My coastal Maine cottage decorated for the holidays. Pinecones, foraged branches, and greenery. Candles. Ribbons. A few stars. Greens, golds, and, always, blue!
My Holiday Home
Just four sleeps left until both Christmas and the first night of Hanukkah!
And, as of today, I am calling the decorating done.
Phew!
Did it feel like a sprint for anyone else this year?!
But as I write, I am snuggled under a fuzzy blanket, with Maddie lying on my feet.
A scented candle is burning. Christmas music is playing. And the lights on the tree are twinkling.
While I didn’t empty all the decor boxes this year, the house feels cozy and festive.
Just right, I would say.
Today here on the blog, I am keeping my words brief and going heavy on the photos. A picture is worth a thousand words, though, right? So this will actually be a very wordy post.
If you would like more detail on my holiday decorations, check out my recent blog posts:
An Enchanted Coastal Maine Winter Forest Holiday Dining Room
Deck the Halls | My Living Room Holiday Decor
Without further ado, here is a mini-tour of this year’s holiday decor!
Happy holidays from Maine with love!
A Mini-Tour of My Holiday Decor
This Week Into Next
Well, this turned out to be quite the week. Truthfully, it was exhausting.
Sewing projects
I knocked out most of my present shopping early and online since everything was being shipped.
But I did decide I would sew gifts for my sisters this year. Well, the project ended up morphing into something a little larger than I had planned. And it took up many hours this week. I finished yesterday afternoon, quickly wrapped them (I am not into fancy wrapping…), and rushed off to the post office, arriving just 7 minutes before they were due to close. That is kind of how I tend to roll…
All’s well that ends well, though, and I love how the gifts turned out. I hope my sisters love them too!
A night with Maddie
The other incident that dominated the week involved my girl Maddie.
On Tuesday, before heading out for a few hours, I accidentally left a pantry door open. I came home to find that M&C had thrown a little pasta party in my absence.
It was impossible to tell how much they had consumed and how much was just strewn about the floor.
Really, why would they eat any uncooked pasta??
Well, however much, it was enough to completely throw off Maddie’s digestive tract. Starting at around 10:00 and continuing through the night (to put it as delicately as I can) there was a steady flow coming from sweet Maddie’s back end.
I have had dogs all my life, and this was the biggest mess of its kind I have ever experienced.
Thankfully, she was doing better in the morning.
It was an exhausting night and day after, though. So much to clean up!
But I had a moment of clarity in the wee hours, when I looked my girl, now 11 years old, in her soulful eyes and felt how very grateful I am to have every moment with her.
Cisco too.
Smelly messes and all.
On that note of finding gratitude even when the going gets rough , I will leave you for the year.
Thank you for joining me here in 2024!
From my home to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!
I look forward to seeing you again in 2025!
Merry Christmas, Molly, and Happy New Year! Your home is wonderful and looks so cozy and inviting for the holidays. Love it all! The shell wreath caught my eye. Poor Maddie & Cisco. Hope they are back to normal now. Enjoy loads of cuddles with them.
Happy holidays, Danielle! Enjoy the time with all your “boys”! The shell wreath was a lucky local find and got so much love here and on IG! I think I will keep it up for a while! You have the coziest home too. In fact, I think they look rather similar, ha!
I love that shell wreath Molly it’s gorgeous and all the beautiful stars you’ve weaved into everything! Merry Christmas🌟
Thanks, Ann! I was really feeling the stars this year. And of course ribbons too. The shell wreath was such a lucky local find! Merry Christmas!
I love all of the holiday decor details. They radiate warmth and coziness! And so creative with how you’ve leaned into nature. Glad that Maddie is feeling better!
Thanks, Zo! Missing all of you, but trying to keep it festive and cozy! I hope “Ho Ho” is good to Poppy this year!
I enjoy your columns so very much, Molly, and am grateful for your willingness to share your life and decor. You really have an eye, and I have gathered many new thoughts from your arrangements. Most of all, I think, it is your joy and purpose that you bring into our homes each week that I treasure so much.
This is just a thank you note, from your devoted reader in Bath.
Affectionately,
anne
Hi Anne! You are so kind! Sometimes it feels like I am writing into a void, so I really appreciate your words. Thank you, neighbor (just down the road!), for joining me here! Happiest holidays to you!
Molly,
Your home tour is so cozy and warm. I loved all the details and plan to share a link on my Sunday, DRA. I hope your Christmas is filled with joy and many blessing.
Hi Rachel! Thank you so much and I so appreciate the share in Sunday’s post. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year!
Your holiday home is gorgeous! I took a screenshot of that shell wreath. Did you make that, by chance? I make pineapples with oyster shells but they are too heavy to use in making a wreath. So sorry about the pasta fiasco! We are dealing with an ageing pet and the steam cleaner is my new best friend!
Hi Jane! Thanks so much! I did not make the wreath. Found it at a local store. I thought it was a particularly lovely one! Oh gosh, it was quite the night. I was once again so thankful for the dog shower — for cleaning off my sweet girl and also rinsing off the all the dirty towels (and even a pair of my pj’s…). There was a lot of mess everywhere, ha!
Your home looks Christmas perfect…plenty of holiday cheer around. I know your sisters will so appreciate their gifts especially knowing they were handmade by you. Nothing says i love you more than a gift homemade. I especially love your bedding. Those flannel sheets would be hard to leave each morning. Poor Maddie. So glad it’s “out of her system”. It’s been so fun to read your blog on Saturday mornings. I look forward to seeing more of Maine, your coastal cottage, and of course the excitement of a new baby. Thank you for always being a light in a place and time that has seemed rather dark this past year. The best to you and yours in 2025!
Hi Julie — Thank you for all your support for my endeavors from the very early days! I try to share a little bit of beauty and peace in a world that sometimes feels way out of control. Merry Christmas, my friend! I look forward to “seeing” you again each Saturday in the new year!
Beautiful, Molly! So glad your sweet doggie is now well. Merry Christmas!!
Merry Christmas, Linda! Maddie is feeling better and ready to celebrate Christmas!
Less is more. I’ve heard a lot.people.say they put out less.decorations this year. .poor pooch maybe they learned a.lesson. but we sti
all love.them..they didn’t know.what the consequences would be after having so.much fun in the pantry
Hi Natalie — Yes, definitely enjoying less this year. It just feels right. And the natural elements bring me peace. I don’t think Maddie understands why she ended up in the situation she was. But I don’t understand why she would eat uncooked pasta, ha! I am just glad to have that episode behind me. And I am very grateful for the dog shower!
Oh no, poor Maddie. Poor you! Yikes! Your home looks beautiful decorated for Christmas. I love the pinecones and natural elements. The shaker basked on top of your hutch with the blue and white pottery is so sweet. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year!
Hi Carla — Maddie had quite the night. And I did too, to be honest. Even poor Cisco was exhausted the next day, because he got up every time Mads and I did. The natural elements just seem right to me living here surrounded by so much beauty. Happy holidays to you!
These photos are a pleasure to look at. Maddie and Cisco look quite content. Have a wonderful Christmas!
Thank you, Lynda! M&C are definitely living their best Maine lives! Merry Christmas!
It looks beautiful! I love your home and the location. I’ve lived on the coast of NC and SC all my life and want to visit Maine. I am so drawn to that state and even looked in my family tree if there was a reason.. 🙂 And your precious pups are adorable. I have a 16 year old not doing too well and I cherish every moment with my gal. Merry Christmas!
Thank you, Kathy! You should definitely plan a trip to Maine! There is so much beauty here! Yes, cherish each moment with your sweet baby. They are so precious! Merry Christmas to you too!
Well, your home is just so lovely. Thank you for the tour. Your pups add to the beauty! Happy Holidays to you.
Thanks, Linda! I always say Mads and Cisco are my best decor pieces, ha! Happy holidays to you!
Your house looks beautiful Molly, I too felt rushed with Thanksgiving being late this year. I didn’t decorate as much as I usually do but that is OK. The house is cozy and that is what matters. Poor Mattie glad it passed and she didn’t end up at the vets but also poor you left with that mess. Wishing you and your family a wonderful Holiday season.
Thank you, Joyce! I have looked at some of the decorations in my bins and thought “oh, I should put that out”, but then I think “Nah, I am good!” I find the more restrained decor, with all the natural elements, very soothing this year. And I guess that is what I need. Very relieved that Mads didn’t need a trip to the vet! But man, did she ever make a mess! Happy holidays!
Put your feet up and have peaceful Christmas!
No more pasta for those dogs. Agh!!’
I don’t know how you do it.
I have definitely been taking it a little easier the last few days. And, believe me, I did not intend for them to eat that pasta! Merry Christmas, Melissa!
Well, just neglected to fill out the fields properly and lost my comment. Waaaah! Oh well. In short, I loved this blog with all of the pictures of your beautiful decorations! Love all the touches of green, gold and warm brown that you added in with your blues! I also loved the touches of green with bows on your headboard and bedroom mantel.
Amy
PS I bet your sisters are going to be EXTREMELY pleased with your sewing projects! I can’t wait for Christmas Day! Thanks for your efforts.
Thanks, Amy! I do think the colors this year are particularly lovely. And then I do have my weird thing with the lichen-covered branches, ha. I hope you like your gift!
I so love your home and always look forward to your posts! Everything is just beautiful! I have a question……what do you do with Maddie and Cisco when you travel? Do you board them? Have a pet/house sitter? We, too, have an elderly fur baby (he’s almost 14) and it gets harder and harder to leave him. Just wondering if you feel the same and what your solution is.
Hi Patricia — Thank you for your kind words! I had a great pet/house sitter, but she moved to Scottland! I have tried someone new once and the place I take them to be groomed just started boarding too. It is hard to leave our sweet furry friends.
Blessings for Christmas and the New Year~
Thank you, Ann! The same to you!
Merry Christmas, Molly! Wishing you the most wonderful holiday season and looking forward to your 2025 adventures in Maine. xoxo
Wishing you the merriest Christmas, Juliet! I can’t wait to follow along with your new home adventure in 2025!
Merry Christmas, Molly. I’m feeling like a slacker down here in Florida. So, I felt better when you said it was exhausting!
It was worth your effort as it’s beautiful.
Hi Mary Ann! I just felt like the month was go-go-go, with no down time. But thank you, I am happy with how everything looks. Now I can relax a bit and enjoy it!