Four Sons

Roger.
Charles.
Maynard.
Marlowe.

Those were my Grandma and Grandpa Ray's four sons. I don't remember my Grandma and Grandpa Ray as they both were gone before I was born. However, I have pictures of them and stories retold by my family.

The Rays were a close family and Grandma and Grandpa loved their boys! Being a mother of 3, I can only imagine the emotions when their four boys served in World War II. Yes, all four. They all returned home safely.

Major Roger Ray, served in England and France as a pilot on a Martin Marauder B-28 bomber. He completed 62 missions. He held several well-deserved medals and citations, among them the Distinguished Flying Cross awarded May 11, 1944, the Silver Star, Bronze Star, the Air Medal with ten oak leaf clusters.

Sgt. Maynard Ray was a radio operator with the 20th Air Force ground to plane radio communications with B-29 Superforts. He had been stationed on Timon in the Pacific area.

Sgt. Marlowe Ray (my father) was stationed at Yusku, Japan before occupation forces. He was discharged November 24, 1947 and recalled into service March 1951. He was with MacArthur's First Calvalry on his first hitch. He was then stationed at Topeka, Kansas, 90th Maintenance Squadron, Forbes AFB, Topeka, Kansas. My mother joined him and found a clerical job at the base.

Captain Charles Ray, Jr. entered the service as an air cadet February 1943 at Creighton University, Omaha Nebraska. In 1944 he received his wings. For a short time he was stationed at Romulus Field and was sent overseas in June of 1944. He served in the Air Transport Command and flew a Curtiss Commander C-46.



My dad, Marlowe Ray



Roger Ray and Maynard Ray



Charles Ray, Jr.

Boy a lot has changed. Where there were B-28 bombers and C-46s, we now have B1 bombers, DC-10s, and 747s. Hand-written letters to home that sometimes took weeks to arrive have been replaced with the internet and e-mail.

Technology has changed the way we live and the way we fight wars. But the love families have for their loved ones has never changed. It's important to remember the service men and women who gave their lives so you and I can continue to enjoy the freedom that we enjoy in America. However, we need to remember there are other sons and daughters who are currently fighting for our country too.

In honor of Memorial Day, it is to the four Ray boys that I dedicate this blog post.

Ragna swatch and photos

I finished the Ragna swatch today in the Black Water Abbey yarn in rust color. The pattern says to use size 8 needle which I did in the pink heather. The fabric was.... eh.... and when I washed it I was greatly disappointed. It bloomed and I lost some of the detail in the side cables, although the plait still looked okay.

I did the swatch today in rust on size 7 needles and after washing it still bloomed a bit but I think the tighter gauge kept a lot of the detail lost on size 8 needles. The fabric is perfect and the gauge is right on the money. Before on size 8 it was a tad off, but I would have been quite happy having it a bit bigger.

Here is the swatch I did today:



Nice, huh? I think this is a winner for Elsebeth Lavold's Ragna!

Now.... on to the Oregon. I am pleased with its progress and it's moving along quite nicely. As noted earlier I put down Alan for a while as I needed a change. I was ready for some color again. Here it is:



And to show you the color that is totally amazing to me, here is a close up. These are the colors that attracted me to Oregon the first time I saw it:



That's about it for now!

I'm still here!

I haven't blogged in quite a while so here's a catch-up post.

I finished the front of the Alan sweater and it's turning out very well! I have started on the back. Getting rather bored with it, so have put it aside and picked up Oregon again last night. It's amazing how many different colors there are in this sweater and how many different subtle shades of the same color there are.

I received several one ounce skeins of Black Water Abbey Yarn to swatch with. I swatched the pink heather using size 8 needles for Elsebeth Lavold's Ragna sweater. I just about got gauge, perhaps a little bigger. I washed it and was disappointed that I lost a little of the stitch definition in the smaller cables. The plaits, however, turned out really nice. The color of this yarn is incredible! Today I am going to do the same swatch but this time in Black Water Abbey Yarn color Rust. I will do it on size 7 needles this time. I just love that sweater so I'm determined to go through my stash and find the yarn that will work the best for it.

Still working on Mom's Bedjacket. After I get Mom's Bedjacket and Alan done I will cast on for my sister's Abalone sweater. However, none of this is in stone and these plans could change at any time!

I will post pictures of the above progress when I can.

You are a Dubliner.


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Weekend update

I managed to begin the front of Alan's sweater this weekend. It certainly is different going back and forth instead of around on the circular. I figure I'll be done with this in no time!

This weekend was the annual Osugi Birthday Bash. Jennifer and Sydney's parents, Kim and Richard, throw this incredible birthday party for their girls. They are 2 years apart and Jennifer turned 7 and Sydney 5. As usual, there was a ton of most excellent food. If you leave this party hungry it's your own fault! We won't mention the birthday cake. This cake is ohmigosh incredible. We loved it so much that we had the same bakery make our wedding cake.

We arrived at the party today and like every year I quickly scan the masses of kids for Sydney and Jennifer. Unfortunately we only get to see them once a year so it's a challenge to find them as they have grown! Each year they have the coolest toys for the kids to play with and this year it was bubbles. Oodles and oodles of little toys that produce millions o'bubbles. Of course, I have to remind myself that I'm the adult and I just watch the kids. But I get to have fun by taking pictures of them.

Tonight I'm not going to put up a picture of one of the cats doing a cutsie belly-up shot or of a sweater in progress. I have something that is much more adorable.... Sydney (left) and Jennifer today at their party.

I thought it would never get here...

...Friday that is. What a week it's been!

I'm not going to blog again until Sunday afternoon at which point I will post a new picture of whatever I'm working on. It will probably be Alan. I'm ready to split to work either the back or front. I think I'll get the front out of the way first.

In case you haven't done so, you really need to see these books. I just checked them out from the library and are now on my wish list. (Hint to my husband there.)

The Best of Knitters Arans and Celtics. There are a lot of yummy things to knit here.


Knitting in the Old Way. This book is definitely for the advanced knitter. It shows in detail how to make any kind of a sweater to fit anyone. This is a definite for any knitters library and it certainly is my #1 wish on my wish list. Do you think my husband will get the hint?

I hope you all have a terrific weekend.

I'm up to my armpits in Alan!

Well, I will be in about 2 more inches. I have now knit 16 inches of "Alan" and will separate for the arms in another 2 inches. Here... I'll show you:



Wanna see a closeup of the stitches and bobbles? Hey, save your comments on my bobbles - I'm a bobble virgin, okay?



I don't know if it's burn out, but lately I haven't felt much like knitting. So, I've spent my time organizing my books and patterns, and might go through my stash once again to re-organize everything.

I did get my "pretty in pink" gift socks done and the recipient was thrilled.

I'm still chugging along on my mom's bedjacket. It's done in stockinette stitch so it's rather boring. However, it's a very small and short jacket with three-quarter sleeves. If I would just sit and do it, it would be done in no time. But as I said earlier, I feel kinda "blah" about knitting right now. If anyone else ever feels like that I would LOVE to hear from you. Is this something that needs therapy? Will my knitting libido ever return to its normal passion? Hmmm... I wonder if they make a drug for people like me when their drive for knitting has gone limp..... :gasp:

I watched the Sharks vs Calgary game tonight. Tsk tsk tsk. They lost. They're down 2 games to 0. Even Poppy was upset - he just couldn't bear to watch the last period.



Well, knit on everyone! Someone around here has to. :sigh:

My wonderful day

My daughter is nearly 23 years old. She is my oldest child and only daughter. This evening she was going to a formal dance and I was privileged to help her with her hair, dress, and makeup. I clipped roses from the garden and made some boutonnieres for her date and a few other friends she was meeting.

I realized that other than her wedding, I probably will never have this opportunity again. I savored every minute of it. I remembered all the prom dresses I made and the nights up late fretting it wouldn't be done in time. The nights spent up awake worrying and hoping that she was safe and sound.

Next month she graduates from UC Santa Cruz and she is a grown woman now. As her mother, I am so proud to have her as my daughter. Of course, I am proud to have my two sons as well.

I love being a Mom and I couldn't ask for 3 better kids! Happy Mother's Day to everyone.

One done one to go

Well, I managed to get one sock done and the other started. However, I sewed a skirt for myself and got other things done too.

I took this picture of my baby, Mia. Is she gorgeous, or what? Mia thinks she is!

I'm in the pink!

Can I do it? Can I actually start a pair of socks and have them finished this weekend? Yep. I believe so. I started a pair of socks last evening in a pink and white variegated wool. It's from Joslyn's Fiber Farm in Sheep's Gift. I'm don't know of the name of the colorway. These are going to be a gift. Fortunately, the recipient has little feet (adult little feet).

The San Jose Sharks play against the Colorado Avalanche. If the Sharks win, they move on. I figure there will be some quality knitting time there.



Can I do it? Stay tuned!