~ 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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Good morning! 45 and cloudy (but NO precip, thank goodness) at 0600. We’re supposed to get up into the mid-60s today and be mostly sunny. I think spring has FINALLY sprung ’round these parts. We were beginning to think we’d never have spring, but the trees are budding (the Bradfords and Cherries are in full-bloom … the dogwoods are a little behind) and we may actually get in some sports activities this week.

On the knitting front: I sent off my two publication designs (one for Summer Knitter’s and one for next issue of Downton Abbey Knits) as well as an article for Interweave’s specialty publication, Enchanted Knits. I’m in the midst of working on another publication design (which is why there is just a ball of yarn in the picture), this one for Cast On! magazine, the publication of The Knitting Guild of America. The design is a cabled pullover hoodie in the gorgeous Shepherd’s Wool from Stone Hedge Fiber Mill (I LOVE knitting with this wool). Can’t wait to be able to show y’all this one. I’m also prepping for a trip down to Bedford this weekend for the Olde Liberty Fibre Faire.

Have I mentioned lately that I love my job?

And did you see those buttons? These are hand-crafted by an amazing polymer clay artist (she also spins, knits and generally is amazing), Anita of The Clay Sheep. She creates all kinds of spinning, knitting and crocheting tools that are practical, beautiful and just a bit whimsical. Her stitch markers are amazing …. She also often has hand-spun yarn for sale, too.

Here’s a close-up of the buttons:

The sheep in the field button, which measures approx 1-inch, I just fell in love with; not sure what I’m going to use that one for. The three swirl buttons, each measuring approx 3/4-inch, will be used on a sweater or vest for this fall. Aren’t they wonderful. My pix don’t do them justice … go check Anita’s Etsy shop and see just what she can do.

On the reading front: I’ve discovered a real passion for Agatha Christie’s “spy thrillers”, books she wrote post-WW2 that don’t have recurring characters, are more of the spy/thriller genre than her cottage-cozies, and are really well done. I’ve already waxed poetic about my affection for my Kindle Fire (which I can read at night WITHOUT putting on my “readers” and the glow from the Kindle doesn’t keep dh awake) so I won’t bore you with that; I will however say that reading these Agatha Christies on the Kindle is pure pleasure.

I’ve already read:

• The Secret of Chimneys
• They Came to Baghdad

… and I’m currently reading Passenger to Frankfurt.

THEN, I’ve got queued-up to read over Easter break:

• The Man in the Brown Suit
• Crooked House
• Destination Unknown

So far, these books have proven to be cerebral without being too intense; a good read at night or in the mid-afternoon with a plot that twists and turns with amazingly well-written characters and great Cold War details (especially about the MidEast). These are such fun! I’m thrilled to have discovered these just before a break … when I can really indulge in reading for pure pleasure.

So what are you knitting and reading …. wanna come play?