Let’s talk about radishes.
Do any of you eat them because you actually like them, or do you eat them out of a sense of duty because they’re healthy?
I am asking because Steve bought radishes for our Easter vegetable platter, largely because his dad always wanted radishes on his vegetable platter. Steve wanted to honor his dad’s memory by including a few of his favorite veggies, including the leafy part of celery and green onions. (Steve is always responsible for buying the veggies and putting the tray together.)
The day after our big feast he was munching on a leftover radish and mused that he wasn’t sure he even liked radishes. And that got me to wondering if anyone really did. So I’m asking you!
The radish-laden veggie tray was one of an array of dishes we had at Friday’s Easter lunch.
We all found a task to help prepare for the meal. Sarah and Gage wrangled the leaves in the dining room table.
Nathan adroitly carved the ham.
Sarah mixed up the icing for her famous blueberry, lemon cake.
One of my favorite moments of the meal was when Steve was telling a story that his grandpa used to tell. I was watching him tell it, and I was watching Nathan listening, and it occurred to me that in just a very seconds I was going to witness a famous Nathan reaction. I whipped out my camera and focused on him so I’d be ready.
Sure enough. The leadup to the punchline.
The punchline.
I just knew he was going to throw his head back and laugh–just like his dad and grandpa did before him.
It made me smile to see him enjoy the moment; it also made me smile that I knew him well enough to know that moment was coming.
we took ourselves outside for one of our rousing badminton matches.
Please note in the following photo my stunning display of athletic prowess that only comes along every century or two. (Thanks goodness.)
I love the rejoicing going on here.
The two smallest Smiths, preparing their game time strategy.
We hadn’t had the whole family together in a couple of months, so it was wonderful to see everyone again.
I had a lovely day at home by myself while Steve went over to Nathan’s house. The two of them spent sixteen man-hours building a retaining wall where a new HVAC unit will sit. Carly, the doggie, assigned herself the role of Project Manager.
Noah came along later in the project with a couple of his friends. They were a huge help in pounding three feet of rebar into the hard NC clay. Nothing like a little youthful vigor to help the two “older” fellas.
We are so thankful to live close enough to our kids were we can be involved in each other’s lives and each other’s projects. Steve, Nathan, and Noah got to make some good memories and saved a few hundred dollars in the process.
Job well done! (This is still the old unit; the new one will arrive soon.)
I hope you had a wonderful Easter Sunday yesterday. One of my favorite lines from an old hymn is, “Death in vain forbade Him rise, Alleluia!”
May the miracle of the Resurrection infuse your day and week with all the hope you though was lost.
What about you?
Do you like radishes? What is your favorite vegetable?
What did you for Easter?
Would you consider yourself athletic or not so much? (I am in the “not so much” category, if you hadn’t guessed.)
Pertaining to Easter, how were you raised? Were you taught about it from your family and church or were you raised in a different tradition? It’s always so interesting to hear about the variety of backgrounds we all bring to the Smithellaneous table.
I am not a radish fan and can’t really say I have a favorite veggie. It all depends on how they’re prepared.
I used to be a little athletic, but those abilities are greatly dimishing the older I get.
I grew up United Methodist and remembe celebrating Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, then Easter Sunday. One of the most powerful Good Friday services was a few years ago and our pastor had a life-sized wooden cross at the altar and each person was invited to write a sin or concern on a small iece of paper and then come physically nail it to the cross dramatizing how our (man’s) sins are why Jesus died on the cross. The physical act of hammering the nail into the cross was more powerful than I expected.
I’m glad you were able to be with family to celebrate Easter.
Sue Ellen,
You’re right–veggie prep is all-important. I don’t love cooked carrots but my friend roasts them with seasonings and they are great!
I love what your church did for Good Friday with the life-sized cross. Sometimes doing something physical/tactile like that (instead of just hearing or reading about it) can make a huge difference in our experience. I know you’ll never forget that.
Sometimes we substitute radishes for new potatoes when we cook a pot roast in the crockpot or instapot. They actually become soft and taste like a potato when they cook in the roast juices. Very delicious!
Elizabeth,
Hmmm. Very interesting to know. I didn’t realize a radish could taste like a potato!
I like growing radishes. There are all kinds of pretty varieties these days! Then I harvest them with great satisfaction and… proceed to let them wilt pitifully in the back of the fridge. Radishes are better in theory than in practice. Haha!!
Ellen,
Love this! And it is how I believe, as well. They are wonderful for adding beautiful color to a relish tray but I will probably never, ever eat a raw one.
I’m impressed that you can grow them!
We always have radishes on vegetable trays, most of my family likes them. My favorite veggies are green beans and asparagus.
It always makes my heart happy to see Steve and Nathan doing projects together, it reminds me of how my family was growing up. My dad, grandpa, and two great uncles put an addition on my parents’ house! Now they are all gone and my brother is super handy, having learned from all of them. Everywhere I look in my house is something one of them made for me over the years from a cedar chest to a raised bed garden to quilt racks and a doll rocking chair.
Happy Easter to all of you!
Lisa,
How sweet to still get to enjoy the work the guys in your life put into your parent’s home. I love that. It sounds like your brother learned by doing and was inspired by the example of the men who went before him. That is such a great gift to give to a young man; he will use it all his days.
I am not only a radish non-eater, I am also not a fan of asparagus. Guess I should give it another try!
First, yes, we do like radishes. Sometimes I buy them in the store but guess it’s not until Farmer’s Market is around that I buy them fresh. Yes, it is so nice when family is near buy. We were at our daughter’s home which is only 6 miles away. Our son lives in Oregon, so we do miss he and his family a lot. Steve has so many great helpers – no need to call for help!!! What a great picture you took of Nathan. Great memories. Lord continue to bless and keep each of you.
Sharyn,
Yes, Oregon is definitely a long way away; like a whole nation away! Glad you have at least one child who is near by.
Steve and Nathan are being very intentional about training Noah to be handy and thankfully, Noah absolutely loves it. Another generation: Ken, Steve, Nathan, Noah!
Enjoy your radishes!
Now this weekend you have a lot to tell your coworkers about what you did!
My husband loves radishes and just salts them and eats them. I am not a fan. My favorite veggie is broccoli.
We had our Pastor and wife over for a quick “eat and run” dinner. They have a one month old in NICU with multiple heart problems, and has already had 3 surgeries so they headed to the hospital after eating.
I do not consider myself athletic even when I try. I do however like playing games with kids.
I was raised with church and family time for Easter. Always had Easter baskets and egg hunts, but Church first.
Patti,
So true. (And funny.) I do have a few co-worker stories!
How nice of you to provide a quick meal for your pastor and his wife before they headed to the hospital. I’m sure they appreciate eating something other than restaurant/hospital food and being reminded that they are cared for in practical ways.
I agree that playing games with kids is fun because they are not real accomplished either so we just have fun together.
I am not really a radish fan. Other than that, I like most vegetables. Asparagus might be my favorite! Or fresh tomatoes from the garden. YUM!!!! We all gathered at my daughter’s place and did some grilling and had lunch together. We did our egg hunt for the kids the day before because it rained all day on Easter and was predicted so we all played in the sun on Saturday. It was so fun! Take that mother nature!! 😉
I think I am fairly athletic. I like to walk, run, bike ride, ski, golf, etc. We had badminton as a child. I liked that too!
I was raised as a Lutheran and learned about Easter through the church and from my family. We always went to the sunrise service and then to the pancake breakfast afterwards. A great tradition. Now, just this last weekend, we took our grandkids to see the movie ‘King of Kings’. It was really great! It was an animated version of the Easter story as told by Charles Dickens. It really held the kids’ attention and they loved it!
A happy Easter to you and your family!!
LeeAnne,
Oh don’t even get started on fresh garden tomatoes. Steve will be showing up at your front door to get some–they are his favorite.
I have been to a few sunrise services in my life and am glad I went but as almost elderly lady, they don’t appeal to me quite as much as they did. 🙂
It’s good that you are staying so active; you definitely sound like you are an athlete!
We grow radishes. Thinly sliced, seasoned and baked in the oven or airfryer, they are wonderful.
Hi other Ellen! 😆 Not many of us these days!
Ellen,
All the Ellens of the world, unite!
Ellen,
I told Steve you radish recipe and he and I both said we need to give it a try. Any veggie roasted in the oven is always a hundred times better. Thanks for the idea!
My husband absolutely loves radishes! He eats them as a snack!
Anne,
I am very impressed by anyone who eats them as a snack. Ellen Grod (another comment) recommended slicing, seasoning, and roasting. I wonder if he would like that!