What's in a name?

A while ago - BB, (before blogging) Himself and I had decided to put in a wood burning stove as part of our drive to be greener and to reduce the cost of heating our home. We initially had planned to engage a company to do the work but soon changed our minds once we had got fed up with tutting and teeth sucking workmen as they quoted us exorbitant prices. Himself very bravely threw himself into the abyss took on the challenge and decided that we could do it.


I started to trawl the websites of reputable dealers but once again, was met by a barrage of  'this is the realm of the professional and not of the householder'. Then, by wonderful accident or design, I chanced upon - Blogs.. I read normal folk trying to do what we were attempting and logging their successes and failures - this was a revelation!  I fell into the blog groupie crowd with delight - the search for 'how-to-put-your-wood-burning-stove-in-with-out-killing-your-husband' sort of became second to actually reading and getting to know all these wonderful folk with everyday wonderful, funny, sad, delightful, educational, silly and entertaining stories. I, like a voyeur, followed on and loved it. It was then I began to wonder if I could become part of this wonderful blog community. It was only my own self doubting that stopped me doing it.


Then when my eldest son, who was then 11, started senior school where he initially was incredibly stressed by the newness of it all. This made me very worried about him. I felt as stressed as he.


I needed to release some of that tension so started this blog - choosing to call it 11am - partly because of his age and partly because due to my working hours, most days of the week I am home during the morning and have elevenses in front of the computer. Mind you, I do have elevenses at any time of the day......... However I digress. My first post was about how and why I named my blog 11am which got me wondering what made you other bloggy folk choose your particular title name.


I have wondered for nearly two years now! SO, with out any further ado and waffling and meandering, I now present to you my first (of many I hope) interviews with YOU, the blogger out there, to get you to reveal your reasons for your blog title.   And my first guest is................................

Andrea from Apples and Pears

Apples and Pears

Village life in West Yorkshire

Please introduce yourself.

Hello! I am Andrea, a working mum of one from County Durham originally but now living in West Yorkshire, UK

Your blog's name - why and how did you choose your blog title?

Mmm this is an interesting question! My blog is called Apples and Pears and I chose it for several reasons; anyone who has read by blog will know that I love Scandinavian design and apples and pears are both popular motifs. I live in a rural village and Apples and Pears sounded very fresh and natural and country-ish. Lastly apples and pears is cockney rhyming slang for stairs. I love making blankets (and more and more blankets!) and, although I am not a cockney, I like the association of blankets = stairs = cosy in bed....well it kind of make sense to me!

Did you ever blog about your choice of title? 

No I've never though to blog about it and no one has asked about it before.

Have you ever changed your blog's title name? And, if so, how often and why? And fancy revealing any of it's previous names ?
My blog has always been Apples and Pears.

How long have you been blogging?
I started blogging in October 2010

Can you remember how you felt when you received your first comment or how you felt when you noticed your first follower?
I can remember checking the stats constantly waiting for a visitor, never mind a comment! I was really excited when my followers reached 10! I started blogging just before I got very ill with depression. I can honestly say the the comments and visits from the 'ladies of the canyon' have helped me hugely....and the act of blogging itself has been very therapeutic. I still get very excited receiving comments and having new followers.

Did you initially keep your blog to yourself before sharing with friends and family?
I came out as blogger straight away and my family have not disowned me yet!! I also share my blog on my facebook page and so friends can see it if they want to.

What was the original intention for starting your blog? Has it remained true to its primary reason or has it blossomed, altered or taken a completely different direction?
I think I wanted to blog after visiting other blogs and thinking I might like to try that. I liked the idea of being part of a virtual community and also sharing crafts with like minded people. I didn't really have a strong idea about what the blog would include. The sub title is 'life in a West Yorkshire village' so I guess that is vague enough to accommodate anything!

What or who inspires you? 

I am so inspired and humbled by the huge variety of talent and generosity that exists in blogland. Every day I come across someone doing something beautiful or original or kind - often all of these. My first source of inspiration was my mum, a really talented knitter who taught me the joy of yarn when I was very young. I can still remember my first knitted item... a pale blue scarf full of holes and made of nasty, squeaky yarn! Over forty years later I still get excited about a new stash of yarn!

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Thank you Andrea for giving us such a lovely insight to your blog - I thought the idea of the nasty squeaky yarn very funny, I suspect we have all has similar encounters with the stuff! Keep on blogging as we also find you a source of inspiration :)


I also want to apologise for the different fonts - I am having terrible problems with drafting postings as Blogger keeps changing into Greek lettering!


Well, that was my first interview for 'What's in a name' hope you enjoyed it as much as I did, and in case you hadn't noticed it is FRIDAY :) Have yourselves a lovely lovely long weekend coz we certainly intend to xxxxxxxx