She was minding her own business this afternoon, innocently lying in a sunbeam in the kitchen and just about to doze off for a nice nap when my urgent call rings down the stairs.
“Agatha, here girl, here Aggie, come on AGATHA!”
She comes to the bottom of the steps and peers up at me, trying to decide if I really have need of her assistance or is this just another one of my random Instagram moments.
She is SO over Instagram.
This dog is too smart, I try to hide my iPhone and the fact that in my Instagram frenzy, I’m already taking her picture.
Her eyes glaze a bit, she carefully weighs the benefits of obedience and the pain of extreme canine boredom and with a heavy sigh begins to trudge half-heartedly up the stairs.
She is SO over Pinterest.
I have to blame Fixer Upper, or maybe my favorite decorating blog, Thistlewood Farms (LOVE Kari Anne!), but suddenly I’m seized with the desire to freshen up our farmhouse. My dog’s very easy part in this endeavor is simply to pose attractively in whatever space I’m currently trying to share with the world.
Theoretically, this is a great idea, she’s beautiful, and what is more amazing than a gorgeous dog posing in a beautiful room?
The problem is that it helps if said dog cooperates and poses attractively instead of looking like the boredom is so overwhelming she could weep, which rather spoils the effect I’m aiming for…
So, I’ve been working on my landing, trying to create a relaxing place to read when the cold weather drives us inside for our long Ohio winter. Excursions through Homegoods and perusing Wayfair have helped me find these beautiful wingback chairs, a cute little cupboard stands between them looking completely adorable. All that I ask of my pretty little Cavalier is that she pose attractively in front of them.
Aforementioned Cavalier/Staging/Prop dog plods wearily over and sits with a truly hang-dog expression staring dejectedly at my wonderful chairs.
Her front feet splay out, obviously she is almost too weak to stand erect.
“Really, life is so unfair,” she says, “why in the name of all that’s reasonable do I have to waste perfectly good nap time staring at a CHAIR???”
She gazes wearily out the window, hoping for rescue from any avenue.
I chirp at her encouragingly, pleading with her to look glamorous and interested in the process.
She responds by yawning hugely.
(Obviously, she has more important things on her to-do list “Can we please just get this over with so I can get back to my nap?!” she asks.
Soon, her version of doggie torture is over and we head back downstairs, I switch on the TV, oh JOY it’s a Fixer Upper marathon!
Agatha asks if we didn’t just watch this episode recently?
My sometimes good dog settles in for a few minutes perusing all things shiplap. “Who knows,” she says “perhaps mom will break out the popcorn!”
(Does anyone else notice a startling resemblance?)
Agatha thinks she really should have her own HGTV reality show, after all, she’s definitely got the looks for it…
Pumpkiny Puppy Hugs,
Terry
PS Doing any decorating out there? Is your dog as totally bored by it as mine is? Anyone else love Fixer Upper or is it just Agatha & I lol?!?
Oh Terry! You have done it again! I love Miss Agatha, she is such a precious part of your family! And poses so well, lol! Also love your beautiful reading room and the chest with the numbers on it! My family room has been decorated in the same color scheme. Thanks again for the wonderful letters and pictures, I dearly love reading what you have to say and always look forward to them! My best to you and your family which includes Agatha and your pups!
Hoping you have a beautiful fall,
Gail Cousins and Molly Lynn
Hi Gail & Mollykins too! I’m looking forward to using that reading nook and perhaps making it a bit of a writing nook as well! Agatha doesn’t mind as long as she’s not called upon to do any modeling!
Happy fall to you and Molly Lynn too!
terry & agatha
The chest with the numbers on it — AMAZING. Agatha — AMAZING! ALL is amazing at Foxglove Farm. Thanks for the chuckle at the end of the story. What an amazing likeness!
I know isn’t that chest so cute?! The first one I came home with my darling husband took one look and left the room! I settled for the (slightly) less busy numbers one lol! I’m thinking about sending this post to Joanna, she can’t help but see the likeness (???)
Happy Wags,
terry & agatha
Precious Terry and Agatha, So fun to see a snapshot of your lovely home! It seems that we are always doing something to “update/upgrade” our home thanks to our favorite HGTV programs and our jaunts to discover unknown antique and junque stores. This weekend I came home with a rug beater, a wire basket, and some vintage kitchen hand tools including an ice cream scoop from yesteryears–hmmm, that doesn’t sound like updating! One of my daughters scored a nightstand and other major junque finds! I also blame Fixer Upper! Our precious canines were left behind in my husband’s capable hands. Love your landing re-purposed for reading! Love Agatha even when she is in no mood for posing. Lucy and Dovey are cheering her on! Blessings, Dianne
Oh I love antiquing but I have to do it on the sly, my DH has the debit card tied to his phone and he gets alerts and stalks my progress through any shopping excursion, kinda takes the thrill out of the chase don’t you think!? Your rug beater and vintage goodies sound like they’d be in my shopping basket too!
agatha sends puppy kisses to the girls!
Terry, I love seeing the pictures of your beautiful home and raring your entertaining story about Agatha. I’m doing some decorating too. Redoing my den in blues and yellow with bird accents. I love the lamp in your reading nook. Where did you get it? My husband and I love to watch fixer upper. I do think Agatha looks like Joanna too. Thank you for sharing your letters. I love reading them. Happy Fall, love Connie and Charlie.
Hi Connie, Poor Joanna, I don’t think she’ll be flattered lol!! Your den sounds beautiful, I was tempted to bring blue into the mix,love that color! The lamp (isn’t it pretty?!) came from Ashley Furniture, I think it was the Urban Collection (though we are anything BUT urban at Foxglove!).
A smooch to that sweet Charlie!
terry & agatha
That should be reading, not raring. Ha.
TERRY! SO MUCH FUN TO READ? LOVED! LOVED SEEING AGATHA! BEAUTIFUL GIRL YOUR BEAUTIFUL FARMHOUSE YOUR LOVELY LANDING ROOM! SO WELL PUT TOGETHER! AND OF! COURSE WE LOVE THE GARDENS PERFECT PACKAGE WRAPPED UP FOR HAPPY LIVING?
SEVERAL YEARS AGO! I CREATED A LANDING ROOM? A QUIET ROOM TO RETREAT TOO? YOU WILL ENJOY IT MORE THAN YOU KNOW? AGATHA! TOO? SHE’S IN FOR A TREAT THIS WINTER & THANKS FOR SHARING!
I know I love decorating, the dogs, the house, the garden, even the pond isn’t safe from my tweaking and fiddling! Agatha wishes I would just concentrate on COOKING & forget the fiddling!
Happy Wags Sweetie,
terry & agatha
Thanks for sharing. I love the room and pictures of your pup. My Gabbie came from Foxglove in 2010. She is a Cavachon and an amazing dog. I have three pairs of tennis shoes, one for the yard, one for exercise and one for walking doggies. Each time I take a pair out she hurries to smell them, to determine if they are the “dog walking” shoes. If not, she goes back to napping. She is so funny. Such a smart doggie and wonderful companion.
Gwynn, my Puppy People are the best in the world!!! Hugs to that little Gabbie, where did 6 years go!?? My goodness, seems like just a whisker ago : )
Wags & Wags
terry & agatha
Terry honestly! I am looking forward to the boring hang dog days as I am now the proud owner of a 12 week old pointer-lab. Believe me your post was just what a new puppy owner with withered hopes needed to read! Chew – Chew – Chew! Piddle and Poops! Thanks for the reprieve. Truly, Teri
Oh Teri, You are indeed a brave woman, a 12-week old pointer-lab mix is enough to make this doggie woman cringe, I bet he has BOUNDLESS energy! You’ve many years of fun and games ahead of you lol! Lots of puppy fun and antics await on that journey to good dog status!
LOT’S of exercise is my prescription for you!
Sympathetic Wags,
terry & agatha