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On front-porch border patrol yesterday, Tiny allowed neighborhood lothario Earl Gray — caught by our camera's eye below in mid "uh-oh" moment as he realized he was being watched — to pass through her realm without incident.

A handsome devil with a pronounced Chelsea Gray look about him, Earl is the rare pussycat whose company Tiny seems to enjoy, and the feeling is mutual. They often form a clowder of two basking in the sun.

Peering out from behind her freshly leafed-out hosta hunting blind this morning, she drew a beed on a "furson of interest" we didn't see at first. Following her gaze, we perceived a soupçon of movement along the bottom of the high retaining wall.

An opossum! It waddled among the border-garden leaves for cover, then froze in position, playing possum, as we approached for a photo op.

Tiny wanted to pursue the matter, but we just said no.

A gesture of appreciation for her efforts from top agent Tuck.