Febuary 2009 Inyokern neighbor of the month

The Neighbor of the Month can be anyone you know. This could be that special person who always has a smile or kind word or is willing to help when you need a hand. This honor will include a photo posted on this page and a caption or short biography.

Local artist Buck Youngblood and his wife Pat of China Lake Acres are regular supporters of the community. Buck and Pat were nominated for neighbors of the month by "Where in My Inyokern" contest winner Nicki Johnson of Ridgecrest. Buck helped Nicki with a custom piece of artwork for a departing co-worker.

The Youngblood family has lived in their home in China Lake Acres since the '70s and they have helped with fund raising activities from horse shows for the disabled to events for Saint Ann's Church. They are members of the Totally Loves Country line dancing group and Pat and friends sew items for the booth at Saint Ann's Church holiday bazaar. They are also regulars at the Saint Ann's Friday fish dinner during lent.

The Youngblood family is very creative. The Bison below were created by son Michael Youngblood using an oxy-acetylene torch. The board they are mounted on came from the Delaware County, Oklahoma town of Jay, which is Buck's home town.

The pack team in front of the Youngblood home was also created by Michael, who is also responsible for many local ranch signs and the Maturango Museum Shamans.

A common thread in buck's creations is copper used in combination with stone, wood, baked ceramic and styrofoam. Many of Buck's unique creations use recycled items. This weather station was a gift from Buck to the Webmaster.

Buck's works are available at Country Gift Store in Ridgecrest and they are very reasonably priced. The Webmaster picked up a few treasures when he visited the store.

Son Michael is a project manager for VX-31. He and his wife Diane, who works for Sierra Medical group, have a daughter named Riley.

Buck and Pat's daughter Susan teaches third grade at Saint Ann's School. She is married to environmental engineer Jim McDonald and their son is Sam.

Buck retired from the Navy before working for twenty-two years at China Lake. Thank you Pat and Buck for being such great neighbors!

Pat and Buck received a gift certificate from Torres Steakhouse.