Apologies for the blog delay, everyone! With another winter bluster in a string of many hitting later than expected today, roads closing, and plows seemingly busy elsewhere, once the chimpanzees were settled in safe, cozy and content for the night, Chad and I made the non-executive decision to scurry on down the driveway immediately at the end of our shift this evening. The humans are home safe and sound and the chimpanzees are all snoozing in their nests (I just checked in on our cameras), so I’m writing this from home.
We received a little additional snow overnight! This is heading up Young’s Hill to do the perimeter check this morning. The angle makes it appear a little more dramatic than it was, but it was still plenty deep:
Once I got around to the other side (chimp house below) I was thrilled to see the sunrise poking through – there is nothing like snow-covered land lit up by bluebird skies and sunshine:
And even better is how much the chimpanzees spirits seem to soar in all that light. Sweet Annie enjoying the sunrise and grabbing some snow from the raceway which leads to Young’s Hill from their greenhouse:
Beautiful Jody, enjoying her oranges from breakfast:
These magical icicles were ripe for harvesting so we decided to make ice castle snow snacks for the chimps!
They are sprinkled with frozen raspberries and drizzled with left over Gatorade from the chimpanzees’ Valentine’s Day party yesterday.  Hhmmm…Now that I look at them from this angle, they could possibly appear a little macabre…but trust me, they were truly things of beauty! Although, this could also be part of why Jamie was hooting her head off with excitement. (If you’re new to the blog, you may not yet have seen that Jamie is known for (among other things) her fascination with books about things like skeletons and mummies). Really though, it was about the ice castle toppings. 🙂
As you might imagine, Jamie proclaimed herself Ice Queen of the North and surrounded herself with all the ice castles. Every time the other chimps would tentatively pass by as they foraged, testing out their chances of being able to join her, she would reach out and pull the treats closer. But not to worry, there were mini-castles upstairs and lots of cabbage, so everyone got to partake. And these were being snacked on by everyone all day long!:
Missy, being excellent at chimpanzee politics and often serving as Jamie’s right-hand woman, was allowed to grab a snack to go:
Willy B, Honey B and Mave are still moderately offended by such things as offers of snow treats, but they enjoyed some other treats, spent a lot of time supervising J.B. working in the new expansion, playing chase with their caregivers, and enjoyed a lot of lounging and grooming with one another. All perfect snowy day (er, week) activities.
Willy B (yes, after a long game of chase, he’s watching his stories!):
Whatever life is throwing your way right now, and I understand it could be so much, may you find the beauty around you, no matter how small. Sometimes, when the world around you feels overwhelming, it’s just there, in that brief stilling, deep breath and smallest of details, where magic and enchantment live. All we have to do is notice it. I wish you that. Goodnight, all!
Wow, you guys are so cool, I think the Chimps really appreciate your creativity.
That picture of Jamie is great, she looks so happy, And it’s very Game of Thrones.
Jamie, the Queen of icicles !
LOL! That is so very true!
A lovely blog. Thank you!
“where magic and enchantment live”. What a lovely blessing!
What a well-written — and well-photographed — post. Nevertheless, that Ice Queen sure looks like she wields a lot of power. Could that perhaps that wonderfully sheepish look on Jody’s face? Oh, the political intrigue on Young’s Hill!
I, too, found sweet Jo’s look a bit cunning there!
I love this post! I don’t think I’ve ever seen Jamie smile so widely before-she is the
Queen of the ice castles!
I’m glad there were other ice castles…stingy boss, there’s no way she could put all of that away!
I’m glad you made it home safely!
Linda, ah, just another normal part of chimpanzee hierarchy and social dynamics. It pays to be boss. For Jamie, she was claiming those frozen raspberries. 🙂 And thanks! We are as well!
I know…but I’d like everyone to get raspberries!:D
It looks outright dangerous those iceicles standing up like that….I’m glad Jamie the tooluser was in a very happy place and didn’t think to use them as a weapon to keep everyone away. But because she IS the boss, she doesn’t have to ; she has natural authority of course……..
What a beautiful looking treat you made, but I am always surprized that those very cold and watery-tasting snack are so populair, even without being juzzed-up with fruit and gateraid.
Warm fruit tea all around!
Your ice castle treats were magical! And Jamie sitting among them…. oh, my heart!
What a post, your ending just about took my breath away.
How can you not adore Queen Jamie, she’s so predictable. Love her confident smile! At least her subjects know how she rules as well as knowing that the kind caregivers will always stash extras for them hidden out of the Queens sights.
Your ice castles are magnificent! But I’m siding with The Californians. A warm weather sandcastle is more to my liking. Maybe you can’t eat it but you can soak in the warm sunshine while eating a popsicle or snow cone as you watch the waves splashing away, crumbling your creation. Give me sunny CA any day. (I say this, now on the east coast, after an ice storm last night.)
Happy to hear you and Chad planned ahead and made it home safely. Stay warm everyone!
You stay safe and warm, too, Kathleen! Ice storms are rough.
Beautiful writing, thank you so much.
what a fabulous post – so well written…the photography ..as always…outstanding!
This is like something out of FROZEN. wow, you guys are so creative….Jamie, the Ice Queen…lol…I am telling you, these photos with the Ice Castles are astonishing. the photo of Jody with her orange …just so beautiful, there are no words…
Great photos. I have a question and am not sure where to ask. How does my husband give me a Birthday at the Sanctuary? What is the donation? And…..can their be any inputs made formthe photos? Thank you ????
Hi Pat,
Sponsor a Day donations are $100 and you may learn more about that here: https://chimpsnw.org/you-can-help/sponsor-a-day/ And yes! We do our best to honor photo requests of specific chimpanzees. 🙂 Thank you so much for asking and please let us know if you have additional questions!
Beautiful blog.
Thank you Katelyn.