Author: Richard Barrett

If you are reading this on paper, you can also read it on the web, at http://www.bit.ly/CasaVentana.

Welcome to Casa Ventana!  You found a hidden gem nestled in the Coconino National Forest. During your stay, Casa Ventana will reward you with peace, beauty, serenity, and a breathtaking experience in nature.

We want your stay here to be relaxing and stress-free. Houses now include electronics, internet, and complicated devices such as BBQ’s, fire pits, video screens with internet access, and kitchen gadgets that may be complicated and confusing to operate. To keep your joy high and your stress low, this doc includes manuals and instructions for practically every device in the house.

Please contact Bella Palazzo if you have questions or need help! 

Brittany brittany@bellapalazzo.com  (480) 725-8858 cell

Margie  Margie@bellapalazzo.com  (480) 725-8858 cell 

Thanks from Devon and Richard (owners)

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PARKING, HOUSE ENTRY  Thanks for limiting guests to 8 total people. 

Six parking spaces are available in our front driveways (3 in the lower gravel driveway, 3 in the upper paved driveway).  Please enter, park and back out slowly and carefully!  

• The driveway edges are well-marked but unforgiving if you drive off the paved area.  Walk the driveway before you drive out and familiarize yourself with the edges and boundary markers.
• Some people find it is easy to make a “Y” turn when backing out of either driveway.  Much easier than backing all the way into the street.
• Be aware of the drainage ways (ditches) that line our street.  Very unforgiving.
• There is minimal traffic on our street, but watch carefully for the occasional speedy driver going downhill when you drive out of our driveway.

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Front Entry:  Enter our house using a keypad entry code for contactless entry through the front door.  Bella Palazzo will email this code to you about an hour before your scheduled entry. 

Shoes: Thanks for removing your shoes when you enter the house from outside.  The area’s fine-grained red dust can be difficult to clean up!  You can leave your shoes in the entry shoe rack under the stair or by the back patio door.  You can also use the provided shoe booties inside the house.

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Mobile Phone Service: Connect your phone to the house wi-fi network Longwood (password BellaSedona) and switch your mobile phone to “wi-fi calling” for excellent phone service and voice quality.

Internet: Network is Longwood, password is BellaSedona. Connect as many devices as you wish.

Don’t Forget Trash Day: Trash trucks come early, around 6:30 AM, every Wednesday. On Tuesday afternoon please empty all the house trash into the big plastic trash bins in the garage.

Our trash service enters the garage with the external keypad on Tuesday afternoon and puts the trash cans out by the street. They come back on Wednesday afternoon and put the trash cans back in the garage.

Garage-door opener button is inside the garage, on the right-hand wall as you walk in.

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LIVING ROOM FIREPLACE

The fireplace uses propane gas, so don’t put any wood on the fire. It will fill the house with smoke.

To use the fireplace:

1. Open the glass doors. The fireplace puts out a little heat and will crack the glass doors if they are closed while the fire is on.
2. Find the remote control, usually by the side of the fireplace.
3. Point the remote toward the lower left corner of the fireplace.
4. Simultaneously press the red dot (oddly, labelled “off”) on the left and the top button in the middle.
5. You will hear a click, then a few sharp snaps while the electronic ignition lights the pilot. You can see the pilot light ignite, at the back right corner of the fire pan.
6. Wait a bit for the thermostat to heat up. Then the gas flows and ignites automatically.

To turn the fire off, just press the red button.

Enjoy.

BLINDS FOR PRIVACY IN THE MASTER BEDROOM

The windows in the master bedroom provide amazing views of the rocks. When you want privacy just pull down the blinds mounted on the doors and windows. To open the blinds just grab the lower handle and gently lift up.

HOUSE ENTERTAINMENT

Each bedroom and the living room have Samsung screens with DirectTV and internet access. You can access any streaming service with your account.

Living room screen also has a Sonos sound bar, which is controlled by the screen remote. Screens in each bedroom operate similarly. To download the manual, click the download button (below the image of the user’s manual).

Watch Direct TV for linear TV and news.  Find the remote in each room specific to that room’s TV.  The house TV screens get internet, so you can watch your preferred streaming channels with your own account.

Board games are in the credenza in the living room.

HEATING & COOLING  

Ceiling Fans. Find each room’s labeled fan remote on the wall nearest that fan. You can often cool areas of the house by combining fan use with opening screened windows and doors. 

Heat/Air Thermostat (living room):  You can scroll through the manual below, or click on the Download button (below the image of the manual) to download the entire manual to your device.

KITCHEN

The kitchen comes with full sets of cookware, cooking utensils, grilling tools, glassware and plates. The cupboards are labeled.

Bosch Electric Range – Scroll through the manual (shown below) or download the manual to your device by clicking the “Download” button below the manual.

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Bosch Microwave – pages 10-12 of the manual are helpful. Scroll through the manual (shown below) or download the manual to your device by clicking the “Download” button below the manual.

Flex Brew Coffee Maker – Watch video. Keurig cups supplied by guest.

Blender – Margaritas seem to work very well in Sedona. Watch video.

Dishwasher: use dishwasher pods stored under the sink.

Bosch Refrigerator – Scroll through the manual (shown below) or download the manual to your device by clicking the “Download” button below the manual.

Front-loading washer and dryer are located in the garage.  The labeled cupboard above the washer and dryer has liquid washing detergent, spray ‘n’ wash for stains, softener sheets for the dryer, and iron.  Ironing board hangs from the wall opposite the washer.  

Washer:  Pages 2-7 of the manual can help you use the washer, but it’s easy.

1. Load clothes and close the front door.
2. Open the automatic dispenser door (see the drawing) located at the left top of the washer.
3. Carefully pour a small amount of the liquid detergent (2 tablespoons or less!) in the back section of this dispenser (the deep section n in front of the screen).
4. Press the quick cycle button (25-minute wash; see drawing) on top of the machine.  This setting takes care of most kinds of washing. 
5. Press  the start button on the right side top of the washer.  Use this button also when you want to stop the washer to add one more thing–then push again to start.

Clothes Washer – Scroll through the manual (shown below) or download the manual to your device by clicking the “Download” button below the manual.

Dryer – Pages 18-23 of the manual can help you use the dryer.

1. Load wet clothes and close the front door.
2. Turn the knob to select the time you want clothes to dry (A below).  It may be easiest to turn the knob to a low setting (25 or 30 minutes), then…
3. Push more or less time (E below).  Times are automatically set; each time selected shows a specific temperature and dry level.  
4. Press start button (E below).

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Clothes Dryer – Scroll through the manual (shown below) or download the manual to your device by clicking the “Download” button below the manual.

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DARK SKY, OUTDOORS, BACK PATIOS and a THOUSAND YEAR-OLD TREE

Just below the driveway you will notice a big, sprawling tree, a Utah juniper. Recently an arborist estimated its age near a thousand years or more. Take a moment to walk down, say hello and put a hand on it. How often can you touch a living thing over a thousand years old? Take a deep breath and pause for awhile.

DARK SKY

Sedona is a “dark sky” city, with very little night lighting. Enjoy the stars and use the fire pits if you feel chilly. Walk up to the patio and pull out a chair so you can see the sky. Notice the Milky Way.

• Plug-in night lights help you to move safely outside after dark.  
• Flashlights are available in bedroom side-table drawers.

Please use dishwasher-safe plastic dishware when you eat outside. Find these dishes in the labeled upper cupboard to the left of the kitchen stove.

Fire Pits – Enjoy both of them.

Please make sure that you turn off fire pits completely when you finish using them!

To Light the Fire Pits (Both upper and lower fire pits light the same way): 

1. FInd the gas control knob, which is the big, black knob.
2. Find the electric ignition button, which is the small black button near the gas control knob.
3. Push the gas control knob in slightly and turn clockwise (CW) to off. 
4. Then turn gas control knob counterclockwise (CCW) to “on/Min.”
5. Push the gas control knob all the way in and hold it in. You may hear a little hiss of gas flowing.
6. Press and hold the ignition button for 5-10 seconds, until the gas ignites in the fire pit. You will hear a repeated click, which is the electric spark. Once the gas ignites, release the ignition button, but hold the gas control knob all the way in, for 5-10 seconds, while the flame heats up the thermal sensor.
7. Release the gas control knob. If the thermal sensor has not heated up enough, it will shut off the gas flow for safety. If the flame starts to die out, quickly push the gas knob back in again. Press in on the gas control knob for another 5-10 seconds, longer on cold evenings, while the thermal sensor heats up. 
8. If you want a bigger flame, slowly turn the gas control knob CCW. 
9. Enjoy the fire and friends. 

To turn off the fire at either fire pit:

1. Push the gas control knob slightly in and turn it all the way CW. Flames will die out. 
2. The pit will be hot for awhile.

Emergency Gas Shut-off (fower patio fire pit): Turn off the gas at the tank.

The lower fire pits uses the little 5 gallon Blue Rhino LP gas tanks, hidden under the square, gray cover stand near the fire pit. You can turn off the gas with the valve at the top of the gas tank.

1. Lift up the square gray cover stand covering the little gas tank,, using the hand holds on each side.
2. Locate the gas control knob on top of the gas tank. 
3. Turn it CW all the way. Gas will stop flowing from the tank.

Fire Won’t Light?

Check the battery in the spark ignition. 

1. Turn the gas off using the big, black gas control knob. 
2. Press the gas ignition button. If you do not hear a repeated spark click, then the battery may be dead. 
3. Unscrew the gas ignition cap. It will come off easily.
4. Find the little battery, which is sticking out where you unscrewed the cap. 
5. Replace the battery. Positive (+) end of the battery goes into the cap. 
6. Screw the cap back in. 
7. Press the ignition button and listen for the repeated spark click.
8. Follow instructions above to light the fire.

Check for propane gas in the lower patio gas tank. If you heard the repeated spark click, then spark ignition battery is good, so the little gas tank may be empty. You can call housekeeping to check and replace the tank, if needed. Might be a 24 hour wait. Just switch to the other fire pit or find the full gas tank in the garage and swap it in.

Replace the little gas tank ONLY if you feel able to do it.

1. Test for gas flow. Press in on the big black gas control knob, then turn it all the way ON (CCW). Listen for the soft hiss of gas flowing. 
2. If you hear the hiss and perhaps smell gas, then the gas tank has gas. Turn the gas control knob OFF (CW) immediately. Call housekeeping. You cannot fix the problem with this fire pit. Switch to the other fire pit.
3. If you did not hear gas flowing, then the little tank is empty.
4. Lift the cover off the little gas tank. 
5. Turn the gas control knob on the tank (center, top) all the way OFF (CW).
6. Locate the black flexible hose connected to the gas tank by a big, black plastic nut. Carefully unscrew the big black nut to disconnect the hose from the gas tank. 
7. If you hear the steady hiss of gas flowing, IMMEDIATELY TURN OFF the gas control knob at the top of the tank.
8. Carefully tip the gas tank a little to the side. Remove any base support ring.
9. Find a full (heavy) tank in the garage. install it.
10. If no full gas tank in the garage, then return the tank to any local gas station and get a full replacement tank for about $30. Take a picture of the receipt and email to Bella Palazzo.
11. Screw the big, black plastic nut onto the new gas tank. It is plastic, so be gentle. If it is aligned correctly it will screw on with no force required.
12. Slowly open the valve at the top of the tank (turn CCW). If you smell gas, IMMEDIATELY turn the valve off. Tighten the big, black nut just a little more. Turn the tank valve back on (CCW). If you smell gas again, IMMEDIATELY turn the valve off and call Bella Palazzo housekeeping.
13. Light the fire pit following the instructions above.

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Patio Grill operation: 

Grill Weber Spirit S-315: Pages 12-13 of the manual can help you use the grill.  Please make sure that you turn off grill completely when you finish using it!

Find the grilling tools in a kitchen drawer. After you use the grill, please replace the used aluminum drip pan liner under the grill with a new liner from the box.

Grill – Scroll through the manual (shown below) or download the manual to your device by clicking the “Download” button below the manual.

Hot Tub: The labeled switch for lights in the hot tub area is labeled on the wall outside the master bathroom.

• Please use the striped towels when you use the hot tub (white floor basket beside the patio door).  
• Please put wet towels in the empty white basket on top of the washing downstairs washing machine when you finish drying off.
• Remove the hot-tub cover by lifting it off.
• Thanks for turning off the hot tub and recovering it when you are done using it.

Upper Patio is a great place to watch the mountains, enjoy a sunset, or even do a little work. It uses the house wifi. The two patio posts on the south side have electric plugs at their bases. Find the little tab on the right lower side of the plastic cover. Press it gently while lifting the cover up. The switch midway up each post turns the patio lights on.

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Great Outdoors Hiking 

Great hikes with good views are near our house.  Hiking is not directly accessible through our backyard, however!  National Forest land directly behind us is off-limits to hiking.  

YOU may enjoy these nearby hikes:

Rabbit Ears Trail is a short uphill hike toward stunning Rabbit Ears rocks, one side of Bell and Courthouse Rocks, and overhead views of our Pine Valley neighborhood below.

• Jack’s Canyon Trailhead is a 3-minute drive from our house.
• Follow the Rabbit Ears trail sign from the parking lot, which routes you across Jack’s Canyon road and uphill towards the ears.
• We go uphill to enjoy the views ahead of us and stop at the top, then return to the parking lot.
• This hike is a short part of the Rabbit Ears and Little Rock Loop trail

Bell Rock Loop Trail (AllTrails link) is a scenic easy to moderate 1.9 mile hike with minimal elevation gain. 

• Bell Rock Pathway Trailhead Parking Lot is a 10-minute drive from our house.
• Munds Mountain Wilderness charges a fee to park. Fees are per vehicle.
• Parking can be limited, depending upon time of day and season.  
• Arrive before 9:00 am or after 3-4 pm for best parking availability and scenic shadows on the rocks. 
• Most hikers recommend going clockwise around the loop from the parking lot.  
• Try the Bell Rock Climb for best views (even part way up)!
• Follow trail signs (cairns and white painted footprints on rocks), but also use a trail map because several trails intersect this loop.
• If parking is unavailable, drive 5 minutes north of Bell Rock on Hwy. 179 to Courthouse Vista parking lot  for more parking.

We like the Rector Connector, Big Park, and Courthouse Butte Loop, a 3.9-mile loop trail that takes about 90 minutes to complete. Beautiful views of the colorful Courthouse and Bell Rocks!  Rector Connector provides up close views and gives you access to the Bell Rock Climb.

• Courthouse Vista parking lot is a 12-minute drive from our house.
• Munds Mountain Wilderness charges a fee to park. Fees are per vehicle.
• The trail is well-marked, well laid out, relatively flat, and easy to follow.
• Check all trails for other area favorites like Cathedral Rock, Hi-Line, and Little Horse trails.

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Thanks for making sure your children are attended while you enjoy our patios!  

Wild animals in the area occasionally travel through the back arroyo. They avoid people who are outside.  Please do not leave food or feed them by hand. They are wild. They might bite fingers. Stay within the fenced area.