Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Katelyn

For Bill and Nicki

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This day of sanctuary was sponsored by our good friend, Nicki Walters, in honor of her late husband, Bill, on the date of their wedding anniversary.

“I am donating today in memory of our 18th wedding anniversary. We always did something special on this day so I thought this year I would share it with the Chimps. We always derived such joy from the Facebook posts and they helped us through many days of his Cancer treatments, now they help me get through days with out Bill, AKA Twister. I love seeing the chimps playing on his structure and I think of how happy he would be to witness it. It is a lovely tribute and I feel so fortunate that our friends and loved one made it be as a representation of this great man’s life and a gift to the Chimps. Thank you to all who care for these magnificent Apes and take the time to share such beautiful stories of them with us.”

Nicki, I can’t think of all the spring, summer and autumn evenings many of us have spent in the company of Jamie as she sits on the chimps’ “Twister” climbing structure that you all made possible, the last rays of the sun beaming across the sanctuary, across our faces. Jamie’s usually found some bit of missed forage to snack on while she looks out over the sanctuary and surrounding land, her home, with an occasional backward glance to make sure we are where she left us. I’m immensely grateful for these times when she seems particularly at peace, in awe. For me, but mostly for her. Thank you for giving her and her family such times. And thank you for honoring Bill and his legacy in such a beautiful way.

We’re all thinking of you and hoping today brings the same peace and awe of all you and Bill shared, and still share, together. And hoping the sun’s on your face today. Happy Anniversary to you both. <3<3

Jamie:

Jody:

Missy:

Jamie:

Happy Birthday, Therese!

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Today was sponsored by wonderful Therese Souers in celebration of her birthday!

“I am turning 65 on April 15th. In this time of social distancing, the chimps continue to bring me joy through the blog. I would like sponsor the chimps as a birthday present to myself.”

Happy Birthday, Therese! We just thank you so much for all you do to bring good and love to the chimpanzees. Your heart in sharing their lives with your students is inspiring and so important for our future generations’ desire to value and protect our fellow animals. We hope your day is a happy, uplifting day and are so glad to get to celebrate with you! These chimps, I think their joy and sheer beingness is carrying us all through these days, at least a little.

Beloved Jamie:

Good friends, Jamie and Foxie:

The charming Willy B:

The after after party

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After the chimpanzees’ exciting day of Easter foraging on Young’s Hill, and Jamie’s late night of walking with her caregivers until nearly dark while simultaneously doing a solo after party forage, they’ve all been relatively restful today. It’s even warmer so most have been toasting themselves in the super warm greenhouse in between taking breaks in the playroom to cool off.

I have to wonder if our “Californian” three, Mave, Honey B, and Willy B, are thinking, “Finally! Some weather we can get behind!” They’ve spent much of the day in their outdoor chute, chatting with the rowdy neighbors through the windows, and enjoying the sun, which is even hotter on that side of the building. But even the Californians have been hunkering down in the shade.

William, in all his floofy gloriousness:

For all the beautiful chimps!

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Tami Roy brings us our second sponsorship of a day of sanctuary not only “for all the beautiful chimps”, but as the way she chose to celebrate her birthday!

This is so kind of you, Tami, thank you so much for adding to the chimpanzees’ lives by including them in your day. All of us here at CSNW hope your birthday is filled with whatever magic lifts your heart and brings joy to your life! Happy Birthday!!

I thought it would be fun to celebrate with some joy-filled, spring photos from Easter Sundays past as Easter Sunday present gets underway:

Jamie:

Foxie and Annie:

Farmer Jo:

Burrito whispering sweet nothings to his carrot haul:

Annie:

Missy:

Negra:

This will be the first Easter celebration for Honey B, Mave and Willy B since arriving to the sanctuary:

Honey B and Mave:

Willy B:

For two happy primates

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We get to begin this day with the gifts of two days of sanctuary for the chimpanzees! The first sponsorship of the day is from Lisa and Marcus Andrews, in celebration of the date “two happy primates met.”

Lisa and Marcus, thanks so much for choosing to celebrate a couple of human primates while making the lives of ten chimpanzees better! We all hope your day is a really wonderful one!

Thinking of primates meeting one another, this brings to mind how we are so honored and happy to have met Mave, Willy B and Honey B and to have welcomed them to our chimpanzee family last year. These three chimpanzee people continue to delight and amaze us with each passing day that we get the privilege to know them more and more.

Mave and Willy B:

Honey B and Mave:

Honey B and Willy B:

Honey B and Mave:

Moments of spring

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It’s been another crazy busy day here at the chimps’ (and bovines’) home, but it was a gift to us all to have our first warm, spring day. And as if on cue, the swallows returned from their wintering grounds en masse, immediately taking to swooping the property, chittering loudly and staking out the nesting boxes, getting straight to work. One of our returning bluebird pairs also returned today which was so exciting to see.

Dear, beautiful Annie soaking up the morning sun from the raceway (with wonderful Missy in the background):

I hope you are all getting moments in the sun, be they literal or figurative, and taking good care of yourselves. May you rest easy tonight with visions of sunshiney Annie in your head. 🙂 I’m going to go and eat my lunch…er, linner (?) now! I totally forgot! Goodnight, all!

For Linda and Lisa

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Today was sponsored by Lisa Stuverud, good friend to all the chimpanzees and bovines (and humans), in memory of Linda Vizzare. A lovely note from Lisa about today:

“I am sponsoring today in memory of my dear sister-in-law Linda Vizzare. This is our shared birthday so its always a good day to reflect and remember her. She was the first person I shared the then Cle Elum 7 with so long ago and she got it! She fell in love with Burrito and his happy dance! He was always her favorite, maybe because he shared his birthday with her son? Despite the really rough year he has had, she would be really proud of him for finding his strengths and persevering. A favorite Winnie the Pooh quote of hers was, “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think and loved more than you know”…I think that goes for Burrito and everybody right about now!”

And in what may be a surprise, today was also sponsored by Lisa’s husband, Rich, in celebration of Lisa on her birthday! Rich shared this sweet message:

“A little something for the 10 chimps my wife adores to help celebrate her birthday. Love and health to all providers and providees.”

Lisa, Happy Birthday to you and Linda both! We can’t thank you and Rich enough for all you do for our chimpanzee and bovine families and we hope in sharing your special memories of Linda and celebrating your shared birthdays, your heart is lifted and comforted, just as you help lift and comfort the lives here.

And Winnie the Pooh is wise and timely, indeed…

Burrito: