Naming the House

[violet Blue]

There is a somewhat odd tradition up here on the mountain of naming houses. People actually have the house name put up somewhere on the exterior. We've got names like "Hagard's Hut" "Still Owing" "Hasty's Retreat" etc.

I have no idea when or where the tradition started, if it's German in origin like the town or what. If I had to guess I'd say it came from a time when street maps and house numbers and street names were significantly less than accurate, which believe it or not presisted up into the 80's around here.

Anyway, being the owner of my first home and a brand new one to boot, I think it needs a name. Friends would like to throw me a house warming/house blessing party in a couple months and I'd like to include the naming of the house in that ceremony.

But what to call it? I'll entertain any and all suggestions because at this point I don't have a clue :( Obviously I'd love a Lightfoot inspired name, though it doesn't have to be.

[Laci]

Hi Violet Blue Horse,

Hmmmm....this is a good one. Naturally "Knotty Pine" comes to thought immediately however I am sure there may be more creative and ingenious names that others will come up with. I am running a zillion Lightfoot songs/lyrics through my head right now though. Good Thread!

[Borderstone]

I dare you to call it "Knots Landing"!! :D

Seriously though,how about "Sleepy Acre?" I like the sound of it. :)

[violet Blue]

Ya know, fuuny thing, there's no knotty pine in the house at all, and the only trees on the lot are Cedar trees :D I know, I know, Knotty Pine would have been a nice choice too, I've always liked that song and the reason it was written.

I love the song The House You Live In, but I can't think what to pull out of that. I thought about the line He Who Hesitates is Lost, but it doesn't quite have the right ring to it.

Still searching . . . . . .

[brink]

I have a friend who's name is atteridge and their house is at-the-ridge. Maybe you could figure out something with your last name.

[Sheryl]

Cedar Rest? Naw,,, sounds like an old folks' home. Hmmm.... Cedar Haven? Naw, sounds like an insane asylum.. I'll have to think some more!!

[Laci]

Yes Violet...no Knotty Pines in BB.

Okay...onward we go...must think of a perfect name for your home. Perhaps "Cedar Breaks" which is the name of a small town outside of Brian Head, Utah.

Off to bed...5:00 AM comes way too quick!

Sleep well everyone...

[closetcanadian]

How about "Wit's End"? As in the expression "I'm at my wit's end!" :) What can I say? I love puns and wordplay...

[violet Blue]

Well, to really complicate things, the house is on Spruce Lane:D Why it's named that I have no clue because there is not a spruce in sight.

Wit's End. Funny. Yeah. Funny. :rolleyes:

[Sheryl]

Spruced Up? All the Lovely Cedars? Don Cedar? (just kidding, hehe!) A Cedar Passing Through?...

[charlene]

The No Hotel

Char

[ELizabeth]

Violet Blue Horse,
Why was Knotty Pine written? "She's my naughty pine" ?

[violet Blue]

Ugh, can't remember the details or where I read about it. Wasn't it written for a benefit or something for an area of forest in Canada that was threatened? I don't remember where I read that.

Great, the long term memory is going now too.

Sucks getting old.

Okay, here's the short list so far. The only reason it's the short list is because this is all I could think of. I like East of Midnight by the way. I added it to the list.

Ribbon of Dreams
Sea of Tranqulity
Brave Mountaineers
Whispers of the Wind
East of Midnight

The house is in the most rural area around here. Two blocks from me is wide open ranch land. The street out front is a dirt road complete with ruts. I love it. The house though is brand new and very traditional. I've already got pots of flowers on the front deck and tomatoes and lettuce and herbs growing in containers. And I'm surrounded by jack rabbits everywhere I turn. And it's Spring. Guess what jack rabbits do in the spring . . . everywhere . . . anytime. :D


Originally posted by ELizabeth:
Violet Blue Horse,
Why was Knotty Pine written? "She's my naughty pine" ?

[Sheryl]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by violet Blue Horse:
... And I'm surrounded by jack rabbits everywhere I turn. And it's Spring. Guess what jack rabbits do in the spring . . . everywhere . . . anytime. :D ... [QUOTE]

LOL, Violet!!

I like the names so far. Another suggestion: "Gordland" -- well??

[Auburn Annie]

Well, let's see: Bitter Green, Mosquito Alley (from "Boathouse"),Rainbow's End (from "Cabaret"), Dreamland, Home from the Forest, High and Dry, Lazy Mornin', Long Way Back Home, Redwood Hill, or Somewhere USA.

[Sundreme]

It's on Spruce Lane? Amid Cedar Trees? How about "Home From the Forest"?

[violet Blue]

Hmmmm. Interesting idea Sheryl. How about just calling it Lightfoot though? Gordland could just be so misunderstood. I thought about Redwood Hill, but then I thought people would go looking for the Redwood tree. Home From the Forest is just such a melancholy song I couldn't use that.

I like Rainbows End too. There have been some amazing rainbows since I moved here.

Hmmm, still thinking.

[Sheryl]

How about: Lightfoot Wood (or Woods)

(I'm sitting here chuckling because as soon as I read that to myself, I thought, "Lightfoot would what?" HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

[violet Blue]

That't not what came to mind for me. But my mind's in the gutter today.

But still I like the idea. Lightfoot Glen, Lightfoot Forest, Lightfoot Bend . . . hmmmm.


Originally posted by Sheryl:
How about: Lightfoot Wood (or Woods)

(I'm sitting here chuckling because as soon as I read that to myself, I thought, "Lightfoot would what?" HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

[violet Blue]

No, no no no no. Do not go there. I don't need to start naming rooms too, LOL. Naming the house is tough enough. Don't even get me started on the rooms. Geeze, I thought you were trying to be helpful tongue.gif

Perhaps I should leave East of Midnight for you to use for your studio?

When it comes to the feel of a song, I think Sea of Tranquility captures my feelings about the place. I've always loved that song. It's so magical. I imagine a fairy dancing through a meadow full of creatures under the moonlight when I hear that song. This place is still very much alive with meadow magic. The meadow was here before the house, it surrounds the area, and it will be there long after the house falls down.

Still thinking.


Originally posted by alltaupe:
Well.. Lightfoot probably would IF he could but we're ladies so NO! Bad boy! BAD!

I like "Rainbows End", VBH. After all - you're so happy there. You have found your personal pot of gold. And Lightfoot Glen is also good.

My personal fav is still East Of Midnight because it represents not only a place but a state of mind. A very mellow state of mind. Pure bliss. I might name my studio in the new house that! hummmm....

[Sheryl]

I LOOOOVE Sea of Tranquility! As you know, DSR is my fav album. I listen to it over and over... it's a very peaceful and happy one. Kind of an anomoly, eh? I definitely think anything with GL's name in it is an excellent choice. Nix on the naming of rooms, oh my gawd, no.

You could always switch around titles: Tranquil Seas, Lightfoot's Glen, Moon O'er the Meadow (I looked at the first line of Sea of Tranquility: "I live in the light of the bright silver moon..." and combined it with the meadow which surrounds you.) How about Forest O' Green? The Fireflies' Rest, Wild Woodlands... o.k., that's enough to keep you thinking for awhile. xxxo

[SilverHeels]

I know it's not Gord but how about 'Serendipity'?

[violet Blue]

Serendipity is taken :( That's the name of a big old rambling mountain cabin over in Moonridge.

Actually Sheryl I kind of like "I live in the Light" or just "Live in the Light".

I'm hoping to come to some conclusion by this weekend.

[Sheryl]

How about: Silver Moonlight

[stationmaster]

The Cabaret?
House of Tranquility?
Violet Blue House? :confused:

[hkusam]

I think you need a small bit of art work to go along with the name as a complete display...not large or gaudy (as Gord would say...understated).
How about "Shadows"?

[violet Blue]

It came to me this morning while I was sitting with a cup of coffee, yippie!

I've always felt that houses take on personalities. I can walk into a house and feel it if that makes any sense. I think it's a combination of everyone who's lived in it and all the house has been through. The last poor little house practically begged me to live in it, it had been through so much and it just wanted a little peace and quiet. Each house I've lived in had it's own personality, it's own attitude.

This one was a blank slate when I moved in because it was brand new. All it had going for it was a rose colored trim on it. Up until this morning I was planning to paint the trim dark green because I like the combination of white and dark green trim. It's a common color combination on houses up here. The rose color makes the house stand out. There's nothing like it up here.

Anyway, it hit me that I'd been looking for a name that reflected me and not neccesarily the house. I hit on a name that reflects the house and me and my feelings about finally having a home of my own.

Drum roll please!

Dream Street Rose.

Thank you hkusam, I am thinking of making or having made a small plaque with the lyrics on it to hang by the front door. Not sure how I'm going to do that yet, but I'll figure it out.

Thank you all for coming along on the ride:D

[Sheryl]

Violet, that's PERFECT! I literally laughed out loud and said, "Perfect!" when I read "Dream Street Rose." That's great! Now, who does sign carving in here?

[brink]

Violet, a nice piece of Knotty Pine with some one who calligraphy and varnish or shellac would be nice by the door. It doesn't have to be carved, but if you want carved in wood, a sign by the drive stating this is Dream Street Rose would be very cool. Congratulations! Live well and Happy in your new home.

edited for the darn spelling!

[ May 17, 2005, 22:36: Message edited by: brink ]

[Kathy in Michigan]

Violet,
Good choice of names...I had an epiphany in the middle of the night, last Saturday I think. HARMONY!
Could be because I just got the CD. But I thought it would be a great name that no one mentioned to this point. I got on line and saw that you had decided on a name.
Dream Street Rose is a good choice.
But I had to put in my 2 cents. A day late and 2 cents short.

Kathy

[COUCHICHING]

JUMPING ON A LITTLE LATE BUT, BUT HOWABOUT
"THE HOUSE WE LIVE IN"
________
genetically modified food (http://gmfoods.info)

[violet Blue]

Sorry Couchinching but I refuse to give the pets equal billing with the WE part :D The day they start earning a salary is the day it's a WE house. I'm thinking a nice simple copper name plate over the door and maybe the lyrics inside by the front door. Not sure yet.

[The Rez]

OK, gotta admit Dream Street Rose is very cool.

I'm really late w/ this suggestion - So? It's my best feature.

If you ever feel the notion, paint it Blue, Hoss, then you can live in Big Blue, perhaps pen an ode to it.

The Rez