Plenty of variety when shopping locally

PRESCOTT – There’s a misconception about there being nothing to buy in Prescott for the holidays. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Sure, there are items not available locally, but there’s plenty of variety right here in town for those who take the time and look.

Granted, Gilbert’s Lumber may not be the first place that comes to mind when it comes to Christmas shopping, but think about it. Know a handyman or someone with a hobby requiring power tools. Guess what, Gilbert’s has them. Know anyone who enjoys yard work or gardening. Once again, Gilbert’s has pretty much any kind of took a person would need to work in their yard or garden.

For the hobbyist or someone more serious about building things, Gilbert’s has lumber, plywood, hardware, glass, roofing and pretty much everything necessary to build a shed or add on to a house. OK, not the most common of gift ideas. Try this, know someone who hunts or fishes. Gilbert’s has hunting and fishing license, camping supplies, camo, ammo, scents and attractants, deer corn, nut grub, Case knives and fishing tackle.

Seeing Gilbert’s in a different light now?

On to somewhere more traditional – Prescott Flowers and Gifts. Along with a wide assortment of flowers and arrangements, including holiday wreathes, Prescott Flowers offers personalized ornaments, decorative flags and mats, candles, toys for toddlers, personalized tumbler cups, stuffed animals, devotionals, colorable ornaments and activity scenes and galvanized serving trays. The business is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. and will be open from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturdays on Dec. 14 and 21. On these Saturdays, Angela Hopkins will be on hand selling jewelry. Refreshments will be available on these Saturdays.

Thinking outside the box, give Southern Graphics a shot. The business offers embroidered items, and can have them done in less than a week if given proper notice. Southern Graphics also has personalized gifts and stocking stuffers, along with jewelry. Gifts of linen, such as silk hankies, can be personalized with the person’s initials monogrammed in them. This can be done with towels and other linens as well.

Mac’s Tire and Home also has items for the holiday season. Granted, some of the items may not be what comes to mind at first, but this is irrelevant. Sometimes, there’s nothing better to get than a new appliance, such as a washer/dryer combo, new fridge or stove. Then again, Mac’s offers a line of handmade furniture. Also available are chain saws, weed eaters, yard tools, barbecue grills, riding mowers, sporting goods, guns and ammo. The guns need to be ordered in advance, but can usually be delivered in a week or less.

Here’s an idea, how about a gift no one wants to use, but would love to have if it’s needed. Try a gift certificate for a year’s subscription to the Nevada County Ambulance Service. An individual membership is $60 a year, while a family membership is $70 and includes children up to 21 unless they’re still full-time students.

Then again, nothing says holidays better than the gift of food. KoFields has gift certificates available and has a wide variety of pies and cakes. The pies run $16 each while the cakes are $28 for an 11×20 sheet cake and $18 for  10×12. However, a few days notice is required to have the desserts ready in time. In addition, KoFields caters to on-site parties.

Back to more traditional ideas. Family Dollar has speakers, table top games, movies, neck massagers (and who couldn’t use one of those), perfumes, headphones, clothes, decorations, Hatchimals, dolls, games, cars, trucks, make up kits for girls, remote control cars/trucks, basketballs, action figures and building blocks.

Charlotte Rose offers jewelry, ornaments, decorative galvanized buckets, wicker baskets, books, candleholders, candles, mugs, decorative mirrors, picture frames, wreaths, floral arrangements, throw pillows, children’s ponchos and sweaters, live plants and arrangements, home decor items, wall signs and Lambrecht glazed and toffee pecans.

At Dollar General, shoppers can find DVD and Blu Ray movies, ear buds, decorations, dolls, stocking stuffers, gift wrap paper, Hot Wheels, action figures, slime (everyone’s favorite, LOL), RC trucks, dolls, Play Doh,  Lego Star Wars, stuffed animals, tea sets, candles and clothes.

While out shopping, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to stop in at Wolf Pack Nutrition for a little pick-me-up. Wolf Pack Nutrition has holiday themed shakes including: sugar cookies, white chocolate berry truffle, peppermint mocha latte, white chocolate mocha latte, caramel latte, chocolate truffle and snickerdoodle, along with several others. In teas, they offer: apple cinnamon cider, blue blue Christmas, cranberry ice, ribbon candy, Santa’s paradise and Jingle Juice. In addition, there’s a special price on tanning where a person can get unlimited tans for $35 this month.

Returning to the unconventional there’s the Hwy. 67 Flea Market, which offers living and bedroom furniture, including couches and recliners, cast iron cookware, Corel ware, ceramic pitchers, pictures, DVDs, books, luggage, cutlery and figurines, along with plenty of other items.

Again, sticking with the odd, for those who enjoy taking care of their home’s outward appearance, the place to visit may just be PSE, which has yard treatments. Sticker treatments need to be done when it’s cold, which limits when they can be done, and need to be done soon. In addition PSE also does fire ant treatments and pest control. These treatments can be bundled to handle more than one headache at once.

Antiques Plus will be having an open house Saturday, Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Shoppers will find jewelry, knickknacks, whatnots, glassware, dorm fridges, mirrors, a juke box, lamps, clothes, books, dish ware, figurines, art work, movies, toys, tables, an old fashioned treadle sewing machine, tools and wall plaques.

Truck stops are definitely not the first places that come to mind for holiday shopping. However, it’s worth taking some time and checking out what Love’s and TA have to offer.

At Love’s, there are canes and walking sticks, movies, sunglasses (and who can’t use them), stuffed animals, Metal Machines, GPS devices, RC trucks, dancing and action robots, die cast metal cars and motorcycles, glass figurines, knives and dolls.

At TA, the selection includes a juke box speaker system, party lights, tactical headlamp, multi-tools, knives, glass figurines, toy trucks, a metal Bat mobile, something called “Bananas”, canes, walking sticks, hoodies, day-night car visors, ornaments, pullovers, quilted vests, mega blocks and books.

For the ladies, give Tiffany Cagle’s Boutique a once over. The business offers women’s clothing from size small to XXX, jeans from 0-20, Rowe Casa health drops, hats, earrings, jewelry, mugs, gift mugs, purses and shoes.

Let’s not forget our furry four-legged friends either. The Barking Barn does dog grooming for dogs of all sizes, but also has shampoos, blankets, leashes, harnesses, collars, doggy dental care, doggy cologne and overnight boarding for dogs and cats. Boarding for dogs is $20 per night per animal, while it’s $10 per night for cats per cat.

Still think there’s nothing to shop for locally. Think again and give Prescott’s local merchants the opportunity to help brighten the holidays for those on every Christmas list.