A Tiny Still Life

I delved into my little saucer of 'found objects' for today's still life. Had I had the presence of mind I would have picked a few of the beautiful red toyon berries that grow around here, but I was still thinking about Christmas lists, of what? or who? and calling the insurance agent who never called me back despite their assurance in their message that they check their messages regularly. 

We took Spike to the newly discovered field along with his red ball with the squeaker in it. There was nobody there, so we disregarded the sign that we didn't notice before which said, sigh, 'Dogs on leash'. When somebody in one of the surrounding back gardens behind the fence started using some kind of power tool Spike couldn't hear the squeaker in his ball, but, undaunted, he just ran in wider circles until he finally zeroed in on it, a process that is quite fascinating to watch.

I did decide to hang our beautiful gift wreath on the porch. I'll try to keep it moist to prevent it frying, but it just seemed the right thing to do with it even if it does dry out before it's time. We can always replace it with the artificial one if or when it just looks like a dead wreath. Maybe Thursday or Friday we'll get the tree into the house and the ornaments down from a high shelf in the garage.

Christmas arrives very slowly and gradually here. Especially when I'm still a bit obsessed by the quilted coat. I have now finished one front and having figured that out, the other front should go more quickly. In fact, in retrospect, I wish I had double cut some of the pieces....