If she cooks, I think something from Penzey's might be nice.

Does she live alone in a house or apartment? Maybe a nice plant for her porch/yard/balcony?

I have on occasion even given my mom a fun spring outfit or blouse.

My mom's birthday is on Mother's Day this year! Double whammy! LOL

Linda

Gifts are always difficult to think of for my mom -- she doesn't cook at all and buys anything she really needs. This year I got really lucky though. My cousin has his first CD being released tomorrow, so I pre-ordered it for her from Amazon. His single on it is already in the Top 40 on the adult contemporary charts, so she should probably enjoy it and I know she doesn't have it yet.

How about........get her a small cd player (very affordable now days) and a couple of audio books, a soft throw for her legs and maybe a pretty tea cup with some Earl Grey Tea Bags. Put it all in a basket she can use for other things afterwards.

The gifts that my mom who is 84 seems to enjoy most are gift certificates for massages, pedicures, to have her hair done, and manicures. She can get her hair, manicure and pedicure all done at the same place and the massage done elsewhere. She feels pampered and would never spend the money for the other things. The other most important thing is Time with us. I better get busy shopping for mom also. It will most likely be a massage this time. Oh also,... I go to our grocery store and buy her an unusual food item that she would never pick up. Maybe a cut of meat or something frozen that is a new entree, a package of different soup mix,etc.
We all get in the rut of buying and eating the same thing.
Happy mothers day to all of you mothers. Deanna

I ordered a fruit basket from these folk and the recipient told me it was excellent.

Take a look at the Special diet baskets under "Entrees and Entertaining"

Here is a link that might be useful: Gift Baskets

I like to send from the company Edible Arrangements,they make beautiful fresh flowered fruit baskets. I send them often and always get rave reviews.

BlueIris, I am in pretty much the same boat. I live in NC and my mom is 83 lives in the same house I grew up in in Pa. She is not the easiest to buy for. She has in the past enjoyed gift certificates to her favorite restaurants to treat her friends and herself. We found that it was better to give her an American Express gift card that she could use where ever she wanted without restrictions. This year I am giving her Tony Bennett's Duets DVD that I know she'll love! Just some ideas! Gina

Yep, I have the same dilema this year. For years I would buy her several hanging flower baskets for her porch, and a few potted geranium plants to plant in her front yard. But now at the age of 83, she finds it hard to even go outside to water the hanging plants (she can't lift the watering can). And to rely on rain for the planted ones just doesn't make it. So she said not to get her plants this year! I'm in a pickle because her birthday is also a week later and I used to combine the two to get her all of her plantings. This is a tough year to decide what to get for her.

I wish you could get on a plane and go see her....what a wonderful surprise that would be.

I realize you may not be able to do that, so, I'm thinking along the same lines as Shaun. I would love to receive a soft throw from my children so that every time I used it I would think of them.

My children have started giving me food. LOL! My oldest child will order from a certain caterer and she will then pick up the food and deliver it to us. We all sit and enjoy each other for the meal.