May and June in the Construction Zone

We've been in the zone! The Construction zone, that is. While we've been digging trenches, dealing with major plumbing repairs, busting concrete and plaster, and pouring cement on the inside, our fine city has been doing the same on the main downtown street outside.

We've gotten to meet our new "neighbors." All the business owners surrounding our shop. They have been so encouraging! Thanks!

Our kids have been amazing. On concrete day, the truck showed up an hour early, before all our helpers. All three kiddos jumped in....one shoveling, one screeing, and the other moving empty wheelbarrows into place! We were all very thankful when Tom and Rod showed! Thanks!

We have a Building!

Right in the heart of Downtown Redmond! 436 SW 6th st! This building used to be a Sears catalog store, a bakery, an office supply store, and a kid's resale shop. Now we're giving it a good dose of Mandy-ness, along with Pat's practical-ness. Last week we just enjoyed having passed that HUGE hurdle of finding an awesome location by roller-blading on the soon-to-be ripped out tile floor, and having a big potluck. This weekend the tiles begin coming out, and a big chunk of the floor gets ripped out for new pipes! Stay tuned!

Making Progress

To all of you who anxiously awaiting Redmond's finest coffeehouse: THANKS!!!

It is so encouraging, every day, to be asked about the progress. People other than ourselves are as excited by this as we are. But, it makes me realize that I need to keep you all updated better. Soo.......

In the last 3 1/2 months we have:

• roasted over 50lbs of coffee (maybe not much by you large roaster companies, but when you're talking 50lbs cup by cup in a popcorn popper....we're doing pretty good!)
• used 6 popcorn poppers
• replaced 2 popcorn poppers
• put in 2 lease offers
• interviewed 6 contractors
• cupped 6 different coffees
• been amazed at God's "minor purchasing miracles" for objects d'art for the coffee house
• relied heavily on our amazing Realtor
• pulled into a drive-in coffee kiosk to "check out the competition", and heard 3 little voices from the back seat yell out "I want a hazelnut latte." Aren't they too young for that?
• attended meetings with a CPA and attorney
• Set up a paypal account & shipped our coffee over 150 miles away. (If this would be helpful to you, email us at pat@plowsharecoffee.com and we'll get your coffee to you ASAP!)

There's more, but this is getting to be a long blog. There are still a lot of hoops to jump through, papers to sign and construction-y things to happen. For those of you that pray, keep us covered...life has been stressful, but good lately.

Our first Public Appearance!

Our soon-to-be Plowshare coffeehouse is partnering with two local churches to show the movie: Lord Save Us From Your Followers. This documentary explores the collision between faith and culture in America.

Come have a yummy latte and join the conversation!

Sunday, January 18th
5:30pm
at The Bridge
2398 West Antler Avenue
Redmond, Oregon

So....what happened to that coffee house?

(This was originally posted in November 08 on www.creatinggoodsoil.blogspot.com
I'm sure you don't want to hear all the excuses...computer problems, school started, an experiment in community living, etc. We're still working towards the coffeehouse dream.
The last few months has been remarkably similar to the gardening process. Right now we are in the winter months of garden planning. We've been thumbing through the catalog pages of everything the coffeehouse could be: for profit, non-profit, small, large, a music venue, a meal-for-the- homeless site during off hours, downtown, ministry, etc.
We've sticky noted ideas we like. We have named the coffee house: Plowshare Coffee House (in reference to Micah chapter 4.) We have been roasting coffee in very small quantities from home. We practice our latte art. (This photo is one of my first pours!)
We've drawn up some plans in colored pencil. We are in the process of discovering how viable our hope of being a non-profit might be. Next week we'll be attending a meeting that might clarify some of that.
Soon, we'll need to put away the catalogs, sticky notes, and colored pencils, and actually commit to placing our order. So...pray for us as we get closer to that next season.