Yesterday’s Blessing of the Animals at Olvera Street once again lived up to its wonderful and well-deserved reputation as a magnet to all manner of fauna. And as has been our habit over the years, my wife Susan and I basketed up and brought with us Buster our Russian tortoise who once again ably executed her duties as Official Ambassador for the rest of our extended household menagerie, taking a dose of archibishop-flung holy water for the team (thumbnailed at right).

If I had to pick a favorite critter that I got to confront it would have to be the very personable “Piglet,” below, who was so ready for her close-up: