Jody is such a delight. Sam captured these photos of her enjoying her breakfast oranges (as well as the ones of Gordo, below). We all speak of a sense of softening in Jo’s demeanor as the years pass. It used to be a given that pretty much without fail, she was going to give it her best attempt to poke you during meal service. And when you went to greet her in the morning it might start out well, but it often ended with her little finger suddenly hooking around the caging to try and give you a well-deserved jab. I say well deserved because I’m sure Jody had her reasons and who are we to question them. Or better yet, she’d follow you around with an unfathomable amount of water in her mouth to unleash like a river right in your face, preferably when you least expected it. It was just her way to put us in our place, or express her opinion if we did something she disliked.
Oh, Jody’s still spicy when she feels she needs to be, but more often than not, if she’s interacting with the humans she just wants to sit quietly while you groom her, lower her forehead against the caging for a gentle knuckle, or if she’s comfy in a floofy nest and can’t quite get up, she will reach her leg over and rest her foot against the caging so you can knuckle rub her ankle. Yep, her ankle! It’s as endearing as you might imagine.
Then there’s Gordo. I said, “Gordo, why are you so handsome?” He said, “I can’t help it, I was just born this way.” Here he was this morning, just hanging out, putting his foot up on his box. As you do.
At this very moment Gordo is somehow squeezed into the tiniest of boxes. I asked Chad to see where the box came from and he discovered that it had arrived with produce holding tiny grape tomatoes. Sam said this box was the equivalent of Gordo trying to squeeze into his skinny jeans. But he’s in there and happy as a clam, which is of course all that matters.
And a bonus photo of Miss Rayne. The chimpanzees have all spent a good portion of their day in the sun-filled greenhouses, but now are gathering together inside, nesting and grooming as the sky grows dark with incoming rain and all our bellies growl with the scent of roasting squash and onions for dinner. I don’t think I could tell you the number of times we humans have decided what we’re going to go home and cook for our own dinner based on what the chimps are having. And tonight is no different.
We’ve mentioned many times here on the blog how one of the biggest struggles is coming up with a blog title. After flailing about unsuccessfully for several minutes, I just yelled out in desperation, “Chimps! Give me a blog title!!” Gordo graciously responded, with grunts and hoots. Thanks, buddy!! Now everyone is grunting and hooting! Dinnertime!
PatC says
what a fun post. My favorite in a while. cheers!! (and grunts and hoots!)
Linda C says
Whoops! By the time this reaches me, I’m having dinner with the chimps! Will consider squash and onions for tomorrow, with the leftovers.
How wonderful that on a raw, cold night, you’re serving them a warm dinner!
Can’t believe Jo used to bully you guys! She seems so sweet now! And where is your Foxie friend when you need a blog title!?
tom austin says
we have had a couple of days of rotten weather here in the gulf coast of Texas…expect to be back out on the ponderosa tomorrow….send me a couple of chimps and i will entertain them down here….
Paulette says
I was just making up a grocery list! I already had onions and sweet potatoes on there, but now I have to add squash to roast. You’re making me hungry! (How to be all muscle and no fat? Eat like a chimp!)
Beautiful photos of Jodi.
The third photo of Gordo, his head is positioned just right to make it appear that he’s wearing a necktie. Chief Executive Gordo! Loving his smile in the first photo 🙂 So good to see him happy.
I Always love your blogs Katelyn. Thank you
Linda C says
Oh my gosh, Paulette, you’re right?! :laughing:
Kathleen says
Jody?! Our Jody? Are you talking about Den Mother Jody? Sweet arms-full-of-forage Jody? Jody gives you well-deserved jabs and she unleashes unfathomable amounts of water like a river right in your face — when you least expect it? I had no idea she was so “spicy”. Just look at her in these photos, those eyes! She is always the picture of innocence (well, not when she’s making off with the great pumpkin but…) This news just cracked me up, I really had no idea.
Grunts and Hoots was a brilliant suggestion from gorgeous Gordo. I’m guessing it could be the title to all the blogs. Thanks again Katelyn for your remarkable storytelling and for sharing your conversations with Gordo. And a thanks to Sam for the visual created by her skinny jeans comment.
Tobin says
Jody is, indeed, an absolute delight to read about and see in photographs and videos. Gordito is, indeed, one good-looking gray-bearded specimen with clever ideas for blog posts. And Rayne is a repeat offender: everytime I see her, she steals my heart. I just adore these three and all of their neighbors.