Last year at this time, we at The News kicked around the idea of a new special section for the holidays.  We imagined it as something you could pull out of the newspaper and save for future reference.  We wanted it filled with inspiration for baking, decorating, and gift-giving that came from our own community, not from the offices of editors in New York City, or even Des Moines. 

What does Christmas in our little patch of Southeastern Iowa look like?  Do you decorate your yard with rusty metal pig sculptures, dressed in red scarves?  Do you haul your giant chicken statue out into the cut cornfields and put a Santa hat on it?  For holiday lights, do you insist on bulb strings in Highland red, or Mid-Prairie and Lone Tree black and gold?

What are your favorite holiday meats and sweets?  Do you deep fry turkey legs, or honey glaze a ham?  Do all of your holiday cookie recipes contain peanut butter?  Does your potato salad contain eggs? If the strawberry tapioca didn’t make it to the table, would your family complain?

What local gifts do your far-away friends and family demand?  Jerky and sticks from Bud’s Custom Meats?  An Iowa-shaped cutting board from JK Creative?  A box of turtles from Kalona Chocolates?

We put out our Holiday Celebration Guide in our Dec. 1 issue last year, and it was a success.  But this year we want more of your contributions.  Please send us photos of your home decorated for the holidays; your tips and how-to’s for your favorite winter crafts; your stories, memories, and traditions; your recipes for the foods you look forward to indulging in all year. 

Please help us create a guide that reflects our community’s take on the holidays.  Surprise us with your mango pie.  Delight us with your Boxing Day tacos.  Enchant us with your perfect black and whites.  Your willingness to share could help us all discover a new favorite tradition.

Send your photo, story, and recipe contributions by Nov. 7 to news@thenews-ia.com or stop by The News office Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.  We’re located at 419 B Avenue, Kalona.