Saturday, July 3, 2010

Frankie's 4th of July "Name Game"!

Frankie Furter is hosting a brilliant Independence Day game: he's asked us to tell where we got our names! So here goes!
Since I am a rescue girl, I came to my Pawrents with the name Samantha. I don't exactly know who gave it to me, but I've learned something about what Samantha means. Although my peeps were told they could change my name, they decided I'd been through enough and to change "Samantha" would just add to a lot of confusion!

This is a painting of St. Samantha, the patron saint of school children. I like that! The origin of my name comes from the Hebrew for Sam(uel) and Antha (Greek for flower) = Samantha. Supposedly, (heheh) Samantha means "intelligent and attentive listener." Paws up!

This is a collage of just some of the things I've been blogging about since November of 2008. I sures appreciates my pals! I can't wait to hear about your names!

This is an art piece of a "Bear God." That's what the origin of Ozzie the cat's name is! My pawrents also rescued Ozzie, a kitty once owned by a neighbor a few streets over. The neighbor decided she liked to travel more than she liked to care for Oz. Ozzie came here a few months before I did, so she's really the Alpha around here. Mama spied her collar before someone hijacked it; it seems her name was once Ozyma. Can't find out a thing about that name. But the origin of Ozzie (a male name) comes from the old Germanic Oswald and the old Norse, Osborn. The meaning(s) are either "bear god" or God's/Divine Power. Believe me, it suits her purrrfectly heheh!

I suppose you're wondering what a bottle of beer is doing on a dog blog post. We're not supposed to drink beer... are we??? Several weeks before Avalon came to live with us, her very own Mama told my pawrents that the whole litter was going to be theme-named! So Ma and Pa had to come up with an "Artisan Beer" name fur my sisfer. They thought and thought. And they looked and looked. But they had trouble finding something that would ring that perfect bell for this lil girl puppy. Finally, when they had thunk enough, they decided that since Golden Retrievers originated in the British Isles (Scotland, to be specific), they'd have to find a brew from the UK. Again, they searched. And they did some research on Arthurian legend too, cause they like all that Knights of the Round Table stuff. Finally, Mom got away from the 'puter one night and called Dad, saying "Avalon"! And Dad liked that too. Now we had to find the right Artisan Beer! Since Avalon was supposedly the Isle where the fairest apples grew and also where King Arthur's sword was forged, Mom looked to see where Avalon was. The town of Glastonbury is thought to be closest to where the Isle of Avalon once was. Ma looked up Glastonbury breweries and voila! Her full name is (breeder) Tigana's Glastonbury Golden Chalice. Now you know why that bottle of beer precedes all of this 'splainin'!
Isn't it just simpler to see a picture of her?

Such a big name fur such a small pupper! Can't wait to read your stories!


36 comments:

Morgan in Pittsburgh said...

we like your name Samantha, and think it fits you very well.
Your pals, Morgan & Maisie

Rocky Creek Scotties and Rocky Creek Ramblings said...

Hi Sammie, Oz and Avalon - we loved reading about your names. We would have never guessed that Avalon was named after a beer.

We just posted our name stories too.

Have a great holiday.

XOXO
Lilly, Piper, Carrleigh and Ruairi

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

But her name is as big as yours is ;-)

Mom always hears Roxy Music/Bryan Ferry when she sees the name Avalon!

Thanks fur sharing those GReat and purrfekht names!

Happy FoURth of WOO-ly!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

Unknown said...

Ozyma is such an usual name...I enjoyed reading bouts the origins of Ozzie

and I loves the name Avalon..a beautiful name for a very beautiful pup!

Enjoyed reading bouts all your names, Samantha.

Have a happy 4th
MinnaK

Wyatt said...

Well, that was FUN! Avalon...you are not of age yet!

Wyatt

The Daily Pip said...

Samantha is a lovely name! How thoughtful of your parents to keep your name rather than putting you through more stress! The patron saint of school children - that's pretty special. I will have to remember that when my little human sister starts school next fall!

Ozzie is a cutie pie, too!

Your pal, Pip

the booker man said...

miss sammie!
thanks for woofin' about ya'll's names! i like that miss avalon has a beer name...very cool! oh, and your name suits you very well for sures!! :)
happy independence day!
*woof*
the booker man

houndstooth said...

It was very cool to learn about all your names! I would never have guessed Avalon was named after a beer. All three of you have great names!

Bunny

Molly the Airedale said...

Your names totally suit you! We love the stories.
Happy 4th of July!

Love ya lots
Maggie and Mitch

Clive said...

Great names - lovely to hear the stories.

Happy 4th of July!

best wishes
Clive and the NSLM

Golden Woofs! SUGAR said...

Woof! Woof! SAMANTHA is a great name ... just fits you. Smart n good listener except when you ate that sock ... remember. I knew AVALON's name source will be interesting but never thought named after a beer. Now I wonder what are the names of Avalon's litter. And OZ ... need I say more. Thanks for sharing. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar

Maggie Mae and Max said...

You all have such wonderful names and the stories to go with thems!
Happy July 4th!

Woofs and Licks,
Maggie Mae

Alien said...

Great names and I like the beer story.

NCmountainwoman said...

I love your names and I'm glad you kept Samantha. I can't imagine you with another name.

Anonymous said...

Well, now I kinda wish *I* was named after a beer. Maybe I should ask mom to rename me "Heineken" or something. I luvs all of your names and every time I hear your name, I thinks of that magical witch lady on that show named, "Bewitched." She was a blonde, too, you know!

Wiggles & Wags,
Mayzie

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

Samantha - we think your name is just pawfect for you. Isn't it amazing how names seem to come to fit the pup all the time. And Avalon - we wondered about that one, what a great tale for its inspiration.

Happy Fourth.

Woos - Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara

The Adventures of the LLB Gang said...

You can't mess with perfection and Samantha is the perfect name for you!

Smileys & Snuggles!
Dory, Bilbo and Jacob

The Oceanside Animals said...

hello samantha its dennis the vizsla dog hay samantha is a grate name!!! i wunder of ozyma is naymd after ozma of oz or posibly ozymandias frum the faymus buk watchmen hmmm probly not but just in kayse keep an eye owt to mayk shoor ozyma duznt hav a big cat naymd bubastis following her arownd!!! ha ha ok bye

BRUTUS said...

This is so fun today! Great to learn new things about all our furiends, and names are SOOO important! Carmen's breeder says that dogs grow into their names, becoming what you've chosen for them. Based on that I'd say Avalon will surely be a grand lady!

Snorts-
Brutus & Carmen (the Frenchies)

1000 Goldens said...

These are all very nice stories about your names. Sammie - I didn't know you got a baby sister!! I'm so excited for you :) Happy 4th friend...

Augie and Ti's mom said...

Those were great stories!

Kari in Alaska said...

ooo I like the patron St of School Children. Thats beautiful!

Lorenza said...

I loved reading about your names!
Thanks for sharing the stories!
Happy Independence Day!
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza

Oskar said...

I think that this name game was a brilliant idea!

Baby Avalon looks a little mischievous in her picture!

Piappies World said...

Hi Samantha!

We loved your name as it is. It sure brings out the beauty and gentleness in you.

As for Ozzie, he really looks like an Ozzie --- sounds so cool and Alpha-like. Waaaaah

And Avalon's name story is so interesting. Isn't it great to have activities like this to make us know each other better?!

Happy 4th!

Love,
Piappies Fudgie, Princess, Frappie, Mocha, Sugar, Wai-Pai & Wai-Max

Sierra Rose said...

Nice names stories my friends! Hope you are all doing wonderful on this 4th...can't wait to come home!

Hugs and snaggle-tooth kisses,
Sierra Rose

How Sam Sees It said...

You have a wonderful name, Samantha!

Sam

Clare Mansell said...

Wow Samantha, so much to say, but our pups would just be so jealous of all the great things you get to do in California! Going to restaurants and splash doggin, you are a lucky hound!

As you probably know we have two dogs, Bella our rescue beagle came to us in January and she was named by a student at the rescue home. Can you guess the famous film character she was named after?

And Macy our golden cross has a bit more of a complicated story... When we picked her up (from a farm in Canada) she didn't have a name and we were driving home trying to think of one. Switching between radio stations on Sirius we noticed that the jazz music on one station really calmed her down, so we said we'd name her after the next artist they mentioned... and that turned out to be a jazz musician called Macy O'Connor... who many months later we found out was a man, but by then it had stuck!

Frankie Furter and Ernie said...

Soooo glad to meet you. Hope we can become furends!!!

Thor and Jack said...

Hi Sammie!
Great stories behind your names!
Thanks for sharing!

Teddy Westlife said...

I loved reading about your names!

Life With Dogs said...

Hey, the name fits. Now pass that beer! :)

Pat Wahler said...

It's been fun learning the story behind the names. And I love seeing the cute baby pictures!

Pat
www.critteralley.blogspot.com

YD, sometimes with ♥June and ♥Angel Samantha said...

Love all your names! We were wondering how Avalon got her name.
Nice to learn more about you all.

Sam & June

KB said...

I think that "attentive and intelligent listener" describes you perfectly!

Your little sister is SO cute. I love the story of her name.

Taffy said...

It is a good thing your parents left your name as it was because it is the perfect name for you. It has been a lot of fun learning about everyone's names!
Snuggles,
Twix