I love following along on the Gator while everyone else is gathering cattle. First of all, I just love the Gator; it’s become my best friend and constant companion. Unlike my Suburban, it’ll go absolutely everywhere—even I’ve never gotten it stuck. And unlike my Suburban, the bed in the back dumps at the push of a button. This has really streamlined my gardening operation, allowing me to haul dirt, manure, and compost without breaking my fragile, 38-year-old back. Wait. 39-year-old back. Wait. How old am I? I seriously can’t remember. I was born in January, 1969. Will someone please do the math and get back with me? Thank you for your assistance in this matter.
But aside from being a workhorse, the Gator is the perfect vehicle for following along when we have to go far from our house. See that cluster of trees on the top of the hill in the distance? That’s where our house is. Hello, house. I love you. Please clean yourself up while I’m gone.
Sometimes my baby isn’t quite up to getting on his horse and joining everyone before daylight. So I pat him and wrap him in a Superman blanket and say, “Oh baby, it’s okay…you can come with Mama…my sweet little baby…” Then I wrap him in a Superman blanket and pat him and decide to ignore the fact that he’ll be four years old in two weeks. This child will be my baby for the next 80 years.
Unless I get pregnant again. But I won’t think about that today; I’ll think about that tomorrow.
Ugh. Someone please remove him from the photo; I can’t look into the light.
My sweet baby, Nell, joins us, too. The ground is so dewy, it looks like she’s been swimming.
I love it when the tiniest tip of her tongue sticks out.
Border Collies are the most adoring dogs in existence. If you need lots of affirmation and affection, get a Border Collie.
Just make sure you live in the country. Border Collies come with a whole mess of idiosyncrasies, mostly related to their deep-seated need to accomplish 809 tasks on any given day.
But right now, Nell’s task is just to be precious and beautiful.
Sometimes we follow along closely on the Gator. Other times, we stay back a ways and watch the cattle come toward us. This morning was a stay-back-a-ways kind of morning.
See the cattle in the distance? It’ll be awhile. I might have time to catch me a nap, though wouldn’t that be embarrassing if the cowboys rode by and saw my head all drooped over, my mouth hanging open, drool dripping out of my mouth?
Not that I ever drool when I sleep. So forget that whole visual, will you? Thank you very much.
Well, what do ya know—there they are! That didn’t take long at all. (Note The Lodge in the distance. It’s the house at the top of the hill.)
And there they go! They’re headed back to the pens behind our house.
In order for me to get back there, I have to cross this creek:
Because of all the rains lately, it’s full of water and is seriously muddy. Let’s see how the Gator performs in these conditions.
If I were driving my Suburban, I wouldn’t even try this. Because I’m always getting stuck in my Suburban and last time I got stuck I vowed never to get stuck again. Because there’s nothing more embarrassing than having to call someone and tell them you’re stuck. Especially if that “someone” is Marlboro Man, who really loves it when I get stuck because then he has license to tease me incessantly for the next eight weeks.
What I’m trying to say is, I’m glad I’m in the Gator. At least I have a fighting chance.
Ooooh. I don’t know about this.
How bad would it be if I had to call Marlboro Man on his horse and say, “Um, HONEY? I got the Gator stuck in the creek. Can you come get me?” I’d never, ever live that down.
Because a vehicle named after a powerful reptile is NOT supposed to get stuck in a creek.
Oh no…my tires just started spinning. Oh NO!
Wait…it’s still moving…but I’ve gotta get up that muddy slope…
Gator…don’t fail me now.
Look! Nell’s there to cheer me on.
“You can do it, Human! You can do it! Now hurry and get back up here so I can herd your tires.”
I’m out! You have no idea how good that feels when you finally reach solid ground and realize you’ve got your footing.
Nell was running and jumping with joy.
And, ever the dutiful Border Collie, she escorted me up the road to our house, where we could catch up with the cattle and horses. Soon we were parked in the pasture near the pens, and I heaved a big sigh of relief. Then I turned around to Charlie and said, “Charlie! We made it across the creek! Can you believe it?”
And this is what he said:
“Slap me some skin, Sistah.”
Right back atcha, Charlie. Right back atcha.
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.
