True North Cabin

26/06/2021

Interrupting your scroll to bring you last night’s final sunset moments on Lake Superior 💙

Watch for immediate relaxation vibes. 💆🏼‍♂️🧘🏻‍♀️

Vid by

21/06/2021

It’s happening! 🙌🏼

Phase 1 of the deck furniture build out was underway this weekend! 😍 We were on the crunchiest of time crunches. With only a few hours between making the drive to Duluth and back, then figuring out how to put these delightful Lollygagger chairs together, we were racing the check-in clock! 😍

Luckily, these chairs are everything we hoped for! Sturdy, made to last (out of recycled materials), and they look brilliant on the Trexy deck (if you are just tuning in, that’s sexy and Trex combined 😉). 🙌🏼

Stay tuned for phase 2..... 🎉 and peep our story for some of the build highlights!

17/06/2021

We’re still a few days before the solstice, ☀️but the weather has been SO BEAUTIFUL in the Keweenaw that we’re just going to call it right now. It’s summer. 🔥

Now let that lovely Lake Superior goodness wash over just like the wave 🌊 that Hans () captures in this photo! 🤩

13/06/2021

You say there are bugs in the Keweenaw in June?! Huh, didn’t see any in here.... 🙃🤣

Yeah, it’s true. 😬 The bugs can be quite a situation on Lake Superior from June to about mid July - give or take.

These are the days when you say, “Ew gross, I would never use deet. It’s so dangerous and bad for your body..” 🦟🦟🦟🦟🦟

⏱ 30 Minutes later... “How bad would it be if I bathed in this stuff?!” 😆

In the meantime, the days are so bright and beautiful, the temps are rising and there is so much green and flowers everywhere! The best part? The Big Lake starts to look like the Caribbean. 🌴 Someone pass the pina coladas! 🧉

06/06/2021

It’s a tiny little entryway but there’s a pot of liquid gold at the end. 🌊🌈🙌🏼

We fit a lot into this hallway space. The shoe cubby, a coat rack, and three separate offshoots before the windows and porch treat ya to epic views of Lake Superior. 🤩

One doorway leads to the bedroom, one to the bathroom, and another to the kitchen. The lantern 🕯 helps with cabiny feels but also provides a light source just in case the wicked winds coming off of the gitchie gumee kick the power out for a bit.

It’s pretty cool how this central lane, albeit a tight squeeze, welcomes you into the cabin with this view that never, ever gets old. 💙

04/06/2021

Have you experienced a time
machine?! 🤓📸

We have tried multiple times to create a renovation book for the cabin. In my mind the mythical photo book includes amazing before and after photos and would be a great way to share the nitty gritty (and dusty) work! The two-year, all consuming, weekend warrior remodel already feels like a lifetime away.

Turns out, when you’re working full time AND working on more cabin remodels, ya ain’t got time for thinking through and planning a photobook.

Enter ! This digital photo frame was the easiest piece of tech that we’ve set up in awhile. Within 5 minutes, we were transported right back THERE. 📍

We were reliving the moments of laying tile, replacing the deck, and re-envisioning the master bedroom. It’s fun to watch the progress unfold in a compressed renovation project timeline. We are so thrilled to be able to share these moments with guests as they ponder the space. We even added some of our favorite winter photos since our guests visit the Keweenaw when we don’t have 300 inches of ❄️❄️.

Thanks , for the walk down memory lane. Check out the link in our story for the deetz.

03/06/2021

These summery days are already flying by. 🤩

Thankfully guests are getting exactly what they need from their cabin stays —and we couldn’t be more excited!

From Vicki— 💙🙏🏻💙
“10 stars is actually what this cabin deserves as a rating- from the carefully selected reading material, to the musical options, the cutie little kitchen to whip up some delicious meals or a cup of hot brew in the am, to the decorative treasures and endless decks to enjoy all Lake Superior has to offer.

The weather changes don’t affect you much- everything that comes along from thunderstorms and wind to sunrises and sunsets is comparable to sitting in the front seat of the best real life Imax theater, but lakeside. Bring a gps or maps, because cell service isn’t happening! There is so much to explore, we didn’t even get to half of what we planned on! We can’t wait to go back!”

25/05/2021

Welp... the secret is out! 🐻Even the wildlife is clamoring to get in for a weekend at the cabin!

Our recent guests had a bear on the cabin porch (‼️) probably because he/she was jealous of the beautiful bedroom that our lovely Yogi from occupies! 😂

All jokes aside, the guests had a boot from the porch taken by a black bear! ➡️ This is the first sighting we’ve had of bear at True North but we know they are nearby (and have been seen frequently in the area this year)!

While this 🐻 boot thief didn’t hang around (probably had a social event to get to and was missing a 🥾)... we always encourage guests not to interact with wildlife and we work hard to ensure food and trash items are collected and disposed of properly.

But really, who could blame this furry visitor from wanting to shack up here? 😍

14/05/2021

Friday Vibes. May so far feels like summer on Lake Superior ☀️🙌🏼

11/05/2021

What may look like your average might be something else.... 👀

Do you see it?

Yes, a splendid collection of drinking vessels and charcuterie boards for sure 😂 but did you notice the numbers on the ceiling?

Throughout the cabin ceiling boards there are all of these numbers in what looked like white chalk randomly placed. When we were remodeling I scrubbed and scrubbed the ceiling boards in, around, and over these chalk-like scribbles. As the cabin has transformed, and as we’ve studied the blueprints, our best guess is that these boards represented different parts of the build. Since the last owners were also DIYers, I have to imagine this numerical system made it much easier to reconstruct a kit cabin. Or maybe, it’s a secret code that once solved leads to a secret vein of copper in the Keweenaw... 🤫

Now the numbers have grown on us—they have their places and their own story. There are some 8s upstairs and you can go to sleep counting numbered boards or heck all of the boards. But I’ll be the first to admit, it’s never hard to fall asleep at the cabin. 💙

There ya go, your random 1960s Kit Cabin fact of the day. 😂7️⃣6️⃣6️⃣8️⃣8️⃣6️⃣6️⃣7️⃣

08/05/2021

There is something about sunlight and the way it stretches over the world each day to warm things up and give a little “hey there, how ya doin.”

Be the sunlight. 🌅

05/05/2021

Season 3 at True North kicks off next week. 🤩 Sounds like a reality TV show, right?

Well… it kind of is? 🤷‍♀️🤷🏼‍♂️ Four years ago we didn’t know this cabin existed and it blows our minds to think of all the amazing things that have happened since this beauty came into our lives. It seems like just yesterday that we rolled up for the first time on that twisty, turny State Highway M26 and took in the crazy beauty of the Lake Superior shore. 🌊

Now we’re up here at the tippy top of Michigan hatching all sorts of ways to make Keweenaw getaways even more awesome and partnering with friends and cool people along the way — because what’s a passion if you can’t share it with others?

✨Good things are coming. ✨

Thanks for being a big part of this journey with us — we are honored and encouraged that over 10K of you like listening in to the rumbles of the freighters, J’s dad jokes, and my ramblings.

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26/04/2021

Staying right here until spring and winter figure out their differences and learn to get along..... ❄️🌧🌦❄️❄️

24/04/2021

Can’t stop, won’t stop chasing the northern lights. 🤩

Yes, this is still Michigan. 💙🙌🏼

21/04/2021

Swipe ➡️ if you are ready for summer sunsets! 🙌🏼

We have big news for this summer—the deck experience of our dreams (and maybe even your dreams) is happppppppening! 🙌🏼

Two years ago, we were pulling nails out of cedar boards and planning how best to enjoy Lake Superior from this rocky perch. We’ve been plotting all of our favorite things for awhile and letmetellyou a good deck setup on Lake Superior needs to be well planned! You might not think it, but this amazing waterfront locale has its own challenges...

🌊 it’s winnnndy! Your average furniture won’t hang around.
🌊 we’ve got protective pine trees that sometimes over share their sap and needles.
🌊 we live for making our guest experience awesome so user-friendly, without a lot of fuss is a must...

We can’t wait to share the new setup! 🙌🏼💙

19/04/2021

A slow morning for us these days means one cup of coffee and out the door by 8:30 (and that’s on Sunday...). Maybe you’ve noticed our increased focus on the water therapy lately. 😂🙌🏼

It’s hard to slow down when we are SO EXCITED 🤩 with the crazy updates happening at . Building your dream spot to hang out on Lake Superior is a challenge and we are here for all of it.

The first big cabin renovation is 95% complete. If you haven’t hopped on over to our other page yet, I’ll do my best to tempt you by sharing some photos of the updates today. 💙

Even with the excitement on the shore, it’s a travesty not to stay and soak in more of this view on a flat lake day. Good thing our guests arrive in less than a month to really work the R&R. 👌🏼

09/04/2021

It’s almost Friday. 🙌🏼

05/04/2021

We are jamming into Monday as we slide back in front of these computers for a bit. 💃🏻🕺🏼

What are you spinning today? 🎸🥁

And if you hasn’t already, check out our cabin jams on Spotify—link in bio! 🎶

01/04/2021

TRUE STORY: Make a wish on the first freighter of the season while gazing out into Lake Superior —it comes true! 💙

If you’ve been following us for awhile, you know that we’re big fans of Mike and his beautiful yet intentionally thoughtful posts (if you don’t already, ➡️ follow ) where he connects with us as humans and not just pixels. Around current events, inspiring photos, and concise words, he truly brings us all a bit closer together on this platform. 🙏🏻

For almost three years now, I’ve been “kind of” joking with Mike to honk when he goes by the cabin. 🙃 The problem? He doesn’t know where we are coming around the peninsula, he’s a long way from shore and ultimately it’s a timing thing. We’ve kept wishing for this moment —and finally, it happened... only better. 🤩

After a full day of tree removal, cabin things, and multitasking we were greeted by a ship on the horizon just before dinner. This was a big deal... our first freighter of 2021 since the soo locks opened in mid March. J used the sketchy satellite internet and determined it was the Arthur Andersen... and wouldn’t you know that was Captain Mike’s ship!

Did you know that you can call someone on Instagram? 😝 Using two sticks we furiously rubbed enough Internet beams together to call Mike. 📱 After two failed attempts—I don’t give up easily—HE ANSWERED. 🙌🏼

We chatted about the insane cold of the evening, Friday night fish fry on the ship, the 29 sailors aboard their first run of the season, and the rocking and rolling of good ole lady Superior herself. 💙🛳✨

Whoa. Technology, freighters, and one inspiring human made our night. Thanks, Mike. Safe travels today and everyday. Thank you for the 🌊 and chat!

Repost from .

31/03/2021

We’re moving into that season when the sun reaches through the glass and touches everything with its glow. ✨

(And the freighters are back! 🙌🏼🚢)

24/03/2021

🤩💙🤩

The Soo Locks will open at noon on Wednesday, March 24.

24/03/2021

We haul a lot of stuff into and around the Keweenaw. I’m too scared to even add up the amount of time we spend hauling things... just tonight we hauled 50 bourbon barrel lids around the Keweenaw and that’s for a future project that we haven’t even started yet. 😂🙌🏼🤷🏼‍♀️ Some crazy ideas just involve hauling stuff.

From furniture to paper goods to cabin supplies. It’s a lot. When we met the crew and learned about the sustainable + environmentally friendly practices not to mention the bulk ordering and refill options—lets say we were all in to learn more. 👌🏼

After trying the shampoo and conditioner (not greasy, btw) and sharing them with our friends for feedback—we in! We care a lot about the products we share with guests and it matters to us that you get excited too!

We’re betting you’ll like these goodies—they even have kettle corn and I can’t promise I didn’t eat all of it trying to put the new daybed together... what do you think of this amazingly curated photo I took to add to the excitement?! 😂🙌🏼

19/03/2021

Everyone remembers their first time. 🙃

It’s late. You’re cold. Hopefully you’re swirling a cup of something to keep warm. Because you can’t start a fire —too much ambient light.

You try to stay focused on a specific part of the sky but every time you blink, you swear you see movement. No, not quite. Your eyes are playing tricks on you. Finally you say it...

“Did you see that?”
“Where?”
“Over to the left... I think it’s a pillar.”
“I don’t see it.... WAIT. OFF TO THE RIGHT!”

And just like that.. they’re dancing. You forget that your butt is numb, your teeth are chattering, and the world seems to shift a bit. You feel small and like the whole universe is singing —the shooting pillars of light are keeping time to the beat. It’s perfect.

Once you experience the auroras for your first time, you’re addicted. It’s hard not to chase the lights. 🙌🏼

The KP index is at a 5 tomorrow, clear skies, very little moon. 🤩 Maybe tomorrow will be your first time... keep your eyes on the northern skies. ✨

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18/03/2021

☀️ Let there be NORTHERN LIGHTS! - https://mailchi.mp/913b9eb28f19/true-north-cabin-march-2021
Dig in to our semi-regular email to find out what has been happening when it comes to solar activity in the Keweenaw and beautiful creature comforts that we're adding to the cabin for guests this season!

18/03/2021

Cozy fires and spring sunsets—Michigan style. 👌🏼

15/03/2021

✨SHOUTOUT ✨

This one is for — she’s frequently found in the pixels of our posts and has a passion and skill for photography that we find delightful (and you might too since you’re liking her image right now!) 📸

Since we met her over three years ago, she has done some incredible creative things — she runs a lifestyle blog () and launched a physical store during a pandemic () and even started an educational series to help other photographers ().

Most recently Bryana reached out to me to chat about hosting on . Her and her handy hubby Brett bought a van to convert into a camper that they’ll be living in for a bit (welcome to )! So she thought, “why not rent out our home when we’re bee-bopping around this summer?” For a week we worked together to create her listing and navigate the details of preparing to host. ✔️

Hosting can be a gratifying s fulfilling thing but its also extremely personal. To open up a space you built and love with every ounce of your being isn’t easy —I feel this so hard as we start our third season hosting in May. But for us,  it’s SO worth it. Thinking about the whats and hows is a great way to prepare yourself for sharing your space.  

The best part? Bryana received her first booking after only 24 hours of launching! 🏆 Congrats lady! And if you want to book her place, check out the link in her bio. I’m also sharing a few previews of her gorgeous and stylish home in our story!

Welcome to hosting, Bryana!

12/03/2021

Part winter. Part spring. Calm and perfect. 🙌🏼🌲💙🌊

10/03/2021

“How do you share your cabin with complete strangers after you poured so much time and energy into the renovation?”

The answer is Love. Because we love this cabin, we couldn’t let it sit a moment longer. We poured all we had every weekend or the last two winters to make this cabin feel loved -- just like it was loved the first day it was built, designed, and outfitted to be the 70s chic abode of the previous owner’s dreams!

Because we love this cabin is the reason we share it. It certainly wouldn’t be a good thing to let it sit empty all the time when we aren’t using it.

And because our guests love this cabin, and treat it like their own, we continue to share it.

Love is a pretty powerful thing.

07/03/2021

Character and cozy. 🙌🏼

Sometimes small spaces present the most interesting challenges. We didn’t know how we were going to fit an almost full size shower into a 7’ x 6’ space let alone the cabin mechanical items that also needed their own places to call home.

Space constraints also offer interesting ways to add character. We went white and bright to keep the bigger feels (thanks ) and the entire room leans into the white winters we experience in the Keweenaw. Add some funky winter tile to pay respects to our typical 250+ inches of snow (except this year) 😝and we’re a full on winter/rustic inspired space.

Basic but functional. What do you think? Swipe for the before and tile work! ➡️

06/03/2021

Sharing, dreaming, scheming —all the cabin plans. 🍻

We hope your Saturdays are filled with all the crazy ideas you can fit into a beautiful winter (almost pretending to be spring🌷) day!

We’re busy trying to buy a vintage truck that we’ll turn into a stage. Don’t believe me? Just you waaaaait... 🤪