CLJ GIFT GUIDE: 13 Gifts for the Empty-Nesters (Your parents, In-laws, Grandparents, etc.)

1. A leather "brag book" that's small enough to fit in their pocket, wallet or purse and holds photos of their children/grandchildren to whip out at a moment's notice. $25

2. A painting of the house you grew up in, to put a tear in all of your eyes. $105

3. Similar! An heirloom chess set, to talk life over. $26

4. Not available. How cute is this recipe box for all of her best kept secrets. (Note: Years ago, I organized all my mother's recipes like this and she cried! It's still one of the favorite gifts I ever gave.) $14

5. A Tandem bike for them to ride around town together, because they're still young and in love. $510

6. A flannel shirt-jacket to keep him extra warm in the shop. $89

7. An Ancestry DNA kit, so they can pinpoint their ethnic mix across 165 regions worldwide, find the people and places that made them who they are, and even find new relatives. On sale for $59!

8. Napkin rings, hand-cast in pewter with an antiqued bronze finish in the shape of fresh Italian herbs--because everything else on the table is Italian. $88

9. A rugged metal detector ideal for detecting treasure in extreme ground conditions, because there's plenty of time to strike gold in those golden years. $99

10. A Marble Butter Keeper that keeps butter fresh and spreadable at room temperature for several weeks without spoiling, and looks so pretty on the counter. $24

11. Custom Heritage Tree, mapping out the whole family for their wall. (Or make your own here!) $97

12. An Instant Pot--A programmable pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker--this thing does it all and fast! They'll text you every night with what they made--and won't even believe it.  $64

13. You! Holding a Fresh Bay and Olive Leaf Wreath because all they really want is to see all their kids anyway. $68

PS. More gifts for the Empty Nester! And the 2017 Gift Guide so far!