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A Cloverdale Community (55+) #4 | 12 Days

Happy to be back in Cloverdale, hanging out with my familiar furry friend, a Black Tri-Color Australian Shepherd for the 4th time!

Was it crazy hot most days causing the dog and I to be stuck inside a lot? Yep. Are we both introverts who like being home and enjoy taking naps so being trapped inside by the summer heat was not a problem? Also yep! 🙂

We did make sure to get outside for 20-30 min walks in the mornings before it got too warm and in the late afternoons when the sun dropped below the horizon. There’s something kinda magical about summer mornings and evenings, right?

DUTIES:

– Care for 1 dog (2 walks/day)
– Gather the mail and packages daily
– Water a couple plants that weren’t on the drip system

Unexpected Benefits and/or Realizations:

I happily discovered that the owners were growing tomatoes this summer so that meant I had access to unripe tomatoes and was able to cook one of my favorite dishes – fried green tomatoes!

I like to make them even more yummy by drizzling them with mayo/aioli and hot sauce 🙂

Unexpected Events and/or Challenges:

Sometimes I forget this sweet girl is not a huge fan of walks. She’s a shy/nervous dog and other people and animals make her uneasy. As an introvert, I don’t blame her, lol.

Sometimes she hides under the bed and simply refuses to come out (which can sometimes be a tad frustrating because it’s my job to make sure she gets her exercise).

I finally captured this photo of her expression as we were getting ready to go out one afternoon – cracked me up, hahaha.

This is not necessarily an unexpected event or challenge, but a good reminder to be aware of surroundings.

The coyotes were quite brazen this summer. One morning while walking the dog, a juvenile coyote trotted across the road in front of us (maybe only 30-40 ft away) and stopped and stared. It eventually trotted off to a nearby hillside and continued to watch from there. I kept a close eye on it. Its mannerisms told me it was just curious or wanted to play, but I’ve heard stories about coyotes tempting dogs away from their yards and into the woods only to lure them into an area where the pack is waiting to pounce.

I provide her with 2 water bowls inside and yet she LOVES drinking from the fountain 🙂
She insists on sitting between my legs when I am on the floor trying to put my shoes on.
The weather had been very hot so I tried to brush out some of her fluff and then gave her a little wipe down. She loved it but you wouldn’t know by her expression here.
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Victoria with a View #3 | 6.5 Weeks

So happy to be back in beautiful British Columbia visiting one of my favorite furry pals, a senior (but young-at-heart) poodle!

Due to Covid 19, my last sit in BC was two and a half years ago. In dog years that’s a LONG time, and sadly, I could tell “my” sweet poodle had aged a bit since I last saw her. She turned 14 just before I arrived. Her hair was a bit more gray, her eyes were somewhat droopy, and she didn’t have the stamina she once had, but happily she still exhibited little bursts of energy where she’d want to play and run around with me. The energetic spurts never lasted long and usually required a nap after (for us both) but it was nice to see there was still some puppy in her 🙂

All I can hope is that she lives at least a few more years and that I can at least come up and see her one more time before she goes to doggy heaven 🙁

Duties:
– Care for 1 dog (included daily walks of 3+ miles, trips to vet and groomer, and giving pills/supplements )
– Fertilize a few outdoor plants on a weekly basis
– Spray driveway pavers for weeds
– Gather mail and receive mail deliveries
– Coordinate with contractor company doing work on the property and sent pics to home owners of the work being done
– Leave the house as spotless as the owners left it for me 🙂

Unexpected Benefits and/or Realizations:

– While the locals were not a fan of the cool, cloudy summer they were having, I was LOVING it! Cooler weather is ideal when caring for a black poodle who loves to go on walks but gets overheated very easily.
– Not only did I love the cooler weather this coastal area provided, but I was also a fan of the extra 45 min or so of daylight that this latitude provides!

Unexpected Events and/or Challenges:

– Not long before I arrived for the sit, the poodle had a health scare. She ingested something on one of her walks that caused a very bad reaction. When I arrived to this sit, she was still recovering from the ordeal. Poor girl was moving slowly and I could just tell by her face that she was not feeling great. So the first few days she and I just took it really easy and for the rest of the sit I let her dictate the distance and pace at which we did our daily walks. By the end of the sit she had vastly improved, but I still couldn’t help but think there were some lingering effects, such as an intermittent shudder/tremor and losing her appetite at times. Needless to say, I kept a close eye on her and kept her owners informed of any odd behavior.

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Respite in Rural Napa #6 | 5 Days

Ahhhhhhh… something about this place just makes the world disappear. My mind is quieter and I breathe more deeply. I think it’s a combination of the calming influence of a dog plus being surrounded by nature. Together, you can’t help but be reminded that all we have is the present, that life is short and should be savored as much as possible.

I’m starting to realize I am often trapped in my thoughts – ruminating about the past and stressing about the future. Add to that the mind-numbing pull of endless online entertainment in the form of videos and social media and I can get lost for hours, like a baby sucking on a digital pacifier. I know how deep I go because when something finally snaps me out of it, I am a bit disoriented and for a moment have to remember where I am and what day/time it is.

I get so out-of-body sometimes that I forget to breathe… or shall I say breathe deeply. I think I get headaches sometimes simply because I am not getting enough oxygen (is that a thing?). But when I am lounging with a dog and hear them take a big inhale and exhale, I am reminded to do the same. And when I am in nature and feel the breeze on my face and catch a whiff of earth’s goodness, I can’t help but breathe it in.

So I guess that’s the reminder for the day… breathe… and be present 🙂

DUTIES:

– Care for 1 dog
– Gather the mail
– Take out trash

Unexpected Benefits and/or Realizations:

– The homeowner left a book for me to read that she thought I would enjoy… and I sure did! I am not a huge reader because I tend to fall asleep anytime I read, but I LOVED this book and could not put it down. Highly recommend!

Untamed, by Glennon Doyle

Unexpected Events and/or Challenges:

– Ticks, ticks, ticks. This is just a reality of living in the country, but man oh man the ticks are bad this Spring. Thankfully the dog is on tick medication so they will fall off the dog on their own after they bite her, but I still had to pull a few off her and brush dead ones out of her fur (insert green face throw-up emoji here, lol).

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Respite in Rural Napa #5 | 3 Days

I’m back in the “Bay Area Country” and feeling good. It always feels like I’m on vacation when I’m here. This property feels like a world away from everything… a place free from everyday worries. Time seems to almost stop when I am here hanging out with my sweet canine companion.

The last time I sat here was almost a year ago – how time flies! And yet, it feels like almost no time has passed at all. The passage of time has been strange these past two years. I know I am not the only one who feels that way. Days have felt like months and months have felt like hours. Sometimes it feels like my housesitting hobby is the only thing that has helped break up the monotony that Covid created and put some sort of timestamp on life.

DUTIES:

– Care for 1 dog
– Gather the mail

Unexpected Benefits and/or Realizations:

– New swing! I know this was not installed for me… but I pretended it was 😉 I spent mornings and afternoons swinging while the dog wandered nearby, sniffing amongst the weeds, searching for mole holes.

Unexpected Events and/or Challenges:

– A classic car broke down in front of the house. The owner of the car wanted to use my phone to call a tow truck, but the cell signal is so bad it won’t work near the road. To protect myself and the homeowners property I was not willing to let the car owner into the house to make a call. So I simply made calls on his behalf and spoke with him over the fence. I like to be helpful when I can, but also stay safe!

I offered the car owner water since he was going to be waiting awhile. Unfortunately, the tow truck never arrived and it was getting late in the day (and chilly). It appeared the car would have to stay put for the night. But the road is curvy and has a small shoulder so I felt bad for the car owner. Since I know the homeowners are classic car fans, I felt they would be ok with letting the car owner park his car in the driveway for safe keeping overnight (they were). So the man left it in my care for the night and came to retrieve it in the morning with a flatbed tow truck. It felt nice being able to help 🙂

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A Cloverdale Community (55+) #3 | 8 Days

Over a week of hiking and mushroom hunting with my sweet Black Tri-Color Australian Shepherd sidekick made this a great sit!

Since this was the third time sitting for this homeowner and caring for this same dog, it was a very easygoing sit. Having familiarity with homeowners and their pets makes things so easy and relaxing for all involved.

The only difference this time around was that the sit took place in the winter… during peak mushroom season! Since the house backs up to a 250-acre preserve with miles of trails, I knew the pup and I would be spending a lot of time out in nature. While I found a TON of mushrooms and got some great pics, I didn’t find any that I could cook – either because they were not edible or they were too old to harvest. That said, it was still great fun and the dog and I got the exercise we both needed 😉

DUTIES:

– Care for 1 dog (2 walks/day)
– Gather the mail

Unexpected Benefits and/or Realizations:

– I thought I had explored all the trails on the last sit, but discovered a couple areas I had missed! Always fun going down new paths 🙂
– I had a rough emotional day during this sit (just normal life stuff) and found out Australian Shepherds are good emotional support animals… well, at least this one let me cuddle with her until I was feeling better. So sweet.

Unexpected Events and/or Challenges:

– LOL, this dog is SUCH a homebody. There was at least one evening walk that she simply refused to go on (I guess she was just feeling lazy), multiple times where I had to coax her to walk with me, and multiple times on walks where she refused to go any farther and pulled us towards home (after just a 10 min walk around the neighborhood). Cracks me up.

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Felines & Fall in the PNW | 2 Weeks

Cozy evenings in front of the fire, cats curled up nearby, a light mist coming down outside, and the taste of Oregon Pinot on my lips – is there a better way to celebrate the start of the cool season??

I was beyond excited to head North to the PNW for this sit. During this time of year, it’s the best place to watch the magic of autumn unfold before my eyes. Every day the leaves turn more golden and continue to decorate the pavement – Mother Nature’s confetti. Back home in California summer is still holding on for dear life (wildfires are still a threat), but up here it has acquiesced. Needless to say, this was a needed respite from the dry heat.

I thoroughly enjoyed my two weeks here with these two sweet cats. We mostly just hung about together – them napping and me on the computer. They would sometimes wander the neighborhood for a bit (as is allowed by their owner) and I would sporadically work out on the elliptical, but otherwise we were just a bunch of lazy homebodies. Definitely one of my favorite sits and would happily come back to do it again (hint hint to the owner ;)).

DUTIES:

– Care for two adult cats ( and get them inside before sunset)
– Water indoor and outdoor plants
– Gather the mail
– Put out the trash for collection

Unexpected Benefits and/or Realizations:

I already knew I had a growing fondness for the PNW, but this sit might have convinced me I need to relocate. It’s such a beautiful area that perfectly balances nature and necessity.

Unexpected Events and/or Challenges:

Dead rodent!

Finding a dead animal on the kitchen floor is a bit of a shocker, but somewhat expected when there are cats around. I know this cat was just trying to give me a gift and show me some love. Still… poor little guy 🙁

  • You’re cute but how am I supposed to get any work done with you on my lap?
  • The rodent killer
  • Kitty cuddles in bed are the best
  • She’s helping me with my puzzle 🙂
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Foothill Fur Babies | 1 Month

At this point, HOT and SMOKEY seems to be the theme when sitting in Northern California locations during the summer. I suppose that is the new reality here with the seasonal wildfires. As someone who works indoors on a computer it’s never a huge problem for me (except for smoke-induced headaches), but I always feel bad for the dogs I watch because it means they’re stuck inside for long stretches of time.

To combat the dogs’ boredom, I did my best to amuse them and gave them ample cuddles. I also got a little creative and decided to create some DIY interactive treat toys using things like towels, toilette paper rolls, water bottles, etc. The dogs loved having to work (just a little) to earn their afternoon treats. It definitely added some excitement to the days we were stuck inside.

DUTIES:

– Care for 2 small dogs
– Water outdoor plants/trees
– Put out food and water for wildlife due to wildfire and excessive heat
– Daily walks (including special trips to the park!) when the smoke/weather allowed

Unexpected Benefits and/or Realizations:

It’s not an unexpected benefit, but an advantage that I’m reminded of every time I am out in the country – I LOVE the peace and quiet. And let’s not forget the dark, star-filled skies 🙂

Unexpected Events and/or Challenges:

No challenges concerning the dogs – just the stress of a nearby wildfire (the Caldor fire) the started burning in a nearby rural town and threatened to head this way.

  • Wanting to go outside but it was too hot and smokey 🙁
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Poolside in Sacramento #3 | 10 Days

Summer is a-comin’!!! Technically Summer does not start until late June, but the weather didn’t seem to get that memo. The temperature soared to over 100 degrees for several days in a row during this sit.

Just like the last time I sat here, my top priority was improving and maintaining the quality of the pool water – not only so the owner could come home to a sparkling pool, but so that I had clean, algae-free place to cool off on the hottest of days.

DUTIES:

– Maintain pool (add chemicals, sweep, skim, etc)
– Water outdoor plants/trees
– Gather the mail
– Put out the trash for collection

Unexpected Benefits and/or Realizations:

There’s a HUGE bathtub here that is the perfect place to wind down in the evenings – whether I take a hot bath or a cool one. Makes me think… while swimming pools are nice, a big, deep bathtub is really all I need.

Unexpected Events and/or Challenges:

BLACK WIDOW SPIDERS!!!!
I am not one to be overly bothered by spiders or creepy crawly things, but black widow spiders are different – these things are what nightmares are made of, lol.

For safety reasons, I killed several that I found around the pool area and walkways. I am sure there are a TON more, but if they don’t bother me, I won’t bother them.

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Respite in Rural Napa #4 | 5 Days

Another lovely springtime sit in the hills outside of Napa with one of my favorite pups! Morning coffee walks around the flower-filled meadow, afternoons wading in the creek, and listening to the nighttime nature songs makes staying at this property the perfect mini vacation for me.

The last time I sat here, was in the Fall of last year. I’m so happy to be back because this place has become my home away from home. The owners of the property trust me completely to care for their home and pet as if they were mine. That level of trust makes sitting so stress-free and enjoyable for me.

DUTIES:

– Care for 1 dog
– Gather the mail
– Put out the trash for collection

Unexpected Benefits and/or Realizations:

– Being out here in the quiet and solitude of the country reminds me that I need to spend more time in spaces like this for my mental and emotional health. It helps me pinpoint the type of property I need to search for when it comes time for me to become an owner again.

Unexpected Events and/or Challenges:

– Scorpion, scorpion, scorpion!!!!! The dog sure enjoyed tossing it around a bit before I was able to take it away from her.

Let’s just say I was more careful about walking around barefoot in ground floor of the house after finding this little dude 😉

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A Cloverdale Community (55+) #2 | 1 Week

It doesn’t get better than springtime hiking in Northern California with my sweet Black Tri Australian Shepherd pal. The sky was blue, the birds were singing, and the flowers were blooming!

The last time I sat here, it was the middle of summer and HOT HOT HOT (sadly, it was too hot to take advantage of the nearby hiking trails). I was so happy to be asked to sit here again so my canine pal and I could throughly explore the trails (without getting heat strokes). And boy oh boy did we hike! We logged over 12 miles together!!!

Not only was she the best hiking buddy, but was an overall lovely companion. She really is the sweetest dog without an aggressive bone in her body. As an example, she accepts a treat more slowly and gently than any dog I have ever known. It’s adorable actually how careful she is. She’s just a love and I can’t wait to come back to care for her again.

DUTIES:

– Care for 1 dog
– Hand water a handful of outdoor plants
– Gather the mail

Unexpected Benefits and/or Realizations:

– The trails were even MORE amazing and lengthy than I realized. And the views?? Wow. And happily, the dog was much less nervous than last time, which made our walks/hikes more enjoyable for us both.

Unexpected Events and/or Challenges:

– One day the dog and I were walking back to the house after a hike a little later in the day that I planned and it was starting to get dark. I knew the dog was skittish, but I quickly came to realize that she becomes VERY skittish at dusk. She convinced herself that there was something behind us (there wasn’t) and she started running, pulling so hard on the leash I thought it might break or choke her. I ran a little ways with her to reduce the tension on the leash and was able to calm her. Poor thing. Note taken: get back to the house before dusk 🙂