In early 2019, Laura was midway through the construction of Heartwood Preserve's welcome center. A central wall in the reception area was to be a focal point. She wanted it to somehow utilize the massive longleaf pines she had salvaged from her family's ranch. Her sister Sarah had several times suggested she contact her old high school buddy, J.R., now a woodworker who lived in the area and would gladly give her some ideas on what could be done. Finally Laura called him and they made plans to meet. The visit started at Heartwood with a cup of hot tangerine tea, entailed lunch, easy banter, a long walk to see various piles of barn wood and pine planks, mutual admiring of the qualities of heart pine, lasted 4 hours, and ended way too quickly.