Well-travelled host May Jarvie is a sociologist by training, and textile artist by design and the bed and breakfast reflects her whimsical personality. Fellow artists will find a kindred spirit here. It's also popular with musicians and laid-back academics. You'll find chairs occupied by life-size soft-sculpture dolls. An antique tapestry from Afghanistan in the dining room. And batik paintings on cloth spotted here and there. The living room is also home to an intriguing collection of antique Indonesian puppets and Japanese festival dolls. Besides them, the living room's decorated with Oriental rugs, original art, Victorian furnishings, ivory and bronze figurines from China and India, and a collection of blue-and-white antique china on the fireplace mantel.

Perhaps the prettiest bed & breakfast guest bedroom is at the front on the second floor. It has a bay window, antique Japanese chests and Persian carpets. The bed is king-size, but can be switched to twins. There is also a smaller room on this floor with a king-sized bed (or twins) decorated in warm shades of pink and white. Families and honeymooners, though, would probably like the self-contained studio apartment with private back entrance. More modern than the rest of the house, it's nicely decorated, and a remarkable amount of light streams in, considering it's mostly below grade. There's a queen bed on one side of the room, and a twin on the other and its conveniently outfitted with TV, VCR and telephone.

May puts out continental breakfast for her guests. It includes a fresh fruit cup filled with seasonal fruits. A favourite combo is mango and raspberries.

Note 2 to reader: I appreciate your support of the continuation of my research by letting May know you read my review of her bed and breakfast on this bbontario website. Many thanks! Janette Higgins, Travel Writer