A Bed of Pine Needles

The little acorn nest held the snail shell well, but the breezy courtyard made it shift slightly on the stone. I stepped past the terracotta pot and found a handful of dry, coppery pine needles tangled near the patio wall. Gathering five long needles, I bent them slowly between my paws into gentle, springy arches. One by one, I wove the slender tips together around the base of the acorn cup, tucking each end firmly under the moss. Now the tiny cup sits completely still, anchored by a neat, braided ring against the rough brick.