Beautiful Jamie in a moment of calm and peace, her heart shining through those bright eyes:
chimpanzee sanctuary
Bathed in light
The past couple of mornings have been our first breaths of winter dawning at around 18-20 degrees, frost covered land and bluebird skies. Beautiful. While the chimpanzees were being served breakfast I was completing the perimeter check of Young’s Hill (making sure their outdoor habitat is safe before giving them access to it). When I got to the top of the hill, the fields up there were breathtaking!
Once the sun comes up over the hill it warms up to some degree, but I wasn’t sure the chimps would do their usual dash onto the hill. But again and again, we learn never to underestimate their joy of life and curiosity. Negra, naturally, chose to remain in a sun puddle in the greenhouse, but everyone else rushed onto the hill to soak in the beautiful morning light. Missy and Annie stopped briefly to check out construction noises before making their way to the structures to eat frost:
Burrito, extra floofy in the cold morning air:
After spending a good length of time sitting in the sun and licking the frost off everything they could find, everyone made their way back to the greenhouse and playroom to bask, quite literally, in the sunshine streaming through the windows. This entire day the chimpanzees have been utterly quiet, content and bathed in light.
Foxie sat like this, unmoving, for nearly an hour. Keeping an eye on me at the computer, soaking in all that sun:
Jamie remained in this position the entire time we cleaned the playroom. I thought she was asleep, but every time I looked, her eyes were wide as if in a daydream.
Annie, in all her grace:
Happy Birthday, Kery!
The chimpanzees, our new bovine friends, we humans, and all the more-than-human animals of the world have a wonderful friend in Kery Shaw. With a heart as big as the sea, she stands witness to much that most of us couldn’t bear to see in order to bring light to dark places and she works tirelessly to connect and inspire people to grow compassion for one another, to make the world a better place for all beings who live here. Kery sponsored this day of sanctuary for the chimps and shared this lovely message about her gracious gift:
In honor of my birthday, today I celebrate the Cle Elum 7 who have given me great meaning to my life. They are a true source of hope and love. Today I celebrate the staff of CSNW, who have become like family to me. Their hard work, dedication, compassion and humility makes it an honor to know them. And I celebrate the cows, who I am so excited to meet. Today, I dedicate my birthday to CSNW. I am asking supporters and anyone reading this to check out my little fundraiser on their behalf. I share this with all of you in hopes of reaching my goal and finding a matching donor. My partner and I have put together a special video. You can find it on the fb fundraiser page. Thank you to everyone for your compassion and generosity! https://www.facebook.com/
Kery, thank you so much for always holding the chimpanzees in your heart and thoughts. All of us here hope this spin around the sun is the best one yet! Many thanks for your big, lovely heart. Happy Birthday, Kery!
Guess who…:)
The Lookouts
Chimpanzees tend to appreciate access to vertical space. The outdoor habitat (Young’s Hill) at the sanctuary, since it’s built on a hill and has several climbing structures, is prime lookout territory.
It seems particularly important for Missy, Annie, and Foxie to get up high and survey the land in the morning. With all that’s changing lately, there’s a lot of new stuff to view!
Here’s Jody, Foxie and Annie in the early a.m.:
Foxie took her new bright-haired Strawberry Shortcake doll with her to all the lookout points this morning:
Missy and Annie found their own private perches:
Here’s one view they had:
Getting Out
This morning Missy and Foxie went from climbing structure to climbing structure on Young’s Hill and licked as much frost as they could.
It was 30° but the sun and the promise of adventure enticed them to stay for awhile.
For Rachel and Robert
Today was sponsored by Erik Ruggeri for Rachel Ruggeri, in memory of Robert Ruggeri. Erik shared this message about his gift:
“Thank you, Rachel. There is no luck, only preparation and opportunity!”
Erik, thank you so much for contributing to the chimps’ lives as you honor Rachel and Robert today. We so appreciate you thinking of them in this way.
Rachel, we’re so grateful to you for always holding the chimps in your heart. We’re sending you and your family all good thoughts today and always.
Cold, but cozy
The mornings here at the sanctuary have been clear, but icy cold. The chimps have all been in good spirits despite choosing to spend a little more time indoors and most of them spent the morning thundering through the chimp house and anxious to play. But the afternoon has been for snoozing in warm, sunny spots.
Foxie was the most joyful, wild woman when we arrived this morning. Granted, she usually is, but this morning was next level! The second I walked into the chimp house she greeted me by repeatedly jumping up and play thumping the ceiling of the loft (my cue to jump up and hit the arch of the doorway in return – silly human can’t jump far) and then playing chase. It’s a thing. She spent the entire morning doing somersaults, pirouettes, hanging upside-down and playing chase with all her caregivers. As a result, she needed a few naps later in the day and curled up on the heated floor of the playroom in a sunny spot:
We refer to this as Foxie’s “dead beetle pose” which she usually does when she’s feeling playful or relaxing:
Once Foxie started dozing off, I saw Jamie standing over her attempting to get her to play by pinching her toes. But Foxie was too exhausted for any shenanigans so Jamie eventually gave up and decided to bring her new boots over to just hang out with her friend:
Jamie has been carrying her new boots from friend, Kelsi, around all morning to nest with:
Sooo sleepy:
The chimps aren’t the only ones feeling sleepy and looking for sun puddles on these frosty cold mornings:
Nutmeg and Honey:
Betsy:
As soon as J.B. put fresh hay out for them yesterday they all four promptly curled up on it together in the sun, enjoying breakfast in bed.
Meredith and sleepy Nutmeg on a hay pile in the sun:
Betsy and her “baby boy,” Nutmeg:
Nutmeg:
Kelsi and Jamie are out for a pre-dinner walk before the sun sets over the hill and Negra should be clapping her demands for dinner service from the loft any second. Hoping you all are also finding the joy and cozy in these beautiful crisp mornings, be they your autumn or spring.
