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A woman in a plaid shirt whittles wood on a porch with a pile of shavings while a Yorkshire Terrier watches. 22 / 30

Penny Sat in the Wood Curls While Grandma Whittled on the Porch

AI imageyorkshire terrierwhittlingporch

Grandma sits on a green porch chair with a block of wood in one hand and a small knife in the other, curling pale shavings drifting down in front of her. She wears a blue plaid shirt, round glasses, and her short silver hair is neat. On the porch floor beside her, Penny the Yorkshire Terrier sits at attention in a heap of golden wood curls, her ears pricked and her dark eyes on Grandma's hands. A blue mug of tools, small boards, and a clay pot sit on the porch around them, and the yard stretches out behind. The air is warm and the afternoon is slow.

Whittling is a calm, rewarding hobby, but a few precautions keep a pet safe. Sharp tools should be stored well away from paws and noses, and wood shavings can be tempting for a dog to chew or swallow. Sweep up regularly, and keep a safe chew toy handy so she does not try the real thing. Some woods, such as certain cedar or walnut shavings, can be unhealthy for pets, so ask your vet about which woods are safe around your dog.

Penny seems content just to watch the curls pile up. Grandma works slowly, adding thin slices. The porch smells of fresh wood and sun. Penny does not touch a single curl.

A quiet craft and a faithful audience make a good pair.

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