Maybe some fresh produce, salad items or fruit.

I'm running to Ingles tomorrow, so will grab a soup option and some fresh fruit. The fruit will a good breakfast thing as well.

What about some nice sliced bread and butter. Maybe jams or peanut butter. Is there a toaster? I also would get salad fixings and some dressing. She may not feel like shopping for a few days. So nice of you to do this.

Soup, nice bread, butter. And chocolate :-)

A note of local phone numbers for restaurant's, Hair salon, ect...

NIce! That basket would be for the kitchen and THIS would be for the master bath counter top:

(Some items purchased from Dollar Tree)

* a sealed 4-pack of toilet paper.

*A bottle of aloe hand sanitizer.(Office Depot, I buy it by the case)

*A sealed in the package shower curtain liner or new squeegee for glass showers

*Bottle of body wash

* a DO_NOT_FLUSH list/I print off the internet. VERY IMPORTANT

I make up baskets for my NEW renters. Then I leave a little note card with MY phone number to call in case they need anything. The outside of the card has a pretty photo or says: Welcome....or in my case....Thank you...then I write inside "for renting from....blah blah." You might say...It's nice having YOU as a guest!

Stocking food is tough these days when there are so many dietary restrictions. You never know if someone is gluten-free, nut-free, vegetarian, vegan, etc. I would ask her if she has any dietary restrictions before stocking too much.

Me? I'd want cookies! Love it when I go to a hotel or B&B and they have cookies for us weary travelers.

Some fruits would be good too.

Toilet paper, a bar of soap, kleenex and paper towels.

You’re very thoughtful!

Fruit and cheese.

How wonderfully lucky this lady is for your kindness! I think you have everything covered. Would you be available to 'lend an ear' when she arrives? *I* would like to hear a friendly voice in my new and strange-to-me location after a long trip. If it will be too late, leave friendly note with your phone number and an offer to show her your town whenever she's ready the next day.

That is so so nice of you.

This is so thoughtful of you. I'd be sure to let her know that the pantry and refer will have some basics upon her arrival so she won't be tempted to try to find an open store for provisions for the evening and morning.

I agree with Oly, I would be planning to eat and/or shop before my arrival.

After driving 10 hours, I would very much appreciate a welcome basket with a bottle of wine and a snack of cheese and crackers. For morning, i’m good with coffee, oj and a banana nut muffin :)

Yes to a real bottle of wine, not a little one. If she doesn't drink, she'll probably just leave it behind when she moves out. Are there ice cubes in the freezer? A lemon and/or a lime?

After a long drive, I'd like some cheese, crackers, fruit, and some bottles of water in the fridge (since it probably doesn't have room for ice cubes).

i agree with fun2bhere; ask her if she has any dietary restrictions and then go shop.

i would enjoy a grilled cheese and tomato soup for dinner... or tuna on toast.....all the other suggestions are great, but after driving 10 hours, i would like to eat somewhat of a real dinner, not just snacks....

the eggs, fruit and bread she can use for breakfast! oh and coffee if she drinks it!

what a thoughtful person you are :)

maybe a small vase with a few fresh flowers, a holiday scent candle,

a small basket of fresh fruit (orange, apple, banana, kiwi), packet of oatmeal for the morning,

a nightlight since she doesn't know the space?

Wow, I think you've done a lot! Be sure there is a box of "kleenex."

Good idea, night light.

Your phone number and an invitation to knock on your door if she lacks one.

Give her an invitation for lunch/dinner, with a request as to what she'd like ... then, if her request includes foods, cooking, etc. that you don't have, negotiate - including as to how soon you can have it ready.

Or, if you'd prefer, and there's a restaurant nearby, take her there.

Gives her some welcome food, a good partial wind down to her day, and you get acquainted.

If she stopped for dinner just before arrival likely she'd welcome coffee and a snack, with some conversation with a neighbour to be.

ole joyful

"Or, if you'd prefer, and there's a restaurant nearby, take her there.

Gives her some welcome food, a good partial wind down to her day, and you get acquainted.

If she stopped for dinner just before arrival likely she'd welcome coffee and a snack, with some conversation with a neighbour to be."

I've been that vet, and I would suggest not doing that when she arrives -- it's a long drive,and a stressful start to the next day, and what she'll probably want most is to relax and have some time to gather her thoughts before starting a new job the next morning.........Having dinner with a stranger isn't going to be high on her list of wants that first night. Save taking her out to dinner (or lunch, etc) for her after her first or second day, when she'll have a few days of working at the clinic as an ice-breaker for conversation and questions.

Everyone has different eating habits and food preferences, why not ask what she'd like?

How long is she staying? Is she apartment or house hunting? I like the fresh fruit and cheese option. I imagine she will find her way around town soon enough to find foods and restaurants that she likes so I wouldn't overdo.

Thanks all for the input. My plan is to help her get her bags unloaded, show her around, give her the wifi password and get out of her hair. The bathroom is stocked with clean towels, tp and kleenex. There is a basket with extra soaps, toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, shampoo, lotions, and feminine products. I put some frozen pizzas and ice in the freezer. There is creamer and milk for breakfast and a bottle of red and a bottle of white in the fridge.

Here is the coffee and tea setup.

And the snacks and fruit and a bowl of fresh eggs from our hens.

I printed out a couple of articles from Southern Living with info on the area.

Can I come to your guest house? It's very nice of you and I would add if someone hasn't ...soup and baguette loaf. Fruit is always a hit and maybe a pint of Ben &Jerry's.

Oh, there is soup in the cabinet, I forgot about that, also peanut butter and a jar of strawberry jam. The ice cream is a great idea, but those dorm fridge freezers are so tiny.

I’m going to offer to show her around next weekend. The grocery store is a block away from the clinic, so she’ll find that right away. We have a busy schedule this week so I’m sure she will want to come home at night and decompress.

You may want to eliminate the photo of the article printouts, they identify your location.

Just curious, why would my location being identifiable be an issue? Someone can just google my name and probably figure that out. (ps, i dont actually live in the town listed)

You have done SO much already. Probably more than she would expect.

I do not supply that many foods in my guesthouse.

You are very kind and thoughtful.

It's nice of you to offer your hospitality. Hopefully the business owner or manager told you that you'd be reimbursed for the things you provide for the new employee's use?

Many people are just kind and generous and wouldn't have any expectation of repayment. Sheesh!

"Many people are just kind and generous and wouldn't have any expectation of repayment. Sheesh!"

However, this is a business arrangement, not a social call. It's absolutely appropriate for the business to pay for these things (frankly, whether the owner was the one to think of them or not).

I presumed Annette offered her guest house, not that it was solicited. Small town (presumably) local business/coworker hospitality is different than corporate America.

"Many people are just kind and generous and wouldn't have any expectation of repayment. Sheesh!"

People who incur expenses out of their own pocket for their employers without repayment are foolish, not generous. In fact, reimbursement of such expenses is, I believe, required by law.

If it's something you're unfamiliar with, fine. Toronto vet hit this slow pitch over the fence, it's a business matter, not a social call.

I think she is doing this out of the kindness of her heart. That is not foolishness. This is a small town warm welcome and not a cash deal.

I am guessing Annette could be the owner of the business, and it’s a small town, no hotels available. She is helping out her new employee, being very kind indeed. If she is the owner of the business, these expense can be deducted for tax return as businese expense, Elmer is a CPA, used to be a partner of a firm, he is trying to help out Annette with his knowledge. There is no harm. Peace? ;-)

I want to add on two more things: first aid kit and hair ties.

Hair ties? OP is being very generous and having a few useful items in the rooms would be handy. I think they’ve done more than enough. The person arriving is an intelligent adult professional who, no doubt, has travelled before. I really think she’ll have packed what she needs for personal care, just as one would for any trip. I wouldn’t be surprised if she breaks the long journey to shop and eat on her way and arrives fully prepared. She might even bring a take out dinner with her. After that drive I’d just want a bath and bed. I’d just provide what she’d get in a hotel room. Tea, coffee, a couple of snacks, soap, towels and toilet paper. Personally, I’d feel a bit embarrassed and beholden if my landlady made too much effort. If the store is 20 mins away I’m pretty sure she can find it in due course. She might enjoy exploring her new area for herself.... and she might have short hair.

$1 hair ties can go a long way. I prepare them for my guests for short stay. :-)

"I presumed Annette offered her guest house, not that it was solicited. Small town (presumably) local business/coworker hospitality is different than corporate America."

Even so, she should be compensated for it. Maybe not for a single night or two, but this new vet might need to be there for weeks and weeks before finding suitable housing. Whether that compensation comes from the business or the new vet, expecting someone (even the business owner) to provide housing for weeks without compensation is rude. Even in a small town. I've had to stay in small towns for weeks (for work) and I would never expect someone to put me up for free, just because it's a small town. Even very small towns of a few hundred people. There's expecting people to be kind, and then there's taking advantage of people.

Is this new vet there for the VNLRP program? I’d cheer for her! :-) ”The Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) pays up to $25,000 a yeartoward qualified student loans of eligible veterinarians who work in areas designated by the federal government as having veterinary shortages. Qualifying veterinarians agree to serve in these areas for at least three years.” There are similar programs for new dentists and doctors.

I still don’t get the hair ties. That would just strike me as bizarre if I found them in my accommodation. Don’t people have the wit to carry their own if they have hair that needs them? She’s a qualified adult, not a disorganised child.

I know how we like get off tangents.

I am curious as to why she doesn't already have an apartment? Shouldn't this already have in place before relocating?

"I am curious as to why she doesn't already have an apartment? Shouldn't this already have in place before relocating?"

It could be that they wanted her to start work right away, and didn't want to wait for her to find a home first. Or it could be that she doesn't want to find a house until the probationary period has passed and she signs a contract. My bet is their need for her to start work is greater than the availability of housing in or near this "remote mountain town".

Floral, I use a hair tie to tie up my hair when washing my face. It’s a bathroom basic like soap for many girls who have long hair. Hope you can let hair tie idea go now. :-)

Sorry to be away! One fun aspect of small town living is no garbage service, so I’m making a run to the dump today so I spent last night cutting up boxes and loading the truck for the day run.

I did offer the guest house out of hospitality. The practice will be reimbursing me for the propane refill as it needed the tank topped off to run the heat and hot water.

On a funny side note, there is a pack of hair ties in the bathroom. My daughter or daughter in law left them here. As to the rest of the supplies, they are all there on a regular basis. One of the reasons we bought this place was because of the guest house. I told my husband that if he wanted me to leave Atlanta, I needed to be able to bring Atlanta here, in the form of my friends and family. So I keep the guest house stocked and ready for weekend guests.

Glad to hear that Annette! :-)

Oddly, there are leftover hair ties in my guest house too! My daughter leaves them everywhere. ......😁

Oh, and Toronto Vet is right. We needed her to start as quickly as possible, also as is typical in these small mountain towns, apartment complexes don’t exist. The closest town with an actual apartment for rent would be an hour away, and those are usually a year lease. Plus, the housing market is crazy around here.