Today we are celebrating our guy, Burrito’s, 33rd birthday! And if you are celebrating Burrito that means you are also celebrating food. We serve the chimpanzees three meals a day by hand and/or forage in addition to a smaller forage, occasional snacks and food puzzles which consist of things like fresh vegetables, seeds and nuts. But today we decided to spread the meal service out and serve something every hour, all day long! Needless to say, Burrito has been enjoying his birthday.
Burrito has been so happy and playful today and has been anxiously watching for what comes next. We started the day off with gift boxes full of nuts and primate chow in the greenhouse as a breakfast appetizer. Anna got this photo of the birthday fella looking particularly sweet, watching through the playroom room window as we set them out:
After breakfast was served, Burrito took over Jamie’s usual spot atop the barrel in the front rooms and watched us clean the playroom as he awaited the third course of the day. Let me tell you, this adorable guy made it pretty hard to get any work done.
After the playroom was cleaned, we put out a forage of more nuts in gift boxes and smoothie in tiny cups. Burrito was so excited I had to wait for him to calm down and stop shaking the door leading into the playroom so I could open it. You can see in the photo below how excited he is by his pilo-erect hair (standing on end).
And though this one is blurry, I love that it captures Burrito’s excitement during the forage – pilo-erect hair and flying across the playroom in mid-air. (It also may give you an idea of why we didn’t have much luck getting party photos – this guy was on the move!):
Next up was roasted sweet potatoes warm from the oven. Here is caregiver-in-training, Ally, serving the birthday guy:
After lunch we passed out whole apples which everyone was super excited about and as I type, Burrito is excitedly watching Anna as she prepares one of his very favorites, spaghetti with tomato and pepper sauce, for part of his birthday dinner forage. We still have a couple servings to go and all of the chimps’ seem to have caught on to the theme for the day and have been posted near the kitchen window to see what’s next.
In all the excitement Burrito has been a bit of a wild man, sowing his 33 years of wild oats much of the day and frequently riling up all the girls. But I think it’s safe to say they are all enjoying the day’s celebration of Burrito and food!
Happy Birthday, Burrito!! We love you so much, Bub!!
Happy Birthday to the handsome Mr. B. He is such a sweet soul!
That first photo is ridiculously cute!
Happy, Happy Birthday to the brilliant Mr. B!!!!!!! Those are some great photos Katelyn! Thanks!!!!
What great photos, the last one is my very favorite
it is so cute !!
Happy 33rd Birthday Mr. B!!! I LOVE you so! This may be the best birthday I have seen — or should I say the best birthday I experienced via reading, I feel as if I was there every step (and meal) of they way! Still laughing over the over photo where Burrito is a blur and off the ground in mad dash to keep up with all the excitement.
While reading this I couldn’t help but think of the song “Food Glorious Food” from the movie Oliver Twist (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly7PONiKGUs) : )
Thank you, all of you, for giving this beloved boy such a wonderful birthday! I think it made up for the missed celebrations in his past. Makes me a little weepy (in a good way!!) seeing him oh so happy today.
Hi Kathleen,
I love the mad blur as well! That’s a snapshot into a his “whirling dervish” behavior Elizabeth brilliantly mentioned in yesterdays post, hence the riling of the ladies. 😉
Oh my gosh, that Oliver Twist video made me laugh out loud with Burrito in mind! It breaks my heart to think of all the years he was deprived of the variety of something so basic that he loves so much. But we are so thankful such an amazing community has come together to provide each of the chimps with so many of the things that bring them their individual sense of joy and comfort. Burrito ended the evening at bedtime with a Dixie cup of spaghetti in each foot and each hand (well, one hand held 3 I think!) and sat eating with his eyes closed. Ridiculously adorable.
You wrote:
“Burrito ended the evening at bedtime with a Dixie cup of spaghetti in each foot and each hand (well, one hand held 3 I think!) and sat eating with his eyes closed. Ridiculously adorable.”
LMAO! The man’s got SRS skills! *snort* What a great visual. Would love to paint THAT!! ????
Photo? Photo? Please is there a photo of Burrito with Dixie cups in various hands and feet??!! Have I missed it somewhere?? Gotta see that one.
What a fabulous day he had! He looks great – all the love and attention he gets sure shows. Well done all of you!
Happy Birfday Mr B!
Beautiful photos that capture Mr. B’s soul. He knows he is safe and loved. Well done everyone. Thank you for caring.
Happy Birthday to a dashing young man!
Happy Birthday dear Burrito. What a fun and special way to spend the day. You are loved!!!
Happy Birthday, handsome Burrito! I’m glad you had a fun day! Sending you lots of love and hugs!
Love You Burrito, ~ adn a very Happy Day to you – YOU Rock !
You are BEAUTIFUL ~ you are stunning, ~
You are so smart,
and you definitely are a PRO and being so ENDEARING –
We all love you ~
you are such a beauty
Happy happy day B! You are a heartbreaker. So sweet.
Of course, you know you’ve set a dangerous precedent. How in the world can you hold parties for the other chimps that are any less than what you’ve done for Burrito?! You’re in for it now!
But it’s all worth it. What you do for them is beyond amazing. If there is a heaven (I think heaven is a a galaxy of memories), the gate is already open for you all.
WONDERFUL!!
Happy happy birfday to my man, Burrito-toes!
This post made me so happy! And just as I was about to ask, I read happily that he got his favourite dinner–pasta–as one of his birthday courses. Would have loved to have seen him enjoying that in a video. 🙁
I spent time in hospital a few weeks ago (almost ended up there again last week), so am recuperating at home now, and am happy to say that this finally allowed me time to finish his portrait:
http://bit.ly/IAmTheBurrito
I’ll call Diana soon about details on shipping after I get the prints made. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect–right in time for his birfday!!
Thank-you to everyone who takes care of these guys–you do a brilliant job, and I am so jealous. 😉
Sending lots of birthday love,
~~C
Hi Carla,
A beautiful painting! Thank you so much for taking the time to create such a wonderful portrait to benefit the chimps! We all send you thoughts for continued recovery and health in the new year. 🙂
You wrote:
“Burrito ended the evening at bedtime with a Dixie cup of spaghetti in each foot and each hand (well, one hand held 3 I think!) and sat eating with his eyes closed. Ridiculously adorable.”
Thank-you SO much! I enjoyed the process so much so I know this won’t be my last contribution. Right now while I’m a broke student, it’s all I can contribute, but by far has to be the most enjoyable way of giving.
I fell head-over-heels in love with Mr. B. a few years ago when I saw a video of a chimpanzee laughing on YouTube, but didn’t remember the sanctuary where he stayed or any other details about him. Then last year I caught another video and since I had remembered his name, it all came together and I began following the sanctuary.
It bothers me a lot that Dr. Goodall hasn’t bothered to visit and meet the chimps when she’s put in an appearance at every other sanctuary around, so I hope this year she makes the time. I have a feeling she’ll fall in love with “The Fabulous Mr. B.”, too!
Glad you all enjoyed the post of B man’s birthday. Thanks so much for your support and being a part of celebrating each of these amazing chimpanzee people!