Throughout the history of this website—and did you know I’m in my eighth year of blogging? Lord help my love handles—I have posted many photos of the mustangs across the pond.
“Across the pond.”
Har har har.
Like clockwork, they make their way to the pond behind our house every evening to have a drink.
It’s the wild horse version of Happy Hour.
But without the potato skins.
Did I just date myself? Because I haven’t been to Happy Hour in approximately seventeen years.
Anyway, the reason I’ve posted so many photos of the horses during their happy hour is that it always happens within the hour before dark, when the light on the ranch is prettier than it will ever be.
It’s called The Golden Hour by some photographers.
I’m going to call it The Golden Happy Hour.
Or should I call it The Happy Golden Hour?
Or maybe Happy Golden The Hour?
Hour Golden Happy The?
Anyway, last night, after the mustangs finished their drink and started to walk away, I decided to hop in my pickup and follow them down the road. I do it sometimes, to get some closer photos.
And this is what Charlie does whenever I walk out of the house and hop in my pickup.
“Mama, please don’t go.”
See, for all Charlie knows, I’m leaving for an hour or two or all day. Or longer.
He has no idea I’ll be back in, like, seven minutes.
Geez.
I’m sorry, Charles…I had to get some photos of the girls!
By the way, did you know all the mustangs on our ranch are female?
That means there ain’t no babies happening.
Of course, you probably didn’t need for me to explain that to you.
And…here’s what happens any time I return home, even if I’ve only been gone for seven minutes.
Man, oh man…Charlie sure does know how to lay on the guilt. From the look on his face, you’d think I’d been gone for a month.
Do all dog breeds do this, or is it just Bassets?
Wrapped around my dog’s little finger,
Pioneer Woman
P.S. Do dogs even have little fingers?
P.P.S. Happy Monday, everyone!
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.
