HOUSE OF BORGHESE

 The Red Light District is open!!!!

Maybe not quite as red as it usually is, but when the red glow pours out the windows, some in the neighborhood do a second glance. Can I control the husbands of these women???  With going home to see the Mother and stay for a extended visit, I didn't know if I would even decorate. GASP!!!! Me not decorate?!?!? That would be like the Casa without houseboys!!!! Christmas is not actually my favorite holiday, but I do enjoy the spirit of the holiday and all the happy feelings certain aspects bring, and decided I did need to decorate, since I won't be seeing anyone really. I like to keep busy and some normal possible. And I enjoy changing things up for each season. It gets boring to have 365 days a year to be the same, day in and day out. So I broke open the crates. I also have to many things with memories to lay in a box and be discarded for a year. Thats the fun thing about decorating, certain things have a story or memory to them, that I enjoy.

My nutcrackers! And you'll see lots of balls!!!! Some are newer glass balls mixed with very old shiny brite balls. The large Nutcracker was a gift from MM#1 Fan.

Some of my bottle brush trees , some old and new. The little Russian house was a gift from a co worker of mine from my first job I had. She went to Russia and brought it back. She ended up becoming a Russian interpreter. The little porcelain deer was my grandmothers from a collection of a series of little animal ornaments she had. I have three of them, this deer, a blue jay and a owl. I think I have a squirrel too, but can't seem to find it.

My most expensive piece. This Christmas Pyramid was a gift from the aunt and uncle years ago, and I light it nightly. I have two others also. I could really get into collecting them,  but don't know where Id store them all. They are all handmade from Germany and an art form really.

Some of my oldest Shiny Brites that were a gift from the Dame. These are in a platter on the lower part of the coffee table.

With exception to the red bottle brush, these are very old bottle brush trees. I have a thing for them did you gather that? The little sheep was a gift from the mother. And they of course adorn my Henri Bendel boxes. The suitcase actually is where I store the bottle brushes after the holidays. 

One of my wall collages for Mr DeVice who like wall collages. 

My favorite morning corner!!!!

My most used thing in the kitchen. Holds all my stainless steel cookery, silverware in the drawers, and to mention I do all my baking on the top of this island.  I soon have to refinish the top as there has been many bread loaves beat and readied of that surface.

Who remembers the old bubble lights????  I decide to put this out this year. I used to love bubble lights. My grandmothers had many that would sit in the candlestick plug in models. I still had one until this year. The wiring was bad so out it went. And yes, the corks are from wine bottles from this year.

Whose ready to get lit????? I'm stocked!!!!! And always ready!

Caroler tree toppers that were my grandmother Swartwout's on my Dad's side. 

I adore these! I got these at Longwood Gardens several years ago now.

My main and inner sanctuary , where all the magic happens!

A collection of very old glass ornaments of all kinds. See...I told you I had blue balls.

Oh dear.I saw him at Tarjay years ago and couldn't pass him up!

This night stand houses some of my more naughty and lighter reading, and a much loved collectible sent to me by fellow blogger RJ,  of my idol- Poison Ivy.

A bell jar on the other nightstand I made up this year. It is very tricky to create that scene and still get the lid to cover it. I just about gave up. The little houses were also my grandmothers.

My daily wrist stacking daily catch all.

The two pictures I sat for, my very good friend gifted me,  when he and his partner moved away. They still sit there, and I sort of like them there under my Herb Ritts picture of the Queen in her Marie Antoinette garb from the VMA'S years ago. This was a gift from fellow queen, Coco De Mere. The angel head is a huge ornament that used to hang on the tree in John Wanamaker's legendary store in Philadelphia. A fellow display friend of mine took it when he worked at Woodward & Lothrop,  when the May company brought them out. May company begin just purging the old decorations in the trash!!!!  This ornament started hanging on trees in the grand court sometime in the early 1940's till sometime in the late 70's...so over 40 years it hung in the store. It's one of the most expensive things in my place. I had an offer when I had a antique consultant look at it in Lambertville, but I can't part with it. I like having a piece of my favorite store, and history of that company. 

Hey I like a lot of pillows!!!!!!!!!!!!

I even have Phil, the deer decked out again this year.

I have other little tidbits to share at a later day. But I actually scaled back a bit this year. I didn't even put the whole tree up. My tree can be a floor or a table top tree, and I think I wanted a smaller tree this year. I like to switch it up.  My newest addition to the pied de terre this year arrived yesterday.

A box got delivered  from the fabulous Agnes. To my delight I found a very adorable elephant, a handwritten card and some of her homemade Pfefferuusse cookies! OMG!!!! The elephant is very heavy too. Once I read her note, turns out it is a door stop so my bedroom door won't  slam shut, on windy days. My windows are always open.  She also remembered my love for elephants, from my post I did about the Sheldrick Trust. Her and William, not only didn't have to send me anything, but she also did a donation in my name to them. I know the elephants and the trust appreciated it too I bet. Well, you never saw a ice queen get teary eyed. So Agnes, this was a most generous gift and I truly thank you for your kindness and thoughtfulness. Your too much...and it certainly did make my season brighter. And those cookies? They didn't stand a chance dear! I can't thank you enough, and that elephant will be treasured always.

Now who needs a drink??????

HARLOT HOUSE

Around here, the neighbors know Christmas is coming when they start to see the return of the Red Light District....or the red glow from the "Harlot's House" as the Casa du Borghese is called. The halls were decked two weeks ago, and my main color for years has been red. It's a long shot, you'll be shocked, but it seems to suit me. You'll be even further shocked to learn I decorate with not only red, but lots of balls, of all sizes....current,  old ones, and some vintage ones. I thought I'd open the doors to the Casa for a gander...but don't ask for a drink till we get to the bar, huh?

This year I added in my little bottle brush trees in this cloche with a little porcelain reindeer that had been part of a big wooden advent calendar my grandmother had for me in my youth. Each door contained a little porcelain figurine to hang on a little tree for me. Upon her death, we could never find the calendar, but did find some of the little figurines which I still have. So I placed the deer in this scene. 

Another is this squirrel.

 I always have one of several of my Christmas Pyramids out. I could watch that thing spin all night. This was a gift from my aunt and uncle and was made in Germany.

BALLS!!!!! 

The kitchen apothecary's were all switched out to BALLS, BALLS AND MORE BALLS! I love balls they make me happy! I also did a snow scene in one with a old church piece from my grandmother and some bottle brush trees.

Where the hooch is!!!!!!!!!! Anyone need a cock-a-tail?

This angel head is from a dear friend who worked in the John Wanamaker Department store when he did visual there. He rescued one for me since it was my favorite store. When they were taken over by the new company, they were trashing all the old holiday assets. WHAT A CRIME!!! So I enjoy this piece very much as it was used in their trees from the late 1940's to late 1950's. But it was long retired from the floor trim when he worked there. I'm happy to have a piece of the magnificent store. 

And yes, even where all the action takes place....in the boudoir....is even decked out.

These antique bubble candle lights are a gift from the Dame. I have one on each nightstand and usually keep them on all night.

And yes.....even Harold the Deer is decked out again this year. 

Just imagine the debauchery that poor deer as seen!!!!!

Now, can I get anyone some balls or a cock-a-tail?

TANGLED WEB

 I decorated last weekend. The lights are always a treat. Have you ever noticed no matter how neat the lights get packed, they still come out a tangled mess.