So Sweet!

I awoke to the prettiest pink and green (?!) roses...

and NASCAR Oreos

My daughter served up smoked ham and rolls,cheesy potatoes and her special pasta salad...

My daughter-in-law brought the Hummingbird Cake from Christina's blog

and the evening ended with an impromptu guitar concert featuring Metallica, Bob Marley, and Beethoven.

How sweet it was, and the memories will be. :)

The Queen of the Radishes

(as promised): THE QUEEN OF THE RADISHES

A Story to Relish

Mom loved to set a beautiful table, from the linens and tableware, to the presentation of the food itself. Garnishes were one way to delight the eye, as well as the palette. Her favorite way to attend to this detail was “radish roses”.

The dinner table was a place where she commanded respect. We were expected to practice good table manners, and our conversations were to be pleasant exchanges. Dad was unfortunate to err in this domain, and his punishment was swift.Not being one to raise her voice at the table, instead Mom raised her hand.

In her grasp, she held the only weapon at her disposal: a radish. Her aim was true; the missile was shot, landing squarely on Dad's forehead. Justice was delivered when the radish rebounded off Dad's astonished face, back across the table to Mom's awaiting hand.

The event became legendary, and the story has been repeated many times. It is chronicled here to honor Mom's memory as a gracious hostess, matriarch of a genteel dinner table, and one heck of a shot.

In loving memory of Dorothy Jane Oestreich ( April 29, 1928 - June 27, 2000 ) by her daughter © Susy Thompson 2000