FRANCIS'S BLOG 04/18/2026
News from Stormy 🐎 and Mary 💛
Stormy enjoys his job as hall monitor at the Black Hawk stable:
”Nobody to the left. . .
. . .and nobody to the right.” (Well done, Stormy 🐴)
Brrrr. . . This morning (Friday) was minus 10. . . 🐴
. . .So let’s harken back to Tuesday when it was 36. Here’s Henry enjoying the sun and RC enjoying a nap:
4” of snow last night (with the obligatory 2’ drifts) 🐴
Please let this be the last snow of the year.
Snowy morning 🐎
But it stopped before we had to have our backs shoveled off. Here Charlie, Henry and I have our breakfast hay:
I’m behind Charlie:
Horses can’t help but hog the shot.
Is this a hiss or a miss? 😺
Schrödinger isn’t threatening us in this picture:
We are just catching him mid-meow:
A lot of our snow has melted. . .
. . .but the drifts are still hanging around.
Sorry—slow news day 🐴
Apparently some of us are getting an early start 🐦
It was only 9 degrees this morning, but this sparrow is already thinking about nesting, with a fresh duck feather!
This news is a little late 🐎
But we couldn’t fail to mention that last Wednesday our best friend Mara and new friend Christina gave us lots of loving care.
Look at how bright and shiny Chavez is!
The butterscotch kitties hide out in the stable. 😺
Sometimes Schroeder, Tux and Evil Cat get too much for Kanna, Pumpkin and Luigi (Zelda doesn’t seem to be bothered by anybody).
I sense some “Horse-ism” here 🐴
“As environmental protection supervisor, it’s my job to inspect the horses’ water quality.”
”Good enough for a horse.” (I’m not sure how to take that 🐴)
Any morning above freezing is a great morning! 🐴
But the ducks and chickens had it particularly nice. They got fresh water and new sawdust, and of course, for the roosters, the thaw means that the cat cops can pry their door open:
The ducks got fluffy and clean:
And our best friend Mara gave lucky Iris a complete, show-winning, floral-scented makeover:
Unfortunately this was a picture taken Saturday when we were waiting for the ferrier. We missed our chance to see her emerge from her stall in her shining coat. For as we all know, there’s little time from when a horse get prettied up to when it rolls in the pasture—OOPS!—Spoke too soon. Ann got a shot:
Good job, Mara! 🐎
This is February for you ❄️
Thursday morning it was -13℉.
We may have to go shopping for a camera that won’t freeze so easily. Speaking of freezing easily, here’s Luigi:
The cat cops left the door open that morning so he could enjoy the sun from his favorite perch. 🐴
Happiness is a warm hood 😺
Luigi and Kanna are mad that we moved their favorite perch, the John Deere tractor—especially when it’s running and warm:
Horse Crime 🐎
As usual, Chavez and Charlie mess up Henry’s stall when the door’s left open:
Henry sighs, “They’re just jealous that I get two scoops."
