You won’t catch me talking negatively about rain. We went without it for so, so long, once it started falling from the sky last week I pledged my eternal love and respect to all forms of precipitation. And you won’t catch Marlboro Man dissin’ it, either. The sigh of relief he and many ranchers in our area heaved when they realized the ponds were finally filled to capacity was audible, and caused a melodic hum all over the county. If I listen very carefully, I can still hear it. It tickles.
Along with much needed moisture, however, rain does bring work, and a job that’s usually necessary after a heavy rain is fixing water gaps. Now, a water gap exists at the point where a fence crosses a creek or draw. It’s a specially designed area where the fence is allowed to easily break loose if the water gets too high. This way, the high water and large debris rushing through will wipe out only the small section of fence where the water gap exists, which is much easier to fix than large section of fence. After a rain like the one we received last week, there were almost thirty such gaps on our ranch that needed to be checked and fixed.
Marlboro Man starts with the water gap in the creek below our house.
He begins by searching for the remains of the old gap. There’s a great deal of gunk and debris to sift through, as the heavy rain has sent months and months of dead grass, twigs, and sticks down the roaring current.
Once he locates it, he drags it back to the fence line.
He stretches the wires across the creek while our oldest daughter looks on. Our son offers absolutely no assistance whatsoever. But that’s okay. He’s four.
Marlboro Man straightens the wires and shakes off the dead grass that coats them. Nell, our brilliant, enthusiastic, and orthopedically-intact Border Collie, nips at her reflection in the water. She’s finally back to her old self again.
Marlboro Man keeps stretching the now-untangled wires across the creek. Nell stands at attention, waiting for him to enlist her help. Work is her life.
Kinda like me—yeah, that’s it. I’m all about the work. I snap to attention whenever someone needs my help. Yep, that’s me. Just call me Pioneer Woman, The Dilligent.
Marlboro Man then drives his toy containing all the necessary tools across the creek so he can begin the repair process.
Here, he connects the top wire to the wire-stretching tool.
The top wire is stretched tight by hooking both ends to the wire stretchers and ratcheting the ends together with the tool. The wire is then spliced together. Note my younger daughter, who never makes a move without her purse, even when traipsing around a muddy creek. I think she’s pretty wise—you never know when you might need an empty lip balm, three Barbie shoes, and a nickel. A girl’s gotta be prepared.
At the low places in the gap, a rock is attached to pull the tightened fence wires downward.
Long water gaps like this one need sticks or posts anchored in the wires to keep them evenly spaced and cohesive.
The third wire is the one that broke in the current, so M.M. splices it together while standing in the middle of the creek.
And here’s the water gap, in its almost-finished form. The whole process took about 45 minutes, but that’s only because Marlboro Man was on the job.
I shudder to think how long it would have taken me. Days later, I’d still be down there, I’m just sure of it. I’d still be searching for the grass-coated wire, lamenting the horrid state of my cuticles. I’d have tripped and fallen into the mud and probably would have uttered twenty-two expletives. My children would have felt sorry for me and brought me saltines with squeeze cheese, and I would have told them to hightail it back up to the house and fetch me a Diet Dr. Pepper too, for Lord’s sake. I’d cry. Then I’d slap myself silly and continue fixing the water gap since that’s what Pioneer Women did while their husbands were gone for long stretches fighting the war or hunting for meat.
But I wouldn’t have to like it.
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.
