@graemestevens Thanks, Graeme! Don't tell anyone, but it was caught in one strand of a spider's web! (And, I tweaked the dof on picmonkey.) There, I've spilled my guts.
@juliedduncan I had guessed that there must be a web involved...I even zoomed in and inspected every pixel in the hope of catching you out, but alas. You could have kept your guts on the inside after all ;)
HA! Every pixel?! You might be interested to know that I used the "Airbrush" function under "Touch Up" on Picmonkey. I often use this to smooth out backgrounds on any type of photo. I works pretty well. Who says you have to use it only on skin! Yeah, I'm just a rebel through and through. ;)