Sarah, Jessica & Mya: Homes keep us safe; animals keep us sane. We look forward to caring for yours

About this sitter

We are a close, nurturing little family unit: Sarah (me, the grandmother), Jessica (my daughter) and our delightful Mya (age eight). We have lived together since Mya was three, and have long promised her that as soon as we leave our small NYC apartment and settle in our new house in the south of France, we will get her a little dog! She has begged and begged for a pet, and we are excited to soon be able to fulfill her dream. Even when we didn't have or own pets, we've always found a way to keep animals in our lives. I grew up with horses in Connecticut, and was lucky enough to keep my equestrian habit when my family moved to France in 1969 and then, the following year, to England. Later, all the way over in California where I raised my kids, we were lucky enough to have horses again. What my kids learned fast, as young riders early was this important rule: no matter how hot, cold, tired, or hungry you might be after a long ride, you take care of your horses FIRST. Rub them down, cool them off, give them some hay or turn them out. Your popsicle or shower of sandwich or WHATEVER can wait!

Why they want to house sit

We have friends and family from California to Italy whom we would love to visit more often--especially now that we're living in France. Finding house/pet-sits near family and friends would be the ideal way for us to afford visits while at the same time feeling "at home." Places where we hope to visit family and friends are:
--New York City, USA (my son James, his wife Kate, and their two fabulous dogs Hank & Merle)
--Cambridge, "upstate" New York, USA (my dear friends Vanina and Ed, their Kelpi dog Kessa, and two cats Rémi and Noori)
--Burlington, Vermont, USA (my brother Winston's summer house)
--Camden, Maine, USA (My childhood friend Paul and his family)
--Santa Cruz, California, USA (where I lived for thirty years after grad school and have many dear friends)
--Winchester, Hampshire, UK (my brother Morgan and his family, horse Misty, and Jack Russels Pirate & Sparrow)
--Lucca, Italy (my sister Zoe and her cats).

Other places we'd love to go:
--Anywhere in France or French-speaking Switzerland
--Anywhere in Italy and Sicily
--Anywhere in Spain and Portugal

Their experience

Over the years my family has visited friends and family, and we take seriously the role of "visitor" in someone else's home. When I lived alone (after my kids flew the nest) I particularly enjoyed house-sitting for friends. I pride myself in taking care of other spaces with special attention to tidiness and cleanliness. I'm very much a wiper of counter tops and a picker-upper of dead geranium leaves.

As to caring for any resident animals, we've had our own animals (mostly horses (Andula, Shrimp, Charlotte & Poco), but also dogs (Buttons & Bonnie), cats (Mimi & Krishna), rabbits (Watusi & Bun-Bun), rats (Matilda & Ramona) and guinea pigs (Rosy & ...I can't remember). As a family, we've always offered to care of friends' animals when they've been out of town and needed a hand.

What can they bring to the assignment

Homes-away-from-home need to be respected and appreciated for how and what they are, and we are in the habit of extending our respect to your space! If you have animals, rest assured that we know how animals depend on their humans to care for them! It's a responsibility I instilled in my kids early on, and my granddaughter, Mya, is getting the same lessons: Looking after someone's home and caring for their animals is not simply a responsibility, it's an opportunity to grow as a person--to deepen one's appreciation, respect, and awareness of others.