aw shit. more inside?

Meaningful gifts to 90-year-olds is hard. I have known two 90-year-olds well;

One of my grandmas made it to 90 and died shortly afterwards - she was miserable at that point, as she could neither see nor hear, and was losing many of her other functions. She basically wanted to die at that point. Nice toiletries were a good gift for her.

The other nonagenarian I know (a family friend) is completely different - still plays violin in a local orchestra, walks to the shops every day, takes university courses, volunteers, the lot. She had a huge party for her 90th, and loved every minute of it. The gift she loved most was having people around her, enjoying themselves and playing music (if they could).

What I'm saying is, it's hard to find gifts... perhaps something living, for the garden?

Also, I sew and crochet, albeit badly.

she looks really sweet from the photos. That's quite some serious garden, though, and if it were me I wouldn't buy a garden-related gift because I'm clueless.

On preview - what grandmother would not love a (badly) crocheted object from a beloved granddaughter?

I like alto's idea of something for the garden: a favourite rose or tree? A flowering/berry-bearing shrub that attracts birds? Perhaps you could do something with photos of her garden over the years showing how it's changed under her hands, or find a particularly good photo/group of photos and have it/them mounted and framed.

That's actually my aunt's farm. Gram's garden is quite a bit smaller, but when I was growing up, it had a huge impact on me. Once she told me about how during the depression their favorite treat was a leaf of lettuce from the garden, lightly sprinkled with sugar, rolled up and eaten just like that.

Problem with garden stuff is that she lives in Michigan, and so the weather isn't appropriate for planting at the moment.

My father recently had his 70th, and my mother's is coming up. We emailed around to all the relatives and gathered as many photos of father/mother/maybe your grandmother and other people (family, friends, work etc.) We printed them all up and put them in a nice scrapbook. Then we had friends/family sign the scrapbook near or close to the photos. Makes them all teary. We also put all the photos on cds for everyone and did a little presentation with commentary at a party.

Like you said, by that age most people have all their "needs" taken care of and rather few "wants". So a lot of physical gifts just aren't appropriate. Since she is housebound would she want to listen to a bunch of audiobooks? You could collect a lot of modern stuff as well as radioshow classics from her youth. Load them on an easy to use mp3 player in a docking station. Since she loves birds maybe a new birdfeeder and pay someone local to refill the birdfeeder so she doesn't have to go outside to the birdfeeder or the shop to restock on seeds (right now I have a good three feet of snow to get though to my birdfeeder and I am assuming Michigan is the same). Am I bad for thinking 90 is a perfect age for picking up a pot habit? Eases the aches and pains and gives the diminished appetite the munchies. Maybe she's like to start a lucrative side business of growing her own? I love gardening supplies from Lee Valley. Sexy yet comfortable underwear - your granny is too good for granny panties. Cross stitch Obama?

how about a new grand-daughter? i come fully formed, polite and with my own toothbrush.

other than that perhaps getting one of those newspapers from the day she was born. i don't remember which service we used but on my father's 60th, we found a service that printed up such newspapers and presented it to him. it was fascinating to him.

I've been brainstorming. These are the things that remind me of Gram:
Cardinals, peas, Cosmos (the flower, not the drink), Chef Boyardee ravioli, Madam Alexander dolls, fancy bows on presents, her candy dish, her fried chicken, 50s party dresses, sheets on the line, Skip Bo, Butternut bread, and the word "oleo."

OK, I have to run. I'll be back.

Really nice shearling slippers. Something you've crocheted. A seriously good bird feeder. Happy Birthday! (My grandfather just turned 93.)

A tape of your favorite memories of her.

Whatever you do, don't give her a lifetime achievement award. Those things are death sentences.