YULETIDE PIED de TERRE

So... it's Christmas at the Casa du Borghese!  The houseboys and I decked the halls two weeks ago. When is the right time to put one's decorations out? It seems to start earlier and earlier. But not me. I like to enjoy each holiday as it comes. I mean some people get jingly right after Halloween. I think not. During the Victorian period, Christmas trees and such traditionally went up much later in December, often on the afternoon of Christmas Eve. My family tradition always dictates the most appropriate time to deck the halls is the second week of December, while others feel the beginning of Advent is the time. Yet others feel the 6th of December might be the chosen day to honor that of Saint Nicholas, the third century saint who sold all his possessions and gave his money to the poor, becoming the inspiration for the modern-day Santa Claus. So, it was the second week. I don't think I could decorate any earlier than that. This year with being back in Harrisburg, this is the first year in 26 years my all-red lights didn't make an appearance as most of my things are in storage, and the Mother was tired of all white lights after 30 years, so we decided to go back to the nostalgic colored lights of yore. I love decorating even though Christmas is not my favorite holiday...but I do like touches of natural things and tons of candles. You just might see a bottle brush tree or two. Most of everything is vintage or fairly older. Many of the past family was felt and remembered when hauling the baubles out. Some sights around the Casa du Borghese...

Most of the tree is filled with old Shiny Brite balls, and birds.

Very old tear drop

Some pine in a huge urn we have, and simply placed more glass balls.

So easy and festive to just add balls into vessels. Instant glitz.

You'll notice we love Christmas Pyramids. We have four here and three of mine are in storage. It doesn't seem like Christmas without those.

This lit up German Wood scene was a present from Warbucks who sent it this year. It's placed with old photos of my maternal grandparents.

All these little trinkets were my grandmothers. The little log cabin was hers from the 40's from a company called Paine's. It burns the best pine smelling incense, and the smoke comes out the chimney. And the little Santa guy is very old, and the last of those little figurines surviving from my mother's childhood. It all works together to make a nice little scene.

A sparse little backdoor wreath I made.

In the kitchen in the hutch, I used all of my paternal grandparents' dishes and bottle brushes and the lambs. My father's mother must have loved lambs. I just placed them all over with the bottle brushes.

More bottle brushes!!! I added little fairy lights inside the bell jar.

Just some of the holiday cheer in the dining room. I was also able to add in some red light with this vintage white ceramic tree I found for a very cheap price while antiquing, surprisingly.

The boudoir was completely redone when I moved back...into my dark navy blue of course! New closet made bigger, carpeting taken up and the wood floors refinished. Welcome!!!

The geranium I brought in continues to bloom. And mixed with the candles it smells wonderful.

On the bed is the little elephant Agnes gifted me and the long pillow was made by a friend as a gift. And yet another pillow has a parakeet on it. 

My little Ebenezer Mouse, a gift from the Dame.

More candles, and one of the Patron Saint RuPaul!!!

My little tree I got last year from Crate & Barrel, with just a few old bird ornaments and antique balls. 

In my little necessary room, these pictures were a housewarming of sorts from MM #1 Fan

I thought they complimented just a very small selection of my seashell collection. All found too I'll have you know.

Why yes, even the pups have their own trees, right outside the back door.  I think many get surprised by how minimal I decorate for Christmas, compared to when I would do drag, over the top, or when I do interiors. When it comes to my own house, I can't take too much, with every square inch filled. Many enter and are always surprised by how minimal it is, to a point. I have some fresh flowers to add in on Friday, but that was my hand this year. But rest assure...wherever I'm at...there are always birds!