Overnight Stays

I'm told that the Elmhurst has no room left for the night of August 2. For those of you who would like to stay overnight, but have not yet reserved a room, there are some other hotels close by.

At the next exit west off the 401 is a Comfort Inn & Suites. The phone # is 519-425-1100.

There are 2 hotels at Hwy 59 and the 401 in Woodstock (which is east of Ingersoll about 10 min). Right at the intersection is a Quality Inn. The phone # is 519-537-5586.
Just north of the 401 on Hwy 59 is a Super 8. The phone # is 519-421-4588.

Irregardless of where you stay, if you are staying in the area overnight, you are more than welcome to enjoy brunch with us at the Elmhurst before we leave for the Detroit Airport.

Update

Our invitations are done and will be mailed tomorrow (April 30). I can't believe how the time has flown - it's less than 14 weeks until the big day.

The photo is an overview of the area where the ceremony will be held. I will post additional pictures of the site in the next few days.




I really wanted to share the most awesome
picture so far - our 2 year old grandson in a kilt. Isn't he absolutely precious!!!

Our Invitation

Nancy Downard & Graham Hawksby Invite you to celebrate with us as we join hands in Marriage Our Handfasting Ceremony will be held On August 2nd, 2008.

At 5:00 in the afternoon

At the Elmhurst Inn Ingersoll, Ontario Dining & Dancing in the Gallery Room at the Elmhurst Inn will follow

Theme

We have pondered long and hard about the theme for our handfasting. We have finally arrived at a theme that works for both of us.
Graham was born in the city of York in England. For those of you whose knowledge of history is a little "shakey", York was part of the War of the Roses:

The Wars of the Roses were a series of civil wars fought in medieval England from 1455 to 1487 between the House of Lancaster and the House of York. The name Wars of the Roses is based on the badges used by the two sides - the red rose for the Lancastrians and the white rose for the Yorkists.

Since Graham is from the "House of York" all of our flowers will be white roses.

As for me, I have, for the past 2 or 3 years developed an interest in crystals and crystal healing. My portion of the wedding theme will be rose quartz - it will be used to outline the boundary of our sacred circle.

Rose Quartz

Alternate Names: "Love Stone"

Metaphysical and Healing Properties Lore

Keywords: Love

Rose quartz is pink quartz that is often called the "Love Stone." It is a stone of unconditional love that opens the heart chakra to all forms of love: self-love, family love, platonic love, and romantic love. The high energy of quartz gives rose quartz the property of enhancing love in virtually any situation. In turn, this lowers stress. All in all it is a very soothing and happy stone.

Emotionally rose quartz brings gentleness, forgiveness, compassion, kindness and tolerance. It raises one's self-esteem and sense of self-worth. It helps balance emotions and heal emotional wounds and traumas, even grief, bringing peace and calm. Rose quartz removes fears, resentments and anger. It can also heal and release childhood traumas, neglect, and lack of love, in part by enhancing inner awareness. It can help with reconciliation with family and others. Overwhelming or unreasonable guilt is eased by rose quartz.

In the psychic and spiritual realms, rose quartz is often used to attract love, and for love spells. It is also used to ease the process of transition in dying. Rose quartz can be helpful for dream recall and dream work.

Physically rose quartz is used in crystal healing to benefit the heart, the circulatory system, fertility, headaches, kidney disease, migraines, sexual dysfunction, sinus problems, throat problems, depression, addictions, ear aches, slowing signs of aging, reducing wrinkles, spleen problems, fibromyalgia, and reaching one's ideal weight / weight loss. Rose quartz is also helpful and protective during pregnancy and with childbirth. It is also sometimes said that rose quartz is helpful for supporting brain functions and increasing intellect.

Rose quartz is associated with the heart chakra.

Meet our Handfasting Party - Richard

Richard is Graham's young brother and the
only one of three children who was actually born in Canada. Coincidentally, he was born in the same hospital that I was. Richard has a degree in electronics from.............. you guessed it, Ryerson! He plays bass guitar and has been involved with 2 music groups over the years - "White Frost" and "Bugs". Richard has 2 teenage children and will be one of Graham's groomsmen.

Meet our Handfasting Party - Deb

Deb is my "daughter-in-love". She is the mother of my only grandchild - Austin. She is also currently expecting my second grandchild in April. Deb is a Ryerson graduate like her husband (guess where they met). Her degree is in journalism. After graduating, Deb worked in Peterborough for a year and then joined Canada.com where she worked for a few years before moving to the Canadian Cancer Society, developing and writing much of their written material. Deb is one of my attendants and will be wearing red/burgundy.

Meet our Handfasting Party - Krista

Krista is my "middle child" - significant because Graham is also a "middle child" and it is an ongoing excuse for everything! Anyway, Krista is 28 years old and is the very first graduate of the University of Guelph's Applied Pharmaceutical Chemistry program. Although her class started out with 4 students, Krista is the only one who graduated. Krista lives in Brampton now and works as a chemist at Apotex Pharmaceuticals. Krista is one of my attendants and will be wearing blue.

Meet our Handfasting Party - Ryan

Ryan is my oldest and my only son. He is (almost)
31 years old. Ryan gradualed from Ryerson
University in 2000 and since then has been
working in Project Management at PCL. He gets
around, having worked on projects in Markham,
Niagara Falls and Mississauga. When he was
working on the hotel at the new Niagara
Casino site, he called me one day to tell me
that he wouldn't have a job the next day
because he turned the hotel around.
Fortunately, he was wrong and anyone who
has been to that new complex knows how
awesome it is. Ryan will be one of Graham's groomsmen.

Meet our Handfasting Party - Jamie

This is Jamie Evans. She is the youngest of my three children. She is 19 years old and is currently in her 1st year of General Sciences at the University of Guelph. Jamie's passion in life is horses and riding (ignoring her addiction to her cell phone and MSN messenger). Ultimately, she would like to become a veterinarian.
Jamie is one of my attendants and will be wearing green - her favourite colour.

My Last Wicca Post

Wicca is a very peaceful, harmonious and balanced way of thinking and life which promotes oneness with the divine and all which exists. It is a deep appreciation and awe in watching the sunrise or sunset, the forest in the light of a glowing moon, a meadow enchanted by the first light of day. It is the morning dew on the petals of a beautiful flower, the gentle caress of a warm summer breeze upon your skin, or the warmth of the summer sun on your face. Wicca is the fall of colourful autumn leaves and the softness of winter snow. It is light and shadow and all that lies in between. It is the song of the birds and other creatures of the wild. It is being in the presence of Mother Earth's nature and being humbled in reverence. To be Wiccan is to be a healer, a teacher, a seeker, a giver and a protector of all things. This path is mine and I walk it with honour, light and integrity.

The Pentacle and the Pentagram

Contrary to popular belief, these tools are NOT associated with devil worship. (Those of you who have seen DaVinci's Code should already know that).
The Pentacle is actually a Wiccan's tool and is used to bless items brought into the circle or "sacred space" of ritual and worship.
The Pentagram is the five (5) pointed star, popularly shown surrounded by a circle. This is the symbol of the religion of Wicca. It is worn with honour and respect. Each point of the star represents an element that is vital to the creation and survival of all life on the Planet Earth and also represents human need.

AIR: The intellect. To breath and communicate.

EARTH: Grounding, manifestation, bounty. Shelter and sustenance.

WATER: Emotion. Nourishment and cleansing.

FIRE: Passion and action. Light and warmth.

The fifth (5th) point of the star represents the 5th element of Wicca - SPIRIT - sometimes called "Akasha". Spirit can be the life force or the God and Goddess. The circle surrounding the star represents the all-encompassing love and protection of the deity, the binding of all the elements that create life and the never-ending cycle of life.

Menu Tasting

Two weeks ago we spent a lovely evening at the Elmhurst Inn doing our taste testing for the dinner following our handfasting. The food was perfect, the service was attentive and the menu is decided. While we were there, we took the opportunity to take some pictures of the building where our reception will be, at night. This is the front of the building which is separate from the main Inn. Isn't it beautiful???
Anyone who will require a special diet, please let us know.