A House in Jobos

 This room has a full-size desk and huge windows. A nice breeze comes in through them. The ceiling fan helps to cool the room off as well. This room does not have air conditioning and is only available to guests with parties of 5-6 people for an additional fee.

The chair hammock is not to be used as a playground swing, but rather as a seat to lightly swing while you relax.

There are 2 light switches. One turns on the light just outside the bedroom on the exterior wall. The other one turns on the ceiling fan and light. There is a remote control that you can use to turn the light from the ceiling fan off/on (bottom button). There is also a button to adjust the speed of the fan (top button). Please turn the ceiling fan off when not in use.

A luggage rack, a closet with hangers and ceiling-to-floor mirrors, and a full-size desk and chair are all part of the accessories this room has to offer.

Sporadic showers are part of life here in Puerto Rico. Please close the windows in this room when raining since the wind will bring all the water into the room. It would be great if you could close all the windows in this room when leaving the house. This way if a sporadic shower comes, the room will not get soaked.

I’ve left most of my appliances out for your use. I’ve even left most of my spices, oils, etc. Please feel free to use any of it.

KITCHEN SINK: We have old pipes. We regularly do a baking soda and vinegar treatment on them. But the best thing we can do is not throw any oils or solids in them. We do not have a garbage disposal. My trick for cleaning greasy pots and pans is this. First, throw any excess oil in a plastic bottle with a lid and discard it in the trash can. Then I put dishwashing liquid in the pot without adding water. I then take a paper towel and wipe everything I can. When I have removed as much of the grease and residue as possible, I throw the paper towel away and wash the pot with soap and water.

REFRIGERATOR: This refrigerator is the fourth one in this space within a year. It should be set to normal cooling for you. But in case the cleaner has forgotten, on the inside right wall of the refrigerator you can find the touch setting. Set it to the middle setting.

FREEZER: I’ve provided you with ice in the lidded container as well as ice cube trays. If I’ve also left a container of sofrito in the freezer that I use for cooking, feel free to use some if you wish, but please return it to the freezer before your departure. (Sofrito is a seasoning we use for our stews, beans, and many other dishes. It contains coriander, cilantro, onions, garlic, and many other spices.)

STOVE/OVEN: We have a gas stove and oven. If you turn the knob a little to the left, you will hear a clicking noise. Once you see the flame, go ahead and move it further past the clicking noise to the desired setting. If you were to turn it on and it clicks, but no flame emerges, please call me. It could be that we didn’t notice that the propane tank was empty. I’ll resolve it immediately.

We keep a pizza stone in the oven at all times. First, we love to use it for pizza. But secondly, did you know that the pizza stone helps to distribute the heat better? It does! Just place your baking dish in the rack above it and your dish will cook more evenly. Also, keep in mind that we use propane gas. (Just in case you needed to know that.)

COFFEE MAKER: Our coffee maker has a carafe setting and an individual cup setting. They both work quite similarly. First, make sure the coffee maker is plugged. We unplug everything when no one is at the home in order to protect them from power surges.

CARAFE:

1. Open the lid on the left side of the coffee maker.
2. Fill the rear compartment with the amount of water you’d like to brew. (I always add just a bit more to account for the amount lost in steam.)
3. Remove the reusable filter and fill it with ground coffee. If you are using the coffee we have provided, keep in mind that our coffee is quite strong, so you may want to use less than normal. Place the filled coffee filter back into its compartment and close the lid.
4. Press the CARAFE button.
5. Then press the BREW STRENGTH to the desired setting (BOLD or REGULAR).
6. Finally press the BREW NOW (it’s faded but it’s the top left button).

SINGLE:

1. Open the lid on the right side of the coffee maker.
2. Fill the rear compartment with the amount of water you’d like to brew. (I always add just a bit more to account for the amount lost in steam.)
3. Lift the handle that says LIFT TO OPEN. Remove the reusable filter and fill it with ground coffee. If you are using the coffee we have provided, keep in mind that our coffee is quite strong, so you may want to use less than normal. Place the filled coffee filter back into its compartment and close the lid.
4. Press the SINGLE button.
5. Then press the BREW STRENGTH to the desired setting (BOLD or REGULAR).
6. Place your cup in the space provided. Our cups should fit fine. If you have a tall mug, you may need to remove the bottom basket.
7. Finally press the BREW NOW (it’s faded but it’s the top left button).
8. If you’d like to use a K-Cup, then simply remove the reusable filter and replace it with the attachment in the compartment that says BREW BASKET INSIDE. Remove the reusable K-Cups and put yours there. Or, fill our reusable K-Cup with our coffee. A small amount goes a long way.

AIR FRYER: The air fryer is pretty self-explanatory. Set the desired temperature. Then the desired time. I’ve provided aluminum foil and parchment paper in the drawer beneath the air fryer for your use. I often use one of these when cooking in the air fryer. It makes clean-up that much easier.

HAND MIXER/MAGIC BULLET/TOASTER: These are all available for your use. If you have any questions, please let me know.

POTS and PANS: We love our stainless steel pots and pans. In order for us to keep them clean, we use BAR KEEPERS FRIEND. I’ve left a can under the kitchen sink for you.

DISHES/CUPS/GLASSWARE: We have provided you with our dishes. Feel free to use them as needed. We have also provided you with disposables in case you prefer not to do dishes. I wish I had a dishwasher! I’ve left you some disposable take-out containers with lids as well.

UNDER THE KITCHEN SINK: I’ve left some detergents, rags, a bucket, etc. under the kitchen sink in case you need them. These rags are for cleaning up, so they are probably stained. Feel free to use them where needed. Once they are dry, just throw them in the hallway hamper. Our cleaning team will wash them.

BROOM/DUSTPAN/MOP: Right by the refrigerator, you will find these items, should you need them.

TV: This ROKU TV has been set to Guest Mode. There is a remote control in front of the TV for your use. (Or you can download the Roku app, connect to the WiFi and use your phone as the remote control.) Set your Check-out Date and a profile will be created for you. Sign into your streaming accounts and enjoy. Once the Check-out Date you entered arrives, the system will automatically log you off of your accounts. This TV has an antenna for local channels. Just select the LIVE TV icon on the right side (where all the other streaming channels appear).

STEREO: This stereo system can be used to listen to the radio or play CDs. It used to work with the TV, but with these newer TVs, it’s now incompatible.

BOARD GAMES/PUZZLES: We have left you all our board games and puzzles for your enjoyment. We’ve spent countless hours playing these and hope you and your family can enjoy them as well. All we ask is that you store each item back in the correct box and put it away when done.

GROCERY BAGS: Many retailers and supermarkets no longer provide plastic bags for free. They are sold for 10 cents or more. In the drawer nearest to the double french doors, I have placed several plastic bags for your use. Take as many as you need before heading out to the grocery store or to retail shopping. Please return those that you no longer need. It’s ok if you can’t fold them the way I do. My cleaning team will do so.

I love to garden and have been working for years on developing the gardens at A House in Jobos. On the west side of the property, we have the bougainvillea garden. These plants have been here for more than a decade maturing and growing. The thorns on these plants are no joke, so be careful if you get near them. 

On the east side of the property, we are working on building this into a tropical garden for our guests to sit and enjoy the shade, the wildlife, and the plants. We have several huge bird of paradise plants, ixora (the birds love this one), and many other plants.

Throughout the exterior, you will also find breadfruit trees, a cereza (sour cherry) tree, a guava tree, a soursop tree, a papaya tree, many banana plants, and even a coconut palm tree. If any of these trees have fruits, feel free to enjoy them. If you need help identifying when to pick them, just text me.