An Exclusive video and a few last thoughts.

Friends:

The end of the year is upon us and (if we’re lucky) we have a few days to rest, to read a book by the fire, to bake cookies and eat them hot off the pan. If we’re lucky, our work and our family will cut us a break for maybe one precious week where everything can just stop.

Just like most years, I arrive at the end, skidding to a stop after a mad, months-long rush to finish this project and that project, double check them, and get them out in time for the holiday season. December is the busy time for those of us in content-creation. It’s a rising swell of mad activity to polish up our best things and deliver them while folks are in a buying mood.

This frantic rush lets us skim the cream off the fat times of December, when eyeballs are glued to screens and advertising rates are high. My colleagues and I scramble to put away a little something to tide us over during the chilly desert of January and February, when views fall and the gift-giving budget is long spent.

And so I’m ready for a short break. I’ve built a new bench, released a course, and brought a new tool into the world. Even to me, these seem like small contributions.  But they’re mine, and I’m proud of them.

I’m also very grateful for my Patrons and the fine community we’ve built here. I’ve seen many of the gifts from the Secret Santa and I’m stunned. The creativity, craftsmanship, and generosity of you all continues to amaze me. Thank you for the time and care you’ve put into building and maintaining our community. I’m humbled by your efforts.

Seeing what you all did, I had to finish the year with one more video, just for Patrons. So here’s the last one of 2022: a few reflections, a lovely vintage tool, and some plans for the future. I hope you enjoy it. I’m going to decompress for a week and then get back to work and when I see you in January, I’ll have some exciting things to share.

And just like always, you’ll get the best of what I have, you’ll get if free as often as I can, and you’ll get everything early.

It’s the least I can do.

Happy Holidays to you and your families. I wish you health and safety, the warmth of friends, the savor of the feast and a long winter’s sleep where sore muscles and tired eyes might heal and snap to life again, renewed.

--Rex