Hummingbird haven in Tucson

About this assignment

We're looking for a mature, responsible non-smoker who communicates well. We especially appreciate sitters who check in with us daily, ask questions easily, and leave things as they found them. Sitters who most enjoy our home appreciate the low-key place with lovely outdoor areas. We generally find that sitters who've owned their own home grok the assignment well.

What responsibilities are required of the house sitter

Minding our kitten Pizza is the main responsibility, and keeping her inside is paramount. Pizza should be fed twice daily, and her litter boxes should be cleaned once daily. Pizza still has the zoomies, but she gets some exercise in her catio. There's little to nothing to do for Tank, the Sonoran Desert Tortoise who we care for, except admire him if he's out and about. He'll probably be brumating during this sit. If he's not, we'll give you instructions on largely native plants he can eat.

Plant care in the desert depends a lot on temperatures, so we'll get more specific on this once we begin live discussion and we know more about the weather predicted for that time and what we've planted for the winter, which is our main vegetable growing season. Most of our outdoor plants are on irrigation systems, which need daily monitoring but very rarely any action. We water indoor plants only once weekly.

I can provide by email our Trusted Housesitters reviews. Or, you might be able to see them here: https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/user/past-sitters/

What are the good features of the property and location

If you live where it's cold at this time of year, you'll love Tucson's sunny days. There's great hiking and biking in the area. Also wonderful is anything related to astronomy (e.g., the Mirror Lab), birding (e.g., Madera Canyon and our own mid-town yard), and food (e.g., Tucson is a UNESCO City of Gastronomy).

Our midtown home is simple and relatively quiet. You'll sleep in our guest bedroom, which has a queen bed and its own bathroom. Our yard is big for the city and green for the desert. Like a lot of people in this area, we harvest rainwater and use solar power. Writers and birders often enjoy our home. And, the neighborhood is super friendly and easy to walk in.

What does the house sitter need to consider before applying for this assignment

The desert Southwest of the US can be hot, even at odd times. That and the general lack of water in this area make it critical to attend to water usage. While our kitten does not require constant attention, we'll ask that you give her breakfast and dinner in person and that you clean her litter boxes daily. Daily monitoring of the irrigation is also important to us. Day trips that fit this schedule are easily doable.

Can I bring my own pets?

No, sorry.

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