House Manual...
Most information you will need for the house is below and also in the house folder in the sunroom.
FIRE EXTINGUISHER and FIRE BLANKET - in the stairwell (going down to the basement) just off the kitchen.
EMERGENCY INFO - A map to the nearest Emergency Room is in the house folder (approximately eight miles east just off our road - very easy to get to). A FIRST AID KIT is in the bathroom medicine cabinet.
KEYCODE/LOCKING UP - We will send you the key code shortly before your stay. To lock, press the lock icon while pulling the door towards you so it catches. To lock the sunroom doors, lift the handles up and turn locks clockwise.
INTERNET/WIFI -We have unlimited high-speed internet of 25-50 megabytes per second. This is the fastest we can get in the area. Although not as high speed as something like FIOS, our guests have been doing their business on it, even zooming, with no problems. Although the speed does fluctuate. The main WIFI base is in the sunroom - Our network name is "foxcross" and the password is "DaVinci22181".
A second WIFI base is in the master bedroom. The network name is "Sargent sunroom" and the passcode is "DaVinci1".
CELL PHONES - Our iPhones work well almost all of the time even using data only, but there are rare instances when they don’t pick up a signal well. Walking towards the top of the driveway helps. For whatever reason, this happens only periodically.
GROCERIES - In Marshall, 5 minutes away. Left out of the driveway. Just after the train tracks turn left at Old Stockyard Road. The FOOD LION is up on left. Open 7-11 every day. There is a PICNIC BASKET for your use with utensils and a blanket in the downstairs bedroom and a smaller one (for two) in the dining room under the marble table. Feel free to use condiments, spices, etc. in the kitchen.
COFFEE/TEA - Keurig regular/capsule brewing machine in the kitchen. We also have a french press in the cabinet and extra coffee things below the island. Assortment of coffees in refrigerator and teas in the kitchen cabinet.
WATER - We have a deep well and it tests just fine so you certainly can drink from the tap if you’d like.
TOILETS/SHOWERS (IMPORTANT) - We have a small septic system, so please be careful of what you flush - ABSOLUTELY NO WIPES (even flushable) or sanitary items can be flushed since they clog our system very quickly. We provide a wastebasket (and little baggies, if you need them) to dispose of these things properly. Also, we ask that larger groups be frugal with water use to avoid overwhelming the septic system.
KITCHEN GARBAGE/RECYCLING - in the cabinet below left of the stove. Front bin trash, back bin for glass, plastic, and cans. Full bags can be placed in the garbage can and recycling container next to the garage. For longer stays, guests will drop their garbage off a mile down the road in Marshall. See more info in the house manual. We ask that visitors with longer stays take their garbage/recycling to the Marshall Collection site (a few minutes straight down the road).
FRONT YARD LAMP - If this light bothers you at night, you can unplug it in the basement. It is plugged into the ceiling across from the washer with a green ribbon attached. Please plug it back in before you go.
APPLIANCES - OVEN does not turn off automatically. All grease must be put in the garbage (not down sink).
SMOKING - Please, absolutely no smoking inside the house.
THERMOSTAT - in the living room. Press like a button and turn the outer ring to work. Supplemental heaters have thermostats in the sunroom and downstairs bathroom (underfloor heat) and in the master bedroom (for upstairs baseboard heaters).
ELECTRIC - If some lights/outlets go out, you probably tripped a circuit breaker. The electrical service panel is located downstairs in the back right corner of the basement. Find circuit breaker(s) facing “off” position or that shows a bit of red. Flip it/them the other way. If the kitchen counter outlets don't work, there is able and gray outlet box on the basement ceiling (it says "kitchen GFI outlets") just inside the back basement stairs. It may have tripped. Just push the reset button.
DECK CHAIRS AND CUSHIONS - under a cover on the deck. Please put it away before leaving and please don’t bring house furniture or pillows outside. PATIO UMBRELLA is just inside the door in the sunroom.
FIREWOOD - We usually supply one bundle of firewood on the deck or porch. If you run out, the convenience store in Marshall (on the right) or Tractor Supply (also in Marshall by the Food Lion) carry it.
GRILL and FIRE PIT - Turn off the grill when finished cooking and be sure to put the fire out before going to bed. If you run out of propane, there should be a full canister under the deck. Skewers and other tools are in the sunroom. Please wash and put away when finished. The PIZZA OVEN by the fire pit works great for small pizzas. Tony’s pizza in town sells us raw dough for $3 per dough ball.
WOODSTOVE - Please only use the indoor wood stove if you have experience with one. Call or text if you have questions. The damper is opened by reaching in under the front of the woodstove and pulling the handle towards you. If it is really cold outside you’ll first want to create a warm draft of air going up the chimney by using the heat gun (in the hall closet). Aim the heat gun up the chimney for several minutes before lighting the fire. This will get the smoke going up the chimney rather than into the living room. Please keep the fireplace door closed once the fire is lit. Absolutely all embers must stay inside the woodstove. Absolutely no cooking in the woodstove.
LAWN MOWING - Our guy, Daniel, mows every 10 to 14 days. Call us if you want him to mow earlier. Don't be alarmed if he shows up with his pick-up truck and trailer.
MUSIC - The Yamaha receiver under the tv has Bluetooth so you can play music from your device or iPhone throughout the house. Speaker A - in the living room and Speaker B - in the kitchen and sunroom. To connect via Bluetooth connect to “R-S202 Yamaha”.
GAMES - games and puzzles are in the bottom of the china cabinet, a croquet set is in the downstairs hall closet, and badminton things are in the basement stairwells.
TV - To turn on the satellite TV in the living room use the dish remote and press the silver button at the very top left. The TV will come on. If the TV channels don’t show up go to the LG remote and press the input button (upper right). For the channels, you’ll need to scroll using the arrows to “HDMI 2”. For the DVD player, scroll to AV. Then you can use the Sony DVD remote or press button directly on the DVD player. In the master bedroom, we have a Roku Smart TV. You can sign in to Netflix, youtube, Amazon, Hulu, etc., but you will have to sign in using your account - just give it a moment to come up.
MOVIES/BOOKS - Over 200 DVDs in the 1st-floor bedroom (see movie list on "Play" page). Kids DVDs under living room TV. DVD players are in the living room and in the master bedroom. Use the input button to scroll to “AV”. Then you can use the DVD remote or just press the buttons on the DVD player. The white adapter cable on the main TV to "mirror" movies from your iPhone/iPad. A selection of paperbacks is in the downstairs study/bedroom.
BLANKETS/PILLOWS - Extras in pine cabinet downstairs, master bedroom armoire, and 2nd bedroom closet.
IRON, APPLIANCES, HAIRDRYER, etc. - Iron and small ironing board in the upstairs bathroom closet. Hairdryer below sink in the master bathroom and on the wall in the main bathroom.
VACUUM - in the downstairs closet if needed (dry spills only, please).
WASHER/DRYER- in the basement (basement is for laundry use only, please).
BABY THINGS - We have a high chair, baby potty, baby monitor, and a pack-and-play with sheets down at the bottom of the stairs. A baby gate is in the main hall closet.
METAL ROOF NOISES - When all is quiet during the day, you may notice occasional soft “bangs” from the roof. Heating from the sun, then cooling sometimes causes the metal panels to expand/contract. Occasionally during high winds, the roof will make noises as well.
Checking Out
Please...
- Please put household items back in their original places and bring in anything brought outside. Close deck umbrella.
- Do not make up beds that have been slept in so we know what to wash. Dirty towels can be left out.
- messes should not be left.
- run dishwasher if dirty dishes are inside.
- make sure refrigerator doors are closed tightly (one side tends to pop open).
- turn off lights, close windows and lock sunroom doors and front door.
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QUESTIONS? It is best to call or text Lina’s cell call or text: 703-868-8135 or Rob's cell at 703-864-3894