 So, you've planted herbs and you're thinking you need one of those fancy herb dryers. The good news? You really don't! Drying herbs is simple, and you can make an easy herb drying rack with nothing more than a wooden dowel and a little twine. Over the years, I've learned that the biggest challenge isn't drying the herbs—it's remembering what I harvested! Tying each bundle with twine can also be a bit of a hassle. Then I had a simple idea: use small plastic hair ties instead. They hold the herb bundles securely, are easy to reuse, and make the whole process much quicker. To make things even more organized, I added plastic plant tags to each bundle. Now I can label every herb while it's hanging to dry, so there's no guessing once everything is ready to store. There's something so satisfying about seeing fresh herbs hanging to dry. Not only do they look beautiful, but having homegrown herbs preserved means you can enjoy their flavor all year long. This year, in addition to our favorite culinary herbs, we're growing apple mint and strawberry mint. I can't wait to dry them for homemade herbal teas that we can enjoy long after the growing season is over. Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best—and when it comes to drying herbs, you don't need expensive equipment. A dowel, a few hair ties, some plant tags, and a little patience are all it takes!  
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Famous last words. |
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Enter Kevin Bacon
After a week with Mike and Porky, we were feeling pretty confident.
Then May 30th arrived. Time to bring home two more pigs.
These pigs were much smaller than expected.
Which meant another adjustment to the plan.
At this point, I think we were somewhere around Plan E.
We needed to move Mike and Porky into the pasture and free up space for the new arrivals.
Simple. Except Mike and Porky had absolutely no intention of cooperating.
They stood at the doorway refusing to move like stubborn teenagers being asked to unload groceries.
Eventually negotiations concluded, and Kevin Bacon and Harold Hockenberry were ready to move into their new pen. But first... A selfie.
After a week with Mike and Porky, we were feeling pretty confident.
Then May 30th arrived. Time to bring home two more pigs.
These pigs were much smaller than expected.
Which meant another adjustment to the plan.
At this point, I think we were somewhere around Plan E.
We needed to move Mike and Porky into the pasture and free up space for the new arrivals.
Simple. Except Mike and Porky had absolutely no intention of cooperating.
They stood at the doorway refusing to move like stubborn teenagers being asked to unload groceries.
Eventually negotiations concluded, and Kevin Bacon and Harold Hockenberry were ready to move into their new pen. But first... A selfie.
Which was immediately interrupted when Kevin attempted to remove my hand from my body. Welcome home, buddy.
Operation: Build a Pig Shed
Now we had four pigs. Because apparently we hadn't learned anything. The smaller pigs needed shelter, which meant they needed a shed.
Immediately.
So we launched Operation Build-It-With-Whatever-We-Have.
We gathered leftover boards, bought a few more, and started constructing a makeshift pig shelter.
It's a good thing my husband has a wife who can build things.
It's less fortunate that she likes building things incredibly heavy.
Especially when the big kid isn't home to help move them. But that's a problem for Future Us.
Operation: Build a Pig Shed
Now we had four pigs. Because apparently we hadn't learned anything. The smaller pigs needed shelter, which meant they needed a shed.
Immediately.
So we launched Operation Build-It-With-Whatever-We-Have.
We gathered leftover boards, bought a few more, and started constructing a makeshift pig shelter.
It's a good thing my husband has a wife who can build things.
It's less fortunate that she likes building things incredibly heavy.
Especially when the big kid isn't home to help move them. But that's a problem for Future Us.
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The Gilts Arrive
Finally. The day had come.
Time to pick up the gilts.
We brought home Francine, who appeared absolutely terrified, and Mrs. Hogenmuller, who appeared approximately three times larger than the other little piggies.
What was the plan?
At this stage, the plan was simply: "Make it work."
Finally. The day had come.
Time to pick up the gilts.
We brought home Francine, who appeared absolutely terrified, and Mrs. Hogenmuller, who appeared approximately three times larger than the other little piggies.
What was the plan?
At this stage, the plan was simply: "Make it work."
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The Great Pig Disaster of 2025
We decided to put Francine into the pen first.
She looked somewhere between angry, scared, and deeply offended by our life choices.
The introduction went exactly as expected.
By which I mean: DISASTER.
Francine immediately slipped through the electric fence and joined Mike and Porky.
Suddenly we had pigs everywhere.
There was yelling.
There was chasing.
There were marital discussions.
There may have been a few "I told you so" comments launched across the pasture.
Porky somehow entered the smaller pig area and began enthusiastically destroying the electric fence.
Francine was loose. Kevin and Harold were confused.
Mrs. Hogenmuller was still waiting her turn.
Chaos had officially taken over.
Eventually we managed to lock Francine into the shed with Kevin and Harold.
Then we spent twenty minutes trying to remove Porky from where Porky absolutely should not have been.
Somehow, against all odds, we succeeded.
Porky was out. Mrs. Hogenmuller was in.
The shed door was closed.
And for a brief moment I considered locking my husband inside with the pigs for the remainder of the day. A day wouldn't hurt him. Probably.
Final Thoughts
After repairing the fence, corralling the pigs, surviving the chaos, and questioning every life decision that brought us here, I had exactly one plan left.
Sit in my recliner. Do not move. Do not speak to me. Do not ask me about pigs. As for whether buying pigs was a good idea?
The jury is still out. But one thing is certain: We wanted pigs. Now we definitely have pigs.
We decided to put Francine into the pen first.
She looked somewhere between angry, scared, and deeply offended by our life choices.
The introduction went exactly as expected.
By which I mean: DISASTER.
Francine immediately slipped through the electric fence and joined Mike and Porky.
Suddenly we had pigs everywhere.
There was yelling.
There was chasing.
There were marital discussions.
There may have been a few "I told you so" comments launched across the pasture.
Porky somehow entered the smaller pig area and began enthusiastically destroying the electric fence.
Francine was loose. Kevin and Harold were confused.
Mrs. Hogenmuller was still waiting her turn.
Chaos had officially taken over.
Eventually we managed to lock Francine into the shed with Kevin and Harold.
Then we spent twenty minutes trying to remove Porky from where Porky absolutely should not have been.
Somehow, against all odds, we succeeded.
Porky was out. Mrs. Hogenmuller was in.
The shed door was closed.
And for a brief moment I considered locking my husband inside with the pigs for the remainder of the day. A day wouldn't hurt him. Probably.
Final Thoughts
After repairing the fence, corralling the pigs, surviving the chaos, and questioning every life decision that brought us here, I had exactly one plan left.
Sit in my recliner. Do not move. Do not speak to me. Do not ask me about pigs. As for whether buying pigs was a good idea?
The jury is still out. But one thing is certain: We wanted pigs. Now we definitely have pigs.
Baby goats. Tiny hops, floppy ears, and enough personality packed into one little body to make anyone smile. Honestly, what’s not to love?
Well… the waiting.
This year, the anticipation was real. Knowing exactly when Martha had been exposed to the billy goat somehow made the countdown even harder. Every single day became a routine of checking the barn camera, peeking into the barn “just one more time,” and studying the goats for every possible sign of labor.
And Martha? Oh, she looked done. Huge. Miserable. Uncomfortable. The kind of pregnant where you just look at someone and think, “There is absolutely more than one baby in there.”
Then came the morning chores.
That’s when I noticed she was losing her mucus plug. Instantly, I knew: today was the day. A day filled with baby goats, excitement, and all the fun that comes with kidding season.
But of course… I had to go to work.
So there I was all day long, obsessively checking the barn cam while my husband played lunchtime reporter, sending updates from home. Martha showed little signs of progression throughout the day, so by the time I got home from work, I was thrilled thinking I’d get to actually enjoy watching the birth unfold.
When I checked on her, she definitely seemed to be progressing. I gathered towels, supplies, and all the “just in case” things every goat owner keeps nearby while trying not to panic.
Well… the waiting.
This year, the anticipation was real. Knowing exactly when Martha had been exposed to the billy goat somehow made the countdown even harder. Every single day became a routine of checking the barn camera, peeking into the barn “just one more time,” and studying the goats for every possible sign of labor.
And Martha? Oh, she looked done. Huge. Miserable. Uncomfortable. The kind of pregnant where you just look at someone and think, “There is absolutely more than one baby in there.”
Then came the morning chores.
That’s when I noticed she was losing her mucus plug. Instantly, I knew: today was the day. A day filled with baby goats, excitement, and all the fun that comes with kidding season.
But of course… I had to go to work.
So there I was all day long, obsessively checking the barn cam while my husband played lunchtime reporter, sending updates from home. Martha showed little signs of progression throughout the day, so by the time I got home from work, I was thrilled thinking I’d get to actually enjoy watching the birth unfold.
When I checked on her, she definitely seemed to be progressing. I gathered towels, supplies, and all the “just in case” things every goat owner keeps nearby while trying not to panic.
About 45 minutes later, she started pushing harder.
And harder.
But something felt wrong.
There was no little hoof. No tiny nose. No sign of a normal delivery. I remember staring and thinking, What exactly is she pushing out?
Then reality hit. The baby was breech. And stillborn.
Martha had pushed so hard through such a traumatic delivery that afterward… she just stopped. Completely stopped trying.
My husband and I sat there stunned. Surely that couldn’t be it. We waited about 30 minutes because normally the next kid comes pretty quickly after the first.
Instead, Martha laid down and took a nap.
Cue the frantic internet searching.
One thing we quickly learned? Goat owners swear by a homemade labor-boosting drink:
“Okay,” we thought. “We’ve got this.”
Thirty minutes passed. Then 45. Then an hour.
Now we were at an hour and a half since the first delivery, and panic started creeping in. The excitement of baby goats had completely disappeared and turned into fear. Real fear.
We started asking the questions nobody wants to ask:
Do we call the emergency vet? How long can she go like this? Are we going to lose Martha?
I finally walked into the house because emotionally, I just needed a minute. I felt defeated. Sad. Helpless. I looked at Jeremy and asked, “What are we going to do?”
Then suddenly--
Through the barn cam, I heard a baby cry.
I don’t think I’ve ever run so fast in my life.
I burst into the barn and found Martha standing there with two more babies. One was already up and wobbling around behind her, partially cleaned off and full of life. A quick text to the house we have babies bring me gloves and towels.
One baby still in the sack, Not breathing.
I immediately started blaming myself for stepping away. What if I had stayed? Could I have saved it? I tried everything I could think of, but deep down, I think the baby was already gone.
And that’s the hard part nobody talks about when it comes to farm life.
The adorable baby goat photos on social media? They don’t show the heartbreak, exhaustion, panic, and moments where you feel completely helpless. Sometimes kidding season is pure joy. Sometimes it’s devastating. And sometimes it’s both within the same hour.
But through all of it, Martha made it.
And watching that tiny surviving baby wobble around the barn later that night reminded me why we do this in the first place.
Because even after the hardest days, baby goats still somehow find a way to bring joy back into the barn.
And we have welcomed Chip....you know Minnesota Marthas Cookies are like the best Chocolate "Chip" Cookies.
And harder.
But something felt wrong.
There was no little hoof. No tiny nose. No sign of a normal delivery. I remember staring and thinking, What exactly is she pushing out?
Then reality hit. The baby was breech. And stillborn.
Martha had pushed so hard through such a traumatic delivery that afterward… she just stopped. Completely stopped trying.
My husband and I sat there stunned. Surely that couldn’t be it. We waited about 30 minutes because normally the next kid comes pretty quickly after the first.
Instead, Martha laid down and took a nap.
Cue the frantic internet searching.
One thing we quickly learned? Goat owners swear by a homemade labor-boosting drink:
- Water
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- Two crushed Tums
“Okay,” we thought. “We’ve got this.”
Thirty minutes passed. Then 45. Then an hour.
Now we were at an hour and a half since the first delivery, and panic started creeping in. The excitement of baby goats had completely disappeared and turned into fear. Real fear.
We started asking the questions nobody wants to ask:
Do we call the emergency vet? How long can she go like this? Are we going to lose Martha?
I finally walked into the house because emotionally, I just needed a minute. I felt defeated. Sad. Helpless. I looked at Jeremy and asked, “What are we going to do?”
Then suddenly--
Through the barn cam, I heard a baby cry.
I don’t think I’ve ever run so fast in my life.
I burst into the barn and found Martha standing there with two more babies. One was already up and wobbling around behind her, partially cleaned off and full of life. A quick text to the house we have babies bring me gloves and towels.
One baby still in the sack, Not breathing.
I immediately started blaming myself for stepping away. What if I had stayed? Could I have saved it? I tried everything I could think of, but deep down, I think the baby was already gone.
And that’s the hard part nobody talks about when it comes to farm life.
The adorable baby goat photos on social media? They don’t show the heartbreak, exhaustion, panic, and moments where you feel completely helpless. Sometimes kidding season is pure joy. Sometimes it’s devastating. And sometimes it’s both within the same hour.
But through all of it, Martha made it.
And watching that tiny surviving baby wobble around the barn later that night reminded me why we do this in the first place.
Because even after the hardest days, baby goats still somehow find a way to bring joy back into the barn.
And we have welcomed Chip....you know Minnesota Marthas Cookies are like the best Chocolate "Chip" Cookies.
| How do I get all these wild ideas all the time you ask? Oh because I find a reel or a tiktok and then I go down a rabbit hole trying to learn and research only to find out that our flour is basically not healthy, and we lack nutrients. So why wouldn't we try something that includes such a learning curve, has a little bit of science included, but give us back the nutrients our bodies are lacking. What a journey it has been....we are like 3 months in, the bread has finally turned out after just a few failed loaves, after a few lbs of wheat berries used, and more googling to figure out what changes we need to make. But we did it and it tastes so much better. So far cinnamon rolls, banana bread, sandwich bread, and scones are delicious. If you are looking to take the plunge into fresh milled you will not be disappointed, but prepare to have a learning curve. |   |
Well one hive survived, and one didn't but that was just what I wanted.
The hive that didn't survive was aggressive!
So now that I have talked my mom into starting the bee keeping journey with me, it was time for picking up the bees. It never fails they are always ready when my schedule is wild. But 4 nucs were headed home.
Install went great! We now have five hives, and it's time to let the girls get to work. And who doesn't just love some pretty painted hives?!?
The hive that didn't survive was aggressive!
So now that I have talked my mom into starting the bee keeping journey with me, it was time for picking up the bees. It never fails they are always ready when my schedule is wild. But 4 nucs were headed home.
Install went great! We now have five hives, and it's time to let the girls get to work. And who doesn't just love some pretty painted hives?!?
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Fast forward to day of the swarm....yep it looks like the OG hive has split. I was worried about this and should have probably done things different. Little lesson. And big frustration while we were in the middle of goat season....thats for a different post. But I have always wanted to catch a swarm....and I did!
So now....the swarm was caught, but what am I going to do with them? Time to think and think fast....
Thankfully I have a pretty cool guy that can build a hive base, and lid in the matter of 24 hours. Now the only problem....I think the OG hive is not raising a new queen.
So....it's time to order a queen. Look in my bee group, find one and great news I can get it shipped.....4 days pass by and I was scammed. Lesson learned, don't buy from FB.
So....we wait just a little bit longer and order a new queen from a bee company. Two day shipping and she is here. She is installed and tomorrow we look to see if they accepted her. If not my mentor said it might not work....
This bee keeping year is a roller coaster. The nucs all looked so good when we got them, but they truly love wonky comb and need to learn order. But 8 frame boxes are way lighter than 10 frame.
Thankfully I have a pretty cool guy that can build a hive base, and lid in the matter of 24 hours. Now the only problem....I think the OG hive is not raising a new queen.
So....it's time to order a queen. Look in my bee group, find one and great news I can get it shipped.....4 days pass by and I was scammed. Lesson learned, don't buy from FB.
So....we wait just a little bit longer and order a new queen from a bee company. Two day shipping and she is here. She is installed and tomorrow we look to see if they accepted her. If not my mentor said it might not work....
This bee keeping year is a roller coaster. The nucs all looked so good when we got them, but they truly love wonky comb and need to learn order. But 8 frame boxes are way lighter than 10 frame.
 | But this lady aka my momma has been loving the challenge and learning so much about the bees. Now hopefully the pollinate the garden like they did last year. Hopefully honey flow is good this year and maybe the rain could hold off for a few days.... |
  | Slowing down has been so rewarding, while its been a year of challenges on a personal level slowing down has been a blessing. Sometimes I think how did America go wrong...after a vacation to Italy last year all I can think about is how they prioritize enjoying the little things. I truly love to cook, attempt to bake, try new things even if my family really has no interest in eating healthy things. But this sourdough era....well it has me slowing down, creating new things and well my family eats it up like no other. So I will continue to do my stretch and folds, create some pretty designs, and well feed the humans. But following the directions and doing it the way everyone says....no I will not follow all those things because I don't have the patience. |
 | The ladies have really produced eggs this winter. Going into the winter it's always a worry that there will be a period of slow laying, eggs freezing, and just a lack of eggs. This winter has been a weird one, yet it's been so nice to have the warmer weather. Sometimes I think I am turning into an old lady who doesn't want to experience the MN winters. The colors from our layers are changing everyday. Its the best part for me as a chicken owners. |
Other than bringing the ladies some good kitchen scraps because they are seriously so excited to get whatever we give them. We canned tomatoes but had a few that we didn't need so it was a perfect treat for the girls.
Minnesota winter has been so nice to us lately. I mean how often can I wear a moo moo and crocs with no socks to do chores on Christmas Eve?!?!
While we enjoy the warmer weather, the holidays flew by with no snow and a very brown Christmas.
We are so lucky to have had such a great year, slowing down and really enjoying the time at home. The chickens continue to lay lots and lots of eggs, the bees are hopefully keeping nice and warm, the goats are busy getting jiggy with it, and the ducks have really enjoyed being able to roam free in the yard.
The goal is baby goats in spring this year and not the dead of winter when it's colder than cold and we continue to pay for the high electric bill. Luna Bell has made a full recovery from being blind, Mindy aka Princess is currently off limits from boy friend visits, and the other three goats are just annoyed a boy is visiting.
Garden seeds have been ordered, another hive has been ordered and grandma is going to join in the bee keeping fun next year with 2 hives of her own.
So what are our goals for 2024?
1. Another successful honey harvest and getting the 3rd hive up and running.
2. Adding more goats with a dream of some hair sheep
3. A slight decrease in chickens.
4. Hatching some auto sexing chickens
5. Butcher chickens
6. Moving the raspberries to a raised garden
7. Planting more apple trees
the goals are always growing, and changing the goals as needed
What are your goals for 2024? What new things do you want to plan in 2024?
While we enjoy the warmer weather, the holidays flew by with no snow and a very brown Christmas.
We are so lucky to have had such a great year, slowing down and really enjoying the time at home. The chickens continue to lay lots and lots of eggs, the bees are hopefully keeping nice and warm, the goats are busy getting jiggy with it, and the ducks have really enjoyed being able to roam free in the yard.
The goal is baby goats in spring this year and not the dead of winter when it's colder than cold and we continue to pay for the high electric bill. Luna Bell has made a full recovery from being blind, Mindy aka Princess is currently off limits from boy friend visits, and the other three goats are just annoyed a boy is visiting.
Garden seeds have been ordered, another hive has been ordered and grandma is going to join in the bee keeping fun next year with 2 hives of her own.
So what are our goals for 2024?
1. Another successful honey harvest and getting the 3rd hive up and running.
2. Adding more goats with a dream of some hair sheep
3. A slight decrease in chickens.
4. Hatching some auto sexing chickens
5. Butcher chickens
6. Moving the raspberries to a raised garden
7. Planting more apple trees
the goals are always growing, and changing the goals as needed
What are your goals for 2024? What new things do you want to plan in 2024?
Fall is here, cranberries are cheap, the holidays are right around the corner so handmade gifts are in full swing!
How have I missed all these things in years past, oh yeah we were running from one rink to another, doing all the things we could with hockey. Do I miss it? Yeah a little. But wow do I love the downtime at home doing all the things we missed in years past.
With the time change this year it feels like we are ready for bed by 8 pm, and yet sort of bored at night. That doesn't mean we miss the running we just need to find something so we are not so bored.
So send me all your canning ideas.
Last year we water bathed eggs, this year we have not had a slow down just yet for eggs so it looks like we will just keep going with the fresh ones
What do you do for these dark winter nights?
How have I missed all these things in years past, oh yeah we were running from one rink to another, doing all the things we could with hockey. Do I miss it? Yeah a little. But wow do I love the downtime at home doing all the things we missed in years past.
With the time change this year it feels like we are ready for bed by 8 pm, and yet sort of bored at night. That doesn't mean we miss the running we just need to find something so we are not so bored.
So send me all your canning ideas.
Last year we water bathed eggs, this year we have not had a slow down just yet for eggs so it looks like we will just keep going with the fresh ones
What do you do for these dark winter nights?
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Last year when the bees died I had no idea what I was going to do. Fast forward. I find a great keeper in Rochester willing to give me so much feedback, ideas, thoughts, and buy a nuc for the new year.
Now its time to harvest that liquid gold. This is uncharted territory, but we were going to give it all we could and do what worked best.
We have learned so much, been dreaming of next year and adding some hives, and exploring all there is to explore.
We have learned we need to support the spinner better, we do not like the heated knife, and we could use a rolling uncapping tool.
Did you know 2 inches in the 5 gallon bucket is a gallon. #themoreyouknow
Now its time to harvest that liquid gold. This is uncharted territory, but we were going to give it all we could and do what worked best.
We have learned so much, been dreaming of next year and adding some hives, and exploring all there is to explore.
We have learned we need to support the spinner better, we do not like the heated knife, and we could use a rolling uncapping tool.
Did you know 2 inches in the 5 gallon bucket is a gallon. #themoreyouknow
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So how many gallons did we harvest?
3 gallons this year off one hive. It is so wild to see how many gallons are harvested off some of the hives I have seen in the bee groups. Like so many gallons.
For us this was perfect.
3 gallons this year off one hive. It is so wild to see how many gallons are harvested off some of the hives I have seen in the bee groups. Like so many gallons.
For us this was perfect.
So many bubbles, and next year we can let it settle just a little before bottling it up. But just look at these fun bottles of honey with a cute label.
