One of the first blogs that I ever read 3 1/2 years ago, was the blog of Ree
Drummond, also known as
"The Pioneer Woman." She is a great photographer, cook and writer, and she is so funny.
She started a story three years ago about how she and her husband met. She did it in such a creative way. She had several parts to it and she stretched the story out for 3 years. At first, she posted about every other week, then she stretched to about a month, and finally she was writing every couple of months. She is such a great writer, you checked her blog every day to read the latest installment.
At the same time, she was posting pictures and stories about her family and her cooking. When she posts a recipe, she has a ton of pictures. She first posts a picture with all of her ingredients and then she posts step by step instructions, even boiling water.
When she announced she was publishing a cookbook, I
pre-ordered on Amazon and could not wait to get it. I read it like a book the day I got it. Lots of great stories, recipes and pictures. I also saw that she would be in Dallas in 6 weeks and I immediately put it on my calendar.
Janelle and I headed to Dallas yesterday around 4:00 p.m. We knew it would be crowded, but never dream it would be SO crowded. They were giving armbands out and we secured our place in line at around 212 and 213. There were almost 500 people behind us. Yes, you read it right, 500!!! The staff said she is running about 1,000 per signing all over the country.
She is such a kind person, that she gave everyone in line her undivided attention (and a cute t-shirt). We got our books signed at 10:00 p.m. I can't imagine how long she stayed. At 10:00 p.m. there were still several hundred people in line. She was smiling the entire time. When I was getting mine signed, I heard one of her staff tell her that she had to be at the TV studio at 8:00 a.m. and she said, "That's okay."
Oh, I looked like CR**, but I would not miss posting my picture with her. By that time, the hair was disastrous, the makeup gone and my feet were KILLING me.
So glad I did it and was so happy to get in the hot bathtub at 11:30. I just saw Ree on Good Morning Texas and I am guessing she was really tired. She said she left Borders at 2:00 a.m. What a trooper!