Quiet Homestead in SW Virginia Seeking Caregiver

About this assignment

Hi there! We're Lauren & Stephen. We love working on projects around our little homestead (including caring for our 11 rescue pets!) and traveling when we can. We're in search of a house sitter comfortable around horses, goats, and cats who we can depend on to care for our pets while we're out of town in January 2025.

What responsibilities are required of the house sitter

Our pets are fed twice a day between 6:30 & 9:00 a.m. and between 5:00 & 7:30 p.m. The morning feeding routine takes around 30 minutes or less and, in the evening, the routine takes about 45 to 50 minutes. Each of our animals is up to date on their vaccines, vet checks, and other regular care.

Kofi and Tia are our two indoor cats. They each get a half can of wet cat food in the morning and in the evening. They also have free access to dry cat food, which is changed in the morning and in the evening. Their water dishes are rinsed and refilled twice a day. Their two litter boxes are refreshed daily with litter deodorizer and a fresh sprinkle of clean litter, and then dumped and refilled once per week. Both Kofi and Tia are about one year in age, and they enjoy playing together, sharing lots of toys and scratchers, and interacting with their human companions.

Mr. Boo is our indoor/outdoor cat. He gets fresh food and water as well as a few treats in both the morning and evening. His litter box is scoped every other day. The door to his apartment is closed overnight and left open in the morning. He enjoys being brushed every couple of days, but usually only for a few minutes at a time.

Our horse Morning Star and her goat companion Clyde are fed 3 - 4 flakes of hay in both the morning and in the evening. Their heated waterer is rinsed and refilled once a day. They have free access to their stalls and pasture at all times and the small amount of manure in their stalls is mucked out once a day. Morning Star wears a horse blanket if the air temperature is below 20 degrees.
Optional: Morning Star enjoys being groomed in the evening while she's eating her dinner when the air temperature is above 50 degrees.

Our herd of six goats (Jill, Phoenix, Zeus, Paula, Skippy, and 007) are fed a bale of hay in the evening, which is divided between their three hay mangers and two other feeding spots. Their heated waterer is rinsed and refilled once a day.

We have a few indoor plants which are watered once to twice per week.

What are the good features of the property and location

Our 2 bedroom/2 bathroom home is nestled in the Appalachian Mountains of southwest Virginia- just an hour from Abingdon, VA and Bristol, TN and 3 hours from Roanoke, VA. The George Washington & Jefferson National Forest can be reached within 10 minutes by car and offers great opportunities for hiking, biking, picnicking, boating, fishing, and bird watching.

In addition to a house, garage, barn, and pastures, our property features about 10 acres of woods for you to explore!

Our home amenities include:
* Two decks with table & chairs and scenic views
* High speed WiFi internet
* Full kitchen (fridge with freezer & ice maker, range, oven, dishwasher, microwave, toaster oven, coffee maker, pots & pans, cooking utensils, dishes & cutlery)
* Dining room
* Living room with a sofa and a fold-out futon
* Office space with desk & chair
* Two showers, and a separate tub
* Central heating
* Washer & dryer
* Propane grill
* Two televisions with multiple streaming services and standard channels, a new Blue-Ray/DVD player, DVDs, and a stereo
* Sheets, blankets, and pillows
* Bathroom essentials (towels, hand soap, shampoo, toilet paper)
* Closet space
* Smoke detectors and fire extinguishers
* Vacuum cleaner & clothing iron

Sitters are welcome to:
* Sleep in our king bed, double bed, and/or on the fold-out futon in the living room
* Eat any/all of our food and beverages
* Use all of the amenities
* Cuddle with our cats & pet our horse and goats

We're located within 5 miles of a grocery store, multiple restaurants offering live music, coffee shops, a CVS pharmacy, and gas stations, and we're about a 15-minute drive from shopping centers including Walmart and Lowe's.

What does the house sitter need to consider before applying for this assignment

Just a few considerations…

* You'll need to bring a warm coat or layers plus a hat, gloves, and warm socks, as it may or may not be cold and/or snowy here in January.

* Our senior horse, Morning Star, needs to wear her blanket when the air temperature is forecasted to drop below 20 degrees for more than a couple hours. Her blanket then needs to be removed when it warms up again to around 30 degrees. It may or may not be cold enough to be "blanket weather" during one or more of the nights while you're house sitting at our place. She loves her cozy blanket though, and she behaves well for putting it on/taking it off!

* The walk from our house to the barn where our horse and goats live takes one to two minutes and includes a moderate incline for about 50 feet along the route. It’s also possible to drive from the house to the barn in an all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive vehicle instead of walking.

Can I bring my own pets?

No, sorry.

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