Grieb Ranch

by

Awe, so cute, Babies!

20140926_142900_resized - Copy

Meet “Baby Cakes” a healthy heifer calf born to “Chocolate Chip Pancake” who was shown by Ethan at the Santa Barbara County Fair this summer.

The first of the fall calf crop was born on the Grieb Ranch last night! There are a few “grade” cows still on the meager feed of the hills of Grieb Ranch plus supplemented feed. The registered herd enjoys green grass up in Oregon. At Grieb Ranch the calf crop is planned for early Fall so that the babies can be raised on the green grass that is coming; because we’re praying for rain!

The 6th Generation at the Grieb Ranch enjoying the puppies!

The 6th Generation at the Grieb Ranch enjoying the puppies!

Puppies, babies, calves, chicks . . . What is it about new babies that makes us smile? Most people will stop everything at the sight or sound of a baby and flock to dote over the little creatures. Little children also become delighted over the wee creatures.

Maybe babies bring a smile because of the wonder of the miracle of new life. Babies of all kinds are so adorable, tiny and full of promise. Looking at baby animals can remind us of our amazing God and the great love the creator has for us. Not only are baby animals adorable there is the reminder that God loved us so much that He gave us life and formed us in our mother’s womb. “You formed my inward parts,” the psalmist says, “You covered me in my mother’s womb.” (Ps. 139:13)

Yes it’s fall calving time at Grieb Ranch and although the herd is small this year with a few here in California and more in Oregon, there is still the excitement, wonder and awe at the new life. New life renews our world and reminds us that life keeps going on and that creation has a purpose.

Still more exciting than new birth, is rebirth. God offers people spiritual rebirth through Jesus. (John 3:3-8)  God tells believers that we will be changed and inherit life eternal when Jesus returns.  (I Cor. 15:50-52)

So when we see all those new baby calves, chicks, goats or puppies let us remember that our physical and spiritual rebirth is and will be a far greater “awe” from God.

“I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.” – Psalm 139:14

by

No Rain = No Grass, No Water, and Expensive Feed.

 

Grieb Ranch Registered Angus in Oregon.

Grieb Ranch Registered Angus in Oregon.

It’s been 3 years without much significant rainfall here in California. As a result the hills that make up Grieb Ranch are bare, some of the springs have dried up and supplementing the cattle with expensive feed is costly. The solution for Grieb Ranch was to ship (via truck with cattle trailer) a few of the remaining head of Registered Angus cattle to Oregon to Connie’s sister’s ranch last winter. Here they have feed until more rain falls back at Grieb Ranch on the Central Coast of California. This is the first time in the 136 year history of Grieb Ranch that the range cattle have had to be moved elsewhere for feed for a long period of time.

Calves with ear tags.

Calves with ear tags.

The cattle in Oregon still need to be worked, which is a bit difficult to do from California. Connie took the train up in June to work the (late) calves that were born in the snow after the Mother Cows were shipped to Oregon last winter. These calves needed to be branded, tagged and vaccinated and Connie was on hand to do just that. The train trip was fun. As she traveled, Connie was filled with hope as she passed beautiful irrigated hay fields, and some irrigated pastures that were dotted with cattle; a rare sight these days in California.

"SC" branded cattle with calf.

“SC” branded cattle with calf.

As fall approaches so does the arrival of the 2014 fall calf crop, many that are hopefuls for the 2015 Registered cattle show at the fair. The details of each new calf: its birth date, sex, and weight are recorded. An ear tag is then placed in each calf’s ear indicating the sire (bull) and dam (cow) and the birth date of the calf. At a later time the registered calves will have an ear tattoo placed for permanent identification.

At Grieb Ranch we continue to pray for rain, and look forward to the day when we can bring back our cattle to the green hills and flowing springs of Grieb Ranch.

 

Pictures by Wendy Gauthier – Connie’s niece in Oregon

by

Replant and Move-on Devotional

Wagon wheel

“Praise be to God  the father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of the dead. ” I Peter 1:3 NIV

The stump was old, scarred and ugly.  It stood in the middle of the lawn like a sore thumb; the only reminder of a once majestic tree.  Then my sister placed an old wagon wheel to rest on the stump and planted flowers – beautiful flowers that cascaded over the old stump and transformed it into a thing of beauty.  Recently, when I was visiting my sister’s home I was admiring the old stump and the amazing transformation when God reminded me to pray.

“Help me Lord to remember your answer is not always yes, that when one door closes you open another one. Help me to lean on you and follow your lead and not get to far ahead of you.  Again, help me to bloom where I am planted and  to look around for ways to serve you wherever I am.  Thank you Jesus!”

Connie Willems August 2014

Sometimes dreams die and we must replant and move on.

by

The Story of “Chicken Little” at Grieb Ranch

Chicken Little joins the brood

Miss Henny with her 6 chicks. Which one is “Chicken Little”?

Not too long ago, the Ole Black Hen Miss Henny was set with eggs to hatch in 21 days. When the 21 days was up, most of the eggs hatched except for 2 or 3 of them. Miss Henny and her five new baby chicks were kept confined in the hatching cage for the first few days. After that the hen and chicks were free to roam and Miss Henny proudly went out with her 5 chicks peeping after her. As Miss Henny was out showing off her chicks, Connie kept hearing another peeping sound and she searched around for where the peeping was coming from. The sound was coming from the nesting box area. Connie removed the nesting box and watched a few un-hatched eggs roll into the parking area. Connie examined the un-hatched eggs and found a small hole in one of them and realized that was where the peeping sound was coming from. Peeling back the egg shell produced a live chick!

Chicken little

Just discovered and freshly-hatched “Chicken Little”.

Connie put the newly-hatched, freshly-discovered chick under a warming lamp until night time. Then in the dark of the night, Connie put “Chicken Little” under Miss Henny with the rest of the chicks and closed the hatching cage. The next morning Connie checked on the hen and chicks and opened the door for them to roam free. Miss Henny proudly stepped out of the hatching cage with 6 little chicks following after her. Chicken Little was part of the brood now! The key to acceptance was the dark of night.

by

Four Day Old Ducklings and Imprinting

4 days old ducks

The brand-new ducks are 4 days old in this photo. In a process called “Imprinting” they have learned to follow their mother, even though dad and big sis duck are also present.

Imprinting is rapid learning that occurs during a brief receptive period, typically soon after birth or hatching, and establishes a long-lasting behavioral response to a specific individual or object, as attachment to parent, offspring, or site.  – source: Dictionary.com

by

Growing Beets at Grieb Ranch

Lil Daniel with a hoe and a hose.
Lil Daniel with his beet transplants.
Lil Daniel with beets in the ground.

Starting when Daniel Willems was 5 years old he raised beets and sold them to a local Farmers Market for Mrs. Fernamberg. Daniel started the beets from seed in a seedling box in the house for Spring planting after the soil was tilled. When the seedlings were big enough, he planted them in the ground and took care of them. Once ready to harvest, he would pull the beets and then wash and bundle them for sale. The Willems family enjoys eating them on salads.

beet seeds
Recipe for: Pickled Beets   From the Kitchen of: Connie Willems

Ingredients:

1 lb Beets
2 C. Sugar
2 C. Water
2 C. Vinegar
1 Lemon
1 Tbsp. Cinnamon
1 tsp. Cloves
1 tsp. Allspice

Instructions: Roast beets. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Wrap beets in aluminum foil, 3 at time. Place in shallow roasting pan and cook for 1 hour or until beets are soft. Cool before handling. Cold-dip and slip skins. Make a pickling syrup of the sugar, water, vinegar, lemon sliced thin, cinnamon, cloves and allspice. Place cooked beets in sauce pan with lid, cover beets with pickling syrup and simmer with lid on for 15 minutes. Cool completely and refrigerate to use on salads.  For a different salad option, add warm beets to a salad that has goat cheese and a balsamic vinaigrette dressing.

by

Whoa! Hold your Horses

Leah on Tex

Proverbs 21:23 “Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles.”

How does 70lbs of little person control a 1400 lb horse? Each summer Grieb Ranch lends its labor and horses to help put on an Ag Adventure Day Camp. One of the highlights for the all the campers is to learn how to ride a horse. The bridle is one tool used to control the huge animal. The rider’s position and seat and legs are another tool. When all are used together with the right balance of aids, harmony and peace are witnessed in the horse and rider.

Scripture tells us to bridle our tongues. When we are gossiping or speaking in anger, we are not submitting to God’s control. Our tongues, writing pens, ipads should more often fall silent and then be filled with thanks for the restraint God can help us with. All too often we speak our own mind and not the mind of Christ.

When we want to show others what a difference Christ makes, we may need to look no further than the restraining of our tongue. Those around us and affected by us won’t help but notice when we honor God and choose to bridle our tongue and not say something.

Connie’s prayer: “Help me, Lord, to use my words not to tear down others or build up my own reputation, but to seek the good of others first, and in so doing to serve You and Your Kingdom.”

by

A Child Again – Happy Father’s Day

Daddy sign

‘Twasn’t long ago,

I was sitting between my parents in church.

When we bowed our heads to pray,

My father reached for my hand,

And the years fell away.

I was a child,

Sitting in church on a Sunday night,

Holding my Daddy’s hand.

Even then it was gnarled and bent, calloused and worn,

And I held on tight.

A practical joke, a twinkle in his eye,

A father, a friend, a guide.

A man who plays as hard as he works,

A Dad who’s always on my side.

I turned to see my mother singing,

And my eyes were drawn to her lips,

And again, the years did slip.

I was a child again,

Leaning on my Mama’s knee,

Spellbound by her full sweet lips,

As she sat reading Bible stories to me.

A prayer on her lips,

a song in her heart,

A friend, a teacher, a mother.

A woman of God, with open arms,

A Mom to me and so many others.

So many memories,

So many things to be thankful for.

A Mom and a Dad,

Who give and give some more.

Poem By Margie “B” Grieb Runels

Photo: Western Wood Art Sign by Jessica Willems. Contact her at 805-688-7293 for purchase info and to see more signs.

by

Proud as a Peacock is the Grieb Ranch Watch Dog

Grieb Ranch Peacock Watch Dog

Grieb Ranch Peacock Watch Dog

Grieb Ranch has a different kind of watch dog, it’s a Peacock Watch Dog. He arrived at the ranch because someone dropped him off and he seems to enjoy his new home.  Grieb Ranch has a resident peahen also, but they do not hang out together.

How is this peacock a watch dog? If you have ever heard a peacock “scream” you know that at first the scream is unnerving as the sound is quite piercing. However, this peacock uses his scream to alert those on the Grieb Ranch to potential “dangers”. He screams if the bear comes through the yard. He screams if you shut a door. He screams at any noises. He screams day or night.

Sounds quite unnerving. However, he has become Barbara’s friend as he often sits on the bench on the front porch and peers in at the them (Barbara and Carl) through the window. Barbara tells him good night every night and he calls back to her. He has become part of the family at Grieb Ranch.

Proud as a Peacock is the Grieb Ranch Watch Dog

Proud as a Peacock is the Grieb Ranch Watch Dog