Happy 500th Post Day!

Yes, indeed, it's Brush and Baren's 500th Postiversary! Probably slightly disappointing to those who thought I'd be announcing I'd won the lottery or was moving to France (come to think of it, it's slightly disappointing to ME on those two counts)... but this is what the Mystery Countdown was all about.

Brush and Baren launched at the very end of 2006, with no clear purpose and only a haphazard sense of timing, but Oh! The places it's taken me since! I can no longer imagine a world where I don't have friends and colleagues (and sympathizers!) connected by a shimmering web.  Readers, lurkers, commentors... fellow artists, writers, picker-uppers-of-things-on-the-ground, and delighters-in-nature-all-around... I thank you all for making my life rich and resplendent.

So put on your party hats and toot your party horns, it's time for a present from me! Wish Brush and Baren a happy birthday by commenting on this post. The first 10 people to comment will receive a little party favor and from ALL the comments I receive one will be chosen at random to receive the linocut Deep, which readers watched unfold right here this winter. But hurry! Deadline to comment is July 7 at midnight Mountain Standard Time. Let the celebration begin!

(Oh. And PS: It's my brother Steve's birthday today, too. We can include him in the good wishes. Really.)

Happy Birthday, Brush and Baren!

Hey! Look! Brush and Baren is one year old today! I would have baked myself a cake, except that I don't particularly like cake.
However, I am more than happy to break the piñata and share the sweets with everyone who has made my corner of the blogosphere an engaging and inspiring place. Special thanks and an affectionate ink smudge to Willy, Debby, Snail and Susan, who continually raise the blogging bar and to Alyson, whose fault it all is in the first place. Thanks also to all of you who read, comment, lurk, and send emails around the back way. I appreciate you all!