Again?! Yes, sad …but true.

This morning a 3-alarm fire damaged M.L. Leddy’s …the well known custom bootmaker located in the Fort Worth Stockyards. No one was injured. Damages to the building and inventory are estimated to exceed $700,000. (Click here to read details, and watch video footage.)

Many of you will remember that M.L. Leddy’s had another serious fire back in December 2002. That fire was attributed to a cigarette.

Update: No customer’s boots were lost in the blaze. For more details of the clean-up… read this article from the Star-Telegram.com. Since the store’s move to the Ft. Worth Stockyards (back in 1941), it has survived a flood and 3 fires. Mercy!

I get asked this question all the time. Usually, while I’m in somewhat ironic locations… like at the airport while I’m waiting in line for my favorite discount airline, or at a taco stand while I’m eating something that cost a dollar and is wrapped in white paper…Everybody wants to know who makes the “Most Expensive Cowboy Boots?”

Writer Neal Santelmann of Forbes.com provides us with the answer and the pictures …no doubt, inspiring big dreams and even bigger purchases.

Marty: “Hey Evan, do you think all these boots will fit in the car?”

Evan: “Oh yeah…just stack ’em up like cordwood.”

Me: “Yee-haw!!“

I’m headed to Austin, TX tomorrow morning. Too late for the SXSW festivities and too late get this t-shirt I found online… rats, it woulda been perfect.

But, I’m going to have a blast anyway. Marty and I photographing boots for my book. Lots and lots of boots. I’ll be making stops at Texas Traditions, Dave Little’s Boot Company and some of the best collectors’ closets in Austin. Stay tuned.