From the top of the steep vineyard, I surveyed the valley below and watched the sun sink behind the North Coast Ranges. The landscape, which had been washed in a golden hue, was now tinted with a subtle shade of cornflower blue as the lights of Cloverdale began to flicker below. I breathed in the warm evening air heavy with the scent dried grass, and my worries melted away.
While I typically do not accept sitting jobs that are less than 10 days long, I was happy to make an exception this time. Due to the Coronavirus, I had been sheltering in place for months and desperately needed a change of scenery. I also needed a break from the constant low-level stress that had taken up residence in my chest ever since the pandemic began. I knew that spending a couple days alone in the quiet countryside was exactly the mental and physical escape I needed.
The two dogs I had the pleasure of caring for were as sweet as could be and very well behaved. The younger of the two was a loving and patient watchdog that alerted me to any uninvited guests. The older was a small, sweet, blind, and deaf dog who loved morning walks to the mailbox (followed by a well-deserved nap… or two).
I certainly hope the owners invite me to sit for them again… and next time I hope it’s for a bit longer. Although too long and I may never want to leave 😉
Duties:
– Care for 2 dogs
– Water the vegetable garden
– Gather mail
Unexpected Benefits and/or Realizations:
– Stars, stars, and more stars! While I was lucky enough to grow up in the country and spend many nights looking up at a diamond-filled sky, I’ve lived in the city too long and forgot how beautiful it can be. This home was just far enough away from the city lights to reveal a good amount of stars – and to remind me why I need to move back to the country.
– I have never taken care of an elderly dog that was almost blind and fairly deaf. I was a bit nervous at first, but quickly realized he could navigate much better than I anticipated, especially with some auditory assistance. I experimented with shuffling/stomping my feet as I walked when I wanted him to follow me. To help him follow me and navigate around objects, I discovered it worked well if I clapped my hands a few inches above the ground as I walked.
Unexpected Events and/or Challenges:
– Vineyards are beautiful, but require a lot of maintenance. On my second night, there were workers in the vineyard all night long. While the workers were not very loud, the commotion caused the dogs to erupt into barking fits every couple hours throughout the night which required me to get out of bed to calm them. Needless to say, it was not the most restful night. Still, it was a small price to pay.
