It’s embarrassing to admit that, although my husband has shopped there for years, I’ve just recently discovered the Prineville Men’s Wear store. I KNOW unforgiveable, right? To make matters worse, I brought the kids-who-can’t-stop-talking and they went on and on about how “Mom usually shops at the BIG store for our ranch-wear but hates the prices and hard-to-find sales associates!” The part they left out was that there’s just something about trying to shop with rambunctious kids that screams WAL-MART! After we’d browsed every corner of our new favorite local store, we drove home talking about how nice it was to shop there. The kids are still amazed at how calm Mommy is when her fingers aren’t pressed against her temples. That, my dear children, is what you call “customer service!” And when you find it, hold on for dear life because it’s a dying art.
Speaking of dying; I made a vow then and there to try and keep my Christmas shopping local, even if it kills me! One could argue that the big-box stores are just so doggone tempting; what with their moist towelettes at the entrance and aisle upon aisle of lead-laden off-shore trinkets. But these blue light specials just don’t compare to the free gift wrapping I’ve found at the local haunts and when Prineville Men’s Wear offered to have my boy’s jeans hemmed overnight (at no charge) I almost keeled over on the spot from the kindness of it all.
Which reminds me; some of the kindest people on the planet live right in my own backyard at Lark Gardens in Powell Butte. I’m running low on their world-famous Peking Blend Vinegar and Lord knows Christmas won’t be complete without some of this:
Peking Ice Cream Sundaes
3 ripe pears
2 tsp. fresh ginger
2 oz butter
2 oz Peking Blend Vinegar
Vanilla Ice Cream
Brown the sliced pears in a skillet with the butter, ginger and vinegar then serve over the ice cream and you’ll think you’ve died and gone to heaven! Just ask my kids who are quiet as angels when they eat this stuff.
Speaking of heaven, the Life Song Christian Book Store in Prineville has a warm cup of cider waiting for you. And if they don’t have the book you’re looking for it’ll be ordered before you finish your drink.
My mail carrier is getting a gift certificate for a smoothie at Friends Espresso (but don’t tell her, it’s a surprise). Do people still do that? Tip the mail carrier and the garbage hauler? After all, one would hate for the two to get confused about their job descriptions, lest you find junk in your mailbox and Aunt Ethel’s fruit cake and aspic ends up in the landfill! Wait. What!? Sorry Aunt Ethel, I’ll find out who’s been skimping on the tips!
Sure, it might seem like I’m doing a lot of driving from store to store. But let’s be honest here people, most of the towns in our county aren’t all that much bigger than the Costco parking lot anyhow. Just in case I pull a hamstring though, I will absolutely be dropping by Nature’s Bounty for some of T’s Tonics Sore Muscle Soother. That stuff is the BEST! Then it’s on to Checkers for some biscotti to stuff in the stockings and probably a visit to a feed store or two because who says you can’t find treasures at a feed store?!
On the off chance that I don’t survive all my crazy patronizing, please tell my kids that I really was planning to make it to The Dollar Tree to replace that amazing peppermint bark. And tell my husband that when the Giddy-Up Boutique appears on the credit card statement I had to buy hay...for the horses.
