Disliking holiday crowds as I do, plus wanting to shop locally, and with renewed inspiration and spirit, I headed for Northwest Hardware Store (3916 Far West Boulevard, telephone 345-6691). I can’t report a lot about what I bought there; that would be divulging the secrets of Santa Claus. I will, however, say that this is a great place to go for Radio Flyer wagons of all types, three sizes of old-fashioned children’s tricycles, slingshots, Daisy air rifles, garden tools, and much, much more, all in a small store with two knowledgeable people to answer every question. I will say that I had two keys made and came away with a handsome adjustable offset pair of lawn shears. If you edge and trim yourself, you know what I’m talking about.

Headed home, we couldn’t resist a stop at Lammes Candies, open until 6 pm today. As always, in addition to the usual pralines, sherbet mints, nut barks, candied orange peel dipped in dark chocolate, fruit slices, divinity, and other old favorites, this year’s gelt (chocolate coins in silver, gold, and copper foil) included coins with an outline of Texas on one side and an armadillo with personality on the other. There were also milk-chocolate shapes wrapped in festive colored foil that included three-dimensional stars in dark chocolate as well as an assortment of “wrapped packages.”

We were happy to be sidetracked by Lammes. If we hadn’t been able to cross the last items off our lists at Northwest Hardware, it would have been on to Zinger and then to Breed & Co., both of which have more additional temptations beyond hardware. Now, I’m fortified to write the last remaining holiday letters. What a beautiful day!