I just love how you worded your post. :)

Okay, what I would like (besides your presence) is a pretty basket that will go with everything, and a bottle of wine or sparkling juice.

The basket will be full of snacks. Maybe Godiva chocolates? Eh, that's really expensive. But you get my drift.

It's simple and thoughtful, and something for me and my husband to snack on after you leave.

Depending on the basket, I'll probably have fun finding a spot for it to hold things, like soaps, kitchen tools, etc.

I think they would like a coffee table book on the type of art that they appreciate or a nice cookbook if you know what type of food they are exploring. A bottle of wine is always nice. Have a wonderful time!

Oh if you do get a book don't forget to write a nice note in it!

Perhaps a bottle of white wine and a bottle of red in a basket with a couple of pretty linen kitchen towels ....

Or: perhaps a fun cookbook or a fun book from Julia Reed (she lives in New Orleans and writes about food and fun and her new book was just published)

Or: a wonderful selection of herbs planted in a basic (but sturdy) clay container ...Or even some small plants (still in their garden containers) in a foil-lined serving dish (could be a fun one from a thrift store)

Or: a few containers of dried herbs with some wonderful creamy cheeses and crackers

Or: a very nice box of Godiva chocolates

Or: a really lovely bunch of mixed white flowers (I usually add some tall rosemary from my garden)

I think they would love the godiva. I was considering a bottle of hard stuff, but the white and red sounds wonderful. I'll bring a really good white from a local winery -- that should entice them to come visit me. The red will be California. As for a book, yes, I feel like that would be appreciated, too. So a selection of different stuff sounds ideal.

The get-together is Tuesday so I don't have time to figure out and plant herbs, but I'm repotting a huge old sanseveria today, and you've got me thinking I should go get a nice pot to put some of it in for her -- they are so easy care. The plant would be in addition to the other goodies. I like the idea that it's so old -- like our friendship. But I know they are poisonous -- do cats know this? My friend used to have bassetts but has downsized to a cat and I don't want to endanger it.

I always send my hosts a flower arrangement to arrive in the morning before the event I am attending. It always seems to go over well :) and it is easy peasy too.

For folks of that age, they are probably past accumulating things, so consumables are probably best...like a fruit basket, the wines, maybe with cheese and crackers...or maybe a gift basket full of breakfast items like pancake mix, jams, scones, fruits, real maple syrup....

Red wine and white flowers. You cannot go wrong with that combination.

Lately I have been bringing unique olive oils to my foodie friends. Sounds like maybe the husband likes to cook. We have one of those fancy olive oil stores nearby.

Or maybe some delicious for their breakfast at the getaway condo? Scones and muffins hold up well. A nice assortment of jellies, too. Oh yum, come visit me.

How about a beautiful orchid plant. Get ones with lots of buds on it and it will stay in bloom for several months. Perhaps the friend will even be able to get it to re-bloom. Orchids are really not difficult to care for as long as they are not over watered.

Do you have time to source and pick up some local chocolates, or find some good cheese to take with a bottle of wine? I don't think I've become a chocolate snob, but my husband recently came home with a box of Godiva and it was absolutely terrible. It was stale and way over priced. For somewhat less money I have gotten much, much better chocolate that is made locally.

If it were me, I'd love a basket/bag of 2 or 3 small hunks of cheese, some interesting crackers to go with it, maybe a few individually wrapped chocolates or Vosges candy bar, and a bottle of wine. I also like the olive oil idea - get a good bottle of oil and a nice balsamic to go with it?

Enjoy. You sound like a nice friend/guest!

As your friend of so many years, Jamie's, I am excited that you are able to visit us, after so long, in our home. I value you as the kind and considerate person you are and am looking forward to simply enjoying your company and sharing the delicious meal my husband will prepare for us. I will be touched that you thought to also bring a gift and if you choose from any of the ideas mentioned above I will be delighted...they are all perfect. I think the idea of a cooking related gift to include DH in our friendship and to thank him for his efforts is especially appealing (whoops, but that's Sis3 talking, not your friend! I just happen to love cooking related gifts and have even been known to design my kitchen decor around a particularly colorful tagine that I received as a gift from overseas!).

Have a wonderful time with your old friend!

Oils and vinegars, I like that idea !!