Pulling Earth #25

Coco and the whirligig

I am half perched on a lawn chair in the garden. It is just above freezing. I am passing time with Coco, our cat. She needs some babysitting as she has this love–hate relationship with the neighbourhood grey cat. To hunt it and then freak out! Sometimes I see Rebecca breaking up their spats. As Coco explores, I find a ‘helicopter’—one of those tree seed whirly things, a samara. I find one that is grey and weathered. The poor thing has endured a long winter too.

I start with the pod. The underside is covered in shadow and takes many passes with my pencil. I extend out to the blade which is slightly transparent. As I sketch the samara, Coco slips out under the fence. She senses an opportunity to confront her nemesis. I only have a few minutes to shade before I need to hunt her down. I am her protective whirligig, ready to scoop her up out of harm's way.