Looking for a new best friend?

The 3women have some foster cats in Calgary! If you are looking for a new feline or canine friend, please check out http://www.albertaanimalrescuecrew.com for more information and to fill out an adoption application.

Bake Sale!

Many thanks to Clara (age 6) and Laura (age 3) Grier, who spent the July long weekend baking and selling goodies to support Jungle Friends. You girls (and your parents!) are fantastic. The monkeys really appreciate your support ... hopefully it will be an annual event?!

More Spider Monkeys

Here are some more pictures of the spider monkeys. The black one in the pictures is Udi; he is a bit of a womanizer but he gets away with it because he is so cute! As soon as you get close to Udi's enclosure he starts to grunt to you and stares lovingly into your eyes until you come close enough so he can give you a hug. It's really cute. Unfortunately, he and Goldie (the orange monkey in the picture

below) can get into some mischief: they work as a team to steal things, which is how I lost my sunglasses. Udi gazed lovingly into my eyes while Goldie snatched the glasses off my head!

Introducing Katie Scarlet

This is Katie Scarlet. She is blind, likely caused by her diabetes. It is amazing to watch her manouevre around her enclosure: she will move toward you when you speak to her and knows every inch of her enclosure! There are several diabetic monkeys at JF; the diabetes is caused by people feeding them a diet that is too high in sugars and refined food. All but one have their blood sugar controlled by their diet alone. This means they miss out on getting fresh fruit and anything else high in sugar in their food bowls. On the plus side, they do get a healthy sprinkling of cinnamon in their morning grits as this has been shown to decrease blood sugar!

Chuckie

This is Chuckie, he is a brown capuchin at JF and he is sooooo cute. Here he is scoping out his food bowl and posing for the camera! Chuckie lives with Tito, they are very cute mischievous boys who are always wrestling and chasing each other around their enclosure.

Anyone Else Interested in Climbing Kili for a Cause?

AAF is hosting an 'Epic Climb for 2009' and is still looking for additional climbers! It’s an interesting opportunity for people to fundraise to cover their travel/climb costs and raise money for a brilliant organization at the same time. Although Ryann and I covered our own trip, we raised 12K in less than 2 months. With Artumas’ support in coordinating events and fundraising in groups, this will be a piece of cake! Are you up for it??? If you have any questions feel free to email me at kerri@3women.org or check out: http://www.artumasfoundation.org/epic_climb_2009.html

Spider Monkeys!

Here are 2 pics of the spider monkeys at Jungle Friends - I think there are 5 but don't quote me on that. One of the 5 is Travis, I've blogged about him before as he is the one who has no teeth and was neutered. I don't get to work with them very much now that I'm taking care of the munchkins and they are susceptible to diseases spread by the spiders and squirrels. Enjoy! More blogging and stories after I get some sleep ...

Working for the Monkeys

Squirrel monkey













Mario in his blanket!










Scott's fan club!










I've been working with the "munchkins" the last few days - the marmosets and tamarins at Jungle Friends. Kinda like looking after big hamsters in big cages!!! Every morning I prepare their fresh food (veggies, rice, fruit, etc., etc.) and feed them, then in the afternoons I clean up around their enclosures, check water, etc.

Monkey Pictures

Hello, here are more monkey pics. They are really cute, although some are a bit demonic!!! We are TIRED here, this is hard work. 12 hour days, we start at 6:00 am to prepare the monkey breakfast (cooked veggies, raw veggies, fruits, yoghurt, cottage cheese, pasta for the non-diabetics, etc., etc. - these monkeys eat better than most people). At 8:30ish, we get a breakfast break and then from 10-2, it's cleaning cages, chopping veggies or anything else that needs to be done. Then, hopefully (!!) it's lunch time and after that it's time to rake runways and prepare for the next morning's breakfast.
Tomorrow I work with the munchkins (the marmosets and tamarins) - they are cute but the marmosets are really stinky so say a prayer for me. Also, apparently some of the marmosets are kind of mean, so I need to keep my distance while feeding and cleaning. I'm sure I'll have some (more ) scratches by the end of the day!
I'll post again soon - wifi access is a bit of an issue at the monkey farm.

Me - demonstrating my fantastic poop-scooping skills!

This is Jimmy - his favourite game is to throw a handful of leaves and dirt at a person. You have to fall to the ground when he does that, because then he does his happy dance and he and his partner ChiChi hoot - they think it is hilarious!

One of the brown capuchins - they are so flirtatious. If you walk by their cage they smile at you, start screaming, hug themselves and raise their eyebrows up and down. I think this is Jack?? But I can't tell a lot of them apart yet.

Lilly and Tabby having a morning groom session.

More brown capuchins - they are very photogenic!

Cassie - she looks innocent but she will yank your hair if you walk under her runway ...

Monkeys!!!

The view from our cozy house - monkeys, monkeys, monkeys!

Our house! Cozy, equipped with incinerating toilet (???), futon, tv, vcr and fridge.








I don't know this guy's name, but I think the story is that his "owner" not only had all of his teeth removed, but had him castrated as well. So, he lives alone because the other spider monkeys pick on him :-( But he does get lots of human snuggles and he seems pretty happy - thank goodness for Jungle Friends!!


These guys crack us up! They are weeper capuchins and when they like you, they let you know it ... if you know what I mean!! They also raise their eyebrows in the cutest way - crazy how much they look like little old men laughing at their own jokes.




Spider monkey! I don't know his/her story yet.

This place is amazing! Kari, the director, is a lovely person. She has been really generous and forthcoming and we feel so welcomed. Thanks again to everyone who donated money and time to Jungle Friends, the stories about some of these monkeys are heart-wrenching and you can't even believe how desperately these quirky primates need our help. There are thousands of monkeys who are killed every year because places like Jungle Friends don't have the funds to take them in.

I'll post more in the next few days! Gotta get to bed, it's a 6:30 start ...

Getting close to the monkeys!

And even closer to the ocean - we finally reached Florida today and are moving into Jungle Friends on Thursday morning. Weather is beautiful, people are friendly and the dogs are getting used to hotel living!

Roswell, NM

Major disappointment ... we spent over an hour there and not one real little green man.

We're in Texas tonight, aiming to be in Gainesville with the monkeys by Wednesday! Stay tuned.

On the road with the boys

Hello,
Just a quick note to say that I am in Colorado on the way to Gainesville. *EDITED* Photo uploading issue solved ... as usual, operator error!

Beautiful Jewelry for a Cause

Please check out our latest corporate sponsor, Christy Robinson Designs. Christy Robinson is a jewelry artist who lives and works in Dallas, Texas. Her current body of work, which features jewelry designs that are both one of a kind and those that use earth friendly recycled metals such as aluminum and copper often deal with animal and environmental issues. Christy's designs are beautiful and unique, and this month Christy is donating 10% of her proceeds to Jungle Friends. Thanks for your beautiful designs and support, Christy!

Cupcakes, cupcakes and more cupcakes!

To raise funds for Jungle Friends (www.junglefriends.org) Kerri and I have been baking up a storm. To date we have raised almost $700 by selling these badboys. I leave for Gainesville in a week so stay tuned and please check out Jungle Friends to learn more about this great organization and how you can help the 118 monkeys who call it their home. Thanks to all who have risked diabetes in the name of charity!

Notes from the travel journal - December 27, 2008

December 27th, 2008: A 7am wake up call from Solo, our waiter and ‘favourite’, beckoned, so we arose to begin the final descent. Our guides, assistant guides, porters, and cook gathered together at the camp and sang a wild song, their voices and dancing carrying through the forest and providing us with energy for the final leg of the trek.

It took 3 hours to reach the final gate, where we celebrated with some more photos, before collapsing into the bus that would take us back to the hotel.

Kerri and Ryann would like to thank all of you for your support of our endeavour, whether financially in support of Artumas Africa Foundation or through your kind words and thoughts. It was an experience we will cherish forever and it was made richer by your having been a part of it.

Salama,
Ryann and Kerri

Notes from the travel journal - December 26, 2008

December 26th, 2008: After several hours of late afternoon slumber, Kerri and Ryann were awoken at 11pm, drank some tea, got dressed in 7 layers of clothing, and off we went. Watching the single file progression of headlamps wind their silent way upwards towards the summit was exhilarating! This ascent was incredibly steep, our feet giving way underneath us, as gravel was dislodged. We wound our way up, in a zig zag pattern, back and forth across the top half of the mountain, being careful of our footing in the pitch black night.

The lack of oxygen as we climbed was felt by all in our group, making it difficult to catch one’s breath and causing a feeling of slight nausea in some. Deep, strong inhalations and forced, exaggerated exhalations helped to assuage the nausea and ensure enough air was entering the lungs. We continued to creep forward and upward, one small footstep after another, led by our supportive guide Nteze and followed by his assistant Matthew.

Never have we experienced such a battle of will with ourselves; wanting desperately to summit and being too stubborn not to, and yet not quite knowing where the strength was going to come from to continue to propel ourselves forward.

Somehow, after 6 hours or so, navigating in the dark, guided solely by the light of our headlamps, we reached Stella Point, some 45 minutes from Uhuru! The sun started to rise over the countryside, starting first as a horizontal orange sliver, and growing slowly, to illuminate the surrounding glaciers. What a breath-taking sight! We both had individual ‘moments’ where the tears overcame us as we looked around at the top of Africa.

We continued on to Uhuru Peak, looping arms together for strength and warmth and began the last bit of uphill on our journey. At 6:25am on Dec 26th, we officially reached the summit, and the highest point in all of Africa! What a rush….but it wasn’t to be savoured for too long as weather patterns on the peak can change in the blink of an eye. We snapped our pictures, gloated momentarily, and immediately began the 3.5 hour descent back to the base camp at 4600 metres. Back at the camp, we were able to sleep for about 1.5 hours, at which point we rose, ate, packed our bags and continued the day with another 4 hour downhill hike to our final camp on the trek. That night, we slept more soundly than we had all week; paying no mind to the hard ground or cold temperatures: we had accomplished what we had set out to do!

Notes from the travel journal - December 25, 2008

December 25th: Christmas Day! We arose, wished everyone Merry Christmas (Krisimasi Njema!), ate breakfast, and began the trek to Barrafu Camp, or the Kili base camp at 4600 metres. As we climbed above 4200 metres, the altitude headaches set in again, but the constant reminder to one another to drink water, aided in the reduction of pounding temples. The landscape on this day was barren and resembled broken and cracked shale. Due to the incredibly pole pole pace, it took us 3 hours to climb the 600 metres to camp, which is nestled atop the open, exposed side of a cliff.

Kerri and Ryann awaited the remaining group members, ate lunch, and then retired to our tents for a few hours of rest before dinner. The sun came out today, heating our tent and alowing for 1.5 hours of warm sleep before our next meal was served and the last 4 hours of sleep were to be had before the biggest of all climbs.

Notes from the travel journal - December 24, 2008

December 24th: Christmas Eve has arrived and our trek today is shorter than yesterday’s, but mostly steep, uphill terrain. We climbed out of the valley we had camped in, pulling ourselves up over a steep rock face, the guides and porters at the ready, should a foothold or hand grip loosen.
Much of the day is passed climbing up craggy rocks with sheer drops until we eventually arrive at a breath-taking lookout point; the rain clearing momentarily to allow us to see Mount Meru (second highest peak in Africa) and the surrounding mountainside.
Down in to a valley we slid on wet scree, which gave way under our feet until we came to another big ascent, and a view of our camp for the night. This was to be our final night of acclimatization before the next morning’s 3 hour ascent to the Kili base camp and subsequent final ascent, hours later.

The rain cleared for us briefly again at this camp, enbaling us to look out one way over much of Tanzania, and the other way to..gulp…the summit of Kili, still appearing quite daunting and cold!
The only wildlife we have seen are creatures we call chip-mice (small mice-like creatures with chipmunk stripes and colouring) and gargantuan birds, resembling crows in colour and shrill caws, yet the size of an eagle.

Notes from the travel journal - December 23, 2008

Dec 23rd, 2008: We awoke today at the Shira Camp, ate breakfast, and began our 6.5 hour trek for the day. We began to feel the effects of the altitude on this steady upward climb; shortness of breath and, in Ryann’s case a light headedness, as though living in a dream. The climb continued to 4600 metres at the Lava Towers, where we snapped a few photos through the mist, and progressed back down, through beautiful cactii-like forests, to 3900 metres for sleeping.

This climbing and descending to sleep is part of the process to help us acclimatize to the altitude; every several hundred metres higher that we climb will help us cope with the final summit day.We were caught in the rain again today, for about the last hour of our hike, and were shivering upon arrival to our next camp.

Kerri and I invited (or rather pleaded with) Carmen to join us in our tent for the evening; the hope being that a third person’s body heat would enable us all to remain warmer throughout the night. Nonetheless, the bundling of clothes in our sleeping bags was necessary, and what a sight we were the next morning: Carmen in a fleece tuque, Kerri in her lopsided wool hat, and Ryann in a Santa Claus hat, given to her and Kerri as a parting gift from Canada, to help celebrate Christmas away from our loved ones. Who knew it would be so useful?!