Thank you so much everyone (had a dental emergency yesterday and didn’t get back here!). I agree, I should just let my husband handle this but he’ll wait until the last minute and then spend way too much just so he has something.
Some great ideas were mentioned, but just so you know what I’m dealing with:
performance tickets - grandkids are a music major and a theater major… ample opportunity to go to performances, but she often complains they are “too loud” and bother her ears. I’m thinking that’s why we don’t give her movie tix.
hair/nails/spa - cuts her own hair and doesn’t bother with “girly” things.
wine - doesn’t drink.
I love the digital frame idea, but we did that a few years ago. I am technology challenged, so I didn’t know they are now able to be updated via the cloud. Interesting!
Also love the flower idea, and the centerpiece idea is along the lines of my wreath idea. A way to decorate without having to pull stuff out. Apparently, my husband is not convinced that she isn’t going to change her mind and end up decorating.
However, she does have an iPad, and my husband liked the idea of putting the kindle app on it and giving her a gift card to download some books for it. I think we found our winner! Thanks to everyone for taking the time to respond!
Jam114. I love the kindle app on my iPad. And for a senior, don’t forget that lots of books have the audible version, so that the book is read aloud to the senior… Or whomever. I listen while doing needlepoint and really enjoy it. Never used that feature until recently. … I think on the iPad you have to buy the book in both forms or else I only know how to open the audible version that way ( in the book already) . I am under the impression that actual kindles can do just the audible version, but IDK for sure.
Amaryllis are great and keep blooming an blooming, just when you think they’re done! They are a nice bright splash of red color as well when they bloom–very striking but short-lived blossoms.
We don’t have indoor plants because we have cats. A few years ago MIL/FIL just quit taking care of their indoor plants - after MIL died we must have hauled out a dozen hanging baskets and pots with dry dirt and dead foliage, just couldn’t stand to look at it any more. FIL can barely remember to take his dishes to the sink, watering a live plant would be beyond him. Not sure how well your MIL stays on top of housekeeping chores, but adding one might be risky.
Oh, speaking of live plants, I just found a hydroponic LED totally automated herb growing kit that I got for MIL. It’s kind of pricey, but gardening is one of the few things we have in common so it’ll be nice to be able to talk to her about how her herbs are growing (and to be able to divert to it when she brings up inflammatory subjects). I told my husband I bought the garden a little bit for me, too.
FIL is killin’ me-he’s super hard to buy for. The teenagers are going to paint him Grandpa mugs-they used to make him Grandpa t shirts when they were little, but switched over to mugs the last few years.
