tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598395435947220712011-11-27T16:25:43.954-08:00Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.comBlogger381100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-21754961729024298892011-05-26T13:02:00.000-07:002011-05-26T14:20:27.690-07:00

In my last blog entry, I stated that I planned to do some canning this summer. Well, wonder of wonders, I actually did it! I spent the better part of my morning messing up my kitchen canning a slew of peaches! How many are in a slew? I'm not exactly sure. And, why is it called canning when you’re actually using jars, not cans? Shouldn’t it be called jarring?I started with this many peaches

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-5130817893032036512011-05-24T13:45:00.001-07:002011-05-24T14:30:39.748-07:00

This summer, I'm not taking any classes. This is strange to me, because I have taken 2 classes every summer since I started graduate school, back in 2007. This summer, my daughter is in preschool, full-time. She's been in preschool at least part-time for about 3 years, but never during the summer before. I would keep her home with me, but we had to pay for summer at her preschool in order to

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-11551130224355687912010-10-06T10:45:00.001-07:002010-10-06T11:27:19.495-07:00

Okay... I've seen a few different blogs about bullying in the last week. Like this one at Parenting in Progress, and this one at Single Dad Laughing. Some of this, I'm sure, is in response to the suicide of Tyler Clementi, a young and talented Rutgers student, who jumped off of the George Washington Bridge after his roommate outed him as a homosexual on YouTube. Earlier this year, Phoebe

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-7532790863384342042010-10-01T10:28:00.000-07:002010-10-01T10:30:27.489-07:00

My grandmother's memorial service was Sunday, September 19th, 2010. This is the remembrance that I shared at that service.My grandmother was always busy. Whenever I would visit, whether by myself or with other family members, she was always baking, cooking, or sewing something – sometimes all three at once! Walking into her house, I would be struck first by the smell of baking bread. Then, I

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-84367832031133070232010-09-30T11:20:00.000-07:002010-09-30T11:21:38.423-07:00

Maybe you've already seen this blog post on Facebook but if you haven't, please take a few moments to read it.

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-90095082810061190682010-09-12T19:24:00.000-07:002010-09-12T19:40:31.513-07:00

When we moved to Mississippi, we started attending a reformed Presbyterian church. Previously, I had attended independent churches and Baptist churches, and I had become accustomed to "contemporary worship," where there is a worship leader up front and anywhere from one guitar to a whole band, leading the congregation in singing a variety of songs ranging from traditional hymns to the most

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-87417633057430134132010-04-12T08:02:00.000-07:002010-04-12T08:11:03.672-07:00

As part of my "Integrating Technology for Meaningful Learning" class, I was assigned to work with a partner to design a WebQuest for the rest of the class. As you can all see, I've had this blog for quite a while, although I don't update it often enough. I also follow some other blogs. One of my favorites is The Pioneer Woman. She has quite an expansive blog, full of delicious recipes, tips

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-6996697431784877042010-01-02T08:27:00.001-08:002010-01-02T08:28:44.509-08:00

If you are a parent of an infant or small child, this blog at Woman Uncensored is a must-read.

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-90827893463703086092010-01-01T07:34:00.000-08:002010-01-01T07:35:25.961-08:00

January 1, 2010Wishing all of my friends and family a healthy & prosperous New Year! I am so thankful for all of you.~ Kate :)

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-59606661330882634362009-12-14T07:36:00.000-08:002009-12-14T08:28:44.104-08:00

Today's {W}rite of Passage challenge is to spend 15 minutes writing about our elementary school lunch.My mom was not an early riser. Some of my friend's moms would get up at 6am to cook breakfast for their kids and box them up a delicious, healthy lunch. Our breakfast consisted of cereal, or toast & peanut butter, that we prepared for ourselves in the morning. Mom was usually up in time to

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-58228011310831536782009-12-11T12:20:00.000-08:002009-12-11T13:18:04.788-08:00

I stumbled across "the {W}rite-of-Passage" blog with today's challenge, thanks to a fellow KellyMom and Facebook friend. The assignment is to observe someone you don't know, then write a short essay about them. Meet "The Neighbor-Lady."I see her taking her morning walk when I am driving in the car, bringing my daughter to daycare or heading out to the grocery store. She is elderly, perhaps in

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-47810937885005986312009-12-11T10:46:00.001-08:002009-12-11T10:49:39.942-08:00

Last year my husband, 2-yr-old, and I made a wonderful, accidental discovery. Baker's Acres in Louisville, MS is a beautiful display of Christmas lights that the Baker family has been putting up for years. It is just outside of town on Rt. 15. Last night, after building up the excitement all day, my hubby & I bundled ourselves and our now 3-year-old daughter into the car and drove the 40 miles

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-43172193762030837932009-12-08T09:43:00.000-08:002009-12-08T09:47:02.501-08:00

I’ve been writing this post in my head for about a week now… Basically it’s about my journey into motherhood, and through a year of infertility, and moving forward with a decision about whether to keep trying or not.I married late, at 34. Though we always wanted children, Rob and I decided to use birth control for the first few months of our marriage, so that we could get to know each other as

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-30520275117759815022009-09-29T11:55:00.000-07:002009-09-29T12:01:58.676-07:00

Has it really been since February that I have blogged here? Since June that I blogged on the family blog? Wow... Regarding television... that experiment didn't last long. We are paying for satellite service again, after experimenting with cable. We have trimmed our package down, but we still have, and watch, television. I did not have to sacrifice my Food Network after all.Disney trip... we

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-31590502488772035562009-02-22T12:20:00.000-08:002009-02-22T13:04:57.802-08:00

Our family has had a lot of new beginnings in the last year. We set off from Eastern Wasington at the end of June, with the eventual destination of our new home in Northern Mississippi. Once we arrived here, we had to get settled in to a new home, a new church, a new culture, new friends, grocery stores (I had never even SEEN a Piggly Wiggly, except in the movie "Driving Miss Daisy," before

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-16582678800583578432009-01-22T11:28:00.001-08:002009-01-22T11:34:37.719-08:00

I can't believe that 2009 is already 22 days old, and this is my 1st blog! My mood of the day is "cautiously optimistic." Rob and I are going through the process of buying a house in Mississippi. Assuming that the financing goes through, we will be closing on Feb. 13th. I am cautiously optimistic that the loan will go through, and that we will soon be living in our brick house with its very

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-69644195968405073022009-01-08T21:01:00.001-08:002009-01-08T21:01:18.241-08:00

Originally submitted at PlayKitchens.comEverything she needs to prepare a wonderful meal and create realistic fun is right here in the KidKraft All-In-One Pastel Play Kitchen. Constructed of medium density fiberboard, this play kitchen is full stocked with all the modern appliances. A pink fridge and freezer will keep pretend food ite... New! KidKraft All-in-One Bright

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-21035724801249480302008-12-24T11:11:00.000-08:002008-12-24T11:18:17.102-08:00

Last year at this time, we had no idea that we would be living in Mississippi, of all places. But here we are, settled in to our new home. Presents are wrapped and under the tree, stockings are filled, dinner is planned (but not yet started), and the Christmas Eve service is in just a few hours. We are so thankful for the friends that we have made and the opportunities that our great and

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-26799746825824895092008-11-17T11:57:00.000-08:002008-11-17T12:02:20.668-08:00

Well, they are here. Rob is out playing golf with his dad, and Grace and I had a lovely morning of shopping with Grandma! Grace has learned to say "Grandma," but instead of the "gr" at the beginning, it's an "m" sound. We went to a new store in town, Tuesday Morning, where I spent more than I should have, and was tempted to spend even more. We also found a lovely bookstore downtown, where "

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-20721463747493030732008-11-14T09:06:00.000-08:002008-11-14T09:18:23.398-08:00

My in-laws are expected to arrive sometime around 2pm today. They will be visiting for about a week, during which time we plan to take them to see Graceland! After all, Elvis still lives on in the hearts of his many fans. I also have to keep up with my schoolwork while they are here. That includes taking the Praxis II test in English at 7:30am on Saturday, and taking an online Sociology exam

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-73196050370564947092008-11-12T12:27:00.000-08:002008-11-14T09:21:56.587-08:00

38.Thirty-eight.THIRTY-EIGHT?! That sounds so adult, so responsible, so... OLD!!! How is it possible that I've lived on this earth for 38 years, yet I still feel so young? It seems equally impossible that I graduated from High School more than TWENTY years ago! Where has the time gone?It is interesting to read my post from a year ago, in which I said that I am not in touch with very many of

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-39130056774528056152008-11-10T06:57:00.000-08:002008-11-10T07:15:54.740-08:00

Last night, we decided to rent "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything." My previous experience with the Veggie Tales videos has been that they are either Bible stories or fable-like tales, directed at children to teach Biblical values. For example, "Rack, Shack, and Benny" is a re-telling of the story of Shadrack, Meschach, and Abednego. Rack, Shack, and Benny are workers in a factory that makes

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-61180220545808881892008-11-04T21:44:00.000-08:002008-11-04T21:51:27.393-08:00

Tonight, Rob and I watched election returns. We sat, hand in hand, awaiting the results, then they came. Wolf Blitzer announced that Barack Obama is the President-Elect of the United States of America. What an historic moment. Whether you supported Obama or not, it is undeniable that for this country to elect a man as President who is not white is a monumental feat for us. We are awed, and

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-7592716508002412792008-10-20T11:05:00.001-07:002008-10-20T11:05:56.070-07:00

Last night, Rob and I made the trek to Birmingham, AL - about 2 hours away - to see Michael W. Smith and Stephen Curtis Chapman in concert in their "United" tour. They began by doing a couple of worship songs together, then Michael left the stage for Stephen's solo portion of the concert. He began by thanking his friends, meaning the entire audience, for our prayers and support during the

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-48746166153714027802008-09-26T12:05:00.000-07:002008-09-26T12:17:34.569-07:00

Now that we're mostly settled in to our new place, I'm back to making cards, and I've even started a scrapbook of our summer trip! I just finished making a birthday card for a very dear friend of mine. I think it may be the nicest card I've ever made, aside from my card-making classes, so I decided to take a picture. I wanted to record it not only to share with my crafty friends, but also to

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-68022293013248417292008-02-09T08:58:00.001-08:002008-11-12T12:20:09.163-08:00

Superbowl Sunday 2008 - the Mellen household was very excited, because the Patriots were not only in the Superbowl, they were going for a perfect season! We had a nice party with some neighbor families - a casual potluck kind of affair, with kids running around everywhere and more food than we could possibly eat. Then the unthinkable happened - the undefeated Patriots LOST the Superbowl! We

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-27277574992671712962008-01-25T13:43:00.000-08:002008-11-12T12:20:40.984-08:00

She did it! She took a step! Last night, I had been home from school for about 15 minutes. Rob, Grace, and I were hanging out in our room - Rob and I were talking about our day, and Grace was playing with a toy. She was standing at the bed, hanging on - when she let go - no big deal, she'd done that before - but then, she took a step, without holding on to anything!!! We waited to see if she

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-6261577039654061222008-01-12T21:38:00.000-08:002008-11-12T12:21:16.178-08:00

Hi All,Since I haven't blogged in over a month, I've probably lost most of the few readers that I had, but here goes... in case anyone is still paying attention... We had a wonderful Christmas season. We went to Portland, OR a week or so before Christmas for a few days to get some shopping done, to see my uncle & cousin, and to get away from our tiny little town. While we were there, we got

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-52199545616564483132007-12-02T19:51:00.000-08:002008-11-12T12:21:46.020-08:00

Yep, we got a tree. It is our first real tree in our first house as a married couple. Since we were married in Dec of '04, AFTER Christmas, we didn't get our first tree together until 2005, but we were still in an apartment. Last year we had the house, and we did get a tree, but it was a very small, artificial one because we were in New England for most of the holiday season. This year, we

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-6094510320000106252007-11-22T07:58:00.000-08:002008-11-12T12:22:14.829-08:00

The pies are done, the sweet potato casserole and the stuffing are ready to go into the oven, and the turkey is anxiously awaiting my attention. I still have to make the mashed potatoes, the pesto palmettos, the green bean casserole, and the cranberry sauce. What a bounty of food we have! Now apparently there is a grass roots movement to rename "Thanksgiving," and call it "Turkey Day" instead.

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-54868132945552179962007-11-20T14:58:00.000-08:002008-11-12T12:23:16.224-08:00

Here is my Thanksgiving menu:TurkeyGravyStuffing/dressing (depending on your heritage)Mashed potatoesSweet potato casseroleBlue Hubbard SquashPesto PalmettosHomemade cranberry sauceGreen bean casserole (from scratch - no canned stuff)Pumpkin pieApple pieI am making enough food to feed an army! We invited 6 people, other than Rob, Grace, and I, for a total of 9, if everyone came. Of those 6

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-48956700810626168212007-11-19T07:43:00.000-08:002008-11-12T12:23:43.798-08:00

Woke up this morning to a dusting of snow covering everything like a bridal veil... it's white, but we can still see the "faces" of the rooftops, trees, fences, cars, stop signs, etc.I am reminded of the scripture that says "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as rI have been fully known." 1 Corinthians 13:12Though we can

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-27778103124686048052007-11-18T08:12:00.000-08:002008-11-12T12:24:39.183-08:00

Well, we've done it now. After Rob's glue trap that we set in the basement caught not one but TWO mice in the same night, we decided to take the plunge and get a cat. We saw in the one-page local bulletin that someone was giving away a 6-month old spayed female. I called the number, and yes, she was still available. So, I arranged to meet her at a house that is, providentially, just around

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-88624907845176636452007-11-15T09:24:00.000-08:002008-11-12T12:25:02.596-08:00

Last night, after a hard day of studying, I went downstairs to our finished family room in the basement to play a round of Tiger Woods Golf, as I often do to relax at the end of the day. I pulled the keyboard close, jiggled the computerized mouse, then let out a startled shriek that Rob heard from upstairs. A little charcoal-gray mouse with beady black eyes ran RIGHT ACROSS THE DESK!!! Whether it

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-88473732090736021582007-11-14T10:05:00.000-08:002008-11-12T12:25:22.182-08:00

We are trying to figure out what to do with Grace during those times when we both have to be in class, or we both have schoolwork to do. At 14 months, she is quite active, and needs attention every waking moment. The question is, whose attention? If Rob and I had our "druthers," I would be a full-time mom until Grace is old enough to go to school. Unfortunately, this is not financially feasible

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-28272544887103596212007-11-12T08:32:00.000-08:002008-11-12T12:25:38.910-08:00

Well, another year has come and gone. Yesterday was my birthday. To celebrate, we hired a babysitter and went to the movies on Friday night. We saw "Bee Movie," the animated movie about bees starring Jerry Seinfeld. It was surprisingly hysterical! Sure, we had to suspend disbelief - a LOT - but it was very entertaining nonetheless. Rob and Grace picked out a few gifts for me - a new pair of pink

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-42789064732129227512007-11-10T10:39:00.000-08:002008-11-12T12:26:03.224-08:00

I am a graduate student, getting my Master's in Accountancy. This means that I have an insane amount of reading to do, mostly journal articles about Accounting. How many of you get excited at the thought of reading even ONE academic paper about Accounting? I have to review 20, and have a fairly in-depth understanding of each one, before my closed-book, two-hour essay exam on Thursday (I am

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159839543594722071.post-52353207939468245342007-11-08T09:47:00.001-08:002008-11-12T12:26:21.378-08:00

This morning when I opened my bedroom door, I saw a mouse scurrying across the carpet in our hallway, into the built-in drawer with no front. I let out a little shriek, and Rob, my ever-patient husband said "What?!" "I just saw a mouse!" I said, and described the little critter's path. "Greeeaaat..."The interesting thing is, there is absolutely no foodstuff in the area of the house where I saw

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.com2