I’ll let you know later today whether or not we made our Christmas deadline for having our Fried Quail/Biscuits-and-Gravy Christmas morning breakfast in the Lodge…but either way, I’m so pleased (beyond pleased) with the progress that’s been made in past days and weeks. There’ve been challenges and obstacles, a crumbling economy and time delays since we started this project last February, but now that completion is within sight, I’m so happy Marlboro Man had the wild hair to start this project in the first place. And I feel nothing but relief.
Of course, that could just be Christmastime euphoria. We’ll see how I feel Friday morning.
Here’s what we saw at the Lodge the morning of Christmas Eve:
The hickory butcher block was in, right next to the concrete countertop, which still isn’t sealed with a glaze.
But it will be soon. I can feel it.
I had them drop the butcher block an inch below the concrete surface, because I thought it would look a little more interesting.
The panels are on the refrigerator, which is a vast improvement.
At least now we can have the full picture so we can figure out WHAT IN TARNATION to do with the hood.
It’ll come to all of us in our sleep one night—all of us: you, me, and my mother-in-law. And we will all be united as one in hood harmony.
Here’s the pantry sink, where my two daughters will be spending all their time.
It’s one of the things daughters are for, not that my poor mother figured this out until I left for college.
Here’s the faucet for the sink in the middle of the kitchen. I wanted to keep it simple, so I found a one-hole number that has a pull-out sprayer. I have four holes for my sink at home, and I’m constantly trying to chisel hard water deposits from around the bases.
Life is a learning process.
This sink isn’t usable yet, by the way, because it’s so thick and standard drain connectors and disposal flanges aren’t long enough…so I had to order the correct parts late Wednesday.
These are the tiny details that will prevent me ever from embarking on another home improvement project. I just don’t want to THINK about disposal flanges. I don’t even want to know they exist.
I’m still loving the wannabe marble countertop.
And look over to the right…see that bench?
I bought it Tuesday at a second hand store in the Big City. It’s a very old church pew, and I instantly pictured it here, between these two cabinets, right under the window on the rock wall.
Here’s where my sister-in-law, Missy, came in. She drove her unwieldy horse trailer TO THE BIG CITY, where she wove in and out of pre-Christmas traffic so that she could pick up this church pew, which cost $150, and bring it home for me. Then she had the gall to actually ask me what I wanted for Christmas.
I told her and said, “Ummm…you just took care of it.” It was the greatest gift she could have given me.
You should see me drive the horse trailer. I can’t even drive it in a pasture without hitting something; I’d never be able to drive it around a city.
Oh, and as you can see, the jury’s still out on whether to hang the skull on the range hood.
So it sits on this little side cabinet, awaiting its purpose in life.
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.
