tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post7715885731034010789..comments2024-03-27T06:32:17.818-02:30Comments on Devoted Quilter: A Christmas Surprise! - Holiday Tales and TraditionsLeanne Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07944797294783593234noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-31478038901205861642020-12-21T17:42:30.422-03:302020-12-21T17:42:30.422-03:30I have 2 really special Christmas memories - the f...I have 2 really special Christmas memories - the first was the birth of my favourite (and only) son on Dec. 20th. I had had a c-section, so was still in hospital on Christmas day - and Jonathon arrived in my room that morning is a big Christmas stocking! We were allowed to take it home, so for the first 5 or 6 years after, we took a picture of him in it. (He turned 33 yesterday!) The second memory is of an epic trip to Florida. My FIL had died the previous fall, and my MIL decided to spend the winter in the warmth. We arranged to leave on Boxing day, but didn't tell the kids just in case the weather presented an obstacle. We got up on Dec. 26th, encouraged the kids to get dressed so we could go on an adventure. But first, we had to cross the USA / Canada border without giving away our plans. We told the border official that we were headed to St. Petersburg, and he waved us through. About 20 minutes later, a little voice from the back of the van questioned, "We're going to Russia?" (we didn't realize that there was an atlas in the back seat, but St. Pete's, Florida wasn't in the index..!)Jannettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11650623703551449681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-12793303595524810902020-12-20T11:39:15.078-03:302020-12-20T11:39:15.078-03:30Such nice remembrances! I don't have any "...Such nice remembrances! I don't have any "let's surprise them" stories. Travel at Christmas-time was always iffy in the Midwest US. And now, being 18 hours away, it doesn't happen at all. I do miss living near family. Merry Christmas, Leanne!FlourishingPalmshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13191140553844000267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-44486182562393491002020-12-19T12:11:51.221-03:302020-12-19T12:11:51.221-03:30Thanks for a wonderful read sharing your stories.....Thanks for a wonderful read sharing your stories.. The things we will do to get together with our families! Sadly the pandemic has kept me apart from mine for this year as they are so far away.<br />Your memories really cheered me on a wet, grey, Liverpool (England) day.<br />Happy Christmas<br />"All you Need is Love", yeah, yeah, yeah!JoZart Designshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15197690337080094062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-3591886541572584952020-12-19T10:38:06.924-03:302020-12-19T10:38:06.924-03:30I love reading about your surprise Christmas visit...I love reading about your surprise Christmas visits! My family never did that at Christmas, but we did pull it off at other times during the year. I had one aunt who always told us to "come whenever" -- so we did, all ten or so extended family members -- one weekend. HA!Michelle @ From Bolt to Beautyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04859748817323229803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-51764561964512347042020-12-18T14:55:29.373-03:302020-12-18T14:55:29.373-03:30We lived a few cities away from our grandparents a...We lived a few cities away from our grandparents and for many years we saw them infrequently. I remember that grandma would hug us and let out a string of blessings roughly translated into "my darling, my little doll etc." When she hugged her son (my dad) she would cry. I used to wonder - "Why is she crying? Why is she not happy?" Strangely I had forgotten about this memory. Reading about your memory of Nanny crying brought back mine and moistened my eyes. Of course I understand now. Thank you for sharing. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.Preetihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15363550140143647850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-25320935251790380252020-12-17T23:48:00.566-03:302020-12-17T23:48:00.566-03:30Great memories, new and older. Yes, travel can be ...Great memories, new and older. Yes, travel can be difficult in bad weather. So glad you shared with us all.Danice Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00756628636993465703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-30211330977029647502020-12-17T22:22:24.288-03:302020-12-17T22:22:24.288-03:30I love this! It is funny that the traveling at h...I love this! It is funny that the traveling at holidays is so frought with weather mishaps. We had one with the ferry this week getting off the island! It is funny that you both surprised your mothers! Kathleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11621591443896350515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-75385445027219806462020-12-17T21:57:50.053-03:302020-12-17T21:57:50.053-03:30Such great memories. I don't think I could ev...Such great memories. I don't think I could ever take the ferry to NF -- I get motion sick. LOLAnja @ Anja Quiltshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10717143609774358153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-20073582777340201032020-12-17T15:32:59.406-03:302020-12-17T15:32:59.406-03:30Great stories - we traveled when the boys were bab...Great stories - we traveled when the boys were babies but once they were older we stayed home and the grandmothers came to us (the grandfathers died far too young). It's fun to remember holidays past - thanks for sharing yours! Quiltdivajuliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15593385265961892847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-28099149116894129542020-12-16T18:52:14.880-03:302020-12-16T18:52:14.880-03:30Talk about your Christmas surprise?! We're not...Talk about your Christmas surprise?! We're not very fond on traveling during the holidays, either. (I'm not a big fan of having no warning that guests are arriving! DS1 was frequently guilty of dragging home friends for the weekend during college without asking or telling me first.)The Joyful Quilterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10706614750500929214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-73984975194936554672020-12-16T14:16:59.700-03:302020-12-16T14:16:59.700-03:30I think a lot of people in northern areas don'...I think a lot of people in northern areas don't travel at Christmas. The weather is too difficult and unpredictable. Great stories, and great pictures! I'm pretty sure I would have forgotten my own clothes too! A blessed Christmas to you and yours!Marihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08195401144486416881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-17837115819641392402020-12-16T13:07:38.699-03:302020-12-16T13:07:38.699-03:30Ooh, feeling a bit green...I can relate to the sea...Ooh, feeling a bit green...I can relate to the seasickness. I can also relate to the surprise, though it wasn't at Christmas. My brother showed up one morning at my house when I was fairly pregnant with Dayna. I was teaching part-time, and somehow he'd timed it so that he arrived when I was home that morning. My sister called me out of the blue, so I was talking to her on the phone when the doorbell rang...I clearly remember that disbelief when your brain cannot process what your eyes are seeing. I just let go of the door and it slammed in his face! He teased me about that for many years. I love that you've done that kind of surprising twice, and I cannot imagine HOW your parents got you and everything ready in an hour! Great read this morning, thank you Leanne!Sandra Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17737049269550479188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-50641019248083541082020-12-16T12:31:36.602-03:302020-12-16T12:31:36.602-03:30Thank you for sharing your memories, surprises can...Thank you for sharing your memories, surprises can be such fun!Carole @ From My Carolina Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04297429399723723944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-70894870374565129572020-12-16T12:20:00.798-03:302020-12-16T12:20:00.798-03:30What mother wouldn't squeal with delight if he...What mother wouldn't squeal with delight if her children just showed up for Christmas?!? That would be the best thing ever, even if it meant making pasta for dinner instead of the huge planned meal. Because family is the most important part, right? Of course your mother didn't pack anything for herself!! That doesn't seem hard to imagine!! Love all of the stories and pictures Leanne. Thank you so much for sharing them. PS - a 6 hour rough ferry ride sounds horrible. I understand why you don't want to travel at Christmas!Bernie Kringelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00753481379287809548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-37740372990052049792020-12-16T11:39:54.263-03:302020-12-16T11:39:54.263-03:30So many good memories you've shared, Leanne! L...So many good memories you've shared, Leanne! Love the photos of you, especially the one in front of the tree in your jammies. A jumpsuit and no shirts - hahaha - I wonder what your mom did - borrow some shirts? Wear the jumpsuit all the days? Anyway, that can so easily happen when you pack fast for several people! piecefulwendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02256164519304112032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-2651180327743242432020-12-16T11:24:16.879-03:302020-12-16T11:24:16.879-03:30Thank you for sharing your beautiful stories. Your...Thank you for sharing your beautiful stories. Your stories make me want to visit Newfoundland but not in winter :-)Vasudhahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01432455229606113236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-24062837685839194862020-12-16T11:06:53.430-03:302020-12-16T11:06:53.430-03:30What wonderful memories! This year lots of memorie...What wonderful memories! This year lots of memories will be remembered and shared. Happy Christmas however plans work out this year.Gretchen Weaverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11163051875559827310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-83136273331443738062020-12-16T10:18:53.415-03:302020-12-16T10:18:53.415-03:30Leanne thanks for sharing your stories. I can onl...Leanne thanks for sharing your stories. I can only imagine what I would have forgotten with a quick getaway. I can't imagine a ferry ride for 6 hours in bad weather, not fun. Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and happy healthy 2021.Jan @Cocoa Quiltshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03500819600904541895noreply@blogger.com