A Valentine’s Day love gift was especially appreciated this year. Home-made cookies, lovingly made by cousin Sandi, were a true blessing as they took her many hours to make.
If you have a day to play with try this recipe from the Martha Stewart Magazine, Jan/Feb., page 112. They are called Dark and White Chocolate Shortbread Hearts.
Conrad Grieb on his Wedding Day.
Conrad Grieb (Son of Fred Grieb) and Ida Mae (Campbell) have quite an interesting history. They left a wonderful legacy, not only with their four kids, Dean, Elaine, Richard, and Georgia, but with the Grieb and Campbell families and many friends.
Connie and Ida Mae met when she was living with the Chandlers. Ida was essentially a housekeeper and babysitter for the Chandlers. The Chandler home was just across the driveway from the Fred Grieb Sr. home off Halcyon Road in Arroyo Grande. We do not know any real particulars as to their courting.
They were married at the home of Fred and Gertrude Grieb by a local minister . . . a basic but very warm family wedding in November 1940.
Connie had purchased a ranch in Los Berros, about 5 miles from Arroyo Grande in 1938. He was always a “man of the soil”. The ranch house was approaching 100 years old when he bought the ranch. It didn’t have a bathroom which meant there was an outside privy about 100 feet from the house. Top priority was to install a bathroom shortly after Connie and Ida were married.
Dean was born in 1941, Elaine in 1943, Richard in 1944, and Georgia Mae in 1946, each brought into the world with love. All four children were raised in the old house, each having very fond memories of the good times shared as a family.
Connie always involved the boys in his daily farming/ranching activities, mentoring both Dean and Richard with many skills he had involving cattle, farming, apricots and walnuts, etc. Ida was mentor for girls, teaching them everything from domestic house chores, sewing, and assuring they grew up to be proper ladies. Connie and Ida did a great job!
Life during the 40’s and 50’s was not as complex as it is today. The kids played outside did not have TV, computers, i-phones, etc. Many values that were shared by Connie and Ida are presently the threshold of their offspring.
Connie and Ida always had an extended family with at least one extra youngster for dinner or staying over-night. Avila Beach was always a favorite with Connie after a full day of work during the summer. He loved the ocean, so off to Avila with family for a swim and hot-dog roast they would go. These outings provided very fond memories for all the kids.
Connie was a Odd Fellow and Ida was a Rebecca with the Arroyo Grande IOOF Lodge, each for more than 50 years. They both went through the various chairs of the organization and enjoyed it to no end.
Connie (left) loved fishing.
Connie was always a man of the outdoors. He loved farming, hunting, fishing, getting together with family and friends, horseshoes, and barbecues. Ida loved to play cards, tell a joke or two, and prepare scrumptious dinners. In later years, both enjoyed traveling the western states and frequently stopping at a casino. The both enjoyed playing Keno.
Connie passed away in 1987. Ida passed away in 2006. Their loving legacy will live for many years to come with family, friends, and mere acquaintances.
Memories are made with family gathering to celebrate special days. Special foods are usually part of the tradition and memories. For the past 60 years Carrot Pudding has been a must for Carl Grieb at Christmas.
From the Kitchen of: Gertrude Grieb Servings: 12
1 cup grated carrots
1 cup sugar
1 cup grated apple
1 cup raisins
1 cup suet or ¾ cup butter
2 cups flour
½ tsp. cloves
1 tsp. cinnamon
Hard Sauce Topping:
1 package powdered sugar
1 cube butter
1 tsp. vanilla
Mix together by squeezing by hand to form a ball
Slice pudding and then top with a slice of sauce.
What is cuter than baby calves, puppies and grandsons? Out on the ranch chores still need to be done rain or shine. Chores are even more fun with kids and puppies helping out.
Grieb Ranch is training a new dog “Ace” to help herd the cattle and other animals. Connie has been hand-raising this puppy and now this new pup has stock dog commands to learn.
“Get around” – Used to send dog to the left to stop or direct the livestock (cattle, sheep or goats and sometimes chickens or ducks) from going that direction. This command can be used from horseback, Kubota or while on foot.
“Way around”– Used to send dog to the right then same as above.
“Sit” – Command for the dog to sit.
“Down” – puts on the brakes for the dog.
Then a “Down Hold” – keeps the herded animals where they are.
“Walk-on” – Asks the dogs to follow and take the herd to a specific destination.
“Back” – Dog needs to be working close to the animals in the herd.
“Heel” – The dog has to get behind command giver.
“Load-up” – Command used to get dogs in vehicles.
“Run”– Sometimes when driving the RTV, the dogs slow to stop or play in front of the vehicle. It can be difficult to use the brakes, so the command “Run” gets the dogs to take off.
“Stay” – Used when the dogs are in a vehicle or pen and they are not to unload or leave their pen.
“That’ll Do” – Command used to let the dogs know they are finished with the task and to leave the herd animals.
“Look Back” – Used if the herd splits to send the dog to get the rest.
“Out” – Used when we are working in a corral and we do not need the dog’s help.
As it was mentioned in part 2, to train a stock dog the owner/trainer must be calm, confident and consistent. The rules and commands must be clear and insistent. If you have the right dog and put in the effort you will end up with a dog worth its weight in gold. A well-trained working cow dog is especially useful when gathering cattle off the steep hills of Grieb Ranch.
Beautiful rain has graced the hillsides on a more regular basis so far this winter. This has given Connie some time to read. One of the short articles from Directions – the National Junior Angus Association Newsletter, Fall 2016 – written by Macy Perry caught Connie’s eye and she wants to pass it on . . .
Today Matters Life-man, does it go by fast. I mean, you never really realize how fast time goes until it’s gone and you can’t get it back.. …Recently, I’ve thought extensively about a motivation book I’ve been reading for my horse judging team…titled Today Matters by John C. Maxwell. Maxwell really digs deep in how important today is and how to make the most of what you are doing in the present. Maxwell outlines 12 different areas as keys to success, which include attitude, priorities, health, family, thinking, commitment, finances, faith, relationships, generosity, values and growth…..”though you cannot go back and make a brand-new start, my friend, you can start now, and make a brand-new end, it reads.
We can’t change what has happened in our past, but that’s not the case with our future. To change the future, you must start today. If you make a commitment to a goal you want to achieve, start now and stick with it. It doesn’t matter if you’ve failed in the past.
“Anything worth having is going to be a struggle. Commitment doesn’t come easy but when you’re fighting for something you believe in, the struggle is worth it,” writes Maxwell. Keep this mind when you question your goal and what you are doing today.
Take this advice from Maxwell and his book and don’t let your life pass you by. “Time is the most valuable coin in your life. You and you alone will determine how that coin will be spent. Be careful that you do not let other people spend it for you. Follow your passions, chase after you goals, and never forget what’s most important to you. We all only have so much time in our lives so make today matter.
Rain makes the hills green and supplies the livestock with food. So with the Grieb Ranch hills covered with beautiful green grass Connie also read the book “Every Child Every Nation Every Day” by Robert J. Morgan.
The Grieb Ranch wants to take Reese Kaufmans advice: “He advocates plunging into each day with an attitude of adventure, for Jesus promised us life more abundant.” (John 10:10B).
Wow! Life on the Grieb Ranch is busy as ever. We have gone from dust and tall dry thistles to hills of green that we are thankful! The thistles are an amazing late feed. Thistle heads are full of tiny seeds that the horses and cattle seem to like. To me, Connie, thistles are “wicked” and the sharp points break off under my skin and hurt. We are busy putting in a new water trough to replace the rusted out one. The bulls are now turned out with the cows. Fixing fences happens almost daily because of the bulls playing (fighting) and ripping them up. We are at the end of our calving season-one cow to calve yet. Oh! We are raising the runt puppy of a litter of puppies. Her name is Ace and she loves to play train with the grandkids.
The Grieb Ranch wants to you to know that with love and thanks to all of you that have blessed us with many wonderful memories of 2016, for the joys of this Christmas Holiday Season, and the promise of your continued blessing of your friendship yet to come in 2017.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE GRIEB RANCH-as we all remember what Luke 2:10-11 says “Do not be afraid! For behold I bring you good new of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the City of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!”
Grandma’s icebox cookies were another family favorite. They were easy to keep on hand so Grandma could bake fresh cookies for her hungry brood. She would make a big batch, form them into rolls and store them in the refrigerator. Then when she needed a fresh cookie treat she would go to the ice box, pull out a roll, cut them into cookies, bake and serve. These were Stanley Grieb’s favorite. The grand kids enjoyed eating the raw dough.
From the recipe files of Gertrude Haven Grieb
Ingredients:
2 cups of butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup castor sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 cup ground walnuts
1 cup raisins (some relatives leave this ingredient out)
6 cups all purpose flour
Directions:
Mix well with hands, add more flour if needed.
Roll into two rolls, 2″ thick.
Wrap rolls tightly and refrigerate overnight. Slice into thick slices about 1/4″ place on greased cookie sheet and bake at 350°F for 9 to 11 minutes. This recipe makes about 11 dozen cookies.
Storage:
Store rolls in the refrigerator or freezer for future use. Wrap the logs tightly in plastic wrap, then place the logs in freezer bags, squeeze out excess air then place in freezer. When ready to use the dough, let it sit out for a few minutes before slicing the logs. Frozen cookie dough may need a few minutes more to bake.
“Count your many blessings . . . Name them one-by-one,” are lyrics from a childhood song that now rings through Connie’s head this time of year.
Now her grandson loves counting from one to ten. He counts everything from six new puppies, five tomatoes in a cluster, four eggs the hens laid, Thomas the train and his three cargo cars, his two cows Peaches and Pudge and their calves PJ and Percy, and one little brother. He counts things Connie tends to overlook, on their way to do some seemly mundane chores.
So in the process her grandson is teaching her to count again. “Often I become so immersed in things I haven’t finished or things I don’t have that I fail to see all the good things around me. I have forgotten to count the new friends made this year and the answered prayers received, the tears of joy shed and the times of laughter with good friends,” says Connie.
“My ten fingers are not enough to count all that God gives me day by day. Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your dids, they would be toomany to declare: Psalms 40:5. How can we even ben gin to count all the blessings of salvation, reconciliation, and eternal life?
Let us join David as he praises God for all His precious thought about us and all He has done for us, when he says, “How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand”
(Ps.139:17-18). Excerpt from: LETS’s LEARN TO COUNT AGAIN!” Keila Ochoa-Daily Bread
As we celebrate Thanksgiving let’s thank God for His COUNTLESS BLESSINGS.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM THE GRATEFUL GRIEB RANCH
Love, Gertrude 1931
Graduation from Nursing School
Gertrude, Donald and the Girls
She taught us how to cook, make pies, cookies, and make use of the abundance that came from the orchards, garden, lakes and ocean. That we had been taught how to prep fresh vegetables, prepare clams, abalone, trout and salmon, as well as cut up a chicken or rabbit or deer served us well over our adult years of outdoorsy life. And in those pre-permanent press fabric years, because of mom, we knew how to iron with a mangle, be pretty efficient with an iron, to be independent.
Fishing, camping and cooking all things Gertrude loved to do.
Gertrude enjoyed Hawaii
Gertrude, Sharon, Marianne and Savanna
Gertrude with her siblings.
Grandma loved cakes with fruit in them. Her favorite was prune cake, but the family favorite was Applesauce cake. The whole family looked forward to enjoying a slice. Grandma’s Applesauce cake was made even more special by using Grandma’s homemade applesauce. This delight was often available in the afternoon, served with hot green tea.
Grandma’s Applesauce cake needs no frosting, but looks and tastes delicious with a light dusting of powdered sugar on top.
Recipe by: Gertrude Haven Grieb
Sift together:
Combine the following and mix well with the dry ingredients:
Pour mixture into a 13 x 9 inch greased pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until done. Lightly dust top of cake with powdered sugar. Cut into squares to serve.
