~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~ Ginny at small things

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Happy Feast of St. John of the Cross …. and only 10 shopping … knitting … days till Christmas … and we’ve been kicking it into high gear around here.

If you look closely at the pile of books we’re reading this week … all but two are Christmas! We’re devouring: Louisa May Alcott’s Christmas Treasury, A Pioneer Christmas and The Pioneer Lady’s Country Christmas because we’re doing a pioneer-theme this year. You’ll also note that Mary Engelbreit’s Christmas Ideas is on our reading table — I just love ME and her books are always fun to delve into for ideas (both quick and detailed).

The only two non-Christmas books are: The Knitter’s Life List which is my fun read. If you have any knitters on your gift list … this is a great gift! All things knitterly with suggestions for expanding fiber horizons and developing new skills and meeting new people and thoroughly enjoying your knitting times. The other is Mara: Daughter of the Nile which is our read-aloud before Christmas. It’s not Christmasy at all, but since we’re also reading The Jesse Tree and Destination: Bethlehem each day, I figured the kids needed something a little different.

On the knitting needles: just finished designing my own version of the Hello Kitty Hat for my great-niece (just don’t tell her).

I’ve posted a free pattern on Ravelry if you’d like to whip one up (very fast and easy and oh, so very cute!) If you’re not a member of Ravelry (and WHY NOT?), email me and I’ll be happy to send you the pdf. I’ve also started some Christmas ornaments … I made my girls’ group the yarn balls and have started designing some quirky, artsy Santas ….. I’ll be making a set of these in all different shapes and sizes and will post the design by the weekend.

So what’s on your needles and your book table? Won’t you come along and play with us over at Ginny’s?