The Kitchen Table - come sit with us! new request added to post 1!

[MoSo]

Quote:
Something that he wouldn't necessarily buy himself but that he would enjoy - for instance, I gave my MIL a 6 month subscription to a flowering bulb service - she lives in assisted living, doesn't have a garden anymore but likes fresh flowers. This was she gets a flower basket once a month that she watches grow and bloom and when it's done she just throws them away (actually, she gives them to her daughter to see if she can get the bulbs to bloom again). Just needs a sunny window, doesn't have to be dusted, doesn't take up much space.

I've also given them those fruit baskets from Harry and David that have very good quality fruit in them - it's usually too much fruit for them, but they can have other people in the complex over and share the fruit and smoked salmon and cheese and crackers.

 

[maplesky7]

Quote:
Note #22...
hard one... I'd say a gift card to a nice restaurant that they like to eat at....something like that...
not very original.... but they'd probably use it at least...

I forgot my dad took us to that one when we were at the ocean one year... that was probably my very very first one and I remember seeing dolphins the next day and yelling..."shaaaark! shaaaark!" Some people looked and laughed and some people turned around like, "huh?" with fear.

oh I was serious... I thought my sisters were going to get eaten. ...in hindsite...ha ha ha ha i wish they... no i don't...maybe? no. that's just wrong...but they weren't always nice to me and still aren't...ok, maybe a little nibble.

 

[ranchhand]

Hi Steff! What about a healthy living magazine subscription, or a gift certificate that he and stepmom can enjoy together? Tix to a concert? A new CD? A play? Special museum exhibition that he may not have noticed? A day sailing? Rosebush?

 

[OrpingtonManor]

Thanks for all the great ideas, everybody!

I gave them tickets to see "Wicked" in San Francisco at Christmas. That was a hit. All plants are either houseplants or out on their little covered porch. That's pretty much my stepmom's domain. I gave my dad a huge barrel cactus once, since he likes cactus, but the sucker just wouldn't die, and after several years, my stepmom took a machete to it. I guess she doesn't like cactus.

I tried the CD thing last year, since someone broke into his truck and stole all his CDs. I just went onto iTunes, and burned a bunch of his favorites. I figured they would be less appealing to thieves, and even if they did, I could just burn them again.

I should have given him a Hawaiian shirt. Then I could give one to my stepmom for her birthday. They have never gotten to Hawaii. It's become a bit of a joke, and this year, they swear they are going!

 

[LilBizzy]

Quote:
A very nice home made, hand made card. With a hand written letter that includes some reasons why you love him. I did that for my dad and made him happy cry .( I even glued macaroni on the front LOL)
As a parent, I want to know I gave my children some good memories, some warm fuzzy moments. I would love to know I influenced them in some way .That they appreciate something, or many things that I did.

 

[ibpboo]

Well, my Dad's b-day is the end of May. So I am grateful for these suggestions also. He wants nothing and says if we get him something, he will strangle us.

But, I think he likes it, as long as it is something he can have a place to put it, he has no room for stuff. That's why I usually just make him dinner, cuz otherwise he always goes out to eat.

 

[Opa]

How does that commercial go? "Nothing says lovin' like something from the oven".

 

[MareeZoCool]

My dogs prefer to roll on the chicken poo. My guess is they are trying to disguise their own odor, trying to blend in with the flock.

My birthday gift to a parent wanting & needing nothing, yet living an austere life would be a box of freshly butchered beef from the nearest meat processor. That way, they could choose to use any package as they desire, once they freeze the beef.

 

[Noncentzter]

Maree, great idea! Thanks!!

ETA: Errrr, I meant the beef idea, not the dog thing! LOL

 

[Ec_Prokta]

Morrrrning! How's it going? It's a beautiful day here.