Pioneer Woman's Book Signing

What an experience! I picked up the tickets and books at the sponsoring book store the day before the event. Vivian and I had already decided that we were not going to wait around to have our books signed. Our ticket numbers were 916 & 917. They start with groups of ticket holders 1-50, then 51-100, etc so it would be a long evening while we waited.  Anyway, the event was held in the Unity Church on the Plaza.  We went down around 3 p.m. to get parking in their garage and get something to eat. After much discussion, we decided to eat at Tomfooleries which was across the street. It is an Irish Pub/sports bar that I had never been there before. Food was good and I would like to go back some Sunday for their brunch. The below raspberry mimosas were wonderful!

We got over to the church at 5 p.m. and was about the 20th person in line. There was one line for those who already had their tickets and another line for people who were Will Calling their tickets. Doors were to open at 6 and the talk was to start at 7. It was good that we got there when we did as the line was soon down the block and around the corner by the time the doors opened. The lady in line just before us, goes there to church and knows how to navigate the auditorium. So...she said "Go inside, go down the center aisle and look for me near the front." We did and she was down in front waving her arms at us. We had 3rd row seats, on the aisle, right in front of Ree Drummond and the owner of the book store that would be interviewing her.

Ree is just as warm and friendly in person as she is on her TV show. She answered questions about the show, cooking, life on the ranch, kids, etc with a lot of humor. She commented that the company that produces her show also does the Barefoot Contesa cooking show with Ina Garden. The company is from London and films several weeks of both shows while here.  As Ree said, with the Barefoot Contesa show, they are filming in the Hampton's so everything is accessible and there are lots of things to do.  With Pioneer Woman they are in Pawhuska, OK - out in the middle of nowhere. They wanted to do a show with the kids swimming in the river and Ree explained that there are copperhead snakes in the river so NO.

Take a look at those boots!  I'm curious as to how many pair of boots she has. On her show last week she wore 3 different pair.  She wears them all the time since I have seen her on other TV shows and she has her boots on.

Here is the crowd - a portion of the 1,255 that were at the book signing. Every seat was taken! It was a fun evening and sure was different than the book signings I went to in Tucson.....