Happy Winter Solstice!
December 21, 2021 by Katelyn -
Many thanks to Dylan Most who sponsored this day of sanctuary for the chimpanzees and bovines and wishes all, “Happy Winter Solstice!”
This special day, when the wheel turns from autumn to winter (or spring to summer, as the hemispherical case may be for our southerly friends) and the gradual return of light begins. It’s difficult to remember that we technically haven’t already been in winter for some time here at the sanctuary. The past couple of days have found some of the chimpanzees enjoying frequent on-demand snow snack service from the humans, others snuggled close together napping and grooming in cozy nests, and yet others still enjoying their new found discovery of the movie, “Ice Age” (shhh, don’t tell Willy B the neighbors were watching his stories!).
Happy Solstice, Merry Winter, Dylan, and all! May your days be full of the coziness, comfort, magic and adventure that you make possible for all at this beloved sanctuary home.
Negra enjoying a home-made “snow cone”
Gordo scarfing down some more snow
A bobcat in the pasture
The Chimp House on a snowy day
Honey’s frosty muzzle
Nearby mountains as seen from the winter barn
11 Comments
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whoa…..!!!! ….. get those chimps some boots for that cold snow…
Thank you, Dylan, and thabk you, Katelyn! We’ve not had much snow here, so I love seeing the fairy lights and the frosty plants elsewhere! And that bobcat’s hindquarters look so bright, orange against the snow!
Sounds like another tv and copy of Ice Age might be on order!
Have they seen Ice Age 2? And which seems to be Willy B’s favorite character, if such a thing can be discerned?
We do have Ice Age 2! I personally haven’t seen Willy B, or anyone else, exhibit a particular interest in any specific character. I don’t know what it is about Ice Age over anything else, but they all love that show! Cy and Rayne were especially excited. The second I picked up the remote control yesterday Rayne starting breathy panting and needed some reassurance she was so excited. 🙂
Oh my goodness! If only the creators knew how much joy these chimps get from that movie! Have they seen Rudolph?
I don’t think they have Rudolph. Though they have quite a collection, I could be wrong. 😉
Thank you Katelyn for your beautiful artistic eye. Thought it was a Coloado Blue Spruce decorated with enchanting lights in first photo. Loved Honey ‘s frozen muzzle- nice background. How you got Negra to pose for you is a mystery.
Do they have a dominant hand. ,like us? My best photo is the last- a ” pondering portrait , half smiling , past resident ” of The Chimp House. (You have to have some imagination to see).Merry Christmas to all & keep bringing joy to our world.
OMG!!! I LOVE the footprints in the snow!!!!!! I love animal prints and this is just perfect!!!
Happy holudays, Deanna, good to see you! Katelyn has one that’s even better!
I too just LOVE the chimp foot prints in the snow. Wonderful photos, all of them.
Thank you Dylan for sponsoring today. Time to honor the sun as the days grow longer and celebrate the patterns of our natural world. Happy Winter Solstice to everyone — especially 16 special chimp people and 4 magnificent moos.
I am trying to guess whose feet (Jamie? Burrito? Jody?) left their impression in the snow. I don’t suppose that this is quite the same sight as one might find along a trail at the Gombe refuge.
Tobin, to be honest, we saw these prints sans chimp. I feel like I want to say it was Burrito, grabbing a snow snack, but don’t hold me to that. I like to refer to them as the elusive Pacific Northwest Mountain Chimpanzee tracks. 😉