I was splitting away some of the shagbark hickory I had cut down a couple months back, and was constantly taken aback by the sheer beauty of the wood. The contrasting colors, the luster of the heartwood, and texture of the grain all made me sad that I had cut them down. The wood would have been awesome for furniture, and now I'll throw it in the stove in a couple of years. It will amaze me then as well, when it burns hotter than Hades.