Welcome to the Firefly. Here are some ideas to help you. We want you to love our place, and come back, and tell your friends about how much you’re loving your stay.
Find Us:
We’re very near Mile Post 7 on Highway 278, between Rutledge and Madison.
https://goo.gl/maps/JbMV8FqjJQNBwk1f7
Getting Here
Most people drive, but not all. Transport is available. Here is the link.
Parking
Pull up into the driveway. We have a designated guest parking area unless you are Miley Cyrus, in which case you will park where you want anyway. Park friendly. The Treehouse Room is off to the right, everything else, including the studio, is off to the left, what looks like an entryway really is one.
We made the guest driveway big enough for Dolly Parton’s tour bus to turn around. If you have any doubts, feel free to park friendly and we can straighten it out when you are settled.
Check In Time
Supposed to be 3 but it is never 3. Ref: Madison Standard time.
If you have to drive through Atlanta traffic it takes longer than you think it will be.
Check In
At this point, all of the guest rooms have a keyless entry, with a simple code. There are some funny stories about the day(s) we installed them.
There’s also a keyless lock on the door of the Main House.
You should have been given the code already. If you weren’t, call or text the contact number.
Room Amenities
Private Baths in guest house, share in the Main House
Walk in or step in Showers, big enough for two. We made a point of this. Microwave, Mini-Fridge, Enough utensils to make it work. Unique décor that you will never see anywhere else.
What it’s Like Here
It’s the country. There are 2 acres of woods, with squirrels and chicken hawks. There is a big fenced back yard, with chickens and a water feature, along with a fire pit. Stuff happens and it is fun.
The front of the place has a huge front porch, and a veranda are nice in the evenings, because you can see the sunset and watch the grass grow, if you are into that.
If you’re indoor friendly, there are musical instruments, board games, and refreshments of various types. Sometimes it is nice to sit in the air conditioning and chill. We keep thinking of this as the perfect place for a writing retreat.
Best to check before entering the main house because people are living there.
We can give you some art supplies, various tools, and gardening stuff. We keep hoping that someone will get inspired and plant something or do construction work.
If you let us know, you can do cooking in the big country kitchen. There are eggs. Knock first.
We can probably find bikes. There are bike routes around here.
Make Yourself Comfortable
We try hard to make sure your room is tidy, you have the supplies you need, and you can relax.
If you need extra of everything, use the contact number above and someone who cares will help you.
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Emergencies
Morgan County Sheriff: (706) 342-1507
Morgan County Fire: (706) 343-6503
Morgan Medical Center (Hospital) (706) 342-1667
Storms
Emergency Alert System: Text 30650 to 888777 to opt in to the Nixie community alert system for Madison. You may not want to know.
Thunderstorms are fairly common here, especially the afternoon/tropical type in Summer. They don’t usually last more than a few minutes. It has been known to rain a lot. Don’t drive through flood water. We’re set up for rain here. It’ll be gone by morning.
Tornadoes are rare, but not out of the question. There was one in Covington, which is about 25 miles away not too long ago. The previous one was about 15 years ago.
https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/covington-woman-trapped-in-car-swept-up-by-nye-tornado
If you are staying in the cottage, get into the huge bathtub and call it good. That thing isn’t going anywhere. In the Treehouse and Nest, upstairs lofts, best to go down into the Art Studio or Breezeway, and find a place away from the windows.
In the main house, the preferred tornado shelter is the kitchen, which is the most interior room. Keep away from the windows.
Hurricanes: About twice a year, during late summer and fall, we could get some tropical storm force winds from passing hurricanes. Usually this is just a nuisance. Your best option is to go to the main house kitchen or go to the studio and call it good.
Ice: Once in a great while, there is an ice or sleet event here. Best idea is to stay where you are and call or text the contact number above, and then call one of the liquor stores below to see if they are still open. Note: Ice and hurricanes at the same time are very rare.
Heat: You may find the average summer temperature of 92F, with high humidity, a little uncomfortable. Just be thankful you were not one of the early settlers, or early laborers. Drink lots of water. The tap water is city water here, and is good.
Pollen
We have to say this because we don’t usually think about it a lot. You know, of course, that most plants reproduce by pollen. This is what we would call the “birds and the bees” talk around here.
Well, this place is surrounded by vegetation, and so for a couple of weeks in the spring, there is pollen in the air.
Here’s the Weather Channel pollen forecast, which might give you some more information if this is a possible issue.
Weather Channel Pollen Forecast
Fun/Local Color
We’ve been to every little town around here, and have blogged about most of them. Go to “blog posts” and search “little southern towns” and you can browse your options. There are mysteries, and movie sets, and all sorts of other things.
TV or not TV and Wifi
We’re conflicted. We like the idea of social media detox, but the reality is too extreme for most guests.
If you are the kind of person who watches 24 hour news, please alert us and we will refer you to a place better suited your needs. This place isn’t for everybody. It helps not to be fearful.
Currently we have wifi (the password is in your room) and the cottage has a monitor for streaming, if you brought your laptop.
There is loft Wifi access suitable for streaming.
We have not yet had 12 people all streaming Netflix at the same time, but we expect that we are bandwidth limited, but no one has declared it a problem.
We will tell you the story of the good old days when we had satellite internet that was marginally functional.
Alcohol
We are adult about it and you should be too.
The Bottle Stop 1510 Eatonton Rd, Madison, GA 30650, (706) 343-1148 Closes 10:30
Rutledge Liquour 140 Atlanta Hwy, Rutledge, GA 30663 (706) 557-2020 Closes 9:30
You can get beer and wine elsewhere, except on Sunday mornings here.
Dogs
There are two dogs that think they own the place. The one with blue eyes, Bella, has been known to jump the fence and greet visitors. She understands English. She is very well behaved. The big white Pyrenees, Posh, does what he does, namely guard the livestock. He is supposed to be in the back yard. If he greets you in the driveway, he shouldn’t be there. Call Ellie. He works the night shift. Alert us if he makes too much noise.
Cats
There are between 2 and infinity. These are barn cats. They don’t have names, kind of like Breakfast at Tiffany’s, which is a movie from the late 1950’s. If you want to call them, say “here kitty” and they might approach you.
Rules and Policies
We tried as long as we could to avoid house rules, but we now have some. Clicking the “Book Now” button constitutes agreement to these House Rules.
Wildlife
We have woods. You may assume there is wildlife. That’s one of the reasons you’re here instead of the chain hotel downtown.
There are abundant bird species, including chicken hawks, wild turkeys, turkey buzzards, cardinals, bluebirds, herons, and various others including the swallows that make a mess on the little porch. There is an app for bird calls which you can access to learn their songs.
