thank you again for all these wonderful ideas. i will be using most of them. and i will be sure to tell margaret about all the lovely people who helped me make her visit special. she will be pleased to know that so many people are still interested in gracious hostessing.
i love the idea of the local pictures coffee table book. perhaps i can find time to stop by some of the places i'll be showing her and pick up their literature or a book for her to preview the night before.

We recently hosted some dear friends and in their room I placed a bowl of fresh fruit and candy. I know they liked it because I replaced the goodies everyday and they came to the breakfast table each day with fruit in hand.

I also put an extra coffee maker with caf/decaf coffee and tea.
A great use for your older TV and VCR is to put in the guest room.

A pair of disposable or washable slippers laid out by the bed is a nice touch. As is a robe.

I also agree with a personal photo -- I just had a friend stay with me and in the bedside tray I made up I placed magazines, a small bouquet of unscented flowers, bottled water, kleenex, some softly scented hand cream (because its so dry here and she was coming from someplace humid), and I found a photo from years back of her children that I placed in a frame beside the bed. She immediately commented on the photo.

Lord, is the old dear going to be able to move an inch in that room?? Between the easy chair, writing desk, coffee station, flowers, candles, pillows, lamps, throws, snacks, radio, TV, magazines and guides, plus the sherry--whew! She'd better lay off the booze and keep her wits about her. Bless her cotton socks.

E - thats 2 chairs. the easy one and a straight back. thankfully my guest room is very large with a door to the deck so she can toss out whats not needed.
seriously, though, thanks again to everybody for all thesse good suggestions.

Very good, Virginia, lol! She can build her bones by jettisoning the unwanted items over the side ;-)

Water by the bedside in a carafe with a glass.(Nightime medications and all that).

A radio.

Need we even mention EXTRA HANGERS? I can't believe the number of times I have visted someone - and they knew we were coming- only to find no hangers or perhaps one or two flimsy ones scrunched among their off season clothes. Also, something to put laundry items in. This could go on forever! tee hee

These are the things I do to make my guest feel special: always a photo of them in a prominent place, under glass on the night table, cutely framed on the fridge, e.g. I have a rocker in the guest room, a throw for extra warmth, extra pillows, current magazines that I know they like, and fresh flowers with very little fragrance (never Rubrum lilies or lilacs, e.g.) I set out fresh toiletries in their bath, with special things from Philosophy and Bath & Body, for example. If I lived where it got very cold, I would have a towel warmer in their bath ... love those, but don't need them much in sub-tropical Raleigh! :-d

virginia, she might not want to leave if you get her too comfortable. How about one blast of the air horn about 3:30 a.m. just to remind her there's no place like home! Joke! :-d

Virginia:
We just had an older couple (70 and 75) stay with us (Hurricane Katrina victims). One thing she mentioned to me, which never would have occured to me, is a cup in the bathroom for her husband to put his dentures in.

Also, extra blankets, and a little garbage can in the bedroom and the bathroom. Line the cans with little garbage bags, and let them know there are extras in the bathroom drawer. That way they can throw things away themselves and have their privacy.

I didn't take the time to read ALL the replies, but here's my two cents:

Fill a nice size handle basket with personal size shampoo, condition, shower cap, bath soap, moisterizer, aspirin, pen & paper, powder, mints, bottled water, toothbrush, travel toothpaste, etc. so she has her own personal toiletries. (I know most people bring their own, but it's a nice gesture to have a pre-made goody basket). She can take the stuff home too. Fill it with whatever you like.

Also, display a few towels and wash cloths on the dresser so they are readily available to her.

Don't forget to put a radio with an alarm...she might like to get up early.

If you have an extra small TV, I'd include that too if you know she enjoys TV. I know I like to retire earlier to bed than some and enjoy watching a show or CNN before falling asleep. Or perhaps she may just want some "alone" time to watch her favorite show.

Hope this helps.

Uhm Virginia, could I come and stay with you for a bit? Your guest room is going to be better than most hotel rooms! Wish that some of the homes I have stayed in would have had one fourth of the suggestions that you have received..even having some hangers would have been wonderful!! Enjoy your friends visit. She is a fortunate lady.

loveitaly. i am just outside bangor, maine so its getting cold here but you can come on up anytime. maybe pretest the room for margaret.
ohhh the hangers. bain of my existence until i went to all plastic.

topping for future reference...thanks