About 20 of Yvonne's friends dropped by Tuesday, May 17, to celebrate books and springtime in her botanical garden of a yard.

With Yvonne Irby’s Reno Friends

Reno was absolutely amazing, thanks to Yvonne Irby, who could set up shop as a book PR agent. An open house one night, book club the next, then casinos and Tahoe and restaurants, oh my!

About 20 of Yvonne's friends dropped by Tuesday, May 17, to celebrate books and springtime in her botanical garden of a yard.
About 20 of Yvonne’s friends dropped by Tuesday, May 17, to celebrate books and springtime in her botanical garden of a yard. Then, May 18, members of her book club came to discuss their May pick – Mama Tried.
Friend Fred dished up the gumbo alongside his homemade sourdough bread. Yum!
Friend Fred dished up the gumbo alongside his homemade sourdough bread. Yum!
Wednesday night, May 18, some of Yvonne's book group dropped by to share supper and offer up much-appreciated comments about their latest book pick: Mama Tried.
No visit to Reno is complete without a day trip to
Lake Tahoe, which is simply breathtaking.
Yvonne wanted to serve food from the book: Hummingbird cake - yes! Gumbo - definitely! Deviled eggs - absolutely! Pimento cheese - by all means! But Spam? Fried into Spam fries?? Well, even I have to admit it was a hit.
Yvonne wanted to serve food from the book: Hummingbird cake – yes! Gumbo – definitely! Deviled eggs – absolutely! Pimento cheese – by all means! But Spam? Fried into Spam fries?? Well, even I have to admit it was a hit.
No trip to Reno is complete without seeing majestic Lake Tahoe. After a (long) walk and yet another delicious lunch, we headed back to Reno and a buffet at one of the casinos, compliments of another of Yvonne's longtime friends, Randy.
After a (long) walk at Lake Tahoe and yet another delicious lunch, we headed back to Reno and a buffet at one of the casinos, compliments of another of Yvonne’s longtime friends, Randy. I can’t wait to visit Reno again – even if
I nearly required a seatbelt extender for the flight back!