Yes, Reluctant Entertainer has changed a bit, thanks to Darcy, who has helped me switch over to WordPress. Let me put it this way: Darcy saved the day. She knows way more about this stuff than I’d ever care to, besides she’s just brilliant, fun and a great friend!
You may be wondering what happened to the “4″ before RE?! Let me explain.
It’s funny, because friends have told me they’re confused by my blog title, thinking that “4 reluctant entertainers” live in my home, when realistically we have 5 people living here! And we are not reluctant entertainers at all, but enjoy having people in all the time.
Where did I get my blog title?
My husband and I came up with this title years ago, well before I had a blog, when we were puzzled about why people are so reluctant to entertain or to invite people into their homes!
How did I come up with the 4?
My blog started as “For Reluctant Entertainers” and then I switched it over to “4″ to make the title a bit more catchy!
Why have I dropped the 4?
I’ve now gone back to just plain ol’ Reluctant Entertainer – it’s simple and more inclusive.
If you want to keep up with RE, make sure and subscribe over on the side bar under “find me.” It’s easy! And feel free to grab my new RE button!
49 jars?
Yes, my sister and I canned 49 beautiful quart-sized jar of Bartlett pears yesterday. The process was so much easier working alongside my sister – 2 is better than 1, right? And we had 4 hours to catch up and share and encourage one another as sisters do.
My sis, Linda, is a huge Balcony Person in my life. I don’t know what I’d do without her.
What do you think of the new RE look?
And if you do canning, do you ever do it with a friend, neighbor or a relative?
Hi, I'm Sandy. Five years ago I stocked up on beautiful glasses from the Dollar Store. As I started writing about dinner parties, I realized that this “icon” portrays a great message. 
Love the new look! Very streamlined and pretty.
[Reply]
I love your blog.
[Reply]
Great look! I just “linked” to you with all your apple canning recipes! I haven’t tried pears, but I might have to next fall!
[Reply]
The pears look great!
The blog looks GREAT!
YOU are the GREATEST!!
[Reply]
Oh, pretty new place here! And love the new simplified name!
You are always amazing, PEARS? Wow.
xo
[Reply]
Love the new look, a true reflection of you: Understated Elegance.
[Reply]
Wow! How did you get so many done so fast? It seemed to take my mom and I 5 hours to do 14 quarts. We do have quite a few pears that aren’t “perfect”, so the cutting may take a little longer?
[Reply]
Love the new look – very clean and easy to find everything!
[Reply]
I feel horrible….I actually like the old look better. Your previous look was already pretty clean and streamlined. I think I will like this look better if you just add a tad more color. Thanks for an awesome blog though…no matter the look!
[Reply]
Love the look! The pears look sooo good! I’ve never canned pears but would love to. I’ve done my jam with friends and my girls and also peaches. It’s much more fun with friends
[Reply]
Very nice! Darcy does a great job, doesn’t she?
[Reply]
Sandy, love the new look, it looks fab! And I agree, Darcy is the best.
[Reply]
Thanks for explaining where the 4 came from, I always wondered and just presumed it was short for ‘for’. Good luck with your switch, I’m sure it will take a while to get used to it, the blog looks great as usual though.
Jade
[Reply]
Your new look is terrific!
I used to can with friends, but we have each grown so busy, with several of them having babies this year, work, etc. So, I now can by myself.
What is the easiest way to can pears? I was just thinking about it this morning and how I’d like to do it, but I’m not familiar with the process. With or without skin? If no skin, what’s the best way to remove them? Are they in a juice, sugar added or no sugar, etc? Thanks for any advice you can give!
[Reply]
Love the new look and I feel so much smarter now understanding the “4″.
[Reply]
I love the new blog design. I’m thinking of wordpress myself, I’ve used it before but am still a bit intimidated by it.
I just cannned last week for the first time! I started out small, just one batch of Apple Butter. It was enough for only 5 jars, but what a feeling of accomplishment!
[Reply]
Hi Sandy! Love your new design! Your blog looks great. Have a good day.
[Reply]
I love the new look – and the title change and explanation too. The pears look delicious!
[Reply]
I remember last year figuring out what the “4″ was for. I like it better without it. I can see why some would be confused. What a wonderful first meal in your new oven. You have made me think of a single mom….I should do up a meal for her. She would be very surprised.
[Reply]
It looks classy, and I love that you are still using your great garage sale goblet picture
I look for that stem ware all the time!
[Reply]
I wondered what happened to you Sandy! You had not posted in several days (or I thought)… when you really had changed site names… and your new posts weren’t showing up. But I made the switch.
Love the new look!
[Reply]