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A grandpa whittles a block of wood on a porch bench as curled shavings fall near a blue merle Border Collie watching. 10 / 22

Grandpa Started Whittling on the Porch, and Skye Took the Shavings Very Seriously

AI imageborder colliewhittlingporch

Curl after curl of pale wood drops from Earl's knife and lands in a growing drift around his boots. He sits on the porch bench with his elbows on his knees and his head bowed over a small block of wood, carving with slow, careful strokes, his reading glasses forgotten in his vest pocket along with a tape measure and a folding tool. A ball of twine and a canvas bag sit on the bench beside him. Down at his feet, Skye has positioned herself with her nose inches from the pile, head tilted, following each falling shaving as if it might suddenly come to life and need herding.

Herding dogs like Border Collies are especially sensitive to movement, a trait that helped them track every twitch of a flock. That is why they often fixate on things like spinning wheels, flickering lights, or falling leaves. A little watching is harmless, but if a dog becomes obsessive about chasing shadows or light reflections, it can turn into a hard habit to break, so redirecting toward toys and structured games is a good idea. Around woodworking, keep a few rules in mind: sharp tools should be put away when not in use, and while small shavings are mostly harmless, some woods and any treated or painted lumber can be toxic if chewed.

Whatever Earl is carving, it is coming along slowly and steadily. Maybe it will be a little bird, maybe a fishing lure, maybe a tiny wooden dog with a merle coat painted on. Skye would certainly approve of that last one.

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A grandpa in glasses fits pieces into a mountain jigsaw puzzle while a merle Border Collie sits on a kitchen chair watching.Grandpa Thought He Was Doing This Puzzle Alone Until He Looked at the Next ChairA grandpa in a cap reaches up to pick a red apple while a blue merle Border Collie sniffs fallen apples in the grass.Grandpa Reached Up for the Perfect Apple. Skye Was Busy With Her Own Harvest.
A grandpa with glasses on his head reads a book aloud on the couch as a merle Border Collie gazes up at his face.Grandpa Earl Read One Chapter Out Loud. His Audience Never Looked at the Book.A rain-dampened grandpa wraps a wet merle Border Collie in a thick knit blanket by the door, with boots and leashes nearby.The Rain Caught Them Halfway Home. Grandpa Took Care of Skye First.A grandpa at the wheel of an old pickup grins at a merle Border Collie sitting upright in the passenger seat.Grandpa Earl Has Driven This Old Truck for Decades. His Co-Pilot Is Newer.A grandpa sits on wooden back steps brushing the head of a blue merle Border Collie with a wooden-handled brush.Grandpa Brings the Same Focus to Brushing Skye That He Gives His Fishing Flies