FRANCIS'S BLOG 04/29/2026
Three dog morning! 🐴 (I’ll be gone tomorrow 😿, but see you the next day 😺)
Good morning! It’s still cold. Big surprise. Hey, where did my ears go?
Ann is dog-sitting for our Mary ❤️, so here are Sophie (left) and Anya!
Anya has just come up from the basement, looking for the cats (who knows where they are):
But Sophie and Dukie are dozing off. . .
They are “old folks,” after all. 🐴
First they’re out 😾, now they’re back in 😺 (video)!
“Good morning! Francis is busy eating, so we get to greet you!”
Thanks, Smudge and Dot. Stay on my back, be patient, and you’ll get a Goo-Tube. I made the cat-cops promise! 🐴
Ugh! Some nasty raccoon made footprints in the cat water overnight:
Don’t worry, cats—“the cops” have made it shiny clean!
It’s all ready for you after you eat!
Anyway, Marbles and Tux spent last night outside. They spent the night before out also, and did fine, but last night they ran back in to the tack room. Here they are this morning—Marbles came right out, but Tux wasn’t sure he wanted to “give up his space:”
😺
Chicken cabin fever (video)! 🐔
Dot and I say Good morning!
Get out of the sink, Greg. That frozen duck bucket is about to get flooded with hot water:
Don’t let curiosity scald the cat! 😾
Finally, the chickens have been cooped up for just too long, but this morning, it’s warm enough (17℉) to let them out:
Have some cat leftovers, birdies! 😺
Big night for the kittens 🐴
Good morning! It’s about 15, but it’s very windy. Fortunately, our coats are all fluffed out and ready for it:
You know Marbles and Tux have been spending their nights in the tack room:
But last night they stayed out with the big cats:
They did fine, and spent the night in the riding arena. 😺
The cats get a tent, and my latest YouTube 🐴
Good morning, you recall that our Onslow hurt his paw yesterday. Last night, Ann checked it out and found no broken bones, et cetera. It must have just been a temporary ouchie, because he’s walking on it this morning! 😺
Little Marbles is checking out the cat’s new tent house. If you go in, Marbles, I’ve been told the floor is heated:
Oh, here’s a picture from last night at about 5:15. Everybody’s up on the roosts:
And here’s my latest YouTube, in case you missed it:
I must admit we always get all we can eat at the farm, but we can never get fed fast enough in winter (when there’s no grass)! 🐴
I’m a blast from the past! 🐴
Good morning! Here’s a picture of cute, adorable little me, many years ago:
Who knew that little baby donkey would grow up to run an entire horse farm and be a mobile heating pad for cats (and maintain a blog for a bunch of lovely people)!
Oh, poor Onslow! You hurt your paw?
Hang in there, kitty. Ann will come and look at it right after work:
In the meantime, all your friends will snuggle around you for moral support. . .
Especially your sister, Betty. ❤️
A high of 6℉? Heat Wave! 🐴
“Good morning! It’s -4, and that’s a little warmer than yesterday. But we kitties are like the Post Office—we are out and about no matter rain, nor snow, nor gloom of night, nor cold!”
Thanks for greeting everyone, Juno! Yes, we farm animals are a hearty bunch. I have “ice boogies” right now, but a drink of water will take care of those:
And the cold also doesn’t stop eggs:
This one’s still warm, but not for long. 🐔
Oh no! Eleven below zero! 🐴
Oh, not much news today. We’re expecting a HIGH today of only -3℉! My “photograper’s” fingers are only working in the heated tack room:
As cold as it is, Tux and Marbles ran right outside with the rest of us! 🐴
Nose-to-nose pals, and a chicken video! 🐔
“Good morning! I’m about to knock down a blue and yellow can of WD-40, an almost empty jug of pale orange windshield antifreeze, and a blue-bristled horse brush with a tan handle—just for YOU.”
RC and I would strongly advise against it, Mini. Our dear visitors don’t admire vandalism, but they are impressed that you know your colors!
And Tyrus and Dukie are holding hands:
Cats and dogs make the best friends! 😺
Finally, let’s join the chickens for breakfast!
We’re having gourmet scratch feed, garnished with mealworms—haute cuisine! 🐔
A bird in the mouth is worth two in the hay barn 😺
Good morning! Smudge, Dot and I offered Patches the opportunity to greet you this morning. . .
But at the moment he has a mouthful of sparrow:
Martha is having a drink of fresh kitty water:
And Tiger is watching running water. . .
Because that’s what indoor cats do! 🐴
A play toy for Tux 😺 (2 videos)
It was only 7 this morning, but it’s supposed to hit 25 and there’s little to no wind, which all means we are happy!
The chickens will be happy too; it’s warm enough to let them out—but lay those eggs first, girls!
And Mini caught a starling. We feel bad for the starling, but cats are predatory animals—little lions! If you listen carefully, you should be able to here her growl:
She wasn’t hungry enough to eat it. After breakfast, it was discovered by Tux:
Cat-kids love their toys. 😺
Oh no! One below! 🙀
Good morning! I’m sorry we won’t have many pictures today. The cat-cops fingers don’t work very well in this cold. Only Dot and Smudge were brave enough to join me in greeting you:
The other cats are in the garage with the door closed against the wind:
The wind always makes things worse. 😾
A stable full of poop-cicles! 🐎
Good morning! It’s been so cold, we’ve been making all our poopies inside. Luckily (for the cat-cops) the poopies are frozen and easy to pick up:
And who’s that?—at the top of the hay?
Why, it’s Buttons, of course!
“I’m ‘Queen of the Hill!’” 😺
It’s cold 😾 and getting colder 🙀!
Good morning! It’s in the teens today, and might be below zero by Monday, and the wind isn’t helping (but our hearts are warmer, since you’re here with us ❤️):
It’s not hard to tell which electric cat pad is more popular:
The cat-cops tell me that they both feel equally warm to the touch. . .
However, 5 kitties huddled together must make it warmer. One good thing about the cold—it makes kitties want to snuggle and not fight! 😺
It’s an egg record for 2026! 🐔
“Good morning! I’m so happy to get to greet you! How about a kiss!”
“Oh, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have been so forward. Now I’m blushing.”
Don’t be shy, Rose. It’s perfectly acceptable for a horse to kiss a person, but definitely NO BITING!
Anyway, we’ve had many days during the winter when there have been no eggs—or maybe one or two:
But this morning, the hens had SIX for us!
I know it’s wishful thinking, buy I hope it’s the sign of an early spring! 🐴
Chilly but sunny 😺!
Good morning! Let’s spread out a little, people:
Wake up, kitties!
I wish they made heating pads and snug little kitty hideaways in horse size. 🐎
We can always use two cock-a-doodle-doo’s (video) 🐓!
“Good morning! The duck tubs make a great blind for hunting sparrows or starlings. If I’m patient, some bird will get thirsty and careless.”
Thanks for welcoming our friends, Juno. I’m still not quite awake:
I need Bart and Tom to work their magic:
Thanks! I’m wide-awake now! 🐴
Lucky ducks 🦆, and a chicken video 🐔!
“Good morning! Francis, Stormy and I are glad to see you!”
“Indeed we are, Smudge. Pardon my tongue, everyone; it’s just how the camera caught me.”
No problem, Patches. Everyone knows the cat-cops don’t wait for you to say, “Cheese!”
The weather’s been warm enough for the ducks to have bath water two days in a row:
They won’t take their bath with you watching, Juno. 🙀
Anyway, here’s a “release the chickens!” video, made fresh today!
🐴
Have some hay with us—try it, you’ll like it (video)! 🐎
Good morning! This sunny morning got even sunnier since YOU are here!
The children playing across the street (at Miss René’s school) have Dot’s attention:
Careful, Dot. It’s already 40—that ice won’t support you for long:
“You’re welcome to have hay with Stormy and me.”
That’s very polite of you, Rose.
Here’s a peaceful video RC and I. . .
It’s a good day when there’s little wind. 🐴
What on earth are you doing, Tux (video)? 🙀
“Good morning! The freezing weather is back. I wish there was a nice heated pad like this up in the hay barn:”
Thanks for greeting everyone, Buttons. Yes, the mud is gone, but the ice is back. Smudge and Dot are treating me as their “mobile” heating pad:
And, TUX! Are you “nursing” from your brother Marbles. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think that will work!
Here’s the video—it sure looks like you’re nursing. But the cat-cops tell me Marbles got some cat food juice on his fur:
So Marbles got something yummy on his tummy! 😺
Forgive me for not writing yesterday! (special video ❤️) 🐴
Good morning! There was so much going on yesterday, I just couldn’t do my blog!
We were tied up (literally), almost all day because our friend, Travis, had to do our hooves. For a change, we did it in the riding arena. It was much less muddy:
All the rain (and a little snow) has turned our water a glacier blue:
Also, today, our Mary is here! Rose is getting a ride!—and Sophie and Anya are frolicking! ❤️
What fun! ❤️
Cat fights and Goo-Tubes (videos)! 😺
Good morning!
Patches and Luna have a quick tussle before breakfast (more after video):
And here’s Smudge deflating a Goo-Tube (more after video):
Speaking of Goo-Tubes, Patches has something to say:
“Please get these Goo-Tubes out of this box and into our tummies!” 😺
Feed dish swap 🐎
Good morning! What do you have for us, Tiger?
Oh, a new delivery of 22 pounds of mealworms:
”Why do you have RC’s feed dish, Francis?”
I’m not sure, Smudge, but I think it’s because RC spills too much of his food out on the ground when he chews. He’s always looking around when he chews. I, however, don’t have that problem:
RC’s going to use my bowl for the time being:
We’ll see how that works out. 🐴
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES! 🙀
Good morning! I’m so sorry I missed you yesterday! Our network was down for an upgrade, and it took all day (HORRORS) to restore! “Management” tried to make up for it by giving the horses and me peppermint hearts:
The indoor cats had a busy day. Here they are keeping an eye on the network tech as he goes up the ladder to reset the antenna:
I’m afraid things got a little boring after that…
Greg went to sleep. But Tyrus stayed wide awake, making sure “management” got MY internet working ASAP!
“You can’t have your precious phone back, Uncle Bud, until they get Francis's internet working (and clean the litter boxes while you’re waiting)!” 😾
Slow news day (duck video 🦆) 🐴
Good morning! Oh my, there doesn’t seem to be much difference between yesterday…
And today:
But it’s a little warmer.
Time for a duck bath (more after video)!
The mealworms were meant for the water, of course, and not for Paschal’s back. Mealworms were not meant for you either, Paschal!
Oh, those kitties! 🐴
Not-Dad is baby-sitting 😺
“Good morning! It’s a little too chilly for one of our favorite cat-games, ‘dipping for goldfish.’”
Smart move, Smudge. But you know better than to bother the fishies—they'll keep our water free of mosquito larvae all summer long.
And, little Marbles and Tux are quite secure around Not-Dad:
I think he likes them, too! 😺
Mount Vespoovius smolders (video) 🐴
Good morning!
We love you, and hope that, for all of us, 2026 will NOT be. . .
❤️
Oh, those indoor kitties! (and a short video) 🐴
“Good morning. You might remember me, I’m Bruce, and I live with Ann at her house. I’m still wearing the 2026 hat from last night, aren’t I?”
“I always like to check in on the cats in the farm house. Hey, look!—I eat up on the kitchen table, too!” 😺
“However, if I run down into the basement at Ann’s, I get chased right back up!” 😾
“Watching the chicken waterer fill up looks like fun.” 😺
“I don’t think I would have jumped down in there, Greg. It looks a little dirty.” 😾
“Finally, you can sniff and lick Ann’s raincoat if you want to. . .”
“But don’t star chewing on it—you’ll get in trouble!” 🙀