This has been a busy summer so far. My husband and I have visited  a friend in Austin several times who is recovering from a serious case of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. I’m taking ticks a lot more seriously now. We all should.

I’m trying to “beef up” my BBQ repetoire, so on one visit we ate at Salt Lick BBQ in Driftwood for the first time. It’s found a place at the top of my favorite BBQ places. I love the indoor BBQ pit!

In June, I attended my agent’s annual retreat for her clients, this year at Big Sky Montana. It was wonderful seeing so many good friends I only see once a year. I thought I’d win the Ugly Sweater Contest, but I underestimated how ugly a sweater can be.

                                          Donna Bratton had one B—Ugly Sweater.Horrendous!  And Kari Anne Holt’s was a sweater only a cat could love. (Those Austin writers really “get” ugly).

                                        Here I am in my Betty Boop sweater – way too cute for ugly – and Pat Zietlow Miller in her “interesting” sweater. If we look exceedingly happy, it’s because Pat learned that her upcoming picture book, SOPHIE’S SQUASH received it’s third starred review!

Hands down, this guy’s sweater was the ugliest I saw the whole time. (I don’t like the way he’s looking at me . Did I get a little too close to take this picture?)

The world can be a crazy place. One day I was out walking in snow flurries at Big Sky, then a few days later I was sweltering in 108 degrees in Austin.

The summer’s only half over, and several TAKE ME TO YOUR BBQ events are coming up.

On July 6, I’ll be at the Brazos Bookstore in Houston  at 11:30 am for a special story time. Can’t wait to see those kids yippee-ki-yo’in in tin foil hats!

On July 19, I’ll be in San Antonio at the Twig Bookshop at 10:30 for more knee-slappin’ fun.

Then on July 20, I’ll be at the BookPeople in Austin at 11:30. Yippie-ki-YAY

After that, I’ll probably need to replenish my stock of aluminum foil.