Ursa Minor Cottage Newsletter 2021

Spring has Sprung on Long Lake. Ducks, loons, swans, sandhill cranes and geese all looking for mates in front of the cottage . Add an otter and a host of land birds and the area is hopping already, ready for your visit to Ursa Minor.

Spending time at the cottage during the Pandemic has truly been a breath of fresh air. As was last year, our safety and your safety are top priority for us. We follow the recommendations of the Governor, Gretchen Whitmer, and her team. The cottage is self clean and we have plenty of supplies for you to do a good job for the next guests. In addition we have hired a professional to go through the cottage before each new guest arrives to make sure the cottage is at it’s best.

Details: By the week rentals in July, August and September. Monday – Monday $850.00/ week Weeks still available: One in July, 3 weeks in Aug, and 3 weeks in September.

Call Julia 734 665 2397 or email: ursaminorcottage.com to reserve

Includes: Swimmable lake, dock, pine trees, stunning view. Kayaks for our Lake, a row boat, bikes to rent.

Updates at the cottage: We put on a new roof, sealed the driveway and updated some plumbing fixtures. A few new pines. We hope to add 10 feet to the dock before you visit

BIG NEWS: From the Grand Traverse Nature Conservancy The Embayment Lakes Project, which includes 166 access at the end of our Long Lake, has met its fundraising goals and these acres will be preserved forever. “During May, our team will be on site completing necessary work to open the preserve to the public this summer—including flagging the preliminary trail loop, removing unusable structures and creating a parking lot and trailhead off Cooper Road.”

Check out our website: www.ursaminorcottage.com

COVID 19 ALERT and UPDATE May 15, 2020

Well, here we are knee deep in Covid-19. Certainly not how any of us wanted to spend our time.

Your safety and our safety are our utmost priority. We have been following Governor Whitmer’s executive orders, including not going up to the cottage ourselves until the end of May. Benzie County has had very few cases of Covid so far and we all hope to keep it that way.

We will be booking reservations from the end of June through September. We have 3 weeks booked so far but many available weeks ahead.

We will make an exception to our ordinary cancellation policy this summer. If you need to cancel, related to the Corona Virus, we will refund your money. As always we appreciate as much notice as possible. We will also cancel your stay if the Governor recommends it for the safety of Benzie County Residents.

There is good medical care near us and in Traverse City, but the hospitals are small.

We will take extra precautions in disinfecting the cottage. On top of extra sanitary supplies for to you to use in your self clean at the end of your visit, we are hiring a cleaning specialist who will come in after each guest to make sure that nothing is missed in throroughly disinfecting for the following guests. If there is any thing else that we could do to help you feel safe at the cottage, please call Julia 734 665 2397.

We hope your stay this summer, though different, will be just as rewarding as alway.

Sincerely, Julia and Kathy

Ursa Minor Newsletter 2020

“Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer”:, or how about “June is Bustin Out All Over”, or maybe, if your’e lucky, “It Might As Well Be Spring”. Well, one way or another, “Here Comes The Sun”, time to consider spending some days at Ursa Minor Cottage in The Sleeping Bear Dunes of Northern Michigan.

A week at Ursa Minor costs $850. MONDAY THROUGH MONDAY (a change)
The end of June through September are weekly rentals only.
Call about renting for shorter stays or long ones in /May/June/Sept/Oct
Maximum 4 people.

Last season, thanks to Go-Daddy, our website CRASHED early in the season. We apologize if this caused you problems. We only learned of their mistake in October. Anyway, the website is now up and running again. The silver lining in that mistake is that it provided us with more time at the cottage in July and August, something we’d not done in many years. It was marvelous. We had forgotten!!

Last summer, we watched an endangered pair of Loons produce and raise a baby. Those Loons are terrific parents. It was a joy for all of us to watch them teach and care for their offspring.
Long Lake is designated as a protected habitat for Loons, and we have our own official “Loon Ranger” as one of our lakeside neighbors. The whole Long Lake Community took such care with these fascinating creatures, all spring-summer-fall. And, yes, in mid October, the juvenile Loon spread his wings and flew away to meet others on the passage south. Magical.

Very exciting “non-development” news at our precious Long Lake: The Sleeping Bear Lakeshore Park is in the process of purchasing 166 acres of land at the NE end of Long Lake and a part of Rush Lake, which adds significantly to a protected wildlife area. We could not be happier.

Last summer, we decided to bring our bikes to the cottage because of all the bike trails that are being developed. Two very good, multi-speed bikes with a unisex frame. We are willing to rent these bikes for the week for an extra fee. If you are interested, let us know and we will provide more information.

Bring yourself and a friend or loved one. A family with 2 small children is possible. Kids love sleeping in the little room, “the Nest” off the kitchen. Four very good friends is possible. Cottage capacity is limited to 4: 2 queen beds, 1 bathroom, 700 square feet total. Larger groups place too much wear and tear on the cottage and our Septic System. If at some time of your stay you want to have more than 4 stay overnight you may call to see if an exception can be made for a fee.

The cozy, comfortable Ursa Minor Cottage awaits. Its’ small private beach and dock, kayaks, large deck, terrific beds, full kitchen and dining room, “new” couch, and views to die for: I know I’m packing my bags (in between shoveling snow, of course).

IN SUMMARY
One week at Ursa Minor costs $850.
The end of June through September are weekly rentals only.
If interested in coming in /May/June Oct/Nov, weekly or shorter stays are possible
IMPORTANT NOTE: The rental week this year is from MONDAY at 5pm to the following MONDAY at 12pm.

Sincerely,

Kathy and Julia and Coleman
call 734 665 2397
email: ursaminorcottage@gmail.com

Cottage Size and Number of Guests

Our little cottage is only 700 sq feet. It has a teeny bathroom and a small septic system. It can not adequately accommodate more than 4 people. It is not a place for family gatherings. It’s not a place for tents. We know that people love to socialize while on vacation, but our cottage is not suited for home base with these gatherings. We don’t allow tents.

If you have extenuating circumstances that you would like to discuss, please feel free to call Julia. Any adjustments to the 4 person max will involve an extra fee. Sorry if this is inconvenient for your plans. We just can’t sustain heavy use.

Ursa Minor Cottage Newsletter 2019

Hi All,

We’re looking forward to another great Season at Ursa Minor. People are already calling and booking, so now is the time to get your favorite week.

If you weren’t there last year, you may not know that we have a brand new large deck outside which provides a lot more room for eating and walking. In addition some long time renters, Heather and Thomas, were hired to landscape at the beach and it looks great!

This years Newsletter will be short and sweet. My email platform crashed at the end of last year and Comcast can not fix it. This took up an enormous amount of time without results. The crash means that:
.
1.) the cottage email has been changed to
ursaminorcottage@gmail.com

2.) the contact page is no longer useful, except to remind
you of how to contact us.

This year’s cost will be $850/week
We rent by the week from late June through early September. The turnaround day is FRIDAY.
During Spring and Fall we rent for a minimum two day stay, at $125/night.

And the loons came back to the Lake last year!

Julia and Kathy
Julia 734 665 2397
ursaminorcottage@gmail.com

Ursa Minor Cottage: size and the number of guests !

Our little cottage is only 700 sq feet. It has a teeny bathroom and a small septic system. It can not adequately accommodate more than 4 people. It is not a place for family gatherings. It’s not a place for tents. We know that people love to socialize while on vacation, but our cottage is not suited for home base with these gatherings. We don’t allow tents.

If you have extenuating circumstances that you would like to discuss, please feel free to call Julia. Any adjustments to the 4 person max will involve an extra fee. Sorry if this is inconvenient for your plans. We just can’t sustain heavy use.

URSA MINOR COTTAGE NEWSLETTER 2017

HI TO ALL URSA MINOR ENTHUSIASTS AND THOSE OF YOU INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT US.

SEASON 2017 IS OPEN!!!!

People have started reserving already.
We reserve BY THE WEEEK from the end of JUNE INTO SEPTEMBER.  In SPRING AND FALL, any 2 plus days.
THE PRICE HAS NOT CHANGED.
$800/wk
$250/weekend.

A BIG CHANGE THIS YEAR:
Our turnover Day with now be FRIDAY’s, (not Sun.), which means that a rental week will start on a
FRIDAY AT 5PM and last UNTIL THE NEXT FRIDAY AT 12pm.

We anticipate this could be hard/disappointing to some of our regulars. We have to make the switch due to changes for our management team.  They do such a terrific job taking care of our place while we are away, that we want to, and also think it is your best interest to,  accommodate the change they need.   Nancy Simmons and her crew are an integral part in making the stay at the cottage a wonderful experience

WHAT’S NEW AT THE COTTAGE:
The cottage has been completely PAINTED, inside and out.
NEW DOCK! This will be the first time we have installed a dock out into the lake.

WHAT TO EXPECT:
A great place to land within the SLEEPING BEAR DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE.
A cozy cottage for up to 4 people. The Website describes it in detail.
There are numerous and interesting small towns within a 10-20 minute drive.
I can safely say that you can not run out of things to do, hikes to take, places to explore.
1 mile via walking trail from the Cottage, enjoy LAKE MICHIGAN and 17 miles of uninhabited Lakeshore.
Flowers, birds, other wildlife…
Bring your bike for great biking Trails. The Lakeshore has just completed a beautiful Bike Trail from Empire to Glen Arbor.
We have a row boat and 2 kayaks for exploring our own Long Lake.
Do you Just want to rest, relax, read: just stay at the cottage, overlooking Long Lake.

A NOTE ABOUT LAST YEAR:
2016 was a challenging summer for us. For the first time in over 18 years of sharing the cottage, the place was over-run by mice. Living in the North woods means living with mice, but nothing like this. It was a complete surprise to us. A local Pest Management Company told us that it was the worst outbreak in over 19 years. We hired a specialist to take care of the situation . Thus, some guests were not affected, but some were.  We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this might have caused.
The cottage is now COMPLETELY FREE of mice and all holes to the inside have been plugged. We’re back to normal. Our relationship with you is based on trust. Our commitment to you is to honesty and transparency, which is why we share this with you.   We are “a little cabin in the woods” ; which is what makes it so wonderful, but it also means that unexpected things can happen. We want you to know that we will do everything in our power to make any stay at Ursa Minor wonderful.
If there are ANY problems while visiting, please contact our manager, Nancy Simmons (who is 3 doors away) with any problem.  And/or you can call us directly.
Nancy 231 882 5994  Julia or Kathy 734 665 2397 

WEEKS LEFT FOR THE 2017 SEASON:

Weeks starting on the Friday’s of

JULY 14, 28  AUGUST 11  SEPTEMBER 1, 8 , 15, 22  Weekends or any 2 plus days are still open in Spring and Fall

Call Soon to reserve a spot.   734 665 2397  Julia

URSA MINOR COTTAGE NEWSLETTER 2016

Hello to all Ursa Minor Cottage Enthusiasts,

First of all, we would like to thank all of the awesome guests we had in 2015.  You took wonderful care of the cottage and it sounds like many great times were had.

So it’s that time of year again- the time to book your reservation.  I’ve put these details first. After that I’ve included interesting tidbits about our lake and the area.

Rental Cost for the Cottage this year is:

Summer Per Week: $800 from Sunday at 5pm – the next Sunday at 12pm.

To reserve and confirm a place we ask for 1/2 of the rental, $400. And the balance 3 weeks before your stay.

$250  weekend rental, up to 3 days in the Spring and Fall

For your pleasure at the cottage we have:  Kayaks, rowboat, firepit and grill, fireplace, furnace, fantastic beds, cell phone reception, full kitchen, etc.

Of course, the most spectacular part of the cottage is that it is located within the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore,  http://www.nps.gov/slbe/index.htm

where you can enjoy:

35 miles of white sand Lake Michigan beaches

21 inland Lakes within the Park boundary

100 miles of trails

Across the street from us is a trail taking you to a secluded spot on Lake Michigan

Bike trails

Ranger talks and walks

New within the park:

Bike/hiking trail from the D.H. Campground near Glen Haven to the town of Empire

The park is currently working on a Bay to Bay Trail from one end of the Park to the other, from Platte Bay to Good Harbor Bay

TO RESERVE A PLACE FOR THIS YEAR

write to ursaminorcottage@comcast.net                          or call  734 665 2397

LONG LAKE:

That is the name of the special Lake above which Ursa Minor perches.  It is about 1 mile long and is great for kayaking, boating, and fishing. Recently, in response to low lake levels we created a Long Lake Association.  Since then the Lake has returned to above average levels, due to a number of years with heavy snow.  Whew!  Water levels are now being measured yearly.  Since the Association was created, residents are able to share more information with each other, some which I would like to pass onto you.  Fishing: the lake is now being stocked with blue gil, perch and northern pike. Check local information about fishing regulations.  Water Testing: we conduct an e-coli test every year and this years measurements are considered very safe., we measure dissolved O2 which is an important indicator of fish survival-our levels are found to be consistent with other lakes in the area-more testing needed for conclusions, water clarity is good. So our lake has very clean water and is in very good health.  Invasive Species of plants: our lake association has identified all the invasive species along the lake front and implemented a 3 year removal plan. Now we just monitor to make sure they don’t reappear.  Wildlife:  bears, deer, coyotes, otters, beavers, porcupines, turtles, loons, sandhill cranes, Canadian geese, buffle head ducks, wood ducks, mergansers, pileated woodpeckers, every type of Michigan song bird, owls and more have all been spotted in or along our lake. We have our very own Loon Ranger”  on Long Lake.  This is a real position within the DNR’s LoonWatch program.  To learn more about the organization http://www.michiganloons.com/loonwatch.html   Here is what we have learned from her.  Loons can’t walk well on land because their legs are set back for swimming.  Their flimsy nests rest precariously at the very edge of the waters and can easily be washed away or raided.  The loons won’t defend their nest and will move if a person comes by. If their eggs are left unattended by their parents for 45 minutes or less depending on the sun, they will die. They lay 2 eggs and it is almost a miracle if the chicks hatch, which is why they are considered endangered. There are then many dangers for the chicks when they hatch: turtles, eagles, boats.  So what can we do?  If you observe a loon or its nest, please keep a safe (for the loons) distance.  The chicks hatch in late May and by the end of summer they look like a medium sized brown duck. I personally saw 2 loons hatch on Rush lake, which was an amazing sight. Just happened to be there at the exact right time. Parents continue feeding the young loons and they can’t fly or dive so they are very vulnerable.  Often they will nest on nearby Rush Lake, which is quiet and then feed on our lake.   By late summer the grown-ups will have encouraged their offspring to fly over to our lake to feed. The Loon Ranger was sitting in her kayak last September and two loons swam close enough to her that she could see them clearly without binoculars. At that time they had their mating colors and were just about to migrate.  Other wildlife observed by the Loon Ranger, who you might have guessed is a year round resident: 3 coyotes playing on the winter ice, an otter running in front of her house with the characteristic run, slide, run, slide tracks, too many deer to count, a bear.  So for wildlife viewing you have come to a wonderful place.

FOR ADDITIONAL FUN:

Enjoy the local towns of Frankfort, Elberta, Beulah, Honor, Empire, Glen Arbor, Glen Haven.

Each town has its unique character. See the extensive info we have about these towns and activities in the area. Golfing, fishing, paddle boarding, bike rentals, surfing all nearby.

I  recommend that you check out Bob Sutherland’s blog of Cherry Republic fame, which entertains with fantastic pictures, information and stories of the Glen Arbor Area.  Just 20 minutes North of Ursa Minor.

http://www.cherryrepublic.com/up-north/

We’re looking forward again to  3 wonderful Seasons at Ursa Minor.  Hope you are able to join us.

TO RESERVE YOUR PLACE FOR THIS YEAR

write to ursaminorcottage@comcast.net                            or call  734 665 2397

Ursa Minor Cottage Newsletter 2015

WELCOME TO OUR NEW BLOG   and

URSA MINOR  COTTAGE NEWSLETTER 2015

Hello all Ursa Minor Cottage enthusiasts,

There are quite a number of you now and we are always open to welcome more.

Kathy and I are perennially enthusiastic about the cottage and about the surrounding area.  From Frankfort to Glen Arbor, through picturesque Empire.  South through Frankfort and Elberta to the Arcadia Dunes.   From Beulah to Honor. From our Old Indian Trail to Pyramid Park Trail, at the other end of the Park.

As a person with an ADD type brain, I can get restless easily and ready to  move on to new places.  The cottage is different.  I never tire of going there.  There is a never ending list of old haunts to explore and new places to find, year after year.  It’s been 26 years now and our enthusiasm has not waned.

For those like Kathy, who love to nestle into a familiar place, the cottage is also perfect.  It can fit like an old shoe.    Partly, because we do as much as we can to keep it in the same vintage style.  While we have all the modern conveniences, except a dishwasher, we add furniture and decor in keeping with the l950’s knotty pine feel of the place.

I didn’t realize how rare our kind of place has become until I was trying to help a friend look for something similar to our cottage but a little bit bigger.  Despite extensive looking, we couldn’t find anything similar.  So, if you want the old rustic feel, but with great conveniences and a wonderful view, I don’t know if it gets any better. Truly, we are blessed.  I don’t know how we got so lucky!!

Only one family owned the cottage before us.  They were school teachers who spent every summer at the cottage with their niece. I sometimes imagine how wonderful it would be to spend 3 months in a row at the cottage.  Maybe some day.  But for now, we enjoy it every time we go, whether for 2 days or 2 weeks.

We are grateful to all of you who join us as guests, who help us maintain the cottage so that all of us can enjoy it.  We aim to make it your home away from home if you want it to be, but free of all the hassles of owning a place. Ursa Minor Cottage now has a rich history since 1989, some of which is mentioned in our Guest Logs.  It has been enriched by wonderful guests and happy experiences.

Kathy and I hope you will return and/or join us this year!

Rental for the Cottage this year is:

Per Week: $800 from Sunday at 5pm – the next Sunday at 12pm.

To reserve and confirm a place we ask for 1/2 of the rental, $400. And the balance 3 weeks before your stay.

$250  weekend rental, up to 3 days.

For your pleasure at the cottage we have:  Kayaks, rowboat, firepit and grill, fireplace, furnace, fantastic beds, cell phone reception, full kitchen, etc.

Of course, the most spectacular part of the cottage is that it is located

within the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore,  where you can enjoy:

35 miles of white sand beaches

100 miles of trails

a trail across the street taking you to a secluded spot on Lake Michigan

Bike trails

Ranger talks and walks

New within the park:

Bike/hiking trail from the D.H. Campground near Glen Haven to the town of Empire

Currently working on a Bay to Bay Trail from one end of the Park to the other, from Platte Bay to Good Harbor Bay

Enjoy the local towns of Frankfort, Elberta, Beulah, Honor, Empire, Glen Arbor, Glen Haven.

Golfing, fishing, paddleboarding, bike rentals, surfing all nearby.

Bob Sutherland, who owns Cherry Republic in Glen Arbor, puts out a monthly blog with interesting information,  fantastic pictures and all the happenings of the Glen Arbor area.  To view:

http://www.cherryrepublic.com/up-north/

Here’s to  3 wonderful Seasons at Ursa Minor.

TO RESERVE A PLACE FOR THIS YEAR CALL write to ursaminorcottage@comcast.net or call  734 665 2397 and ask for Julia