She comes with CATTITUDE ...

One of the cygnets spent ages at the bank right next to me this morning
 ... I think he likes having his photo taken.

Aim for the heart! It’s one of the most vital organs in the body and the easiest to hurt!

I’m sure that’s what this little ragamuffin of a kitty planned when it looked up at me with it’s big blue eyes.  One look was all it took.  I felt the tug at my heartstrings ... felt the pain of knowing how big a hole it would  fill.

I was smitten. The Co part of Chocolat and Co has entered my life.

Early morning fishermen .... they were feeling the chill.

I’d always thought the Co part would consist of all the other furry friends we’d meet on our rambles, all the other members of the Labrador Gang. I’d never considered that there’d ever be an actual ‘Co’. But there is .... and she’s black .... and she’s tiny ..... with the biggest of eyes ..... and the hugest of hearts. 

She comes with CATTITUDE .... and the hound’s already had a taste of that. 

This is the taste that she likes .... my early morning coffee dregs!

As if life wasn’t busy enough.

My plans this week were to get a little more organised for the up-coming markets and fairs I’m participating in. I have emails to answer, a range of Christmas Cards to finish designing, canvas prints to order and a myriad of other “necessary” things to do. I didn’t quite factor in the distraction of a new furry baby in the house.

For one so tiny, she sure creates a lot of work. What goes in one end comes out the other end .... she’s like a factory, relentlessly churning out poop!

Fortunately I have a multitude of unemployed lemmings as kitty-sitters, a role they’ve all accepted with glee. What is it about a kitten that makes even the biggest of grown-ups go mushy?

The hound’s nose, understandably, is a tad out-of-joint. She didn’t EVER envisage having to share my affection ... and certainly NOT with one so tiny! It’s Tuesday though ... and Tuesday’s are our beach AND reserve ramble days ... so she’s had me to herself for several hours this morning and is feeling on top of the world. She’s had fun on the beach with Indy and then antics aplenty with Sam and Ebony at Waiatarua.

I'm reflected in the cygnet's eye .... close up below ....

Anthony ... Ebony’s human (we FINALLY asked him his name!) hasn’t been around for a week or two so it was great to see Ebony steaming towards us this morning, Anthony in tow. She’d bought her OWN rugby ball too!

Look at that reflection!

Now we not only have a Chocolate Labrador and a “wanabee” Chocolate Labrador carrying their rugby balls around the park, but we also have a Black Labrador carrying her rugby ball around the park! A trio of rugby-playing chocolate mousse hounds!

They all love to swim as much as they love carrying their rugby balls. The Labrador Launch-pad at the river ended up getting rather slippery and muddy as Labrador after Labrador after Labrador lept in the water after whichever ball was available. Even Tully, the water-treading Retriever gave rugby-ball-retrieving a go!

It has been the busiest of days, albeit with some UNPLANNED activities.  Farewelling a friend who’s off on a 30 day cruise was planned, but lunch with the lemmings wasn’t.  Little Co has been fed and watered and cuddled endlessly by all the lemmings and more .... she must be feeling the love.  It brings to mind a quotation by Charles Schultz, unashamedly amended ever so SLIGHTLY by me .... apologies to Mr. Schultz.

“All you need is love ... but a little Chocolat now and then doesn’t hurt.”

The TRIO of Chocolate Mousse!