Television
TV in upstairs common room is a satellite connection. The big grey remote controls the TV itself (including volume). Press button to left (labeled VCR) to turn TV on and the ON/OFF button to turn it off. The black remote controls the satellite box (thin black box under TV) which must be on to get reception. The guide is in the bookcase. The DVD player is in the TV itself and a separate VHS player can be connected for tapes. There are wireless headphones connected to the common room TV, so a person can watch TV without disturbing others. There is a second TV in the Master bedroom.

Games
The common room bookcase has tons of games and puzzles for your use. If you want to donate old used paperbacks, that would be appreciated.

Internet Access
The satellite connection which gives Dish TV also has 2-way internet. The computer in the upstairs common room is the server for the wireless. It must always stay on. You can use that computer for internet access or to set up your mail. If you want to use the wireless from your laptop, you need to input the fixed IP addresses listed in the green folder labeled Household Details (or written on the upstairs computer monitor). The wireless is a bit fussy. Sometimes it is necessary to unplug and plug back in power and connection from the blue Lynksys box on the floor near the upstairs computer to restart the system once you have set up your laptop. There is a 2nd computer in the upstairs bedroom as well. You should use the non-passworded guest account. It is also connected to the internet.

Watersports
There are tires and inflatable mattresses for your use in the garage and near the swimming area. Any fishing rods and nets are also to be enjoyed - The Y-Store has bait. The aluminum canoe and aluminum paddles can be used - normally the canoe can be left lakeside upsidedown and safely out of the water. Please do not use the kevlar canoe or wooden paddles. You can use the red kayak if you are nice to it, it belongs to Christopher. Life jackets are in the garage, including a waterskiing lifejacket. You can use the waterskies, rope and knee board too - try renting a power boat on Lake Vermillion and bring them along.

Keys
The keypad in the side garage door has a code which changes occasionally (email me for the code). It provides the first access to renters. To lock or unlock, the door must be pressed firmly closed during the process, or the bolt will bind on its way in or out. To unlock, enter the code; to lock simply press the lock icon in center (if you are inside, then just turn the lever!). After you are inside, you can find the keys for the other doors in the drawer of the cabinet facing the dining room table. The automatic garage door opener is also in the drawer. Keep it in your car for the stay so that you can drive in. All keys are labeled and can be used during your stay. Keys and garage door opener MUST be returned to the drawer before you leave, no sets are to be kept by individuals. The doors out to the deck and the front door have a European locking system. To lock them, you must pull up all the way on the handle at the same time that you turn the deadbolt (or key, if you are outside). Please lock all doors when you leave.

Visitor Info
Maps, phone book and tourist info is located in the downstairs bookcase at the end of the kitchen counter. There are some nice detailed maps there.

Sauna
The sauna controls are inside the sauna on the heater. The timer (top control) actually controls the time elapsed until the sauna starts. Usually you want to start it right away, so you need to turn it clockwise past "on" and then slowly back again until you hear a click (but not all the way to off!). It will then turn on and go for an hour before automatically turning off. The bottom control is the thermostat - just leave it at max. The light to the sauna has a switch on the outside sauna wall, but it will only turn on if main room light is also on.

Mail
There is a black mailbox on Rt 169 just opposite the entrance to Koski Rd. You can receive mail there if you like (address it c/o Prisca Cushman, 6697 Koski Rd, Tower, MN 55790). It would be a very nice if renters could bring in the mail once in a while anyway, so it doesn't collect there - just put it in the magazine rack near the fireplace.

Fireplace
The wood for the fireplace is outside the front door and to the left. You should probably stack a bunch of it in the garage to get warm and dry if you plan to use the fireplace. The doors to the fireplace and the fireplace screen swing outward and then can be retracted into the slots on either side of the firebox (that is where the fireplace screen doors are if you can't find them!) Please make sure that either the screen or glass (not both) is closed while there is a fire to prevent sparks into the living room. Before starting a fire, make sure the flue is open: the top grill is hinged, just pull it down and inside there is a lever for the flue. Flipping lever to the left opens the flue. There is also a lever on the outside left of the grill. This is NOT the flue; it brings in outside air (left is open, right is closed). Push this to the left if you plan to operate the fire with the glass doors closed. Clean out the ashes when it gets full and dump them outside in the firepit at the end of the driveway. Do not clean out HOT ashes please! The iron basket inside the firebox is also hinged. Swing it up to clean out ashes or to insert paper balls to start the fire. The bottom grill is also hinged. There should be no reason to open it, but it does contain the heat-activated fan which kicks in when the firebox heats up in order to blow the hot air into the room.