Kaya, tortoise female' Max, Westie mix; outside fish in small ponds; and inside fish. None of them are exotic; all goldfish!
We want some company for our cat and little dog as well as someone who can look out for them as we live in a wooded area. They have a fenced in yard and porches to sleep on. There is a lovely forest walk (we live on 4 acres surrounded by 100 acres of woods. So someone who loves animals and is particularly fond and patient with cats and a young Westie mix who loves to sit on your lap. We are only four minutes from a town, Hillsborough, but secluded in the woods along with two female neighbors. Quiet, private, lovely oasis.
Feed cat and dog twice a day. Make sure water bowls are full. Feed outside fish and indoor fish. Keep house clean. Kaya needs regular kibble and some wet canned food. No medicines. We prefer two people as there are maintenance steps which may need to take place: watching out for the decks to keep them free of leaves and debris using an electric blower; watching out for electricity use with heat pump system; opening and closing windows if it cools down; watching water usage, etc. Being mindful. Caring for the place as if it were your own. We have time of day rates so no excessive cooking, washing, etc from 1 pm to 6 pm in summer.
In forest but only five minutes from town (Hillsborough NC) and 15 minutes from Durham (Duke University. Durham has become a big foodie center as well as a music venue. Since there are three major universities 20 minutes apart, there are plenty of cultural activities, restaurants, movies, shopping, trails, breweries, etc.) Probably one of the best locations in North Carolina. The Piedmont doesn't get bad winters. Mild autumn weather. Gorgeous spring. Humid summers.
YOU MUST HAVE A CAR. You need to like cats and dogs and enjoy the outdoors. The house has lots of windows facing the forest. It's quiet; there are two other houses on the lane with single dwellers in each who are sisters. You can go biking (we have two bikes); or, go to a nearby sports center where there are workout facilities, classes, pools and skating rinks. We are close to restaurants; museums; hiking trails and state parks.
Although we are three miles from shopping and the town, you will need a vehicle to get around, and you will want to visit the nearby towns: Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Durham. Durham is a big music scene in the summer. Chapel Hill is a lovely town with a university. Raleigh has museums, restaurants, parks, etc. to visit. There is a great deal of pottery in the area if you are a collector.
We have two bicycles you are welcome to use.
Yes
Testimonials
Early hot fall in the forest
We stayed at this unordinary artistic house for one week at the end of September. The cozy house in the middle of the forest gave us lots of opportunities for bird and dear watching and enjoying the nature with the return of a late summer with 35°C. Christine and Jeff were welcoming us with a splendid dinner on the veranda. Their very independent cat Kaya made life for us very easy, as she only wanted to be fed twice per day but doing all other of her business outside thanks to the cat door and no litter box. The fish in the different ponds and inside were even less demanding (thanks God Kaya was absolutely not interested in making a wet experience ????). During the few very hot days we enjoyed the nice new TV set by watching good movies on Netflix and Prime Video while only the AC was working hard. Our son loved his job as "whistle-blower" to get rid of all leaves from the veranda and feeding with patience the fish plus refilling the bird feeders (spotting a tricky squirrel thieving the seeds). Thanks God the fishponds were not big enough for him having a swim ????. The most attentive neighbor you could meet showed us around and specially drove us to Durham to take off. We only can recommend this wonderful place and its owners from all our heart.
Frank, 09 October, 2019
An ideal housesitting experience
Chris and Jeff's place is awesome - really. Their unique, comfortable, spacious wooded retreat will leave you spellbound while also offering quick, easy access to Hillsborough, Chapel Hill, Durham and beyond. Kaia and Mr. Kite are independent yet will entertain and keep you company. Even the fish were fun to observe and easy to tend to. In addition, Chris and Jeff have a notebook with comprehensive and easy to read instructions, so I always felt secure in knowing what to do or who to contact in the event of an emergency. They also responded to messages and queries quickly. I would jump at the opportunity to return to the wooded retreat the next time I'm in the area. Chris and Jeff are also super nice, warm and interesting people. A strong recommend all around.
Lynn, 23 November, 2018
X-mas in NC 12/19 – 29
We house & cat sat for Jeff & Chris & their 3 cats for 8 days. After a warm welcome & a thorough verbal + written orientation, it was quickly evident that the nurture & care of the cats is essential. The 3 cats are of different age, diets, personalities & quirks…we grew to love them all! Their spacious home is well-suited to it’s North Carolina woodland setting. For any who enjoy the quiet serenity of natural settings, this is a slice of heaven. It was a joy meeting Chris & Jeff who kept in touch while away. We loved this sit! The ambience, the cats, Jeff & Chris….we were sad to leave.
David & Cindy Lou, Canada, 30 Dec 2016