Ryan and Annie

Today, our housesitters Ryan and Annie came by for a briefing.

Over tea, we reviewed the instructions Jocelyn and I put together to guide them during their two and a half month stay at our house. As reported earlier, they will be leaving in late August, turning Maya's care over to Heather and Tom.

Here are the instructions for the record.

Housesitting/Dogsitting Instructions

1. Security/Access – Please keep all doors locked whenever you are away. Enter through the garage.
2. Maya
§ Feeding – One scoop of dry dog food at ~ 8 a.m. and one scoop at ~6 p.m. Make sure she has plenty of fresh water all the time. Water dishes are located upstairs in eating area of kitchen, outside beneath hose bib and in her kennel area.
§ Exercise – Take her for as long a walk/run as possible every day. This is the best way to keep her happy. Red leash and choke collar is hanging on a hook in the garage. Put her in her kennel area whenever you are away from home. Watch for signs of her trying to gnaw her way through the gates between the front and back yards. Barricade as necessary.
§ Maya gets a heartworm pill on the second Monday of every summer month. See “H” on kitchen calendar as a reminder.
If Maya gets hurt or ill, her veterinarian is Gwyn Furst at Arvada Flats Veterinary Clinic. There is a magnet on the refrigerator with their address and phone number.
3. Flooring – Please leave your outdoor shoes in the foyer and use slippers inside.
4. General Housekeeping – Sweep/vacuum as needed. “Bona” the hardwood floors at least every other week. Clean bathrooms and kitchen as needed.
5. Yard – Mow lawn as needed. Try to keep mulched areas weed free, especially the front yard. Monitor sprinkler system performance. Readjust sprinkler system controller after a power failure or if it gets out of whack for any other reason. Use hose to spot water any lawn that looks brown.
6. Mail – Bring in every day. Put mail in box on credenza in downstairs office. Watch the front porch for UPS or Fedex packages.
7. Washer/dryer – In basement.
8. Trash – Trash pick up is early Tuesday morning, so put the trash cans out at the end of the driveway by 7 a.m. (Monday evening is OK). Recycling pick up is every other Tuesday. Check the calendar in the kitchen for recycling pick up schedule.
9. Contact trusted friend and neighbor Roni Teitelbaum if you need info or have any problems.
10. When you leave in August, please deliver Maya to Heather and Tom. When you drop Maya off, please give them Maya’s food, food dish, bed, doggy backpack, and red leash & choker.

Dos
Keep lawn trimmed
Keep lawn green – spot water as needed
Keep weeds at bay
Keep floors clean
Sweep as needed; “Bona” hardwood once every two weeks; vacuum carpet twice weekly
Keep indoor plants watered (but not too much!)
Keep yard clear of dog doo

Don’ts
Leave Maya in front yard unattended – EVER!
Park your car or allow others to park theirs in driveway if they leak ANY fluid
Wear “outdoor” shoes inside
Put anything other than TP and human waste down the toilet (i.e., no hair, dental floss, etc. or it will eventually clog the pipes and cause back up into the house)
Put anything other minor food bits down the garbage disposal. Use the compost bucket or the trash instead

Checklist for closing up house in August:

ÿ Maya’s care fully arranged and Maya safe
ÿ Lawn mowed within 24 hours of departure
ÿ House is spotless – Beds made with clean sheets, kitchen & bathrooms cleaned, floors swept, carpets vacuumed, furniture dusted, everything straightened
ÿ Sprinkler system programmed
ÿ All sink and hose bib faucets closed tight
ÿ Toilet water supply valves shut
ÿ Evaporative cooler water supply valve closed and switch off
ÿ Hot water heater setting turned to low
ÿ Computer power cords unplugged
ÿ All chargers unplugged
ÿ All fence gates shut and barred
ÿ All windows shut and locked
ÿ All lights off
ÿ All stove and oven burners off
ÿ Kitchen fridge/freezer doors shut
ÿ Dishwasher door open
ÿ Glass shower door in master bath slightly open
ÿ All exterior doors locked, both knobs and deadbolts - front door, sliding glass doors, back door off master bedroom, door from garage to front porch
ÿ Car parked in garage
ÿ Garage door shut