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A grandma with curly gray hair whittles a block of wood with a knife on a porch as a gray tabby cat watches shavings fall. 10 / 24

Grandma Edie Started Whittling on the Porch. Pebble Found the Shavings Fascinating.

AI imagegray tabbywhittlingback porch

Sunlight warms the back porch boards, and a little blizzard of pale wood shavings drifts down into a pile. Grandma Edie sits low against the porch post in her olive cardigan, glasses on, working a small knife carefully along a block of wood. Her face is all quiet concentration. Pebble sits right at the edge of the shavings, his striped gray head turned toward the camera and his gold-green eyes calm, whiskers dusted with a curl or two of wood. Potted herbs and a lush garden stretch out behind them in the soft afternoon light.

Whittling is a satisfying hobby that keeps hands busy and helps maintain fine motor skills, which matters at any age. When there is a cat nearby, though, a few precautions are worth taking. Sharp knives should be put away in a closed case when not in use, and a cat should never be allowed to play right at the blade's edge. Wood shavings are generally harmless to sniff, but some woods and finishes can be irritating if chewed, and treated or painted wood can contain chemicals. Sweeping up the pile after each session keeps the porch tidy and keeps curious paws out of trouble.

Pebble seems perfectly content to stay a respectful distance away and enjoy the show. Whatever Grandma Edie is carving, a bird or a spoon or something still undecided, it is being made with a very patient audience of one.

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