought this morning was I might procrastinate some more.
This was just the push I needed.
Today I will March Fourth with a quick trip to the store for a few supplies, then sitting at my desk wrapping up weekly finances and other paperwork, making Chicken Marsala for lunch, and spending the afternoon on a work project. Spring sure feels like it is matching forth with it’s arrival!
Donna. : )