O Pioneer (Woman)

What a whirlwind weekend.  Making stuff for an upcoming craft sale and for a store that will be carrying some of my products.  Having a stamp-a-thon with my cousin Heather and my friend Ann to get ready. Spending way too much time with a bag of felt and a die cut machine. Walking around with a post-surgery swollen upper lip, making me look like Marge Simpson or the victim of a collagen injection gone bad.

And then... like a gal on the prairie stuck in a storm... blindly marching ahead... braving the elements... with no food... no water... only hope to sustain me... I waited 5(!) hours at a bookstore to meet Pioneer Woman. I am exaggerating about the lack of food and water, (this particular bookstore has a food court). BUT IT WAS STILL HARD.  Even Laura Ingalls Wilder would have been wiped out.

When I got to the store (around 5:45) I bought PW's new cookbook and was eager to get it autographed. The clerk handed me a letter (J).  Then I learned the hard truth-- There were A's, B's, C's, D's E, F's G's, H's, and I's ahead of me.  And each group took about half of an hour to get through.

Are you familiar with Pioneer Woman?  Her real name is Ree Drummond.  In a nutshell, she's a city girl who met a hunk, married him and moved out to the country to live on a cattle ranch and raise their four children.  She's also a fun and fabulous cook and great writer.

And she's lovely and gracious which explains why there were hundreds of fans waiting forever to meet her. I was already tired when I got to the store.  I had no idea it would be such a long wait.  But after the first few hours, I became even more determined.  And more bedraggled.  Which explains this picture.

Pioneer Woman was interested in the name of this blog.  I explained that it came from my little four year old, who is timeless (in that she has no sense of time).  Whether something happened an hour ago, last week or last year, she starts her story with, "Yesterday, on Tuesday".  Pioneer Woman loved it.  She said she thought that was so cute.  (She also may have been lightheaded from the small of the sharpie and from signing hundreds of cookbooks).

By the way-- in anticipation of a little bloggy makeover and an upcoming etsy shop, I will be doing a very special giveaway.  It's BIG.  Literally.  And I'll give you a hint:  it's something Willa Cather would have enjoyed.

Thanks to all the gals who left comments last week for my first giveaway.  I'll be announcing the winner tomorrow on Tuesday.  What do you think about Pioneer Woman? Would you like to try country living? 

Share your thoughts and leave me a comment!  And come check out BlogFrog.  You can find me in the Today's Creative Blog Community among others.  It's a fun way to connect with others and get ideas and tips.

 

Comments

[Korby]

I love The Pioneer Woman, that is so cool that you got to meet her. I am having lots of fun with blog frog, I could spend way too much time commenting.

[Lesley Johnson]

Lots of creative ideas! Very inspiring to see! I love the cake cones- I'm going to make them tonight and surprise my kids in the morning. Can't wait to see what you come up with next!

[Ann Hayes-Bell]

I could try country living if I could get the "hiney tingle" as often as she. :) (Yes, I'm now reading through her blog). Thanks for the chance to win. I love reading your "I heart" finds.

[Karoline]

Hi Malia!
It was so nice chatting with you in line, it made that last hour of waiting much more bearable. Your blog is great, and I can't wait to see the new makeover and etsy shop that's coming soon!
-Karoline

[Meredith Fane]

I have never heard of Pioneer Woman! Sounds like her cook book is amazing. I'll keep my fingers crossed for the amazing give away!

[Henna-Maria]

I found the Pioneer Woman blog on February when my husband was gone for over two weeks and I was taking care of three little kids (one of them is a nursing baby) and heating our house with coal during the coldest weeks of the last winter in Central Asia. I was so exhausted but at night when the kids were tucked in bed, I was reading her love story and couldn't stop! I stayed up too late every night reading it :) She is a very good writer and takes amazing photos. I have learned a lot about photography from her.
I feel like I am pioneering here too, but we do not have cattle!

[Susan]

I agree with Ree, I love the name of your site. What a cute story behind it! I have a similar story. When my son was learning to talk, he used the term "Lasterday", for yesterday. We've used the term ever since. Kids logic; love it!

[Heidi]

I discovered PW two months ago. I have purchased 4 cookbooks for friends, entered two of her photo contests, and bought the yellow ring she wore on The View. Ha! Oh yeah, I made her Beef and Mushroom Stew on Friday... delicious! She is a way of life and I love it. I live in Kansas now, but Im from Washington State. Wish I could have seen her in Seattle. Glad you got to. :) Keep blogging. :)

[Tracy Lynn]

I discovered her through a friend who lives in Oklahoma as well and I just love her!!! You've got a cute blog!!! Thanks for posting about her!!!

[Suzanne]

I found PWs site a couple months ago. I was inspired, so I started my own site about our farm in Kansas:
http://windowontheprairie.com/

[Karen]

Found your site thru her site...and I love the name of your blog!

Here's my blog post from when I went to her book signing in December.

karenjerseygirl.blogspot.com/2009/12/meeting-p-dub.html

[Kris]

Well this Nebraska girl is curious about what you're giving away that Willa Cather would have loved...guess I'll have to come back and see.

[Brenda]

I love P.W.
She makes me laugh.
I miss the sound of silence, seeing stars at night. Living in the country could be very peaceful. I'm tired of noise and light pollution. But then, I'm a scaredy-cat. I don't know if I could live that far from everything.

[Malia]

Hey Gals-- thanks for your comments. Hop on back to Yesterday on Tuesday for a PW Cookbook Giveaway!

[Mandy]

I've ALWAYS wanted to try her cookbook - I have a friend who is always posting delicious looking things on her blog from that cookbook!

[Megan (Best of Fates)]

Sounds awesome - I'm hoping to "meet" PW when she comes over to D.C. next week. And I completely agree - an adorable blog name.

[Shannon Y]

How exciting! I would love to meet Pioneer Woman. I just recently discovered her website and her cook book!! I love the story behind your blog name because I wish I could pick one day to always stick with. However, I would probably choose Saturday so I could sleep in!!

[Glenna]

Love that, Yesterday on Tuesday. I would love to meet the Pioneer Woman. I, too, am a country girl.

[sarah]

I can't believe you got to meet the Pioneer Woman! I'm jealous, even despite the super long wait ;)