Wednesday, December 22, 2010

The Three Muses - Tidings of Comfort and Joy


It's difficult for the average Aussie to get his or her head around being all rugged up against the cold at this time of year so forgive me for throwing in a peek at what people are wearing down here in the southern hemisphere.  Santa was painted by me.  Credits for bits and pieces in the first picture go to Gypsy at Scrapbookgraphics.

Here is my Christmas story:

A Christmas Caper or “Seasonal Secrets”


This is a true story. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.

Christmas for my family means a lot of undercover operations, cloak and dagger work, great secrecy and subterfuge, much feverish plotting and even meddling with the calendar. It is dangerous but exhilarating. You may ask me WHY? Well, at least two members of my family fall into the bah humbug category at Christmas. They cast a gloomy spell and a pall over our celebrations. One who shall be called  Ebenezer T. Stooge has no excuse other than he is a surly piece of work or, as we Australians might say, a miserable git. The other has a bipolarized brain which leads to bizarre behaviour and streams of less than acceptable language in front of the children. The solution? We celebrate Christmas Day at lunchtime on Christmas Eve. We prepare the feast in secret. We organize ourselves with military precision. We invent alibis. We congregate at a neutral venue, hoping that there will be no unpleasant surprises. So far, so good. At last we can relax and have a great time. We open our gifts and enjoy watching the children open theirs. We eat our Christmas feast. On Christmas Day we have our happy memories of the day before. Hopefully, the unwelcome would-be guests are so self-absorbed they haven’t even noticed that we managed to have a good time in spite of them and practically under their noses.

19 comments:

  1. Sounds like Christmas with James Bond round your place!
    What a gorgeous little angel you shared with us too. Very special.

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  2. A charming angel. christmas in Australia seems to be very "exotic"!!
    Love your text too, thanks to share with us.
    Merry christms Mary

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  3. It's likely, Marie, there are other families who have secret celebrations...and it's much better than trying to celebrate on Christmas Day with Scrooge and Strange in attendance! I love your Christmas angel. She's elegant! I'm sitting at my computer with a sweater on and an afghan over my shoulders to keep warm, so it's hard to identify with OzSanta! Blessings, my friend!

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  4. Marie ~ I have to admit that I cannot wrap my head around Christmas in the summer...the idea is simply disgusting. I really feel for you having to listen to all our carols of snow and chesnuts and fireplaces. I love, love, love both of your pictures however and wish you the very best of undercover Christmases!!!

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  5. Fabulous post Marie and you always bring joy to me with your beautiful art and wondrous writing. Another year has gone by -wow- and thank you for all of your inspiration,your new challenge site and again an everflowing fountain of creation from the land of Oz. The very best to you and yours this Holiday season!

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  6. oh Marie your story is hilarious lol!!
    And your santa is fantastic!!
    All the best to you!!

    Jayne :-)

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  7. I agree with Deann, can't imagine bathing suit weather at Christmas, lucky you!

    Merry Xmas to you and yours, Marie!

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  8. Marie, your Summertime Santa is a hoot! And your Christmas angel is exquisite! Many blessings to you and yours, and warm wishes for the happiest of Holidays! Hugs, Terri xoxox

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  9. I love the 'old fashioned' Christmas pictures, Marie, what a contrast with Santa!! I know someone that could be his double!!!!
    I wondered if your 'celebrations' would be a copy of last years and i remember then being 'in stitches' over your furtive antics, what a hoot hope it all goes to plan & no 'Secret (LP) Santa' arrives unannounced!
    Thanks for your comments & challenges & keeping me amused throughout this year, my wishes are for you to enjoy the season & New Year!

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  10. Both presentations are excellent, Marie but even your beautifully dressed little girl would not make it very far in our weather conditions (really)....She might make it to a pre-heated vehicle and a quick run into the Mall (rofl)but what happens if the car doesn't start to get home? Well, that is the way it is here. I love your little secrets story, sad but happiness created out of necessity, me thinks. Love your little stories and your beautiful artwork, Marie. Bless you and Merry Christmas. Hugs, Gayle

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  11. both are beautiful Marie!!
    Thanks for sharing your story, wish you and yours a Merry (undercover) christmas!!!

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  12. Thank you for sharing your story Marie. I had to smile!! Undercover Christmas indeed!
    I love your pics though you know which one is my fave. I'm such a stick in the mud with Vintage images!
    All the blessings of the season to you and yours. Hugs xxx

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  13. Thank you, Marie, for the lovely sample image, and another thank you for the tongue-in-cheek department, both the image and the story! I just started to wonder why we here in Finland always celebrate Christmas on Cristmas Eve, with dinner and opening present - could it be that each and every family here has its own sour members... Anyway, I wish you a Peaceful and Merry Christmas!

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  14. Your angel piece is stunning, and the Santa is delightful Marie! And I enjoyed your Christmas story. That's a clever way to outsmart certain family members so that everyone else can enjoy the holiday. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

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  15. Reading your story and now still I have this silly grin on my face. You wrote it so well. Thank you for sharing this. The Santa is grand. I specially like the way he is wriggling with his toes. The lill'girl all wrapped up is gourgeous as well.

    Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones.

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  16. Great Santa, Marie! Thanks for the morning coffee chuckle with my coffee by sharing your covert traditions story. Christmas blessings to you and yours.

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  17. Marie, I always enjoy your writings and this time is no exception. The angel is beautiful. You made an elegant piece. I love the second one because I look forward to seeing your drawing/painting. It's so cold here that to see Santa shirtless makes me shiver!

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  18. Great story, beautiful Angel! Wish you a Merry Christmas;o)

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  19. Merry Christmas Dear Marie!
    I hope you´ll have a wonderful and peaceful holiday filled with love and joy.

    Big hugs
    MARTINA oxo

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