I'd thought I'd let you know that my dear father, Jose Lacosta, has passed away. He died on 12/11/06.

Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers you have given me.

Even though I will miss him terribly, my father is at peace now.

Rachel Dad

I'm off to Seattle for a one week conference starting on 10/9.  

Hope to take pictures and hopefully post.

If any of you are from that area -would love tips on good places to eat/visit.
Thanks.

Rachel

I've been trying to remain strong for my

father's recovery.

Update-He is currently in a rehab/nursing home facility improving, but very slowly.

Insurance is about to run out soon, so we have to figure out where he will go.

My mother misses him very much and we just want him to come home.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.  They help a lot!

I know I've been a stranger for awhile, but I think of you as a family and I need your prayers for my family.

My father is in the hospital and it is rather serious.

I'm trying so hard to be strong for my mother, who is a rock, and especially for my father, but I'm hurting so much inside.

Please keep our family in your thoughts.

Not much of a "photo" story, I'm sorry.

Please pray for Jose

I followed Jojames instructions to Jellybean.

Here is the first attempt.

I want to learn to get the fading effect/framing on individual pictures.

911

I was on my way to the grocery store and saw this neat looking sky.

Later,
Rachel

HI ALL!
I'm back!

Here's a picture I took on May 7th.

My husband participated in the 5 Boro Bike tour for the first time.  He had a blast.

in the shadows

More soon!

Rachel  :)

I've not been around....because

I've been accepted into another art show!  I've been busy putting together stuff for these local shows.

Belmar Arts Council in Belmar, NJ-The Jersey Shore Area.

This is the entry
Solitude is what I call it.

Sorry that I've been invisible the last few months.

Anyway, here is my entry for the challenge.

This is a follow up on my last entry.

The Thompson Park Visitor Center-Headquarters to the Monmouth County Park System (where I work--but not this location, suffered a severe fire on February 6, 2006.

Here are some of the pictures.
For a brief article on it-visit
www.monmouthcountyparks.com.  Scroll down the opening page and you'll see an article and a picture of what the mansion looked like.

Architecture is a beautiful thing. Especially buildings/structures with charm. They don't make buildings like this anymore---sadly, this is irreplacable.
Danger Keep Off

Doesn't look too bad from here This is where it started started on the west side of the building

The East side
the rubble on the front lawn
center view
This is the 100 + year old beech tree that remains standing on the great lawn. It was a great view from the Visitor Center

Fortunately-noone was hurt.  But this is a major setback for us.  
Everyone is still in awe-in shock.
110 + years gone.

If anyone is familiar with Monmouth County---one of our 110 year mansions that we used as an office building/visitor center, that was recently renovated, was just devastated today in an electrical fire.

Sorry, probably not the proper forum for this, but I need to vent...

:( I wish I had a picture of it to show the devastation, but this tree sits on the property.Thompson beech tree

So,on a lark, I entered a juried Art Show & Sale for the very first time.
http://www.monmouthartscouncil.org/

It's mix media-painting, watercolor, sculpture, photography, etc.

403 entries-83 accepted.

I'm very excited!
My Entry

Here you go---
These shells are a treasure from my Grandmother. They are from the Philippines.

Before Xbox, PS2, Nintendo--there was
Atari.
 I am so old school.

This bell was part of my first bike.  It still rings.

I've had this jewelry music box since I was born.  

To this day, I don't know the  tune.

Enjoy!
 

This photo spoke to me the most because I didn't think about it too much-I just saw it and said "This would be an interesting/different shot for me to capture."  

Workboots

I'll have to admit though, it was hard to choose which one and which category.

Great theme, Blizzard!

I apologize for the fact that these look washed out...I'm not sure what is happening with my PC, but they don't look like this before upload.

Anyway---
What would a child see on our Christmas tree?
an angel
taz
a train
 a snowman
this cute trio
even a moose

How nice the tree and presents look before my nephew  digs in.
We can't forget my niece. She loves her bear!

The thumbnail is of my father-in-law opening up a rare 45 of Joanne Campbell.

Happy Holidays!
Happy and Safe New Year!

Before I schlep off to the family for some Christmas fun, I just want to extend a Merry Chirstmas to everyone here.HO HO HO!