Sitting guard with the old pups

Today the old pups were on guard. A delivery arrived down the drive and both of them sat up to take it in — the little one watching every move, the older one holding the porch from his rug. They take the job seriously, even when the job is just a package at the door — or a rogue goat named Livie.

Inside the boxes were the new jute lampshades for the master bedside lamps. I got them onto the lamps and switched on, and the room warmed right up — that soft, golden, woven light that jute throws against the walls. It finally looks the way I've been picturing it.

With the shades in place it was time to get the space ready for fresh photos. I'm updating the listing pictures for Vrbo and Airbnb, so the lamps, the bed, the quilt and the little bedside details all had to be just right. Nothing staged — just the room as it actually feels in the evening, lit by its own lamps.

The pups kept their post the whole time.