Monday, September 27, 2010

Lexi & The Pioneer Woman = BFF

This past Saturday was the Library of Congress's National Book Festival, one of my favorite events of the year. Normally I go there with a schedule, having mapped out who I want to see and what time they were speaking and signing their books.
This year, my main priority to hear speak was Laura Bush, who founded the first NBF in 2001, her first year in the White House. She was speaking at 10:35 (no signings), so I got to her tent about 45 minutes before that, knowing that it would be crowded. Prior to Mrs. Bush, Gordon S. Wood spoke, discussing his books about the American Revolution. He was actually quite interesting and I think I will look for his books.
Then Mrs. Bush came out and spoke about how proud she was of the NBF and what it means to her. This was the 10th anniversary of it, so she was pleased that it has continued. She recently came out with a memoir, so she read from it, about 9/11. The first NBF was just three days before 9/11, she told us. She was wonderful and I was pleased to hear her speak. I really do admire her quite a bit. She's a former teacher and librarian, as you may know.
After that, Steve and I wandered a bit. There were other authors there, of course, but nobody that I was dying to see. I knew that the Pioneer Woman was there, but she had spoken at the same time as Laura Bush, so I missed her. Her signing was later that day, so I had my cookbook with me, just in case. I figured her signing line would be insane though, so it wouldn't have been the end of the world if she didn't sign it.
One of the tents held the Pavilion of the States, where each state has a table and sets up a display of authors from that state and the like. I was wandering through and came to the Oklahoma table, and there she was!
I couldn't believe it. I smiled at her and said "oh my gosh, hi!" I'm pretty sure that the eight-year old boy standing there had no idea who she was :) I asked her if she'd mind if I had my picture taken with her, and she said of course not, so I handed my phone to Steve and walked around the table. Then, I said "would it be really horrible of me to ask you to sign my cookbook now?" She laughed and said "no, then you won't have to wait in the line later!"
So she asked my name and how I liked the cookbook. Of course, I told her that I love it and how I received it in a cookbook swap from Mrs. Potts, which she thought was really cool! We chatted for a few minutes, she wrote me a love note and off I went a few minutes later.
She's such a doll. Really.
I think I want to move to Oklahoma and live on her ranch.



{the cookbook!}


{ hehe! }


{ chatting }


{ love to lexi!}


{ see, we're pretty much BFF now }
How was your weekend?

11 comments:

Annie said...

Awwww, so glad you got to meet her!

how i met your father blog said...

i love love love book signings!! so jealous (and also happy for you, of course!). i've tagged you in an award... http://howimetyourfatherblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/little-miss-blog-list.html

Mrs. Potts said...

How Fun!! I've never been to something like that, nor have I ever had a book signed. I think with my Kindle now, I'm out of luck. :)

KatiePerk said...

How cool are you? That sounds like an awesome event!

VA Gal said...

Oh, that's wonderful! I love the Book Festival and was sad I had to miss this year. Oh, and definitely read Gordon Wood. I was a history major in college and remember liking his writing a lot.

Unknown said...

Oh, how neat. I was out of town this weekend and missed the festival-glad you had a wonderful time!!!

Meg @ write meg! said...

How exciting -- and cool that you met her randomly outside both the signing and talk! Thank goodness you got to skip the signing lines, too; they were awful. I haven't even bothered the past two years! And I definitely didn't want to have to carry all my books around... gah, it was so hot :(

Katelin said...

aww that is so cool and i love that she signed your book and everything and was as nice as i imagine, seriously love it.

Amy, a redeemed sheep said...

Now that is awesome! You look so cute!

Anonymous said...

Hello, awesome post, what a lucky day too! If you'd like to send me your address I can send your magazine swap package out through Floss at Troc Broc and Recup x

Shoshanah said...

That sounds like a great festival! I wish they had something like that out here. And I'm a jealous that you got to meet the pioneer woman. I love her blog, but still need her cookbook.