I think most of you know that my parents moved to the Caribbean back in September. They miss their grandkids, but they're absolutely loving life on the island. Here's an email that I received from them and just had to share.
"The reason I titled this email the way I did is because Mike and I were cross island today to venture into cabinet shopping. Now this was not our first trip to check places out but probably the one that I thought (in my mind) would be the most productive. So, as the story goes we loaded up in our little truck and headed for "Elwin's Cabinet Shop" in French Harbor, about a 35 minute drive. There , we were to meet Howard (our island contractor). Well, we have seen the "Elwin's Cabinet Shop" sign many times when we have been shopping in French Harbor but have never driven up the lane to visit the establishment. Here we go up the lane - paying close attention in and out of trees and bungalows to make sure we see it. Nope, end of lane we are in some local's driveway. Now, how could we have missed a cabinet shop? We turned around and headed back along the lane - sure enough if you looked hard enough to our left, through the jungle, there was a wooden building with a few boards laying against it. SURE enough there it was "Elwin's Cabinet Shop". No sign age or arrows - just kinda looked like it could possibly be! We followed a lane around the end of this small building and as we passed the window opening (with no glass) Mike exclaimed "look there is a white painted cabinet door" and low and behold dangling by a string in the window with no glass was a cabinet door painted white spinning in the breeze to dry. How innovative!! Well, no one there (out of 3 people) spoke any English. Then Howard (our island contractor) showed up to help us out. I have to admit it didn't go to bad. It is just so different and such culture shock. Very little equipment and probably the overall shop was 20' x 35'. The wood species are totally different and some of the woods that we like are "illegal". So we didn't want to risk that someone would come during the production of our cabinetry and take them away (which does happen). The government here in Honduras changed the first of the year so during the change over they have been cutting illegal woods on the mainland until the new government catches up with them. Well, we discussed a few things and I demonstrated the new concealed closure glide that I brought over here from Crestwood. They were quite infatuated with it. We picked a wood species (we've never heard of before - and can't remember to repeat to you what it was - that they are going to try some stain and lacquer on and bring to us Monday and visit the job site. Well, we will see how it goes, but surprisingly enough they seemed to do about the nicest work that I have seen on the island. Now it's not Crestwood but hey - it's the island man!
If we would take the time to take pictures along our island travels - we think we could make one funny movie. You just see some really funny things and funny signs. Like a man on a bike pulling what seems to be a bed frame, headboard and footboard strapped to a couple of wheels. Maybe he was moving???"
A few pics of the house they're building.
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