5. If your mom is elderly or lives alone, give her gift of a Saturday spent doing things around her house. Such as washing her windows, changing light bulbs and air conditioner filters, working in her yard, hauling away trash, anything she finds it difficult to do for herself anymore.

6. Gift baskets are always fun for recipient and giver, too. Fill a pretty basket with things you make, cookie mixes, dried herbs, needlework, a mug filled with a couple of specialty tea bags. Line basket with a lacy doily or napkin, add a raffia bow and you have a great gift any mother will love.

7. If a card is just all you can do this year, make it really special. Have everyone in family write a little note; toddlers who can't write yet can draw a picture.

With a little imagination, you can create a gift your mother will be elated to receive! And she'll wonder what you'll come up with next year!

Life began with waking up and loving my mother's face. - George Eliot, English novelist

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