Sunday 30 March 2008

tagged

I've been tagged by angharad about blogging....

1. Why did you start your blog?

I've mentioned before that it was Beth at Fibrespace who got me into blogs, I started to read hers after I went on one of her courses, and after several months of lurking I decided to start a blog so I could comment........

2. How did you come up with your blog name?

Good question. It just sort of was right, but couldn't really tell you why. I do always end up carrying little bits whenever we are by the sea, but then I could also have called my blog sea glass, or broken shell.......... Driftwood was taken at blogger so the actual URL is driftwoodblog - not very imaginative, but then anyone who reads this knows I'm not good at coming up with names....

3. Do your friends and family know about your blog? What do they think of it?

No. Only hubby. I was going to tell my sister in law, but one day as we were discussing The Guardian food blog which my brother reads she said "I just don't understand people who read other peoples blogs, it's like reading someones diary, why would you want to do that" so I guessed she wouldn't really get it..

as for my friends I think the reaction would be what's a blog... except for maybe one who has a facebook account so she can keep in touch with her daughter at University, she might know what they are, but can't think she'd read it.

hubby used to think I was totally mad, and now he thinks I'm totally utterly mad, because he finds me laughing at comments, and photographing scrabble letters.........







4. How do you write posts?

Sometimes there is a plan, sometimes not. At the moment I'm writing in my pj's, E is awake playing with lego, the rest of the family are asleep, and I've got my first cup of tea of the day in my favourite mug. I try not to ramble hopelessly, but often that's what ends up on the screen, bit like today really........





5. Have you ever had a troll or had to delete unkind comments?

No trolls, or unkind comments thank goodness, but then I do have the settings on blogger set so that search engines don't crawl my blog.

6. Do you check your stats? Do you care how many people read your blog? If you care how do you increase traffic?

I set up google analytics about a month after starting my blog, and watched it obsessively for several months, and now I suppose I check occasionally, and I know how many people are subscribed with bloglines. I have no idea how to increase traffic, although I suppose changing the settings as described above might help....... getting more people to see my etsy shop would be nice.

7. What kind of blogs/posts interest you?

I read all sorts, philosophical ones with beautiful photos like Alice writes, ones with recipes, ones with tutorials, ones with pretty holiday photos, ones about quilting, and knitting, and .......
I read blogs by people who comment on my blog, blogs by people who are writing about important things in their lives, and I have to keep reading so I know how they are getting on. like Mary Beth whose little boy is sick and yet she still makes time to stop by and say hello. my bloglines is way too long, every so often I have to unsubscribe to a few or I get overwhelmed and don't read any..






8. What do you like and dislike about blogging?

I like all my new friends, I like the comments you leave, and the emails I get about comments I've made. I like the things I've learnt, the tutorials I've read, the presents I've been sent! I like the confidence this blog has given me, about myself as a person, and a mother, and as a friend. I like that I have more confidence in the things I make, and that someone else likes to look at them - J does a very good "it's lovely" but it's so nice to share things with people who might be interested, and I like being able to help other bloggers, either with tips about photos, or sewing - makes me feel useful I guess...


I don't like it when I go away for a few days, and you've all written 3 billion posts and I feel like I'll never catch up, when blogger refuses to upload my photos, when I spend ages trying to get the spaces between lines right, and then it looks totally different, when I don't get email addresses so I can't reply to your lovely comments, and say thank you for reading this total drivel that I've just written..


gosh that was long and waffly, sorry. the photos are some more from our trip to Hadrian's Wall, boy it was cold. but at least dry, unlike our trip to Scarborough yesterday, which was cold, grey and in the afternoon very WET. but I bought some fabric (not much - end of the month....) which is just about to go in the wash, and then will become some more of the quilt along, and the long overdue wall hanging...


edited to add.
oops forgot to tag anyone, I've just mentioned it to fioleta, and I'll choose Gina and Lisa if you want to have a go.

13 comments:

  1. You are a dedicated blogger, blogging so early on a sunday morning! I must admit I put my computer on as soon as I get up! I agree with you about putting text on blogger. Isn't it frustrating when you think you have it right and then all the line spacing is wrong! Thank you for coming over to my blog and for your email too.

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  2. The line spacing in blogger frustrates me no end as well.

    I love what you wrote about why you like blogging, specially about the confidence and having someone to share with.

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  3. One of the best things about blogging is finding new recipes! Your rhubarb cake was a TRIUMPH. So tasty. I made it yesterday afternoon, we had it for pudding at a dinner party last night and there is just one teeny piece left now. I will be making it again for sure. Thank you!

    x

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  4. Lovely to see your answers-and I totally agree with feeling like you have to do 'catch up' but then its totally worth it to see that people are checking in to see if you have! No sign of rhubarb cake yet this weekend, but never fear! It shall be made, and I will let you know the results.x

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  5. Such a treat to at last catch up with you posts now we're back from holiday! I really enjoyed reading your tag here about blogging. Hope you & yours had a great weekend! ((HUGS))

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  6. I really identified with point 8 - my husband also does a good 'it's lovely', but I've loved having input and feedback from the people who read my blog and take the time to leave a comment. Thanks for your lovely comment on my last post.

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  7. This is such a fun meme. I agree that people in "real life" don't really get the blogging thing. That said, my mom reads my blog and just lately I've found out some friends and even my brother's girlfriend are now reading it. Go figure.

    Oh, I also totally agree about the increased confidence. It has been so meaningful for me to connect with women who "get" me.

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  8. I agree about the confidence thing - I hadn't really thought of it, but now you come to mention it, it's true for me too.
    It's an interesting tag, really got us all thinking!

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  9. I love these, finding out more about my blogging friends is so nice. Whats a Troll and how do you set up blog lines and etc...I know none of that stuff!!! I really should take the time out to learn....
    Have a great week
    Suzie Sews

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  10. I love this post - it made me laugh in several places (on the post...not on me!). I do love these memes, such interesting things we find out.

    I was really interested to read about no one but your husband knowing about your blog - I think it is a really difficult thing to explain to someone who doesn't have one or read them.

    The line spacing thing drives me mad too - but my husband says that if I press shift when I'm pressing enter to make a line break, for some reason this makes sure it really is only one line break...rather than the two or three that I occassionally get for no reason at all. x

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  11. It's always fun to read about how/why/when people got into blogging. My hubby also thinks I'm completely mad, but has been known to crop up in the comments section, hehe!!

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  12. I'm just so glad you do this blog thing!...loved your answers ~ so honest and I can relate to all :O)
    Thanks for passing on..I will look forward to having a go soon..have a couple of other tags to do so will space them out...
    Gorgeous B&W pics :O)
    Gx

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  13. What a great post! it's been lovely finding out more about you and the thought behind the blog. That business about blogger not uploading photos is soooooo frustrating! And I agree about blogging helping our confidence and putting us in touch with lovely new friends.
    Kimx

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