We were a little disappointed to see how small the garlands were each ball turned out to be the size of a large marble as they had looked more substantial in the photo Ms. Parks had emailed, but we went with them anyway since they were the main item we had chosen for both fireplaces.
The extraordinary lobby of the palace is centered on a marble fountain supported by cherubs, while the sky-blue walls are frescoed with cotton-ball clouds, birds, garlands and idealized rural scenes.
In marble halls normally bustling with suit-and-tie legislators and lobbyists, witnesses wearing camouflage, jeans and ball caps now file into committee rooms for sessions.