I’m taking part in Sares‘ A Rose by Another Name party today. She has asked us to contribute something about a name, either our own, or a nickname, or a child’s name…or what we chose to name our blog.

Ah…that last one is near and dear to my heart. My blog name is also the name of my home. Why did I choose that name? Let me first say that our house sits on a little hill, with another hill right behind the cottage. We rather liked the hills when we first looked at the house – now we realize they are tough to mow – but we still like them.

Next, Hill is my family name. I’m rather partial to that surname and am proud to be a member of the Hill clan. Those are the two reasons for ‘Hill.”

Now..’.mockingbird.’ When we lived in San Diego we were sometimes serenaded at night by a mockingbird. I loved hearing it..all the different melodies and sounds coming out of that one bird. He trilled and sang and filled the night air with beautiful music. That is the first reason for ‘mockingbird.’

The second (and most important, in my mind): I am a great reader…I have loved reading since I was a young child. My favorite novel ever is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. To me, it is the perfect book. The story is timeless, the characters unforgettable – it is a coming of age story that deals with racial prejudice, fear of people that are ‘different,’ the love of a father for his children and life in a small Southern town. It is based, in part, on Harper Lee’s own childhood in the South and on her father, who was the inspiration for the character of Atticus Finch. I’ve always been fascinated by Harper Lee, who had only one novel published – this one. It won the Pulitzer Prize, is on everyone’s best ever list, and has been read by millions. It is the perfect novel… perhaps Lee said all she needed to say.

My dog’s name is Scout, after the character of Scout Finch. I wrote an unabashed fan letter to Harper Lee several years ago. I have several copies of To Kill a Mockingbird, but my most prized copy is one that I managed to buy many years ago which is autographed by Harper Lee. It is one of my most treasured possessions.

That is the story behind the name Mockingbird Hill Cottage. Please stop by Loveleigh Treasures and visit everyone participating. Thanks so much for the party, Sares!