Very early one morning when I had almost completed the writing of this book, I awoke with a picture in my mind.  It was my first conscious thought, and came before I had even opened my eyes.  The picture was a painting filled with symbolisms.  My own mind didn’t create it.  It was one of those things that’s given to you when you’re receptive.  I got up, sketched it out, took my sketch to Heidi, and asked if she would be capable of reproducing what I’d seen in my mind.  She did it exactly.

Quail are my favorite birds.

Aspens are my favorite trees.

The fall of the year is my favorite season.

At the base of a mountain is my favorite place to live.

At the base of the stump is Margie caring for our 10 little ones.

I’m the cock quail standing on the stump keeping watch over his family.

Fall is awfully late to be having a family, but I’ve seen quail hatch broods in August and successfully raise them.  Margie and I had our brood very late in the season, too.