Author: ride-n-mama Sharon

by

The Gift of Hospitality

Grieb Family Fun

From the time I (Sandi Ferrio a Grieb Family member who runs the Grieb Farmhouse Inn) was a very young girl, my grandmother Grieb was my model and mentor; kind, generous and steadfast in her beliefs. Best of all, she was a woman through which the light of God shone. There were no more joyous moments in my life than time spent with her. As I assisted her with household tasks preparing and serving meals, greeting guests, friends and family I observed how she moved with ease, balance and grace. Everyone felt welcome, valued and loved.

“Be not afraid to entertain strangers for thereby some have entertained angels.” Hebrews 13:2

Her life verse, Hebrews 13:2, was played out to perfection. She was always friendly to those she did not know as she believed that any person she met just might be one of God’s chosen messengers as told in the Bible in Genesis 18, (Abrahams’s encounter with God’s messengers). The love of God overflowed in my grandmother’s conduct in all she did. She was neighborly, charitable and hospitable. Her hospitality required generosity in loving her fellow man and following the commandment to love your neighbor as yourself.

Grieb Family Dining Together

I am sure my grandmother never knew all the lives she influenced during her time on earth. The way she fed the homeless hot meals who came to her door during the Great Depression or how cheerfully she daily fed drop-in visitors her delicious brand of food and modeled godly principles of hospitality. The soup pot was never empty, the cookie jar was always full. An offer of a cup of hot green tea and a warm cinnamon roll was not uncommon.

She was a woman who made a deep and lasting impression on my life. It is no accident that in my own way I chose follow in my grandmothers footsteps and more importantly the leading of God in my life by extending hospitality to strangers at the Grieb Farmhouse Inn. It is a joyful thing. “ I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.” Philippians 1:3.

by

Lemons: A Burst of Sunshine to Brighten Winter

A Burst of Sunshine in Winter

Lemons – or any citrus for that matter – brighten foods, smell heavenly, and bring a burst of sunshine to winter. The mild winters here on the Central Coast of California where Grieb Ranch is located, provide the perfect climate for growing citrus year-round. Many orange and yellow fruit are bursting forth right now in our orchard.

Lemons
Oranges
P eating a lemon

P enjoying the brightness of a lemon fresh off the tree.

One of our favorite ways to enjoy lemons is in a Lemon Meringue pie. Yum. This pie was Lorna’s (Fred Grieb’s Daughter) husband Merriam’s very favorite pie. It was always on the menu for his birthday dinner and any special family gathering. Some family members went right to the pie before the main course just so they could get a piece before it was gone!

The Family Favorite Lemon Meringue Pie

The Family Favorite: Lemon Meringue Pie

Recipe For: Daddy’s Favorite Lemon Pie

From the Kitchen of: Lorna Erickson             Servings: 8

Making the Pastry for one-crust pie (8 or 9 inch)
Pastry Ingredients:
1 C flour
½ t. salt
1/3 C plus 1 T shortening
2-3 T cold water
Pastry Instructions:
Measure flour and salt into a bowl. Cut in shortening. Sprinkle in water and mix until all flour is moistened. Roll dough out on lightly floured board. Fit into pie dish and prick bottom and sides of crust with fork. Bake 475 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Lemon Filling Ingredients:
1 ½ C sugar
1/3 C + 2 T cornstarch
1 ½ C water
4 large egg yolks slightly beaten
Zest of 2 lemons
3 T butter
½ C lemon juice
Lemon Filling Instructions:
Combine sugar and cornstarch in heavy saucepan. Stir in water gradually. Cook over medium heat stirring constantly until thick and clear and boiling. Add a little of this mixture to beaten egg yolks. Add back to hot mixture along with lemon zest. Cook 1 minute more stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and add butter and lemon juice. Pour into baked pie shell. Top with meringue.

Meringue Ingredients:
4 egg whites
8 T sugar
1 t. vanilla
Meringue Instructions:
Beat egg whites until frothy. Gradually add sugar and vanilla. Continue beating until very stiff and glossy. Pile meringue onto pie filling being careful to seal the meringue onto edge of crust to prevent shrinkage. If the filling is exposed to heat it may weep. Swirl or pull points up for a decorative top. Bake at 400 degrees until delicately browned 8-10 minutes.

Grieb Family Dining Together
Grieb Family Fun
by

Rain Brings More Fun

Hills are turning green

The hills of Grieb Ranch are turning green.

 

We have prayed for rain. We have brought the cows home. Rain has come. One of the last storms of 2014 brought with it flash flood warnings and a 36 hour power outage at Grieb Ranch. Living on a hill and living outside of town makes rainstorms extra fun for Grieb Ranch.

Note the ruts in the hill where the rain came down fast and hard. This scenario gave Grieb Ranch a flash flood warning.
A 36 hour power outage force studying by candlelight.

We rejoice in the rain for the grass is growing, slowly. Supplemental feeding is coming to an end. To best manage the green grass Connie has staked out pastures for rotational grazing. This is where the cattle feed in one area then the pastures are moved to another location so the grass can regenerate. One time she forgot to also fence off a faucet and the young bulls broke the faucet. Oops, now it’s a fix-it item.

Even with the rain, the grass is still very sparse . Three years of drought have minimized the re-seeding of the native grass. So careful management and more rain is necessary to help bring the green grass back at a rate that will feed the cattle.

Grieb Ranch is still praying for rain as even with around 3 inches falling in the latter part of 2014, no new storms are on the horizon for awhile.

A Hallelujah Christmas

Merry Christmas from Grieb Ranch

Enjoy this song with lyrics by Lance Stafford of Cloverton

We have every reason to sing Hallelujah!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43OQi0KJC8g

“With every breath I’m singing Hallelujah . . .”

“God’s only son was born, oh Hallelujah . . .”

“Emmanuel and Savior Hallelujah”

“I know you came to rescue me,

this baby boy will grow to be

a man who one day died for me and you.

My sins would drive the nails in you

that rugged cross was my cross too,

still every breath you drew was Hallelujah!”

by

Grieb Ranch Special Jello Ribbon Salad

Grieb Ranch Jello Salad

In 1975 Barbara wrote a note to her daughter Connie and included this recipe for Jello Ribbon Salad. “A half recipe would be plenty. Honey the first time I made it, it seemed like it took all day. It gets more fun each time I make it because it is our special salad. How neat to share it with you and your family for your first special Thanksgiving away from home. Love Mom, Happy Thanksgiving.”

I Thessalonians 5:18 In everything give thanks; . . .

2014 – The Grieb family has enjoyed this salad every Thanksgiving and Christmas for all these years.

Recipe for: Jello Ribbon Salad
From the Kitchen of: Barbara Grieb
Servings:16+

Ingredients:
2 (3 oz.) pkgs. Lime flavor gelatin
5 cups hot water
4 cups cold water
1 (3 oz.) pkgs. Lemon gelatin
½ cup Mini Marshmallows, cut up
1 cup Pineapple Juice (from the crushed pineapple)
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese
1 (1 lb. 4oz.) can crushed pineapple
1 cup heavy whipping cream (whipped)- I cheat and use already-whipped whip cream
1 cup mayonnaise
2 (3 oz.) Pkgs. of Cherry gelatin

Instructions:
1. Dissolve Lime gelatin in 2 cups hot water and then add 2 cups cold water. Pour into a 14x10x2 pan or into 3 jello molds; filling each mold 1/3 full.
2. Chill until partly set.
3. Dissolve Lemon gelatin in double boiler in 1 cup hot water.
4. Add marshmallows and stir to melt.
5. Remove from heat. Add 1 cup drained Pineapple Juice and cream cheese.
6. Beat until well blended and stir in Pineapple.
7. Cool slightly. Fold in whip cream and mayonnaise. Chill until thickened.
8. Pour over Lime gelatin. Chill until almost set.
9. Dissolve Cherry gelatin in 2 cups hot water and then add 2 cups cold water. Chill until almost set.
10.Pour over Lemon filling.

by

A Christmas Gift That Keeps On Giving

A Very Special Gift
By Margie Runels

Grandma and Grandpa Grieb had lots of children and grandchildren. At Christmas time they remembered each one of us not with fancy or expensive gifts, but with gifts of love. Every family would get a big tray of mouth-watering cookies and candied walnuts, plus a subscription to National Geographic to enjoy all year.

But the best gift that Grandma and Grandpa gave us, still lingers today. Years after they are gone – their love for each other demonstrated commitment and faithfulness.

Grandma and Grandpa Grieb sitting in their rocking chairs.

Grandma and Grandpa Grieb sitting in their rocking chairs.

One example etched in my memory is: Every Saturday night they would pull up their old wooden rocking chairs in front of a small black and white television. The T.V. sat tucked in the corner; silent the rest of the week. They would hold hands and enjoy a whole hour of the Lawrence Welk show. My grandparents just may have created the original date night.

Grandma and Grandpa Grieb with Connie and her parents.

Grandma and Grandpa Grieb with Connie and her parents.

Even after being married almost seventy years they still held hands and Grandpa still looked at Grandma with a twinkle of love in his eyes and brought her wildflowers out of the yard.

Thank you Lord for blessing me with such wonderful family memories and examples of enduring love though my Grandparents. Please help me, Lord, to strive to pass on to my children and grandchildren the same gift.

by

The Crazy, Cool, (Exasperating), Exciting Cow Rescue Story By Ethan

Daisy down.

Daisy down.

I thought that I would have a peaceful evening of Thursday, November 20 but nope, not a chance. . . I was literally a centimeter away from stuffing my face with spaghetti when my mother crashed through the door, “Ethan, we’re going to need your help!” One of our cows was in distress. We loaded up the Kubota with a cow halter and tow ropes. Daniel (my brother) took the truck with the old faithful red trailer and Papa (Grandpa) took the tractor. Off we went up into the hills in our convoy.

When we got to the cow in distress we got our answer to: “Why all this?”

Well, mom went out to feed the cows in the early dawn that morning. As she was feeding she noticed that a cow was missing so she scanned the horizon. She happened to see a strange flick up on the hillside and went to investigate. There she found Daisy, the Jersey cow, thrashing in the suicide position – lying on her side, thrashing with eyes rolling back in her head and trying to get up. With all her strength mom had to get Daisy into a sitting position. Daisy could not get up. To make matters worse, Daisy was in a place that made rescue nearly impossible. So . . . mom raced home to get feed and water for Daisy. Since no one was available back at the ranch to help rescue Daisy that morning, mom brought the feed and water to Daisy then had to leave her there. Mom had to go and do her other life responsibilities that day, praying for Daisy.

Mom finished her day of teaching and hurried home to see if Daisy made it through the day. Yikes! Daisy had fallen or rolled down the hillside to the road below.

Daisy rolled from the top near the tree down to the road below.

Daisy rolled from the top near the tree down to the road below.

She was lying with her head down hill and once again in the cow suicide position. Mom had to pull her tail and legs to get her to sit up….she was so near the edge that one wrong struggle to get up would have sent her to the point of no rescue. So mom went off to get help. That’s where I came in, just before stuffing my face.

Our convoy had to position our help past Daisy on the uphill side. I got to stand with pressure on Daisy to keep her from struggling so she wouldn’t go over the edge. Daniel lined up the trailer and we decided it would work best to try to get her in the tractor bucket then transfer her to the trailer. We were all in a precarious position; one wrong move from any of us would mean major injury to any of us, including Daisy! We put a halter on her to help control her flopping head. Yeah! Everything worked as planned. We got Daisy in the trailer and got her set up. However, she could not sit up on her own so I had to wedge myself in the trailer and sit with her to keep her upright for the bumpy trip down the hill. We made it down the hill and unloaded Daisy at the barn.

After several days and many tubes of electrolytes, four of us flipping her from side to side several times daily (so the body fluids would flow), propping her up in a sitting position with a few hay bales……………on the 9th day down she got up. Oh and her two month old heifer calf had to be roped and brought in as Daisy was not able to care for her. We put the calf on a bottle, and she is hand-fed twice a day at feeding time. The calf is in a pen near her mom is now starting to feed off Daisy. Daisy and her heifer calf will be part of the herd again soon. We thank God for His care of all His creatures.

Daisy's heifer calf.

Daisy’s heifer calf.

by

Thankful For A Rich Family Heritage

Walnuts, bagged and ready to ship.

Walnuts, bagged and ready to ship.

“If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments so as to carry them out, then I shall give you rains in their season, so that the land will yield its produce and the trees of the field will bear their fruit. Indeed, your threshing will last for you until grape gathering, and grape gathering will last until sowing time. You will thus eat your food to the full and live securely in your land.” Leviticus 26:3-5

Grandpa and Grandma Grieb had orchards; beautiful apricot and walnut orchards. Every summer of my childhood their barn (processing shed) rang with the laughter and chatter of teenage girls who were cutting apricots and placing them on drying trays, while listening to the popular music on the radio. Fall brought the sound of the huge walnut dryers and the musty-burlap smell of gunnysacks which were used to store the walnuts. One November day stands out in my mind because the radio and the dryers were silent. We were gathering with family at the barn to celebrate Thanksgiving. Upon entering the barn, we were amazed because it had been transformed into a banquet hall. The tables were lined up end-to-end and groaned under the weight of the Thanksgiving feast. The barn was filled with family from 9 Grieb children, 26 grandchildren and of course spouses and great grandchildren. We all came to celebrate family and to give thanks for God’s provision.

Treasured memories from the Walnut and Apricot processing shed.

Treasured memories from the Walnut and Apricot processing shed.

I don’t remember us ever being all together before or after that Thanksgiving meal, but I’m sure that Thanksgiving we came very close to all being together.

Thank you Lord for my many, many blessings. Thank you for a very rich heritage, a large loving family and many treasured memories. – Margie Grieb Runels

“Happy Thanksgiving To You and Yours From Grieb Ranch”

by

Wild Turkey Thanksgiving at Grieb Ranch

It’s that time of year. Take a stroll down the meat isle of your local grocery store and you will see a bundle of plastic-wrapped and netted frozen or fresh turkey bodies as options for your Thanksgiving meal.

At Grieb Ranch the thanksgiving turkey doesn’t come from the local grocery store . . . it comes fresh from the field. A wild turkey has been the Grieb family Thanksgiving tradition for years. You can’t get any more free-range than a wild turkey plucked from your own back 40. These wild turkeys did not grow-up on antibiotics or receive any growth hormones. Talk about organic!

Turkey Hunters circa 1999

Turkey Hunters circa 1999

Turkey hunting is not a sit-and-wait-quietly experience. Turkeys do not like to be alone so communication with them is important. One can perfect a turkey call, “Kee, Kee” or a “Putt” or a “Plain Yelp” to lure, stop or scatter the turkeys. To hear these sounds and learn when to use them check out this article on Turkey Calling Tips.  Last year, our infamous Turkey hunter just had to start up the chain-saw to get some wood and the turkeys came to him!

The wild turkey is leaner and lighter than the Butterball store counterparts yet distinctively delicious. The Grieb family skins the whole turkey since the hunting event is very close to the eating event. The skinned, wild turkey is rinsed well, stuffed with a favorite stuffing and placed in an “oven bag” and cooked according to the directions on the bag. The oven bag keeps the bird moist and there is less mess and clean-up after the meal. The wild turkey is served alongside many different side options and among those is always Stan’s Garlic Mashed Potatoes. Gobble, Gobble.

Happy Thanksgiving from Grieb Ranch!

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” Psalm 100:4

 

Stan’s Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Servings: 6 to 7

Ingredients:
1 1/3 C. Milk
2 Cups Water
½ tsp. Salt
½ tsp. Rolled Oregano
2 Garlic Cloves
½ C. Butter
2 C. Betty Crocker Potato Buds

Instructions: Place milk, water and salt in a large microwavable bowl. Get Oregano and roll in hands to crush over bowl. Next get garlic press and press the cloves of garlic. Hint-Immediately rinse and dry and put away press. Cut butter into about tablespoon pats of butter. Microwave all the ingredients except the potato buds for 5 minutes-stir every couple of minutes. Measure out exactly 2 cups of potato buds in a dry measuring cup. Stir potato buds to hot mixture. Hint-As you stir the buds in vigorously the mixture will thicken. Microwave another minute Hint: If making large amounts place each batch in a crock pot to stay warm and then serve.

California Wild Turkeys

California Wild Turkeys hanging out in a parking lot.

by

Replacement Heifers

Ethan’s CA Calf

Fall is the time of year when we re-evaluate our stock at Grieb Ranch. We ask ourselves questions like:

“Which ones will make great 4-H projects?”

“Which bulls should we keep for future breeding stock?”

“Which bulls need to be castrated, because they did not grow like we had hoped?”

“Which cows need to be replaced by younger heifers?”

Cows (females) make up the majority of our herd and some age-out or have other issues which cause us to cull them out of the herd. They are replaced by younger female cows called, Replacement Heifers.

The first choice of Replacement Heifers comes from the new calf-crop that is making their entrance into the herd daily on the ranch in the Fall. Once chosen to be part of the herd, several activities take place to tag and indentify each one.

All heifers have to be “banged” which means to be vaccinated against Brucellosis or Contagious abortion/Bangs disease before they turn a year old. At the time of vaccination, a tattoo is applied in the ear which identifies the animal as having received the “official vaccine”. The tattoo is in the shape of a “shield” (looks like a flower, kind of) that has a letter on one side and a number on the other side. These identify the RB51 vaccine and the year in which vaccination took place. Vaccination is an important tool in the control, management and elimination of Brucellosis.

Each heifer will also wear an ID tag and some other ear tags.

photo-5

Ethan’s 4-H project Replacement Heifer #79.

Here is #79, Ethan’s 4-H heifer for 2015. She is looking at us from inside the squeeze chute which is necessary to use when we work the animals. The blue tag is her ID tag. The large orange tag is to help reduce the flies, lice, ticks that may try to bother her. The flies and lice would reduce weight gain, and ticks carry a fatal disease called, Anaplasmosis. The little orange clip in the right ear is the bangs tag that has to be put in by a vet after the heifer has been officially vaccinated.  In addition to the “Bangs” tattoo, most cattle have a ear tag which is a long skinny metal tag of silver or orange color that is clipped to the top edge part of the ear close to the head. If the replacement heifer is missing the “bangs” ear tattoo upon arrival at the fair, then she is sent home.

A Replacement Heifer shown at the fair must be must be within approximately 75 days of calving by the day of sale. To get within that parameter fair the heifers are to be bred sometime after November 16th.

Like most years Daniel has selected a bull who exhibits a “calving ease” trait. This bull will go in with the heifers. Since the heifers are young we want calves that should be born with a frame and weight that makes them easy to calve. The term used for the bull to produce smaller calves is called, “throwing small calves.”

In Daniel’s younger years he would ask, “Won’t it hurt the calves if the bull throws them?” We would explain that the bull wasn’t going to hurt the babies; just be a daddy to smaller-size calves.