The Denman Homestead

The Denman Homestead Welcome to the Denman Homestead, where our family lives on a small acreage hobby farm.
(12)

Welcome to the Denman Homestead, where our family lives on a small acreage farm surrounded by family. We keep bees, chickens, a small garden and we try our hand at self sustainability... you know, to prepare for the zombie apocalypse, or just rising inflation.

*Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. Some posts may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.*

Dear Diary,Summer has firmly arrived upon the homestead, and with it comes the familiar Texas heat. The temperatures hav...
06/13/2026

Dear Diary,

Summer has firmly arrived upon the homestead, and with it comes the familiar Texas heat. The temperatures have finally settled into the 90s (It's like walking with a warm wet rag draped over your body at all times... it's gross), which seems to have awakened the okra from its slumber. We are now harvesting it faster than we can reasonably consume it, which is a fine problem to have.

Not all of the garden has fared so well.

The green beans and squash, after serving faithfully throughout the season, have finally surrendered to the heat and withered away. Such is the cycle of gardening. One crop takes its final bow while another eagerly steps into the spotlight.

The tomatoes have proven particularly stubborn this year. The abundance of rain we received early in the season appears to have washed much of the nourishment from the soil, leaving the plants struggling to produce as they normally would. Even so, we have managed enough harvest to enjoy fresh from the vine and share with others, for which I remain grateful.

The chickens, meanwhile, continue to live a life of luxury. Excess pumpkins and cucumbers from the garden rarely make it far before the flock descends upon them with great enthusiasm. Their gratitude is demonstrated by loud squawking and an unwavering demand for additional snacks.

Elora spends much of her time loving on the chickens, though the affection is not always reciprocated. The hens seem willing to tolerate a certain amount of cuddling before remembering they have important chicken business elsewhere.

In other news, preparations are underway for our July expedition to Missouri. Plans are being discussed, supplies considered, and routes examined as the family looks forward to a much-anticipated vacation. (We really need it--- I really need it!) There is something exciting about preparing for a journey, even while there is still work to be done here at home.

For now, the okra grows, the chickens feast, and the countdown to adventure has begun.

Until tomorrow,
Steve

(AKA Steph)

06/11/2026

I love sharing flowers from our garden ❤️

Dear Diary,I have been absent from my daily memoir for some considerable time.The past several days have been filled wit...
06/11/2026

Dear Diary,
I have been absent from my daily memoir for some considerable time.
The past several days have been filled with a joyous reunification, as my dear cousin Maria journeyed all the way from New Jersey with her husband and child to visit our homestead. It was their first time making the trek, and we were honored to host them beneath our roof.
For three blessed days, I set aside the noise and distractions of the outside world and simply enjoyed their company. The laughter of family filled the house, and the time spent together proved most restorative to the soul.
Yesterday, they departed and began the long journey back to their hometown.
Today, the homestead was noticeably quieter.
The chores were completed in near silence, and Father, upon returning from a long day's labor, spent some much-needed time doting upon our trusty mare, Electra. The two stood together for quite some time, sharing a quiet moment of mutual understanding. Electra seemed pleased to have his undivided attention, accepting scratches, pats, and admiration as payment for her continued service to the family. Though she asks little of us, (she wants all the treats) she has quickly become a cherished member of the homestead.
As for myself, I spent the afternoon toiling in the garden and harvesting the summer basil. (I was sweating in all of the places)
I am pleased to report that I have documented, for future generations, an instructional tutorial on the preparation of homemade pesto.
The house now carries the aroma of toasted pine nuts, fresh herbs, and garlic. It is a fragrance that speaks of summer's abundance and the rewards of patient labor.
As evening settled across the homestead, I found myself grateful for both the excitement of family visits and the comfort of returning to familiar rhythms. There is something to be said for a quiet house, a faithful horse, and a pantry slowly filling with the fruits of one's labor.
I am thoroughly pleased with the result.
Until tomorrow,
Steve

(AKA Steph)

06/05/2026

Dear Diary,
The children continue to grow ravenous and tall like the weeds in the garden—both equally unruly and in need of tending.
To further my efforts, I have once again sequestered myself to the barn, where I may work in relative peace for brief periods of time before someone inevitably requires a snack, a bandage, or assistance locating an item that is directly in front of them. (The ketchup is literally right there in the fridge, second shelf on the right)
The chickens are thoroughly enjoying their newfound freedom now that the garden has matured enough to withstand their scrutiny. I believe they are as delighted to be released from confinement as the children are to be free from the schoolhouse for the summer.
My youngest offspring, Elora, however, suffers from a persistent case of melancholy. There appears to be no known remedy.
But I digress.
Today I found myself at the potter's wheel with no particular plan in mind. I have discovered that clay often knows what it wishes to become long before I do. Rather than force my will upon it, I simply listen and allow it to guide the process. There is a certain freedom in creating without expectation.
From this partnership emerged a teapot adorned with honeybees. I find it quite charming and hope it survives its journey through the kiln. I shall include a sketch here for future reference, should history remember my humble work.

Until tomorrow,
Steve

(AKA Steph)

P.S. - I hope you all are enjoying this impromptu series as much as I am. You all are so funny in the comments and I really enjoy reading all of them. I definitely played Oregon Trail A LOT when I was younger. It's easy for me to imagine being back in that time period, so writing a daily "diary" has become super fun for me and I am so glad you all are getting a kick out of it too.

Dear Diary,Today was a productive day on the homestead.I carefully loaded several handmade wares into the kiln. If all g...
06/04/2026

Dear Diary,
Today was a productive day on the homestead.
I carefully loaded several handmade wares into the kiln. If all goes according to plan and the pottery gods smile upon me, these pieces shall survive the fire and eventually find their way into the mercantile for purchase by fellow settlers.
I also opened the gates and allowed the chickens to free range for the first time this season. The garden has finally grown beyond the tender sprout stage (it's actually out of control), and I am hopeful the hens will spend more time hunting bugs than committing acts of agricultural vandalism.
The flock was most pleased with this arrangement and immediately began conducting thorough inspections of the property. Several worms were apprehended, and at least one chicken appeared to be investigating matters far beyond her jurisdiction (promptly wrangled back by Bailey).

Now we wait.
The pottery bakes. The chickens patrol. The garden grows.
And I pray no one explodes, escapes, or eats something they shouldn't. (Why is everyone eating everything?!)

Until tomorrow,
Steve

(AKA Steph)

Book Recommendation Post ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I have a book I just finished that was recommended to me by a good friend. We don't ...
06/04/2026

Book Recommendation Post ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I have a book I just finished that was recommended to me by a good friend. We don't typically have the same interests but she said "I think you will really like this one" - understatement. I LOVED this one. So much so, I wanted to pass this recommendation along to my friends here. It's called Theo of Golden. I will tell you that for me, it was a breath of fresh air, it will leave you curious until the very end, it will restore your faith in humanity and a willingness to pay it forward in your own life. The book may be fictional but the morality of it can be applied in our world today. I truly enjoyed it, and if you enjoy reading - I bet you will too. -Steph

Dear Diary,Today I returned from a perilous expedition to the trading post known as Costco. (Can we bring back trading? ...
06/03/2026

Dear Diary,
Today I returned from a perilous expedition to the trading post known as Costco. (Can we bring back trading? These grocery prices are insane)
The journey was long, the crowds were fierce, and many a wagon stood abandoned near the entrance as weary settlers sought provisions. Though I departed with my final silver coin, I returned victorious.
Our pantry now overflows with flour, meats, fruits, cheeses, and enough toilet paper to see us through a harsh hurricane season. The icebox is full, the children shall not perish, and we are provisioned for at least a fortnight.
Though the purse lies empty and Father may need to hunt wild game until payday, spirits remain high. We shall feast like royalty on chicken nuggets and samples acquired along the trail.

Until tomorrow,
Steve

(AKA Steph)

Dear Diary,I felt it necessary to record an update regarding the children's malnourishment and my previous diary entry.T...
06/02/2026

Dear Diary,

I felt it necessary to record an update regarding the children's malnourishment and my previous diary entry.
This evening, I managed to scrounge together the ingredients for a fresh loaf of bread. It was truly a blessing that all the necessary provisions could be found, for according to the children, we have nothing to eat and the cupboard stands bare (it's definitely not bare).
I was even fortunate enough to discover a pat of butter tucked away in the back of the icebox with which to brush the crust. This should surely increase their caloric intake and sustain them a while longer.
My hope and prayer is that they might leave so much as a crumb for their poor father, who works tirelessly to provide for this family and yet may never know the taste of this loaf.
I shall leave the recipe in the postscript for future reference.
Until tomorrow,
Steve

(Aka Steph)

Dear diary, it's the first day of summer for the kids and we are already out of bread. This is not a good sign of things...
06/01/2026

Dear diary, it's the first day of summer for the kids and we are already out of bread. This is not a good sign of things to come. I've been told that our pantry is bare (it is not) and there are no chicken nuggets left for the air fryer. I am woefully unprepared. I fear my children may starve (they absolutely won't). I will be headed into town to pick up supplies for our two month journey. I suspect this may be an ongoing dire situation. I will keep you updated promptly.
Sincerely, Steve

(aka Steph)

05/29/2026

Fresh pumpkin for everyone... If Molly will allow it. 🐄🎃

Address

Plum Grove, TX

Website

,

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Denman Homestead posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to The Denman Homestead:

Shortcuts

Share

Category