How To Pick a Monkey... (guest written by Monica)

Here at the Sock Monkey Orphanage, we had a wonderful Mother's Day weekend! First, the kids' Texas grandparents came up to stay with us Friday evening through Sunday morning. The Texas grandma played with all the monkeys...including Doug, Rayna, and Darcy! Sunday morning we saw the Texas grandparents off and then hopped into the car ourselves and drove up to the Kansas City area to meet with the Missouri grandparents and the Kansas grandparents for lunch...delivering Grace and George along the way!

A moment in the weekend that I, personally, found rather enlightening was as the Texas grandma agonized over which monkey to adopt. She sat there in the recliner with all five of the currently waiting monkeys (Emily, Larry, Buddy, Aaron, and Maria). After a bit, she asked the Texas grandpa which monkey HE thought they ought to take home.

He decisively replied, "One of the three bigger monkeys." (That would have been Emily, Larry, or Maria.)

To which Texas grandma replied, "You WOULD say that! I was debating between the two small dark monkeys!" (Aaron and Buddy)

Texas grandma thought a moment longer and then asked, "Well, of the two small dark monkeys which one would you pick?"

Texas grandpa instantly pointed to the striped one. (Aaron)

Her problem solved, Texas grandma happily announced, "We'll take the little silver and black one!" (Buddy)

THAT'S how you pick a monkey!



(That is how soft-spoken Buddy, Grover's best friend ever, wound up becoming a Texan. Something that MIGHT have played into Grandma's decision making process is that Buddy is Darcy's favorite monkey, next to Grover, of course. Darcy loves him because his wonderful, big ears always make her think of the courageous, well-read, little mouse, Despereaux. Besides which, her monkey,Grover, and Buddy have been inseparable since their very first days here at the orphanage. I guess Grover will just have to go to Texas, himself, this summer to visit his best friend, Buddy! And that very well may have crossed Texas Grandms's mind...because, as we have seen, where Grover goes, Darcy goes!)

Top Row: Nadia and Emily
Step: Buddy and Zeke (upside down, of course!)
Basket: Grover and River
Floor: Grace, Henrietta, Martin, Lily, and Kevin

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The next couple of monkeys to be adopted will receive bonus quilted pillows to take home with them! Each pillow was hand made by Lambchop and Clyde's new mom in Nome, Alaska.
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Photo of the Most Recent Group:

These are the current residents of the Monkey Orphanage who are awaiting adoption! (Someone has put in an application for Eunice. She is the only one spoken for out of this group! All the rest are still looking for families of their own!)

Eunice, Henrietta, Martin, River, Grover, Grace, and Buddy!

We are particularly interested in finding a family for Grover. He is not adjusting well at all to life here at the Monkey Orphanage. We had a near catastrophe yesterday involving the local animal control officer after SOMEONE opened the back gate and INVITED Ransom out to run LOOSE all over town! We feel it would be in Grover's best interest for him to move out of the orphanage as soon as possible. We are certain there is a home out there that would be just right for him...maybe one with a custom padded room, or something!


UPDATE: Grover, Martin, River, and Grace have also since been adopted. Only Henrietta, and Buddy are still available out of this particular group of monkeys.

Buddy

Name: Buddy
Date of Arrival: April 11, 2010

Buddy is a soft-spoken, shy, intelligent young monkey. Though he is an accomplished athlete specializing in soccer and extreme tree climbing, he still prefers to be a behind the scenes type of monkey. He prefers to follow rather than lead. He has a humble, gentle heart as big as his ears.

Grover Already Causing Trouble...

Okay, Grover hasn't even been at the Monkey Orphanage even a full day yet, and ALREADY he is getting other monkeys into MAJOR TROUBLE. Grover arrived yesterday and was told all the house rules. Buddy (not even introduced on this blog yet!) arrived today and before he had been told the house rules, Grover slipped him into the backyard (a DEFINITE no no) and we found the two of them happily playing in one of the trees back there. They ARE allowed to play in any of the trees in the FRONT yard, but there is a problem with the back yard.... It is the home of one very large German shepherd who usually views monkeys as small, delightful snacks. So, we nearly had a heart attack today when we glanced out the patio door and to our horror saw Grover and Buddy goofing around back there in the tree!

To our utter surprise, it turned out that Ransom (the German Shepherd) no longer views monkeys as delectable tidbits! Near as we can piece the facts together, Grover about got eaten, before Buddy jumped in and brokered a truce between the razor toothed canine and monkeys for all time. Perceptive Buddy quickly sized up Ransom and realized that Ransom's greatest frustration in life has been the tasty little squirrels that taunt her from the tree tops. Buddy pointed out to Ransom that the monkeys could be very valuable allies in the pursuit of the evil squirrels!

It appears we no longer need to restrict the monkeys from the back yard! Ransom has decided she is delighted to share her space with them!



Update: Grover has since been adopted Buddy still needs a home!