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Older Black woman in glasses whittles a small block of wood at a deck table while a white Bichon Frise watches closely. 6 / 37

Every Time a Wood Curl Fell, Cotton's Eyes Followed It

AI imagebichon frisewhittlingback deck

A small pile of pale wood curls has been growing on the deck table all afternoon. Grandma Loretta, in a chambray shirt with her glasses low on her nose, leans in to shave another thin sliver from a little carving, her hands steady and her expression calm and focused. Pressed right up against the table's edge is Cotton, his fluffy white chin nearly resting on the boards, his black button nose pointed at the shavings and his dark eyes following every one that falls. A potted plant sits by the screen door, and a pair of work gloves and a coil of rope lie on the deck behind them.

Woodworking hobbies like whittling can be relaxing and satisfying, but they do require care around pets. Carving knives are extremely sharp, so it's best to keep curious dogs back from the work area and never leave tools where a dog can reach them. Wood shavings and splinters can injure a dog's mouth or cause digestive trouble if eaten, and some woods, stains and finishes are toxic. Sweep up shavings when you're finished and store tools in a closed box. Bichon Frises are naturally curious and love being close to their people, so giving them a comfy mat a safe distance away lets them keep you company without getting too close.

Cotton may never pick up a carving knife, but he's an excellent and attentive audience. On a quiet afternoon on the deck, that's exactly the kind of company Loretta enjoys.

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Older Black woman in a denim jacket walks a smiling white Bichon Frise on a leash down a dirt country road at sunset.Loretta and Cotton Walked the Old Country Road Just as the Sun Went DownSmiling older Black woman holds a fluffy white Bichon Frise in her lap beside a portable record player in a cozy room.Grandma Loretta Put On an Old Record. Cotton Climbed Up for the Best Seat in the House.Older Black woman sips coffee from a cream mug on porch steps as a smiling white Bichon Frise sits beside her.Grandma Was Savoring Her First Sip of Coffee. Cotton Was Already Smiling for the Camera.Smiling older Black woman sits on a pickup tailgate beside a fluffy white Bichon Frise at the edge of a field.Grandma Took the Old Truck Out to the Field at Sunset. Cotton Only Had Eyes for Her.