the Duchess Digital Guidebook
What to expect
Use google maps for driving directions: https://goo.gl/maps/29ksYEbC7k1Ed2xYA
Print out the directions as it is likely you will lose cell connection at some point along the way.
- Heat and Air Conditioning
- Fully Furnished Kitchen
- Gas Fireplace, indoor and outdoor
- King Bed in downstairs luxury Master suite with memory foam
- Soaker tub
- Oversized Walk in shower in Master
- 2nd bedroom is upstairs with a full size bunk bed sleeping nook
- 2nd bedroom features a movie theatre with 2 bar tops.
- Hair Dryer
- Ironing board/Iron
- High Definition TVs living, bedrooms
- Netflix, HBO Max, Prime TV
- Wi-Fi
- Washer/Dryer
- Outdoor Living Space with covered deck, TV, dining table and lounging sofa
- Outdoor fire pit with Charcoal Grill
- 7 possible workstations with 5 of those in range of an ethernet port
The duchess comes fully furnished.
miscellaneous things you will likely need: Beach towels for the hot tub and lake, sunscreen, and bug spray.
—KITCHEN—
The kitchen is one of the places we hang out the most. The kids love to sit at the bar and it often becomes the place where we all end up congregating and chatting.
Because we love this space so much, you can be sure that it’s properly equipped for your stay and you will be able to whip up gourmet meals! You’ll find, amongst other things, a fridge, freezer, dishwasher, microwave, gas fired cook top, oven, toaster oven, toaster, sandwhich press, electric drip coffee maker, Keurig coffee maker, tea pot, etc.
Please be aware that once a month the owner tidies and organizes the kitchen items. we are at the mercy of the guests to put items back where they found them so we apologize if the kitchen cabinets seem disorganized as our cleaning crew has a narrow window of time to clean and set the cabin so they are not able to organize the kitchen items.
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT WE ARE AT THE MERCY OF GUESTS PUTTING ITEMS BACK WHERE THEY FOUND THEM.
kitchen cookware items we provide: cooking utensils, pots, skillets, pizza pan, baking sheets, wok, large casserole dish, small bread/muffin baking pans, a small/medium/and large crockpot,
kitchen diningware items we provide: mugs, wine glasses, drinking glasses, plates, salad bowls, med serving bowls, one large serving bowl, eating utensils, knives to prepare food with, plastic plates, cups, bowls, and plastic ware for kids, hand soap, dish cleaning brush, dish towels, and dish soap.
kitchen starter supplies that we provide: Starter supply of coffee grinds and filters for an electric drip coffee maker. dishwasher liquid, trash bags, and one roll of papertowels.
PLAN TO BRING FOR THE KITCHEN: food, salt, pepper , spices, oils used for cooking, coffee, creamers, and sweeteners of choice. additional dish tabs and papertowels if you think you will need it.
grilling: Please bring your self lighting charcoal for the grill. we also have a griddle to put on top of the fire pit that allows you to grill over an open flame and a grill griddle for the indoor proprane stovetop.
—firepit—
You will need to bring skewers, lighters, lighter fluid, and fire logs for the fire pit.
dining out: HOCHATOWN RESTAURANTS CLOSE QUITE EARLY COMPARED TO THE BIG CITY SO MAKE SURE TO CHECK IN ADVANCE THAT THE RESTAURANT YOU WANT TO EAT AT IS OPEN AND IT IS BEST TO HAVE SOME EASY BACK UP MEALS AVAILABLE TO COOK AT THE CABIN.
—BATHROOMS—
We provide: A BATH TOWEL, Hot Tub Towel, And WASH CLOTH. Each bathroom has its own HAIR DRYER and magnifying mirrors. There is a starter supply of toilet paper in each bathroom as well.
Plan to bring bathroom: personal hygiene items, Medications (Don’t forgot those allergy pills to combat the pollen!), toiletries, robe, and slippers. PLEASE DO NOT BRING BATH BOMBS, massage oils, lubricants, OR SALTS.
—BEDROOMS—
We provide fully furnished bEDROOMS: BED LINENS, 2 PILLOWS FOR EACH FULL SIZE BED, AND 4 PILLOWS FOR THE KING SIZE BED
Plan to bring bedroom: clothes, favortie pillow, etc.
—LAUNDRY—
We provide: An iron, mini ironing board
We provide A STARTER SUPPLY: Laundry detergant for a couple of loads
please remember the cabin is in the middle of the woods and wilderness. You will commonly see wasps, ants, etc. the cabin is sprayed quarterly by pest control specialists. However bugs will make their way in to the cabin, especially when doors are left open. luckily they don’t live very long as the spray preventative causes them to die pretty quickly. we recommend you use your spray when on the deck and at the fire pit and leave the doors closed.
When the nights begin to cool, wasp try to find a warm place to stay. This happens in the fall and continues in the spring until the weather is warm. You may see them more in the late afternoon as the sun starts to go down. this does not mean there is a nest. It is recommended that you turn off the living room fire place to help prevent them from being drawn into the cabin. Wasp are a pesky part of nature and we have no control over them. they are an uninvited pest!
The Essentials during your stay
the central unit covers downstairs and the thermostat is set at ~72 degrees in the summer and ~68 degrees in the winter. The reading on the screen might be a few degrees higher or lower as the unit cycles to regulate the temperature. there are ceiling fans in the living room and master bedroom.
the upstairs bedroom has it’s own unit that is SET At ~72 degrees in the summer and ~68 degrees in the winter. The reading on the screen might be a few degrees higher or lower as the unit cycles to regulate the temperature. There is a ceiling fan.
SUMMER TIPS: Please do not leave the doors of the cabin open while a/c is running. That will cause a system shut off and then the cabin will become very warm.
WINTER TIPS: The Duchess has very very high vaulted ceilings in the living room. Since heat rises some winter mornings can be a little chilly so we provide a space heater that is stored in the kitchen. If a guest has not moved it to another location then it can be found to the left of the cooktop in the bottom drawer.
The gas fireplaces are controlled by a switch on the wall. Do not open the screen or glass covering the fireplace. If you turn the switch and the fireplace does not light then try again a few minutes later.
See “What to Expect” section and click on the What to Bring tab.
The kitchen is one of the places we hang out the most. The kids love to sit at the bar and it often becomes the place where we all end up congregating and chatting. Please see the what to bring section for a full list of kitchen items.
drinking water: we recommend you only drink and cook with filtered water. the fridge has a filtered water dispenser on the inside left wall and in case of any problems with that filter there is also a brita type filter pitcher.
We’ve included a starter supply of dishwasher Liquid and washing up liquid. You’ll also find a tea towel and cleaning towel in the basket under the sink.
The kitchen trash bins are in the pull out drawer directly across from the fridge.
For more details on cooking supplies, See “What to Expect” section and click on the What to Bring tab.
When you arrive at the cabin do not overload the refrigerator with non perishable items. Overloading the refrigerator can cause the refrigerator to take up to 48 hours to cool down. After perishable items are loaded, wait a few hours and then gradually add non perishable items to the fridge in order to keep the temperature cool.
****Overloading the refrigerator is a very common problem and you will think the refrigerator is not working. If you check the ice bin in the freezer and it still holds frozen ice then the refrigerator is working.
drinking water: we recommend you only drink and cook with filtered water. the fridge has a filtered water dispenser on the inside left wall and in case of any problems with that filter there is also a brita type filter pitcher.
We’ve included a starter supply of dishwasher Liquid and washing up liquid. You’ll also find a tea towel and cleaning towel in the basket under the sink.
The kitchen trash bins are in the pull out drawer directly across from the fridge.
For more details on cooking supplies, See “What to Expect” section and click on the What to Bring tab.
The stackable washer and dryer are in the closet to the immediate right when you walk through the master bedroom door.
Below is a list of where items should be if prior guests returned items to their home 🙂
Vacuum, plunger, and broom: On the left side of the washing machine.
Hand broom and dustpan: Under the kitchen sink
Throw Blankets: In the storage container on the stairway wall by the back door.
Trash Bags: Check in the bottom of the trash bin and under the kitchen sink.
enjoying your time outside
The Deck fireplace should only be used between October and April. The fireplace uses gas and is turned on by setting the timer to the right of the fireplace. Do not remove the screen as this will cause smoke damage to the cabin. Do not put anything inside the fireplace.
Do not attempt to grill anything on the back deck as this can set the cabin on fire.
Hot Tub Towels are inside the wall bin located on the side of the stairs and next to the back door. If you wash these towels please wash them with whites only.
The hot tub is drained and cleaned after each guest visit. Once the hot tub has been filled it will take 3 to 4 hours to fully heat the water. In order to keep check-ins as early as possible your hot tub water may not be at desired temperature upon your arrival. Please do not adjust hot tub settings as they are set properly after cleaning. You can monitor the temperature and it will be rising as the water in the tub heats. The hot tub goes through cycles and does not run 24 hours a day. This is normal.
If the panel on the hot tub is off then hard reset the tub by unplugging it and plugging it back in.
Please do not allow children to get on top of the hot tub cover as it will break. and the Replacement cost is ~$500.00.
Do not use hot tubs if there is thunder and or lightening in the surrounding area.
Do not add ANY foregin objects into the hot tub including diapers, glass, toys, oils, bath salts etc. as this will result in the hot tub breaking and you will be responsible for the cost of replacing the hot tub.
Bring your smores and fire them up on the fire pit. Don’t forget to bring wire clothes hangers or skewers!
Our very talented 10 year old junior assistant is assembling a guidebook with local attractions for your reference AND a neighborhood scavenger hunt in a binder On the desk in the living room.
