Mad as a March Hare

To be as "mad as a March hare" is an Old English phrase derived from the observed antics, said to occur in the breeding season (March) of the hare. That the hare will behave strangely and excitedly throughout its breeding season - This odd behavior includes: boxing at other hares, jumping vertically for seemingly no reason and generally displaying abnormal behavior. Although the phrase in general has been in continuous use since the 16th century, it was popularized in more recent times by Lewis Carroll in his book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, which has the March Hare as one of its main characters.

Is this why we have March Madness? Does it apply to 'Cabin Fever'? Maybe it explains why I have this urge to jump vertically for no reason - well, from one project to the next; I don't jump. Some 'Quilting Gods' tell me that's abnormal behavior. As long as all my planned projects get done for the month, I will be happy.

This is block #13 for the BlockaPalooza. Wow, getting close to being done. I changed the center 9-patch to smaller size and set it on point - oh, the math made my head hurt. There's me jumping abnormally.

And block #10 for the Layer Cake Quilt Along. Another project nearing it's end. I behaved on this one and did the designer's pattern as written. Maybe because I did it after my morning's coffee - and a day late.

I am so excited and jumping up, down, sideways, and backwards. My dear sweet longarmer did my Charm quilt before another customer because she knew how stressed I was on having this done on time. She did a wonderful job - we planned the quilting together and she so, sew did a beautiful job. It is quilted with a lovely lightly verigated linen/grass green thread. There will be more photos, but I have to get the binding done.

SQUARED UP

Traditional March games in history during the Lent Season are jumping rope and marbles. Gosh, does that go with the whole March Hare theory? Jumping and losing our marbles?

My marble playing will be snowball blocks. Since I am using charms (actually I cut all my charms from scraps), my squares are 5" and the corners are 2" squares. My snowballs will have a little 'odd' shape with these cuts, but remember it is March Hare Season. With small setting squares I usually 'aim and shoot', but you can draw your diagonal line and then sew. I work a few blocks at a time, chaining them- then trimming corners - then pressing. It's some hopping, but then I don't get tired of doing all those blocks at once - after all , there are 100 squares.

Here are a few blocks laid out to see how they set together. Odd shape, but interesting. Not the normal snowball, but I like the 'Let's Play Marbles' look to them. That's my new quilt's name. I know, there are a few other quilts in stages before this one, but they will all get done in their (ab)normal time.



Do you act like the March Hare this time of year?
Sewingly Yours
Sharon