FEBRUARY 16 UPDATE: We and our sitters to be have come to terms, so we have discontinued our ad. Thank you for your interest!
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Our grandson is graduating from high school, and we need someone to care for our home, gardens, and animals while we are in Minnesota.
The actual Sit is Friday, June 3, 2016 through Sunday, June 12, 2016, but we are anticipating our sitter(s) coming one day prior to our departure for training in the morning and evening, with the rest of the day free.
Transportation is not included in this sit however we will pick up and return the sitters to and from the airport if necessary. It is advised that an automobile be rented, although it is possible we could negotiate the use of our vehicle, depending upon our insurance restrictions.
We are in Zephyrhills, Florida, on 6 acres. We are restoring an older 2-story house and homestead. We have our own 1-acre pond for fishing, gnarled, ancient oaks, vegetable and flower gardens, and solitude. Our 8’x14’ SwimSpa is perfect for daytime cool offs or evening soaks. The spa comes complete with a light show and waterfall – imagine relaxing in it, your favorite libation in hand enjoying a stunning view of gardens, oaks, and the pond!
Located about an hour and a half to Orlando and the parks, 45 minutes to Clearwater beach, and 25 minutes to Busch Gardens, our centrally located home offers day trips to include sight-seeing, the Gulf, and theme parks.
Our home has Verizon FiOS high-speed internet, and some premium channels, depending upon the time of year. There are large televisions in the living room (65”) and the guest bedroom where the sitter(s) will be staying.
As an artist/creative soul, I have a wonderful space for art, writing, and of course with our property - inspiration.
In addition to the beautiful setting, and chicken antics for entertainment, our home offers head- butts, therapeutic purrs, and (if desired), sleeping companions. We have two indoor cats. Cleopatra, our Maine Coon and a Siamese-mix rescue named Sassy. In January we rescued sweet 6-month old brothers who are indoor/outdoor cats named Jinx and Felix. Requirements: feeding, litterbox cleaning, attention, supervised outside time.
Our 20ish chickens (give or take) need to be let out at dawn and locked in at dusk. We let them free range during the day in their fenced in run. We do keep an eye on them throughout the day as our rural setting comes with wildlife with a taste for chicken. Requirements: feeding, coop cleaning (sand, like a litterbox), washed waterers and fresh water daily, food, egg collection, semi-supervised outside time.
General requirements for our home are for the sitter to provide safety for our home and animals, and do what we would do if we were home.
In exchange for rent-free use of the home, amenities, utilities, and any other stated or negotiated items, the homeowners expect the house sitter to:
Provide for their own transportation to, from and during the sit, food items* and expenses. *Some basics like perishables in the fridge that need to be used, olive oil, spices etc. and 1-2 organically homegrown and butchered chickens from the freezer, unlimited eggs and fresh fruits and vegetables from the garden are included in the sit.
If it would help, I'd love to share more of our many images, just provide me with an address and tell me which area(s) you'd like to see.