#housesitting Apr 26, 2013 4-5 weeks, we return 5/29 United States corvallis 5 miles north of corvallis, oregon Oregon

View Housesit Details for #housesitting Apr 26, 2013 4-5 weeks, we return 5/29 United States corvallis 5 miles north of corvallis, oregon Oregon
Oregon in spring, near hiking trails


Our house is on 5 acres just outside Corvallis, an appealing (approx. 50,000) university town in the Willamette Valley. On clear days there is a great view over to the Cascade Mountains from our house.

Corvallis is about 1.5 hours from the Oregon coast, Portland, and the Cascade Mountains. Even better -- we think -- is the extensive network of trails 10 minutes drive from our house in the woods owned by the OSU College of Forestry.

We have a small flock of chickens and ducks and half a dozen friendly geese, and we sell eggs, mostly to weekly customers; a sitter would need to close the birds into their house, let them out in the morning, and put eggs into an outside fridge for customers, as well as checking food and water. A couple of dozen chicks, in a separate house, will require little work, but can be loads of fun. We do have neighbors who would probably be happy to do bird care for one to two nights, if you want to be gone.

Our smart and playful 7-year-old female border-collie/golden retriever mix will also be here; she is comfortable staying in the house or outside when no one is home (though she'd always prefer to go with you). She is used to being taken for a walk in the woods each day, so we'd prefer to find a sitter who'd enjoy that. If you'd prefer not to have a dog in your car, we could leave you the keys to our (1990s) car.

We built our own house (owner builders). Like most owner builders, we have not quite finished it -- some windows have no trim, there is a wall by the stairs with no drywall. But most people think it's a great house. That said, if you are used to a suburban ranch house and a house cleaner, this is not the house for you. There is wifi and satellite TV.

There are electric wall heaters, and there's a good wood stove. You probably won't need either in May.

There is also a newer building (that was professionally built) with a shop, a music room, and an exercise room. There are two queen futon beds out there (but no bathroom) and there is a bedroom with a queen bed upstairs in the main house, as well as two bathrooms, one up, one down.

The landscape is going to look its best in April/May -- dozens of fruit trees in bloom, daffodils, tulips. But be warned: you can't count on it not raining till after the 4th of July in this part of the world.

Because we'd really like the dog to get her usual 30-60 minutes of exercise a day, we'd really like a sitter who would enjoy that.


0 comments:

Post a Comment