After meeting the Christmas deadline so that we were able to prepare a meal, have a couple of overnight guests, and watch the bloody, gory UFC pay-per-view event at the Lodge, Jerry and his crew jumped right back in after Christmas, finishing up all the behind the scenes details that will mean the Lodge is finally done. And that’s a good thing, since I hope to use it next week for some really crazy shenanigans.
I can hear my mom now: “Cookies and cakes are done. People are finished.”
Whatever, mom. Quit being so bossy.
For days and days, the challenge has been getting the double-sided fireplace to draw without occasionally poufing smoke. The night of the UFC fight My Pesky Brother-in-Law Tim lit the inaugural fire and totally smoked up the joint. There’s a fan on top of the chimney, but apparently it wasn’t strong enough, and as soon as anyone walked in or out of an exterior door, massive poufing would ensue.
It’s not like we didn’t know this was going to happen. But our eyes were glossed over in passion over having a double-sided fireplace and we lost our senses.
They’re about to get it fixed, though. Turns out the hole to the chimney wasn’t large enough. So I grabbed my cutting torch, crawled up in there, and got ‘er done.
No. Not really.
The poor laundry room has been the catch-all for tiny boxes of electrical equipment, plumbing supplies, and other miscellaneous junk. But they finally hooked up the washer and dryer yesterday, and the room finally has a purpose.
Here’s one side of the master bathroom. We still need to hang iron hooks all along the wall—we decided to do this instead of towel bars. Does anyone really use towel bars? I think they’re a hoax that’s been perpetrated on society.
No. Not really. I just like to try these ideas out and see where they land.
Here’s the sink area in the master bathroom.
Missy and I found this mirror at Pottery Barn the night after Christmas when she forced me against my will to go to the big city. We bought it for miscellaneous use, but thought it looked really pretty in the bathroom.
The only problem is, if a guy is shaving and needs to look in the mirror, he won’t be shaving over the sink.
I think we’re going to have to get a larger mirror.
It’s too bad, because this one looks pretty.
We applied the whole barn door idea to the closet in the master bedroom. There are two doors, and they can be slid in different configurations to expose whatever area of the closet you need. So the righthand door can be slid all the way over to cover the wall space on the right and the lefthand door can cover the closet shelving on the far left. Or both doors can cover the large space in the middle of the closet.
Marlboro Man’s idea.
Here’s another bathroom in need of a mirror. Oh! You should see the sinks. They’re, like six inches deep. Practical, no?
No. But they’re purty.
Here’s the hallway that leads to the bedrooms. And my baby.
I love that baby.
For the computer area, we had our Pop cabinet maker make this.
It looks like a regular piece of furniture on the outside, but inside, there’s room at the top for papers, pens, and other supplies. Then, in this middle section is where the monitor sits.
Then down below is where the computer and printer will go, along with any other miscellaneous computer equipment we need. Oh! And there’s a sliding keyboard drawer at the top—see? (And don’t worry—all these wires will be neatly tucked away and hidden.)
The cool thing is, the electrical outlets are actually installed inside the cabinet.
So when the doors are shut, you never know there’s a whole mess of computer junk inside.
We originally planned to have an L-shaped computer table jutting out from the wall, but we couldn’t figure out a way to do that without totally obstructing THE WINDOW. This way, for someone to use the computer, they’ll just have to scoot a chair up to the cabinet, open the doors, and do their stuff. But the main purpose of the computer in the cabinet is to serve as the network computer for the house, so folks can bring their laptops and work wherever they want.
One of the things I’ve loved about having your involvement as we’ve plowed through this Lodge project have been the times something I’ve posted has garnered a totally unexpected reaction/response. One example is the TV above the fireplace. While to me, it always seemed like the logical spot for the TV, many of you disagreed.
I was so busy getting ready for Christmas, I didn’t get a chance to delve into it much. But for those of you who dislike the TV above the fireplace, I’d love to know details. This is a perfect example of my lack of design know-how rearing its ugly head.
Thanks for being here for me.
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.
