By ROBERTA CANNON
Shopping for special holiday gifts can often be a challenge, especially for a friend or family member you might not see very often or who might be living far away from you, or that special someone who doesn’t really need anything. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or Boxing Day, finding that distinctive gift that will make your present unique is possible.
Titcomb’s Bookshop in Sandwich.
A visit to Titcomb’s Bookshop in Sandwich not only will offer you recommendations from wide selection of books for every age but also will be a wonderful shopping experience. After you meander through their vast array of bookshelves covering all kinds of topics, a visit to their upstairs selection of creative products and ideas for gifts is a must. The staff is very willing to offer suggestions that will provide one-stop shopping, and they wrap gifts, too!
Sock, Socks And More Socks…
“We have a huge assortment of socks that are unique, especially for men, because it is such a great gift to give them,” said Ellen Speers, manager of the bookshop and gift buyer. They match all sorts of hobbies and can also be paired with another gift such as a book about the topic or a book lover tumbler to create a complete package.
And did you know cocktails can be made with sachets?
Alex Bondarek, Rae Titcomb, Ellen Speers and Vicky Titcomb at Titcomb’s Bookshop in Sandwich
“We have cocktail mixers which are absolutely delicious,” said Rae Titcomb, marketing director and assistant manager. “They come in tea bags, you infuse your alcohol with them, and they give directions on how to make all of the different drinks in the box. We have different kinds that include vodka, gin and the cocktail collection. The cocktail collection box contains six sachet-type mixer bags, each in its own box, and can be individually used as stocking stuffers.”
A gift suggestion from Ms. Titcomb is to pair the cocktail sachets with unique Rolf glassware. The line is called School of Fish. Every glass is etched with fish in a line as though swimming around the glass. There is one fish swimming in the opposite direction, and if you can’t find that fish, it is time to stop drinking!
Gifts For Book Lovers And Others
Rae Titcomb, Ellen Speers, Alex Bondarek and Vicky Titcomb at Titcomb’s Bookshop in Sandwich
Payparusaurus ornaments are a gift that will keep on giving. The colorful ornaments are layered like the leaves of an upside-down artichoke with the pages of classic books such as “The Night Before Christmas” and “Little Women.” You can even read some of the print on the pages.
Nothing enhances calm around the holidays more than the relaxing flame of a fragrant candle wafting through your home. The shop carries an assortment of candles including soy and beeswax with various scents. To enhance the candle as a gift, one of the candle makers creates their candles in old wooden cheese molds, enhanced with dried flowers on top of the candle. When the candle has completely burned down, it can be removed, and the bowl can be used to hold jewelry or keys.
Books always make great gifts, and this year is no exception. “This is a wonderful year for books; there are just so many choices out there,” said Vicky Titcomb, owner of the bookshop and book buyer.
She especially recommends “Travels with George: In Search of Washington and His Legacy” by Nathaniel Philbrick, which can be given to anyone. Another book for all ages is “Big Panda and Tiny Dragon” by James Norbury. “It is a book about uncertainty and living in the moment,” said Ms. Titcomb. “It is a lovely, inspirational book.”
There is so much more to see in this quaint shop in Sandwich, including toys. A visit will reduce your gift list very quickly.
Unique Food Gifts
ROBERTA CANNON
Sarah Davis, manager of The Little Shop of Olive Oils
At the Little Shop of Olive Oils in Mashpee Commons, it’s about creating an experience in foods and the importance of giving and sharing. The shop specializes in selling oils and vinegars from around the world with a tremendous variety of flavors to elevate your culinary skills.
“We have a nice variety of flavors whether you are looking for something citrusy, herbal or neutral that don’t have any added flavors to them,” said Sara Davis, the shop’s manager. “It’s really all about personal preference, what you enjoy and what you might enjoy cooking or adding a little bit of variety in your kitchen.”
The shop features monthly pairings, and last month was blood orange oil and dark chocolate vinegar.
“The oranges are crushed with the olives at the time of the initial press, so they fuse the two oils from the oranges and the olives,” Ms. Davis said. “It is a really beautiful product.”
Knowledgeable staff encourage tasting and will suggest flavors and ideas for using their delicious and healthy products. Even the most reluctant home chef will be inspired to get creative in the kitchen after sampling the seemingly endless flavor combinations in the store.
“I think that the oil and vinegar make really great gifts because I’ve spent about 30 years in the restaurant industry, and in that time I realized our most basic relationships are built around food,” Ms. Davis said. “The idea that you can bring some of this in and people will share it with others and create, it’s just really a unique thought process behind putting together a gift for someone.”
The shop also offers accessories for the home and entertaining. Charcuterie boards, cutting boards and dipping plates are among some of the items as well as pesto, organic pastas, gift boxes and more!
Family Experiences
GENE M. MARCHAND/ENTERPRISE
Surrounded by a lighted landscape, Hannah Harrison, 9, blows out a flame on her stick while roasting marshmallows with her father, Peter Harrison, at Heritage Museums & Gardens.
Heritage Museums & Gardens in Sandwich offers many experiences and events that provide the opportunity for a gift that can be shared with friends and family, especially with grandparents and grandchildren. From the Gardens Aglow light extravaganza between Thanksgiving and ending with Christmas to the initial flowering of rhododendrons in spring, the museum is a wealth of entertainment, awe and wonder for all to see.
“The wonderful thing about our gardens is that they are seasonal, so we start out the season by seeing huge blossoms of rhododendrons that gently fall into the summer season when you see our signature hydrangeas and then as fall comes to a close, we are enchanted with the vibrancy of the fall season,” said Judith Goetz, director of marketing and public relations.
Visit the automobile museum to see 23 original American automobiles from the late 1800s to the 1960s. It’s an opportunity to show your children and grandchildren some history and start conversations about what it was like to grow up with these cars and how they have changed over the years.
Admire an outdoor sculpture display like the one this past year, “Bugs, Birds and Bricks,” a Lego-inspired exhibit by brick artist Cody Wells, also known as C3Brix.
GENE M. MARCHAND/ENTERPRISE
Visitors at Heritage Museums and Gardens “Gardens Aglow” strole along a path, taking in the awesome spectacle of lights.
A ride on the carousel will surely please all ages of your friends and family.
The museum also offers the opportunities to purchase sustainable gifts to support the museum and gardens as well as honor and memorialize a friend or family member. The commemoratives include an engraved brick with your name and family, a tree dedication, tribute bench or a rhododendron named after you or a loved one.
All that Heritage has to offer can complete your gift-giving in no time, even if it is a one-day visit for a special event.
“What is nice about it is grandparents bringing grandchildren, friends and families, and the larger spectrum of the community is that they get to enjoy Heritage from some of things they enjoyed as a child,” Ms. Goetz said. “They can stroll the property and spend quality time with each other with the cellphone off and to enjoy that moment connecting with their family making memories.”