Baby and Becky's Love Story:

There are very few times in my life I've willingly walked away from something I loved. I could count all those scenarios on one hand and in all certainty can tell you that it wasn't even because I decided to walk away- but more so that people looked me in the eyes and said "okay really becca you need to GET BACK TO WHAT MATTERS." 

And I, begrudgingly would admit they were right and walk away. 

The past few days have been just that. Decisions were made and my life plan is changing faster than I can follow it, but it's all happy things.  Things that are good for me and my family and I'm beyond ready to focus on one thing instead of hanging in between two things. Which, as someone who is very stubborn and a take-charge-of-my-own-shit kind of person, it is incredibly hard to wait for others to take that step. I'M WORKING ON IT OKAY. 

All of that sounds very ominous and "oh please please ask me what I'm referring to" but I don't intend it to be that way. I have just been stuck in a place waiting for other people to decide things and finally, with news comes relief, a hint of sadness but ultimately an exciting opportunity to focus on what's important to me right now. So: here's to moving forward, no looking back and completely investing in THE NOW.  


Also my husband and I spent most of today cleaning out the house and getting rid of things we don't need which involved me getting rid of an entire bin of shoes AND IF YOU KNOW ME AT ALL YOU KNOW SHOES ARE MY LIFE and I'm just a little emotional. whatever. I love shoes. 

BACK TO THE IMPORTANT THINGS: 
Baby and Becky's Love Story: 

Baby Cow is 8 years old and easily the largest cow I've ever seen in my life. I understand COMPLETELY when people see him and become instantly aware of how small they are- he towers over pretty much everyone who visits. But beneath all that, he is a HUGE love. A giant cuddle bug, and over the past few weeks has become a dear friend to me. 

I can't exactly pinpoint the moment Baby and I became friends, but I can tell you he is the sweetest being on this planet. I feed the cows once a day, and on a typical day I go back out to the pasture in the afternoon to see everyone and take photos and just spend time with them. Normally Baby cow is always resting somewhere; in a barn or just in the grass, but while everyone is having second lunch or first dinner he is taking an afternoon snooze. I go over and sit with him- reading his body language to see if he is up for a cuddle or not, and most times he lets me rub his head as he lets out a huge sigh, and we just relax together. I take this time to also check his head/face for fly bites, bumps or anything else out of the ordinary. I give a few hugs and kisses while thanking him for letting me sit with him, and I say "I'll see you in the morning!" as I move along the pasture to check on everyone else. Much like the chimps, the pasture is his home and I always try to be a gracious guest when I'm out there. It's bar none- my favorite place on the entire Pasado's property and if the day comes that I've finally completely lost my mind and no one has seen me for a while, you'll probably find me sleeping in the cow barn with Baby and Norman. 

Baby Cow has become very protective over me in the pasture. He even chased Blue away when I went to say hello to him! He rests his head on my knees as we sit in the barn out of the rain, and lets me rub his head until he falls asleep. When I say cuddling in the cow barn is the best place in the world- I assure you- it's an understatement.  Norman has even caught on to our friendship and some mornings looks at me as though he is disgusted with my behavior. "Oh Norman, you know you are my true love" I say as I rub his head. It's almost pumpkin time (Norman Cow's favorite time of year) and I'm hoping to win some points back with him! 

Oscar the Sheep: aka cute as a button aka baby button aka snuggle factory aka i'm dead: 

Oscar the Sheep moved up from ISO and has made more sheep friends in the Narn Barn Pasture and we are ALL SO HAPPY. He's the most adorable little thing and we are so happy to see him with friends after being stuck in ISO for a few weeks. He is available for adoption, and would do great with a herd. He's about 9 months old and at times acts like a puppy with the other goats and sheep, but ultimately he loves having friends around to play with. 

Also, King Hooper continues to make me question if he's a goat or actually an antelope in disguise. 

In other news: I stepped outside of my normal animal photography comfort zone and took my sister's senior photos. It was a BLAST and I'm so glad she let me do it- I hope there are more opportunities to take photos like these! 

And if anyone- in all seriousness- wants to let me take some photos, I'd love to practice. Christmas is coming ya'll. 

I haven't seen the chimps in quite some time- I traveled to Denver to see friends and then caught a cold so I'm hoping to get back over there soon. 

Halloween is coming- my favorite holiday of the year- and I've got some cute shots from Pasados I can't wait to share! 

B

Vacation / One Year of Marriage and how I'm DYING to get back to work!

ONE YEAR! Lars and I celebrated our one year wedding anniversary on 8.15.16 in Chelan when the world wasn't burning around us. I had the great (eyeroll) idea of getting up before the sunrise, getting dressed in our wedding clothes and going down to a dock to take some photos in the golden hour. Each year on our anniversary we will take photos with the years we've been married. 

But you know what sucks? 

Waking up at 445am on your vacation. 

Getting dressed like you want to look presentable in any way. 

Putting on YOUR EFFING WEDDING CLOTHES WHICH ARE ALL LAYERS AND ZIPPERS AND BUTTONS UNTIL YOUR EYES FALL OUT. 

So, I had this great idea and then the alarm went off and I was like "nope." 

Luckily, sweet dear Lars knew I would kick myself in the afternoon hours (which I said multiple times later that day) if I didn't get some photos. And to be truthful, I'm DAMN PROUD of what we got. No photographer, no fancy equipment, no selfie stick and no editing. We got some pretty good shots of each other! 

Here are a few of the shots we got!: 

I could tell you that our year has been testing and full of ups and downs but honestly, THATS A LIE. 

Lars and I are pretty different than most newly married people because we have been together for 10 years prior to finally getting married. We understand each other almost TOO well and when I'm frustrated or upset with anything it's almost like Lars solves the problem before I even realize I'm having it. Sure we bicker, but mostly jokingly and shortly after we both say something to the tune of "How do we still not have a TV show!?!?" (Because for real: we are funny as hell.) 

If this sounds a little "my married life is perfect" to you, I assure you it's anything BUT. However, I don't like to pretend or make believe anything. We have a solid, sass-filled, love-filled, LOUD marriage. And the first year overall has been smooth sailing. Mostly me freaking out over things I have no control of and Lars reminding me I have no control and telling me to breathe. 

It was nice to unwind and get tan and eat all the fresh fruits but I am SO READY TO GET BACK TO WORK. I miss all my babies at Pasados and I hate when I'm away from them for so long. 

Thursday before I got to Chelan I did a shift at the chimp house and we had a morning breakfast forage on the hill. Here are some photos I got: 

LOVE that blue sky! 

Jody snacking. 

Annie finds an orange. 

Jody taking her haul inside. 

Jamie 

Annie with some pea tendrils. 

Foxie with troll baby. 

Annie, Missy. 

Annie leaving, Missy. 

Missy taking the haul. 

And of course, Mr. Bub.

I LOVE Young's Hill forages. Watching the chimps head out and go to their favorite spots and seeing where they end up. The quiet of no sounds but munching mouths. There is nothing better! 

I'm ready to get back to Pasados and snuggle EVERYONE. 

But mostly the real love of my life, Norman cow. 

All the for sale lots on the east side were greeted with "Oooh! Norman and Hank would LOVE this pasture." 

because that's how much I love them. 

MORE SOON! 

b

Playing with B and INDIANA JONES!

If there's one thing I hold dear to my heart and know is forever true its this: playing with Burrito chimpanzee will never be boring or old or a "oh well I guess I have to." 

As the years go by at CSNW Burrito continues to be the goofball, the dood, the most handsome and lovable chimp I've ever known. I still "aww" to myself when Bub comes over for a kiss or turns around and lets me give him some knuckle rubs. And I still experience genuine shock when we play for many minutes and Jamie hasn't come to break it up yet. 

Here's the link to the CSNW blog with the video of us playing!
Burrito and Becca play!

Lars and I are up early this morning headed to our favorite place again: 

This time- for a real vacation! ha. 

It's birthday month so my art is up at Tin Umbrella Coffee! 

Originally, a year ago when I decided to do an art show, I was going to paint all of the Cle Elum 7 and make accompanying wreaths for each chimp. 

and then I got busy. 

So, once the end of July rolled around and Jamie Chimpanzee's painting looked like a sad old man, I decided to go a different way. I take tons of photos for Pasados, and I wanted some to hang in my house, so I decided to print some big ones, frame them and use them as the art show. Its a mix of CSNW and Pasados friends, and there is 1 actual painting up and 1 actual wreath! 

Also, I hung all the art without a level or a tape measure so BOOM. 

probably why they are crooked but WHATEVER. 

Anyway, I'm happy they are up and people get to see my friends I play with everyday. 

The end of July brought me, FINALLY, some good photos of Indiana! 

Indiana, or Indiana Jones as I call him, is actually one of the sweetest baby goats I've ever met. He is very lovey with humans and always very curious of what I'm doing. He likes to wait outside the door when I'm cleaning to observe or wait for a head scratching. Normally when I bring my camera in, he's right at my feet trying to figure out what I'm doing. On Sunday he was relaxing on this rock and didn't get up, so naturally I snapped a million photos of him. 

I also got to spends some time with this handsome dude, Banjo.

(who needs a home, if you are looking!) He's super friendly and loves cuddles! 

Off to the sunshine! 

B 

ShitStorm 2011 and the Cow who licks all the things.

Busy week full of new animals, birthdays and more adventures. 

This week I got a chance to visit our horses. They don't live on property but are about 15 minutes away and it was nice to finally meet them in person! 

Summer 

Annie 

Magic, Summer, Lola and Annie are all available for adoption! Magic is known as a giant dog and I couldn't get a photo of him because I had cookies and he was all up in my business trying to get them! And Lola was close up right behind the fence, but they are all so beautiful and majestic! I have to admit I was taken by Annie right away- she is beautiful and fragile but at the same time so fierce. I hope I'll have more time to visit her and the rest of the horses! 

Chelan, Mahale Mountains, CSNW and out at cows are my favorite geographical locations on this planet. Sitting in the sun with Norman, Bessie, Baby and Blue is the best place to be on the farm. I go out there for lunch and read and eat cuddled up with Norman as he slowly drifts to sleep. Sometimes I sit with Blue who prefers to eat the entire time and then there's Baby: 

My "baby selfie" 

Baby likes to lick me. Baby will lick my shirt, my arms, my face, my knees, my butt literally every part of me he feels like. He reminds me of a big dog sometimes, like maybe he's happy to see me? Who knows. But he is a big sweetheart who I love dearly. 

Bessie

Bessie hates my camera. When I come out to cows with my camera around my neck she is up and out of there. This photo was taken on my phone, which she doesn't seem to mind. Bessie is 20 years old and the only lady out with the 4 boys. They love her and protect her if anyone seems to be bothering her. Example: When the flies are bad and we need to spray them with some fly repellant, Bessie heads for the hills- she doesn't like anything being "sprayed" on or near her. (Your best chance at anything like that is to spray it into your gloves and rub it on her) but if you try to catch her for too long and keep bothering her, the boys will chase you our of the field. They love her, and will protect her from harm! 

and of course: BABY TIMES! 

Dudley

Radar

Marvin

Indiana 

Days with these guys are always crazy but always THE BEST. They are super sweet, love human interaction and are always ready for snacks! I'm sure I'm heard around the sanctuary laughing hysterically or screaming "CHEVY!" as he's chewing on my hair or trying to climb me. I'll be sad to see them go but so so SO happy for them to have forever homes! 

I'm prepping for an art show that is now Pasados & Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest themed! I've got some great photos blown up and getting framed. Details soon! 

Birthday week was a success. Queen Butters turned 5 and my best friend/husband/life partner celebrated 27 and we all survived to talk about it. 

The Queen Today

I've had Butters (then Bartholomeow) since she was just over 8 weeks old from a friend who's cat had kittens. Was I allowed to have animals at the house I was renting? No. Do you think I even stopped to think about what would happen if they found out I had a cat? Definitely not. Butters is actually truly my child, my first born fur baby and there is nothing I wouldn't do for her. If you think that's crazy or weird, then you don't really know me at all. 

My favorite Butters memory was in the fall of 2011 shortly after I brought her home. Butts and I have a very similar character arc- we started out friendly and nice and now we hate everyone. Literally everyone. If you've ever come over to our house chances are you've never seen her or at least seen her at a distance. She's grumpier now that she lives with two more boys (I'll leave reading between the lines to you) but anyway. She always always ALWAYS slept on the bed with me, cuddled in real close on my pillow and now she won't even sleep on the bed (because Jasper and Raleigh sleep there now.) On the rare occasion she will cuddle while I nap but I do believe she feels outnumbered and is a little resentful to me for bringing home more boys. 

ANYWAY

I was working on some homework before we had to go to rehearsal for some show or another and Princess Butters was doing her post-poop exercise. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT: when your cat goes #2 and then needs to run around the house as though they just lost 10lbs in the litter box? YEAH THAT. At the time my keys were on a lanyard that I could wear around my neck, and they were hanging off my chair. In her running around like a madwoman she ran through the lanyard and was inadvertently wearing my keys. She was so scared that she had something loud and heavy around her neck that she began running faster and crazier trying to get them off. She was pooping and peeing and running into walls trying to get away from the lanyard. I couldn't get my hands on her to help and after they had fallen off she was growling/swiping at me perched on top of my rack of clothes while simultaneously pooping and peeing on all of them. The sweetest most cuddliest kitten I had ever known was hissing and growling at me like I had thrown the keys on her as a joke- and I couldn't get close to her to clean her up! I call Lars in a panic and he can barely hear me over her growling and crying. Dearest, sweetest Lars comes over and throws a blanket on her and we get her into the bathroom to clean the poop- while she growls and hisses at both of us. 

Needless to say we were late to rehearsal. 

Lars affectionately refers to that time as "ShitStorm 2011" and it's all too accurate.

My keys no longer live on a lanyard. 

She is sassy, headstrong, stubborn and the most beautiful cat ever, and I can't believe SHES FIVE. This must be how human parents feel at every birthday. 

The next day, this guy turned 27. <3 

LFJ or now LJ has been my best friend, main squeeze, ROCK for over 10 years. Celebrating 27 felt like celebrating 17 all over again- except this time finding a present for him was genuinely 10x harder.

My husband puts up with a lot- because in all genuine seriousness, I'm completely off my rocker. But day in and day out he is unwavering in support and love. Thankful cannot even begin to cover it. Lars and I are headed to our favorite place in the world for a few days, Chelan here soon and there will be MANY beautiful photos of the lake to come. 

More to come!

b