Our Mocha turned 26 today!!
to sweet Mocha, who will forever be our "little man!"
You can see some of his baby pictures on this post. They grow up so fast! Or do they?… Mocha has always been playfully, mischievously coltish. In fact, on his latest boarding bill that arrived in our mail today, his caretaker wrote, "He's a big goof ball." She doesn't know the half of it! Despite its horrible lighting and composition (being a scanned 35mm photo doesn't do it any favors), this is one of my favorite Mocha pictures, taken one day in the winter of '91 when he decided to pretend he was a unicorn:
Those are big cockleburs tangled in his forelock! (I guess if you don't have access to dreadlocks wax, you make do!*) :-) He did that all by himself, and was so proud. There was no getting them out, either - they were there till spring, when we could work on them for hours with mineral oil, comb and scissors! But that's okay, he was a handsome unicorn. Maybe I should post this greeting for him instead! :-)
Update: After I'd posted this, Mocha requested I pass along this tip and assure you that in his experience, it's excellent advice…
Always good to see you posting agin. Mocha has been blessed with a good, long life. happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteThank you, VioletSky! I do regret my lengthy absence, it wasn't planned! :-) And yes, Mocha has enjoyed a long and healthy life, and is very, very happy in his new home (where he's been for nearly 2 years now), a large and beautiful ranch where he enjoys the company of several other "elderly equine gents," big shade trees, a creek, and some of the best hay in the county!
DeleteHappy Birthday Mocha!!! And what is not to love in a unicorn?
ReplyDeleteWelcome back, I have missed you and hope that your blogging mojo is returning.
Mocha thanks you, Ellie C, and thanks you for appreciating his inner unicorn. :-) Thank you for the welcome back - can't say if my blogging mojo is returning or not, but maybe if I keep 'em short and sweet like this, I'll find my groove again!
DeleteHappy Birthday to the Big Goof Ball, and it's so good to see you back! xoxo
ReplyDeleteThanks, Spudly! We're hoping to make it out to visit the Big Goof Ball this weekend, if the mud isn't too bad (lots of dirt roads between us and him, and quite a bit of recent heavy, wet snow).
DeleteCongratulations and best wishes Mr. Mocha!! Goof balls are the best. :-)
ReplyDeleteI will pass along your birthday wishes to the birthday boy when I see him! Goof balls are the best! :-)
DeleteAw, happy birthday Mocha! He does certainly look like a unicorn in that picture. So cute! :)
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't the only time he made himself look like a unicorn through the power of cockleburs, but this was his best effort. :-) I just wish I'd gotten a better photo (or could find one! We've been s-l-o-w-l-y sorting through and culling boxes and boxes of old photographs, and that's where I found this).
DeleteNice to have you blogging again. I so remember Mocha from your other place. He is such a beautiful horse. Your care and love is the best present he receives from you for his birthday.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Barbara! Mocha would be pleased to know that you remember him well - he reckons he's a pretty memorable character. :-) He is a beauty indeed. He now receives love and care mostly by proxy, as we had to board him when we moved to town, but he is very well cared for in a gorgeous place, and he loves all the attention and hanging out with his fellow elderly gelding buddies (he's the youngster of the group!) We hope to go visit him soon, now that the weather is warmer and the many miles of dirt roads between us and him are cleared and drying up!
DeleteHappy belated Birthday to Mocha! So wonderful to know there are happy stories and super-well cared for, adored beings out there. Glad he's living the good life he deserves! <3
ReplyDeleteHi, Bea! Mocha will be happy to receive your birthday greetings! Yes, I think he's even more spoiled than he was when he lived with us, and that's quite an accomplishment! :-) He is as happy and healthy as he's ever been. He's always loved being around people and other horses, and now he enjoys both every day.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Mocha! I loved your sweet baby pictures. That's always fun. And I'm glad even though you're growing old, you still know have to have fun.
ReplyDeleteThe very fashionable unicorn horn you made for yourself was inspired. Made you a one of a kind that whole summer. Good for you for figuring out how to put it on and keep it on!!
Mocha passes along nickers, whinnies, and soft, whiskery, alfalfa-scented nuzzles to you! :-) He has definitely always been fun-loving (and mischievous, but in a sweet way!) and is still quite the goob. I love his baby pictures too - he was such a cute baby and a funny little monkey! And yes, that unicorn horn - he's always been creative and proud of his individualism. :-)
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