Lakefront Peace. Forest Calm. A retreat from the city. Get out on the water. Get cozy with a book. Watch eagles and osprey with your morning coffee. Or toast marshmallow over the firepit at the beach.

This peaceful getaway is the huge downstairs apartment in the house our family has lived in for over 50 years. It's a self-contained unit, with a full, well-supplied kitchen, laundry facilities, very comfortable beds, privacy and quiet.

It's hard to say which is the most wonderful feature of the apartment. Is it the extremely comfortable beds? Is it the friendly living room with its lovely gas fireplace? Is it the spacious layout, with enough room to comfortably hold a large crowd, yet which also has plenty of nooks and corners for privacy and rest?

Or is it the patio? The gardens? The trees? The flowers? The chickens?

Those are all wonderful. But surely the best feature is the lake--Ames Lake, a private, quiet, clean, delightful oasis, home to beavers, eagles, buffle-heads, perch, trout, dragonflies and kingfishers. Internal-combustion engines aren't allowed on the lake, which helps to keep it quiet and peaceful.

Please note: This property is not appropriate for people with pet allergies or asthma, as the house has been lived in for 60 years, and many animals have lived here and visited. It is also not appropriate for people who smoke, inside or out.

This is the only property we own. We're a family. Not a corporation renting out hundreds of homes. We welcome you as our guests.