There are actually a lot of great gifts one can make - from a simple bouquet of flowers to a gift card for anything the nighbour likes to an invitation to dinner (maybe even home cooked) or a gift hamper everything is possible. Personally I am a great fan of either bringing flowers or creating a...
Even if I couldn't get everything done during the summer, I would continue to work into the winter if the job is not done yet. Couldn't see it as unfinished work everyday, especially if it is something that I need. Working in the winter outside is tough, but not impossible.
I would love to do a PPL license, after having flown passenger in a glider, fascinated by the concept. But I always had a thing for airplanes.
I like bush planes, or STOL, or smaller cargo planes, Cessna Caravan, or the Quest Kodiak!