A New Twist to a Lemonade Stand

Water lemonade

 

On a scorching summer day, water, ice cold water smooths the dry spot.

My mother who disapproves of soda pop and bottled water, has a way with serving ice cold water to the many grandchildren that gather at her home.

 

 

Mint and lemons on ice

My Mother takes out her large glass water fountain, layers it with ice, sliced lemons, chopped cucumbers, and fresh mint from her garden and sets it outside. Sometimes she adds halved strawberries to it as well.

 

 

Summer days

Outside under the tree, on a rickety wooden table set the water fountain.

Sacha's rooster, (or is it a chicken?) pecks at the grass.

Cups are stacked on the bottom shelf for easy serving.

 

 

Glasses on an old stand

 

Glasses can be used, but as some of the grandchildren are little, plastic is often used.

A white linen with lace is used to spruce up the everyday occasion of thirst, and to add a touch of old fashion sweetness to the day.

My mother's way with seeing that no detail is overlooked, and how she can appreciate beauty in everyday moments, has wrapped my memories of childhood in a bundle of joy.

 

Lemonade stand

 

A new twist to the lemonade stand.

Did you ever have a lemonade stand?

 

 

note:

If you want to have a jar such. as my mom's (she found hers years ago at a second hand store) look here…INFUSION JAR.

 

Recipe:

In a five gallon infusion jar layer it with:

Add ice, about five inches thick,

Then lightly cover the ice with whole mint leaves, chopped cucumbers, sliced lemons and strawberries.

Repeat the layers until you reach the top. Then add water until the half way mark. Let it sit for an hour or more. Add water as needed.

______

 

For more Wonderful Ideas regarding decoration and crafts for the home:

Please follow this link: French Country Home, Feather you Nest Friday.

 



Comments

38 responses to “A New Twist to a Lemonade Stand”

  1. christine

    This is so beautiful, and to be able to make an occasion of such a simple thing is a wonderful quality. I would so love to meet your mother ( well, and you too Corey ;).xxxx

  2. I saw these glass water fountains in an american magazine and I have been looking for them ever since. Have you ever seen them in France, Corey?

  3. I see where your love of details came from. Too often, as a mother, I take the shortest, easiest route instead of paying attention to the details. Thanks for sharing. Sounds yummy.

  4. Linda C.

    No, I have never had a lemonade stand, but I would love one of those containers so I could. Ideal in our hot Australian summers…
    Corey, are these containers readily available for sale in the USA? The only ones I have seen in Australia are smaller, the glass not as thick looking as your mother’s, and the widgets are plastic. (yuk)! I have been looking for one for ages.

  5. I’ve always dreamed of living in France, but I might be changing my mind…Willows, Ca is looking wonderful. Your mom should open a B and B!

  6. I love your mother’s touch too. Everything she touches seems to be more beautiful.

  7. christine

    Cool !

  8. This is the most refreshing post and pictures of the summer! What a fabulous idea – one that I will copy soon. Even a large pitcher, stacked with the ice and mint and lemon would be a refreshing way to quench one’s thirst on these hot days of summer.
    Much thanks to you, Corey, and, of course, to your mom.

  9. This lemonade is the healthiest,prettiest,and most refreshing summer drink I can image.
    Your mom is a special lady full of wisdom.

  10. That is the most beautiful lemonade stand I have ever seen. I just love it. I love the jug too. No lemonade stand for me, but my children once had one. I made fresh squeezed lemonade and the mailman kept coming by to buy more and more. My kids thought they had hit the jackpot.

  11. That is so gorgeous Corey, your mother is a genius! And the water must taste so good with those hints of lemon and mint. I’m longing for a water fountain like that to have here in summer!

  12. Corey,
    What an amazing photo, and what a great article. I’m back in sunny Derbyshire until flying back to Brittany tomorrow, and the weather here is hot then showery / humid. Your article prompts me to fetch my biggest glass jug, fill it with ice, garden herbs, lemons and cues, then top up with water.
    Thank you Corey’s mum!
    Amalee

  13. TOTALLY agree with all writers before me! This is no doubt the most glorious summer drinks fountain i’ve ever seen in my whole life…. And i was proud of my offer!!! (filtered water from the fridge with heart-shaped ice ‘cubes’ and fresh lemon or lime juice and fresh mint leaves from the garden)….
    Of course we wouldn’t have the space to keep one of those gorgeous containers of REAL GLASS with a glass spout in those restricted spaces the French call their home but the idea is SO appealing and the execution on a real lacey cloth is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful. Heartfelt greetings to your wonderful mum and congratulations to her for having such a thoughtful and loving daughter!!!! 🙂
    Love, Kiki

  14. Joan Thodas

    “no detail overlooked, beauty in everything…” now we know where you get it Corey.

  15. georgie

    Panache-doesn’t that mean a talent or flair for easily making things beautiful? If so, your Mama definitely has it and has passed it on to her daughter too.

  16. mmmmmm…..it’s what the doctor ordered to cure a summer thirst on a scorching sunny day. Lovely photos.

  17. This post brightened my day and inspired me to ditch those plastic bottles. Many thanks to your Mom and you for your beautiful photos.

  18. Rebecca from the pacific northwest

    No wonder you have such an eye and appreciation for detail and beauty.
    And I love that your mother, disapproving of sodas and bottled water, makes such an Event and Tradition for all the kids. They probably say, “of COURSE you have wonderful fruit-flavored water at her house!”
    On the flip side, as a child I wasn’t allowed coke or sodas at home, but when I went to Grandmother’s house (every few months) there on the lowest shelf of her refrigerator door were precious bottles of coke and Delaware Punch (a fizzy berry drink; now discontinued) just for us grandkids to help ourselves and enjoy. Ah, loving grandmothers…

  19. We’ve had blog readers from Elk Grove near Sakramento visiting us for almost three weeks. Next summer we plan to visit them. I see form the map that this is not far from Willows 🙂
    I will be rereading your Willows posts before we go.

  20. So lovely, so refreshing… I’ll be over for a glass (jk). I never had a lemonade stand, always wanted one. Maybe DS and I should do that, lots of kids around here do it.

  21. Lieselotte

    Your mum is a true artist ! I saw her in one of my dreams the other day, that was nice.
    Hugs, Lieselotte

  22. No, I’ve never hosted a lemonade stand, but I’m sure to carry some dollar coins and quarters with me when I’m out for a run because the neighbhoor kids are quite entrpreneurial when it comes to selling lemonade to hot, sweaty, thirsty joggers (OK, so they know I’m the only sucker out jogging when it’s 95 degrees…and they know I’m coming…)
    I love your Mom’s frefreshing treat idea! I’d love to get one of those that fit in my fridge and just keep it in there on the hot Minnesota summer days.

  23. this is beautiful. I have never seen a water fountain like that here in New Zealand but I would love one just for the beauty. Kids here don’t have lemonade stands.

  24. Cousin Chris

    Corey, off the subject a little but…..the chicken had a beer with us out in the barn/shop about 4 Friday nights ago. sat on my lap for a while.

  25. That looks amazing! My cousin in America had a lemonade stand quite often in the summer – I remember helping him the year I spent the summer there- but then again he also had a stand selling stones for a cent that year too (he was 6 and I was 7!)
    Quick question on South of France if you don’t mind – my friend Karen and I are coming in September – can’t decide on staying in Arles or Avignon – found an amazing apartment to rent in Arles but Avignon seems more central for getting the train places – but we are also thinking about hiring a car for 3 days….what do you think?
    Thank you!!!

  26. I see where you get your flair and syle! Like mother, like daughter. This is beautiful. You both have such a way. Just lovely…

  27. what a beautiful way to serve water. it seems to to honor the water the way it deserves, often forgotten and taken for granted. my grandson made $14 yesterday selling lemonade and ice tea in front of his house! of course he had an investor that helped him get supplies..(I love being a grandmother).

  28. Love this!
    Yes…we had a lemonade stand as kids. (my brother and I)
    🙂

  29. Whoa,the chicken sat on your lap sipping beer,that is just beyond cute.

  30. Now I know where you attention to detail came from. The shot with Sascha’s chicken is pure perfection!

  31. jend’isère

    Twist and shouted out to my kids when we halted to quench our thirsts at a real kid-run lemonade stand. No longer a quarter, they experienced the zest of this all-American tradition. Your mother’s takes the lovely last stand.

  32. Judy B. Texas

    The driving is so easy visiting the towns and villages in Southern France; I encourage you to rent a car instead of hiring – we picked up our car at the train station in Avignon; stayed in St. Remy and had a ball visiting the area – no problem with traffic, reading maps, etc. whatsoever. You would have to apply for an International License but that’s no problem; we got ours at our local AAA insurance company (USA). Would also highly recommend staying in St. Remy – delightful village and also centrally located.

  33. That recipe is great – I so love the jar!

  34. Judy B. Texas

    Just purchased a 2 gallon water jug with spigot at World Market for $14.00 (USA); had to adjust my upper rung in the refrigerator in order to store it/keep cool. There is a blog (StoneGable) that has a wonderful recipe for iced tea/lemonade – this is delish!!
    StoneGable Iced Tea
    1 gallon good cold water
    6-8 tea bags of good black tea
    2 tea bags of herbal fruit tea (raspberry, red zinger, peach are some favorites)
    1/2 container of Crystal Light Lemonade for 1 pitcher
    (or use fresh lemon juice)
    1/4 cup Splenda or Granulated sugar
    Pour water into a large pitcher. Add tea bags. Let steep on the counter for 3-6 hours or out in the sun for 2-3 hours. It really depends on how strong you like your tea, and what tea bags you use.
    Squeeze the teabags and remove.
    Add Crystal Light/or lemon juice and Splenda/or Sugar. Stir!
    Chill in refrigerator. Serve over ice. Add a lemon, mint or fruit for a little extra flavor.
    If you want to serve immediately, pour over ice cubes made with iced tea. Iced tea ice cube won’t leave you with watered down iced tea!

  35. It totally makes sense… having gotten to “know” your home and life in Provence, and now seeing your mother’s beautiful style. So much of my life and the way I approach things in my life, are a by-product of shadowing my mother and my aunt that lived next door; the gardens the cooking/baking, the cleaning! I hope I’m passing on that same style and appreciation to my daughters.

  36. Love it……I make ice tea in a similar jar with a spigot on the bottom…..put the tea bags and water and lemon in it, and set it out in the sun.
    I love the mint and cucumber idea though.

  37. You and your mother wrap yourselves around all the wonderful moments of life! as usual you have captured the beauty of serving.

  38. You can see where you got your eye for beauty in the ordinary!

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