You could write her a letter, telling her why you feel the way you do about her. It's something she'd treasure forever.

a small edible flower arrangement? Small, cause otherwise it might be to much for her all at once.

I know, what you mean about a nice MIL. Mine was one of them. Really cool.

Moni

I just love getting fresh cut flowers!

If she likes flowers, I'd go with flowers too.

what about a gift card twards drugs or otc sundries? both take such a big chunk out of fixed income...or her fave food store?

My MIL loves fruit. So for the past few years we have been giving her the fruit of the month club stuff. She says it is so much better than what she can get at the store. and if it is too much, she shares.

This sounds silly but my own mom loves receiving rolls of stamps or a gas card--she's a very practical person. It depends one what kind of a person you dmil is, I guess.

If she still writes letters, postage and stationary even if it's just a tablet and envelopes. When my Mom turned 80 I ordered a greeting card from the white house. I did that for my MIL also, they were both excited. I think you can do it any time after they turn 80. I never got Mom anything except her flowers or her favorite chocolates, they were all her favorite chocolates LOL I also sent her letters that I made myself on the computer, not cards, but personal letters. One time it was Happy Birthday in every different language I could find. Once I sent her a birthday thank you on my birthday. Other times it was just funny junk, just stuff to let her know I was think of her.

I like the fruit of the month...
chocolate of the month
wine of the month
flowers of the month....

yeah! I like it! lol

Great ideas! I love the fruit of the month club idea! My MIL is very practical and very easy to please. I just wanted to get her something different than what we usually get her. She is such a sweetie and will love everything. Although I know she prefers potted plants to fresh cut flowers. It hurts her to see the cut flowers die! LOL But I understand that because I am the same way.

My FIL does all of the shopping so any gift cards for drugs, sundries would have to be for Father's Day! But it's a great idea.

And Alisande, I love the idea of the letter. I know I've told her many times how much she means to me but putting it in a letter would mean so much to her. I am very lucky to have such a wonderful MIL. Now if I ever get a DIL, I want y'all to tell her to get ME the wine of the month club! LOLOL

I'll be checking back for more ideas. :-)

Oh, and put your thinking caps on for Father's Day! He'll be a little more of a challenge....heehee.

I vote for writing her a letter AND the fruuit of the month (never heard of that). The letter will only cost you a bit of time...but it sure sounds like she's worth it!

I'm lucky in the MIL dept. too! Anyone would have a hard time convincing me the woman doe not walk on water! She's been my MIL for almost 43yrs now..and there's never EVER been a problem of any kind between us. One thing we have in common is we've always loved the same man!!

I'm with Alisande.....I had a wonderful MIL, too. She instilled in me a sense of self worth I don't think I had before she became a part of my life. I don't think I ever told her that and once she was gone, I so regretted not telling her. She certainly knew I loved her but a letter would have been something she would really have treasured. A friend of mine told me he wrote a letter to his dad one time, thanking him for everything. When his dad died, they found the letter in his pajama pocket.

I've never heard of fruit of the month either. I just looked at Harry & David's...looks wonderful!

If you have a lot of old pictures (or new ones!) she might enjoy a book from Snapfish or one of the other picture books. I have made several as gifts and the recipients have always loved them. Do a coupon code search first, I've made about 3 books for free (just paid shipping!). Takes longer than 2 weeks though... so you'll have to wait to use that.

I also think a 'swap' type package with lots of small things to unwrap would be fun for her. A kitchen theme could work.. a couple pretty dish towels, a scrubbie, a jar popper (if she doesn't have one), some specialty foods she likes, coffees or teas and maybe a couple handwritten recipe cards for simple meals if she still cooks.

My grandma loved getting her yearly Chippendale calendar! LOL She loved the men!

Jen, you are an extremely lucky woman to have a MIL like that. I know you've heard the horror stories and I actually got to experience it first hand (having the manipulative, pathetice MIL from you-know-where) so I say you go all out for your sweet one to make up for the bad ones. :)

Do they like sweets, and is allowed? What a local bakery, could you call one and order them a pie of the month or cake, or cupcakes or coffee cakes? Or a mix?

How about a spa day? You and her could have pedicures, done, together.

Whatever else you do, write the letter. I wrote one for my mother on Mother's Day, and when she died, years later, it was one of the few keepsakes we found amongst her things. I put it in her coffin to be buried with her.

I was going to say pedicure too, but I also like the idea of a picture book. Not enough time for that though.

Hi Jen. My folks are also in their 80s and don't really need anything beyond everyday items.

I usually go Sam's and buy them things they have to buy and will use up like TP, paper towels, laundry soap, paper plates, etc.

They like bird feeders and bird baths.

I always had trouble coming up with Mothers Day gifts for my own Mom. One year I gave her a subscription to the plant of the month from a garden catalog. It was a big hit. Each time a plant arrived, she'd call and describe it to me. Made us both very happy.

Thanks everyone for the great ideas! I will definitely write her a letter telling her how special she is to me and how glad I am that she's my MIL. Since we live 5 hours away and won't be able to be up there for Mother's Day, the pedicure won't work but I bet she'd love it. I'll save that for another time. Also, great idea to pick up some useful everyday items at Sam's. (Hi Kim!) That might be something good for my FIL on Father's Day. I'm leaning towards the Fruit of the Month club for a few months or just send her a gift basket with fruit. I've seen those edible fruit arrangements but they aren't available in their town. She'll be happy with anything so I know we can't go wrong with whatever we send. :-) Thanks again!

Lydia, I forgot to add: you cracked me up with the mental image of your grandma eagerly looking forward to her Chippendale's calendar! LOLOL

I have a jar popper and it's a must-have! I love it. I bet she doesn't have one. But she has a doo-dad that is hooked to the underneath of her cabinet that she can get jars open with. Great ideas!

Still smiling at the calendar though........

Best MD gift I got was an iron gate for my patio door.

You're really lucky.

Does she like gag gifts? My dad gave my grandma (his mom) a sexy Santa lingerie outfit with some white fake fir on the bra part and around the skirt when she was in her 80's. She thought it was hilarious.