Popular Christmas gifts range from 21st century technology to vinyl records

Seven-month-old Savannah and 3-year-old Levi inspect a collectible toy washing machine from the 1940's or 1950's, a popular gift for Christmas at Accents Etc. in downtown McCook. The two cuties are the children of Tiffany and Scottie Walker of Trenton. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette)

McCOOK, Neb. -- The most popular -- and hardest to find -- Christmas toy this year has been a magical creature that hatches and talks baby talk. While that sounds cute and cuddly, another popular Christmas gift this season has been the "Angry Mama."

Parents shopping for "Hatchimals" had a hard time finding these eggs that hatch into babbling and cooing fur babies at the WalMart store in McCook, where toy department personnel reported them as a very popular Christmas gift this year. "The Hatchimals are the most popular Christmas toy, and the least accessible," said a toy department representative.

"Oh, and drones, and trampolines," she said. "The remote control Reaper drone is popular." And the store received and sold out of 24 14-foot trampolines.

At the other end of the shopping spectrum, ages-old toy stoves and washing machines have been good sellers at the antiques shop Accents Etc. in downtown McCook. Owner Betty Kenner said that the metal toys from the 1940s and 1950s were oft-requested collectibles, reminding baby boomer-shoppers of their childhoods.

And vinyl records ... "Young people are buying these" for the listening experience, however, Betty said, one antiques dealer lazer-cuts silhouette figures from vinyl records, and those have been popular as well.

Just up the block, Knowlen & Yates owner Mike Ford reports that "Angry Mamas" have sold very well in his shop this shopping season. "It's a microwave cleaner, with a scowl on her face," Mike explained. The steam escaping through the holes in her head makes MW clean-up much easier, he said. "She makes a good stocking-stuffer."

Next door, at "Painted Ladies," Sherri Uerling reports that their best sellers have been purses, jewelry, and -- surprising to herself and her co-owners -- pillows. Decorative throw pillows have been great sellers, Sherri said.

Across Norris Avenue, jeweler Bill Longnecker reports good sales of "shimmering diamonds" in movable settings, and two-stone rings and pendants commemorating friendship and true love.

The cold weather of the last couple weeks drove sales at two popular farm/ranch/home stores in McCook.

James Thompson of Orscheln's Farm & Home said that with the cold snap of last week, they have sold lots of winter clothing and coats, and small portable room heaters.

"Power tools are always popular Christmas items," James said, listing drills, grinders and grease guns. John Deere tractors top the toy list at Orscheln's.

Coats and outerwear are also popular at Tractor Supply. Manager Jason Davis said they're almost out of holiday decor, and there's been quite a run on all of the unique toys that fill the store's shelves at Christmas time.

Nation-wide, the Hatchimal was the trend-setter, as well as anything "Trolls" and "Moana."

For adults, it as "Google Home," wireless gaming headsets and virtual reality headsets, and "FitBit" fitness trackers.