This past week my mother’s garden club, “The Yardbirds,” visited Greensboro on a shopping extravaganza. They arrived on Thursday evening and spent the remainder of the weekend at antique, garden, dish, kitchen and glasses stores. Speaking from someone in the world of economic development (yes, I have a real job), this type of tourism is exactly what we like to see.

They came to Mendenhall on Thursday evening after a long car ride to enjoy a casual dinner in my backyard. The weather was a perfect reflection of North Carolina fall weather. Considering it was a school-night, I made the majority of the meal the night before and heated and finished everything off during my lunch hour and after rushing home from work.

These women must have fed me countless meals as a child. I swam in their pools at summertime, spent afternoons doing homework and playing with their kids in their kitchens and probably shared some of my more humble and silly childhood moments in their presence. It was the least I could do to say thanks and welcome to our great state. I’ll post the recipes this week.

Yardbirds on Mendenhall Menu

• Ina’s Lentil & Sausage Soup
• Assorted Cheese and Bread, Grapes
• Fresh Celery, Fennel and Apple Salad
• Plum & Pluot Tart