last minute gift ideas

[parker6221]

Please ehellions - help me out with this one. I suppose the only etiquette involved is that I can't show up at my in-laws Christmas Day without something for my father-in-law.

Here's the problem - I have absolutely no idea what to get him.  He's a retired mechanic (already got every tool on the planet) who has started an orchard in his retirement.  The orchard and store that go with it keep him busy most of the year.  He doesn't have hobbies.

Last year we got him nice floor mats for his truck. This year we are completely clueless.   Please help!

[veryfluffy]

How about something to encourage bees or birds in his orchard?

[DottyG]

I love vf's idea.

Also, books.  You can never go wrong with books.  Books about orchards are good, for instance.

[dawbs]

while I don't tend to order from them, I use these to get ideas (they let you do searches like "likes gadgets" or "geeky", etc):

http://www.surprise.com/

http://www.gifts.com

http://www.findgift.com
(I like the first 2 best...but this one has occisonally been useful)

[artk2002]

Books about orchards are good, for instance.

Or books about things to do with the product of the orchard.  Canning or preserving for instance.  Or a book on wine or mead making, depending on what the orchard produces.

[Buffy2424]

How about a magazine subscription?  Does he already receive an industry-related one?  Even so, he might like flipping through a less sophisticated gardening one.  And things like Consumer Reports are usually a hit.

[kkl123]

-- books on the subject of his orchard (apples, pears, whatever)
-- budding knife if he does his own propagating (I like Victorinox)
-- prints of the species he's raising (Missouri Botanical Garden has some nice reprints; local printsellers/framers may also have something interesting)
-- workwear for out in the field -- good wool socks, down vest, work apron,
 rain gear, tilley hat
-- mobile organizational tools like a rigger's bag or a "mobile office" (see Duluth Trading's examples)
-- rite in the rain notebook
-- boot dryer
-- good handlens, 10-15x, acromatic doublet or a hastings triplet

[Suze]

-- workwear for out in the field -- good wool socks, down vest, work apron,
 rain gear, tilley hat

Tilley hats are great, they last forever, and when they wear out you can send them in and get a replacement.

[Evil Duckie]

You might try a nalgene (sp?) water bottle filled with things such as: bird seed, coupons for the farmer's supply store, rain gear, small umbrella, hand clippers, coupons for the lumber yard, socks, canvas hat, coupons for the nursey, etc.

[parker6221]

thanks for the ideas. we are going to get him some general working outside stuff - hat, gloves,etc and a rechargeable maglite. my DH came up with the flashlight idea. they are expensive, but last for years.

[Clara Bow]

Crocs...they are so comfortable and make heavenly gardening shoes...

[Tabris]

Flowers from a gardening catalog, to be delivered in the Spring, the kind that attract bees and other helpful insects.