Grandpa Earl Is Carving Something on the Porch. Skye Can't Look Away.
Curl by curl, the shavings pile up on the porch boards. Grandpa Earl sits on the top step with his elbows on his knees, a small pocketknife in one hand and a stubby chunk of pale wood in the other, glasses low on his nose as he carves with slow, practiced strokes. Firewood is stacked against the house behind him, a pair of muddy boots rests by the door, and the late light turns everything warm and golden. Skye sits at the bottom of the steps, one blue eye and one brown, staring at the growing heap of wood curls like it is the most fascinating thing she has ever seen.
Whittling is a wonderful, quiet hobby, but a few precautions help when a dog is around. Keep blades closed and stored out of reach whenever you set them down. Wood shavings and small scraps are tempting to chew, and swallowing splinters can irritate or injure a dog's mouth and digestive tract, so sweep up when you finish. Some woods and finishes are also not safe for pets to chew on. Hobbies that keep your hands busy outdoors pair nicely with an attentive dog, because they encourage both of you to slow down and simply sit together.
Skye clearly has questions about what Earl is making. A bird? A spoon? A tiny wooden dog? She will have to wait and see, like everyone else.
Whatever it turns into, it will have been made with good company watching every cut.
