Walden Island Tea + Beef & Brew

We arrived at the lake early Friday afternoon. Our plan was to help out where needed for the Walden Island Tea and the Beef and Brew. Two fundraisers on the island - 100% of the proceeds going to a local kids closet for new school clothes and to a community house for families getting back on their feet. Our wonderful neighbor, KC, organizes everything and her family purchases anything that isn't donated.

I came just in time to help prepare some of the food. I found out that liquor is the "secret" to a good pudding. KC added Bacardi to the pudding this time.

Liquor is also the "secret" to happy cooks. Corlan, KC and Janet found a secret stash of Jack Daniels.

Then we prepared the flowers for the tables, pulled all the linens, cleaned tea pots, and got the serving items ready.

While Jamie and Steven (KC's husband) relaxed for a bit. Jamie had fillet a bunch of salmon so that it could be smoked for the bbq.

The Skoglands (our other wonderful neighbors) had everyone over for dinner and drinks. Neil always makes blenders full of margaritas that he has named "Skogaritas". They are the hit of the island.

Back to work early the next morning. There are lots of last minute things to do.

Then we have to set the tables and get dressed before everyone arrives.

Caty Skogland was a Tea Girl for many years. Now she helps plan, cook and serve.

KC loves to help the Tea Girls.

This is the first year that men have attended the Tea. Some of the doctors that KC works with wanted to come with their wives.

This year we had an opera singer at the Tea. Laurie was the perfect addition. She was also extremely nice and had the cutest daughter! Laurie's daughter Ella is behind her in this picture in the peach colored dress. (She had been in a ballerina dress most of the morning.)

And because Laurie sat next to me for tea, Ella came by the table quite often.

I just couldn't get enough of her.

After all the yummy food and tea I could handle, I took more pictures. Everything was wonderful.

I helped clean up before heading down to the Beef & Brew. Luckily, I found the "brew" right away.

And the table of auction items. Some of which we actually won this year!

Laurie even sang a few more songs for the people at the bbq. She dedicated one to Gene - he's KC's dad and has been on the island since the 60's.

Another great fundraiser! We were a little disappointed when we counted up the money and fell short from last year. But then Gene broke out the champagne and we were all happy again. In the end, we had raised around $5,600 and know that more will still come in. We talk about ways to improve and things to change and are already looking forward to next year.

The Kid's Closet that KC donates to gives each child new socks and underwear and a new pair of jeans. They also get to pick out two new outfits.

The Community House that KC donates to houses families for a couple of months while they earn enough money to save for a deposit on their own homes to rent. KC also cooks for these families during the month.

Castle Rock has a population of less than 3,000 people and we're lucky enough to be a part of that now.