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Braden and Sarah Jonas: Braden: “I just got done with school and playing catch with my mother. Basketball season is almost over. I’m kind of sad about that but baseball season is almost starting. That lasts through the summer. It’s the Ely Little League.” Sarah: “It’s starts in May.” Braden: “School has been pretty good. I’m enjoying having more freedom than in fifth grade. I like math. There isn’t as much to process as with other subjects.” Sarah: “I am just enjoying the day of 50 degree weather in February. I didn’t think I’d be playing catch. I’ve just been working and get the kids wherever they need to go. I work at the Department of Revenue. It’s been good. I have worked there 12 years and I have every Monday off so it’s nice. We are going to watch Braden at his last home basketball game tonight.”
Barb and Tim Cooper with dog Tonka and Manney: Barb: “Taking a walk. Enjoying the day before we get some snow. It will melt. It’s going to be 50 again on Friday. We could use a little bit. I’ve been taking care of animals, walking, relaxing. You know, we’re not 20 years old any more, so we are kind of retiring.” Tim: “We are in our winter home in Ely this winter with no winter and about to go back to our summer home. I am the manager of the Golf Course. So needless to say we’re not golfing now but we could be almost, the way the weather has been. I think I am on my sixth or seventh year out there this year. I enjoy it. It’s kind of full circle for me. My dad was a golf pro at Braemar Golf Course in the Twin Cities. So I grew up on the golf course. My first real job was an assistant teaching pro. at Minnesota Valley Country Club. Then I went out into the corporate world for 30 years or whatever it was. Full circle. So this is my semi retirement job.” Barb: “We aren’t 25 any more. I got a mini pony. I lost my goat that was 13 that I got from Jean Serson in town. Everybody knew him as Winston but I called him Walter. It was sad to lose him. So that same week he had to go I got a little pony mare. She is really sweet. Her back is about waist high. You can’t ride her. She’s like a kid’s pony. She’s a pet.” Tim: “She’s cute.” Barb: “She’s a rescue pony. She had overgrown hooves. So she is on the mend. It’s good to mend in the winter. And those goats are wonderful creatures. I don’t know why I didn’t get goats long time ago. They are just like dogs, and they don’t bark. And they are clean.” Tim: “Didn’t I hear you had goats and made soap and stuff?” (Yes. 20 years.). Barb: “If you ever went back to it you would have the support of many people...if you wanted to. People are going the natural way. Yogurt and milk and soap... So we are going to wrap up our walk and I am going to go feed my animals. I have two horses. One is blind in one eye, a pony. He’s taller. And I have three fainting goats... They are lovely.”
Liz Langley Palser: “I’m doing good. Today is actually Mark’s birthday and our anniversary. So I am out enjoying the beautiful day. Fifty degrees! So that’s all I’m doing. Still making chocolate. Other than that I don’t lead a very exciting life. Isn’t that why I live here though? I’ve had enough excitement. I’m good. I’m just walking. It’s so nice out. Then I’ll go home and make dinner I suppose. I’ve already been out grilling on the porch. I’ve been doing that almost all winter. It’s great! I love it!”
