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2:09 pm
June 7, 2011
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Liz Pike said:
Which brings me to Suzanne's work here at CiTR. Suzanne is authentic. Even when she doesn't know how to do something, she admits it, shares what she learns, shares what works, what doesn't work, and keeps it real. I think we need to start a campaign on Suzanne's behalf for a Food Network show on making cheese and grandmother bread!!!!!!!
Second that motion!
7:44 am
May 14, 2005
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Hahaha….. Thank you, but no thank you. PW has a TV show because she always wanted a TV show. My only real criticism of her is that she's disingenuous and makes frequent statements about how she has no idea how all this media stardom happened to little ol' her. She employs a Hollywood celebrity media firm, and has for some time, so that's how, LOL. I think it would be so much more interesting if she was truthful about how she has worked behind the scenes with PR people to get where she is. We'll never hear that story because for some reason she prefers the charade about how it's all accidental. Reminds me of this author I spoke with a while back. Every once in a while, I'll talk to a writer because I get to know them by giving away one of their books here or something. This author had been on the Martha Stewart show with her book. On the outside, it could seem like she was plucked from obscurity to appear on the Martha show just because she was so awesome! (That's kinda like the PW line.) In truth, she worked incredibly hard with PR people over a long period of time to get on the show. She wasn't plucked from obscurity by magic–in fact, she plucked HERSELF from obscurity by hard work and persistent faith. Now THAT'S a great story, inspiring, and admirable.
Anyway, back to bread and cheese and FN, I do NOT want a TV show. Aside from that, FN would not want ME for a TV show, LOL. I'm not polished enough, and I don't want to be, either. I would have ten different kinds of panic attacks if I had to be on TV, and aside from the fact that it would make really uncomfortable, I just don't want a TV show. I'm a writer. I would love to write some books based on CITR and related themes. I haven't had time to spend on that, but someday!
8:16 am
October 10, 2009
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Thank you Suzanne for CITR and it's honesty and down home-come-in-and-sit-a-spell hominess. I just visited PWs site. I read her once in a while and like others have commented the blog has deteriorated from her beginning posts. Don't hate her but if I don't go there it leaves me more time for CITR!
8:27 am
February 22, 2010
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Suzanne, I know there are some good "cheesemaking" books out there…but I would like one authored by you. Forget the TV stuff…I like a good book…with lots of pictures! Your ability to capture a moment in time with the camera and your way with words…pure talent!
8:52 am
May 14, 2005
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There are several different kinds of books I'd like to do. Every summer, I start out to write a book proposal, then something takes me away. This summer it was the downstairs project and the retreat…….. By the way, I'm reading a great book now called Hit By A Farm by Catherine Friend. She has a follow-up book called Sheepish which I plan to devour next. These are memoir type books, and really great, and honest. I love stories like this, about real people doing real work on real farms, telling the truth and being funny about it. There's a great story in PW (of the real work) but she's not telling it. (Well, not that it's real *farming* work for her, LOL, but like the example above of the author who did tell me her real story about getting on the Martha show–PW has a real story, and that's the greatest one, but she won't tell it.) Anyway, stay tuned because I have talked Catherine Friend into doing a giveaway of Hit By A Farm and Sheepish on my blog. Whenever I read a great book that I think you guys will like, I contact the author and try to beg, borrow, or steal a giveaway copy. Sometimes they don't write back, sometimes they do!
11:41 am
June 1, 2011
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I sorta figured you'd feel that way, Suzanne. I'd be the same way. Much better behind words than in front of a camera. And what you say about PW is the truth…there IS a story there to tell, just befuddles me why it isn't being told. Ah well.
As far as other agrarian writers, my favorite is Gladys Taber. She wrote over 50 books from the 40s to the 70s about life at Stillmeadow Farm, the farm she bought with a friend as a part-time home away from the heat of NYC in the 20s and 30s. Soon however she moved into the 1690 farmhouse permanently, and wrote about the many different aspects of country life. Her writing is eloquent and vivid, sweetly portraying even the hardships of winter. Whenever I find her books at library sales I snatch 'em up! Worth checking out!
5:26 pm
June 30, 2009
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I have never like her site. It never seemed down homey to me, even thought it seemed like she was trying way too hard to seem that way.
5:47 pm
April 1, 2009
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I started watching the FN many years ago thinking I was really going to learn something–I did, from what I see, these "chefs" all work in a studio with most of there prep work being done for them, with all of the latest gagets and all of their ingredients just happen to be in the fridge or pantry.
Have you ever tried making one of those meals in 30 minutes doing everything yourself? Who buys all of the stuff they use? I cant afford it to begin with. I have made some of the baked goods during the holidays and really–they looked nothing like I saw on tv. They, in my opinion, are nothing more than rehearsed shows. Nothing like Julia Childs–that was a real chef–a cook I have seen her drop stuff on the floor and pick it up and use it!
What I have learned is there are just so many recipes out there and any of them can be tweaked to be "new" and "fantastic" depending on your taste, but I think the tried and true recipes on farm bell are as good as they get, and each and every one that has submitted a recipe is a star. I have tried a lot of those recipes and have enjoyed them all. It is a good thing there has never been a camera crew in my kitchen, I dont usally cook in make up or hair all done up. I do all of my own "prep" work, and if things go wrong, I usally says lots more than just "oops"!
I am not a star, but when my family says "this is really good"–I feel like one! Just like all of you Gals & Guys that are reading this blog. Everyone that cooks real food at home is a star.
It would be like imitation bologna–if there was such a thing–phoney boloney. I love bologna, but give me the real thing.
These are only my personal opinions,
Thank you.
8:27 pm
February 27, 2009
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I'm another one that used to read her blog but became disenchanted with it as it "changed". The voice she wrote in changed and to me, it was a negative change. I wish her well, but I just can't get into the blog any longer. It reminds me of another blog that I used to love to read. Unfortunately, as that writer became more popular, the tone of the blog went from sisters chatting with each other to a cranky spinster aunt ordering everyone about. Things were no longer, you might want to try this. Oh, doing this in this manner works well for me and you might want to try it and see if it works for you, too. Instead, it became DO this! DO THAT! I'm the authority here. So I dropped that blog too.
It's a shame when as a blog becomes more popular, the voice of it changes. This is especially sad when it's because people have let their ego inflate and "popularity" go to their heads. So many times when people begin to monetize their blog, they change what was good about it to make money. The only way to keep readership is to continue in the voice the blog started out in. It's what drew people in the first place. If people keep the original voice when they become popular, the loyal readers whom have always been there and were the "cause" of the popularity will continue to stay. Then when things fade – as all "popular" things do, the fan base is still there. If the voice of the blog changes, people leave it. Then when the fade occurs, there is no base to fall back on and things crash big time.
So I guess the question is, does the blog owner want to write so they have readers – which means keeping it "real" or do they just want fame and perhaps a bit of fortune – and those are most often a short-term commodities.
Just my thoughts.
6:55 pm
June 7, 2011
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A couple of things on her site made me go "huh?" over the years.
Some of the posts about the young kids and horses just seem so off. I was born and raised in an ag area and even the Amish and Mennonite families I know wouldn't have a four year old out working large herds of livestock on horseback or on foot. (in the barn or barnyard with a few head, sure) I know families that have horse farms and while the little ones know how to ride, they are closely supervised when on a horse, not let loose in a setting where they could cause big problems for themselves or others.
I was shocked to see a package of store-bought beef in one of her recipes. Someone asked why, as a cattle rancher, she buys meat from the grocery store? She replied that they don't finish cattle out on their ranch (neither do I but I can think of at least ten farmers I can buy beef by the half from) but the main reason was they prefer the taste of it. WTH? Not one single farmer I know would willingly pick mass-market, supermarket meat over pastured, locally raised beef. (it is also more economical but that is another topic)
4:44 pm
January 31, 2011
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omy This has brought up alot of feeling from people…
I found CITR and Pioneer Woman the same day…several years ago. Both were/are fun…
When my daughter crashed with depression around the same time…I used to read Rees stories to her and see her relax into them. She was VERY sick… She loves cowboy anything, the funny quirks…and the money helps, I'm sure.
Mostly I love that she has energy and more to see her dreams through ( JUST LIKE SUZANNE ) …and has probably had several …'This is too much !!!' moments, too…I'm sure ' it ' got away from her many times… I would not want to live her life now…
It flabbergasted me that she is homeschooling, on top of everything else.
When she came to St. Louis, we went and got the cookbook signed, listened to her laugh…and teased her little boys. She recognized that i am from Chicago, by my accent ( haven't lived there for 23 years) Already, the older one had Ladds personality, and Todd had hers. He signed my book all over the place…told me which recipes were yukky, drew pokemon, that sort of thing… My daughter follows Ree faithfully, practices photography on my old 35 mm, sees a sunnier world, and for that I am really grateful ! ( But, We had no idea she was so wealthy…)
But Citr is MY fav space, because I see so much possibility for ME. I can really do the things on there, and the thought of a busy little homeplace has always been a dream of ours…the ideals and goals we had 34 years ago are still alive and well with suzanne and her brood ! I am so grateful for the positive influence citr has had on living the life of MY dreams…
laur
8:55 pm
May 14, 2011
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Oh, I was sad to read so many negative comments, but to each their own.
I do like her blog. I think she’s funny and her photographs are gorgeous. I
read PW and CITR daily. Each one gives me something different.
9:47 pm
September 11, 2011
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I haven't looked at the site much. One of my friends posted the "Marlboro Man Sandwich" on Facebook the other day and I checked it out. We made it the other night, yummy! Just cube steak, onions, and lots of butter…
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