Shop ’til you drop? How about shop while you stroll!

Mast General Store seemed like a good place to start our downtown Christmas shopping.

It was! My father only likes shirts with snaps instead of buttons. To show off his blue eyes, I thought this one was perfect.

This little charmer was at Mast helping Small Breed Rescue of East Tennessee raise money by wrapping gifts. Isn’t he adorable?

If I didn’t think my cat would kill me, I swear I would have left with one. Small Breed Rescue of East Tennessee’s website is www.sbret.com.

Here was a stocking stuffer I picked up for a few people (including Alan). A “sweater stone,” it is supposed to remove “pills” on sweaters without damaging the garment.

Joe Compton of Muddy Creek Crafts was one of the vendors in the Holiday Market, held downtown each Saturday in December. I picked up these awesome spatulas for many of the cooks among our family and friends.

He would personalize them at no additional charge. I even got one for myself.

My brother’s stepdaughter, Tabatha Mallette, with her spatula on Christmas Day. Looking on is Kaylee Middleton, soon to be Tabatha’s stepdaughter.

Next stop: Earthbound Trading Company on Market Square.

The thing about this place is that you must go in there with an open mind because you never know what you are going to find.

My big “find” this visit: pretty bracelets for several of the women on my list. (And one for me, of course!) Not sure about that “harnessing the energy of light” stuff, though. Ha.

Here’s my sister-in-law, Tess Richard, showing off her bracelet on Christmas Day.

I knew a stop at Union Ave Books was in order because I wanted Jack Neely’s new book about Knoxville to send to my buddy Wanda McMahan in Florida. (It’s part of my plan to lure her back to K-town!)

Here’s Jack signing a book for my friend Julie Webb as I waited in line to get Wanda’s signed.

Flossie McNabb, who owns Union Ave Books, had put out wine and snacks for the occasion. (I’ve not seen that in the mall bookstores!)

The Tree & Vine on Union Avenue turned out to be a lifesaver. After tasting a dozen or so gourmet olive oils and balsamic vinegars, I selected gift packs for many on my list. (And a gift pack for Alan and me, natch!)

The selection of gourmet pastas was tempting, too.

And the olives!

Here’s my friend and downtown neighbor Nora Robinson filling part of my order.

Thanks so much to Nora, left, and Jeddah Cardines for all the help on my numerous visits over the holidays!

I loved it that Tree & Vine owner Terri Karlsson set up her keyboard in the doorway and played Christmas music. “People on the sidewalk just stop in their tracks and smile,” she reported.

In addition to the olive oil and vinegar gift packs, we gave my brother, Jimmy, a cooler for a six-pack, also from the Tree & Vine. We gave his wife, Tess, a similar wine cooler from there.

Where to go for the children on our list? We remembered that Bliss on Market Square had an interesting kids’ department.

A display of child-friendly washcloths at Bliss. Cute.

We got this colorful elephant purse, among other things, for Katie Belle Carmichael, Alan’s great-niece, who is 2-1/2.

Here is another lifesaver — The Peanut Shop on Market Square. It sells a lot more than peanuts.

Best thing about The Peanut Shop: Yep, free samples!

Quinn Middleton, soon to be married to Tess’s sweet daughter, Tabatha, with my favorite sample package from The Peanut Shop on Christmas Day.

Dad is a diabetic, so his peanuts from The Peanut Shop were covered with sugar-free chocolate.

What to get for my two nephews, two single guys in their 20s? We decided to check out Urban Outfitters.

We got them each a beer logo T-shirt (are you seeing a trend in my family?) and this — bandages! This is Joey Moxley.

These special bandages answer the question, “What happened?” Haha.

Couldn’t resist these boxers for Jimbo, who has something of a reputation.

Stopped by the downtown Regal cinema for a movie gift card for Alan’s 16-year-old great-nephew, Riley Peake, who lives in San Antonio. (We checked to be sure there are Regal cinemas in San Antonio — and, thankfully, there are three.)

And finally, the last “cleanup” stop — Downtown Wine & Spirits on Gay Street for the remaining folks on the list. No one ever returns these gifts!

Here’s a postscript. Although he was not supposed to get me anything because we are doing a home improvement project as our mutual Christmas gift, Alan surprised me with this cute pillow from Rococo on Market Square. I love it.