Shopping

story by Charis Patires Tis’ the season at Country Crossroads

If you are looking for something unique for the holidays or have a list of people to shop for Christmas gifts, Country Crossroads in Osage Beach has a festive variety of merchandise that fills the 5,000-square-foot store. Christmas villages, door mats and flags, Thanksgiving decor, garden gnomes, decorative quilts and a selection of other fun and nicelypriced gifts is what’s been brining shoppers to Country

Crossroads for more than 30 years.

Eye-appealing displays and holiday cheer will inspire you to decorate your home and pick up a few gifts for that someone special. This year’s trees are sparkling with themes of Sweet and Savory Gingerbread, Merry

Moose, Holiday Gnomes for Homes, Beautiful Blues,

Mesmerizing Mercury Glass and more. Staff specifically located gorgeous handmade mercury glass ornaments from a family-owned business in Poland.

“We did this to directly support that part of our world who is helping Ukrainians,” store manager Selynn

Barbour said.

Thanksgiving and Christmas kitchen towels with fun sayings and designs are plentiful. Towels pair nicely with a favorite bottle of wine or enhances any gift basket.

The “reason for the season,” the birth of baby Jesus, can easily be found in a nice selection of nativity sets and ornaments, including fabrics ones for children to enjoy playing with.

Dazzling with swirling glitter within water spinners are holiday scenes in miniature. Their interior lights brighten up any gift recipient’s face as well as the home or office. Most lanterns are on timers to come on and go off each evening at the same time.

The very popular soft quilts and velvety throws come in over-sized sizes and some with a feet pocket. The store has a variety of Made in the USA items including holiday scent sachets, candles and home sprays, as well as warm Aspen Mulling Spiced Cider — a holiday staple to serve at parties and on cool nights curled up at home. Customers truly look forward to coming in to decorate their homes with the large holiday flags with matching door decor, doormats, mailbox wraps and yard stakes. Some are made in Missouri.

Several events are being held. On Nov. 5, Kansas

City-based Lana Stenner will be giving demonstrations, sharing recipes and signing her new book “The Grace

Filled Homestead, Lessons I’ve Learned about Faith,

Family and the Farm” from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. On Nov. 12,

Lake local Charlie O’Neill will be sharing her skillfully sewn items and line of “Wollies” to keep you and yours

warm with her handcrafted mittens, scarves, hats and impressive purses. Country Crossroad’s Traditional Christmas Open House is Nov. 19 with homemade refreshments, drawings and specials. Don’t miss Shop Small Saturday, always held the last Saturday in November with fun surprises planned store-wide. December may bring live carolers bellowing out Christmas cheer. Feel free to sing along while shopping and get caught up in the holiday spirit. A gaming Saturday is in the works, too. Go to Country Crossroads on Facebook or online for more details.

Free gift bagging with coordinating tissue and ribbons is available for most gifts.

Country Crossroads began in Osage Beach in 1989 in Palisades Village and a second store, Crossroads II, was located in the Stonecrest Mall. The stores were expanded and moved in 2013 to the Yankee Peddler building next to Lake Regional Hospital on Osage Beach Parkway where they are located today.

“Our shop may have opened only 34 years ago but retailing has been in our family for six generations in Kansas,” Selynn said. “We are a family owned and operated business that values family and its many blessings. We thankfully work very well together knowing what needs to be done often without asking.”

Staff takes time to make certain every item sold is in perfect condition before going on display. From the lights to seams in clothing, attention to detail is what sets Country Crossroads apart.

“We are truly honored with our customers, generations now, that return again and again and become valued friends,” Selynn said. “We are thankfully every day we welcome folks in by calling them by name and meet and greet new friends with smiles to help make happy hearts and homes.”

STORE INFO

Location: 5831 Osage Beach Pkwy., Osage Beach Hours: OPEN YEAR ROUND, DAILY, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Contact: 573-348-0606 Online: countrycrossroads.com Facebook: Country Crossroads