A Heart for Shelby

One of ipernity's fine personalities is my friend Shelby, who is as talented as she is sweet and wonderful. She also has a darling habit of finding hearts in pictures and pointing them out. If she doesn't find a heart, she finds something sweet to add a ❤ symbol to.

Today while I was puttering up the hillside, studying everything I passed by, I found myself staring at one of Shelby's hearts! Now, how did she get here, I wonder?! :D Shelby, I know your heart's been hurting over the loss of your dear kitty, Frisco, but I hope this picture will make you smile and lighten your heart just a little. *big hugs*

By the way, this heart is actually a special formation on some tree trunks called a burl. Wiki's description says, "A burl (American English) or bur or burr (used in all non-US English speaking countries) is a tree growth in which the grain has grown in a deformed manner. It is commonly found in the form of a rounded outgrowth on a tree trunk or branch that is filled with small knots from dormant buds."

Burls are very special because the wood inside is often a beautiful swirled texture of two colors and they are prized by woodworkers for creating magnificent wood items like pens, bowls, clocks, and many other things. If you would like to read more about burls from Wiki, you can read the article here: Wikipedia: Burl. If you would like to see pictures of items created from manzanita burls, you can see some here:
Google Image Search: Manzanita Burl

Thanks again, Shelby, for the sweet notes that I love to read on everyone's pictures that you visit. You make me smile every time I see them! :)