We're a daily publication, but many of our special sections and Elegant Living magazine are planned months out. I'll never forget a photo shoot we did on a hot August day at Rose Hill Manor, stoking flames in the large stone fireplace to have a compelling background for a feature we were doing in the winter edition on hot and hearty soups to beat the cold weather.

The same thing, but in reverse, happened when we were shooting the cover for a spring issue. It was a February afternoon with a wind chill factor I'd like to forget, when our models chucked their winter coats and quickly got in place for a picnic in a meadow scene.

Currently, we're working on two holiday publications that will be included in your regular paper, one on Nov. 11 and the other on Dec. 2, so it's all about visions of sugar plums dancing in our heads as we also take care of the day-to-day coverage.

Not that we're complaining about the extra work, but here's where readers can lend a hand in the content of these two tabloids. We're asking local cooks and bakers to send us their favorite holiday recipes. With the first publication coming nearly two weeks before Thanksgiving, we'd like to include your version of cranberry relish or special candied yams with the recipes, as well as instructions for Christmas cookies or latkes that come later in the season.

But don't just stop with a recipe. We'd also like to include a few paragraphs about the recipe's origin or why it's special to you and your family. You can also send in a photo of you making the treat, or people enjoying the fruits of your labor. (Guess I'm not allowed to ask for samples.)

The deadline for sending in your material is Oct. 16, but the sooner the better. Recipes can be e-mailed to Candy Lookingbill (clookingbill@newspost.com), who is compiling the publication. Use "recipe" in the subject line. Please include a phone number and the town or city where you reside. If you'd like to mail in a submission, send to Candy Lookingbill, 351 Ballenger Center Drive, Frederick , MD 21703.

The second holiday publication, the one on Dec. 2, will contain letters to Santa from area youngsters. We've already received a few crayon-scrawled letters from kids who obviously don't believe in waiting until the last minute. These letters can be mailed to The News-Post: again, our address is 351 Ballenger Center Drive, Frederick , MD 21703, addressed to "Santa." We also welcome kids to draw pictures that can be included in the publication.

Both tabloids will be filled with activities and events for the upcoming holidays, from collecting gifts for the needy to sending cookies to troops away from home, so send those to me at nluse@newspost.com and we can get the word out.