See if you can relate: you have a distinct feeling that something’s different, but you can’t quite put your finger on what it is. That’s how I felt this morning.
It wasn’t overly warm, but it felt nice outside. With the weather in mind, I tried to be quick with the morning routine so that all of the chimps could get outside – Jamie’s group on the hill and Willy B’s group into the chute.
When I let Jamie’s group onto the hill, all seven chimps flowed out.
The first order of business was trying to see who was in the chute:
Even Negra, who often chooses nesting over going onto the hill made a short foray, in all of her Negra glory (I like the bonus Missy action shot in the first photo):
Watching Negra go outside made me realize what was so different about the morning. No wind!
Having lived in Kittitas County for a total of fourteen years, you would think the lack of wind would be something I’d immediately notice. It’s not the windiest place in the world, but it’s the windiest place I’ve ever lived.
Historically, spring, which we are rapidly approaching, is the most gusty. But this morning was as still as… (insert something that’s really still).
I think the chimpanzees noticed too.
Missy and Annie started a game of chase:
Burrito waited for me to catch up to him for a walk (me on the outside of the fence, of course):
Then he spotted Foxie and Jamie on one of the structures:
so he decided to join them instead:
I got some photos of Willy B, Mave, and Honey B in the chute, but they didn’t pass my approval for posting on the blog. When Mave went back inside, I followed her around to take a few other photos.
Get ready to sigh with affection at Mave’s gorgeousness…
Here she is in the lower portion of their current indoor area:
And here’s a close-up of Mave grooming herself in the mezzanine. There are many, many things about Mave to love (as the video from yesterday illustrates), but I discovered something specific with the photo below. All of those wonderful wrinkles below her eyes when she’s scrunching up her nose! Big sigh. I’m smitten all over again.
I posted another sigh-worthy photo of Mave on our Instagram account – go look if you didn’t catch it earlier.
Of the three new chimpanzees, Mave has the most pals right now.
Surprisingly, of Jamie’s group, Burrito, Annie, and Missy are tied for the fewest pals. Maybe someone reading this will give Honey B, Willy B, Burrito, Annie, or Missy some love by becoming their Pal?!
Don’t forget that the sanctuary will receive a bonus $20 for every new pal that signs up in the month of February and $10 for every new Bovine Buddy thanks to a generous donor. Share the love!
Debi says
Though I don’t even have to scrunch my own nose up, I still give a big heaving sigh when I notice the wrinkles under MY eyes… : )
Andrea Will says
*haha* I can relate, Debi. Why are the wrinkles under Mave’s eyes so doggone cute and ours…. well…. :-/ 🙂
Debi says
LOL…Andrea, thanks so much for the big giggle…I guess my own wrinkles were just the precursor to my red hair now turning to??? Well…
mmm… I don’t even know what color it’s becoming now…I don’t have the words…HaHaHa
I find every single detail of each of the chimps personalities & physical appearances to be perfection… : )
Diana says
We would all probably be much more content if we could embrace our wrinkles and see them as beautiful!
Kathleen says
In the first photo of the girl gang, they all seem so focused on the chute it made me laugh. Is the chute gang as obsessed with watching the gang on the hill?
Hoping each walk around the hill builds up Burrito’s strength, how’s he doing these days? And Mave is so adorable. Perhaps those are ‘laugh lines’ under her twinkling eyes or at least that’s how I like to think of them.
Diana says
The chute gang is pretty interested in the gang on the hill, or, even better, the gang in the playroom. There’s always some sort of object that they pull out into the chute to sit on so they can see into the playroom. Willy B just plants himself right in front of the window and seems to enjoy the excitement he creates. Mave and Honey B also don’t miss a chance to peer into the playroom and greet the other group.
Burrito is doing great! We are so happy to see him getting stronger.
Linda C says
Oh, Mave….
Is that the steering wheel of Honey B’s pink car she’s chewing on?
And does the scootin’ Miss Honey B use the car, or just stick to the blue turtleboard?
Diana says
That is the steering wheel of the car :). Honey B uses the car to pull around but hasn’t gotten in it. Willy B also likes to pull it around and shake it up and down in a rhythmic and quite loud manner.
Barbara H. says
It is so fun to watch them free to choose what they want to do and who they
want to be with. Thank you.