What a beautiful post. I love Nantucket, first visited on a family trip in the 60s, then lived in Massachusetts for 24 years. I looked up its history and discovered Tuckernuck Island, part of Nantucket. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuckernuck_Island. Though Tuckernuck may not be a name for one's home, from what you've described of your beloved house and the ocean and weather, a three-syllable-something might be just the thing. Also, adopting and adapting to a new way of eating can be challenging. How neat you're in it together with your husband.
I love the Wampanoag names, Mary. They roll off the tongue much more easily than our own First Nations names. If I were to call the house by its Palawa Kani name it would be possibly the name of the Prosser River which sits just down the road: liyamangina minanya (no capital letters). It's a mouthful.
I also knew of Tuckernuck. Apparently, it's a fashion label as well.
As for the new way of eating - tomorrow is a 40th birthday within the family so it be a Fail Day. And a sugar high day. Yay!!!!
I love your cottage, even while wishing I still had mine—without all the problems. Love the Cornish pottery, too. I vote for “The Willows”. They’ve survived and seem to be begging you to notice their loyalty. They’re going to be very disappointed if you choose something else. 🥹
It's an eminently lovable little place, Ramona. The original house is small, only two bedrooms, but we built an independent wing for the kids - bedrooms and bathroom on the footprint of the old bunkhouse that was there. But meals are communal, which gives a nice sense of togetherness when the family are here.
The Willows. Hmm. It seems logical. And rewarding them for their utter beauty. I shall think on it...
I like "The Willows" also but I thought how much you love the whole property something that makes a noun out of an adverb might work too to repurpose it - "The Whithers" with whither normally being a destination of sorts.
Or the Witherings. But does it sound too much like wittering? And I really feel the coast needs to be implicit in the romance of the name. Truly, this is a W.I.P...
Years ago I moved into a newly built house in a small village. It was unnamed but was referred to locally as the new house so New House it became. I love the way you talk to yours as “house” so why not let it be The House to celebrate its singularity!
It's exactly what my husband wants, Rob. And New House sounds perfect for yours as well.
The cottage is certainly whispering to me along those lines . When the winds blow, and the roof and eaves growl, and when the boards creak, you can almost here a faint deep voice: ' I am House and I have stood for seventy years in this garden amongst these trees. I'm still standing. So Wind, do your worst and ha! I'll still be here when you are done...'
Oh Prue, such a beautiful, evocative post. And what a lovely project, to be mulling over names for the cottage. I love looking at house names on my travels, and often wonder how they came about. The garden of 'Stingers', I discovered, had been overgrown with nettles when the new owners had took it on; 'Cucumber Cottage' had a greenhouse stuffed with cucumbers when my friend's family moved in. There's a house in the village whose name is 'wrong' - but there must be a story behind it! I grew up in a house with a name, no number or even a street name, and where I live now has both a number and a name, but we haven't ever used the name. There isn't a sign, but the address is registered with the local council with both its number and its name, so sometimes post arrives with the name on it, and I always do a double take!
I love the sound of what you're enjoying eating. And I can very much relate to this line: "I suppose it'll be handy if normal people visit." I love to cook and bake, but the results of the latter are reserved for others to enjoy!
Such a delight of a post, Prue. Your writing warms me from the inside. xxx
We're slowly nutting it out and also laughing ourselves silly with some names. I suspect I'll have to do a second post to list the contenders and then announce it.
Possibly stay tuned although it could be dangerous to hold your breath. Consensus can take an age...
I love hearing the musings of how you might name your house and how much it means to you. You describe it's qualities so deliciously. You can't go wrong wherever you land.
I was so delighted to find when I moved to England and eventually into a house, that people could just name them! And whatever they wanted! So much out of a storybook it seemed to me. The house we live in now has a name that the previous owners gave it, in honour of the housekeeper who inherited the house from it's very first owners (it was built 150 years ago next year). I think we are only the 4th 'owners'. Maybe care-givers would be a better word, for like you I think of our homes as something very much living, in their own way.
The winds have been strengthening here too, and I find it quite unsettling. Whilst I adore being near the sea, the winds also rattle my core.
We loved living so close to Cornwall for 13 years, and of course romped the the lovely north and south Devon coastlines too. And Nantucket is lovely although parts are so very twee. Coastal wild places are all so beguiling! Lucky you to have your special spot in the world!
I'm so curious as to what your house name is, but understand about social media and its darkness. It's why The Terrier will never be named, nor our grandson.
Isn't it lovely to be one of few owners? We're the second in the cottage. Caregivers indeed. Mrs. Roberts (her husband had died and she was moving into residential care) wrote to me before she moved out and said her heart was more settled about leaving, because she knew we'd love the house as much as she and her husband did. So true.
We are finally, after a month, having days of calm-ish weather. The winds have swung round and we're now getting an afternoon seabreeze but its so lovely to smell the salt and hear the seabirds and waves, as opposed to dry, pollen-laden storms from across the island.
SO happy to hear the winds have settled. And also to learn that Mrs Roberts was feeling better knowing the house would be in loving hands. Isn't that a lovely way for our houses to pass along amongst us. Thanks for all the warm feelings today!
When I read this sweet post last week, I immediately set about the task of drumming up cottage names. I spent quite a few minutes in that space before realizing you'd not asked for, nor would you be the sort to need, suggestions. LOL! Your cottage is lovely, an extension of you and your family. Whatever you name it, it will always be that.
Lovely post getting to know you more Prue. I for one, would love to have a place to call our own but many life changes and circumstances prevent that. I like works in progress…we are all that right!
What a beautiful post. I love Nantucket, first visited on a family trip in the 60s, then lived in Massachusetts for 24 years. I looked up its history and discovered Tuckernuck Island, part of Nantucket. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuckernuck_Island. Though Tuckernuck may not be a name for one's home, from what you've described of your beloved house and the ocean and weather, a three-syllable-something might be just the thing. Also, adopting and adapting to a new way of eating can be challenging. How neat you're in it together with your husband.
I love the Wampanoag names, Mary. They roll off the tongue much more easily than our own First Nations names. If I were to call the house by its Palawa Kani name it would be possibly the name of the Prosser River which sits just down the road: liyamangina minanya (no capital letters). It's a mouthful.
I also knew of Tuckernuck. Apparently, it's a fashion label as well.
As for the new way of eating - tomorrow is a 40th birthday within the family so it be a Fail Day. And a sugar high day. Yay!!!!
Enjoy that delicious cake! Life is for living! 🤗🤗
"Palawa Kani" rolls off the tongue beautifully, too. Saying First Nation names for ancient things is so grounding for me. Enjoy the sugar! 😄
Palawa Kani is the name of the language though, not a word to describe where we live. I will investigate further as our little list expands.
I love your cottage, even while wishing I still had mine—without all the problems. Love the Cornish pottery, too. I vote for “The Willows”. They’ve survived and seem to be begging you to notice their loyalty. They’re going to be very disappointed if you choose something else. 🥹
Y
It's an eminently lovable little place, Ramona. The original house is small, only two bedrooms, but we built an independent wing for the kids - bedrooms and bathroom on the footprint of the old bunkhouse that was there. But meals are communal, which gives a nice sense of togetherness when the family are here.
The Willows. Hmm. It seems logical. And rewarding them for their utter beauty. I shall think on it...
I like "The Willows" also but I thought how much you love the whole property something that makes a noun out of an adverb might work too to repurpose it - "The Whithers" with whither normally being a destination of sorts.
whither meaning https://g.co/kgs/F3WeW1v
Or the Witherings. But does it sound too much like wittering? And I really feel the coast needs to be implicit in the romance of the name. Truly, this is a W.I.P...
Thanks for reading, Larry and welcome.
I like your notion of the Whispers too. Nature is always whispering something to us.
I envy the joyful challenge of christening something you love so much.
Years ago I moved into a newly built house in a small village. It was unnamed but was referred to locally as the new house so New House it became. I love the way you talk to yours as “house” so why not let it be The House to celebrate its singularity!
It's exactly what my husband wants, Rob. And New House sounds perfect for yours as well.
The cottage is certainly whispering to me along those lines . When the winds blow, and the roof and eaves growl, and when the boards creak, you can almost here a faint deep voice: ' I am House and I have stood for seventy years in this garden amongst these trees. I'm still standing. So Wind, do your worst and ha! I'll still be here when you are done...'
Oh Prue, such a beautiful, evocative post. And what a lovely project, to be mulling over names for the cottage. I love looking at house names on my travels, and often wonder how they came about. The garden of 'Stingers', I discovered, had been overgrown with nettles when the new owners had took it on; 'Cucumber Cottage' had a greenhouse stuffed with cucumbers when my friend's family moved in. There's a house in the village whose name is 'wrong' - but there must be a story behind it! I grew up in a house with a name, no number or even a street name, and where I live now has both a number and a name, but we haven't ever used the name. There isn't a sign, but the address is registered with the local council with both its number and its name, so sometimes post arrives with the name on it, and I always do a double take!
I love the sound of what you're enjoying eating. And I can very much relate to this line: "I suppose it'll be handy if normal people visit." I love to cook and bake, but the results of the latter are reserved for others to enjoy!
Such a delight of a post, Prue. Your writing warms me from the inside. xxx
We're slowly nutting it out and also laughing ourselves silly with some names. I suspect I'll have to do a second post to list the contenders and then announce it.
Possibly stay tuned although it could be dangerous to hold your breath. Consensus can take an age...
I love hearing the musings of how you might name your house and how much it means to you. You describe it's qualities so deliciously. You can't go wrong wherever you land.
I was so delighted to find when I moved to England and eventually into a house, that people could just name them! And whatever they wanted! So much out of a storybook it seemed to me. The house we live in now has a name that the previous owners gave it, in honour of the housekeeper who inherited the house from it's very first owners (it was built 150 years ago next year). I think we are only the 4th 'owners'. Maybe care-givers would be a better word, for like you I think of our homes as something very much living, in their own way.
The winds have been strengthening here too, and I find it quite unsettling. Whilst I adore being near the sea, the winds also rattle my core.
We loved living so close to Cornwall for 13 years, and of course romped the the lovely north and south Devon coastlines too. And Nantucket is lovely although parts are so very twee. Coastal wild places are all so beguiling! Lucky you to have your special spot in the world!
I'm so curious as to what your house name is, but understand about social media and its darkness. It's why The Terrier will never be named, nor our grandson.
Isn't it lovely to be one of few owners? We're the second in the cottage. Caregivers indeed. Mrs. Roberts (her husband had died and she was moving into residential care) wrote to me before she moved out and said her heart was more settled about leaving, because she knew we'd love the house as much as she and her husband did. So true.
We are finally, after a month, having days of calm-ish weather. The winds have swung round and we're now getting an afternoon seabreeze but its so lovely to smell the salt and hear the seabirds and waves, as opposed to dry, pollen-laden storms from across the island.
SO happy to hear the winds have settled. And also to learn that Mrs Roberts was feeling better knowing the house would be in loving hands. Isn't that a lovely way for our houses to pass along amongst us. Thanks for all the warm feelings today!
Whale Song Willows?
Now THAT is romantic...
Paradise! And that gorgeous little video at the end!!! Squeeeeeeee!!! 😃😃💕
'Tis Paradise.
I offer: Our House and Wind Swept.
When I read this sweet post last week, I immediately set about the task of drumming up cottage names. I spent quite a few minutes in that space before realizing you'd not asked for, nor would you be the sort to need, suggestions. LOL! Your cottage is lovely, an extension of you and your family. Whatever you name it, it will always be that.
Lovely post getting to know you more Prue. I for one, would love to have a place to call our own but many life changes and circumstances prevent that. I like works in progress…we are all that right!
Totally, Denyse. I am utterly a Work in Progress and will never be finished. It enables such learning as each day progresses, doesn't it?