Our Heidi

It seems as though a bit over a year ago I was writing about the loss of , Tigger, our beloved brindle pit bull mix.  I am now going to tell the story about Heidi, our  Rottweiler/black lab mix.  We put her to sleep last week after a long,  happy,  ranch dog life.  We had the pleasure of having her for 16 years and what an addition she was to our lives.

Let me tell you a bit about Heidi,  our young families first dog.  Actually she is credited with being the  starting point of  the Hierarchy of the Erickson Ranch Dogs.   When our children were in grammar school it seemed to me a good idea to include a dog in the farm.    Erickson Ranch just wasn’t complete without a dog!  Made perfect sense to me.

One day after school, I packed up the kids and off to the pound we went.   We made our way up and down the aisles of the animal shelter as each dog made an effort for our attention.  What a difficult task,  for we wanted to take each and every pup home with us.  The decision came down to two completely different dogs.  One was a terrier mix and the other was our Heidi.  We will never forget the  beautiful two year old, Heidi,  sitting in the pen and looking at us with those big brown eyes asking, “Please give me a chance to be part of your family and be with those two young kids”.  She appeared quite calm and was a bit over weight and of course my thinking was that she would be a calm “lab-type” dog.  Well not quite!

As we put on the pink leash,  into the truck she went bounded.   As soon as we got out of the shelter the calm affect changed to a renewed lease on life.  She was full of energy and on her way to a new  adventure with those two kids.  The kids and I were so thrilled to have a new pup and they  couldn’t wait to introduce her to their dad.  We dressed her up with a red bandanna and hid her behind them as I brought Ray into the back yard for introductions.  You must remember,  this was a surprise to Ray and perhaps not the best thing to do to a farmer at the end of a very long day.  Live and learn!!   He wasn’t quite as thrilled as we were and  his response was, “What the heck is that”?   Of course Heidi responded with a barking growl at this tall,  seemingly unfriendly person.  Oh No!  What had I done?

It wasn’t to long before Ray and Heidi were fast friends.  We soon learned about Heidi.  She loved to run and I mean RUN!!!  It was almost as though she needed to get her “wiggles” out each and every day.  She was certainly meant to be a ranch dog.   We lived in Fairfield at the time and  the ideal beginning of her day was to climb into the truck with Ray and off to her  “job” at the ranch she went.   She could run and run and run and run.  The other outstanding trait of this pound pup was her strong will and I mean STRONG WILL!!!

Several stories come to mind amongst many that we could tell.  Not soon after we settled into life with Heidi,  our son Ross and I decided to take her for a long walk in town.  Of course she was on the leash but once we got to the local school we “let her go”.  That was perhaps not the best idea as she began that “run” thing I mentioned earlier.  She ran like a bolt of lightening in a diagonal pattern across the  school ground.  She also exhibited that ” strong will”  I made reference to.  Her free spirit and strong will became one at that moment  and she quickly became a spot in the distance.  Ross was off full- speed ahead to capture her as I was made  a feeble attempt to call her back.  He quickly gained on her but she ran through traffic on a very busy street and his effort came to an end.  She finally ran her wiggles out in the nearby neighborhood.  We were happy to get her home as she was exhausted from her  “Bolt”!

She was an independent sort and when she wanted to be somewhere she made it very clear.   Heidi liked to be under our computer desk amongst the cords and of course our feet.  I wonder if it provided her the safe feeling of being protected  from the back and able to peer out from the front.  Needless to say, Kristen our daughter, tells  of  many a time doing homework with Heidi.  It is not as though Heidi was invited to be there during homework but she decided it was time for her to get in the cave. She did not wait politely for an opening under the desk but rather bulldozed her way in and made herself very comfortable because she wanted to.  Kristen would scoot out from the desk and allow Heidi to make herself comfortable for the duration and then complete the homework.

Heidi and Tigger became fast friends and were trouble from the get-go.  Though he was the Protector and the Man of the Erickson Ranch Canines, he realized she was the Alpha- Female and these two companions created adventure after adventure.    They would be sitting in the sunshine one moment and the next moment they were off.  They must have looked at each other and said, “Okay,  the humans aren’t looking,  lets make  our get away”.  Many a time they were gone for hours  on a foray that we will never be able to imagine.  Upon their return they were exhausted and slept many an hour to re-energize for the next short vacation.

Heidi was never the cuddly lap dog that curls up on the couch at the end of a long day.  She was an independent soul and made it clear to all other dogs  that she was most certainly the Alpha Female.  We have had more that one vet visit because Heidi had need to make it clear that she was in charge and don’t mess with her.    Animals are amazing and they certainly establish their pecking order.  Once our dogs (and cats) all realized Heidi was at the top of the food chain all was well with the dogs at the Ranch.

It seems strange to not see her on the front porch in her special spot.  Old habits die hard and each time we walk up the steps to the front door we automatically look to the right to be sure she is okay,  settled in for the night, has enough water and the heating pad in positioned under her during  the night.

As I look out my office window  I see her final adventure spot next to her beloved Tigger.  They are running free at their Big Ranch in doggie heaven.  We miss her terribly.

Dogs do make life on a Ranch!

Though we have been here for many years we are always pleased to hear, “We have passed this place for years and decided it was time to come down the road .  It is quite the adventurous spirit that drives down the lane to find out what is at the other end.  We can guarantee it will be well worth the visit whether it be a bite of the freshest fruit of the day or a walk in the u-pick garden to fill their basket with garden goodies or pick a fresh bouquet of flowers.

The start of the 2011 growing season was a bit difficult due to the Blenheim Apricot crop failure. With that said, it was a wonderful season.   The peaches were abundant, the flowers were beautiful, the raised beds were prolific and we were happy to greet all the  new faces and families.

We thank you all and  look forward to next season with a  wish that each and everyone of you to have a  Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!!

Tradition would be the answer.  I need to go into a bit of Erickson Ranch Pumpkin Patch history for the story to make any sense.  Many years ago our neighbor at the time, Don Angle, had a Giant” Big Mac” pumpkin patch around the corner  from Erickson Ranch.   We grew the fruit and vegetables and Don grew the  Big Mac  pumpkins.  I wonder, if at the time, we had an unwritten or unspoken agreement that we wouldn’t “interfere” with each others business and instead we became mutually beneficial partners in the Agr-itourism business.  Of course, you must understand I don’t think the term Agri-tourism was part of  farm lingo at the time as it is today.  Needless to say,  Don cultivated a following of pumpkin hunters that made the yearly trek to Suisun Valley during Fall Harvest, to fill  their wagons with their coveted  Big Mac  pumpkin.   Autumn is by far the most beautiful season in Suisun Valley.  An outing  to our valley became, for many families, an exciting adventure as they prepared for Halloween.  Once the kids and pumpkins  were rounded up and  loaded in the car the families  continued to the Ranch to load up on the  Autumn’s bounty of fruit and vegetables.  Little did we know that one of those young families belonged to Lillian and Nancy.

Years pass, as they have a habit of doing, and unfortunately so did our friend Don.  He was a lovely man and his memory remains with us each time a giant pumpkin is hoisted onto the scale.  Tradition and history had been established and now it was time to carry on the history and make new tradition.  That was done with the help of Lillian, Nancy, their families and friends.  The annual Giant Pumpkin Story began when we all decided (unknown to us at the time) that the families would  move down the road a bit to Erickson Ranch. For years the gathering was small, but as the their children grew so to did the size of those attending.  This year there were even 4 generations of pumpkin gatherers!  What a compliment to us.

"Reserved for the Lillian and Nancy Family Gathering"

Each October, early in the month, we look forward to the phone call from Lillian to reserve the tables under the Willow tree for the family to spend the day gathering and feasting.  They make it a point to let us know how much they enjoy the gathering but I don’t know if they realize that their visit is just as much fun for us as it is for them.  Several years ago Erickson Ranch presented a sign to the ladies titled,  “Reserved for the Lillian and Nancy Family Gathering”.  It has become part of their tradition to keep the sign from year to year and set it up on the table amongst all the family members and guests with all the wonderful pot-luck goodies for post- pumpkin gathering feasting.  We hit a record number of family members and guests this year with 28 in attendance!  What a wonderful time was had by all.

The ladies have been friends for many years and keep their families in close contact by arranging traditional gatherings throughout each year.  Erickson Ranch is fortunate to be part of their family memories. We have grown to be friends over the years and it is without a doubt Halloween and the Giant Pumpkin Story would not be the same without their presence.  We thank you all!!

As close as Nancy and Lillian are they do have secret.  A very friendly competition to try to “outweigh” each other with their haul of pumpkins presents itself each year.  They both made extra trips to the Patch to try to outdo each other this year.

Our thanks to Don Angle for beginning the Great Pumpkin Story!!!

In light of the fog,  Raymond has been able to grow chin- dripping  peaches and nectarines from June through October, peppers for all tastes from mild to hot,  juicy tomatoes, apples, pumpkins and much more.

We invite you to bring the family and friends to come, relax and enjoy the tradition that is Erickson Ranch.

Over the years, Raymond has developed a reputation for planting peaches.  New varieties are planted after research and consideration about where the new peach will fit into the existing orchards.  We have sufficient varieties to keep our fruit- shed full of the delectable peach  from the time we open until October.  Every two weeks  a new variety  will ripen so don’t be surprised if your favorite peach is not available for as long as you would like.  The beauty of buying farm grown produce is that is is “seasonal”.  We don’t have everything, all the time, but we have the best of  each variety because we harvest at peak ripeness.  Another sure sign of the perfect peach is the story your nose will tell you.  There are not to many summer treats better than walking into the fruit stand, inhaling the aroma of fresh peaches and taking that first bite.  Chin-dripping good!!!

Our nectarines are catching up in flavor and quantity to our peaches.  The “no-fuss peach” or nectarine has a delicious flavor and beauty all its own.  We have had 3 going on 4 varieties of nectarines already this season.  Our nectarines come in white and yellow flesh and as with the peaches they are tree ripened before picking.  The nectarine is smaller in size but what it lacks in size it makes up for in flavor and deliciousness.  One of the current nectarines at this time is called the Double Delight.  It’s name is the perfect description of this beautiful and delightful fruit to eat.

Both the peaches and nectarines make, without a doubt, the best cobbler in the world.  A simple cobbler brings out the perfect flavor of the fruit and is perhaps one of summer-times favorite desserts.  Please go to our recipes under Harvest Calendar  for the perfect cobbler.

The peach and nectarine season is coming fast and furious and we hope to see you at the shed to sample some of the best peaches around.   If you can’t make it to the Ranch, our peaches can also be found at the Totally Local Farmers Market in Green Valley www.gvagconservency.org Saturday morning 9 to 1 or the Farmers Market in Benicia on Thursday from 4 to 8.