Wood Shavings Rained Down and Maple Tracked Every Single Curl
Pale curls of wood drift down onto the porch table, and Maple follows every one with her eyes. Nora sits in her knit cardigan with a small carving in her hands, looking down in quiet concentration as the knife shaves a thin ribbon from the block. The big tabby Maine Coon sits upright on the table, shavings scattered around her paws, with her face tilted toward the project. A warm porch lamp glows over the siding, and the wooden steps lead down to the evening yard.
Whittling is a patient, satisfying craft, and a cat sitting beside it is a common sight. Cats are drawn to movement, small crumbs of wood and quiet company. Still, a few precautions keep everyone safe. Knives and blades should never be left where a cat can bump them, and wood shavings can be sharp, splintery or treated with finishes that are not safe to chew. Some woods and sealants are toxic, so check what you are using and sweep up promptly. A cat who swallows a bit of wood may need a vet. Offer her a safe toy, such as a crinkle ball, in case the shavings prove too tempting.
Nora tilts the block and takes another careful stroke. Maple's whiskers twitch with each curl that drops. The evening is cool, the yard is darkening and the project grows slowly. There is a particular kind of calm in making something with your hands while a friend watches, and neither of them is in a hurry to finish.
