Every single evening, just before the sun starts to go down, the mustangs make their way all the way across the pasture east of our house and get themselves a big ol’ drink.
They only come once a day…
And I’m always glad to see them.
The horses, on the other hand, are always glad to see the water.
Glug, glug, glug.
I just love walking down to the pond to watch them. They look up at me from time to time, because they’re mustangs and they want to keep an eye on things. But mostly, we just coexist. They’re used to me.
Kitten Kitten went down to the pond with me.
Kitten Kitten follows me around these days. I think it’s because I’ve been watering a lot, and he likes to watch the water come out of the hose…
And occasionally pounce on it, which makes my day every time.
I love cats.
Pretty soon, Walter joined us because he loves Kitten Kitten.
That’s because Kitten Kitten is extremely gentle and rubs up against Walter and purrs next to him, which makes Walter feel loved and secure.
Another example of the differences between Walter and Charlie. All Walter wants is to feel loved, secure, and affirmed.
All Charlie wants is air conditioning.
And bacon.
Within minutes, Kitty Kitty had joined us, too.
He likes to watch the mustangs with me.
I want this cat with me in the afterlife.
So the horses drink and drink and drink…
And then they’re done! And they disappear to the east, never to be seen again…
Until tomorrow evening.
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.
