We had a blast staying a whole seven days at Sierra Solitude. Mary, Joann's Mom came with us. Our longest stay yet. I can see why people want to stay a whole week up here. It's very relaxing! Yet for six out of the seven days I stayed very busy with chores. For the record, here's a list of the things I got accomplished.
Did two days of burning the burn pile. Kept the fire small and always well tended. Placed water hose to burn pile.
Recharged 6 volt batteries on John Deere. Started up immediately. Celebrated.
De-assembled and repaired the sliding pocket door in the utility room.
Made two new book shelves in living room to get books off the coffee table
Re-created drip irrigation lines and water to all plants. Helped plant some plants
Applied wood preservative to all joints and ends on and below the deck with low pressure sprayer
Painted house siding and deck with waterproof sealer
Cleaned rooftop with air blower
Raked all grounds around house and gathered fallen branches
Moved three very large loads of pine needles to the burn pile. Fitted the tractor bucket with taller walls to hold more.
Moved large logs to the splitter
Chain sawed logs into rounds to split
Worked on several new trails
Cleaned and trimmed trees at the bottom of the driveway
Cleared the road and roadside of silt and rocks and overhanging branches
Removed a light fixture and moved it.
Rewired a phone line to the breakfast/game nook area
Experimented with motion sensing light switches
Replaced another couple dozon incandescent lights with low wattage flourescent bulbs
Removed and replaced shower heads with low-flow heads
Drained and removed toilet and replaced wax seal that was leaking (drove to Downieville to get flange)
Moved key lock box.
Cleaned the ceiling and walls and cabinets in the kitchen
Organized kitchen utensils and put down some new shelf liners
Cleaned all windows inside and out
Made some cedar hole covers and covered over the woodpecker holes
fixed the alignment of all the dead bolts. Added 3" long screws to all door hardware
Filled a couple high-up bird feeders
Brought in 20 gallons of sand to fill area near driveway/deck
water-sealed the bear sculpture and repainted the black details
mixed some yellow/orange oil paint and painted the stair edges on the wood deck
added some stainless steel deck screws where needed on the deck planks
rewired and neatened up the satellite radio and added two additional floor speakers
water-sealed the deck gate and stair railings and railing top surfaces
Repaired some damage to the roof
Cleaned the wood storage area and removed some materials. Checked fuel oil level
coiled the long hoses neatly
thoroughly cleaned and scrubbed and emptied the bbq
Cleaned the outdoor sink and watered the maple and dogwood trees
cleaned the kitchen oven
Checked and tried to fix the driveway flood light sensor.
Hung a wall plaque and removed some house decorations
added aeration to several water faucets
Hung a decorative branch on the side of the house per Joanna's request
Changed the water filter under the house
Cleaned and straightened up the garage and tools and work area
Met with Don Philips
Took Scamper to the vet in Truckee to get stitched up
Met and trained Bill the magician to help with the house and house cleaning
Took trash to the tip
Cleared several cross-country trails of fallen branches
Picked up a small amount of trash and fishing misc. from the river area
and for leisure:
I painted 2 oil paintings plein air
Previously, on the visit prior I:
Repaired all the broken picnic table legs
cleared a fallen tree from the driveway
began raking the property of fallen needles and branches
Raked the driveway of fallen materials
removed the window shutters
.
On the visit
6/12/2008
3/27/2008
Diary of a mad vacation rental owner
Diary of Sierra City Sierra Solitude travel and work
Owning a vacation rental- at least in the first year- is a lot of work and travel time
But this diary shows we were very dedicated
2007
1-13-07 thru 1-14-07 2 nights 380 miles mostly leisure visit. check on house for damage from storms
1-20-07 thru 1-21-07 2 nights 380 miles leisure visit. check on house, checked mouse traps,
2-16-07 thru 2-18-07 3 nights 380 miles hung artwork on wall, fixed closet doors, painted closet interiors, swept and cleaned interior. Fixed master bed that was not level. Added drapery rod to kitchen window. brought additional kitchen and rug and towel supplies.
3-01-07 thru 3-04-07 4 nights 380 miles chain sawed down trees, burned burn pile during rain. Added fire extinguishers to house and placed do not smoke signs on property. printed signs for guests.
4-07-07 thru 4-08-07 2 nights 380 miles painted deck chairs with preservative, hung outdoor plants, fixed drainage on driveway, cleaned driveway, removed chains from snow plow, checked tire pressure on snow plow, made a small pond for guests to sit near. Cleaned ditches and drainage ways.
4-14-07 thru 4-15-07 2 nights 380 miles assembled outdoor furniture, painted, planted outdoor flower beds, filled bird feeders, cleaned roof, cleaned windows. Cleaned drains and ditches.
4-28-07 thru 4-29-07 2 nights 380 miles cleaning land,building stairs, printed maps and guest info, guest binder additions, marked nearby trails , fire prevention work, raked leaves and needles, added reflectors to driveway
5-04-07 thru 5-06-07 3 nights 380 miles drip irrigation system work, traveled to get plants in Graeagle, chainsawed down trees and branches
5-04-07 thru 5-06-07 3 nights 380 miles reattached attached satellite radio antennae, rewired telephone line. cleaned fireplace. Added wood to woodpiles, chopped kindling. Added fireplace flue cap. measured for fireplace insert.
5-25-07 thru 5-28-07 4 nights 380 miles worked on trail to river, making stairs. marked trail. collected trash from nearby areas and removed old fire rings.
6-08-07 thru 5-09-07 2 nights 380 miles check on house, re-sort, re-clean kitchen. Build gate for deck. strengthened deck railings, cleaned deck thoroughly, replaced deck screws. Added hotwater heater blanket.
6-29-07 thru 5-30-07 2 nights 380 miles check on house between guests. Paint outdoor furniture, strengthen outdoor furniture, clean bar-be-que, built bird feeders, swept and cleaned property, re-grouted barbeque. Build book shelf in living room. Worked on guest library. Added "property of" stickers to all guide books and guest library. Cleaned and organized guest loaner supplies and incidentals. Brought in dog beds for guest use.
7-27-07 thru 7-28-07 2 nights 380 miles Trip with friends, replaced additional bulbs with florescent, changed furnace filters, filled bird feeders, swept and cleaned property. Placed last of winter items in attic. Hung tools and made padlocks on all garage cabinets. Washed outside of propane tank. Painted all outdoor water pipes red. Cleaned garage doors. Oiled air compressor.
8-30-07 thru 9-03-07 5 nights 380 miles raked needles, moved tree debris to burn pile, worked on drip irrigation, removed wasp nests, took photographs for web site, explored trails and wrote descriptions for guest guide book, swept and cleaned property, gathered and added gravel to areas on driveway, painted flagpole, watered garden trees. Trimmed lower branches on trees near house and moved logs and branches to burn pile.
10-13-07 thru 10-14-07 2 nights 380 miles replacing motor on log splitter, splitting logs for firewood for guests, moving wood scraps to burn pile.
10-27-07 thru 10-29-07 3 nights 380 miles turning off outdoor water, removing plants, winterizing house, changed oil and hydrolic fuid on tractor,worked on trail to river, photographs for website, waterproofed chimney masonry, cleaned yard of fallen wood and needles
11-11-07 thru 11-12-07 2 nights 380 miles checked and re-taped water pipes, changed water filter, fixed loose plumbing.
12-11-07 thru 12-12-07 2 nights 380 miles mostly leisure visit. check on house, add christmas lighting
12-24-07 thru 12-29-07 6 nights 380 miles mostly leisure visit. check on house, cleaned odds and ends
Owning a vacation rental- at least in the first year- is a lot of work and travel time
But this diary shows we were very dedicated
2007
1-13-07 thru 1-14-07 2 nights 380 miles mostly leisure visit. check on house for damage from storms
1-20-07 thru 1-21-07 2 nights 380 miles leisure visit. check on house, checked mouse traps,
2-16-07 thru 2-18-07 3 nights 380 miles hung artwork on wall, fixed closet doors, painted closet interiors, swept and cleaned interior. Fixed master bed that was not level. Added drapery rod to kitchen window. brought additional kitchen and rug and towel supplies.
3-01-07 thru 3-04-07 4 nights 380 miles chain sawed down trees, burned burn pile during rain. Added fire extinguishers to house and placed do not smoke signs on property. printed signs for guests.
4-07-07 thru 4-08-07 2 nights 380 miles painted deck chairs with preservative, hung outdoor plants, fixed drainage on driveway, cleaned driveway, removed chains from snow plow, checked tire pressure on snow plow, made a small pond for guests to sit near. Cleaned ditches and drainage ways.
4-14-07 thru 4-15-07 2 nights 380 miles assembled outdoor furniture, painted, planted outdoor flower beds, filled bird feeders, cleaned roof, cleaned windows. Cleaned drains and ditches.
4-28-07 thru 4-29-07 2 nights 380 miles cleaning land,building stairs, printed maps and guest info, guest binder additions, marked nearby trails , fire prevention work, raked leaves and needles, added reflectors to driveway
5-04-07 thru 5-06-07 3 nights 380 miles drip irrigation system work, traveled to get plants in Graeagle, chainsawed down trees and branches
5-04-07 thru 5-06-07 3 nights 380 miles reattached attached satellite radio antennae, rewired telephone line. cleaned fireplace. Added wood to woodpiles, chopped kindling. Added fireplace flue cap. measured for fireplace insert.
5-25-07 thru 5-28-07 4 nights 380 miles worked on trail to river, making stairs. marked trail. collected trash from nearby areas and removed old fire rings.
6-08-07 thru 5-09-07 2 nights 380 miles check on house, re-sort, re-clean kitchen. Build gate for deck. strengthened deck railings, cleaned deck thoroughly, replaced deck screws. Added hotwater heater blanket.
6-29-07 thru 5-30-07 2 nights 380 miles check on house between guests. Paint outdoor furniture, strengthen outdoor furniture, clean bar-be-que, built bird feeders, swept and cleaned property, re-grouted barbeque. Build book shelf in living room. Worked on guest library. Added "property of" stickers to all guide books and guest library. Cleaned and organized guest loaner supplies and incidentals. Brought in dog beds for guest use.
7-27-07 thru 7-28-07 2 nights 380 miles Trip with friends, replaced additional bulbs with florescent, changed furnace filters, filled bird feeders, swept and cleaned property. Placed last of winter items in attic. Hung tools and made padlocks on all garage cabinets. Washed outside of propane tank. Painted all outdoor water pipes red. Cleaned garage doors. Oiled air compressor.
8-30-07 thru 9-03-07 5 nights 380 miles raked needles, moved tree debris to burn pile, worked on drip irrigation, removed wasp nests, took photographs for web site, explored trails and wrote descriptions for guest guide book, swept and cleaned property, gathered and added gravel to areas on driveway, painted flagpole, watered garden trees. Trimmed lower branches on trees near house and moved logs and branches to burn pile.
10-13-07 thru 10-14-07 2 nights 380 miles replacing motor on log splitter, splitting logs for firewood for guests, moving wood scraps to burn pile.
10-27-07 thru 10-29-07 3 nights 380 miles turning off outdoor water, removing plants, winterizing house, changed oil and hydrolic fuid on tractor,worked on trail to river, photographs for website, waterproofed chimney masonry, cleaned yard of fallen wood and needles
11-11-07 thru 11-12-07 2 nights 380 miles checked and re-taped water pipes, changed water filter, fixed loose plumbing.
12-11-07 thru 12-12-07 2 nights 380 miles mostly leisure visit. check on house, add christmas lighting
12-24-07 thru 12-29-07 6 nights 380 miles mostly leisure visit. check on house, cleaned odds and ends
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