Happy mid-summer (not to be confused with that weird movie that’s out about people going to a festival and getting murdered or something I don’t know…that’s called Midsommar).

I feel like I have gotten to be a fan of things a lot this month, which is one of my favorite pastimes, so I’m here to share.

I saw my very favorite, Mary Chapin Carpenter, at Red Rocks in Denver, CO last weekend. It had been a whole…9 months?..since I had seen an MCC show and I was FEELING THE DROUGHT. Also, I had never seen her with a symphony before, so that was also a must-do. Her beautiful record, Songs from the Movie, puts a spin on her songs that turn them into something altogether stunning different while remaining familiar. I love it. Red Rocks was a beautiful venue that allowed me to get in all of my Fitbit steps for the day just by getting to my seat, and the rain stopped right when the symphony started tuning up.

My musical tourist cohort Heidi came too, as did my favorite Coloradoan niece, Heather (she is my only niece who lives in Colorado, this is not an inflammatory statement). I am big fans of them, too! Yes, we picnicked from the trunk of my Mustang. I’d call it classy but…maybe more just…functional.

Earlier in the month I had the honor of playing a set at the Black Rose Acoustic Society in Colorado Springs…a beautiful example of a concert series that honors the songwriter.

I also spent over a week in New Mexico, and got to indulge in some of my favorite things there, like hanging out with my mom, my New Mexican buddies, and lots of adobe. Georgia O’Keeffe, too. The O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe is a must see if you are within….1000 miles.

Thankfully my mom is very plugged in to the various streaming platforms, because T-Swift did a concert that was only available on Amazon Prime streaming, which I don’t have at home. I reverently waited through 2 hours of opening acts and Prime commercials to see Taylor live from NYC, and it was cool in a nostalgic way because it reminded me of the time we saw her live in a smallish venue in Houston before the Super Bowl. Thanks, giant corporate sponsors. PSA: Taylor’s Lover comes out on August 23rd!

Fall looks busy already…and I’m suddenly working on two new albums. Things come at ya fast (unless you’re waiting for the new TS album…ok I’ll stop).

Cheers to summer, cheers to being a fan.