Today we humans, well, okay, this human, did a victory lap around the chimp house because the chimp Gods smiled upon us all. For this one blissful day the chimps have been utterly calm, at ease and quiet today. No fights have ensued, no screaming, no biting. Everyone has shifted with relative ease (with the exception of Mr Willy B, who has seemingly claimed two of the front rooms as his own personal bachelor pad and refuses to leave) which has allowed us to clean the chimps’ home to our hearts content.
First order of business this morning was Anthony kindly removing half of the plastic strips covering the entrance to the chute which vexed Foxie to no end last night. Today she mustered her courage and even though each passing required hair standing on end and pushing herself again the doorframe so as not to touch the remaining offending flaps as she quickly raced through, she did in fact race back and forth all day long on her own. Brave heart. And so Jamie, Jody, Foxie, Annie and Missy have joyfully spent the day coming in and out and racing around Young’s Hill to their hearts’ content.
Over in the original building, Willy B, of his own choice, enjoyed the day in his increasingly wild looking “bachelor pad” (every time he exited and I approached to close it off, he quickly leaped back in!). Negra has contently been napping in the sun in front of her favored playroom window, Burrito and Mave spent at least a couple hours grooming one another in the next sun puddle over, and the very second that Burrito left Mave’s side, Honey B slid right in, hooting softly and spooning Mave in contentment. (After all, who among us doesn’t want to spoon with Mave?). And later in the afternoon, with the other ladies off Young’s Hill (to avoid any unnerving kerfuffles at the raceway leading to the greenhouse), Mave and Honey B headed into the late afternoon sun-warmed greenhouse, scooping up blankets as they went and made nests to each other, enjoying peaceful afternoon naps.
As I write this, we have one hour to go before lights out and it’s about time for the chimps’ internal clocks to go off, meaning the chimp house is about to erupt in hooting and hollering and general ruckus raising in excitement for dinner, and as a call and response to one another in opposite sides of the building. Today was just one day and things literally change in the blink of an eye or the sound of a hoot or a scream. But to see each of the chimps seemingly feeling truly at ease today, enjoying activities they normally do, but understandably haven’t had a lot of concentration for in some time, it’s been a gift. A brief lull for everyone to catch their breath, be at peace, enjoy the beautiful autumn day, their friends and the things they love. It all may sound like not such a big deal. But given the last few months, sometimes it truly the little things that are actually the truly big things.
Here’s Jamie feeling snoozy, hiding behind one of her brilliant kitchenette forts, warming up after enjoying a brisk autumn day outside:
Add to bucket list… spoon with Mave.
🙂
Oh my, what a wonderful post. It’s almost lights out here and I will go to bed with the sweetly funny question “After all, who among us doesn’t want to spoon with Mave?” echoing in my tired brain.
You know, if course, that you’ve come up with a collection and sequence of letters that deserve a prompt placement on A wall in the sanctuary, perhaps above the (I’m sure always full) sink or overlooking where you fold laundry. A creative cursive script in purple paint, maybe with “Mave” accented in silver, would be loverly. I guarantee you will smile a small smile every time you see it.
Cheers. Hoping for a repeat tomorrow.
? love it!
How are Honey B and Missy getting along? Do they recognise each other, yet?
When the chimps had to be separated after the big fight during introductions a few weeks ago, Missy wound up back with most of her original group (minus Negra and Burrito, who are now with Honey B, Mave and Willy B). We currently have the chimps living in two groups of five and five. I wouldn’t say that they are ever going to recognize each other in the way we would love to think they would as they were separated at birth, but they were beginning to tolerate each other and spend more time together before the fight so we look forward to seeing how they progress when together again in the future.
Thats so sweet of you to help little Foxie out. Poor sweetie, She’ll get the hang of it eventually.
Great pic’s today, I love Jamie’s creative forts 🙂
Made me giggle at the vision of Willie B leaping back in his pad to prevent it being closed off! So wonderful to read this post and hear of the calm today.
Go Foxie go! You can do this! Baby steps sweet girl.
Man, Kelsi, youve had good luck with the boss’s pics and getting her to “smile”(look pleasant) for you lately!
Whoops! Sorry, Katelyn!
Interesting! There are some dynamic astrological energies right now!! Your post was so cool and I enjoyed it so much!! Thank you! Everything in it’s own time, right?? Love and hugs to you all…
I am in total agreement with you Katelyn, little things can most definitely be the big things. Everyone, chimps and caregivers alike, have certainly earned this peaceful day of normalcy. I am happy to hear that poor Foxie managed to tolerate the semi-flapped door thanks to Anthony’s alterations. (Reminds me of some shelter dogs who will not brave the big plastic flap allowing them access to the great outdoors as well as the perfect place to potty!) Seeing your photos of contented Jamie is one of those little big things to me. I am happy to see she is using her engineering skills and still building her fortresses.
Here’s to tomorrow!
Glad to hear about a peaceful easy day. Favorite words in this post: “his increasingly wild looking “bachelor pad” ” Oh, Willy B!
So glad everyone had a peaceful day.