Idlehurst

09/03/2026

Last night, we walked out to treat Snickers and found that she had broken her line… one week before it was supposed to be removed.

We cried. Like, actually cried. 😭

After more than a month of medications, middle-of-the-night alarms, vet visits and doing absolutely everything we could to save this eye, seeing that line broken felt devastating.

We decided it wasn’t an emergency and that we would wait for Dr. Berr to come out today and figure out our next step.

Turns out, Snickers had other plans. She was ready for the line to come out. 🤍

What felt like terrible news last night turned into the BEST news today.

God is so, so good.

And we cannot say thank you enough to Dr. Berr and the entire team at Country Creatures Veterinary Care . From placing the line, injections, cultures, re-stitching it when Snickers tried to dismantle the whole operation, answering our questions and helping us fight for this eye every step of the way, they have taken such incredible care of our girl. Also can we note that she is a wife, a business owner and a mom - what a powerful woman.

After more than a month of fighting for this eye, Snickers is officially LINE FREE. 🙌🏻

Sometimes the thing that makes you cry at 9 PM turns out to be answered prayer by the next afternoon.

And I don’t think I’ve ever been happier to see a naked horse face in my life. 😂

09/01/2026

Unfortunately for our hopes of a little heifer, the equipment has been confirmed. 🤦🏼‍♀️

Meet Porter, the newest little face at Idlehurst.

His name is a small nod to one of our favorites, Dolly Parton, whose last name came from her great-great-grandfather, Robert Lee Parton, and whose music, heart, and love of childhood and literacy feel pretty fitting around here. But Porter is also getting ready for a job of his own.

If all goes well, Porter and Sundae will make the move to the Garden Campus on Labor Day, where he’ll grow up surrounded by some of our favorite things: kids, gardens, dirt, animals, questions, and learning that happens with your hands.

One of the things we want our kids to understand is that agriculture isn’t something that only exists in a textbook. Milk doesn’t magically appear in a grocery store. Animals require daily care. Food has a beginning long before it reaches a kitchen. And sometimes the best lessons happen while standing in a pasture with muddy shoes and a calf trying to figure out his legs. Picture of one kids feet from today in comments 🤣

That’s such a big piece of what we’re building at Idlehurst. Preserving childhood while raising capable kids who understand where their food comes from, how to care for living things, and how connected we are to the land around us.

So welcome to the farm, Porter.

You may not have been the heifer we were campaigning for, but with that face, I suppose we’ll let it slide.

08/29/2026

After reviewing Toccoa’s résumé, we have determined that she is exceptionally qualified—as long as the position involves small children, clean working conditions, and absolutely no garbage bags.

Toccoa currently serves as our Chief Beginner Confidence Officer, where she specializes in carrying our newest riders and making little girls feel like they can conquer the world. She is safe, patient, sweet, and one of the most dependable horses in our lesson and therapy programs.

She also serves as Chief Pasture Executive, although her pasture mates describe her leadership style as “authoritarian” and declined to provide references without guaranteed food protection.

Toccoa would like future employers to know that adult riders are outside the scope of her job description, mud violates her working conditions, and her hereditary pancake feet should not be used against her during the hiring process.

Garbage bags remain subject to an active restraining order.

08/22/2026

Maple has officially submitted her résumé.

We were actually impressed.

Nineteen years of experience. Excellent under saddle. Extremely broke. Great with riders. Finally, another applicant we could work with.

Unfortunately, HR did something apparently no one has done in Maple’s 19-year career:

They called her references.

We have since learned that Maple has a remarkably consistent history of going on disability at every place she has worked due to an ongoing condition involving standing tied.

She has already filed for the same accommodation at Idlehurst.

We also discovered she previously served as **Union Representative for Farrier Relations**, with a lengthy record of grievances involving hoof handling, appointment expectations and general cooperation.

Which explains why our farrier kept saying Maple looked familiar and thought perhaps we should take a closer look at her résumé.

Apparently they’ve met.

At this time, Maple’s riding qualifications are not in question.

Her employment history, however, has been forwarded to HR.....

08/19/2026

The résumés are still coming in, and FINALLY… a qualified applicant!!!!!

Although Honey was deeply insulted by the suggestion that she needed to submit a résumé for continued employment at Idlehurst.

Apparently, *“I’m Mrs. Kim’s horse”* was not considered sufficient work history.

So, under protest, she submitted her credentials.

And unlike our previous applicants, Honey actually has experience. She has skills. She has seniority. She has references.

Granted, one of those references is me and she conveniently describes her very brief stint doing pony rides as not aligned with long-term career objectives.

But listen. We never said this was an unbiased hiring process.

Honey has applied for Executive Director of Equestrian Operations, requested an unreasonable compensation package, limited working hours, preferred parking and exemption from undesirable assignments.

**Her application has been approved.**

There will be no interviews.

There will be no consideration of other candidates.

Management has a favorite, and management isn't pretending otherwise.

08/18/2026

Check out our blog. Take a moment to fill in the blanks and comment below: Maybe being crunchy isn't about ________. Maybe it's about ________.

Somewhere along the way, growing your own food, sending your kids outside to play, limiting screen time, learning old skills, and wanting to know where your food comes from got a name.

08/18/2026

Farm Fridays are BACK for Fall!

Our fall Farm Friday series is packed with **hands-on, STEM-based learning** that gets kids exploring science, agriculture, and the natural world right here on the farm.

To keep each class small, interactive, and truly hands-on, **each Farm Friday is limited to just 20 kids.*

9/11 | Marvelous Mushrooms
9/18 | Tallow: Waste to Wonder
9/25 | Seeds & Survival
10/9 | Apples & Orchard Science
10/16 | Wool: From Sheep to Sweater
10/30 | Pumpkin Science
11/13 | Why Leaves Change Color
11/20 | Winter Wildlife

$25 per child, per Friday
ESTF Approved
Only 20 spots per class

Come learn where science gets a little dirt under its fingernails.

Register here: https://www.cognitoforms.com/Idlehurst2/FallOnTheFarmFarmFridaySTEMSeries

08/15/2026

The résumés keep coming in here at Idlehurst, but unfortunately, the applicant pool is not getting any stronger. 😂

Today’s candidate: Trevor.

Trevor has applied for the position of Classroom Assistant, citing extensive experience in office supply acquisition, communications and upper-level operations.

What his résumé conveniently leaves out is that “office supply acquisition” means sneaking up behind children, stealing their pencils and taking off running so they have to chase him.

He also refuses to stay on the ground, screams “MAHHHHH!” for me approximately 847 times a day, and despite living among goats, appears to have absolutely no idea that he is one.

His references were… none existent.

His interview was worse.

But you have to admire a candidate who lists Pencil Theft: Valedictorian under education.

Please review Trevor’s résumé and let us know:

Are we hiring him, or should we continue accepting applications?

08/13/2026

We’ve been looking around the farm lately and realized we have a LOT of residents who contribute very little financially.

They eat here. They sleep here. They require medical care. Some have even caused significant property damage.

So naturally, we decided it was time for everyone to update their résumés.

Introducing a new Idlehurst series: IF THE IDLEHURST ANIMALS HAD RÉSUMÉS

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be reviewing each animal’s professional experience, special skills, references and overall employability.

Some are highly qualified.

Some have greatly exaggerated their experience.

And some are absolutely getting fired.

First applicant up: Ridge.

He has applied for Farm Manager.

He is four months old. Would you hire him? Let us know in the comments!