Recently I tagged along with some friends as they ventured down to Toronto's Centre Island, for the Hope Volleyball Tournament. It was a fun day of volley ball and meeting and talking to lots of different people...and some dogs too!

Global News was a large contributor to the Tournament and as a result, Anthony Farnell, the resident meteorologist, was on hand along with other Global employees, to compete in the tournament. Mark Heese, the olympic volleyball star, made and appearance and along with one of the Global employees, played Anthony and the rest of the Global team. It was a real treat to see a pro in action.

I enjoyed being a spectator of the days events, taking pictures and enjoying the weather. I have created a video of what is mostly my friends team, but you will see a few shots of others as well. Hope you enjoy!

Wow it has been some time since I updated my blog and I feel it is time to get on it and keep it up to date on a more frequent basis.
Well the warm weather has finally arrived and it is wonderful to finally want to be out and enjoy all that the warm weather brings. This past weekend I had my kids out to the Whitevale Festival, in the hamlet of Whitevale just north of Pickering, ON. It was not a huge festival but the whole hamlet was involved. Many yard sales, placards of historical information through out the main road, live music, mini car show, fire truck for the kiddies to explore, lots of animals to hold and pet. It was a wonderful time and made for an enjoyable Saturday afternoon.
During these tough economic times, it was a perfect escape for a single mom on a tight budget!

Camping and Canada Day!

I had a wonderful weekend camping with my boys at my families trailer. The weather was great after Sunday and it is located near my home town of Picton. I was able to visit with some old friends and enjoy Canada Day festivities, where I ran into a lot of people from my past.

I was able to catch some great wildlife photos, and even managed to capture an Osprey with a Bass in it's mouth. It was an amazing sight. I was very fortunate to have my camera with me and a long lens on my camera.

Overall I had a wonderful long weekend full of family, friends, fun and lots of creatures!

Day at the Zoo - June 24th 2008

I love the zoo, especially when it is a gorgeous sunny summer day.

I went with a couple of classmates, Megan and Stephanie, along with my youngest son and Stephanie's younger sisters. It was a perfect day, not to hot and not overcast.

We did not make the full tour of the zoo but we did manage to see the elephants, gorillas and giraffes. But the main attraction, the one the made the biggest impact on us was the Sting Ray exhibit.

Currently the zoo has 30 Sting Ray's in a custom pool. They are at the zoo until October and it is only $3 per person on top of the regular membership. It is well worth the money and I would strongly suggest it to anyone visiting the zoo in the near future.

The Sting Rays are absolutely amazing, we were able to feed them as well as touch them. They actually come to you to be touched. They swim constantly and as they would come near your hand they actually came up to your hand to be stroked. They are very very soft, and it is truly a phenomenal almost therapeutic experience. One that I plan on doing again soon!

Ciao!

Sunday June 22nd Day after wedding.

So after a dancing the night away at the wedding, my friend Kelly and I decided to go down to the Pickering waterfront to enjoy the summer view and to also enjoy a drink on the patio at the new restaurant/bar The Port at the end of Liverpool Rd. If you have not had the opportunity to check it out, I suggest you do. It is a beautiful view over the marina and the building itself is esthetically gorgeous.
As we were sitting on the patio enjoying our afternoon, we watched as the clouds rolled in but we stuck it out as long as we could enjoying the fresh air and view. But sooner than we would have liked, we were pushed inside by the rain. This was really not an issue because the inside of this restaurant is stunning. Very modern and tasteful.

As I said, if you are looking for nice place for dinner on a summer evening, I would strongly suggest The Port for atmosphere and view.

Ciao,
Tracy

Summer Wedding

Well I am behind in getting my posts up but here we go. Last weekend, I attended my first summer wedding. It was a beautiful outdoor summer wedding and with all the rain we have been having, it was done at great risk. I did not know the bride or groom, I was attending as a fill in date for one of my best friends, Kelly. The bride was a good friend and co-worker of hers.
We arrived in Blackstock, a little town approximately 15 minutes north of Bowmanville. The wedding was held at a B&B with a huge property.
Two sections of chairs were facing a beautifully decorated arbor where the bride and groom were to exchange vows. After exploring the grounds and sinking in the ground with my heels (did not know it was going to be on grass or that it was outside!!) we sat and waited for the procession. After a very nice, short, sweet ceremony, the guests retired to the poolside for punch and conversation. About an hour later we moved to the big white party tent for the reception. The bride and her mother did most of the decoration themselves. They did a wonderful job and the seemed to be enjoying every minute of it.

It turned out to be a great wedding, probably one of the most relaxed weddings I have ever been to. I felt very fortunate to have met the bride and groom as they are both fantastic people with wonderful families. A different experience for me feeling a bit like a party crasher, but I managed to take some pictures during the reception for the Bride and Groom (photographers were done by then) that I hope they will be able to cherish for many years to come.

I have posted a couple of pics here to show you a little taste of the elegant simplicity of the night.

Cheers,
Tracy

Summer Fun

It is time for summer finally! I am so happy to get out and enjoy this beautiful weather and the opportunities to capture some beautiful images. It is also time to hide those video games, put away the DVD's and push the kids outside. But, shhh!, must not tell the kids!

I have decided that this year the games must go away, I am seeing the addiction that is taking over my kids as they stare like zombies at the screen. This is something that I blame on myself as I am the parent, the one who is "supposed" to be in control.

It started when my youngest was small. My lovely brother gave my 5 yr old son Nintendo 64 with games to play. He was so excited! But I was good an maintained his use . . . for a while. I was a working mom, so time was limited and as I came home from work and was preparing dinner it was so easy to just let him sit in front of the game system and entertain himself. Then a few years later I was pregnant for my second, even less time on my hands. This is by no way an excuse for letting this happen, just a view in to how easily it happens.

After my second son came along, I was home and got back on limiting the use of the game system and time in front of the television. It was working very well for a while, and somehow, I let it start happening again. My son would look at me with those big blue eyes and I would cave. The worst thing I could do, letting him gain control. But it happened, and now at ages 10 and 4 they are both experts at their games, love watching movies and don't nearly get out as much as they should.

So here it is, I have made up my mind that it is not too late. I am not going to give up on my kids, I is no too late to break those bad habits. Time to lock those zombie boxes away and get out to the park, the beach, the backyard, anywhere as long as it is outside where they can soak up the sun and the much needed vitamin D.

So I encourage all other mom's out there who are finding themselves in a similar situation to get off the couch, out of the house and take your babies into the light!

Happy summer everyone!