No, it’s not former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta…

Nor is it famous Communist mover and shaker Leon Trotsky. It’s not even former heavyweight boxing champion Leon Spinks…
Although, wow, that giant toothless grin really speaks volumes…

No, today is June 25.  Yes, the 25th day of the sixth month of the year. What happens on the 25th day of the twelfth month? You got it. Noel – also known as Christmas. (Just where did the first half of 2014 get off to?) This, of course, also means that Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, along with every other winter holiday – is about six months away as well.

Which means – you guessed it – it’s time to start the process of thinking about building holiday gifts.

Now, I’m sure that most of us are probably thinking about summer vacations, but it’s my duty to remind you that – for many of us – our productive shop season is when the temperatures are warm and comfortable. When we have time to look at and evaluate dozens of potential plans. When we have the time to order not only the lumber for our gifts, but the appropriate hardware and tooling we are going to need to complete the job.

Maybe even it’s a good time to develop those necessary skills that we are going to need to call upon at the last possible minute to pull the holiday miracle out of our hats.

Well, my promise to you is that I will be holding the second annual Last Minute Elf week from December 7 through 13 this year, and I hope that this year’s event will be bigger than last year’s.

For now, however, why not take a look at the entries from last year’s Last Minute Elf entries to get some good ideas of projects and finishes you might want to try in your shop this year.

You know, to get ahead of the massive holiday rush, before it rolls up on you.

Until then, Happy Leon, everyone!