Hello Everyone!

I hope everyone is having a fantastic summer. I'm sure most of you have heard me talk about or have even read in my past blogs that our good friends in Picton have a vineyard. Well, the time has come for their dream to come true - they are opening their doors this weekend to the public. A lot of hard work, love and dedication went into their vineyard over the years and we couldn't be happier for them! I hope some of you can make the trek down to Picton to show your support and try their fantastic wine. The drive to Picton itself is a beautiful one but the winery tour which takes you past the Del-Gatto Estates Winery is even more spectacular - a mini Niagara-on-the-Lake as I like to call it. I'm also excited to announce that my good friends have asked me to display my prints in their winery along with photo cards for sale. Please see below for the press release that went out and I hope to see some of you in passing at this great event.

The Del-Gatto family is proud to announce the opening of their winery to the public on August 8th. After 8-years of chasing a dream by planting, pruning, picking and praying, Del-Gatto Estates has released 3 exciting 2008 vintages.

All wines are 100% grown from their six-acre vineyard, offering wine lovers a wonderful tasting experience of grapes from the Prince Edward County region.

Del-Gatto Estates is located in Cape Vesey on County Road 8 just a few kilometres past the Rose House Museum. This is one of the fastest growing wine regions in Canada, and on August 8th the public will taste why.

Breaking away from mainstream varieties, they grow cold hardy and disease resistant vines that deliver a good solid crop and produce a well-balanced wine.

的 decided to plant varieties that are well suited to our climate and our soils, said Pat Del-Gatto, owner and winemaker. 展e have about 8 inches of soil on average, before hitting 2 feet of fractured limestone, after which is solid bedrock.

The Del-Gatto family offers 4 generations of winemaking knowledge to make stunning blends and single varietals of white, red and blush wines and they bring an authentic feel of Italy to Southern Ontario.

Please come out on August 8th and enjoy a wonderful life long dream the Del-Gatto family wishes to share with you. Open Saturday August 8th and 9th 11am - 5:30pm.


Civediamo Presto ! (See you soon !)

To find out more, visit Del-Gatto Estates
3633 County Road 8
Office phone number is 613-476-7455, and retail phone is 613-476-8198

It's been much too long since my last blog entry, but I have to admit that I've had my hands full with a baby over the last few months. Our little guy is doing wonderfully and just hit the 4-month mark. Boy how time flys!

I found it fitting to use this picture because we've all been teased with Spring and Summer-like weather over the last few weeks. I think it's fair to say that Winter is now long gone and we can start enjoying the nice weather.

With the nice weather now here, the art shows are starting to get underway. The Whitby Mental Health Centre is holding its first ever "Perspectives Art Show". Guest jurists are Olex Wlasenko and Deborah Nolan, Station Gallery. I'm proud to say that I was just informed today that one of my pieces was accepted into the show. Over 100 pieces were entered and only 40 selected. The general public is invited to attend the opening reception of the Conference Place Gallery within the Whitby Mental Health Centre, where the art will be displayed on May 2nd from 1-2pm. Parking and admission is free. The art show itself will continue from May 3-6. Details can be found on the WMHC's website at: http://www.whitbymentalhealthcentre.ca/ ... eplace.htm

On another note, I have also entered my work into "Art in the County 2009", which is being held on June 20 - July 6th in Picton at Picton Old Town Hall. I have yet to find out if my work has been accepted for this juried event so keep your fingers crossed for me. Every year, this show brings in many people from all over so if you're up for the short and beautiful drive to Picton, be sure to stop in at the art show for a glance (and possibly a purchase) of some beautiful artwork. More information can be found at: http://www.artinthecounty.com/

As I've mentioned in past blogs, the wine country in this area is beautiful as well so be sure to pick up some lovely Bella Vigne (Del-Gatto Estates).

Enjoy the weather everyone,
Christine

The announcement above says it all...we received an early Christmas gift this year by welcoming our son on December 20, 2008. He just couldn't wait until the New Year so decided to make his appearance in one of the worse snow storms for 2008.

Contractions started around 2pm on December 19th with a drive to the hospital around 6pm through the wintery storm. We thought that we may have been sent home, but by the time we reached the hospital, contractions were definately closer together and more intense so we ended up in staying. Ryan John Terence Lomas was born at 2:38am on December 20th, and we couldn't be happier with him.

He already has a little personality of his own. Our dog, Karma was a bit weary of this new family member for the first few days, but has come around and is not as nervous around him now.

Happy New Year to everyone for a happy and healthy 2009!

Christine

It's been a few months since my last blog and I do have to apologize, but it's been one heck of a year. Last year at this time, I wrote a Christmas Wish List on my blog, but what you didn't know at the time was that we were secretly wishing to start a family. That wish will soon be coming true for us with the expected arrival of our son, which could be any day at this point! We are extremely excited and can't wait to meet him! I've always felt that it's not the things in life that can make you happy, it's the family and friends around you that give you all you need just by being there. I wanted to thank all of you for your love and support, and encouragement throughout the years - it's meant the world to me.

This year, I'll keep my last blog of the year short and sweet - I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and all the best for 2009. Stay tuned for the news on the birth of our son along with some photos as well (can you blame me for wanting to brag)!

Merry Christmas,
Christine

Hello All,

Well, it's been a while since I wrote a blog. I figured it was time to write a more personal one. As most of you already know, I am pregnant and due on January 1, 2009, which means that I have just passed the midway point of the pregnancy! After 10-years of marriage, I think people had given up on us thinking that we'd never have kids, but we were in no rush obviously. We have learned a few short weeks ago that we're having a boy so if anyone has any good advice on raising a boy, you should let me know now so I can mark it down in my "Things To Know About Raising A Child" book…ha..ha…

As of now, we are in the midst of getting the nursery ready and furniture is going in within the next week. Our poor dog, Karma is wondering why his bed has been moved from the spacious room he was in (nursery) to a smaller room that we use for our office. If only we could explain to him the situation, he might be more understanding…

Of course, I will still continue with my photography until the point that I can't bend down any further then I will take a slight break when the baby arrives until I am feeling up to par to continue again with the photography. Of course, I'll be practicing in the meanwhile with the newbie in the family to see if he is one of those photogenic babies or one of those, "please not not now" babies (let's hope the first thought is correct).

Anyways, I will keep this short and sweet.

Hope everyone is having a great summer!