The Kitchen Window

The Kitchen Window
Antique Milk Bottles with Herbs and Flowers

Welcome!

Welcome to the Frog Hollow Farm blog! I've been blogging since January 2010 and have switched from Blogger to Word Press, but I'm back to Blogger because, for me, it's easier to use. My husband and I live on a little farm in Northwest New Jersey. We have some chickens and a very large vegetable garden with asparagus and raspberries, and rows and rows of sunflowers, snapdragons and zinnias. Traveling, entertaining, gardening, spending time with family, studying Italian, blogging and reading keep us busy and happy. With all of this going on, moving towards a simpler life seems almost impossible but it's definitely a daily goal.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Lemonade and Lemon Cake for Friends and Summer Sunday

Today is kind of quiet here at Frog Hollow Farm, but we did have a short visit from some very good friends. They're married children are visiting from Colorado and Vermont, and everyone wanted to stop over to say hi and see the new back porch and bedroom additions to our home.  New Baby Rowan also came for a visit - he's 2 months old and is just the sweetest baby! 

I knew they group was planning on stopping by sometime over the weeked so yesterday I made
Ina Garten's Lemon Cake.

Lemonade seemed to be a good choice for a refreshing drink, so I had it chilling in the fridge since the early morning (I cheated and used frozen lemonade but it looks oh so homemade with thinly sliced lemons placed in the pitcher as well as some of my lemonade ice cubes with mint leaves. 

I pulled out some of my unmatched but very pretty antique cake plates along with some green glass tumblers for the lemonade and set it all on a little table on the porch. 

The dishes are a mix of Stangl and other odds and ends.  The short, green glasses have dragonflies on them and were a find at Home Goods last year.  The lemonade looked very refreshing in them!  The tablecloth is a vintage piece I found yesterday at a little antique shop in Belvidere, New Jersey called
Water Street Antiques.  FHFB and I were there to renew our passports!!  Nothing planned yet but we are hoping to travel to Ireland in June and then Sicily in the fall.

In the middle of the table I placed an April Cornell napkin.  I love the blue green and yellow hues in this napkin.  Wish I knew what the design is so I could tell you all. 

This lemon cake is easy to make and just screams summer!  I bet it freezes well too!!

Some lemony-yellow sunflowers and snapdragons from FHFB's gardens.  Aren't they lovely?  He is such a phenomenal gardener, and always plants flowers that are wonderful for cutting.

Hope you are enjoying your summer weekend!  Stop by Summer Sundays at The Tablescaper and at The Style Sisters for Centerpiece Wednesday.
Ciao, bella!


13 comments:

  1. Such a bright, cheerful post! I love the yellow flowers and lemon theme of your table. It sounds like a lovely afternoon.

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  2. This looks absolutely perfect. Something cool to drink, a nice peice of cake and a beautiful setting.

    Thanks for being a part of "Summer Sundays".

    - The Tablescaper

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  3. Oh, that lemon cake looks yummy! I also love those green glasses...what a pretty table.

    xo
    Claudia

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  4. Oh my this cake looks fabulous. My mother is with me and looking over my shoulder and echoing my thoughts... I can't wait to make this. This is a keeper recipe. Your table is beautifully set. So summery!
    I'm glad you had a wonderul visit and had a baby in your home (sigh)!
    Yvonne

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  5. Hello Ann Marie,
    Everything looks pretty and delicious. I love all things 'Lemon'! I love the dishes and the all the yellow flowers. Sounds like a wonderful visit with friends and how wonderful to have a little baby in your home to visit with.
    Hope you are keeping dry today.
    xoxo
    Bunny

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  6. HI FARM GIRL,
    WHAT A LOVELY TABLESCAPE, I LOVE INA GARTEN, AND THAT LEMON CAKE LOOKS YUMMY, YOU'RE RIGHT IT HAS SUMMER WRITTEN ALL OVER IT. TAKE CARE,
    LOVE, AUNT RIZ

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  7. Beautiful setting, looks like you had a nice visit!

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  8. look at this...everything is just lovely...

    i love the cake and lemonade..your table... so thoughtful...and the plates and flowers...you know..it really does make a difference and shows you care...( i am always left scratching my head when you go to someone's home and they throw leftover paper Christmas plates and paper towels at you...this shows such a love for your home and friends)

    just made me smile...
    you a treasure..one of my favorite stops in blogland..oh..yes you are !!!!

    sending love,
    kary and teddy
    xxx

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  9. What a lovely snack and table you set. I just love everything about it. I love lemon and lemonade and lemon cake would really hit the spot. I have something that just loves nibbling on my mint so it looks atrocious. I don't want to spray so I can't use it for much. Have a wonderful Sunday.

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  10. Hello Frog Hollow friend.......We have a lemon tree in our yard in AZ and I never know what to do with ALL THE LEMONS....I can never seem to give them all away or use them all.... I'm going to try this when I get back to AZ in the fall and Spring. Great ideas.....both!!

    Xo

    Jo

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  11. Lemon flavors and sunflowers....there's no better yellow.

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  12. Cake looks so yummy, I'll have to try this recipe, and beautiful table setting! Thanks for sharing!
    Blessings,
    Jill

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  13. This just looks perfect! I love the way you displayed the cut cake under the dome..fabulous idea. I love Ina Garten's lemon cake..I love anything she makes. The flowers are so bright and cheery especially mixed with a few lemons underneath. I love this whole setting. Wish I was there enjoying a piece of cake! Thanks for linking up with me on Centerpiece Wednesday.

    Karin

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