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I LOVE YOU FOREVER, MOM

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You have shown me how to give of myself.

You have shown me leadership.

You have taught me to be strong.

You have taught me the importance of the family.

You have demonstrated unconditional love.

You have demonstrated a sensitivity to people’s needs.

You have handed down to me the important values in life.

You have handed down to me the idea of achieving one’s goals.

You have set an example, throughout your life of what a mother and woman should be like.

I am so proud of you.

And I love you forever.

– Susan Polis Schutz

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12

Happy Mother’s Day from the Grieb Ranch

 

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When it Rains

Rain changes plans on the ranch

Getting the train outRecently Stan and Little P went to work in the shop, out of the rain. When they didn’t return for lunch, Connie went to check on them. She was looking to see how clean the shop was and what projects were getting done. Upon entering the shop, Connie was greeted with two big grins and not the sound of rain but the sound of trains in the shop. Trains! A hinged platform was unearthed and brought back to its use of holding the HO train track rails. The train engineers resurrected life from the trains in the rain.

Rain changes work conditions

muddyThe weather forecast was for 51% chance of showers. 300 head of cattle, a three and a half hour drive away were on the schedule to be worked. The weather forecast didn’t deter. Connie got up at 4am to go help her niece get the cattle worked. Well that 51% chance happened and the cattle were worked in the mud. The cowboys had to struggle as the mud stuck to their ropes adding a different challenge to the day. In the end, it turned out to be a fun and safe day that gave even the experienced cowboys a time to remember – working 300 head of cattle in the rain.

wrangling in the mud

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Flowers Spring to Life

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Can you see the cowboys and the cows?

picking flowers for great grandma

Picking flowers for mom

Spring has sprung at Grieb Ranch so we see amazing spring flowers – both wild and planted – come to life all over the ranch.

It is at this time of the year when Isaiah 40:8 comes to mind,
“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”

Each flower is so intricate and phenomenally created, but it only lasts for a short time.  In contrast, the word of our God stands forever.

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Have a Blessed Easter from the Grieb Ranch

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Grieb Ranch Photos: Connie Willems
Flower photos: Sharon Jantzen

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Trust Your Neighbor, but Brand Your Cattle

Riding outThe Old West is almost gone. So far we have been able to gather enough cowboys to rope and brand the calves. Working cowboy skills have for the most part dissolved into memories, histories and legends of the Old West. Grandpa keeps threatening to buy a calf table.

Between wind, rains and bull fights and riding the neighbor’s ranch to find missing cattle we finally gathered all the cattle for the branding event.   The recent rains have resulted in boggy roads and hillsides making traversing them pretty tough.  We are grateful for the rains but it made it tough finding a slot to get the calves branded between rain and friend’s branding events.  We rely on friends to help us brand and we in turn help them.

That is why each year it is so important to get cattle worked…..because you “Trust your neighbor, BUT brand your cattle.”
This year, we gathered all the cattle from our ranch and the neighbor’s in preparation to brand. The unmarked calves are identified as Grieb Ranch property through their branded mothers. Unfortunately, rain and mud hindered us on branding day.  So we put both herds, Papa and Daniel’s, in the holding field to wait for a few days of sunshine.  Our youngest cowboy helper this year was one year old and the oldest was 91 years old. This year’s branding got off to a rough start, but ended well.
Logan

From One Year

Papa Carl

To 91 Years

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Branding: All Hands Appreciated

Branding is used for identifying ownership of cattle. Every ranch has a unique design, usually incorporating the initials of the owner or initial of the ranch. Grieb Ranch brand is a backwards G with an arrow underneath.

Grieb ranch brand close up

Grieb Ranch Brand

Fall calves were recently gathered at Grieb Ranch and driven to the branding area. In addition to branding the young cattle receive vaccinations and ear tags plus get looked over for any health issues. All procedures are done efficiently with the cattle’s best interests in mind.

Connie’s kitchen served as the stage for branding, ear tagging and vaccination prep.

Kitchen is staging area for vax sharpened

Branding is a social affair with cowboy friends showing up early and staying late. Many hands make the work light. Local cowboys help each other out by lending their assistance and knowledge at each other’s branding events. So of course there is food to enjoy after all the work is done. This year the big hit was a Fruit Pizza presented by Jessica Willems.

Fruit Pizza sharpened

Fruit Pizza created by Jessica Willems with fruit rearrangement by little L. Brandings require everyone to lend a helping hand, even a 16 month old boy.

Recipe for:   Fruit Pizza

From the Kitchen of: Jessica Willems 

Servings: 16

Ingredients:

Crust

  • 1 package(18 ounces) refrigerated sugar cookie dough, softened

Crust Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degree F. Shape dough into ball.  Place dough in center of round stone or pizza pan. Using lightly floured rolling pin, roll out dough to 12-inche circle, about ¼ inch think.
  2. Bake 18-20 minutes or until light golden brown.
  3. Cool 10 minutes.

Topping

  • 1 container of cream cheese frosting
  • 2 pints fresh strawberries, stemmed and sliced
  • 1 batch of red and green grapes
  • 1 small can mandarin oranges or 3 “cuties” peeled
  • 1 pint blueberries

Topping Directions

  1. Spread mixture evenly onto top of cookie.
  2. Starting at the outer edge of the pizza edge place strawberry halves, next a row of red grapes, a row of mandarin orange slices, next blueberries, then a row of green grapes and in the center a design made with strawberry halves.
  3. Cut dessert with pizza cutter.

Equipment needed

  • Pizza pan or cookie sheet
  • Roller
  • Paring knives
  • Spatula
  • Medium bowl
  • Cutting board

Grieb Ranch appreciates all helping hands at the branding from 1 year to 91 years.

from 1 to 91

 

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Taking Care of What He Gives

Yes we have enjoyed much-needed rainfall here at Grieb Ranch. However the resulting mud and other issues from the storms add tasks to our already full plate.
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Papa Carl, on his beloved tractor, cleans up debris after a storm.

Connie pauses to reflect on how God might want us to apply David’s prayer from 1 Chronicles 29:14, “Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us.”(NLT)
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Water and mud everywhere! The waterline to the trough had to be blown out for fresh water to fill the trough again.

When the business at the ranch gets taxing the words in the book Passion and Purity by Elisabeth Elliot take on new meaning: “If we hold tightly to anything given to us, unwilling to let it go when the time comes to let it go or unwilling to allow it to be used as the Giver means it to be used, we stunt the growth of the soul.  It is easy to make a mistake here; if God gave it to me, we say, ‘it’s mine.  I can do what I want with it.’ No.  The truth is that it is ours to thank Him for and our to offer back to Him, …ours to let go of.”
How blessed are we that everything we have “comes from your hand, and and all of it belongs to you.”  I Chron. 29:16
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We’re gathering cattle while many little streams run down our hillsides.

We are thankful and blessed that God is sharing this amazing Central Coast with us.

 

Paraphrase from Our Daily Bread-Sept. 8

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We Prayed For Rain!

babbling-brook

The Willems now have a babbling brook running behind their home. Connie says it’s lovely music to fall asleep to.

. . . And He answered. Rain has been coming regularly since November; sometimes nice and steady but most recently the faucets have been on full blast! 60-70 mph winds were a part of the last storm and trees fell all over our neighboring Arroyo Grande areas.

Grieb Ranch is thankful for the rain, but it has made for some interesting times, fun adventures, hardships, and damages. Here is a picture tour of the most recent storm happenings.

It’s Fun For The Kids

kids-in-mudRain and sun have turned the hillsides green. In between storms we simply enjoy the scenery and have some fun. These kids got stuck in the mud while helping to fix a downed fence.

work-rain-or-shineRain or shine though there is work to be done. Here little L shows he is able to get down and dirty like the rest of the crew.

charlie-horseWhat no riding because of the mud? Well then practicing on Charlie Horse at Grandma’s is the next best thing!

It’s Hard on the Animals

horses-in-mud

Yes all that rain came down the hillsides and gathered like a pool in the horse pens. The horses waded around in the muddy mess for a little while. Grieb Ranch is waiting for the corrals to dry out so we can safely work our Fall calves.

bog

A cow got stuck in this bog. It took several hours to get her out. She is doing just fine now.

It’s Hard on the Equipment

shelter-blew-downHigh winds ripped through the Arroyo Grande area toppling trees and taking out power. This shelter blew over. Now it needs to be fixed.

mud-and-equipmentMud and equipment really don’t mix. The combo takes a toll on the farm equipment.

We prayed for rain and He answered. He will also see us through the hardships that may come in life. We are thankful and we always rejoice.

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Valentine’s Day Blessing

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Food, fun, fellowship and flowers have always been a part of the Grieb Ranch Table.

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.

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Memories of Connie and Ida Mae Grieb

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Grandma Grieb’s Carrot Pudding

carrot-puddingMemories 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.

Recipe for: Grandma Grieb’s Carrot Pudding

From the Kitchen of: Gertrude Grieb                  Servings: 12

Ingredients:

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

Instructions:

  1. Mix butter and fruits
  2. Add dry ingredients
  3. Put mixture in butter mold (large).
  4. Steam 2 ½ hours (place mold with pudding in stew pot containing 2 inches of water, cover mold with aluminum foil). Steam in simmering water.

cooking-carrot-pudding

Hard Sauce Topping:

1 package powdered sugar
1 cube butter
1 tsp. vanilla
Mix together by squeezing by hand to form a ball

To serve:

Slice pudding and then top with a slice of sauce.