We didn’t have Christmas breakfast in the Lodge. Even though everything was pretty much finished enough to cook and eat there, it would have required Marlboro Man and me to spend all of Christmas Eve cleaning up construction dust and moving in all the furniture…and around 11:00 Christmas Eve morning, we made the command decision just to relax and enjoy the day rather than kill ourselves trying to reach what was nothing more than a self-imposed deadline. Instead, we’ll be christening the Lodge this Saturday evening. I’m so glad we waited.
There are lots of very small things to be done (you just THOUGHT the Lodge updates were over): a few missing cabinet panels to be installed, appliances to be adjusted, a few sconces to be installed…not to mention the pantry cabinets, further tweaking on the range hood area, bathroom mirrors, etc. But for now—for today—the Lodge is finished enough for me.
The kitchen. We still need barstools.
Did you know barstools are hard to find?
We installed the cabinet hardware. The refrigerators need to be jacked up a little bit so the panels go all the way to the top and fill that little space you see. Then, that bottom trim piece will fit along the bottom.
I’m sorry. But I love the deer. To me, they look like they’re poking their heads through the wall to see what’s going on inside. Think Patrick Swayze in Ghost.
Here’s the fine art we chose to go over the fireplace in the living room. I’m just floored by the artist’s use of color and texture.
We’re going to permanently mount the TV and hide the wires, but we just wanted to make sure it works first. The Saturday night UFC Pay-Per-View event is looming…
Here are the sconces we chose to light the hallway that leads to the bedrooms.
I think they’re pretty cozy.
That door at the end is the laundry room. More on that later.
Here’s the view from the other end of the hall looking toward the computer cabinet. More on that later.
I love saying “More on that later.” It allows me to procrastinate, and also makes me feel hopeful that there will be a tomorrow.
TODAY: My mother-in-law, My Pesky Brother-in-Law Tim, his wife Missy, their punks, my punks, Cowboy Josh, Marlboro Man and I are going to be executing a series of deep knee bends as we move furniture into the Lodge. We won’t have everything we need right off the bat, but we’re eager to see what we DO have so we can figure out what to do next.
There will be cowhides aplenty.
Have a wonderful Friday, everyone! I’ll check in later if I don’t get a hernia first.
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.
