The geese were on the pond this morning. I first became aware of this when Marlboro Man returned from feeding a pasture. Even though no dogs were on the porch and there were no humans anywhere, I heard him talking to someone as he approached the door of our house. When he walked in and I saw that he wasn’t on his cell phone, I said, “Were you just talking to someone?” I wanted to make sure my beloved hadn’t taken leave of his senses.
Turns out, he hadn’t.
“The geese,” he answered.
Whew. What a relief!
Still, I probed further.
“What did you and the geese talk about?” I asked.
“Oh, I just told them the pond was frozen.”
Marlboro Man has always had a very close connection with the animal kingdom. This isn’t the first time I’ve caught him conversing with animals in much the same way he’d converse with a cowboy. Why, just the other day, I saw him talking to one of Tim’s Herefords about which teams will make it to the Super Bowl.
I just backed away slowly.
“You should go take a picture,” Marlboro Man said.
So I did. And I was very gentle, very quiet, very stealthy. I knew if I barreled outside and lept across the yard, tripping and rolling down the hill, then banging into a tree as I normally do, it would surely scare the geese away.
And I wanted them to enjoy their peaceful morning.
As I snapped photos over the next few minutes, they did see me. They knew I was there. A few of them would occasionally stand up and honk around a little bit as if to tell their fellow geese not to worry, that they’re keeping that weird human wearing yoga pants, Uggs, and her grandmother’s robe—the one with the pillow marks on her face and her matted hair in a knot on top of her head—in their sights.
But I stayed pretty still and quiet, and eventually they settled in and continued with their moment of rest.
Me and nature. Together. At peace. Coexisting in harmony. Forever.
Me and nature.
Then Charlie discovered I was outside.
Then he saw the geese on the pond.
Ssssshhhh, Charlie! Stay! I whispered.
But he just couldn’t help himself.
Did you know it runs counter to a goose’s nature to remain seated on a frozen pond when a malodorous Basset Hound is running toward the pond and barking?
Well, it does.
Goodbye, my friends. Please come back tomorrow morning.
I promise to keep the long-eared bad boy inside.
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.
