Hill Cottage Notebook

Welcome!!
Questions on anything? Don't hesitate to ask!
Karl Finger (finger@bcn.net, 528-2963) is just a couple minutes away.
Be sure to leave a message on his answering machine (he's often outside).
Please make yourself truly at home.
Open up drawers, cupboards, closets—look around to see what we have to make your stay as comfortable as possible.
This notebook lists some (but not all!) of what is available to you.
If something gets used up, please leave a note on the refrigerator whiteboard letting us know. Thanks!

GENERAL SERVICES:

BABYSITTING:
Lauren Andrus, 528-1723
Lauren is 17 years old, has taken babysitting classes at Fairview Hospital, has babysat for years, and takes all ages.
She charges $8 per hour (as of Summer 2010).
CLEANING:
Wendy Pennington (home 413-258-4401; cell 413-429-7239)
can keep the Hill Cottage clean and comfortable during your stay, and can take care of end-of-rental cleaning.
She charges $30/hour; she prefers not to work on Sunday, and charges $35/hour if she does.
LOCAL FOOD:
The Monterey Store has the best sandwiches around!
FOOD SHOPPING:
BASIC:
There is a Price Chopper in both Lee and Great Barrington; they're pretty much equidistant from us.
Lee store: 88 West Park Street, (413) 243-2238
Gt. Barrington store: 300 Stockbridge Road, (413) 528-8415
The Gt. Barrington store is bigger and offers more; Lee is convenient if you're already doing stuff up north (e.g., Tanglewood).
FANCY:
Guido's Market, 760 South Main Street, Great Barrington, (413) 528-9255
ELECTRICITY:
If electricity goes out, please use the “old-fashioned phone” in the living room, and report the outage by calling: 1-800-322-3223 (National Grid)

Kitchen
Pantry/Laundry Room
Downstairs Side Bedroom
Downstairs Front Bedroom
Living Room
Master Bedroom
Upstairs Bathroom
Outside

Kitchen

Instruction manuals for appliances: cabinet to left of mudroom door, top-left drawer
Dishwasher:
- no food scraps in dishwasher, please
- dishwasher detergent in cabinet beneath sink, lower-right
- fill cup with detergent, close; put a bit more on top of cup
- run water in sink, until hot
- close dishwasher door (you'll hear a “click”)
- turn dial to “normal wash”; you'll hear chugging noises—that's it!
- to open dishwasher when done: pull hard (there's no latch)
Sink:
- We don't have a garbage disposal (it's not good for the septic field).
  Please don't let food scraps go down the drain; either put in the trash can, or use the compost (see below).
- Compost bucket (optional) is in cabinet to left of dishwasher.
  When full, dump in stone compost area in back yard. Cover with some dirt.
  Rinse compost bucket, and fill again.
Microwave:
- One-key operation: “START/MINUTE PLUS” gives one minute; keep pressing for additional minutes
- Timed use: key in time, press “START/MINUTE PLUS”
Gas Stove:
- push dial slightly and turn counter-clockwise to “Lite/Hi”; you'll hear a clicking noise, and burner will light
- continue turning dial counter-clockwise to desired setting
Oven:
- To set oven to (say) 300 degrees:
  BAKE—key in 300—START;
  you'll see a faint light at bottom of oven;
  it may take a minute before you hear the “whoosh” that the gas is igniting;
  oven will “beep” when desired temperature is reached;
  press “STOP/CLEAR” to turn off
- To broil:
  BROIL—START;
  it may take a minute before you hear the “whoosh” and see the top broiler unit ignite
Refrigerator/Freezer:
- help yourself to anything: food, condiments, etc.
- feel free to leave food items upon your departure
large soup pot on top of refrigerator
Glass-door cabinet:
- plates, bowls, glasses, mugs, tea-cups and saucers, dessert dishes
  (there are more dishes in the pantry)
- serving bowls and platters, large pitcher, wooden basket
- placemats
- “dinner's ready” bell, coasters, garlic roaster, vases
- fancy plates and crystal (not to be put in dishwasher)
- popsicle makers, wide assortment of cookie cutters
- steak knives, chopsticks, extra silverware
Drawer to left of dishwasher:
silverware, knives, wooden spoons, measuring cups

Pantry/Laundry Room

Washer:
- standard controls
- Please do not over-fill the washer. A good rule-of-thumb is: no more than 3/4 full.
- please leave top open after use, to dry out
Dryer:
- standard controls
- please clean filter after each use
supplies above washer/dryer:
light bulbs, matches, trash bags, tissues, tea lights, car-washing supplies, paper towels, clothes-washing supplies
supplies to left of washer/dryer:
tape, extension cords, power strips, disposable gloves, duster, fly swatters, whisk broom
supplies in water-heater closet:
bird seed, tools, rags
in coat closet:
neck rest, travel pillow, double-burner unit, ice chest, humidifier
on counter:
breadmaker (instruction book behind breadmaker; basic white bread, page 23);
blender;
toaster;
coffee maker, coffee, and filters;
crock pot
spices: help yourself
top of pantry: feel free to use any food items here (tea, etc.)
bottom of pantry:
pie plates, mixing bowls, round cake pans, casserole dishes, popover tin;
cheesecake pan, glass cake pans, jello molds, rolling pin;
1-gallon pitcher, assorted tupperware, salad spinner;
sifter, grater, glass liquid measuring cup;
nut chopper, coffee bean grinder, electric hand mixer;
frying pan and lid, 1-qt saucepan and lid, 3-qt saucepan and lid, double boiler, vegetable steamer and lid;
foley food mill, 2-qt pan and lid, pressure canner, 12-qt pan and lid
racks on pantry doors:
more spices, cake decorating supplies, toothpicks
pegboard near inner mudroom door:
hot plates, electric mixer beaters;
small whisk, spatulas, slotted serving spoon, serving spoon;
potato mashers (2 types), soup ladle;
canning equipment, apple corer, funnels, cheese slicer;
loose tea holders, peeler, pastry brush, tongs, measuring spoons;
garlic press, lemon press, bag clips, ice cream scoop, hand can opener, can opener, corkscrew;
knife sharpener, meat thermometer, candy thermometer

Downstairs Side Bedroom

printer/scanner:
-- instructions on shelf below printer
-- if you use it regularly, feel free to leave it turned on 24 hours/day
-- to make a copy: open top, place paper to copy face-down, close top, press “Start Copy/Black” or “Start Copy/Color”
-- print wirelessly from computers

do not

Verizon DSL box: wireless internet throughout house
portable telephone and answering machine: press “PLAY” to hear messages, “DELETE” to delete
circuit breaker box on wall
futon: folds into a double bed; sheets in bureau drawer

Downstairs Front Bedroom

very comfy pillow-top day bed
wicker dresser with lots of drawer space
Ceiling stars will glow for a while after turning out lights!

Living Room

To make futon into a bed:
pull futon out from wall (about 1 foot);
lift front of futon UP firmly and then lower;
sheets in wicker bureau in front small bedroom;
to make back into a couch: lift front firmly until it clicks into place, push front down
Using the VCR:
use POWER button on “TV REMOTE” to turn TV on;
insert VHS in front of TV;
please rewind after use;
if fuzzy, use “WAVETAPE VIDEO HEAD CLEANER” (beneath TV)
Using the DVD:
use POWER button on “TV REMOTE” to turn TV on;
on “TV REMOTE”: make sure “Input” is VIDEO;
press DVD button on “Game Stop”;
use “DVD REMOTE” to turn DVD on (top right button);
“Open/Close” (top left button) to open; insert DVD; “Open/Close” to close;
press “PLAY” on “DVD REMOTE”;
volume controls are on “TV REMOTE”
Using DDR (Dance-Dance-Revolution):
DDR mats are under futon;
plug large rectangular connector(s) into front of “SONY PLAYSTATION” box;
press POWER button on “SONY PLAYSTATION” (green light will go on);
press “PS 2” on “Game Stop”;
use POWER button on “TV REMOTE” to turn TV on;
on “TV REMOTE”: make sure “Input” is VIDEO;
instructions in “SONY PLAYSTATION SUPPLIES” drawer
Using the Bose CD Player:
located in corner of living room, on top of bookshelf;
insert CD;
press “CD” button on “BOSE CD REMOTE”;
remote can be used from just about anywhere in the house
Woodstove: contact Karl before use;
you must use the fire-resistant rug (bottom of toy closet)
Ceiling fan: hi, medium, low, off
PIANO: Yamaha console (enjoy!)
Dining Room Table: there are extra panel(s) in closet at top of stairs
Hundreds of children's books, accumulated over a lifetime.
Please respect them, so they can be enjoyed by future generations.
easel/chalkboard
cookbooks, “Hiking in the Berkshires” book, general books
family videos and DVDs (including exercise/yoga videos/DVDs)
music CDs
piano music: Reader's Digest songbooks, sing-alongs;
Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, Schubert, duets;
popular music (Simon & Garfunkel, James Taylor, more)
omagles, wooden blocks, tinkertoys
games: mastermind, scrabble, mille bornes, chutes & ladders, monopoly, Apples to Apples
stuffed animals, cradle, miniature rocking chair
juggling balls, rubik's cube, kaleidoscope, puzzles, and lots more

Master Bedroom

closet outside master bedroom:
two safety gates for pets/children;
extra panel(s) for dining-room table
wood chest: extra quilt cover, extra bed pillows, extra DVD player
cedar chest: extra throw pillows
closet inside master bedroom:
small space heaters, small fans;
guitar;
2 tennis rackets;
card table and chairs;
drying rack;
ironing board and iron
large drawers: sheets for king-size bed, futons
vacuum: in hallway closet at top of stairs; it's bagless—just dump out the dirt!
using the big-screen TV/DVD:
lift cloth to expose DVD player;
two remotes attached to wall with velcro;
top remote: Panasonic TV; press POWER to turn on; this remote has VOLUME controls;
bottom remote: LG DVD player; press POWER to turn on;
press OPEN/CLOSE; insert DVD; press OPEN/CLOSE to close
sewing machine: instruction book and basic supplies in sewing machine cabinet
selectric typewriter: have fun typing
office area: feel free to use all supplies (tape, paper clips, paper, pencils, etc.)

Upstairs Bathroom

whirpool tub: do not press button until water level is above ALL tub jets (otherwise, the pump will be damaged)
hair dryer in lower left drawer
child's potty in lower storage area to right of tub

Outside

The lawn will be mowed for you, as needed.
There is a BBQ in the upper carport; please move it out of the garage before using.
A long-handle lighter is provided; a stiff cleaning brush is hung on the side.
There's an extra propane tank, so you won't run out—please be sure to tell us if you switch the tank, so we can get the spare refilled.
You may be treated to cucumbers, squash, beans, peas, raspberries, blueberries—whatever is currently coming in!
Horseshoe pit at end of lawn, to left of wood pile. Horseshoes are in upper carport.
Please do not try to close the carport flaps; they stay open permanently, year-round.
The birds (and squirrels) will love you if you put seed in the feeder.
Seed is kept in the pantry water-heater closet.
The squirrels jump from the roof—don't be alarmed! It's quite a show.
SWING! We have two tree-swings, and a rocker-swing.
Sip hot chocolate on the swing and enjoy listening to the woods talk.
The squirrels like to crack nuts on the arm of our outside wooden chair,
so you may be treated to a pile of acorn shells there each morning.
Upper carport:
variety of tools (shovels, rakes, clippers, trowels); sprinkler;
lawn mower
Lower carport:
2 multi-speed bicycles, helmets, 1 bicycle lock (combination: 2774)
leaf blower, child's wooden sled