That may have come out wrong.
“Write Your Own Blog Post” is actually today’s theme. I wasn’t snapping. I promise.
Think of today’s entry like you would a self-serve car wash or one of those places where you can put whatever topping you want on your fro-yo. I literally want you to view this collection of images that I captured at the sanctuary today and use your imagination to fill in the blanks. The blog is in your hands.
The chimps, cattle and humans had a great day, but we caregivers didn’t have much time to write about it. I wasn’t lacking inspiration, especially since I had some thought-provoking conversations with caregiver Chad and volunteer/professor/board member Jessica as we swept, scrubbed, and served well into the afternoon. None of those thoughts found their way onto the page, though. Sometimes, a few snapshots say more than several paragraphs would, and I hope that is the case this evening.
I’m about to have a late-night bagel, go make a gigantic blanket nest and sleep until tomorrow morning.
Cheers from snowy Cle Elum!
Kathleen says
It’s perfectly written just as it is. I love how fluffy Mave looks. Thanks for including photos of Honey and the herd.
Our snow recently melted (thank goodness!) and we had winter temps in the 60’s over the winter! Insane for the northeast in January. Before the snow melted the ground was covered in a sleety snow mixture with an inch coating of solid ice topping it off. I feared for my life every time I walked my dog. Hope things are better in Cle Elum! Seriously, get a pair of Yaktrax or Kahtoola MICROspikes! Game changers, I can’t live without a pair. Makes maneuvering in the snow and ice much easier.
John J O'Brien says
When I look into the eyes of the chimps, I really feel they are looking back into mine. It is so wonderful and moving. Love you all Chimps, Cattle and Caregivers. Goodnight as I will be settling into my nesting place.
Diane DePoe says
Enjoyed your blog tonight! All the pictures are great-especially liked seeing The Man In The Moon!
Goodnight!
Devin McC says
Honey looks like a happy and healthy herd leader. I wish all cattle looked so well taken care of. Cattle are such sweethearts and are very intelligent. I use to have a few when I lived on a farm when I was younger and people might be surprised how little credit humans give them for knowing how to survive and how well they care for each other and their young. Thank you so much for giving Honey and her herd a happy and well-taken care of life. If only all cattle could be loved so much and allowed to live out their lives with this same freedom. I know all of you at the sanctuary work your butts off every minute but at the same time it must be so enjoyable to be in such a blissful setting and able to see the chimps and Honey and her herd enjoying their life. Nothing will bring a happy tear to my eyes faster then seeing a non-human species that is honestly enjoying their life and the opportunities of freedom which just like in the chimps happy setting is sadly under-provided by humans on our planet with the few exceptions such as Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest and other protected areas like this.
Barbara Huljak says
I so enjoyed the photos especially the cows. We don’t often see those adorable cows.
But, also for me, the moon. I let my dogs out each morning to potty and the first thing
I look for is the moon. What a thrill in TN. when we had the total eclipse of the
moon a couple of years ago. Thanks for the pictures – I enjoy them as much as
the blog. Stay warm.
Lynda Shurko says
Good morning to the Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. Here in Edmonton, Alberta we are having a week of cold weather and snow just like you. Mave, Honey B and Willy B would be nesting and not going out. As time goes by they may get use to winter. As for their the other seven they have their moments outside but I am sure they too just want to next.Glad to hear that Burrito is on the mend after his scary encounter. I am hoping to that the seven and the three can get reintroduced to each other slowly until everyone is all together in one room. I think it will take time to accomplish this. Do not want to see them separated. I am sure you will find the right mix to start the re-introduction going. Lynda.
Kathy B says
It looks like a beautiful but cold day at the Sanctuary.
Pat M says
I also enjoyed this post! I appreciated having captioned photos, which while brief do give explicit information that is often missing from the longer “story” posts. I’ve often wondered, by the way, why the first picture in a post is rarely captioned even with a name! I felt today’s post gave a good snapshot of the day, but I still miss seeing Ellie!
Jordan Bower says
Nothing makes me happier than photos of animals. Topped, perhaps only by photos of their hands (in the case of chimpanzees, gorillas, etc.) and noses.
I also love how beautiful snow makes everything look, but it primarily motivates ‘this’ primate (much like my chimpanzee pals at CSNW) to stay bundled in fleecy blanketry (it’s telling me that that is not a word, but I like it) with my tri-pawed coon hound, reading or thumbing through magazines (I like boots too, Jamie).
Thank you for the post Anthony; and the wonderful photos. Honey’s nose is my screen saver today.
Even though the snow is beautiful, I know it can make tasks only that much harder to accomplish. Thank you to all the CSNW staff and volunteers for all that you do every single day to ensure the gorgeous, sensitive creatures in your care are safe, health, happy and at peace.
Tobin says
I don’t suppose that I have the credentials to provide a written report on the hither-and-fro of the sanctuary. Based on the photographs and texts posted above, I hope that the following haiku will be tolerable to the occasion (trust me, I’m no Mary Oliver):
“Oxen graze on snow
Freckled ape grooms winter’s day
Moon glows over home.”
Caroline says
It looked like a beautiful day at the Sanctuary today! I love how everyone has a different opinion of the beautiful white stuff. Burrito is a wonderful example of just taking each day as it comes and finding enjoyment in everything. Fuzzy Mave, beautiful yet wary, lovely to see the cattle venture out and enjoy the sun. I love following the whole Cle Elum family and look forward to tomorrow’s photos! Stay warm; we here in Edmonton, Alberta are in a deep freeze with -39 tonight…brrr
Sleep well everyone ????
Diane DePoe says
I posted last night – where did it go? It showed submitted?!
Diane DePoe says
Oops found it!