well, the first thing we saw is that there was no jacuzzi despite the listing saying there was. when the owner came around, we asked him about it and he said he'd been asking VRBO to delete that for a long time and that they'd finally done it last week. of course, I'd made the reservation way before that. ...
the house is fine. smaller than I'd expected, and if you're in the main bedroom, you have to walk through the bedroom with the two beds to get to the bathroom. don't know what that shower was like, but the other one is on the tiny side and the shower head is angled (I couldn't move it) so that anyone shorter than about 5'6" would have to work hard not to get his/her hair wet. not a huge deal but worth mentioning. the kitchen, like the rest of the house, is small but serviceable and perfectly adequate.
nights are quiet and dark, very conducive to a good night's sleep.
and now for the best part: horses! just a few steps (literally) down the driveway are beautiful, friendly, well-cared-for horses and miniature ponies. across the street is a whole field of very amusing sheep (not a docked tail in sight!) who run over making lots of noise and then turn away in disappointment and disgust when they see you have no food for them.
the bike riding from there is great ~ long, mostly flat rural roads with picturesque fields and vineyards on either side. it's about a half-hour ride into Los Olivos, a little less into Santa Ynez proper.