“Any of you find that our first organizational meeting spurred you to working on your number one after the meeting?”

They all nodded. Roxie turned when she heard the door open. “Ginny.” She leaped to her feet. “Oh, I’m so glad to see you.”

Ginny smiled weakly. “You can blame Amalia. She said I had to get out.”

Right behind her, Amalia looked up toward her hat brim. Her hat today was the straw boater.

“If you are trying to look angelic, it isn’t working.” MJ’s smile nearly burst open her face.

“Oh, well, we are here and we have things to work on so…Is that oatmeal cookies I smell?”Amalia sniffed the air.

“Josie is going to get wealthy bottling that perfume.” Maxine commented. “Ginny, I am so sorry.”

Ginny blinked. “Thank you.” She held up a table runner she had quilted. “Down to the handwork and it’s been waiting since last winter.”

“You going to make napkins to go with that?”

“Years ago, I made napkins for my house for every season. Hand-hemmed them all.” Several groans. “But I took them everywhere—to meetings to work on and avoid talking and volunteering for anything.”

“Did it work?”

“It did. Now I just claim age.” She drew her counted cross-stitch out of the bag. “Found this in a box in a closet. Who knows when I started it.”

“Ginny, I heard you had some plant starts needing a garden.”

Roxie watched her friend struggle. “I did. Let me check when I get home and call you.”

“I know several others who want to come to this group but couldn’t make it this week,” Josie said.

“When I was deciding on which project…” one lady said, “I realized how much yarn I have stashed away. Maybe we could do a yarn swap or something. Or if any of you know who could use more yarn.”

“The women over at St. Paul’s are knitting and crocheting baby blankets or blankets for the less fortunate. You can drop yarn off there anytime.”

“Thank you. I wonder how many garbage bags I could fill.”

The others snickered.

“My daughter said my fabric stash is out of control. I’ve sworn off fabric stores,” Maxine averred.

“Are you going through withdrawal?” Josie snickered.

“I think so. I drive faster when I see a fabric store. The other way, I mean.”

When the clock neared noon, they put their things away.

Maxine commented, “You know the evening group is meeting twice a month; what about this one?”

“I’m sure they will let us use a room here more often. I’ll check and let you know.” MJ nodded. “Thanks.”

Later, when they were leaving the room, Roxie murmured to Ginny, “The first time for anything is always the hardest. Good for you for coming.”

Ginny nodded and blinked fast several times. “Thanks. Not sure if I am happy with Amalia or not, but she can be mighty persuasive when she tries.”

Amalia giggled. “I twisted her arm, gently, of course. I wouldn’t want to leave a bruise.”