“I’d give some of mine away if someone else needs more to do,” one of those women said. Laughter answered that one.

“I figured I’d have a contest and whoever guessed closest to the number I have would get to keep one of them,” MJ said.

“Good idea but then you’d have to dig them all out and count them. Not me.” More chuckles.

“You’re right. Me either. So, how many have quilting projects?” A good portion of the room. “Knitting? Crocheting? Weaving?” The numbers were dropping.

“How about needlepoint?” Several raised their hands.

“Woodworking? Stained glass?”

“I’ve always wanted to do that.”

“Uh-uh.” MJ shook her head. “Remember, no new projects.”

“Oh, that’s right.”

“Does anyone else do tatting?” one lady asked as she looked around the room for another who did. One more lady raised her hand.

One of the men, Jeff, piped up, “How about building an eight-foot peapod?”

MJ’s mouth dropped open. “That’s a lot of peas!”

“It’s a boat—a little boat like a punt that you sail or row around in.”

“I’ll help you,” Fred offered from the back. “If you’ll help me with a big, heavy chest of drawers.”

“Deal!”

“Hmm, hadn’t thought of that as a by-product. Any others? Oh—painters?” Several hands went up.

“I do house painting; that might be a bit difficult to work on with the group.” Ready chuckles skipped around the room.

“Well, as we said, anything goes. I can see we have a critical need for such a philanthropic group.”

“We’re going to need to meet more than once a month.”

“That might be a good idea too. Let’s review the other group’s suggestions and see if we agree.” MJ consulted the paper in her hand. “Now, the first premise is, we promise not to start anything new.”

“Uh-uh, I’d never get to start another new thing in this lifetime.” Anne shook her head. “I can’t sign something like that.”

“I agree. I still haven’t started a baby quilt, and it is due in two months.”

“This is our group; we can do what we want. I’m just going to read their suggestions.” MJ glanced around the room for agreement. “Okay, they meet once a month; we might want to meet bimonthly, like the first and third Thursdays or some such. Even though we don’t feel we want to sign something, we can still pretty much agree on the value of not starting anything new. Right?”

“Oh, yeah, it sounds good. But…”

“I know,” someone ventured. “How about we take pictures of the finished projects so we all can celebrate.”

Roxie bobbed her head. “Now, I think that is a good idea.”

“Me too,” Amalia, who’d been rather quiet, responded. “Any idea where we will be meeting?”

Roxie replied, “I was talking to Maureen at the Yarn Shop, and she has offered her place. Remember, everyone has to bring their own projects and supplies.”

“I can’t go in that store without buying some of her wonderful yarns.”

“Ask her to close the cash register?” More chuckles.