1/4/07 I had cancelled the concert schedule for January because the performers had not contacted me to confirm as I require. However Baily Easterwood did call today and I decided to go ahead with it even though I had announced its cancellation. For those of our customers who just like music, this would be a good chance to hear a new talent, a local young singer-songwriter. I think it will be a good show. This is the kind of stuff I have wanted to do since I opened the store, promote folk music and local talent. We take our music seriously here and try to provide quality music venues. So far I think we have been somewhat successful in that, but not to the degree I had hoped for. It is definitly not a profitable venture, we do it more out of our love for folk music. I firmly believe that American folk or roots music is slowly disappearing, which is a great loss especially to our younger generation, although they are not even aware of what is is. It is an important part of our heritage, it embodies oral histories that explain much about us as a people and culture. We are trying to preserve and perform as much of it as we can here, often to very samll audiences. But the performers are just glad to have a place to share the music that has been handed down to them.

1/4/07 I have a new coffee supplier with a whole new concept in whole bean coffees. I am interested to see if it sells. It is called SPAVA and is labled "Coffee For Healthy Living". I have two kinds. Both start with dark roasted Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, an excellent coffe that is often compared to Jamaca Blue Mountain Weatherford Estate. I tend to think it is better: more body and flavor. These beans are then fortified with certain additives. For the bag labled CLARITY it is fortified with Ginko biloba and White Tea for improved mental function. Ginko is widely regarded as a real brain nourisher and white tea has many health benefits' The bag labled IMMUNITY is fortified with Echinacea and Rosehips, both highy antioxiddant enriched natural herbs and is designed to boost the immune system. There are other types as well, but I thought I's start with these and see how they go. Coffee is one of the healthiest drinks that most of us consume, it is very high in antioxidants too, in fact more so than any of the teas including Rooibos, so this takes coffee to a new level for health conscious people. This may not appeal to purists, but may to those who want some exta boosts from their morning cup of java.

1/3/07 It is now locked in concrete, Erin's wedding will be next Friday Jan 12th at the Methodist church in Cullman. She will marry Josh Brooks, her long time boyfriend. He proposed on New Year's Eve in Atlanta where they had gone for a church youth concert. So you can imagine what it is like at our house as we try to throw together a wedding in a little over a week. They want a small wedding with just family and close friends, maybe 50 people, but I think it has gone way beyond that now. They only had two windows to get married on due to Josh's schedule, now when he has two weeks off for a honey moon, or in July when he has the summer off.

1/1/07 It appears that I took a holiday from blogging, didn't mean to, it just got by me. Here it is the day after New Years and my last blog was before Christmas. Maybe I can make a new years resoution to do better.

With the holidays behind us it's time to focus on the new year. I hope to keep a great line up of music, but it hasn't started off too well. Saving August, the band that was to come on the 27th, canceled. I'm waiting on the Devastators to let me know if they can come instead. They can't come on the 27th, but we are looking at the 20th. They put on a real good show last time. Also, my act for this Saturday, Bailey Easterwood hasn't confirmed and I can't get ahold of him. So at this late date I don't know for sure if we will have a show or not. I guess I could fill in if no one shows up. Stayed tuned.

We will celebrate our fouth anniversay this month on the 23rd. My business plan was to run for five years and then see if we could keep going. I was hoping to break even after three years, but we are barely there. But barely is good so maybe things are ok. Our business has flattened over the past 6 months with new competition moving in fairly regularly and all, but we will be refining our niche over the next month or so to insure that we are doing what we need to inorder to keep our business healthy. Owning a small business is the hardest thing I have ever done, I really like it and will do all I can to make it successful. Input form customers is welcome. Gerri and I are both 65 now and the 12 hour days, six days a week take their toll. Thank God for Erin and Julie.

By the way, Erin announced her engagement to Josh Brooks on New Years eve, so all of us are excited about that. No arrangements yet. (That sounds more like a funeral than a wedding, guess I should have said "no details on their plans yet"). Come by and she will show you her ring. My first question was, "you still plan to work for us as a barrista don't you? and she said "I have a house payment". So that is good news. Agan stay tuned.

Let me close by wishing any one who reads this a Happy New Year.