This is how I found Jody first thing this morning. The birthday girl herself, luxuriating in the morning sun shining into the greenhouse, leisurely munching on some leftover lilacs from yesterday’s big celebration for her 46th birthday and Mother’s Day:
In the midst of snapping these photos the most hilarious thing happened. Burrito went stomping past Jody in an attempt to get me to chase him and just as he passed by, she swung her leg out and gently play kicked him right in the tookus! So funny! He marched on, unphased, but then made his way back to grab her leg and try to get her to wrestle. But I think Jody wasn’t quite ready to leave her sun puddle and refused to budge from her nest.
When I opened up the raceway to give the chimps access to Young’s Hill after breakfast, Negra led the charge and promptly found a good spot in the sun to munch on her beloved spring grass:
Jamie, Missy, Annie, Burrito, Foxie and Jody all headed up Young’s Hill together to do a perimeter check:
Foxie and France Dora:
Jody found a bonus piece of chard missed from the forage yesterday. I think for her, the party just continued today. And why not? I can say with certainty that we celebrate Jody and each of the chimpanzees every day. Chard or not. 😉
I found a few bonus photos from yesterday’s lilac forage. Here’s sweet Annie:
Negra in the background. If only lilacs grew on firehoses:
Jody and friends:
Mave, Willy B and Honey B have spent nearly the entire day dosing in the sun from their outdoor chute, seemingly unphased by the return of the construction workers. Willy B didn’t even respond to calls for breakfast and had to be enticed with a visual of what was on offer. And he was just oh…so…sleepy…
A beautiful evening to you all from all of us here in the chimp house. May you each find something to cherish and celebrate, be it a piece of chard or a beautiful bouquet, or well, anything at all that just happens to make your heart sing.
And Foxie says, “HOOT!!”
