Some of us have very old grandmothers and some of us don’t. Some of us have grandmothers who are still living and some of us don’t. My grandmothers have now all gone. My husband’s grandmother is still very much alive and she is a pistol! We love buying her things that she can use and that will be easy for her to use. Listed below are some things that we have gotten her over time that she still uses today.
One of her favorite things that we bought her was a card shuffler because she plays cards all the time! She usually wins too! But, this gift is practical and very inexpensive and I bet your grandmother would love it too. In fact, I bet any one in the family would or your friends for that matter. We have one and love it.
Automatic Card Shuffler. This handy gadget will shuffle 1 or 2 full decks of cards. There are feeder trays on each side of the center where you lay the cards and then press the button, which is found on the bottom center of the card shuffler, and watch as the cards shuffle.
The viewing window is clear so seeing the cards is not a problem. When the cards have been shuffled as much as she would like she or her friends will simply remove them by sliding out the drawer that the cards are now in. This little drawer can be clear or black or wood.
She can shuffle Poker Cards, Uno™ Cards, Bridge size cards, and most cards for any game she and her friends want to play.
The price does vary but most of the time you can find them for about 10.00. The wooden ones are more expensive, as much as 25.00. And depending on where you purchase a plastic made one you can also may up to 25.00 for that one. Places like Wal Mart or K-Mart or Target offer them cheaper. Places like Spencer’s Gifts, Penny’s or Sears have a higher price.
And you can also find them decorated with Poker Chips or Casino’s on them, this is the kind we got her and she just loves it! Sometimes you will get a free deck of cards with your purchase and sometimes even 2 decks.
The case is made of a durable plastic but is also available in wood and you can pick one up most anywhere playing cards are sold for your grandmother. She will need 2 C batteries though, so pick those up for her as well.
Some other great gifts we got Grandma were several pieces of Tupperware™ that she could use all the time. And since she is old, Tupperware™ is easy for her to use and keep clean.
Tupperware® Bacon Keeper™ is such a versatile container. It will hold up to 2 pounds of bacon. But it will also hold sandwich meats, hotdogs, pizza, cookies, brownies, cake slices, cheese and so much more.
This container comes with a sheer bottom with a blue lid. The old ones came with a red bottom and a clear or red lid. They wash up easily in the dishwasher or with warm soapy water. (Just a quick note about the lids, they should always be put on the top shelf in the dishwasher.)
Cost is 9.99 US Dollars.
Tupperware® Classic Sheer® Midgets® Set. She loves these six little containers, made of a durable plastic. They are great for storing, packing or stacking.
She can put various food items in them like spices, sprinkles, and left over sugar mixes, small candies that can be used while traveling or at her church. She can even give them away to the grandchildren full of little candies for them! There are a lot of other useful things for these tiny containers and I bet you will find safety pins or hairpins in them at your grandmother’s house!
Each container has a 1 oz, 1 ½ oz and 2 oz markings on the side. They are clear with Indigo(or navy if you prefer) lids. There are 6 to a set that cost$9.49. Dishwasher safe. However, they are small enough that a quick wash with warm soapy water does the trick also.
And you will have to watch out for Grandpa, because if he is anything like my husband, he will try to steal her Tupperware!
Another great gift for Grandma is a Glass Syrup Dispenser. This will allow her to have her favorite syrups easily and also allow her to use it with out having to twist open or pop up a cap.
A latch top that slides makes it so easy for her to use and with a handle for easy holding. They are about six inches high and of course dishwasher safe, making her clean up easy. The grandkids will kick out of this gadget!
We have also bought Grandma various snack foods over time. Old people love to snack all the time! So buy them their favorites. Heck, they are old enough anyway so let them enjoy some good things in life.
You can also buy her blouses, or soaps or candles or pieces of cheap jewelry. I don’t know about you guy’s grandmothers, but my husband’s loves cheap jewelry! It makes her feel all grown up she says.
Grandma loves to be treated special so we will take her out to lunch sometimes! This is always a great idea anytime. Or you can give her gift certificates to her favorite places to eat.
Pick her up a new telephone with big buttons so she can see to dial. Teach her about caller id while you are at it! She will get a kick out of it! Buy her some stationary to write to her old friends or buy her some new slippers and a new gown. There are so many things to buy your grandmother and I am sure that she would appreciate anything that you got for her. I know hubby’s does! She’s a pistol!
The most important thing in buying for her is to buy things that will help to make her life easier. Don’t buy things that she will struggle to open or to use. Buy her simple things. Remember, she is not as young as she use to be and the usage of her hands may now be poor. So think old person when you buy.
I have listed some her favorite things that we have bought for her and some other ideas that I hope you will find most useful.
But, the most important thing you can do for her is just visit with her. Get past that “old persons smell” and go and visit your grandmother. Read to her, clean up for her or what ever. Just do it! She is getting old and needs and wants your company and later on when she is gone you will not live with regret for not visiting her more. Pick up the phone and call her if nothing else!
Spoil that woman for she deserves it! She has put up with a lot over the years with you young man and young woman! Show her you care!
I hope that this has helped in some kind of way.
God Bless!
©LKD 2004
