Deborah and Michael were prompt in responding to my last-minute request to book, welcomed us and were very respectful of our privacy...we hardly noticed them coming and going but when we did see them, we were greeted warmly and offered great tips on how to find a nearby beach that was just a short hike (.6 miles) in and back, easy to do with a toddler on a warm, dry day (and nearly impossible when muddy, lots of slippery slopes). We went during low tide and got to see sea stars, snails, and other critters.
The home is beautiful -- Sitka spruce wood -- and tastefully decorated with antique furniture, houseplants, and items from Thailand and other places. My favorite was the Tibetan singing bowl, which I used while doing yoga on the porch (there was a yoga mat there next to the piano). I thoroughly enjoyed tinkering on the Martin piano, and I used the tonga drum upstairs to engage my son in a little rhythmic play. The staircase has charming wooden beams. I had to block the stairs to keep the little one from running around up there, as it wasn't safe, but an appropriately supervised child would do fine there, as ours did. He loved the little nook closet upstairs that was just his size and had a little drum in it. :) It was the perfect calm-down spot. There was plenty of space to fit his pack-n-play and lots of closet space and dressers. The beds were comfortable, loads of pillows and optional layers for any weather. The bathrooms worked well, hot water and good pressure, so whatever previous reviewers have complained about seem to have been fixed. There is a tub upstairs which worked well for the little guy and the downstairs shower even has a low faucet for washing sandy feet after a day exploring the beaches. Washer and dryer were a lovely bonus. Kitchen was well stocked.
The location is perfect, just far enough out of town to enjoy the peaceful sounds of nature and the beautiful ocean/glacier views from the upstairs bedroom window but close enough to get to the spit in about 15-20 minutes. We saw the friendly neighborhood moose, which they have dubbed "Fernando" who nibbled on a rose bush for a while so my toddler could have a close-up show from inside the house. There are lots of windows providing plenty of sunlight, and a ceiling fan upstairs. There's a fire pit, a swing, and a horse-shoe pit which we didn't use much but looked like fun on a cooler weekend (fire ban right now). We were sad to leave, felt at home there, will return!