We were so happy to see bright blue skies and sun this morning and most happy for the chimpanzees! Everyone headed onto the hill after breakfast, some shoveling their last servings in before leaving and some taking the last bits to go. Almost everyone went straight for the climbing structures at the top of Young’s Hill. They look so tiny up there:
Missy:
Annie joining Missy:
Foxie and Jody (if you squint you can see that lip of Jo’s!):
Burrito looking cute, as he does:
And then this happened today. As some of you may have read in recent blog posts, Jamie has added another requirement for her walks with her caregivers. Now in addition to us wearing the boot du jour on our walks, we are often asked to carry her beloved boot books and photos of boots with us. Today before going on two walks she slid these photos out for us to bring along and at least on our walk, stopped midway asking to see them and compare them to the boot she asked me to wear (which looks much like the one in the photo). PLEASE NOTE: The name of the boot in the photo!! This woman!! 🙂
Francoise says
OMG! How priceless is that??! First the directive to add mule to your duties, and now she can read!!?? What in the world will be next?? A “where’s my brekkie? from under a Jamie-bed when you arrive in the morning? You couldn’t dream this stuff up! Love to every single individual up in those hills: The loving caretakers whose jobs get more fascinating every day; and the 7 truly unique chimpanzee persons, including brilliantly zany Jamie. LOVE.
Francoise says
Before I got to the Jamie boots, I wanted to say how envious I am of the chimps’ towers in the sky. What a glorious place to be on a beautiful day. Talk about a great backyard deck.
Linda says
omg, Kathleen, you hit it out of the park with the photos!
Katelyn, do you think she recognizes herself in that photo?
Kathleen says
Oh Linda, Jamie is just too much isn’t she. I knew she would recognize herself but now I am convinced she can read, lol. Isn’t it a delightful guilty pleasure following the genius of Jamie?!
Linda says
It is…..I find myself, when in a store, thinking “Would the chimps be able to have that?/Like that?” Btw, I asked on an earlier one….did you send a copy of “Monkey Portraits” (book). I saw it peeking out of the pile the other day, and wondered if we’d had the same idea (I sent one). Of course, it will never compare with BOOTS!
Katelyn says
Hi Linda, yes, I’m sure she does. Chimps recognize themselves and others in photos and videos and Jamie, in particular, expresses interest in seeing her image. I showed her the video of her racing the Gator and she asked me to play it over and over, completely riveted. 🙂
June Ireland says
Burrito is looking quite cute, yes, and handsome too. Looks like he’s had some good grooming from his friends…his coat is luxuriously gorgeous!
The books, the boots, amazing! And yes! glorious to be in that tower “with” them! (via your photos/stories) Thanks!
Kathleen says
Shut the door! This is so fabulous I can’t stand it. When I was working on that page with Jamie’s booted foot raised in the air, I was hoping she would get a kick out of seeing herself in her favorite boot (pun intended). But the thought of her wanting it to be carried on a walk is too much. And I am embarrassed to say that I totally missed that the catalog I waited so long to receive had a boot named THE JAMIE — making it more than worth the wait! (If the company only knew I was going to give their catalog to boot crazed fashionista chimpanzee in WA what would they think?)
Can we place bets on the possibility that Jamie actually read the name of the boot and thus saved the page? How is it that Jamie never ceases to amaze and delight me. I just LUV Jamie. ; )
debi d. says
Oh, be “still my heart”…This is one of the most endearing stories EVER…(All of it)…I don’t know whether to laugh or cry, so I’m doing both at the same time…Seriously, this is simply PRICELESS & touches me in a very deep way…How can we animal lovers (for me, it’s always been especially for all the Great Apes) ever thank CSN (& volunteers & patrons… thank you enough for your love & devotion to these absolute fascinating, innocent, & magnificent Chimps…Really, every single person involved in keeping these beautiful animals in such an enriched, safe, & healthy environment for as long as you have…God bless every one of you…I can hardly wait until the next group arrives…Just imagine how many more “stories” you’ll have to share with us… Everyday you fill our heart & souls with so much joy….
Tobin says
“There are no accidents.” — Freud. The stars are aligned, the Moon is growing full, and the Jamie Boot has caught the eye of Jamie the fashionista. Priceless.
Hilary Hilliard says
Jamie is one smart lady. But of all the things in this world, why on this good green earth has she chosen boots to be her fetish? Jamie and her boots never fail to crack me up.
As an admin of the FB group Global Primate Lovers I like to share both your blogs and vids as our members love each of the Cle Elum 7’s shenanigans.
You guys do a fantastic job, so thank you for everything and for keeping us up to date with what’s going on.
Judy says
Wow… just… WOW! She must be able to read her name…. not a big leap considering the intelligence they have in their incredible brains… Jamie and crew never cease to bring a smile, happy tears (sometimes sad ones), laughter, and stunned awe ! Thank you Katelyn and ALL!