A little show'n tell: re my post about our Mall excursion, I've been looking forward to visiting one of the Kultura Filipina stores here since our arrival. They always have a variety of shapes and sizes of plates and trays made out of Monkeypod (Acacia) wood: cured, sealed with whatever so they're safe for serving food, etc. And perfect for me and my xacto knives and carving tools. My supply was dwindling in Bothell when I was carving the 4 pieces from fragments left over from larger pieces. I like to carve wood when my eyes get tired from other activities. Not the best photos, but the large round piece (12") was from last year I think, and the rectangle tray was something I started just before leaving Bothell. The three plates I purchased yesterday are 10" in diameter, and they were p349 (pesos) each, $5.92 each in US. A little pricey I guess, but nice grains and perfect for what I want to do right now. "Visit Kultura Filipino stores across the Philippines and immerse yourself in the beauty of Filipino culture." I'm hoping to network over time and find some other sources.