Female Baltimore Oriole, Cat bird, fuzzy Orchard Oriole
Two years ago today I posted my first blog post! Every single Tuesday since then I have posted something, “Tuesdays with Gretchen” being my goal. 🙂 I have posted occasionally on other days as well – for a total of 155 posts, almost 23,000 views, a Freshly Pressed honor, and a perpetual sense of guilt because I haven’t looked at all the other blogs I ought to be looking at. I have not worked very well at building my blog presence, and I alternate between resignation, guilt, frustration, and contentment about that fact. Today I am feeling okay about it. I have three children who are far more important, a husband whom I have loved (and been loved by) for 17 years, and a house which is in sore need of some serious cleaning attention, not to mention a manuscript that I have written, edited, and am attempting to sell. And so the blog gets pushed to the back burner…except for a few hours every Tuesday.
Thanks for coming along for the ride! I’m so glad to be a part of your world. I leave you with a few bird photos – it’s what’s going on in my yard this week!
Orchard Oriole…plus two friends in the background.
Goldfinch, looking gorgeous.
Cat bird. They make the craziest sounds.
Mrs. Baltimore Oriole
Mr. Baltimore Oriole.
I love these guys.
Making the mundane entertaining.
A fine day for an epiphany 
Love your blog! Thank you for sharing your insights and being honest and sincere!
Thanks, Julie! 🙂
Congratulations on two years of blogging, Gretchen. If I still had three children at home, I wouldn’t have nearly the time I devote to blogging either.
You are a talented writer and the kind of warm, loving and caring person I am honored to call friend. If not for your blog, we never would have met. You have blessed me.
Those bird images are truly outstanding, some of your best photography.
Now, I’m off to enjoy this gorgeous day here in southeastern Minnesota.
It was definitely a good day of actual blog work when I searched for “Minnesota blogs” and found yours! 🙂 Thank you for your lovely words and friendship – so glad to know you!
Happy to you, dearest Gretchen! Love the bird photos.
Thanks, sister-o-mine!
Happy anniversary! Those bird photos are outstanding. I haven’t been reading your blog long, but what I’ve seen is well worth taking time for.
Thank you so much! I sure appreciate your presence around here – I always enjoy fellow Minnesotan bloggers.
Congratulations Gretchen. It’s never an easy juggle, is it! I love the birds but I do wonder how they survive through your harsh winters. Where do they go? xx
They fly south! We have a few brave goldfinch who stick around, though they shed their yellow feathers and look more like sparrows all winter long. There are also a few crows and bluejays that hang around, but everything else heads out. Well, the pheasants stay, too, I guess. It is always a thrill when the birds return in the spring!
Wow! Blog-aversary Congrats to you!!! I definitely echo Audrey’s thoughts…..when my boys were young there would have been no time for such writings (even IF the ‘net had been invented “way back then”!!!! ROFL!). I so enjoy your talented writings as I do any well written piece! And, I must add, your photography is outstanding, also!!!!! Hugs…..
Thank you so much. I keep on blogging because I love the writing opportunity – and I’m learning more about taking good photos, and that’s fun, too. Oh, and of course I am so glad to have “met” – for real or not – so many other lovely bloggers such as yourself!
Why, thank you, my dear! And the feeling is totally mutual…most definitely!!
Oh Happy Blogaversary to you!! Love all those cute, little birdies!!!
Thanks! I love them, too. So sweet!
Congrats on two wonderful years!
Thank you! 🙂
Congratulations on two wonderful blogging years, Gretchen! Keep blogging. I know it is never easy to find the time to sit in front of the PC when there are other competing matters that need your attention.
I just love those colorful birds in your yard. 😉
Thank you for your encouragement. I know you have your daughter who keeps you busy, too – and all your wonderful pictures!
Congratulations on two years! I simply cannot believe you have never missed a Tuesday! This post definitely makes me want to get into bird-watching. I think my kids would enjoy it and I am certain that I would.
It’s worth it – esp. to see the orioles!
There was one Tuesday when it was still Tuesday in Washington…but not in MN by the time I posted, but I’m considering that a Tuesday in my book!
Your blog has gone to the birds – Congrats!
🙂 You crack me up. Thanks!
I love this!! Birds are my favorites.. I have bird feeders everywhere but have problems with my squirrels attacking the feeders.. so if you have a solution to that one I’d love to know! Congratulations on two years! It’s a challenge visiting everyone and we all understand that one for sure:) It’s always nice to pop in and catch up! xx
Strangely, we have almost zero squirrels here at our house – they have them in town, but for some odd reason, whenever squirrels come here, they die. Twice they died by touching the wrong place at the top of the power pole thing – apparently there was an exposed wire or something – the power went out randomly and, sure enough, a dead squirrel lay on the ground below. Sad and weird – but at least no squirrels are eating our birdseed!