Jody seems to enjoy occasionally using a mirror to check out the folks behind her:
but while she’s at it, she might as well get a close up look at herself:
Sanctuary
Ladies’ Man
Burrito was intently grooming Jody this afternoon:
Jody was pretty relaxed after the grooming session, as you can see by her drooped-lip facial expression:
Young’s Hill Update
Our volunteers are amazing. Over the last two months, they’ve turned out every weekend and often during the week to help work on the hill despite the rain, wind, and sometimes frigid temperatures. Thanks to them, we’ve finished putting the posts in and have begun preparing the posts for the electric wire.
Currently, we are working on fastening the black plastic insulators to each post. They are fairly easy to install, but there are over 6,000 of them! Doug took materials home to finish making all of the brackets for the tops of the posts – our volunteers are even doing homework.
Sarah managed to photograph a rare moment when Anna was not working last weekend. Anna installed hundreds of insulators and got our irrigation system for the bamboo up and running.
The welders are almost finished with the gates and tunnels, and this weekend, volunteer Ken will begin digging the foundations for them. Below you can see the steel plates that will be embedded in the concrete to support the gate posts. This 8′ tall by 22′ wide section of fence will sit at the corner of the enclosure closest to the driveway. It will allow us to access the enclosure with a vehicle and, because the lower section will not be electrified, it will be the main place where caregivers can interact with the chimps when they are out on the hill.
Volunteers have also been helping with quality control to ensure that all playground equipment meets Missy’s standards.
The best 3 minutes of your day
The following is a longer video I got this morning. We try to keep our videos short (not everyone is as obsessed with the chimps as we are!), but this one was just too good to cut much out. So, prepare yourself for the best 3 minutes of your (and my) day:
What’s for dinner?
The crowd gathers as J.B. hands out dinner. (Jamie and Foxie. Note the troll torso in Foxie’s right hand.)
For Burrito, it doesn’t really matter what’s for dinner – he’s excited about all food.
Foxie’s not that keen on vegetables, but red peppers meet her approval.
Missy loaded up on the peppers. Good thing she has a big chimp mouth and opposable toes.
Sometimes the chimps get exotic vegetables the humans aren’t even familiar with, like Thai eggplant. (Jody)
Potatoes and radishes round out the meal. (Missy)
And of course dinner is not complete without a night bag. (Burrito and Missy)
(Missy)
We are fortunate to receive a lot of donated food from volunteers, supporters, Spud! in Seattle and Safeway in Cle Elum. Many thanks to all of you for keeping the chimps happy and healthy!
Happy Anniversary to Dan and Peggy Smith!
Today’s sponsor-a-day is from Dan and Peggy Smith. Dan and Peggy stopped by the sanctuary Sunday to drop off TONS of produce and super soft blankets for the chimps. Peggy sent me a little note that I wanted to share with you:
“The Cle Elum Seven became a part of our lives since we were “introduced” to them at the Veg-fest in Seattle in 2009. We chose to sponsor Jody after finding out she was the least selected of the group. It is interesting to see each one’s personality develop within the group and become a family unit, and to see Jody slowly start to join in with some of the fun. They have had difficult times and I am so happy to see them laugh and play games, or to just make a bed and rest peacefully. The work being done by the people involved at the sanctuary has made such a big difference in these seven lives. We really appreciate the good work you are doing. That is why the best gift we could think of for our wedding anniversary was to give a gift of food and blankets to our favorite group. We had so much fun shopping for the food, thinking of each chimp and how they would enjoy it. Being able to share with them will make this a very memorable anniversary for us.
Love to all,
Dan & Peggy”
Happy, happy anniversary, Dan and Peggy, and thanks for all you do for Jody and all the Cle Elum Seven! Jody is a very lucky gal to have such great Pals!
Happy Birthday, Neggie!
Today is a very special, albeit emotional, day for all of us. Not only does it mark 3 years since the chimps’ arrived at their sanctuary home, the start of their new life, but it is Negra’s honorary birthday, so celebrations abound!
We started out the day with two of Negra’s favorite things: bread (yummy toasted apple cinnamon bread) and night bags. I don’t think there is a more perfect start of a day for Negra. J.B. hit the nail right on the head with our 3rd Anniversary Post when he said that when Negra receives her night bag, in that moment, everything is right in the world. She blinks her eyes in anticipation and is just so, so happy. I have to say it’s my favorite part of each day, as well. Here she is getting her unexpected “Night” bag this morning:
Supporters Dick and Robbi Brown faithfully brought lots of new toys for the party and we decorated the outdoor area with lots and lots of “Happy Birthday” streamers. We set up a lunch forage which consisted of mini bell peppers, lettuce (another one of Negra’s favorite foods), bananas, cherries, and pomegranates!
Negra went for the lettuce first (she’s got her priorities straight):
but she was also very excited about the mini sweet bell peppers:
Annie with her bananas. She had banana mush all over her face!
Pomegranates were a really exciting treat too, since they are out of season and we haven’t gotten them in a while. Here’s Foxie shoveling one in her mouth:
And Burrito, doing the same:
I love how red his lips get when he eats pomegranates!
Here’s the birthday lady gazing out towards Young’s Hill:
And of course the celebration is not over! Tonight, they are having corn on the cob, sweet potato fries, more bread, juice, and of course, as it has approximately 1,095 times, the day will end with another night bag. Thanks so much to all that contributed to the party!
