Travels

When I realized I’d been randomly selected to attend a day of cooking at Ree the Pioneer Woman’s ranch in OK I basically started squealing and doing high kicks. I must have needed a little get-away from my everyday routine, because I was more than willing to jump in the car, pick up my auntie Laura and her baby Klaira in Fort Collins and hit the road for a 12 hour trip through the heart of KS. In the 3 1/2 years since I’ve become a mother I have had a total of 3 nights (not consecutive) away from my sweetie poos. So I said good-bye with a little tear in my eye, pushed down the ‘mommy guilt’ and ended up several hundred miles later in the kitchen of PW’s lodge in OK. Although we traveled the farthest, we arrived the earliest of all the guests and since I had no one to nurse, change, feed or carefully monitor, I got to ‘work’ chopping cilantro.

Once all the guests started arriving we exchanged happy handshakes, introduced ourselves and were pleasantly surprised to find that not a single one of us was a psycho, serial killing, weirdo. In fact, we all had similarities that made it a breeze to chat and relate. But really, who could be difficult when the promise of beef tenderloin, Asian peanut saucey noodles and roasted asparagus was on the menu. Only to be promptly followed by Smitten Kitchen’s Rhubarb Crumb Cake, Dark Pumpernickle Rye Bread, andSoft Pretzels – how divine – and all I had to do was sit back, soak it in and then roll my own (pretzel).

I was a very attentive pupil and I will be recreating those recipes in my own country kitchen (even though I forgot my handouts – thank goodness for online recipes). I did allow my mind to wander on the long journey home and I came up with a list of pseudo-similarities between the photo-snapping, ranch wife, mother blogger that I’ve come to truly admire.

I Can Do Anything…. But PW Can Do Better…

PW lives East of Marland, OK on a place with a newly remodeled lodge – I live in Marsland, NE in a newly remodeled ‘cottage’.

PW is situated on a grassy ranch surrounded by several hundred horses and cattle – we have a 45 acre place with 3 horses and 4 roping calves.

PW met her cowboy hubby at the bar- I met my cowboy hubby at a similar locale (thanks to his drunken buddy who needed a DD).

PW had a c-section and an uncooperative placenta – I’ve had both of those incidences happen too (and I’m hoping to forget those details soon).

PW generously offered wine at the lunch – I generously drink wine.

PW  tells tales of tasty tamales – I have a killer krautburger casserole recipe.

PW would rather photographically document most cattle handling practices rather than slam head gates, slit scrotums and wrangle – I would rather rope than wrestle and sort ‘ahorseback’ rather than ‘afoot’ or ‘a4-wheeler’.

PW has hired cowboys – we have a cowboy neighbor whose horses and dogs wander through on a regular basis.

PW can put her legs behind her head (which she started to demonstrate at the lunch table) – I never got the chance to show that I can, in fact, also put my legs behind my head, so I’m going to just do it ….. right….. now…. yep, while I type – she’s not the only one who can multi-task….. no problem….. okay …. I’m cramping …. a little help!!!!?

What was most inspiring to me was the fact that everyone of us there appreciated the everyday beauty and humor in our lives. Whether that means a tasty chicken salad sandwich artfully arranged on your lunch plate which you proudly present to your texturally-challenged toddler who won’t touch the almonds, celery, toast crust, or apple peels and then set the next plate in front of your over-active, gag-reflexed three-year-old – the melding of our artsy, self-indulgent desires with our reality (whatever that may be) is truly the beauty of life. How fortunate for us modern pioneer women that we’ve got blog power and the ability to connect and comment and get a glimpse of others celebrating or struggling with some of the same issues we do.

Hangin’ with P-Dub was a real treat and she was so complimentary, telling me that I have great posture and that I’m skinny (I love you!), but I have to say that I’m glad to be back braless and hunched over my computer, wearing stretch pants and overdue for a shower, making meals for my family, reading the same kids’ stories for the hundredth time, clapping gleefully for each successful toddler potty session (and writing run on sentences). I guess it takes a little time away to refresh and be reminded of the fact that being a mom is the most important job we’ll ever have.  And everyday with our families is a blessing.

Oh and then there’s this – most of us have hungry families with dietary needs we must satiate on a daily basis. A little artful presentation and inspiration can go along way… thanks Pioneer Woman & Smitten Kitchen!