~ 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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Another week and we’re still knitting strong … I finished the designs for the book (a week to spare before the deadline, too!). The shawl finished out to 7.5′ x almost 4′ … it was a HUGE project but it looks lovely and I can’t wait to be allowed to show it to you all. For now, you’ll have to be satisfied with my next project, the May project for The Brigid Collection, “Wild Irish Rose”. This is done in pure cashmere and is so amazingly soft and luxurious! I’m down to the bind-off lace, so it should be blocked later today and ready for pattern-posting in the next day or two.

I’ve also been working on charitable knitting —

I finished Uncle Dick’s Prayer Shawl (and for every purchase of the pattern from Ravelry or Craftsy, I will donate $2 to the American Cancer Society). I also knit up a preemie cap for a woman whose baby was born 8 weeks early and a chemo cap for a friend’s cousin (this chemo cap is done in a bamboo/acrylic blend which should be a better option for her in the summers of Texas!).

And lest you worry … I have at least two more projects ready to cast-on and knit!

Only problem with all this knitting is that my reading time is significantly reduced. I was able to finish Benedict of Bavaria (and will post a review later today of this wonderful book) and have now started on The New iPad Portable Genius (building a business-case to convince dh that I really need on of these for my work) as well as Catholic Philosopher Chick Makers Her Debut. Waiting in the wings for my read/review are the final installments in the JohnPaul2High series, edited by Regina Doman: Summer of My Dissent and Undercover Papist (I read and enjoyed the first two books, so it will be interesting to see if these final two are as well written).

Our family read-aloud? Yesterday, we finished Which Way to the Wild West (excellent!) and will begin Horten’s Miraculous Mechanisms.

So … what do you have on your needles and reading table? Won’t you come play with us …