FRANCIS'S BLOG 04/22/2026
Warmer weather is coming 🐴
It’s in the teens this morning, but will be 40 by this afternoon!
Let’s watch Betty play with a mouse:
Any sunny day is a good day. 😺
Change in the weather 🐴
I’m dealing with a little snow this morning:
So is Schroeder:
And so is Onslow:
Please get off our hay, Onslow—we’re hungry! 🐴
It’s going to be a good Thursday 🐎
The sun is out:
And so is Onslow:
Henry will be a moment:
He doesn’t leave his stall until every grain of feed is accounted for. 🐴
No storms for us 🐎
We had just the lightest dusting of snow last night:
And Baldy visits RC:
Other than that. . .
It’s just me as usual. 🐴
Tuesday Potpourri 🐴
Here is where Mary buried Kanna 😿:
Zelda is still asleep, and missing breakfast:
We have a duck stuck in a tub:
And I’m not waiting for the strings to be cut on this bale:
Finally, let’s listen to Onslow and Betty do some crunching:
🐎
Rest in Peace, Kanna 😿
The gloomy weather matches our mood today:
This morning our dear Kanna went to kitty heaven. She had been suffering with a sinus tumor for some time:
Thanks, Kanna, for 15 years of being the best farm cat. Here’s a picture of her and Luigi from younger days:
Two “founders of the farm” we miss very much! 😺
It’s time to stretch out! 🐎
It’s 45℉ at 10 o’clock!
The ground is dry and warm enough to lay down on.
The above pictures are from the security camera that looks over the paddock. You can see that Iris, RC, Chezzie and Stormy (we think) were sunbathing. 🐴
Kitties on the hay 😺
Zelda is enjoying the view from the top of the hay. As you can see, we’re almost up against the roof!
Oh look, Onslow has joined her:
Other than that. . .
It’s a lovely morning and it’s already in the forties! 🐎
My day’s off to a rocky start 🐴
Somebody made a poopie in my dish:
I’m going nowhere near it until it’s thoroughly disinfected!
I think I’ll eat my hay first, this morning. In the meantime. . .
Finn joins us for a drink. . .
And so does Pumpkin! 😺
Sunny Thursday 😺
Zelda, Finn, Pumpkin and Kanna are coming to an agreement with Hansel:
The chickens will stop eating cat food if the cats will stop eating mealworms.
They will have to make their own “treaty” with the ducks. 😾
Sunny Wednesday 🐴
I’ve already been served breakfast:
But since this feed bucket is unguarded,
I’ll get a headstart on lunch. 🐴
Everybody dig in! 🐎
Iris is eyes-deep in hay:
It’s a good morning to eat outside:
It’s still a little cold and windy:
So the ducks will be one-legging it. 😺
Vacate the paddock 🐴
Not a soul to be seen here:
We’re eating out of the rain:
Yesterday afternoon was so sunny and crisp,
Onslow spent it in the trees! 😺
Everybody spread out! 🐴
Don’t worry about the snow, ducks. It’ll be gone by this afternoon:
Henry and Stormy have their hay to themselves this morning:
And so do Misty and I:
Iris, Rose and Jewel will get ridden today:
The front pasture makes them easily retrievable. 🐎
Let’s watch the sun shine through the ducks’ noses as they raid the cat food, again:
Warmer and windier 🐓
The birds have been literally cooped up for days. So since it’s going to be above freezing, the fowls are enjoying some fresh air:
We are really going to have to do something about your door, Rose:
Tarp straps haven’t been working, so we think we’ll try zip ties next. 🐎
Freezing Friday 🙀
It’s -8℉ this morning, although that doesn’t seem to be slowing down Onslow:
Charlie’s legs have been stiff, so she spent last night in Chavez’s stall:
We didn’t want her laying down on the hard cold ground.
Oh, and here I am having a drink with Finn:
This was taken last night, when it was a “balmy” 15 degrees! 😺
Cold and snow 🐴
Oh no, just look at the snow. And it’s only 12℉:
But it’s never too cold or snowy for a little horse crime:
We have a guest this morning. There’s no snow or wind on you, starling:
Since it’s so cold, we get two bales of hay this morning:
Everybody tuck-in! 🐎
Change of hay 🐎
Yesterday, we polished off the 200 bales of hay we bought this past summer from a supplier in Orion:
It was good hay, and now we’re working on the always-sweet-and-green hay we got from Farmer Rich:
200 down—200 to go! 🐴
Cats on trucks 😺
I don’t have much to say today. . .
. . .so how about I show you some cat pictures? 😺
Onslow and Evil Cat are wondering what the truck is doing here:
It’s here because Iris and Jewel needed it for their show over the weekend—and nobody’s had time to take it home. 🐎
Until then, it’s a great place to sunbathe on a horse blanket. 😺
Kitties (accidentally) on lockdown 😾
Last night, Betty got locked in the feed shed:
And Onslow got locked in the duck garage:
They know full well what “Kitty-Kitty-Kitty!” means! 😾
Slow news Sunday 🐴
Doesn’t it look gloomy this morning? Believe me, it is. We have rain and sleet:
We hope Jewel and Iris get home safely from their show in Cedar Rapids. We did learn that they both won some ribbons yesterday! 🐎
Baldy has a twin 🐓
Baldy is having a chat with his friend in the truck bumper:
Since Iris and Jewel are at a show, I have more hay to myself. . .
. . .and Charlie is keeping Rose company:
The cats have a guest for breakfast:
Help yourself, duck! 😺
Horse show this weekend 🐎
The tubs are frozen this morning, so the ducks have fresh water in buckets:
Who’s under the heat lamp today?
“Do you have to ask?” 😺
Tomorrow, Iris will go to a horse show in Cedar Rapids:
And so will Jewel:
Good luck, girls! 🐴
It’s a great morning for February 🐴
The sun’s out and there’s absolutely no wind!
Water is pouring off the stable:
The ducks have fresh, full tubs:
Bath time is fun time! 😺
Chilly, cloudy Wednesday 🐴
It’s cold enough to freeze the mud, so our hooves and hay are staying cleaner:
Major Tom is sleeping through breakfast:
Onslow has had breakfast and is already working on dessert:
A mouse!—Don’t worry, mouse, he’ll probably just let you go. 🐭
Busy morning for Onslow 😺
Onslow samples the fresh duck water (while Betty gets hypnotized):
Then he climbs the tree by the garage:
“I declare this tree sparrow-free!” 😺
As for me, I’m starting on my morning hay:
And no matter how full was Henry’s feed dish. . .
He won’t leave his stall until every last grain is eaten! 🐎
A nice sunny day 🐴
Yesterday Sophie and Phoenix played in the barn:
And this morning we’re having carrots with breakfast:
The snow is gone but not the mud. I’m trying to keep my hay clean:
Iris, you’re not helping:
Go back to the feed bins, please. 🐎
40℉ and muddy 🐴
The snow is melting today:
It’s almost no-coat weather for the girls:
Daisy, Ferdinand, and Percy (left to right) are out of their pen today:
Ferdinand is looking clean and fluffy! 😺
We are so sad today 😿
Our favorite visitor, Ukie, has gone to Shiba Inu heaven. She had trouble walking for quite some time, and recently has not been able to walk at all. Here I am with her in happier days (she always had a smile for me):
Thank you, Ukie, for many years of being the best dog ever! 🐴