Sadly, some time afterwards, She had Passed away,

 and the home where His chidhood friend grew up,

 was sold.

The new owners, whaving their own landscaping plans,

 had sadly cut down the Tree, which was 22 yrs old according to its ring count,

 each ring counting as 1 yr.

Robert went on to tell Me that He was really sad to see it cut,

 and

one night, He'd gone over

 to the pile of cut wood,

and took home this very log below,

with hopes that someday, He might find someone like Me,

 to turn it into a "Memorial" gift,

 to

present to His best Friend.

 Like I said, Robert & Lauren  contacted Me after finding My website

 after a Search inline, an after several inquiries prior to me,

they called and  asked if I might be able to do this for them,

 and...

 have it ready to give as a Christmas Gift.

<<< YIKES ! >>>

Well, it was almost holloween,

but I was so moved by this beautiful story they'd told Me,

 I just couldn't turn them down although as I stated earlier,

It was end of My season,

( I just don't work well in the cold wintertime due to my physical difficulties )

But how could I possibly resist doing this for them ?

After hearing this truly beautiful story of long lasting friendship

 and

 devotion to His best friend ?

I was hooked.

It wasn't about money,

it was about the task asked of Me.

 I was so Honored they'd  chosen and asked Me

to be a part of such a beautiful thought

as the one they shared with me,

I just couldn't refuse and get any sleep the rest of my days !

So I agreed to their budget confines,

and to their request to not use anything

to disguise the wood,leaving it natural,grainy

and glossy.

 I took the log they'd brought Me,

 and studied it carefully.

I feared the "leaving it natural"

part was going to require all of My skill if

I was going to pull this off successfully !

 It really  wasn't the Best specimen of wood to work with,

having many cracks and checks from aging,

 and Lots of Pine Sap still drying. 

 I was prettyconcerned!

 Most of all,

I couldn't bare to disappoint

 these really nice people

especially at Christmas time of all times !

However once I had seen its possibities,

 It was time to take

 the 

CHAINSAW

to it !

Now, I could turn it into useable lumber

from which to begin My task.

 Once I had cut 

the log into this---->  

and now had enough useable wood to begin creating

 what was revealed to me within the wood itself.

 While carefully studying the Wood Grain,

I noticed to My pleasant surprise,

 that there was a  Dove locked away

 within this tree all the time!

Look below

 and

see if You can spot the Doves Head,Beak,and tail?

        See it ? Heads down.

It was as if The Dove were hidden there inside

 all the time,

waiting to be set free at last !

Well, Now that I had what I was looking for

and

 My work began in earnest.

Despite the many cracks in the wood,

which may have prevented Me from continuing

 but

 the closer I got to the Heart of the wood,

the more I I realized that I could truly be able to

 free this Dove at last !

I was Overjoyed !

 And now,finally...

From this Pile of Simple Pine Wood,

 and

many  hours of intensive care, labor and detailing,

 I was finally able to help

 this Dove,

to

 fulfill its own destiny !

I am pleased

 to

 present You with...

Mounted on a Maple Ring cut

 and a

 Routed Pine base.

 It's Finished

 with

 High Gloss, "Glass" like polyurethane.

 which will last a lifetime...

 and

 hopefully for many generations more !

I  do hope you enjoyed this story,

 as much as I enjoyed sharing it

 and 

creating this comissioned sculpture

for this wonderful couple  !

I would be so very pleased to do the same thing for You !

and hope You'll consider  My work,

 should You too desire a Keepsake,

like the one I created above.