Surprise Visit

18 Degrees
4790 Kms.
Bed time

Wow, what a big day! And what a crazy morning, we got lost, caught in stairwells, walked down very narrow steps that led to narrow rooms, and this was on our way to breakfast! Everything is triangular shaped from wastebaskets, tissue holders, stairs, the foyer, to hallways, rooms, inside the elevators, it is truly bizarre but so interesting. The building does need some refurbishing but was well

worth the visit. Finally we got to the Lobby (triangular as well).

We were up and at it early to visit Tallgrass Prairie Reserve that spans 38,000 acres disturbed only by the thundering hooves of over 2000 buffalo, along with white tailed deer, bobcats, armadillo, beavers, woodchucks, badgers, coyotes, bald eagles, the list goes on. Wildflowers are in bloom, seas of them forming small wave like patterns with the slight breeze. We were almost out the door, when he were told by a fellow traveller, “if you are prepared for the buffalo coming near your car and closing in on you, go, otherwise go straight to Pawhuska to The Mercantile and then tour The Lodge at The Drummond Ranch”.

So.....en route to The Mercantile I remember an episode of Pioneer Woman on the Food Network that addressed the spring burn. This has happened here, some fields are already sprouting bright green,

some are black and the slight odour of burning grass hangs in the air. I love it. We are in prairie land for sure, the hills are low, and gentle. Tony and I both commented that it felt peaceful. Cattle and horses are everywhere.

We reached The Mercantile, a General Store that Ree Drummond and her husband Ladd spent years renovating in downtown Pawhuska. The building is over a hundred years old and was originally the Osage Mercantile. It is a fun place where visitors from near and far can enjoy the goods, comfort food, fresh made pastries and delicious coffee. In the so so small town, there was so much life.

The difference between this and Magnolia was colour and simplicity. I have never seen so much colour in a store. I think “this Pioneer Woman” wanted to add some life through colour to her prairie surroundings, fields of hay, a golden land seen for miles. As for simplicity, it did not feel like a “tourist trap”. I was glad to have gone there. Tony and I had one of Ree’s cinnamon buns, enough for a take away, the best, truly! The visit was cheerful.

We left for the ranch lodge, not their home but on the same property, where the Drummond’s, host their family guests and also where the filming of The Pioneer Woman takes place. The tours run rarely, we were fortunate to get the notice today as we were leaving the Merc. I loved it. If you are a fan of the show you will recognize some of the photos. Friends would have to stay over, the driveway alone was 18 km. in length.

Off to the Ranch, 433,000 acres, yep it is! The Drummond’s are the 23rd largest landowner in the United States, their beginnings four generations ago. Along with their cattle, they closed some of their pasture land to house wild horses which were relocated to the Drummond Ranch by the government. The Federal agency in the last ten years has paid them nearly $24 million in rent. Obviously, Mr. is as wealthy as Mrs. now there are over 2000 wild horses. Cattle number over 18,000, between cow-calf pairs, and stockers. Numbers boggle my mind. Their own horses are bred to perform on the ranch and the arena.

It was fun to be in Ree’s kitchen, the pantry, her prop room, side kitchen, the lodge itself. Here are a few pics. We were allowed to tour every nook and cranny. I recognized every inch of this place, yes I watch her show, may not make all the recipes but I get a kick out of her.

More to come, later, it was a large day, it is going to take me a month of Sunday’s to figure out our next map! We have arrived in Branson and we did have the best drive! Night now!

P.S. I received a few emails asking about Tony’s shoulder...he is a trooper, but wants to wait for Canada, and he is thankful I am doing the driving.