Today was such a busy day in the most of exciting ways! Today is the Trifecta Jubilee! Today we celebrated Terry’s 33rd birthday, Negra’s 50th birthday, and the 15 year anniversary of the arrival of the Cle Elum Seven!
Today was a non-stop celebration with many happenings that came along with the undying support of Paulette Wrisley in today’s second sponsor! Thank you so much Paulette for sponsoring Terry and Negra’s birthdays!
It’s hard to believe Negra and her group arrived in Washington from the Buckshire Corporation in Pennsylvania. There have been many growing pains for both chimpanzee and caregivers both former and current, but all of them for the better. In the 15 years, they have experience the outdoors for the first time in their lives, had room to run around and play in, and as of this year, able to climb their first tree!
It’s also really hard to believe Negra is now 50 years old! Negra is such a strong-willed person who knows exactly what she likes and wants. Though she is 50, is still doesn’t stop here from experiencing new things, when she wants to of course. Negra is such a well respected person by both chimpanzee and human. For her 50th birthday, there were many surprises for her. You have to watch the video to see what they were!
And Teeny Tiny Terry. How lucky are we to just know such a special person. In the couple short years we have known Terry, one thing about him we know is certain: he is the purest of souls! Terry wears his heart on his sleeve, and that heart holds nothing but sincerity. There are no tricks with him. What he does or says, he means, and it’s 100% love.
Here are some bonus photos from today!
Negra
Rayne
Missy
Gordo
Annie
That was just wonderful to see!! Loved the flash mob, you people are amazing!
And as Jamie got the cake you could see, the thought, whats this? What is this taste sensation you have been holding back from me!!!
When I started following the santuary I found I really struggled to watch Negra’s videos, something in her face that I found quite upsetting, I didnt react like that to the others in her group. It was so nice to see her enjoying her food and caregiver show today.
Well done to you all and to Paulette and Tobin.
What a glorious day!
And a SWEET day!-waffles, pineapple, watermelon, Hawaiian rolls, and CAAAAAKE! And an Oreo cake at that–you guys went all out! (thank you, JB) It looks like it was good to the last crumb. Did the cake provoke any special food squeaks?
Dora had some very serious food peering going on! I love that she didn’t trust waffles, but knew Oreo cake would be great! :laughing:
And Foxie reminding you that she’s small, so she gets more waffles. (thanks again to Patti for the waffles?)
Neggie was the first out on the hill, where Missy cleaned up! One bowl and three tops, I counted!
The best of all was everyone dancing for the queen. I can see you all practiced. The Boss was absent here. Hope she enjoyed the party, and wasn’t the party police. Not today, of all days.
SWEET, sweet dreams, o Queen! It was a good birthday
This is the most fantastic, happiest video….well done to all of you for making it so extra special. Like Karen, I could hardly bear to watch those early shots of Negra because I didn’t think she would be there more than a few weeks. Just look at her now…..she obviously had an amazing day and loved beautiful food and particularly the flash mob! Terry loved his day too and I thought Cy was going to lick the pattern off his plate, he wanted to get every crumb of his cake. They all look so happy and contented and that’s what sanctuary is all about.
When Missy returned her cake boat, was that asking for a refill? :slight_smile::wink:
What a fantastic celebration of a very special day!
So very well done everyone.
I laughed out loud when I saw Negra asking for more cake, the minute she had her first bite….”carbes, more carbs please”. Woman to my heart.
Waffels and cheeky Dora eating out of Honey B.’s mouth. “What is that? can you eat that????”
And Diana’s tribute to our Queen was so beautiful and full of love.
It makes me proud to be a ( very small ) part of this amazing sanctuary.
The return of the empty food boat made me laugh. Is she the only one that does it or do several of them do this? Does this mean they want more or please dispose of this?
These videos make me so happy. Congratulations on 15 years and Happy Birthday to Terry and Negra!
Can you feel that?
That’s me hugging each of you so tightly I just might suffocate you. Thank you for documenting this significant day with this video. It is so beautiful, it’s painful.
Chad, what does it feel like to sit before the queen, on her 50th birthday no less, and play with her and have her look at you the way she did at the start of video? Negra’s eyes were sparkling with joy! As if she knew this day, that moment, was extra special. I felt as if we were not just looking at Negra, we were looking at this rush of years flashing before us that led up to this very moment. We were looking at the entirety of Negra. The full sum of everything Negra endured right up to this moment. This joyous-happy-playface-moment! I had to the pause the video because it overwhelmed me and brought tears to my eyes.
The excitement and joy over birthday waffles! On both sides. Dora!!! Dora food peering and lip tasting Honey B’s waffle—I thought I would die! I’m curious, did Dora ever eat a piece herself? And then there were Hawaiian rolls, pineapple bowls chock-full of goodies, grapevines, and fishing for blueberries and lychees! Amazing day! Everyone appeared so peacefully contented. I had to pause the video again to cry, it was all so wonderful. Then I saw Missy out on the hill with her arms full of pineapple tops and I knew for certain Jody was there with you, helping Missy bring in that luscious haul. (Grab tissue #2)
And just when I thought your day couldn’t get any better, you break out an Oreo birthday cake! Well done!! Negra’s 50 years on this earth deserves a “one time only!” Oreo birthday cake! Each Chimpanzee person deserved that birthday cake. But, seeing Negra, munching away on her piece of cake,…..there are no words for the joy my heart held for her in that moment, with the breeze blowing through her hair. For me, that was such a sweet and meaningful moment. The look on Negra’s face. The look on all their faces, and then Missy passes her paper boat back to you. (Grab tissue #3!!)
But you didn’t stop there. Oh no, you danced for the queen! The sight of all of you jumping, bouncing, dancing like silly fools was beyond expectations. I could jokingly say it was Negra receiving a command performance from her court jesters, but in reality it was Negra’s dear friends, Negra’s family, filling her day full of absolutely EVERYTHING that makes her happy. (Grab tissue # 4&5!)
Happy 33rd Birthday to Terry!
Happy 50th Birthday to my beloved Negra!
Happy 15th Sanctua-versary to the Cle Elum Seven.
And…. Thank you, Caregivers. You make the captivity of sanctuary look like paradise. I love you all. Thank you for being you!
Chimps after my own heart – I LOVE cake! Happy Birthday Queen Negra and Teeny Tiny Terry, and Happy Anniversary to the Cle Elum Seven!
I love everything about this and especially the flash dance mob! was music playing? Negra obviously enjoyed it!:heart_eyes::dancer::man_dancing::birthday:
One of the best celebrations EVER! I absolutely love watching the Chimps enjoy their food so much, each in their own special way. Dora and the waffles. Negra taking her time. Burrito and how excited he is for food. Happy birthday dear Negra. Happy birthday dear Terry. Happy 15 year anniversary to the Cle Elum Seven and happiness to all of you for making their days so special. There were more and more more wonderful moments to this video as it went on. The food looks amazing. The Oreo cake!!! Then the caregiver dance for the finale with Negra nodding in time. Wow you all sure know how to throw a party and celebrate. Thank you for letting us be a part of it. Thank you to Paulette for being the second sponsor for the day. So happy for everyone there. Thank you for all you do for them each and every single day.
Tears of joy as i watch this! You humans are the best. I do want to meet you as much as I’d love to meet and hug the chimps. You probably know how most of us feel this way and you help us through with your DAILY blog, your pictures, your videos and your selfless love for the ones we get to love from afar. Bless all the hearts and souls of CSNW?
we are blessed for the caring people who had the vision to bring these babies to Cle Elum and set them free Thank you all