Sweat trickled down my face and ran in my eyes.

I brushed it away, then whacked the hoe at a stubborn stand of crabgrass that had the nerve to grow beside my green beans.

A snarky complaint sprang to my lips, but just before it bounced out, I took a look around the backyard. Deep red blooms covered the rose bush. Grass grew lush and green. I wore shorts and a T-shirt. And the whole scene was drenched in warm sunshine.

This was exactly what I had been wishing for during that miserably long winter.

As the old saying goes, be careful what you wish for.

That thought also came to mind as I drove around St. Joe looking to ask people how they spent their stimulus checks. Funny how some people are reluctant to tell the media what they did with $1,800.

Anyway, I drove through the Shoppes at North Village and nearly lost a tire in the upscale landscaping. Part of the package for the Shoppes TIF deal demanded it not be another cheap strip mall, but have an artsy feel.

This resulted in brick crosswalks that are akin to California surfers — they sure look cool, but no way can they survive a Midwest winter.

The Shoppes and adjacent developments are lined with restaurants that have national name recognition. It’s still hard to believe St. Joe will soon be home to a Chick-fil-A and a Buffalo Wild Wings.

On the other hand, Bottoms Up is going belly up. The iconic restaurant on the Avenue closed this week.

Health issues for the owner were the main reason, but you also have to wonder if competition from new restaurants put pressure on the business.

This week, the business staff at the News-Press has been talking to many restaurant owners helping them enter the contest for Missouri’s Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin. We’ve had entries from all kinds of businesses — bars, concession stands, family restaurants, grocery stores. They’re local, unique places that give both their tenderloins and customer service a special flavor.

Several business owners, however, have mentioned they’re worried about holding on if more restaurants come to town.

If your favorite tenderloin restaurant hasn’t entered the contest yet, tell them to get on the ball. The deadline is June 13. Give us a call at (816) 271-8560 and we’ll help with the application.

It’s our wish to bring the title of Missouri’s Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin to a restaurant in Northwest Missouri. We’ve got at least a dozen serious contenders.

When a local restaurant claims the prize and attracts statewide attention and draws hordes of people to order sandwiches, they’ll likely find themselves in the uncomfortable position of getting what they wished for.

Business editor Susan Mires loves tenderloin. She can be reached at susanm@ngpco.com.