Living on the Whitcomb Farm

Who: The Whitcomb Family
When: January 27-February 7th
Where: Black Diamond

If you are one to consider Black Diamond as out in the country, then I had my first house sitting gig country living style. Okay, they live just a stones throw away from Covington, but they do have a very large garden in their front yard and Ben's been known to have a tractor or two on the lot. When they asked me to watch over their place I jumped at the chance.

Perk #1. I get to use Janet's car while they are gone and my car is out of commission until the unforeseen future. Perk #2. They live 7 minutes away from where I work.
Perk #3. They have two chickens so fresh eggs every morning for breakfast.

I love house sitting for friends and Ben and Janet are two of my closest friends. They went on a vacation to Arizona and California and entrusted me to take care of their St. Bernard, Daisy, and their two very sneaky chickens. Occasionally, at night when I went out to feed and put them in their little house, they would greet me at the back door. Now, I know for certain that I put them in their pen but they managed to jump up and over the fence. I'm sure I was a sight to see running around in the backyard in my boots chasing after two chickens.
Good Times!!!

This is also the first house I've stayed that didn't have cable T.V or any T.V for that matter. Needless to say, I now have seen every DVD the Whitcomb family owns. I watched Blue's Brothers and Braveheart for the first time. Two movies that Ben was shocked I've never seen. One of my favorite things about house sitting for Janet is her attention to detail in making sure I had zero questions about anything during my stay. Posted around the house were instructions (with pictures) how to for example; feed Daisy or how to work the thermostat or where to hang my towel after showering. I loved them. I left them up the whole time because they just made my life so easy. I kinda wish I had little instructions with pictures posted places for life in general.

I absolutely loved taking care of their home while they were away and hope to get the chance to do so again.

House Sitting for the Mott Family

Who: Andrew and Erika Mott
When: September 16-20th
Where: Des. Moines

For this job I have to start off by giving my mom thanks for promoting my house sitting adventure idea to her friends at work. Thank you June for passing around my fancy-shmancy business cards, I really appreciate it. I received a phone call the day before the Mott family was to leave town and I thought, why not, this last minute gig might turn out to be fun and allow me to gain more clients through the vast network of Boeing employees.
Andrew and Erika have two loving and one rambunctious dogs, a Beagle and Golden Retriever, both with distinct personalities. We went on many walks around the neighborhood and each the golden walked right next to me with head up high and the beagle wanted to see and smell everything. It was always an unexpected stress relief and joy to take them out when I got home from work. As expected nothing to out of the ordinary with this weekend. I brought in some packages, checked the mail, carted in the garbage cans and cleaned up around the house.
I was especially interested in this house sitting gig because I grew up literally blocks away from their home so I drove by my old house. For those who have taken the trip down memory lane it can sometime be a little disappointing. My tree was chopped down, my sister's special tree was overgrown and the general upkeep of the neighborhood was in ruins. I'll always remember it as if it was still June's Daycare.
On day 3 and incoming text from Andrew showed a very appreciative message with a breathtaking view in the background. This picture is probably the best and most creative Thank You I've ever received. Mott family, you are very welcome.

House Sitting for the Worl Family...take 2

Who: The Rob and Becca Worl
When: September 2-5th
Where: Maple Valley

When house sitting for the Worl Family dinner guests are a must, especially when family lives around the corner. I  think this is rather amusing because I've never actually had dinner with the owners of this home before, but I know where all the dishes are kept and where they hide the wine opener. This abnormality must be fixed soon.

 This house sitting job started out as just me going over to check on the cats and make sure they have food and water.  I was planning on going camping for the weekend, however plans changed which allowed me to stay at their home the full length of the long weekend. My boyfriend and his son kept me and the kitties company. One way to keep an 8 year old fully entertained is to borrow 2 funny playful cats. He had the scratching post out and shoe laces tied to doors all over the living room. It was non-stop laughter for hours. We all hung around for a bit, kinda putzing around like it was our own house. I cleaned the kitchen, Hunter played on the swing set and Darren was in the garage fixing his son's bike. I honestly at times forgot I was house sitting and took on the role of home owner...but without the mortgage. Later we all went out to breakfast at the old Black Diamond Bakery where we enjoyed a delicious apple cinnamon roll and omelets. I highly recommend this place if you get the chance.

The next two days continued without any fires, burglarise or water damage. We watched a few movies and generally just hung around. The day before they came home, I went through the house and did a deep clean. I love it when I come back from vacation and you walk in to a spotless house so what better way to welcome home the Worl family than with a freshly cleaned home. I later found out that she had company over the night of their return so I'm sure that was a huge relief not having to clean.

Once again I thoroughly enjoyed house sitting for this family and I'm still convinced that house sitting is the way to go if you're tired of paying rent.

House Sitting for the Grodin Family

When: August 19th-22nd
Where: Shoreline
Who: The Grodin Family

I've been looking forward to this house sitting gig since I started this crazy idea last month. Living in Shoreline for the weekend would be a good change of pace and kind of be like a mini vacation. Because this was my first scheduled booking, it kind of felt like my challenge had finally started even though I had one in July. I didn't really know KaraAnne and her husband, Mike, that well but thanks to Facebook she read about my idea and quickly booked two weekends and week in December. I think the fact that I didn't charge for dog sitting had a major draw. That has now changed, as I've found that dog sitting requires at least two pages of instructions.

I drove over to their home Friday around 3pm to take them on a walk and to give them a scoop of food. This was just a quick visit since my boyfriend and I had a crab feast to go to that evening. I kid you not, I have NEVER seen more crab on a table than I did that night, twenty crabs somehow all fit in a barbecue and covered the extended dining room table. Delicious!!! So, as I'm driving out there, I'm searching for her address and I can not find it. I text my boyfriend for it and he promptly replies with an address that Tom Tom doesn't recognize. Crap!!! I have to admit that between all our e-mailing back and forth, I guess I never got her current home address. I had been over for dinner a few weeks prior to get the key and to meet her dogs but I really didn't pay much attention on how to get there since I figured I'd just punch her address into my Tom Tom. I pull over and called the Vet number that was on page number 2 of my instructions but of course they are unable to give me their address. At least I'm able to verify that the address I do have isn't the correct one. Facebook, pops in my head, maybe she's posted her address on her info page. Yes!!! After a 30 min delay, I make it to the Grodin residence.

The next morning we wake up with Jesse at our feet on the bed and Maggie in her bed on the floor. Darren has a mean hankering for a cup of Joe but no beans are in sight. Using those child proof magnet openers we searched all over that kitchen without any luck but luckily we are within walking distance of a Starbucks (well actually 2). With Jesse and Maggie leashed up, we are off on our early morning walk and all I have to say is good thing he had Jesse and I had Maggie. Jesse gets pretty excited around other dogs. After breakfast and honestly probably the best cup of coffee ever, we headed out to enjoy the sun.

After multiple walks, blackberry picking on the trail, a little gardening in the backyard, and many poopy bags later the Grodins came home mid afternoon on Sunday. We were in the midst of baking blackberry scones when they pulled up outside bags in tow. We stayed just a bit longer to finish the scones and to clean up. I hope they enjoyed their vacation and were a little more relaxed knowing that their two black labs were in such good care. I think this experience has made less aprehensive about dogs and who knows, maybe there will be a puppy in my future...

Thank you KaraAnne and Mike for welcoming Darren and I into your home for 3 days. I look forward to the next one.

A new Wenatchee home

My red loveseat has found a new home.
A few months ago my friend Sara agreed to give my couch a home for 6 months in her apartment but then her and her boyfriend decided to get a puppy. Love that they got a cute little puppy, don't love that this puppy would destroy my couch. This sadly, was a deal breaker in the babysitting agreement. I tried to locate a second smoke free, pet free and ideally kiddo free home to take my little couch. Unfortunately there was zero interest. As my move out date neared, I realized I'm going to have to find a place for this couch other than in my mom's garage. I reluctantly rented a storage unit to temporarily house it along with all my other stuff until I Craigslist it. (I love how Craigslist all of a sudden became a verb.) I am proud to say that with the help of my little sister Emily and my boyfriend Darren, I was able to move out and clean my apartment in a total of four hours. My 5x 13 storage unit now holds my material reflection of my life, kinda weird to see.
Since this blog was having technical problems for a spell, I was unable to update that my couch was up for grabs again. My friend Michelle was under the impression that my red love seat was comfortably living in a Queen Anne apartment instead of being enclosed in a dark, crowded impersonal storage unit. Well, last night we drove over to Wenatchee to visit Steve and Michelle for the weekend and I told her about my dilemma. Michelle lit up with a huge smile and excitedly said "I want your couch and we don't have any pets!" We both did a little happy girly dance together to seal the deal. My red love seat will soon become her new reading comfy spot.

House Sitting for the Worl Family

When: July 22-25
Where: Maple Valley
Who: Rebecca and Rob Worl

Two lessons learned, Don't try to find the key in the dark and carry a step stool in car. Finding the key to enter the house turned out to be a blind search with me on my tippy toes trying to feel around for the key. That flashlight app could have been useful right about then. After getting a feel for the layout of the house and checking on the cats, I went to bed in the spare room or as I called it the library. If I was booked to stay longer I definitely would have read a few of her books, great selection.

I woke up pretty early and made breakfast, plopped myself in front of the t.v and watched a few shows. This was a treat since I don't have cable. I was able to get in a little study time before I headed out for the afternoon. Later in the day I planned to have two friends over for dinner and a soak in the hot tub. I pre-approved my dinner guests with Becca so all was on the up and up. I set the dining room table for 3 complete with wine glasses and a proper place setting. I love picking out dishes and deciding how to set a table especially if they aren't mine. Dinner went perfectly, Shepard's pie prepared by Janet, garlic bread toasted by Becka and key lime pie made by me. It felt like having dinner in a hotel surrounded by nice things that don't belong to you. Loved it. We finished our glasses of wine in the hot tub. Relaxing in the tub was when I realized this whole house sitting thing could really work out.
The rest of the stay went by without a lost cat, no smoke alarm soundings or a frantic 911 text to Rob. I hope when they returned, the Worl family was pleasantly welcomed to a clean home with fresh picked flowers on their kitchen table.
Thank you for making my first house sitting stay a successful visit.

First house sitting job coming up

Next weekend kicks off my house sitting challenge, a little early but I couldn't turn down an opportunity. My good friend Becca and her husband will be in Washington D.C for a church function and she asked me if I would be willing to house sit for her while her and her husband are on their mini vacation. Immediately I texted back with a Yes and a smiley face. She put me in charge of her two cats (one is very fat so I'm supposed to watch what she eats), hosing down a couple of her indoor plants and I have strict instructions to never touch any of the buttons on the alarm. She warned it can be very scary if the thing starts screaming. If for some reason I do feel the urge to push a button I am to text 911 to her husband's Rob phone immediately. Whew, got it.

I'll have to pack a bikini for this house sitting adventure for they have a hot-tub in the back yard. This is my first booked gig and already I get to lay back and relax in an outdoor soak tub. I couldn't have done that in my ghetto apartment. As it turns out my friend Becka is her neighbor so I can see us lounging in the evenings. A glass of wine perhaps.

We discussed the whole T.V remote situation so that shouldn't be a problem. Little does she know though that I've lived without a working T.V for the past 4 months. I might just get sucked in. Things should go without a hitch. An extra bonus to this house sitting gig is that it's closer to my school than where I normally stay which is in Sammamish. I go to school in Auburn so it's a bit of a commute at 6:00am. I bet I can leave and be in my seat 30 min later, maybe even stop at Cutter's Point for a latte.

Well, I'll let you know how this all works out. Wish me luck!!