It’s time for a contest. What? You heard me. Aida and I need your help, and we are willing to reward you richly. Well, calm down, not THAT richly.
We started this blog just over a month ago, and it’s taken this long, but we’re finally settling into the roles we’ve given ourselves. We are the Herban Cowgirls, making our lives from scratch every day, and working always to find simplicity and joy for ourselves and our loved ones. We tell stories and try to make each other laugh. We occasionally drink too much and we use too many bad swear words. Also, Aida cut my hair yesterday and it is WAY too short.
Sorry, where was I? Oh, yes, the contest.
This was Aida’s idea weeks ago. She wanted to have a contest to name our homesteads. I thought it was a great idea, but at the time, we weren’t sure if anyone was really reading this. I felt a little insecure about it. I imagined announcing a big contest and then having only 2 people respond. If their ideas sucked, then I’d be stuck living at “The Happy Ho Homestead.” No way. So I stalled the engine and we coasted to a stop.
Well now things have shifted a little. Aida and I both have close friends and family reading along with us (there are even a couple of Cowboys who read our adventures). Most of you know us personally, and a few friends have gotten to know us better. You know who we are, you know what we do, you know how we feel.
So let’s play a game, shall we? I’ll describe each of our homesteads, and you’ll use that information plus what you already know about us, and come up with funny, brilliant names that fit. Nothing boring like Tara or Wuthering Heights. Leave your ideas in the comments below. The winner will receive a signed photo of Aida and Daisy, the Herban Cowgirls (GASP!). Also, our undying devotion.
Aida’s Homestead
Aida’s house was probably built in the 40s and is between 1200 and 1400 square feet. Maybe. She’s not sure, and that’s our best guess. It’s a 3 bedroom, 1 bath brick house painted white. The kitchen is huge and has a really cool black and white floor. There’s separate dining and living rooms, and a sunroom in the back that looks out into the fenced backyard. There are hardwood floors throughout, and lots of natural light.
Aida’s yard is awesome. The property is on a corner lot in a good neighborhood between downtown and midtown Savannah. A fenced backyard is home to 3 chickens and has a pool that’s been out of commission in one way or another since Aida bought the property last year (don’t even get her started on the pool issues). If all goes well (finally), there should be an operational saltwater pool in her yard this week.
The side yard is a giant sunny square of grass that’s slowly being transformed into a garden. There are 2 raised beds already, and Aida’s working on paths that will meander around themed gardens and altars.
Aida lives here with the 14 year old Big Boy and Chicken Killer (the dog). She is planning on adding a cat or two, more chickens, and some rabbits to her mini-farm.
Daisy’s Homestead
My homestead is a little flat yellow house with asbestos siding and a bit of a brick façade on the front. It was built in 1955 and is 950 square feet. There’s an eat-in kitchen, a family room, a bathroom with horrifying chintzy wallpaper, and 3 little bedrooms. There is cheap, filthy brown carpet that I hate more than reality TV. Besides the carpet, though, I adore this house.
The front yard is unassuming, with the typical azalea bushes planted in front, dogwood trees and liriope grass bordering everything. The backyard is large, and dominated by a gigantic pine tree, which litters orange pine straw all over the place. The pine, two crape myrtles and more dogwoods keep the backyard pretty shaded. We’ve taken out a couple of trees, but I think we’ll need to clear a bit more to get enough sun for a good vegetable garden. I’ve got a clothesline strung, and the hammock goes up when I need an outdoor nap. We’ve also got a table and chairs out back for the occasional outdoor meal (Little Boy LOVES this).
Our neighborhood is not the best. Savannah has pretty high crime per capita (as compared to the rest of the country), and our neighborhood is the kind where I don’t go walking alone at night. We have great neighbors on each side of us and across the street, though, and we work on developing good relationships with them.
I live here with my Herban Cowboy, Little Boy and the New Kitten. The Old Cat occasionally graces us with his presence, but only a few times per week. We plan to add chickens to our homestead within the next few weeks, maybe another cat, and eventually a dog.
So that’s it. Have fun kids! Leave your comments below. Multiple entries are allowed. We will announce the winner next Sunday, June 6th.
and sorry about the hair…..:( i’ll blame it on the……..crap, i’m out of fall guys.
and i think the chintzy wallpaper’s demise should be our next joint project.
Calm down. It looks great. I had to tease. 😛
I have to say, i enjoy reading the frugality’s of Hex and the City. While I myself am not Frugal, nor do I usually comment or read Blogs, i felt unperplexed to do so on this topic. However, because I know “Daisy”, a name instantly came to mind for her Homestead. Dont ask me why, and I know you dont want boring names like Tara, Wuthering Heights, etc. But the name XANADU comes to mind. Again I am not a resourceful, or blogish “Cowboy”, but here is why,
courtesy of Wikipedia:
Xanadu a 1980 American musical/romance film directed by Robert Greenwald. The title of the film is a reference to the poem “Kubla Khan; or, A Vision in a Dream: A Fragment” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, which is quoted in the film. Xanadu is the name of the Chinese province where Khan establishes his pleasure garden in the poem.
As for Aida’s Homestead, one thing that does come to mind with all her “healing herbs, soups, and remedies”, and the images/stories of the hopeless pool, her homestead could be Bimini, know for the “fountain of youth” related to the mythical land of Bimini. Or, from the account of the Pool of Bethesda in the Gospel of John, in which Jesus heals a man at the pool in Jerusalem. It could be called Jerusalem…..sorry thats all i got….. Bimini, Bath of Bethesda, or Jerusalem. Aida has her own fountain of youth in her back yard.
thanks for listening
Rhinestone Cowboy
Mike I had the Xanadu album when I was 7! Thanks for your entries (and the feedback)! Also, Rhinestone Cowboy is awesome.
Welcome to Aidas “Green Half Acres”. I have to give the credit to Joey for coming up with the name. She’s kind of in the city yet she has chickens and enough land for some serious gardening.
Now for Daisy…….. hmmmmmm……..I am still pondering. :o)
So, since Aida’s going to have a saltwater pool (so awesome!) and her place is white, I say Pearly Providence! (I looked up “frugal” on the thesaurus at http://www.m-w.com and went for the alliteration.)
In the hopes that Daisy’s gardening will come to explosive fruition (pun intended), and what with the yellow paint job…Verdant Amber!
Okay, so I really like semi-precious gems. Shiny!
oh…xanadu. olivia newton john on wheels!
Michelle,
I have come up with one name that suits you well, I am sure you already thought of it as well. So I will list it here and and ask how many times do you want us to post names we come up with? I have several I am turning over in my mind. One if you were older(50+) is Crone’s Cradle, however you would not really suit that at this point in your life no matter how old a soul you feel. Another is Dove Song, but not really feeling it. The one I like best is :
Green Goddess Gardens. I think it fits you the best.
I don’t really know Adia, so I am sorry for not picking one specifically for her. However if she wants to use one of the others, I wouldn’t mind.
You might want to message Nikki, she is great with things like this. I have been trying to get William to let me name our Homestead…all ten acres of land, with my flower, herb and veggie gardens, pool, dog, two cats and the plethoria of wild animals that visit us. I am thinking of a great one but he just rolls his eyes at me. I still think I am right.
Have a great weekend!
Lisa
Lisa! You’re right! Don’t let that man get you down — he just doesn’t understand. We’ll come up with something perfect, I promise…
I actuality saw Xanadu in the Theater and have the theme song downloaded. The more highbrow movie reference to Xanadu is it was Charles Foster Kane’s home in “Citizen Kane”
( Spoiler Alert Rosebud really wasn’t a sleigh, look it up sometime).
I’ll be thinking of names while I clean my garage today and try to clean my pool and Aida, salt water is the way to go, I’m so jealous. I being trying to get Mrs,glendoor42 to let us get one but she’s tighter than Dick’s hat band ( read jewish here) and also everything right now is about my oldest daughters wedding. I can’t buy a damn candy bar without hearing that that money could have been spent on the wedding, seriously.
P.S. I’m a pirate, not a cowboy. Cowboying is to much like farming and there ain’t but one thing I’ve ever care to farm.
Sarge, we were using the name Herban Cowgirl because it might sound more accessible to people who are frightened of witches and pirates. It’s all about living by your own rules, right? 🙂
Ok here is another Whispering Pines for you Michelle.
lisa, i don’t think daisy knows how to whisper. 🙂
Maybe it should be Stage Whipersing Pines LOL
Here’s another name for you Daisy, Shady Nook!
My 2 cents: Witchaven Cottage and Arborhaus Estate
Belle Reve for Daisy
Nubia for Aida
I just saw the announcment to announce the winner so I’m way late buuuut
Aida – in going with a play on Walden’s Pond but can’t think of anything to replace Walden
Daisy – monkey’s Paradise, something with glen in the title, Stage Left ( or right), momma Ho’s ( sorry had to I’ve you a crappy one!) haha, Lazy Green (haha sounds like soylent green)
I love the design term Atomic for MidCentury designs. Maybe add Green, Herbal, Natural, Wild, etc
I can’t wait to hear what you guys decide on!!
I forgot Villa Villa Kula