Peatt.net

While finishing my MA degree this summer I was hired at Public Works and Government Services Canada in Minister Fortier’s office.  It has almost been 2 months now and I love my job!  On Tuesday Prime Minister Harper hosted a BBQ for exempt staff at his house.  I attended with my colleagues and got to meet and get a picture with him. 

At long last we did our registry this weekend.  We spent hours at The Bay looking at kitchen stuff and discussing what we really need and would like.  Yet, when all was done and we printed it out it just barely went on to 2 pages.  This is for a few reasons.  First, we don’t need a lot and have a small apartment.  We look forward to one day having a house and needing everything from magazine racks to six different types of wine glasses, but we are not there yet.  Second, we like to be reasonable and didn’t put things that were (in our opinion) significantly over priced on the registry.  Third, The Bay doesn’t have some of the stuff that we would have liked to put on the registry, in particular a Kitchen Aid Professional Mixer (thanks to Patti & Bud we now have one!).  We do however plan on adding some dinnerware to the registry and I think it will be the Denby White collection.  We think this is a classy simple pattern that will leave the focus on the food rather than the plate.  It also goes well with white or glass platters.

A word of caution: we have heard from my sister and others that The Bay is great before the wedding but after the wedding they are less than helpful.  In particular, I have heard stories of gifts being bought but not received.  So if you are thinking of buying us a gift on the registry please give us the cards that The Bay gives you to ensure we can thank you properly.  Also, if you purchase it online please let us know as well. 

While The Bay isn’t good at everything they do some things well.  Don’t be afraid to shop the sales!  When we were doing the registry yesterday the 10pc Henckels cookware set was regular priced at $799.99 but was on sale half-off.  Also, given that The Bay has locations all across Canada you can purchase a gift in your hometown and The Bay here will let us know we need to pick it up.  No shipping charges or fear of it getting broken!

Thank you in advance for wanting to wish us a long and happy life together!  As most friends and family are in BC we wanted to make this as easy as possible so if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to drop us a line!

Tanya and I recently returned from Victoria where we spent a great week with family and celebrated her sister’s wedding. Tanya was the maid of honour (ahem..best woman). You can view pictures of the ceremony and reception by clicking the photo gallery link on the right.

This is my mom’s recipe and there have been so many requests for it lately I thought that I would just post it up here for all to see.

 Patti Peatt’s Cream of Mushroom and Escargot Soup

Makes 16 cups

• 5 cups chopped fresh mushrooms (about 1 lb)
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 8 cups chicken broth
• 3/4 cup butter, divided
• 1/2 cup flower
• 2 cups milk
• 2 cups cream
• 2- 6 oz cans of escargot, drained and chopped
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup chopped parsley
• 4 green onions, chopped
• 1/2 cup white wine
• salt & pepper to taste

Combine mushrooms, onion and chicken stock in soup pot and simmer for 20 mins.

In another pan, melt 1/2 cup of the butter over medium heat and stir in flour until smooth. Remove from heat and gradually stir milk and cream. Return to medium heat and cook, stirring constantly, until smoothly thickened. Season with salt and pepper. Stir sauce into mushroom chicken mixture.

In a small frying pan heat the remaining 1/4 cup of butter. Add escargot, garlic, parsley, and green onions; sautée quickly. Add to soup along with wine. Spoon into soup bowls and garnish with additional chopped parsley.

Tanya and I will be heading to BC in late August. Tanya will be staying longer than I am, but we are heading down for Amy and Len’s wedding on September 1st. I will likely be in BC from August 25th until September 3rd – most of my time will be spent in Victoria. Drop us a line!

This seems to be the year for publishing!  My undergraduate honours essay is published both physically and on the On Politics site (http://www.onpolitics.ca/).  This paper examines the meaning of land in the context of the Landless Worker’s Movement in Brazil by looking at artwork.  Colour pictures included!  As well, some of the poetry I had published in the Claremont Review in high school is being re-published in a 30th anniversary book. 

This summer I’m writing my final research paper for my MA in Ottawa to complete my degree.  I’m looking at changes in property in the context of globalization.  For the first time I am able to say that I will be in Ottawa for the foreseeable future so I am looking forward to beginning working this summer or fall.  I have created a web CV at www.tanya.peatt.net to assist in networking.  Please feel free to have a look and pass on any leads you might come across!

Patti and Bud have spent the last weeks in Mexico and while there they visited the resort.  Patti wrote in an email, “Bud and I were totally blown away by the expanse and the grounds and the 4 lobbies and the beach and…..well suffice it to say we have never seen anything as outstandingly beautiful in our lives and are really looking forward to next Christmas -rest assured you have picked the perfect wedding spot!!!”  Patti and Bud are seasoned travelers in the Mayan Riveria so I take this as high praise!

For anyone considering joining us for Christmas please contact Sue to reserve your place – we are hoping to have a large group and want to ensure everyone can come!  She will ask for a small deposit at the time of your booking and the remainder will not be due until October 15th.  

 We have uploaded some more pictures of the resort that Patti and Bud took in the photo gallery. Take a look!

Tanya has been working very hard with our travel agent to hammer out the details for the trip and the wedding, and we now have some information and pricing details for you. Please visit the wedding in mexico page for more information – it will also be updated regularly, so bookmark this page and check back often! Once you are ready to book, please visit our iTravel2000 online booking page.

Also, we will be sending out invitations very soon so check your mailbox! A BIG thanks to Kyle Peatt, my very talented personal graphics designer (and brother) for designing, printing and crafting the invitations. They look great and Tanya and I both really appreciate his hard work. If anyone is in need of a graphics artist/designer for contract work, make sure you send him an email at kyle@peatt.net.

Well, the winter may seem like it is coming to an end in some parts of the country but here in the East it seems like it is just beginning.  I’m back at school and Ryan is back at work, the temperature has plummeted and the radio regularly has weather warnings. 
I came back to Ottawa this weekend to see Ryan.  It is about -20 degrees colder here than Hamilton but I managed to leave the house a few times.  Beyond the necessities (grocery store, liquor store) we ventured out on Saturday to skate on the recently opened canal.  With Ryan’s new skates he really enjoyed his first canal experience. 

Although Christmas is long past, the cold weather and the gifts we use in our daily lives are constant reminders of the good times we spent in Penticton.  Spending time with Patti, Bud, Kay, Evan and Kyle at the newly renovated house, my first shooting experience with Alan, Brant and Ryan, skating and snowboarding at Apex are some of the great winter memories that I think of daily as I do my readings, attend classes, and write my papers. 

 As well, the New Year’s Eve Engagement Party made possible by Ryan’s parents was really precious.  The delicious food, wine, and bubbly and fireworks over OK lake make it such a celebration with many friends and family in attendance.  A heartfelt thank you to everyone who was able to attend the party to celebrate with us and to everyone who made this Christmas so special for us.  Being able to come home and visit made it seem like we don’t live quite so far away!

This New Year brings with it the happy news of my sister’s engagement to Len!  Ryan and I extend our congratulations to both of them and we welcome Len to the family.  This is an exciting and busy time for both of them as they move and settle in Grand Prairie.  We look forward to watching their successes unfold before them in all their new endeavors.