This week is a special one to Christians and Jews alike.  From Palm Sunday to the celebration of Easter, the week is full of events.  Honestly, this week has never meant so much to me until this year.  Why?  What makes this year so special?  Well, this is the year when my family decided to celebrate the Biblical holidays.  Therefore,... »

This article is difficult to write, and not because I had writer's block or any other pressing problem.  This article was hard to write because the weather was so beautiful this weekend, and I had so many things to do. We had an extremely busy weekend.  My husband, Lane,  says,... »

I may have a soft spot for chocolate, but when it comes to scents that I like vanilla wins by a landslide.  I never have been a heavy perfume wearer. I remember one time when I was in 9th grade.  I got dressed to go to my mom's one woman art show at a fancy gallery in Houston.  I was all... »

It has been one of those days, which sadly are few and far between at my house.  A day when everything seems to go just right.  When there are no interruptions and everyone is doing what they are supposed to do.  This was a great day at the DeHaven household. First we began our morning with our family Bible time at... »

I am currently reading Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder to my son, Jake.  Recently we read: Father asked:  "You know how to raise potatoes, Almanzo?" "Yes," Almanzo said. "Say you have a seed potato in the spring, what do you do with it?" "You cut it up,"  Almanzo said. "Go on, son." "Then you harrow--first you manure the field, and plow it.  Then you harrow,... »

This week marks the one year birthday for Texas Homesteader.  Yeah!!  Today I write my 180th article. First I want to thank my readers.  Thank you for spreading the word about my site.  I have said this before, but it bears repeating, "The power of word of mouth is amazing."  I have had 60,000 visitors this past year.  I have almost... »

Top 'o the morn', to you! It is St. Patrick's Day. Now, I am not Irish.  Ethnically, I am more Scottish than anything else, but I love an opportunity to have fun and celebrate a culture.  If I needed a reason to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, it could be in honor... »

The signs of spring are everywhere.  Rebirth and newness are evident all over creation from the first wildflowers to the newborn calves in the pastures.  The landscape has turned green seemingly overnight.  I so love springtime! The skies are clear and blue.  The warmth of the sun is rousing ... »

Many homeschooling families want to encourage the fine arts.  There are many who sing, play musical instruments, act in local plays, and who draw or paint at home.  Charlotte Mason encouraged music and art appreciation.  She believed that children exposed to great music and art would appreciate the fine arts. I personally do not have any musical talent.  I cannot sing... »

Genetically-modified food.  It is the new catch phrase, but what does it mean?  And, what does it mean to homesteading families like mine? Simply, genetically modified foods have undergone a change in its DNA.  There are two main kinds of changes: cisgenesis and transgenesis. Cisgenesis occurs when genes are transferred artificially with plants or animals that could procreate naturally.  An example of... »

This weekend my family and I went to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.  We had a great time.  There was so much to see and do that we could have spent two whole days there.  We usually go once every year. It... »

In my last article, "Meet Marley," I talked about needing a mentor for my daughter's 4-H project.  We consider ourselves very lucky to have found a family that was ready and willing to teach us. I love to read and learn from books, but not everything can be learned from the pages of a book or magazine.  Trial and error is... »

Meet Marley.  No, not the unruly dog in the movie, "Marley and Me."  I don't know how well-behaved this Marley is, but he is my daughter's show goat.  Marley is a Boer goat.  This breed is raised for its meat. Did you know world-wide that goat is the most consumed meat?  However, I have never tried any... »

One of my favorite things to do as a teacher is to experience other cultures and customs from around the world.  Last week I wrote about hosting an Olympic games.  When my family studied about Korea, we fixed kimchi and korean... »