Browse ›
A grandma in glasses carves a piece of wood with a knife on a porch, curls of shavings around her and a calico cat watching. 15 / 32

Dottie Whittled on the Porch. Marigold Was a Very Serious Spectator.

AI imagecalico catwhittlingporch

Pale curls of wood scatter across the porch boards like confetti while Dottie works a small knife along a piece of wood. In her wire glasses and denim shirt, silver braid over her shoulder, she looks down at her work with calm concentration. At the bottom of the frame Marigold sits close, head tilted, yellow-green eyes locked on the falling shavings, one ear flicked toward the sound. The porch rail, a plant in a pot and a basket of yarn can be seen behind them.

Whittling is a slow, satisfying craft that many people take up later in life. It keeps the hands busy and the mind focused, and the finished pieces make good gifts. The main safety points are simple: use a sharp knife with care, cut away from your body and consider a cut-resistant glove. With a cat nearby, wood shavings call for a bit of tidying. Small curls can be tempting to bat, sniff or chew, and swallowing them is not good for her, while sap and some woods can irritate skin. Sweeping up as you go keeps the porch safe for paws.

Marigold cannot resist a good moving target, but she waits her turn, the picture of discipline. Dottie sets another curl free and the cat follows it all the way down. It is a very quiet kind of show.

More from this collection

All 32 →
A grandma in glasses stretches her leg on a green yoga mat while a calico cat stretches forward beside her.Dottie Rolled Out the Yoga Mat. Marigold Showed Her How It's Done.A grandma with a silver braid holds a pencil over a crossword on a breakfast table while a calico cat sits beside her.Dottie Was Stuck on Seven Across. Marigold Seemed to Have a Theory.
A grandma with a silver braid washes a dark car with a sponge and hose while a calico cat jumps up at the water spray.Dottie Was Washing the Car When Marigold Spotted the HoseA grandma with a silver braid sleeps on a blanket on a lawn with a calico cat curled asleep against her shoulder.Dottie Lay Down in the Grass for a Minute. Marigold Joined Her.A grandma with a silver braid sips lemonade through a straw on a porch while a calico cat stares at the camera beside her.Dottie Sat Down With a Cold Lemonade. Marigold Had Her Eye on the Glass.A grandma in glasses paints green leaves on a canvas at an easel in a backyard while a calico cat sleeps on the grass.Dottie Set Up Her Easel in the Yard. Marigold Picked a Spot Nearby.