Our address is 811 Lipscomb Grove Church Rd., 27278. There are two mailboxes at the head of our gravel road. Max driveway speed is 12mph. Follow the gravel road ALL the way to its end (past a neighbor’s house).

Park just alongside the driveway and not in the grass. Do not block driveway access for other vehicles.

The key lock box is to the right of the front door. The code is 8-1-0. Please keep the key in the lock box at ALL times between uses.

Network: downyonder
Password: downyonder

The downstairs thermostat is located in the TV room between the wall-mounted book shelves. The upstairs thermostat is located in the hallway.

Old farmhouses are very expensive to heat and cool. PLEASE close all windows and doors any time the heat or AC is running. If you’ll be out of the house for a while, please adjust the heat or AC to save energy.

There is drinker water in a dispenser in the dining room.. Our well water is safe for all uses as well.

Central North Carolina is coming out of a severe drought. Be mindful of water use, and space out baths and showers a bit so as not to overdraw our well.

Place bagged trash in the bin by the back porch steps, and recycling in the orange bin. There is a black compost bucket for food scraps if you like.

The wood stove is currently out of use for the season.

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First, safety:

1. Guests assume all risks involved with the wood stove.

2. If you have any issues or are getting too much smoke in the house, stop immediately and call Jessie at 919-381-7707 to troubleshoot.

3. Never touch any part of the wood stove with bare hands.

4. Never place anything on top of the wood stove.

5. Never leave the room while the door isn’t fully closed.

6. Keep anything flammable away from the stove.

7. Do not use if you are with young children who shouldn’t be trusted not to touch or play too close.

How to operate the wood stove:

1. Make sure that a) the lever on the right side of the stove (the flue), just behind the door, is pointed up and back, towards the chimney, and b) the brass handle on the front of the stove is rotated ALL the way clockwise.

2. If starting with a cold stove, place a lit candle inside the stove with the door closed for 10 minutes. This removes air blocks in the chimney that can cause smoke to come into the house.

3. Build your firewood setup before lighting, as smoke comes into the house very easily with the door open. Use 1-2 pieces of treated kindling to start. Once you light your kindling, close the door and leave cracked about 1” until the fire is strong. Do not leave the room while the door isn’t fully closed. If you need to open the door to adjust your wood or add kindling, do it quickly to avoid smoke coming in.

4. Once you have some steady flames, close the door securely and keep the flue (back lever) in an open position. 

5. When the temperature is at least 300 degrees, close the flue almost all the way, and then use an oven mitt to rotate the brass handle on the front fully counter-clockwise, so that it’s parallel to the floor. This engages the catalytic converter and makes your firewood burn more efficiently.

   NOTE: Any time you open the door, even for a second, you must turn the brass handle back clockwise. Otherwise the room will fill with smoke. You can leave the catalytic converter engaged as the fire cools down overnight, but turn it off before building a new fire.

KITCHEN:

• NO wooden or wood-handled objects in the dishwasher, or soaking in the sink. Wash and dry right away.

• Please wipe down the wood countertops after every use to prevent water damage.

• Don’t leave food out overnight, and please make sure to keep the surfaces and sink wiped down to avoid attracting pests.

• The microwave locks after use - there is a tiny “unlock” button you must press to open.

• Double-check that the fridge door is fully closed, especially after opening and closing the freezer.

BATHROOMS:

• Only flush waste and toilet paper. No flushable wipes, tampon applicators, etc.

• Wipe down wood countertops after every use to avoid water damage.

• Please use the black washcloths for makeup removal or dirt, and please take care with our white linens and towels.

OTHER NOTES:

• Our generator runs automatically every Wednesday for about 20 minutes for maintenance.

Check out time is 10am. If you need a late check-out, prior written confirmation is required. Before you leave:

• We prefer to launder all our house linens and towels. Leave sheets piled on the bed so we may inspect them and stain treat if needed.

• Return any items you may have moved to their original locations.

• Place excess kitchen trash and recycling in the bins by the back porch stairs, and make sure the trash lid is secure.

• Make sure no food is left on counters or in the sink to avoid attracting pests. If there are items in the dishwasher please start the load before you leave.

• Set thermostats to 80 (if using AC), and 65 (if using heat), or off in mild weather.

• Lock all three exterior doors behind you and double check that the key is in the porch lock box.

• Text Jessie at 919-381-7707 to confirm your departure.

Please leave us a note in our guest book! We love reading them.

Call 911 in the event of emergency. If needed, use our land line located near the TV.

Other contacts:
Jessie Gladdek: 919-381-7707
Matt Gladdek: 919-381-7577
Susan Gladin: 919-452-8870

Land line: 984-253-1692
Does not receive voicemails

If there is a power outage, our generator should turn on shortly. It powers most things in the house. In some cases, you may see utility trucks come down the driveway or from the back woods, as they access some lines from our property.

Do not enter any outbuildings, storage areas/shelters, sheds, unmarked trails, fenced pastures, or barns without written permission. Do not touch any tools or farm equipment. Contact Jessie with any questions.

Being on a farm property naturally comes with risks, so please take care during your visit. Some common risks of being on a property like ours include, but are not limited to, snakes, splinters, slippery surfaces, insect bites or stings, poison ivy, uneven ground, drowning risk in or around pond, and falling branches and tree limbs. Guests assume all liability for damage, injury, and death.

Other property rules

• No pets

• No commercial or professional photography or video without prior written consent.

• No parties or private events.

• No loud music at any time, and no amplified music outside after 10pm

• No smoking in the house or on the porches.

• Children must be attended by an adult at all times outside.

• Do not remove any items from inside the house.

• Check-in time (4pm) and check-out time (10am) are strict unless previously arranged in writing with Jessie.

Shared farm use

During your stay you’ll have private use of the house and porches. Some other spaces one the farm may also be used by guests of the Cottage, and on occasion other visitors to the farm. Please inquire if you have any questions or concerns.

I (Jessie) will be out on occasion to mow the grass, check the barn, or do other chores.

Every so often, one of our longtime country neighbors may ride up the road to say hey, or help with a chore, as is the rural way.