March on Drummond Island always feels like a season in transition. Winter hasn’t quite let go yet—there are still several feet of snow on the ground—but signs of change are beginning to appear.
This week brought a little rain, dripping roofs, and the familiar mix of melting snow, slippery ice, and muddy trails that signal the slow shift toward spring. The birds seem to know it, too. Chickadees have started their spring territory calls, a cheerful reminder that longer days are on the way.
Snowmobile season is beginning to wind down, though there are still riders enjoying the trails when conditions allow. Like much of the Upper Peninsula, this time of year can be unpredictable—one day feels like winter, the next hints at spring—but that in-between season has its own quiet beauty.
Behind the scenes, March is a busy planning month for Northern Properties. While our winter guests continue to enjoy the island, we’re also preparing for the full reopening of our seasonal homes.
Spring cleaning schedules are coming together, and we’re coordinating with Ellis Plumbing to de-winterize and open homes according to a shared timeline. Each property has its own needs, and careful scheduling helps everything come online smoothly as temperatures warm and water systems are brought back into service.
We’re also trying something new this year with our spring cleaning process. Instead of tackling each home individually, we’ll be working as a team. Two of our cleaners will focus on interior cleaning, Karen will oversee the details and fine-touch items, I’ll manage laundry and linens, and Kevin will take care of exterior areas and crawl space preparation. The goal is a more thorough and efficient reset as we prepare the homes for the season ahead.
At the same time, we’ve been busy on the marketing side of things as well—working on monthly e-newsletters and blog posts, along with weekly updates on Facebook and Instagram to help guests stay connected to island life.
The encouraging news is that summer bookings are already picking up. Even while winter lingers outside our windows, many guests are already planning their warm-weather visits to Drummond Island.
March may still look like winter, but behind the scenes the rhythm of spring is already underway.
Warmest regards,
Amy & Karen
