This is my very last week of travel this year. I have one signing left in my book trip, and as I said earlier this week, it’s been such a wonderful experience. I can’t express to you how special it is for me to meet—eye to eye and face to face—the women, men, and cute kids who use my cookbooks, read my blog, and/or watch my show on TV (Charlie is usually the reason! Ha). I’ve had such a wonderful time and have had so many memories.
On this last leg of the trip, my two lifelong friends—Connell and Beccus—came along with me. This is Connell and me in the Dallas airport Wednesday, getting ready to head to Denver. And you’re getting a nice glimpse of what I look like at 7:30 a.m. following a book signing the night before, partly wearing last night’s eyeliner and hoping my eyes de-puff by noon.
I’m a true beauty when I roll out of bed in the morning, let me tell you.
The three of us have had such a great time together. See, my mom went to college with Connell’s mom, my dad went to medical school with Connell’s dad, I went to college with Connell, and my parents went to high school with Beccus’s parents. In fact, I think either my mom kissed her dad in high school or my dad kissed her mom. Anyway, the three of us have known one another since before we were born, and even though Connell lived in a different city and she and Beccus were two separate branches of friends in my life, the three of us have merged into one as adults and Connell and Beccus have become close friends.
We call ourselves womb-to-tomb friends, to quote Riff in West Side Story.
We call ourselves birth-to-earth friends, to quote Tony in West Side Story.
(And all of us love West Side Story.)
Here are a few snaps. Me checking my hair in my phone. Eyes still slightly puffy.
It’s the travel, man! Does anyone have any tips?
I got a manicure. I wish we had a nail salon in our hay meadow! I’d get manicures all the time.
Last night we toasted our friendship.
And basically, the three of us are pushing middle age, so while we are in a nice hotel bar toasting our friendship with champagne, we sit around and show one another photos of our dogs while the young, beautiful people party, laugh, toss their hair, and socialize around us.
Beccus has a Basset Hound named Ned, and he is her son, much like Charlie is mine.
We both have serious issues, and we’re okay with that.
Sliders! Yum.
Today we’re headed to Minneapolis, where I’ll have my very last book signing and we’ll spend a few more moments together before we fly home to our respective families Saturday night.
And this is my calendar in December! I know it’s weird for someone to share his/her personal calendar on the internet, but I thought you’d get a kick out of the fact that I put red stripes through the month of December and banned myself from scheduling anything except Alex coming home and, well, Christmas. After a super busy, full year, I knew I wanted to preserve this time with my family and my yoga pants and my dogs and (hopefully, see sliders in the previous shot) my treadmill.
Love ya lots, and I’ll check in from Denver!
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.
