Holiday Games
December 27, 2020 by Anthony -
This period between Christmas and New Year’s Day is always a bit odd.
Even if you don’t celebrate Christmas, the days between the solstice and end of the year must still have a unique feeling. For one thing, unless you work in the health or service industries, you’re probably spending most or all of this time on vacation. Maybe you’re using the holidays as an opportunity to chip away at your reading list, reach out to friends and family, or partake in winter sports. Perhaps you’re sleeping in, binge-watching crime documentaries, or cuddling with your nonhuman companions.
Regardless of your interests, you’re likely reflecting on the events of the past twelve months and recharging your emotional batteries for the challenges of another year. After the rollercoaster ride that 2020 just gave us, it seems more important than ever that we all take a deep breath, recite our personal mantras, and engage in the activities that bring us fulfillment.
One thing that I’ve been doing during this week-between-the-holidays is playing a wide variety of games with my friends and family. The ongoing pandemic makes meeting up with loved ones more difficult for all of us, but we still find ways to compete virtually because we think it’s important. For humans and other creatures, play challenges cognitive abilities and yields valuable insight about the world and how it works. When done socially, it can reaffirm social relationships and hone crucial skills like empathy, adaptability, and resilience. Of course, I don’t usually think about these benefits while I’m getting torched in a game of Cribbage (unlike some cool scientists who actually research the adaptive value of play behavior), but I still appreciate the opportunity to engage with others in lighthearted competition.
Lately, my playlist has included card games like Rummy and Cribbage, online multiplayer games like Among Us, and turn-based board games like Settlers of Catan. (By the way, does anyone have ore or wheat to trade? I’ve got a ton of sheep.) My friends and I have also carried on with our fantasy football league, giving us each a small stake in the weekend contests.
On top of all that, I am greeted by ten playful chimps upon arriving at the sanctuary each morning. The chimps and staff jointly create arbitrary rituals that, over time, become woven into the fabric of our relationships. The games that the chimps play, like ours, have understood rules and require a certain amount of trust. When Jamie nods, we start walking. When we rev up the Gator, Missy starts running. When Burrito stomps and pivots, we stomp and pivot.
When I see the chimps creating these odd rituals, it reminds me of the contests that we conceive among ourselves. Therefore, today, I’m giving you all a new game to play. It’s similar to ones that we have hosted in the past (Saw references and all).
Today’s version challenges you to guess which one of the sanctuary’s four rescued cattle is pictured in each of the following images. Each member of the Moo Crew is included at least twice. I’ll post the answers in a separate comment tomorrow evening. “Let the games begin!”
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Hint: One pair of related cattle shares a similar hair-do. The other related pair does not!
Bonus points!
Good luck, everybody!
14 Comments
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I’m not sure but here’s my list
1. N (Nutmeg)
2. M
3. H
4. N
5. M
6. B
7. B
8. M
9. N
10. H
11. B
12. H
13. N
I can’t remember who rubs their face in the mud.. although I just read that Blog.. I’ll say Betsy…
I’m not very good at remembering details but games are fun so I”m participating.. Thanks Anthony. 🙂 love the pics of the hairdos.
It is Betsy (the mud)
Hey Judy! Thanks for playing. Here are the answers:
1. Nutmeg
2. Meredith
3. Honey
4. Nutmeg
5. Meredith
6. Betsy
7. Betsy
8. Meredith
9. Nutmeg
10. Meredith!
11. Betsy
12. Honey
13. Nutmeg
Bonus: Betsy
You almost got them all! Honey and Meredith have (nearly identical polls are not easily distinguished!
Ouch! Is it cheating if I looked at the bovines and their individual bios and peeked at some of their photos I have saved before answering?! Because, full confession, I did! I do this with the chimps too but it is much easier to study and differentiate the chimps. This is hard!
1. Honey (or it could be Nutmeg!)
2. Meredith
3. Honey (or it could be Nutmeg!)
4. Honey (she has an underbite)
(Can you see that I am assuming every gray nose, white snout, tan checks is one of two bovines?)
5. Meredith!
6. Betsy!
7. Betsy!
8. Meredith!
(I think I got 5-8 right?)
9. Okay, I think I am seeing a difference in Nutmegs nose as opposed to Honey’s. This is fun. I am going with Nutmeg.
10. Honey? (blonde by the eyes? And yes, I know I have selected Honey 4 times!)
11. To heck with the hairdo, isn’t that Betsy’s mask?
12. Nutmeg (but the blonde doesn’t seem right?)
13. To heck with the hairdo, that’s Meredith’s mask.
14. BETSY! Mud Girl!
I’m a failure! Even with looking at the photos from “Our Family” on your webiste, I still can’t nail down 2 photos per cow. I give up! Great, challenging game Anthony!!! Please do not let Betsy, Nutmeg, Honey, Meredith know I was such a failure. I do adore their faces, I just to need pay more attention got the little variants. : )
PS : When I was young, my family would play Rummy and Cribbage, I haven’t played these games in decades. Thanks for planting the game seed.
Hi!
Lol, we agree on the first 10, except for #3. Then it all falls apart!
Hey, Kathleen! Here are the answers:
1. Nutmeg
2. Meredith
3. Honey
4. Nutmeg
5. Meredith
6. Betsy
7. Betsy
8. Meredith
9. Nutmeg
10. Meredith!
11. Betsy
12. Honey
13. Nutmeg
Bonus: Betsy
I like how you explained your answers! 🙂 The images were intentionally challenging.
OK, Here goes nothin’
! Nutmeg
2 Meredith
3 Honey
4 Nutmeg
5 Meredith
6 Betsy
7 Betsy
8 Meredith
9 Nutmeg
10 Honey
11 Betsy
12 Nutmeg
13 Meredith
Bonus point Betsy !
This was fun, I was staring at the back of your wonderful Xmas card for help.
Thank you Anthony 🙂
Hello, CeeCee! I’m glad you had fun. Here are the answers:
1. Nutmeg
2. Meredith
3. Honey
4. Nutmeg
5. Meredith
6. Betsy
7. Betsy
8. Meredith
9. Nutmeg
10. Meredith!
11. Betsy
12. Honey
13. Nutmeg
Bonus: Betsy
Lol, love games, and living alone makes them harder to find!
Here goes:
1. Honey
2. Mer
3. Nutmeg
4. Honey
5. Mer
6. Betsy
7. Betsy
8. Mer
9. Nutmeg
10. Honey
11. Mer
12. Honey
13. Nutmeg
We still haven’t done food grunts/squeaks with the 7.
We could also do eyes/brow ridges with all 10. 😀
Forgot– bonus is Betsy!
Hi, Linda! You did pretty well. 🙂 Here are the answers:
1. Nutmeg
2. Meredith
3. Honey!
4. Nutmeg!
5. Meredith
6. Betsy
7. Betsy
8. Meredith
9. Nutmeg
10. Meredith!
11. Betsy!
12. Honey
13. Nutmeg
Bonus: Betsy
Perhaps someday we can do one using the chimp nose-prints? They’re all unique. 🙂
Noses, brow ridges, toes, or squeaks, all games are good! I’m obviously not good at cows, but I think I’d be much better at chimps! Thanks!
Funny how we all agree on 6-10!
8 out of 13 ain’t bad….think I’d do better with chimps! Mostly a goof with Honey and Nutmeg, though a couple of hairdos threw me for a loop!