Enjoy a retreat in nature with Toshi in Micanopy, Florida
Introduction
I am a Hypnotherapist specializing in traumas of the soul using past-life hypnosis regression therapy. I am also a practitioner of Sound and Vibrational Therapies, and author of the book, “The Discourse”. Although I work from home, I often travel to do hypnosis sessions, classes, workshops and retreats. I am divorced and have an adult son who lives nearby in Gainesville. Toshi, my cat, is my companion and roommate.
Show more...Home & location
My home is located in Micanopy, pronounced: [MICK · uh · NO · pee ]. It was originally founded in 1821 and is believed to be the oldest inland town in Florida. It's 15 minutes south of Gainesville, home of the University of Florida. Micanopy has a historic downtown area which is just a 7-minute walk from my home. This small rural town was featured in the 1991 movie “Doc Hollywood” with Michael J. Fox and comes alive on the weekends when it's antique and curio shops open. There are two small cafés in town where you can get good soups and sandwiches, and a bakery, but the closest grocery store is 10 miles away. You will need your own car as there is no public transportation here. The home sits on several acres of beautiful ancient Live Oak trees and natural landscaping which brings peace to the soul. The large eat-in kitchen has windows with views to the front and back of the house. From the living room, you can see the expansive back yard, the lake (whenever it has water), and the nature preserve which surrounds the property. From the home office, you can hear the wind chimes that hang next to the old "Grandmother" Oak tree that provides shade for a hammock. You can relax in the screened-in back porch or spend time on the dock feeling the sun and breeze on your face, and watch the birds, dragonflies and an occasional alligator. On a clear night it's a great place to do stargazing. It's very dark and quiet at night, except for the orchestra of frogs, insects and owls. You will hear the neighbors’ dogs barking or roosters crowing, but you won’t see anyone from the house. Sitters sleep in the guest suite in the main house which has its own entrance. It has a queen-size bed, its own bathroom, kitchenette with a microwave oven and refrigerator. You'll also have access to my cabin's outdoor shower which faces the woods. The house has sensor-controlled floodlights and several external security cameras. My home uses Starlink satellite internet service. I do not have cable TV, but you can connect to the TV via your phone or computer via wifi. The TV has a DVD player and access to Netflix, YouTube, and other entertainment apps. IMPORTANT: If there is a strong thunderstorm, or a tree comes down on a power line, or the power goes out for any reason, the internet service will go down until the power and/or signal is restored. If you heavily rely on internet service for your work, I highly recommend you bring a hotspot or use your cellular service as a backup for your internet needs. Cellular service works fine here.
Show more...Responsibilities
The sitter's main responsibility is to care for my cat, Toshi and update me daily with pictures and/or videos. He is sweet and easy-going, but is deaf and has special needs. He sleeps a lot during the day and stays indoors or in my screened-in patio. Toshi eats wet food twice a day and likes to be fed on schedule. He will demand attention and treats whenever you're in the kitchen. Toshi may or may not be not consistent with his litter habits. He may pee or poop on the floor when he is uncomfortable (especially if any of his litter boxes are dirty). He signals before he pees or poops by scratching on the floor, so if he does that away from the boxes, you can pick him up and place him in his litter box and he will go there. Sitter would need to be able to clean up the mess and mop the floor if he doesn't make it to the boxes. Toshi is sensitive to people’s energy and occasionally has seizures. No medication is required if he injures himself during a seizure, sitter would need to spray his injuries with hydrogen peroxide and clean the area of any urine and/or blood. Due to Toshi's sensitivities and health issues, sitters should be kind, quiet and easy-going temperament. No additional people besides the approved sitters are permitted to visit or stay in the house during the stay. (Maximum of 2 sitters - no children) The kitchen should be cleaned after cooking to avoid attracting ants and roaches. Indoor and outdoor plants need to be watered when dry or as needed. Trash/recycling needs to be taken out weekly. Mail needs to be picked up from a mailbox on the street. Before leaving: Walkways and porch should be swept of leaves and debris with broom or leaf blower. Floors should be vacuumed. Furniture, books, etc., should be put back in the same location as when you arrived. The doors and windows should be locked.
Show more...Meet the pets
Toshi
10 years
Sitter Reviews (7)
Homeowner Reviews (1)
None
Alba was very easy to communicate with, her cat Toshi is deaf, he had a few special needs but nothing major, in personality he was generally calm and usually kept to himself, except around mealtime :) He is chill not playful, and we got along great. Micanopy and Alba’s home were beautiful secluded and peaceful. We enjoyed seeing the frogs on the windows, and other wildlife in the area. A very pleasant experience and would be willing to do it again should Toshi need a caretaker in the future.
Show more...None
We stayed at Alba's place for almost 2 full weeks, and we absolutely loved it! Her cat, Toshi, is very easy-going. He wants to be in the room with you, especially if you're in the kitchen where he expects treats. He can't hear, so he relies on his eyes, which also seem to be a little challenged at his age, so you just have to be careful when he's around your feet to not step on him! He loves the screened in porch and is comfortable in any part of the house. He also likes to help you vacuum. =) Toshi loves to paw at the ground by his food bowls when he wants more food, even though he has a specific feeding schedule. So we would sometimes give him treats when he did that. He is pretty independent but might need help going out to the porch - sometimes he would scratch at the door, like he had forgotten how to use the very convenient cat door! Toshi does not always use his litter box, so when he is ready to go to the bathroom, he'll usually start scratching at the ground (usually not by his food bowl), and if you catch it soon enough, you can carry him to his litter box. He did not have any major accidents or seizures while we were there, so we had a very easy time taking care of him. He's a big love and we grew pretty attached to the sweet guy. Alba's place is so serene, with the beautiful land, so many birds, and deer in the yard. She makes you feel at home and sets it up so that you have everything you need for your stay. We slept well in the guest bedroom (comfy bed!) and enjoyed her screened-in porch. Her place is so gorgeous, I feel the photos don't do it justice! The energy is so nice in her home, you'll walk away feeling refreshed and not wanting to leave. It's definitely the best sit we've had to date. Micanopy is a sleepy little town with a tranquil vibe. We loved The Old Florida cafe, where we made a friend named Jack who worked there. They have delicious sandwiches and the BEST banana pudding. The antique and crystal shops were fun as well. We went in to Gainesville for grocery shopping and yoga classes and anything else we needed which was an easy 15-20 minute drive. If you stay here, definitely make time to go tubing at Ichetucknee Springs - it was the best day we had! Make sure you make a reservation and get a waterproof pouch for your phone if you want to bring it. All in all, we had an excellent time at Alba's and hope to be back one day! Highly recommend!
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Alba
Geneva & Kyle were a pleasure to host. They took care of my cat, Toshi, very well and gave him the attention he needed while I was away. When I came home, the house was clean and tidy inside and outside, and all my plants were well cared for. I would definetely recommend Geneva & Kyle to care for your home and pets.
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Alba
