Introduction
Laura is a retired non-profit manager and Eldon has retired from his business. We are both homeowners and house sitters (nine years) so we know the process from both sides. We have found fabulous sitters on this site and are looking for more nice, friendly folks to mind our house and love our cat while we travel south.
Sitter must be a non-smoker and respect that this is a fragrance-free and mostly chemical-free home. We supply natural personal and cleaning products. Check in with s / texts / photos and let us know how our cat is doing, how things are going and, especially, if anything goes wonky.
This sit is best suited for those who enjoy nature and the quiet country life. Maybe you are seeking solitude while working on your magnum opus. Or perhaps you embrace winter and will want to try out our cross-country skis or snowshoes and hike to the ice caves. Snowmobiling and ice fishing are also very popular activities. We will provide maps, suggestions for day trips and lots of tourism materials.
There is abundant wildlife to be seen on the six-acre property such as, deer, fox, sometimes coyotes, raccoons and occasional moose as well as feathered friends. Binoculars supplied!
If you are flying in, the Fredericton airport (YFC) is 45 minutes away. Routing is usually through Toronto or Montreal. Please check flight options and cost before applying. There is some flexibility as to your arrival and departure dates.
We would like you to arrive no later than December 27th. We depart very early on the 28th. We plan to arrive home on February 10th.
We can provide a car for those with a clean driving abstract. We expect that you are comfortable with winter driving.
We expect that you have references and some cat care experience.
We expect that you are vaccinated and boosted for Covid.
Home & Location
Overlooking a picturesque harbor, our home is a comfortable, sun-filled bungalow with all the modern amenities. It is located in a very quiet, rural area (but not isolated) 45 minutes outside the capital city of Fredericton which has a full range of services and entertainment options. Google home has two bedrooms, two baths, dedicated workspace with good WiFi, 2 satellite TVs, BBQ, and a 1500 book library. There is a small town twenty minutes away which has one of everything: grocer, pharmacy, bank, etc.
There is a convenience store / gas bar within walking distance.
The community hall offers some recreational activities such as yoga, boot camp and card games.
The sitters will be staying in Roxie's room. There is a comfortable queen bed with a fluffy down duvet and an adjacent bathroom with tub/shower. There is ample closet space, chest of drawers for your use and good bedside reading lamps.
A comprehensive Welcome Guide is provided to sitters upon selection and an updated guide is available upon arrival.
Responsibilities
The priority is our precious cat. Yes, we are ridiculous pet parents:) Roxie is a sweet, gentle, playful and cuddly cat. She is an indoor cat but enjoys time outside on halter and leash. She needs the usual cat care: feeding, petting, chatting, brushing (she hates this), playing, cleaning litter box and most importantly, lots and lots of cuddles. She may want to sleep with you so that has to be okay with you. She can be left alone for several hours so you are free to explore during the day. She sleeps a lot.
She has feline asthma and uses an inhaler twice a day. She is very compliant and all of our sitters have been able to manage this.
We provide a Little Free Library as a service to our community so it would be great if you could restock the shelves a couple of times during the week.
There is a snow removal service, but you must be able to shovel the walkway to the house, about 30 feet. There is a portable generator in case of power outages.
A few plants will need to be watered. Put out trash and recyclables on designated days. Pick up mail.
Enjoy the home, please leave it as you found it, have fun exploring the area, check in with photos and updates, and be kind to our wild critters. We love pictures of our cat! During the first week, we like daily updates to see how Roxie is adjusting to her new friends. After that, 2 or 3 times a week.
Brief Reviews from Winter Housesitters:
Wow. What an incredible pet sit! Laura and Eldon’s home was a perfect winter retreat. Their gorgeous home was spotlessly clean, super comfortable and had every amenity you could need. – Sitters from USA
We had a wonderful housesit in Douglas Harbour, New Brunswick. Nothing was too much trouble for them to ensure we enjoyed our stay in their very comfortable warm home with lots of information on places to visit and things to do. – Sitters from New Zealand
I had a whole month to enjoy Laura and Eldon’s little piece of heaven. Yes, it was winter and the weather needed watching but when you have hosts that think of everything, there is nothing to worry about. – Sitter from Canada
Amazing time spent at Laura and Eldon’s house. Friendly