Me and my grandma are pretty close, we always go to the theatre together etc.. and I always try to get her something special for the holiday season. Last year I bought her tickets to see a broadway show for the summer time, and although that was a good gift, dont want to do the same this year. The year before I think i got her a down comforter and sheets, but it just seems like its nothing she really wanted/needed... She is extremely thrifty, but has money if you know what I mean... but i want to get her something she will actually use.. but how do I know what that may be??? P.S. She is in her 60s still and is going to be retiring after the beginning of the year.
__________________
"Deep down you may still be that same great guy I used to know. But it's not who you are underneath, it's what you do that defines you" Rachel Dawes, Batman Begins
is there anything she's hoping to spend more time doing once she's retired? is there something that you know she would enjoy, but thinks is too frivolous? something she would love to have but would never buy for herself? is there a service she would love to have?
__________________
"Fashion can be bought. Style one must possess." ~ Edna Woolman Chase
Since you both like to do things together, it would also be nice to get an artsy or antique print of someplace or some activity that would remind her of you when she sees it... here's an old photo of Broadway...
. . . just as an idea. You could find an old print or an antique photo of a place or thing that she loves, or the city she grew up in, anything that you can frame beautifully that brings up happy memories! There's lots of Buy It Now stuff on eBay that you could probably get shipped quickly, or you could just go to some antique stores and rummage. Even though it's not very "useful," beautiful art is almost always appreciated.
Another good idea is to schedule a photo session with a photographer that you love and get pictures taken of the two of you. You could go the traditional route (@ Sears or something):
Or call up an independent photographer (someone who has a website you can check out) and have something cool done...
Or just find an old picture of the two of you from when you were a kid or something and have it framed.
I got my Grandma a basket from www.luluscookies.com I live in Florida and she lives in Mich, so these were appropriate! They're shaped like sanddollars!