Our girls were away at church camp all last week, which meant the following:
1. There were four people making a royal mess in our house instead of six.
2. Marlboro Man was shorthanded all week.
3. Gender-wise, I was completely outnumbered.
4. We watched a lot of TV shows and movies involving warriors.
I am now ready for battle.
I really missed the girls, but I did get to enjoy spending some quality time with just the boys.
But why does everything always have to go back to muscles?
Typical.
We shipped cattle all last week, which meant that every evening between seven and eight, my boys had to go get the horses and bring ’em to the barn.
Usually, their sisters would do this.
But their sisters weren’t here, now, were they?
No, they weren’t. There were new sheriffs in town.
I went along with the boys every time, but I decided just to sit in the passenger seat and remain completely passive. I wanted to watch them in action.
Plus, I really didn’t feel like moving. It was hot.
So here’s how the boys do things: the older one drives the pickup and starts pushing the horses toward the barn while the younger one hops out and pushes them on foot. Note: If you’re going to try this, it’s vitally important that you wear loafers.
Again, I didn’t say or do anything…I just watched. The boys wanted to show me how they do things.
And you won’t believe the tactic they employed.
Check it out.
It totally worked! If I hadn’t seen it with my own two eyes, I never would have believed it.
And I never would have seen it if my girls hadn’t gone to church camp.
That’ll do, boy.
That’ll do.
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.
