I knew Aspen would be pretty in the summer but I was surprised by how pretty. There are flowers everywhere, spilling over sidewalks, billowing from containers, bordering lawns, bursting from window boxes.

We nipped out here for a short while to catch up with my Cowboy’s good buds from all over and to have a reunion of sorts of our Burgundy biking group. (For new readers His Grace the Cowboy is my sweetheart). A lot of ’em are from Texas, including His Grace’s first wife who is also named Frances if you can believe. She is my bud too, now, and lucky for me.

I always liked Texas people. One time, years ago, I was getting ready to go to Houston to lecture for Veranda I think back when I was their editor-at-large. It was my first trip there. I was at home in Tarboro (NC) visiting Mama beforehand. She said, “Yes Texas people are cute. They’re a lot like people from North Carolina.” And I said, “Yes, but they have better jewelry.”

Texas people are good storytellers, too. I’ve got one I’m saving for y’all  for when there’s a lull in the conversation…