Thanks so much to everyone for making this a year to remember for the Cle Elum Seven! Here are some top moments of 2008. Be sure to share your lists in the comments!
June 13, 2008: The day the chimps arrived at CSNW. I still remember the flutter I had in my belly when the chimps’ trailer backed up the driveway! Best flutter ever.
August 26, 2008: The chimps’ first day outside. Negra, who probably hadn’t walked on dirt since she was captured from the wild, was the last to join us in the sunshine. Fitting for the queen! And who could forget how excited Burrito was? Missy’s giant playface made us all laugh and cry.
December 13, 2008: First snow. The chimps love it (especially as a snack)!
Jamie’s art: Jamie has such an active imagination. Knowing her now, it’s hard to imagine how her spirit survived being locked up in a tiny cage all those years. We’re so proud to be able to let her express her creativity!
Foxie’s trolls: Today, Foxie is a total goof of a sweatheart who is always – ALWAYS – up for play. We credit her adopting of Trixie (her first troll) as having at least a little something to do with her transformation into such a happy girl.
Burrito’s first display: I remember the first time I saw Burrito do a full display here at CSNW. What a joy to see him finally be able to show off like a big man.
Negra’s blankets: I never get tired of the view of Negra sleeping in her nest, head covered, when I first arrive in the morning. Every day it’s a privilege to see!
Annie and Missy’s endless games of chase: These two are inseperable best friends! We love to see them running through the playroom and then out the door to the outdoor area, chasing and laughing as they go. And of course, when they’re wearing socks (on hands or feet) they are even more silly!
Jody’s masterful nest in the tractor tire outside: Jody knows how to relax in comfort and style!
OH! And happy birthday to Margaret! We love you!
Every moment has been memorable to me. I can’t think of just one, although the video of Foxie doing the backflips is pretty high up as a favorite. I have laughed and cried at all of the moments the caregivers give us the privilege to read about and view. I am tearing up now just thinking about what a blessing it has been to be able to be even a small part in the lives of these amazing souls! Happy New Year and Peace to everyone!
Yes Every moment that is for sure! Jamie running around in her tutu….JB easing Burritos fear to step outside……..Diana playing air hockey with Foxie…..the spitting of water on the stuffed chimp……Sarah feediing them their breakfast smoothies…..Watching them try and figure out how to crack a coconut…..Keith sharing his gum with the gang…….hearing about the food grunts knowing a good meal is almost ready, after eating monkey chow for years…..Foxie showing Trixie the horses…..OMG I can go on and on, I will stop now. I have a slide show on my desktop so I watch all these memorable moments everyday. Watching the blog grow and gorw with new friends and supporters for the CE7.
Happy New Year everyone!
Happy Birthday Margaret!!!
Yes, I agree, EVERY SINGLE DAY is so special. A few that come to mind….the day they arrived at the sanctuary after decades of torturous conditions, fresh fruit, veggies and tea (I mean REALLY great food) after nothing but dry biscuits and filthy water, seeing all the blankets and toys that were donated for them, the night they “re-wired” the drinking spout, Negra selecting the toy binoculars and periscope to take up to the loft by the window, all of Jamie’s antics!, Burrito becoming a man (displaying!), the tutu shot, the chimps going outside for the first time (WWOOOWWW), the alarm barks when it rained the first time, SO MANY phenomenal photo’s and one of my favorites – Jody with her “night treat bag” with the unmistakable expression on her face “could this REALLY be mine??”, their true personalities coming out as the became more and more comfortable – more playing, sweet photo’s of the tenderly grooming each other, the “before and after” photo’s that are so shocking, the food grunts when they saw snow for the first time and maybe the very best – hearing them laugh. Most of us could probably write a novel just on this first 6 months! Do you think we’re in love? 😉
Living in the upper county I am able to volunteer on a regular basis. I am so thankful for the opportunity to help in any way possible. It has been amazing to see the “growth” of the CE7.
The staff are the most thoughtful, caring, dedicated, respectful, helpful, kind, polite, compassionate, gracious, gentle people I have had the pleasure of knowing let alone working with one on one with on a regular basis.
I also thank the staff for being so patient and understanding of my lack of knowledge, silly questions of chimpanzee ways. You know… “Is their eye sight like yours? Do they see colors like we do? Is their since of smell better than ours? Is their hearing better than ours? Do they shed like dogs do or do they loose hair like we do? Did they like the baked radish last week? Do they like ………… oh you know all the questions. The staff always answers every question with the utmost consideration of my uneducated knowledge of primates.
I am so thankful for the last few months of the “old year” and look forward to opportunity to be a part of the changes that will come to the CE7 and myself with the new year.
To all of you that help the CE7 (and all animals in need) I hope your new year will be filled with good things.
Happy New Year to all, Denice
Here are some of my highlights of 2008 chimp-wise. First of all the Cle Elum Seven and their humans was the absolute highlight of my 2008. There is a smile on my face related specifically to them. Some highlights are…..
1. The June open house at the sanctuary before the chimpanzees arrived. We got to wander throughout the sanctuary and meet so many great people.
2. Our first meeting of the chimpanzees. Burrito and Jamie were the first to greet us with loud shaking of the gates. Later Jamie spend time with us. She indicated that she liked my green flip flops and kept me cool in the hot hot weather with cool showers of water!
3. Cooking thanksgiving dinner for them. Burrito sitting as close to the kitchen window as he could get watching what I was doing and urging me to hurry.
4. Daily videos and photos….waiting for the daily blog to arrive and then looking at it over and over until the next day when it is time to start waiting for the next one!
5. Filming the video of Burrito strutting and dancing on the outside ledge in the summer.
6. Jamie going out in her first rain and coming inside to dry herselp off.
7. Foxie and Diana playing shuttleboard!
8. Foxie’s backflips when Diana put trolls in her sox!
9. Jamie bringing a chair to the fence where Karen was sitting after she had made some nut related enrichment. Jamie sat near to Karen while she ate the nuts as if thanking her for what she did.
10. The BEST part of all is knowing 24/7 that they are happy and safe and will never have to be “used” again.
Love Margaret
I can’t believe it’s only been a short 7 months since they came to you for freedom…they have “grown” so much in a short time…I don’t have one favorite moment either…everything that you have shared with the outside world is precius to me….makes my heart feel good that they have done so well…and my best wishes to the whole staff @ cnsw for giving these beautiful chimps a new chance of a normal life….it is a wonderful world and I know the chimps are singing to all of you…How do I live without you….
thanks so much from someone on the outside looking in with amazement and love for all of you, including the magnificent 7…..
Paula
yup every moment is special & memorable.. thanks Sarah for sharing yr thoughts with us – it must’ve been really hard for you to choose –
after Candace (a few weeks ago) brought up her fave list including ‘most impact’ – I’ve been thinking about it and agree also, the video footage of the gang’s arrival at the sanctuary was deeply distressing and glorious at the same time for me. huge impact. huge day for you and everyone there when they arrived and of course for the Seven (can’t even imagine what they were thinking!)
ahh yes, the video of Jamie coloring on a piece of paper, such a smartie – don’t know how she survived all those years, enduring the unspeakable and on top of it all – nothing to do.
remember when Missy fell asleep w/sunglasses on her head, totally pooped-out after a party!?! her nest was comprised of blankets, toys, paper and a flip flop .. yet another awesome moment that was caught on film! Go Missy!
great posts everyone!
oh and Margaret & Karen’s #10 – you can say that again! hooray!