~ 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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We have finally done it — we have found a read-aloud that all three kids (almost 9, 11, 12) enjoy and that I enjoy reading to them … whew, it’s the end of September and the first read-aloud that has really worked! What is it: Mistress Masham’s Repose by T.H. White (who wrote Sword in the Stone). Mistress Masham is a sequel or re-telling of Gulliver’s Travels that is wonderful reading — it’s funny, philosophical and filled with action … bad guys and good guys …mistakes … forgiveness … friendships. Well, it’s all there! T.H.White is a phenomenal story teller (and, truth be told, I wished he had written Gulliver’s Travels — I might have enjoyed it more!). Lovin’ it!

For my reading:

• Northanger Abbey (I’m reading it with the girls’ group and enjoying it as much as the girls are)
• The Creative Workshop (recommended by a friend and it is excellent — Kit and I will start working through it together one evening a week starting in October; she’s going to be my designer, I’m thinkin’)
• Catholic Sexual Ethics is a book I’m reviewing for The Catholic Company which I chose it to review as my dh is steeped in bioethics and always talking over my head a bit. I’m hoping reading this will give me at least a talking knowledge of bioethics.

On to the knitting — after my hectic fiber-filled weekend (and celebration of my 50th!), I realized I haven’t actually been getting much knitting done! Isn’t that weird? Until last night, I hadn’t even PICKED UP my knitting since Friday (or maybe it was even Thursday) since I was prepping for the classes I was going to teach this past weekend. But it’s all good and I’m back in the groove: making bead-knitted cashmere necklaces. Here is a close-up of one I just finished and then the one I’m working on. The natural one is 100% cashmere with little gold beads while the blue one is a blend of cashmere/merino/silk with pearl beads. I am enjoying doing these — I’ll have to pick out which design I like best for the class I’ll teach at Spring Gate Farm’s first annual knitting retreat, Getting Cozy with Cashmere, in November.

So, what’s on your needles and reading table(s)? Won’t you come yarn-along with us over at Ginny’s?