Copyright Laura McMeyler 2022
Thank you, Marlene, for this opportunity to talk a little bit about myself and about how I came to live, play, and "work" in Dobbins, California.
Originally I was born and raised in Hollywood, California, growing up and going to school in the San Fernando Valley, but spending my summers from age 0 to 17 in Arkansas with relatives; so there is a little bit of country in this city gal.
Early 2020 I was living in Olivehurst, south of Marysville in the Central Valley of California. For a whim, my partner Wendell and I took a drive up to Brownsville to see a property. We couldn't afford it, but it was something to do on St. Patrick's Day while the corned beef and cabbage were cooking in the crock pot. It was in Brownsville that we found out that I was eligible to use my VA benefits for a home loan! I had thought those benefits were a one-shot deal, and yes, they are, unless the initial loan has been paid off!
Well, never one to hesitate, and knowing what I was looking for, Wendell and I immediately went into house-hunting mode. On March 20th, I put in an offer on a property in DOBBINS; and on May 1st (Wendells' Birthday!} we moved in.
Let me tell you about our place. 1.9 acres, gentle slope, three-bedroom, two-bath house, two-car garage, shed, pole barn, fenced pasture area, a grove of oak trees, many firs and pines, manzanitas, and more. Wendell is a gardener, and we've been blessed with veggies and flowers. Photos will follow.
Since moving in, our household has expanded from our one cat Connor (who went on a walk-about and has yet to return), cat Smokey (my Office Supervisor), dogs Buck and Lucy Lu (Chief of Security and Assistant), and the Grounds Crew GOATS (Peyton Manning and Joey Montana). Chickens will follow soon once the coop is set up and ready for them to join the crew.
Everyone works together and helps me as I make and sell WildCat Rub, a CBD Body Balm designed as topical pain relief for people. I sell WildCat Rub online, as well as at the Saturday Dobbins Farmers Market!
The Dobbins Farmers Market is located in a shady grove and hosts about a dozen or so vendors selling home-crafted, homegrown, homemade goods. There's food at the Snack Shack, live music, a play yard for the kids, and pets are welcome on a leash! Come up on Saturday, 10 am to 2 pm, and visit this little community and meet some of the friendly folks who live up here in the hills!
Activities are here, besides the joy of gardening and playing with the goats; there's Lake Francis Resort, with camping, canoeing, a soda shop, a game room, a climbing wall, and more. We're near Collins Lake and Bullards Bar for boating, fishing, and swimming! Hiking trails are all around, and just getting out and enjoying nature.
Indoors there are local spots nearby for food or snacks, from the Taco Truck in the ACE Hardware Store on Willow Glen Road, the Willow Glen Bar & Grill, newly opened Clover Cafe on Marysville Road (for wonderful, inspiring international and American dishes and more), a Deli located in the Oregon House Store, and of course you can always cook at home.
There are three Churches in Dobbins, Sacred Heart Parish (Catholic Church), part of the Diocese of Sacramento on Old Dobbins Road, a historical site, and the Parochial Administrator is the Rev. Avram Brown. The Church there today was built in 1966. The historical marker is for the town of Dobbins, named after the Dobbins Brothers in 1849, and is located in front of the Dobbins Post Office.
There is the Seventh Day Adventist Church on Marysville Road at Indiana Ranch Road, and they have services every Saturday. The leader is Elder John Fleming. Last Sunday, they had a Vegan Cooking Class, which was well attended and much appreciated since we sampled and ate the demo food! More classes will be held in the future, and you do not need to be a member to attend.
The Dobbins Christian Assembly is located on Old Dobbins Road across from the Post Office. This community Church uses the Bible as its guide, and the pastor is John McDaniel. The Church also lends its facilities to the Dobbins Yoga Group on Tuesdays and Fridays, from 10 am to 11 am; all are welcome at services and yoga!
So even though Dobbins has only (as of the 2020 census) 551 folks, it is a vibrant, rich, and eclectic community with ties to nature, strong roots, fun activities, and lovely people. Check out our community Facebook page, Oregon House Dobbins Community New. We keep our neighbors informed of wildlife (yes, bears, mountain lions, the best fishing, etc.) and fires (part of being in these hills, so be safe and vigilant) and weather alerts, as well as activities and gatherings.
Things you'll learn up here: You'll find that you don't want to leave the hills! But when you do, you'll make every trip count with doctor appointments, grocery shopping, car maintenance, etc. Having a freezer is a big plus! Look for your best internet provider! If you are not a gardener, you'll want to start because those fresh fruits and veggies are addictive! And you'll appreciate the quiet, the peace, the stars at night, and the wind blowing through the trees, listening to the birds singing and feeling blessed.
Living in Dobbins means that my heart lifts every time I come HOME.
Laura McMeyler
WildCat Rub
LLC World Headquarters
Dobbins, California
Originally I was born and raised in Hollywood, California, growing up and going to school in the San Fernando Valley, but spending my summers from age 0 to 17 in Arkansas with relatives; so there is a little bit of country in this city gal.
Early 2020 I was living in Olivehurst, south of Marysville in the Central Valley of California. For a whim, my partner Wendell and I took a drive up to Brownsville to see a property. We couldn't afford it, but it was something to do on St. Patrick's Day while the corned beef and cabbage were cooking in the crock pot. It was in Brownsville that we found out that I was eligible to use my VA benefits for a home loan! I had thought those benefits were a one-shot deal, and yes, they are, unless the initial loan has been paid off!
Well, never one to hesitate, and knowing what I was looking for, Wendell and I immediately went into house-hunting mode. On March 20th, I put in an offer on a property in DOBBINS; and on May 1st (Wendells' Birthday!} we moved in.
Let me tell you about our place. 1.9 acres, gentle slope, three-bedroom, two-bath house, two-car garage, shed, pole barn, fenced pasture area, a grove of oak trees, many firs and pines, manzanitas, and more. Wendell is a gardener, and we've been blessed with veggies and flowers. Photos will follow.
Since moving in, our household has expanded from our one cat Connor (who went on a walk-about and has yet to return), cat Smokey (my Office Supervisor), dogs Buck and Lucy Lu (Chief of Security and Assistant), and the Grounds Crew GOATS (Peyton Manning and Joey Montana). Chickens will follow soon once the coop is set up and ready for them to join the crew.
Everyone works together and helps me as I make and sell WildCat Rub, a CBD Body Balm designed as topical pain relief for people. I sell WildCat Rub online, as well as at the Saturday Dobbins Farmers Market!
The Dobbins Farmers Market is located in a shady grove and hosts about a dozen or so vendors selling home-crafted, homegrown, homemade goods. There's food at the Snack Shack, live music, a play yard for the kids, and pets are welcome on a leash! Come up on Saturday, 10 am to 2 pm, and visit this little community and meet some of the friendly folks who live up here in the hills!
Activities are here, besides the joy of gardening and playing with the goats; there's Lake Francis Resort, with camping, canoeing, a soda shop, a game room, a climbing wall, and more. We're near Collins Lake and Bullards Bar for boating, fishing, and swimming! Hiking trails are all around, and just getting out and enjoying nature.
Indoors there are local spots nearby for food or snacks, from the Taco Truck in the ACE Hardware Store on Willow Glen Road, the Willow Glen Bar & Grill, newly opened Clover Cafe on Marysville Road (for wonderful, inspiring international and American dishes and more), a Deli located in the Oregon House Store, and of course you can always cook at home.
There are three Churches in Dobbins, Sacred Heart Parish (Catholic Church), part of the Diocese of Sacramento on Old Dobbins Road, a historical site, and the Parochial Administrator is the Rev. Avram Brown. The Church there today was built in 1966. The historical marker is for the town of Dobbins, named after the Dobbins Brothers in 1849, and is located in front of the Dobbins Post Office.
There is the Seventh Day Adventist Church on Marysville Road at Indiana Ranch Road, and they have services every Saturday. The leader is Elder John Fleming. Last Sunday, they had a Vegan Cooking Class, which was well attended and much appreciated since we sampled and ate the demo food! More classes will be held in the future, and you do not need to be a member to attend.
The Dobbins Christian Assembly is located on Old Dobbins Road across from the Post Office. This community Church uses the Bible as its guide, and the pastor is John McDaniel. The Church also lends its facilities to the Dobbins Yoga Group on Tuesdays and Fridays, from 10 am to 11 am; all are welcome at services and yoga!
So even though Dobbins has only (as of the 2020 census) 551 folks, it is a vibrant, rich, and eclectic community with ties to nature, strong roots, fun activities, and lovely people. Check out our community Facebook page, Oregon House Dobbins Community New. We keep our neighbors informed of wildlife (yes, bears, mountain lions, the best fishing, etc.) and fires (part of being in these hills, so be safe and vigilant) and weather alerts, as well as activities and gatherings.
Things you'll learn up here: You'll find that you don't want to leave the hills! But when you do, you'll make every trip count with doctor appointments, grocery shopping, car maintenance, etc. Having a freezer is a big plus! Look for your best internet provider! If you are not a gardener, you'll want to start because those fresh fruits and veggies are addictive! And you'll appreciate the quiet, the peace, the stars at night, and the wind blowing through the trees, listening to the birds singing and feeling blessed.
Living in Dobbins means that my heart lifts every time I come HOME.
Laura McMeyler
WildCat Rub
LLC World Headquarters
Dobbins, California
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