Greetings! Welcome to Villa d' Orsi. I hope that you enjoy your stay and when you leave, you feel rejuvenated and relaxed.

Following is a list of some things which are important in an area as remote as this.

This is the woods so it's important to remember that there are lots of critters around, both large and small. Bears and mountain lions exist, and although it is unlikely that you will see either one, keep your eyes and ears open. On the small front, there are wasps, ticks, and mosquitoes, and although they are thought of more as annoyances, they now have the talent for carrying pretty bad diseases. Check yourselves if you have been out and about.

I suggest that you keep the gate closed. County officials and power companies etc., all have their own keys. Doors as well, should be kept closed, otherwise you may have unwelcome visitors like mice, lizards, etc.

The house is under indefinite construction so caution should be taken where things are still temporary. The railings on all decks and balconies are good examples, The ladder to the tower as well should be used very carefully.

The house survives on collected rainwater so conservation in the dry months of May through October is a must. Please make sure that faucets are not left dripping, and that no toilet is stuck and running, this can drain a tank very rapidly. As the bathrooms farthest from the front door are quite a distance from the water heater, it takes a while for the water to get hot. In the dry months please take a bucket or watering can and run a couple of gallons into it from the bathtub, (on full), and you will have hot water after that. You can put the water onto any grateful bush, plant or tree. The house water goes through microscopic filtration and purification and is completely safe. There is a pitcher in the refrigerator for drinking water which is refilled from the tap. Water from the hose bibs is not potable.

The house has a septic system so please keep oil, fat, and grease out of the sink as this can clog up the whole system.

The house is a large thermal mass and takes a lot longer than a normal house to heat up or cool down. When you arrive, you will find all of the curtains closed. This minimizes the influence of the outside temperature. In the heat of the day, keep curtains drawn against direct sunlight. In the summer as evening approaches and outside temperatures fall below the inside temperature, open screened windows to cool the house. In the morning, close them when the outside starts to warm up.

When doing anything that involves fire please take extra precaution. Smoking and barbecuing should only be done in the courtyard. One small spark in dry grass can start a full scale forest fire.

For entertainment there are books, records, CD's, DVD's, videos, games, musical instruments, yourselves, and of course, your surroundings.

Please be sure to write something in the guest book before you leave.

Enjoy, Richard

Richard Williams

2008-08-07T19:59:37

Richard Williams