Mr. Bear

Soon after we'd arrived in Auckland, we were given the word that the newest member of our little family would be arriving the next afternoon.  We picked him up at the Hamilton airport in a little crate and took him home to our villa on the river Waikato.  It's beautiful here and he has already taken a liking to the grassy backyard, with all the new smells and sounds that this countryside offer.  The neighboring cows and several sheep have greeted him from afar with late afternoon calls.  Abbey, the resident fox terrier, is both curious and dismayed by his arrival; they have an open relationship with a subtle blend of hostilites and play that only they understand.  Missy the cat keeps her distance, much to my approval.

Bear is the nearest thing to owning a piglet that I will ever know; a dense little frame featuring smushed face, curly tail, and frequent 'snorting'.  He has made sure to mark my lap as his territory with two separate occasions of urination.  But we've moved on from these discrepancies, both hoping that he'll take to the grass for future bodily 'purification'. 

At the moment he is snoozing with Momma Phoenix in various positions of comfortable sleeping, no doubt resting up for his next adventure through the yard.  Relaxation and love are the theme of this weekend.

Hugo Bearington Hayes or simply 'Bear'

Birthday:  27 NOV 2009
Hobbies:  Following closely under foot and chewing his tiny rawhide bone
Aspirations:  Conquering his fear of pooping outside
Funniest Moment (so far):  Growling at his reflection