Thursday, August 23, 2012

Tea with Bean

Last Friday, Wendy joined us for  our fundraising luncheon, Tea with Bean!  She didn't have to travel nearly as far as our guests of previous years.  She lives just thirty minutes or so from Tacoma.

 It happened to be one of the hottest days of our summer, and when she arrived,  Charlene was stretched out on the wood floor, attempting to cool herself down.

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The kittens were a little bouncier than Bean, and we spent some time playing with them before sitting down for lunch.

Because of the heat,  I tried to create a menu that was cold and refreshing.

We had a zesty kale and mint slaw.  It's my favorite new recipe of the summer, and I encourage all you vegetarians, vegans, and lovers of summer salads to give it a try!

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A fruit salad with a honey ginger dressing.

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Gazpacho.

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And tiny sandwiches with herb goat cheese, radishes, and arugula.

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The table was decorated with elements from our fundraising set.

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Wendy fosters kittens and volunteers at another local shelter, so there was plenty for us to talk about.   It was interesting to hear about her fostering experiences.

After lunch, we headed over to the Humane Society for a tour with Marguerite, the development director.

We started in the lobby and visited the Petunia Louise Community Cat Room.   Normally, adult cats fill the room, but with this being the peak kitten season, they have little ones bouncing around in there instead.    

Here's Wendy giving one of the babies some love.  

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And here are a couple more PLCCR tenants.


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Next, we toured the foster room, vet treatment, the surgery area, cattery, and Butterbean Quarantine.

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We met lots of fabulous cats on the tour.  


This chatty, handsome boy was getting ready to move to Petsmart, one of the HS's off-site adoption venues.

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Next, we toured the dog section.    Check out this adorable dog and his expressive ears and eyes.
 
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We even got to meet Marguerite's dog, Max, who comes to work with her every day.  

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The tour ended, and Marguerite presented Wendy with a cat basket filled with gifts.   It was a fun and informative visit, and we both enjoyed it immensely.


We headed back home and spent a little more time with the Petries.  

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And finished the day with an assortment of desserts.  It was too hot to turn on the oven, so I picked up a selection of treats from a local bakery.

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It was lovely afternoon.  We were so happy to meet Wendy, and so appreciative of her generous donation.

Thanks for coming to visit us, Wendy!


27 comments:

  1. Adore the table decor! And those bakery treats look amazing!

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  2. I love the gray-and-white kitten with the heart on his nose! Laurie, if you ever time time to publish the slaw recipe, I'd love to see it.

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    1. You can see the slaw recipe when you click on the link in Laurie's post...I printed a copy to try, it looks yummy and healthy too! Sounds like a wonderful time, thanks to Laurie for sharing the pictures with us ;o)

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  3. Aww! I got all teary eyed at the Butterbean Quarentine!

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  4. Oh silly me. You linked it. Thanks!

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  5. Envious. You and Bean throw an awfully snazzy tea party!

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  6. What a wonderful day for Wendy! And such a scrumptous menu!
    The elements from the fundraising set juxaposed with the place settings show just how small the itty-bitty fundraisers were!
    And that grey and white kitten with the heart nose - priceless!
    As are all the sweet anipals...!

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  7. You always put on such a lovely tea, Laurie. It looks like a wonderful day! Oh and do you have a recipe for the ginger/honey dressing for the fruit salad?

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    1. It's just lime juice, honey, and grated ginger whisked together. It's all kind of to taste - I don't have a real recipe for it.

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    2. Sounds easy enough, thanks!

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  8. I like your blog very much, i think it’s awsome.

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  9. You rock, Wendy! And of course, it goes without saying that you do, too, Laurie. (I don't know why more people don't serve gazpacho in the hot months. It's so simple, tasty, and versatile.)

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  10. Oooh, all so cute and lovely, but that dog with the big eyes and ears at the shelter just slays me.

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  11. Love seeing some of Butterbean's Quarantine! And I was thinking as I was admiring the most lovely Charlene Butterbean stretching out on the wood floor to try to cool down that she needs a few large ceramic tiles to lay down on! We have it here in our kitchen/front door entry and my 2 cats lay on it when hot. Maybe you can pick up 4 or 6 and put them in a corner for her to lay down on during the hot days?

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  12. I admit to being just a wee bit jealous of the meet and greet with The Bean, The Petries, and you, Laurie....and more than a little hungry looking at the food served. Congratulations, Wendy!

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  13. Is it just me, or does anyone else see a paw print in the seed pattern of the top cucumber slice in the gazpacho?

    Also, that dog with the most expressive face? He looks like he could have been the model for some of the pups in the "Shelter Stories" series of Patrick McDonnell's Mutts comic strip.

    - Annette

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    1. It looks like a kitty paw print where the kitty wiggled his or her front toes!

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  14. tea with the bean is one of my favorite things that i hope to get to do myself some day! so lovely!

    p.s. i want that expressive little doggie!!!

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  15. Wow, wish I'd won that "tea" (aka full meal!). Next year! Congrats on continuing the FUNdraising!

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  16. Laurie, you always make things so special! Thank you for sharing the day with us on the blog so we could feel like we were along, too!! Is anyone else fascinated by the fundraiser set elements on the table? So fun! If there are ever elements of the set that you aren't going to use again, you might think of auctioning them off!

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  17. Wow, what a day! That pup with the big round eyes could almost convince me to adopt a DOG!

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  18. I love everything that everyone has already commented on and ALSO I love the tablecloth! :)

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  19. Looks a fabulous nosh. The salads especially looked fresh and cooling. I love the photo of Sir Reggie and you guest. I can almost here him squeak out "Madam! Have we been properly introduced?"
    That puppy with crazy/cute expression was such a star. I wanted to drive over and take him out to play in the park. I'm sure he would love to chase a few sticks and roll around in the grass.

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  20. thanks for sharing your day with us. I, too, have this on my "one of these days.." but I best start saving my pennies, not just to outbid but to have enough left over to pay for the flight!! (NE Florida...). As for the babies you showed pick of, the grey and white (with the heart on his nose...) is a grey and white version of my black and white Ty-Ty... if I lived closer... Thanks again!!

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