Get Settled In
Welcome to The Stone Farmhouse! We’re so glad that you’re able to experience this special place - rich in history, full of charm and natural beauty, and a peaceful respite from a crazy world. We hope that you have a wonderful stay that allows you to relax, celebrate, and connect with your friends and family.
Enclosed you will find all of the information you might need during your stay, so please review it carefully and check here first if you have any questions or run into any trouble. But as always, please reach out if you have any questions or need anything.
Cheers,
David & Abby
Technology
Internet Access
WiFi Network: Stone House or The Barn
Password: 444NSRKNY
Projector
There is an LED projector and screen in the living room’s coffee table. You can project streaming media using the attached Roku. You should find the projector in “guest mode” which allows you to enter a date of your departure, at which time your account log-in information will be removed from the device.
The projector has built-in speakers. You can connect the projector to external speakers (including the Fluance) using ⅛” headphone connectors provided in the coffee table.
Speaker
There is a bluetooth speaker in the kitchen. Power it up with a switch in the back. Press the bluetooth button to pair with your device. You can use the ⅛” headphone cord to connect this device to the projector for a loud theater experience.
Games
A large collection of board games and card games can be found in the living room and above the kitchen refrigerator.
Waste & Recycling
Food Waste
The kitchen sink does not have a garbage disposal, so please do not put anything down the train that does not fit through the strainer that is in the sink. You are welcome to empty the strainer and also place your vegetable food scraps in the compost bucket on the window sill behind the kitchen sink or in the trash can. If you choose to use the compost bucket, please empty it in the black composting drum to the southeast of the house’s parking pad..
Trash and Recycling
Trash cans are located throughout the house in the kitchen and bathrooms. Recycling is located in the kitchen. Most metal, paper, and glass products will be accepted for recycling.
The trash and recycling barrels for the house can be found to the east of the parking pad by the house. The two brown containers are for trash. The container with the yellow top is for recycling. Prior to departure, please dispose of all the trash and recycling from your stay in the barrels.
Recycling and trash are collected on Monday mornings. If you’re staying overnight on Sunday night, please put roll the trash and recycling to the end of the driveway for pickup on Friday morning.
Climate Control
Heating
The house is heated by baseboard hot water providing a consistent and even heat throughout the home. There are two zones: upstairs and downstairs, each controlled by a thermostat:
Upstairs thermostat is located in the hallway across from the upstairs bathroom
Downstairs thermostat is located at the base of the stairs, next to the armoire
Window A/C
There are window a/c units in each bedroom over the summer. In the spring and fall these units remain in the upstairs bedrooms and office for your comfort.
OUTDOORS
Outdoor Spaces:
Permaculture Orchard: full of fruit trees and berries, you are welcome to nibble as you wander! Enjoy strawberries and apricots in June, raspberries and blueberries in July, and peaches in August!
The Pond: A great place to see frogs, dragonflies and turtles! Pass the pond on your way up the mountain, or sit and contemplate on the stone bench. In some months the pond has a cover in duckweed, otherwise you can spot the grass-carp swimming! For your own safety, guests must stay off the pond when it’s iced over.
The Swing: take a languid swing from the hundred-year-old cottonwood tree. Kids and adult swings are available. Be careful of poison ivy around the base of the tree!
The Fields: Fly a kite, play frisbee or croquet. Take your shoes off and wiggle your toes in the grass. In the winter, sled down the long gentle slope towards the pond.
Patio: Please use provided metal plates/bowls/mugs when eating on the patio. This will help us keep the space safe from broken glass for bare feet!
Fire-pit: Guests can build a small fire in the enclosed fire-pit. Some dry wood is provided to get you started. 'Smores sticks available.
Grill: Guests can use the propane grill adjacent to the kitchen. You’ll need to…
Safely stow the grill cover
Open the gas valve behind the grill (the valve makes a "t" shape when gas is off)
Twist the knob(s) - you should hear gas hissing from the burners
Ignite with a long lighter poked through the grate at the bottom-right corner
When you are done, brush the grill grate while it’s still hot to clean it
Bring all cooking utensils inside to clean in the kitchen
Allow the grill to cool completely before covering
Close the gas valve and cover the grill
The Barn
Use of the barn’s play space at your own risk. Children must be supervised at all times. Guests accept all responsibility for indoor or outdoor activities.
For safety and liability no guests may enter the wood shop or go upstairs or below the barn.
If you choose to borrow any toys - be sure to return them where you found them! The outdoor activity shelf includes:
Orange vests for hiking during hunting season (fall - check dates)
Binoculars and a bird guide
S’mores supplies: dry wood for the fire pit to get you started. Extendable metal forks (please wash and replace when you’re finished). Check the fridge for some marshmallows and chocolate.
Umbrella and furniture. You are welcome to take out the umbrella and seating from inside the barn. Don’t leave them unattended as they can blow away off the deck. We get very strong gusts because we are in a valley. Great for flying a kite! Very dangerous if it blows your umbrella away.
Table Tennis: not for the faint of heart - the table requires you to move furniture and be forewarned - balls will go flying. Don’t let kids play alone and please don’t hit or bang the ping pong table!
There is a green child’s swing on the bottom shelf. It can be swapped for the wooden seat of the swing hanging from the tall cottonwood tree just south of the barn.
For windy days fly a kite (away from the trees and power lines)
For snow try sledding the hill in front of the patio down the gentle slope towards the pond.
If natural beauty off of the farm is what you’re after, see our suggestions for renting canoe/kayaks and paddling the Rondout, or hiking the region’s gorgeous trails and waterfalls. Enjoy a swimming hole under a waterfall in winter and cross country or downhill skiing in winter.
For kids there is Forsythe Nature Preserve (feed the farm animals).
Cautions
Wander and enjoy the fields! Be mindful of burrows and holes under foot. Check yourself carefully for ticks each night! Watch out for poison ivy. Risks of ticks and poison ivy are lower in the mown fields with short grass. Ticks are prevalent in the longer grass and reeds. Wear orange hiking vests during hunting season.
Check Out
Trash/Recycling/Compost
Please empty any trash, recycling and compost into the appropriate barrels: Two brown barrels for trash, one yellow-top barrel for recycling, compost is in a black drum south-east of the house’s parking and trash barrels.
Kitchen and Dishes
Please clean any dishes and utensils you may have used and place them in the location where they were found. If there are any dishes in the dishwasher, please start the dishwasher on your way out. Check outside and around the house to make sure you’ve recovered any plates or cups you may have moved out of the kitchen.
Linens and Towels
Leave your bed linens on the beds. Please leave towels hanging in bathrooms (please do not cram damp towels and sheets into the laundry baskets).
Lights and Locks
+ Turn off the lights and window air-conditioners.
+If you used the grill. Brush the grill with the wire brush stored under the grill. Clean grill utensils and return where you found them. Cover the grill when it’s completely cool. Check all knobs are off and shut-off the gas line behind the grill (off looks likes a “T” shape with the valve perpendicular to the gas line.)
+Lock the door to the house. Also lock the door to the barn if you have accessed any parts of the barn.
Leave us a review and post or send us any great pictures of your stay at the farm!