majell and dave beach

2009-03-29T15:03:00.000-07:00

I have lost my affections for blogging. I will admit it. I have sold myself out to plastering my feelings and cares on facebook. My poor, poor blog. Don't worry, we are doing just fine. Majell and I are still enjoying each other and she is still way better looking than me. Our big news is that we are going to Brasil this summer. Majell may not return, but we will see. I know that I will probably return solo and let her stay down there as long as possible. Can't wait for summer! Maybe our blog will just turn into our summer vacation photo posting station.... Only time will tell.

Pura Vida!

2008-08-21T16:21:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone. Majell and I are home from Costa Rica and had such a wonderful time. We met up with my friend Andrea (who used to be an exchange student with my family back in high school) and stayed in Cartago for a couple days. We then journeyed out to Puerto Viejo (Andrea to join the next day) on the Caribbean side and later went back to the Pacific for a week and stayed in a town called Playa Flamingo. We have so many stories and pictures, but not really the energy to tell or show all at the moment. SO- here are a few pictures from the trip. Maybe I will get some more up down the road. We missed all of our awesome friends and family and were so thankful for Heidi Rowles for house sitting and hanging out with our little Tuesday while we were gone. We love that we had a great coffee shop to return to and a wonderful town to come back to. Love you all and hope to see you soon. -Dave

Here ye here ye.

2008-07-13T15:09:00.001-07:00

Don't worry, Dave and Majell are still here. It has been a while since much blogging has gone on. Life is tough and blogging hasn't been the first thing on the list of things to do lately. Today we sat around all morning and planned our trip to Costa Rica. We leave on August 5th and get back on the the 19th. Our plans are to enjoy the Central Valley for a few days (coffee farms, historic Cartago, food, hanging with Andrea, etc.), then go stay up on the northern stretch of the Nicoya Peninsula for a good while and then finish the trip on the Caribbean in Cahuita and Puerto Viejo (we will be only a few miles from Panama...????). Maybe we will check out Panama, who knows? So excited and boy do we need this trip. Hope everyone is having a wonderfully hot summer!

Vive el sueno.

2008-04-20T18:58:00.000-07:00

So I had a bizarre afternoon dream and am currently questioning the Lord's plan for my life. First off my good friend Kevin Wright often says "LTD," or live the dream to the layperson, which I usually pass off as a witty saying without specific direction. Kinda like, what's up or how goes.?.?.?. Well this afternoon I had a delightful afternoon dream of living a simple life in Costa Rica, filled with mellow days, mellow surf, great food and great living. I woke up and realized that my life was still the same (a wonderful life no doubt, but no Costa Rica life change for sure). Late this afternoon I was scanning the world wide web for property in Costa Rica and stumbled upon a site: suenos.org meaning "dreams.org". Visiting the site I have now found my new property and am anxiously awaiting the new move to Costa Rica. God doesn't have to hit me over the head to realize this is where I need to be. What is the next step, you might be asking? Just $625,000 is all that is stopping this move. Please visit this website, check out my new property and if you feel led give me some dough. Pura Vida & LTD, Right? -Dave.

Scones.

2008-04-12T10:08:00.000-07:00

This morning my wife awoke and decided to make the best scones ever for her hubby. Today marks our first day off together in over a month where we plan on doing absolutely nothing. A little reading, a little bike riding and a little cleaning of the house maybe. Who knows? The weather today is a bright and a shiny 70 or so and the birds are chirping. Does Bend get a glimpse of spring today? I think so. This past week we had some friends from Scotland surprise us and show up at Backporch on Monday morning. So random. She was in town for work training and he was in town to drink coffee at Backporch. Lovely time had by all, centered around beer, pool at Silver Moon, harmonious friendship in action, and the launch of "The Office," which wasn't a knockout (overly awkward moments of Michael and Jan) but a good startup episode. Good week, but too quick for them to be gone already. Ned Beach is in his last 33% of chemo. He had an outstanding week of chemo and seems to be in good strength and spirit. That was a blessing for us all this week. Keep him in your prayers. Not much on the too close a horizon for the Beaches, although we are anxiously awaiting our two week adventure down to Costa Rica. So excited and boy do I need to work on my Spanish. I have been minorly obsessed with scooters once again. Majell isn't excited again also.... My beautiful elite is entering it's second season without starting. This is all because of an ill educated mechanic named Tom. He sucks at replacing tires and somehow my bike's starting is now messed up because he changed my tires???? What the heck? Don't worry, I have no hatred in my heart... maybe just a little. I did have Crazy Mike (orange stella guy) come into the shop last week and he has offered to help me get it running so that was great news. What else can I ramble on about? Probably nothing. No new beer making lately, although I am planning to do so in the near future- probably a lite beer similar to the Cascade Ale, minus the lemony flavor. I am shying away from the overly hoppy flavor beer right now for some reason. Majell and I are questioning what spring is doing to our cats. We think they are overly aroused for some reason. Kinda freakin us out right now. Somewhat possessed maybe, who knows? I am impressed if someone has read this far, so precious stones in your crown to whoever you are. Peace-dave

Every Young Man's Dream.

2008-02-20T21:09:00.001-08:00

To grow a sick mustache.

Dave has issues....

2008-02-01T17:03:00.001-08:00

Every time I go to Freeman Motors in Bend I get this crazy "I want to go into more debt" feeling. Today, this was the car of choice. My stomach now hurts and the desire to cruise this bad boy around town has over taken my soul (maybe you just have to sit in one to acquire such a feeling). Like I said, "Dave has issues..."

opps....

2008-01-27T19:34:00.000-08:00

A belated wedding gift from the legendary Brian Martin. This is a coffee plant on my arm and Majell's tattoo(s) are coffee cherries that are missing from my coffee branches. Truly amazing artwork done by Mike Toth at Endure Studios in Bend.

strange evening, soup, truck and dogs

2008-01-06T15:38:00.000-08:00

Oh what a night. There has been massive snow fall in Bend which is both good and bad. Good because we desperately need it and bad because people suck at driving in it. Here is a perfect example. Yes that is a picture of a truck in our backyard. Here is how it all unfolded: dave gets home to make a nice soup dinner for his wife, he notices that the whole road behind them is blocked off (due to an accident) as he pulls into his driveway, power has been off as he resets his clocks, he starts the delicious soup and lets it simmer ( a trick his wife has shown him ), quietly he resides in his bedroom to read his bible and relax anxiously awaiting his wife's return, suddenly he hears a terrible accident and then realizes that this "accident" is occuring in his back/ side yard, with great stamina he jumps to the window to see such a suprise: a 2007 Nissan pickup in his yard! Such an answer to prayer as he has been wanting a new car and crazy enough, this is how the Lord works. Then suddenly he realizes that this isn't just a gift from "on high," but possibly a drunken wreck with some idiot inside. Dashing outside to help he finds that this man a) sucks at driving and b) was on his cell phone. Next the driver asks "Do you think I can just drive it out of here?" That is when my keen intellect came in and said "You must be stupid." Well actually I just said you won't be driving anywhere mister. And then I hand cuffed him and tied him down with my leather belt and a paper clip... very MacGyver eh? Actually I am just getting carried away. The police did show up and immediately made fun of the driver. And then our power went out. And that is our weird Saturday evening story. Oh and the dogs: he had two poor little dogs in the car with him that we had to take care of until the police showed. Note to self: slow down and adjust to road conditions or they will naturally do it for you, as seen in pictures above. Also don't talk on a cell phone if you can't multi-task while doing so.

Blast from the Past!

2008-01-01T09:30:00.000-08:00

Just something fun for you all to view... my husband and I traveling through time! We put on a surprise 80's birthday party for our friend this summer and last night, for New Year's Eve, our homegroup did a fundraiser for a local homeless soup kitchen where the theme was "Boogie Nights." Naturally we went garbed in 70's attire. I had to take my Aunt Marty to the thrift store with me to find something suitable because I just couldn't figure out what exactly 70's style was... I think I did okay...

Christmas and Birthday Pics...

2007-12-30T22:13:00.000-08:00

So this here is the wonderful Christmas tree that was searched for, high and low, and finally discovered and cut down. Truly the gem of the forest. It was a white fir and as you can see it was rather large, as it barely fit on top of the soobie. Dave, not too confident in his tree tying skills, was stressed and sweating it the whole way home thinking that at any moment the tree would release itself from the roof and pose serious threat to the car driving behind. Luckily Dave is no fool and the tree made it home safely. So here it is. Oh and Dave, being the great husband that he is, surprised Majell for her birthday that same night and packed the house with wonderful people to help celebrate her 25th birthday. Here are a few photos from the event.

Cutest Couple Ever....

2007-12-23T15:40:00.000-08:00

Our Update.

2007-10-08T20:34:00.000-07:00

Our update is that Majell has gone horse crazy and Dave is minorly obsessed with the art of fixed gears. Majell has yet to buy a horse, although might someday and Dave has just purchased his first fixed gear commuter. Sweet eh? Too bad it is now fall, but oh well. Gas is $ and Dave can pedal his way to work now. Anyway just a short update, but one nonetheless (is that one word?).

Beer Brewin'

2007-08-08T13:35:00.000-07:00

After roughly two years of debate I went out a purchased a home brewing kit and have loved every second of the brewing process.... well except for the waiting period that is. My first batch is an IPA and I have about a week left on the fermentation process. All went well though and I am eager to taste the finished product. Anyway thought you'd all like to know. Who knows what this will do for Backporch Coffee Roasters? I am sure that "& Brewing Company" could fit into our name somehow.

Horses!

2007-07-09T13:06:00.000-07:00

So for my birthday Majell suprised me with a suprise ride out in Tumalo. I wish you could have seen us show up in our shorts and t shirts to ride these horses. Luckily we had spare pants in the car and I borrowed some really sweet cowboy boots from Sarah (our horse connection) to wear for the ride. We actually got the horses going so fast, Chris' (Sarah's b-friend) cowboy hat flew off. Sweet huh? Real Central Oregon material we are talkin. Anyway, birthday over and our One Year Anniversary to celebrate, I actually suprised Majell with a condo out in Sunriver for the evening... Very relaxing except for our loud neighbors listening to stinkin cowboy music all night. Another Central Oregon moment. Anywhos that is about all I have for you lucky readers. Hope everybody is enjoying summer!

months....

2007-06-24T21:03:00.000-07:00

Well months have passed and the blog has become dusty. NO updates. Dave and Majell are obviously letting the shop run themselves too much. Actually life was pretty crazy there for a bit and, yes, the shop did run us as it still does. That is what you get for running your own business. Well to detour the crazy life Majell and I got to take a brilliant vacation north to visit friends, coffee shops and each other. It was such a blessing to be able to get away and let the shop run itself. Isn't that what you dream a business to do? So it worked and we were able to visit quite a bit in an eight day span. We were able to just live and sight see and sleep and eat great food and visit with great people. Many of thos wonderful people housed us along the way and to them I would like to say thanks. We are home now (oh yeah we bought a house) and workin it at the shop. We are in a new homegroup with our church which is going great and are connecting with some amazing people in Bend. Thank the Lord for such a beautiful place to call home. Cold nights and pleasant days fill the summer. Cold enough for coffee to still be consumed early in the morning and hot enough to float the river right through town. Almost a dream really. Thank you for checking in the Beach family and maybe I will post sooner next time. Oh new news: We got a new cat name Clause. This means that Tuesday (our primary first cat) is now mothering this adorable 12 inch little bugger. Too cute. Plus: Dave is getting glasses! Pretty cool glasses. I have always thought that I would be the abnormal no braces and no glasses guy in the family, but I am pretty near sighted and have stigmatism to boot. So some trendy glasses are on their way. So long folks. Love, dave

Our First Christmas....

2007-01-28T18:51:00.000-08:00

Well Christmas has come and gone and we sure enjoyed our first Christmas as a married couple. I know it will take a while though as we are tossed to and fro from family to family though. This year we were able to close the shop for 3.5 days and we took off to Ashland to see my family for a night. Maggie, Ruth Anne and Laura were all able to intersect (even just for one night) and it really was a great time. Actual Christmas was spent partially at our house, Maga's and at the Jacquot's. Such a nice refreshing break. Sorry it has taken so long to get this picture, but it was actually taken a while after Christmas just before we took the tree down. Anyway there is a little update for you all. Love you all and talk with you soon. _Dave

Way Late....

2007-01-01T19:54:00.000-08:00

Sorry it has been almost three months now since I've posted. I will really be suprised if anyone is still even checking this. Anyway, Majell and I are alive and the shop is keeping me to busy to post a simple hello. I am posting pictures from Christmas, including our trip to Ashland to see my family (Ru and Maggie wrestling), Majell's aunt Judy visiting us from Bolivia and my pal Derek who came to visit (sorry Katie, no joint picture of you both). So again thanks for being patient with me on this blog. I hope to maintain a bit more in the future... Adios-Dave

2006-10-15T11:38:00.000-07:00

Well the shop is finally up and running. Things went so incredibly well our first week open and the comments that we are getting on our product has repeatedly been "the best." We had our first Saturday yesterday and it was a hit with a pretty packed out cafe. We doubled our pastry order for the day and nearly sold everything. Just about at closing yesterday, our amazing bakery people (Sparrow Bakery- Micah and Whitney) stopped by with a "celebration kit" (lemon tart, apple custard and champagne) for us to celebrate with. There is such a great buzz going around right now with our shop and I even heard this morning that people were bummed they had to go elsewhere for a cup of coffee today. All is good....

Now= Mimosas and breakfast and then probably a nap.

Hopefully the photos upload properly. I have already tried three times to get them up. Love to all- dave

2006-09-20T09:32:00.000-07:00

Floors are done and coffee from Finca Las Canas, Honduras and Finca Villare, Guatemala are in. We are pretty much on schedule to open the first Friday into October. More later. -Dave

2006-09-15T09:17:00.000-07:00

Signs are up and cabinets are about 80% in. Floors due in Monday (3 day install though...). Go Goffee!! A big thanks to Casey Parnell who has done all of our design for our logo.

2006-09-13T17:17:00.000-07:00

So much stuff going on! Ahhh I love it! Shop is painted, prepped for cabinets (truly a God thing= Neal our plumber/ roaster installation/ person who did everything today to get us up to speed) and roaster and afterburner oxidizer are in!!! The semi pulled up this morning and dropped off our roaster/ afterburner. With a little muscle, help and force we took the doorway off in order for the equipment to make it's way indoors (1/8th inch bigger and it wouldn't have worked). We had much volunteer help including: Don, Neal, Matt R., Dave S., Majell and Myself. Hours from drop off the equipment is in and beautiful. Majell and I might take sleeping bags and pillows and just go sleep by the roaster tonight, who knows? Anyway here are shop pics with paint and the long awaited Diedrich IR-12 with afterburner already attached. Also we ordered from our farm down in Guatemala called Finca Villare and our farm in Honduras, Finca Las Canas. Both are exceptional!! Now: date night with the wife awaits. Wednesdays are pretty much our night without computers, cell phones and the sort. Talk with you later.

2006-09-06T17:22:00.000-07:00

Things are on the move people. On the move. More photos soon.....

2006-08-31T13:06:00.000-07:00

Major movement in the Backporch realm... a nice sized truck from Roses' restaurant/equip. in Portland pulled into the Backporch parking lot this morning. Inside: our new undercounter fridge, two sinks, ice maker (240 lbs. / day), commercial dishwasher.... More to come on the next truck, but all this new stainless steel in the shop just makes Dave so excited. Paint is currently being picked as are lights. Toilets are huge in the specialty coffee arena so we are really researching for the best toilet out there... ; ) Counters are complete and just need a finish on em. Stainless steel countertops are lurking.....

Soon coffee will be ordered from Finca Villare, Guatemala and Finca Las Canas, Honduras. Yes...... praise the Lord for fresh coffee.

Coffee fact: the SCAA has has defined specialty coffee as only "specialty" up to two weeks out of the roaster. In fact half the flavor components in coffee are shot after a week of being roasted. Makes you wonder about all that coffee you see in the grocery stores with massive "freshness dates" on them..... Hmmmm....

2006-08-24T10:29:00.000-07:00

Well a year has now gone by since Majell and I got together. Crazy that we are already married, but sometimes things go better than expected. For our anniversary I suprised Majell and abducted her from Bend. We went to a Shakespeare play in Ashland and were spoiled with a great play and great food. She was completely suprised too, which if you know how well I do with suprises you'd understand how big this was for me to accomplish. We stayed out at my granparents vineyard which was gorgeous too. Here are some photos from that mini trip.

Backporch Coffee Roasters is going great. I ordered almost 1000 lbs of coffee from a farm in Brasil (6 bags sun dried and 1 pulped natural- was a cup of excellence award winner in previous years!!!!!). It is our friend's farm down there, so the connection from ground to cup is incredible for us to do as a business. So excited to see what else happens within the next week or two. I think Don and I (and Gretchen and Majell) just want the business to open already, but soon enough. Alright gotta go now, but thanks for reading! _ Dave

2006-08-18T18:11:00.000-07:00

At home and unable to roast coffee for the time being, I have gone quite crazy trying to perfect brewing. Today my big deal was the Moka Pot. Quite the clever little invention really. I am following a Stumptown technique of letting the water heat in the water chamber, separate from the ground coffee and upper chamber. As soon as the water begins to become active I put the coffee and upper chamber on without burning my little hands. I back off a bit on heat and let the magic happen. As soon as what Stumptown calls the "puff" is evident I remove the unit from the heat and let it sit only a brief moment. After that it goes in my cup and in my belly. The americanos were sure happening today at the house... Just wait till the shop opens- My blog will only become more lengthy with the coffee discoveries I find out. later, dave

2006-08-17T12:18:00.000-07:00

Business requires much patience incase you all were wondering. Cabinets are on a move though and cork flooring has been ordered. It just takes so gosh darn long. Hope everyone is well and sorry this update just isn't so exciting. Hopefully much more to come soon. Love, Dave

2006-08-12T14:28:00.000-07:00

Verse of the day: "The person who rules righteously, who rules in the fear of God, he is like the light of the morning, like the sunrise bursting forth in a cloudless sky, like the refreshing rains that bring tender grass from the earth."

I read this this morning and was reminded of how refreshing a person can be if they truly fear God. I love the distinction that it makes when it separates a sunrise bursting forth in a cloudless sky or a refreshing rain onto the earth. Good stuff...

2006-08-11T09:05:00.000-07:00

Anyone out there looking to rent from Windermere Prop. Management, DON'T. I just received less than ten percent of my deposit back from them and I am just about ready to go camp on their lawn all day in a speedo with a cardboard sign describing my situation to passers by. Is that a great idea or what? Seriously bring a cooler, a barbeque and just relax in the sun all day. Sounds perfect to me. Maybe I will make the front of the Bulletin too. That will be good for business.

Speaking of business, this week has been very exciting. Most of our coffee equipment is picked out and purchased by now. We also got our new gas meter outside the building which means we will have the gas capacity to roast! Cabinets are due to begin this next week and we found some great stainless steel countertops to go with it. I am just a bit excited. Also found an additional farm in Guatemala to buy direct from as well as a Honduran Farm!

More to come, but now I have to go find my speedo and start heading down to Windermere for my big debut.

-Dave

2006-08-05T10:28:00.000-07:00

Marriage is a wonderful thing. So far today we slept; I read while Majell slept even longer. Now we are downstairs with cups of Ethiopian Sidamo (Stumptown) in hand and Majell is preparing an incredible breakfast. Not to mention the classical music that is our background choice of the morn'. I think I am going to like this married life.....

2006-08-03T11:06:00.000-07:00

The newest addition to the family: La Marzocco "Linea" the historical classic.

2006-08-02T11:28:00.000-07:00

Coffee Fact of the Day: In the mid 1600s coffee houses in London were called: "Penny Universities." They were called this because the price of entry was a penny, but the knowledge that could be gleaned there was invaluable.

2006-08-01T12:26:00.000-07:00

Today is Tuesday which means we have our woderful homegroup at the Johnson's (our adopted family). This is the youngest Johnson, Luke, stealing a kiss from Majell. He's young and cute so I guess I will let him kiss my wife ; )

2006-07-30T20:57:00.000-07:00

Our last night in Dominican Republic. Photo shoot just prior to having an awesome dinner of coconut sea bass, a very common fish down there.

2006-07-30T20:32:00.000-07:00

Disgusting, but oh so much potential. This is the beginnings to Backporch Coffee Roasters, LLC. We are redoing floors, walls, ceilings, electric, gas lines, bathrooms, etc. Projected opening: Early Fall '06.

2006-07-30T20:27:00.000-07:00

Majell standing by what will be our new Diedrich 12 kilo for the shop. This one is down in Encinitas, CA.

2006-07-30T20:21:00.000-07:00

Cupping at Stumptown's Annex

2006-07-30T20:15:00.000-07:00

Cupping Brasils from our friend's family's farms in Brasil.

2006-07-30T19:59:00.000-07:00

Hi. We are Dave and Majell Beach and are happy your are viewing our site. We were married July 1, 2006 and are currently living in beautiful Bend, OR. We love it here and hope to stay for quite sometime. In two months we are opening a small coffee roasting company here in town so be prepared to hear a lot about that in future postings.