Over the past year, we’ve learned a lot.

We’ve spent countless hours figuring out who we are as hosts and what kind of experience we want to create. There have been surprises, challenges, and plenty of lessons along the way. While we still have much to learn, we’ve gained a clear understanding of the kind of hospitality we want to offer.

We’ve learned that hospitality isn’t really about providing things – it’s about helping people feel cared for. We’ve learned that thoughtful details matter more than fancy ones. A quiet place to sit, a comfortable bed, a good breakfast, and a genuine conversation can mean more than all the extras in the world.

We’ve had so many wonderful moments this year – it’s difficult to pick a favorite; however, a few standouts come to mind.

There was a couple from Bend who had been hired to pose as buskers in the park while a young man proposed to his girlfriend. They returned to the house absolutely glowing and spent the evening making music with us. And the young couple from Belarus who stayed for nearly a week and somehow made the whole house feel more alive.

Some of our favorite memories happened outside the guest rooms altogether. Like Thanksgiving weekend, when our kids helped us raise the sides of our tiny greenhouse like an old-fashioned barn raising.

As innkeepers, we have the privilege of being a small part of someone else’s journey, and that’s something we never take for granted. To everyone who has stayed with us, encouraged us, recommended us, shared a post, told a friend, or simply followed along as we’ve found our footing: thank you. We couldn’t have made it through this first year without your support.

One year in, we still have a lot to learn. That’s actually one of the things we love most about this adventure. Every guest teaches us something new, and every season brings new opportunities to improve and grow.

Here’s to Year Two. We can’t wait to see what it brings.