My Inyokern Community Site
The View
Our first trips to Inyokern began 2 years ago, to visit my younger brother Jamie, who lives here. The view from his front porch is amazing, a totally unobstructed view of the Sierras. That view alone, is no doubt what got us thinking about living up here.
My husband Dave and I moved to Inyokern a year ago, moving up from Huntington Beach. We traded one form of sand, for another, which offered us the chance at owning a home. We eventually found that home, on a 2.6 acre lot off Brown Rd, which we have now named The Happy Hayes Ranch. Perfect setup with 4 horse corrals and a fenced arena that must be 1/4 acre itself. Eventually we hope to have a horse or two, but for now we are settling in and customizing our home. The view from our kitchen window is of the Sierras. Not quite as unobstructed as my brother’s view from his front porch...but still pleasing to me.
Each morning I watch the mountains turn a purple color, as the sun rises. Nothing beats our sunrises and sunsets, God’s handy work changes daily, none are the same...but if you have the time to watch a sunrise or sunset, surely they speak to you. An old metal gazebo is in our backyard, no doubt the canvas top shredded to pieces long ago, from the winds. My first thoughts were, this would make a great bird sanctuary. In our old apartment Dave was always sweeping up the birdseed on our patio, a great source of irritation to him...not fun to walk on bare foot either. Ü As soon as I could I began putting up seed feeders, as well as hummingbird feeders. My neighbors Mike and Rhonda Pierce have been instrumental in helping us with bird feeders, putting out the Oriole feeders when they migrate through and now the cloth bags we fill with Nyjer food, for the goldfinches. The Pierces have developed a great feed area for the wild birds, in and beneath one of their trees, the quail abound in their yard, as do many other birds. They’ve a great little book that makes looking up the different birds a breeze. [I have to get one of those books!!]
The view from my kitchen window warms my heart on a daily basis. I love the mountains and watch as weather forms over the top, often dusting the mountains with snow...and the cloud formations alone are awe inspiring, as they sweep across the sky over Five Fingers and Robber’s Roost...add to that view the bird sanctuary and the bird life we feed...it can’t get much sweeter than that! We added a bird bath last spring and those birds seem very grateful, especially in the summer heat. One evening I looked out back at dusk, as cotton tails and jack rabbits ate the chicken scratch beneath the gazebo, one jack stood up on his hind legs and drank out of the bird bath. You don’t see that everyday!! Ü Thank you God for, “The VIEW”!
Meredith Hayes
Thanks Meredith for your story about coming home to Inyokern.
A story from a great neighbor...
A Tractor Story in the Heart of Inyokern
It was one of those mild spring days in May that was the envy of the month of August in the Sunshine Capital of America. The high desert wind was at rest but the debris from overturned containers had been strewn about by previous gusts and clung to the roadside brush. The one who was to be webmaster was wielding the orange litter reaping device and harvesting the accidental hybrid that disturbed the natural order of the desert landscape.
The corner of Inyokern Road and 3rd Street had a nasty infestation of the stuff that was proving to be more stubborn than the rest. The water bottles emptied more quickly as the shadows withdrew into themselves and the heat of the sun beaded the crown of the harvester.
As the last bottle was running dry an audible ebb and flow was approaching from the east down Inyokern Blvd. The source of that hometown sound came into view as a wondrous green and yellow machine with an operator clad in a t-shirt emblazoned with our American flag.
The operator was standing as he manipulated the controls of that awe inspiring machine of an earlier time, an affable behemoth called John Deere. With a degree of difficulty the operator navigated through the left turn as the simple uneven melody of the old engine revved and returned.
No words were needed or spoken as the order of nature was momentarily restored and followed without question. A salute to the operator wearing the flag t-shirt was acknowledged and returned as that great manifestation of who we are passed by on it’s way down 3rd Street in the Sunshine Capital of America.
I met the owner/operator of this tractor and his name is Ray Petitt. Now Ray has a model 60 and the smaller model 50 below. We are fortunate to have such great neighbors.
For more about vintage John Deere tractors click below to see
Both of Ray's tractors are 2 cylinder models and are often referred to as a "Johnny Popper" (not to be confused with the famous blues harp player) because of their distinct exhaust tone.
Go here to see more johnny poppers, go here to see a youtube video and hear one run- or you can just wait and catch Ray out on the road. Thank you Ray for sharing your tractors with us for this feature. These are two examples of great American machinery that keep running strong.
Once upon a time in the Sunshine Capital of America there lived a little girl who went by the name of Little Junior Webmaster. She really wanted a dog to play with and to be her friend. LJW would ask constantly for a dog and the answer was always a negative. She would have to "wait until she was older" or "make sure we found just the right dog." There was always some reason given for why she would have to wait. The real reason was that the webmaster did not want to have to break her heart if the dog didn't work out. The dog had to be the right dog the first time.
Having grown up with dry humor and wanting to have a little fun with LJW the webmaster one day replied "You can have a dog but it has to be a three legged dog." This was of course a safe bet and they did have a laugh over it...
Two weeks later LJW called the webmaster and said "Daddy, daddy, we found the cutest little dog and he has three legs!!" The Webmaster was done- he was a walking pull-apart roast and he knew it. He had turned the oven on and jumped right in.
Webdog proved to be a great addition to the family and is now LJW's best friend. He enjoys riding in the car and loves attention. He has adapted very well to the loss of his leg and was born to play. The webmaster is still looking for a groomer who accepts the valid reason for a 25% discount, and when he finds one he will live happily ever after.
Webdog, aka Danny, came from the Ridgecrest Animal Shelter. The excellent staff and volunteers helped heal him with a lot of love after the loss of his leg. Please remember them when your little webmaster is ready for a pet.
Ridgecrest Animal Shelter
411 San Bernardino Blvd
Ridgecrest, California 93555
Phone: 760-375-8157
It's the smiles that make Inyokern the Sunshine Capital of America!
1909 Inyokern Centennial 2009
1909 Inyokern Centennial 2009
