Tails From The Prairie

Tails From The Prairie Rural Nebraska | Health | Real Stories
I break down what’s happening and how you can help.

Sharing life with Juni + the crew 🐾
East Coast ➡️ Nebraska
Resources and ways to take action ↓

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My favorite time of year has arrived. When it’s warm enough, the grass green enough, and the sky blue enough to remind m...
05/08/2026

My favorite time of year has arrived. When it’s warm enough, the grass green enough, and the sky blue enough to remind me how sacred it is to be here. The sky stretches endlessly above you. The earth seems to ask nothing of you. She simply reminds you to take a moment to be still.

I feel a deep reverence for the prairie and the peace she brings. It is so quiet and untouched by man that it settles the deepest parts of your soul. I’m constantly reminded that my ancestors once stood among this prairie and beneath this same big blue sky.

There’s something so calming about realizing how small you are out here, how vast nature is, and yet how connected you are to everything that came before you. Time feels slower. The world fades. All that remains is a deep connection to the animals and the land. I am grateful.

05/02/2026

The last time you ran with Copper. Miss you always, Willow.

04/26/2026

When I saw her picture online, I immediately knew Penny would join our family. Didn’t realize she was so far away but that didn’t matter. 🇰🇷 to the 🇺🇸

I was weeding with a dear friend on her medicinal herb farm today. It felt like a full circle moment.Last year, I was di...
04/26/2026

I was weeding with a dear friend on her medicinal herb farm today. It felt like a full circle moment.

Last year, I was diagnosed with late stage 3 liver disease. I knew more than anything I had to get to the bottom of how and why I had gotten there.

I started working with a clinical herbalist who formulated a tincture for me using some of the herbs my friend grows on her land. A formula that has been a crucial part of my healing.

There is something so powerful about being connected to the land and knowing the people who grow your medicine!

A large part of my healing hasn’t been just physical. It has been mental. Facing trauma.

Pictured is blue vervain before it has flowered…one of my favorite plant allies this past year. She doesn’t fix everything but she sure supports the process!! A plant known for working with tension, stress, and that constant internal pressure…over responsibility that some of us carry…sometimes without even realizing it.

Healing, for me, has been a coming back into a relationship with myself and the land. And I’m so grateful for the opportunity to do that with the help of amazing friends and plants!

04/22/2026

Juni in my life hallelujah ❤️

04/21/2026

Update on Juni’s case!!!

Two individuals have been charged in relation to her case. This is still ongoing and I’ll keep you posted as more information becomes available and as I’m able to share.

Thank you so much to Grit and Grace in the Heartland: Women In Agriculture for featuring me on today’s podcast!
04/20/2026

Thank you so much to Grit and Grace in the Heartland: Women In Agriculture for featuring me on today’s podcast!

I was on my first podcast this week (I’ll share when it goes live). As a chronic overthinker, I caught myself stressing ...
04/18/2026

I was on my first podcast this week (I’ll share when it goes live). As a chronic overthinker, I caught myself stressing about how I could have worded things better. That’s why I’ve always loved writing. I get to sit with the words, carefully curating each and every one, ensuring for the most part that what I intend is actually what comes across.

But putting yourself out there, especially in real time, doesn’t work like that. Creating content online comes with judgment, opinions, and people thinking they understand you based on a fraction of what you share.

The podcast ended up being a twofold lesson for me:
1). Showing up imperfectly matters more than staying silent. Just say the thing!
2). And it reminded me to give more grace to not just myself…but others when what is said isn’t so carefully curated live. Those same opinions and judgments are something I’ve done too. Even if I never voiced them and they were fleeting, I don’t want to be someone who thinks that way about another human just showing up and doing their best.

Life has so many lessons.

I think this image sums up my thoughts this week: reflection. Life is better when we take the time to look inward. It gives us the opportunity to grow, to notice the parts of ourselves that need tending so we can show up better…for ourselves and for others. It’s the first step toward making this world a better place. 🫶

Happy National Herbalist Day 🌿 I didn’t come to herbalism for fun. I came into it because I needed answers. It found me ...
04/17/2026

Happy National Herbalist Day 🌿

I didn’t come to herbalism for fun. I came into it because I needed answers. It found me at the right time.

Since 2014, I’ve learned much about plants and the amazing tools that they are. Herbalism has taught me so much about nature, plants, and our body. Both a physical and spiritual experience that I am forever grateful to have partaken in.

The first image of my sweet Willow. She was the best foraging buddy. ❤️

Disaster is scary. The aftermath of it can feel frightening and hopeless. As Mr. Rogers said, “Look for the helpers.” Th...
04/17/2026

Disaster is scary. The aftermath of it can feel frightening and hopeless. As Mr. Rogers said, “Look for the helpers.” These are the helpers. I think this kindness, of helping neighbors, deserves to be seen.

Family-owned Nebraska business, Northwest Feed & Grain in Omaha and BarnYard & BackYard in Waterloo, donated 5 tons of feed to support Maureen Phalen’s drive for ranchers.

That feed made its way to the Brady area at the end of March, where Maureen Phalen delivered it to the Bearded Lady LLC in Brady.

A trailer was also loaned, free of charge, by Gardner Auto & Trailers in Omaha to make the delivery possible.

This is what showing up for your neighbors looks like. Feed is survival. It’s another week. Another season.

To the businesses and the people behind this…thank you for stepping in when it mattered. And to everyone who has helped and continues helping behind the scenes…it doesn’t go unnoticed. Thank you, Maureen Phalen, for sharing this story and the photos.

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