Ladd had just left to feed cattle a few mornings ago when I looked out the window and saw this glorious January sunrise. Because I have learned the hard way that when it comes to photographing sunrises, “He who hesitates is lost,” so I grabbed my phone and ran outside in bare feet. I had been reading Psalms in my yoga pants, and socks (let alone shoes) hadn’t entered the picture yet. Then I ran back into the house and stuck my feet under the nearest Basset Hound I could find.
Basset Hound make the very best foot warmers.
Not five minutes after my feet made contact with the underbelly of a Frito-scented hound, the text chime on my phone started to sound. They were messages from Ladd, who was experiencing the same sunrise awe as I. Only he was wearing shoes.
Boots, actually.
He sent photo after photo of his view from the feed truck, and while they were all photos of the same sunrise, I could tell he was snapping in as many different directions as he could.
Whenever I’ve asked Ladd (or any of the cowboys) what their favorite thing is about the job they do, the answers always seem to involve getting up and being able to watch the sun rise.
And watch the sunrise.
(One is a verb, one is a noun.)
Anyway, cowboys express that no matter what is going on in their lives, a beautiful sunrise can suddenly make everything seem clearer.
If you are a late sleeper, you should set your alarm at least once a month so you can see the sun come up. It doesn’t solve all the problems of the world, but sometimes it helps you put a different filter on them.
Happy Wednesday, friends!
Ree Drummond is the founder of The Pioneer Woman and a lover of butter, basset hounds and life on the ranch! Ree started her blog in 2006, and now millions visit ThePioneerWoman.com every month for her trusted recipes and fun family stories. Here’s what she has been up to since it all began:
New York Times Bestselling Author
Ree has written two memoirs (Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, and Frontier Follies) plus nine bestselling cookbooks:
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl (2009)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food from My Frontier (2012)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays (2013)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime (2015)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Come and Get It! (2017)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: The New Frontier (2019)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Super Easy (2021)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinner’s Ready! (2023)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: The Essential Recipes (2025)
Food Network Host
Since 2011, Ree has been sharing simple, family-friendly recipes—and the occasional kitchen prank!—on her award-winning show The Pioneer Woman, filmed right on Drummond Ranch. Ree is also a regular judge on Food Network competitions, including Christmas Cookie Challenge.
Founder, The Pioneer Woman Collection
Ree has been creating and selling kitchen and home products at Walmart since 2015 and she’s involved in designing every piece and pattern. The line now includes best-selling appliances (you have to see the floral blender!), plus hundreds of pieces of cookware, tableware, and more. Ree doesn’t like to play favorites but the Agatha print has a special place in her heart.
Restaurant and Hotel Owner
Together with her husband Ladd, Ree has opened several bustling businesses in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, including The Pioneer Woman Mercantile—a bakery, restaurant, and general store that draws visitors from across the country (many come for the biscuits alone!), P-Town Pizza, Charlie’s Ice Cream Shop, and The Boarding House, a charming hotel with eight different rooms decorated by Ree and Ladd.
Media Personality
Ree appears regularly on national TV shows like Today, Good Morning America and more—all while managing to keep flour off her shirt.
Wife, Mom and…Grandma!
Ree’s kids (daughters Alex and Paige and sons Bryce and Todd) are all grown up, and as of December 2024, Ree is the proud grandma of the cutest baby ever, Sofia Scott, born to Alex and her husband Mauricio. Ree still cooks for Ladd (and the kids when they’re home), and she also looks after a few mischievous ranch dogs.
