My Blog is FIVE Today...

 Today marks FIVE years since I wrote my very first Brynwood post.

I had been contemplating starting my own web log for quite a while and

had talked about it with some of my friends on Ravelry. On March 15th, 

I finally took the plunge. I never imagined just how much joy I would find 

in opening up my creative (and a little home) life in this format. 

When I wrote that first message and clicked the"publish" button that 

would send it out into cyberspace, I never thought I'd still be doing it 

all these years later. I can't believe how quickly the time has passed!

Since that first post, I have had nearly 421,000 page views and 1773 posts.

and the most gratifying - and never expected - surprise is that you have left

18,440 comments for me to read (and try to respond to). You humble me

beyond words with your willingness to visit, read and comment on my

(and Fezzik's and Taggart's) posts. I repeat, "You're all the best friends ever!".

I think this calls for another giveaway.
This time to celebrate my blog turning FIVE! 

I'm offering TWO $25 Gift Cards to your local quilt, fabric, yarn or book shop.
If you like, I will give you a $40 gift certificate to my Etsy shop instead.

Whoever wins the random drawing for this giveaway will give me the name

 of their favorite shop. I will then contact the shop and purchase a gift card

 or certificate in the winner's name. I will choose two winners.

There are a few rules to enter:

• You must be a follower/friend to participate (after all, you've put up with me all this time!)
• One entry for just for leaving a comment on this post
• If you share about this giveaway on FB or in a blog post, come back and leave a second comment on this post for a second entry
• All followers are eligible - no matter where you live 

DRAWING ENDS AT 11 pm SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014.

Winner will be announced Monday, March 24th.

 It's that simple.

Thanks so much for being on the receiving end of my musings every day.

Even if you never comment, I appreciate that you're out there reading.

(Sometimes, you tap me on the shoulder at a quilt show or event to tell 

me you've been out there reading and learning from me. I still smile 

when I think about that, my friend.) I'm so glad I started this adventure.

I've had great fun meeting wonderful, new friends because of it. I've also 

reconnected with old, dear friends who left comments that brought me 

immeasurable happiness. It's true that "what you send out comes back tenfold".

Thanks, and thanks again.