I do not jest
Jody loves to nest
For chimpanzees a nest is a bed
A place to put a heavy head
It’s a joy everyday to create a spot to lay
with blankets,
paper,
or hay
Sanctuary for Jody is the best rest
It’s a literal nest fest
csnw
Jamie’s not-so-serious pants
There are some people who are simply intense, even their resting face is intimidating to the uninitiated! Their approach to life and every experience in it can seem so serious that it’s hard to imagine them ever being a kid. If you asked my husband, that’s a fairly accurate description of me. If you asked me I’d say it’s a fairly accurate description of both Jamie chimpanzee and me. I do love Jamie’s serious face. Isn’t it intense?
But I also know that, just like me, Jamie doesn’t always wear her serious pants. We’ve often posted about Foxie’s ability to draw out Jamie’s silly side but, really, she can be silly all on her own when she chooses. Today, during cleaning, Jamie initiated an exuberant game of chase, roll, repeat with me and I was happy to oblige. Taking Jamie on her own terms allows her to express her complex character completely and I’m so thankful to provide her that opportunity, especially when it involves laughter!
Here’s photo evidence of Jamie with a not-so-serious face. You may notice that the only photo evidence I could find of Jamie with a playface was in the company of Foxie!
Christmas in July!
Help Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest by donating items from our Christmas in July wish list
The past few months have been full of parties, as we celebrated Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest’s five-year anniversary, Negra’s 40th birthday, Independence Day and the announcements by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Institutes of Health. Plus the Roslyn Olympics celebrating Foxie and her love of troll dolls is just two days away (check out the new Facebook page)! With so many festive parties, it almost feels like the holiday season, so we’ve decided to celebrate Christmas in July!
The CSNW team sure knows how to stretch a dollar. We want to give the chimpanzees the best, and sometimes that means living with less than ideal things for ourselves. However, we are at a point where we need some items replaced so that we can operate as efficiently and effectively as possible. Take a look at our Christmas in July wish list that the whole staff put together, and consider making our day by selecting a present to donate. With your gifts we will be able to…
Organize the kitchen in the chimp house and office in the caregiver house:
Replace our humble office chairs:
Power clean the chimp house:
And, of course, we have some items for the chimps on the wish list too…
Thank you all for your continued support. We are looking forward to our newly stocked and organized office and chimp house and we look forward to sharing before and after photos with you!
In memory of Simone
Today, tomorrow, and the next day (!!!) are sponsored by Tracy Dunham. Tracy shared this wonderful story about Simone:
“In memory of Simone who came to me because one person saw something in a dog that had a ‘1000 mile stare’ and was so afraid that she crawled instead of walked. She spent her last days walking the beach on the Oregon coast, greeting every human with kindness and listening to the ocean with her head in my lap. Thank you to all the wonderful people who have given the chimpanzees a chance to enjoy life. I would like to sponsor 3 days for the last three days Simone and I spent on the coast.”
Tracy, we are so touched that you chose to not only sponsor 3 days for the chimpanzees, but also to include them in such a special memory of Simone. Thank you so much!
Summer Sun
It’s a warm, quiet afternoon in sanctuary and the chimpanzees are spending time each according to her(or his) nature. Jamie and I took some new footwear for a walk around Young’s Hill after lunch. Missy accompanied us for part of the way and then we all returned to the greenhouse to escape the heat. The greenhouse appears to be the place to hang out on a hot summer afternoon!
Providing options for individual choice is one of the many perks of working at the sanctuary and it makes me proud to be able to share quality time with each chimpanzee in the manner that most appeals to them.
Here is Jamie, ready to groom the now traveled boot.
Missy, enjoying the relative cool of the greenhouse after the eastern Washington summer sun.
Annie stayed put in the greenhouse. Here she is gazing in the direction of the helicopter overhead.
Burrito, playful as ever!
Beautiful Annie
Annie is beautiful inside and out. She is a sweet, gentle chimpanzee who seems to become more and more comfortable in her own skin with each passing day. It makes my heart happy to see her appear so at peace and relaxed on Young’s Hill.
What to do with a frozen towel
Debbie and I found some frozen towels in the freezer today. It seemed like enrichment right up Missy’s alley:
Jamie also enjoyed them:
