I've been eager to hear how the hand-off went. I thought it was an incredible gift and had no doubts that your MIL would love it. You get the a platinum star girl!

Aw shucks, Cathy. While you're here, I should tell you she really liked the idea of the baskets on the shelves, as it all seemed easy to get into for her. (You already know I was thinking of you!) I have no idea if she will ever check off the ''inventory'' that is her list, but after you tweaked it for me, I'm adapting it for my own freezer. I think she was amazed that we thought to do that for her, even though we do it for ourselves all the time. We had plenty of opportunity to talk about how she doesn't like to cook after dark, and that she doesn't mind fixing vegetables, frozen or canned. It's good to share. What I realized once again is when you cook for someone, they feel cared for. The nice thing is that she's so appreciative, it doesn't feel like a burden (even if I AM glad to be done!) It's nice to feel like we're helping, even when we're so far away.

I've thought, since I first read what you were doing, that it was such a loving, caring, gesture. Yes, as Cathy said you deserve a platinum star. How nice of soonergrandmom and Rachelellen to make their contribution.

jude

Claire, that was such a lovely thing to do!

DH and I did something similar (but much less elaborate) for my MIL, a few years ago, when she moved to Assisted Living and complained that she couldn't have a bowl of Cheerios in the morning, as she used to do when she was in a private apartment. She no longer had a kitchen, so she had given away all her kitchen utensils and tableware. We bought her a dorm-sized fridge, a table to set it on, bowls, spoons, milk, and box of Cheerios. Also glasses, a bowl for fruit, and even some cute magnets to decorate the door. But it didn't work out too well, as she always went to breakfast in the dining room anyway. When we visited and peeked inside the fridge, we'd find only a couple wrinkled pieces of fruit, a water bottle, and some bottles of Ensure. When she moved permanently to Medical (the nursing wing of the facility), she had no further use for the fridge, so she sold it to the next resident of her room. Nevertheless, we considered it money well spent, because she knew she had options, and she knew we cared about her comfort and happiness. BTW, she's now 98-1/2 years old!

Sue

Thanks Jude, and Sue.

Sue, that's the same type of thing, isn't it? It sometimes seems harder for our family members (who are elderly) to adapt to change, doesn't it? (When giving up Cheerios may seem more like problem than it actually is! That's why the taxi service we gave her last year seemed like a good option; for the time when she wouldn't be able to drive any longer.) It's kind of amazing to me still that my MIL is doing so well in an independent living situation. Any help we can give to help her stay independent is never a bad idea.

That's really great Claire. I'm so glad it was so well received. It was a great and generous idea, and I can only imagine how much she'll enjoy being able to shop for dinner right in her own room[s]. With Cathy's system to boot, I'll best she was stunned. And you got a new food saver as a bonus. LOL. It's the least you deserve. Now you need somebody to cook for you for a little while.

Claire, you've put your finger on it! We knew, all along, that the Cheerios problem was an unrealistic, "manufactured" protest. MIL didn't want to be in Assisted Living, even though she needed the extra supervision and medical care, so she complained about all the things she had to give up. Getting her the fridge was one way to soothe her discontent, as it gave her a tool for making choices and maintaining a bit of independence.

Before she moved to AL, she had a private apartment and a car, so she could shop for groceries with her gentleman friend (who died last year at age 101), make breakfasts and lunches, and bake cookies. They would have dinner in the dining hall. Then, everything changed, in short order: she needed more help after she broke her shoulder, her friend went into the Alzheimer unit, and she could no longer live alone.

We live 3 hours away, and we visit about once a month. I couldn't have provided all those frozen dinners, like you did. But I do bake cookies and bring them when we visit (I use her favorite recipe and her cookie sheets). You're really doing a wonderful thing, not only in helping your MIL stay well nourished but also in making it possible for her to stay independent a lot longer.

Sue

I missed out on the in-between! I remember the thread where you had picked out the freezer but the plotting and planning in-betwixt, I missed! :( Anyone have a link? Searching only found the initial one... or were you stealth in your deception???

What a great idea for a gift Claire. One from the heart.

Ann

cynic - I think this is the other thread, but one of the pictures isn't there now.

Here is a link that might be useful: Caption

Thank You Ann.

Cynic, I think it was less stealth, than having to get busy cooking! As far as the planning goes, I only made comfort foods that I knew she liked. You know, things like meatloaf, chicken breasts, grilled chicken, spaghetti sauce, lasagna, brisket, many little casseroles, home-made chicken broth; along with pancakes and waffles. I've found her favorites are also the twice baked potatoes, and the mashed potatoes, along with some scalloped potato dishes.

Here's a bad picture. It sounds like more than it actually was, as the freezer is pretty small. She also eats, but doesn't have a big appetite. Looking at too much food for her is waste.

Here is a link that might be useful:

That is so very COOL!! Figuratively and literally. You rock.

Aw, Cathy...you just like the labeling! (Yes, I'm grinning at you! Fondly.) I almost labeled the basket handles, and thought that would be overkill. (See what can happen with a label maker in hand?) DH let her put the food away, so she would know where it all was. What happens from here on out is no longer my concern!