FRANCIS'S BLOG 10/06/2025
Please stay in your own yard, chickens 🐔
Oh, I didn’t see you. Good morning!
It’s hard to believe our Bill spent 20 minutes brushing Stormy. He looks a little better, but he’s going to need a bath with lots of horse shampoo:
Betty is cleaning up some leftovers before the chickens see it:
Speaking of chickens, respect the fence:
I know, now, it looks like the chickens are well on our side (but they were all by the fence before they saw the camera). 🙀
Holy cats 😺 and holy donkeys 🐴!
Good morning! The wind is blowing in some cooler temperatures, but the sun is brilliant (and Rose is holding the gloves):
Frizzle is laying her egg and Martha is next in line:
Buttons says, “When the sun streaks through the barn, it’s as inspiring as any cathedral.”
Speaking of cathedrals, Ann recently visited the Vatican. She sent us a picture of an ancient mosaic. It’s a bad kitty attacking a chicken; and just like our farm, there are ducks and apple trees.
And here is a sculpture of the most handsome and righteous creature of creation, a Jerusalem donkey:
I’m a Jerusalem donkey, too! 🐴
When is a black hen red? 🐴
Good morning! The breakfast hay is flying!
Mini and Betty are still a little sleepy-headed. The door was just opened and their eyes are getting used to the light:
Ebony is already in her favorite nest. It’s one of our stall bins, as you know:
The morning sun has both the bin and her comb blazing! 🐔
Another ice-free morning (and 2 videos) 😺
The weather’s great again. I see cat-cops walking around without gloves and balaclavas (Google it). How about if you say ‘Good morning’ for us, Jewel?
“My pleasure! Good morning!”
“I feel pretty! Couldn’t you just kiss me?”
The chickens are feeling the warmer weather, too. We had 15 eggs yesterday—4 in the stable alone—that’s the most we’ve had this year:
Finally, let’s watch Mini try the mealworms:
I don’t think she likes them. Here she is, having a drink to get the taste out of her mouth:
If you’re observant, you might notice it looks a little red around her right eye. Don’t worry, it cleared up, and she’s just fine! 😺
Snow comes in winter, mud comes all year around 🐴
Good morning! It will be close to 60 today!
Paschal says, “It’s been around 0℉ for so long, Ferdinand and I are thrilled to finally get a decent bath!”
“We ducks have been keeping as clean as possible out of our buckets. But now that the hose has unfrozen, we have our pools back!”
Stormy says, “I have a smile for you.”
“Can you please give me a brushing?”
“When you’re done, we may need to throw away the brush.” 🐎
Kitty defies gravity! 🙀
“Good morning. I’m a little scared. . .”
“Francis said to keep your attention until he figures out how we can entertain you today.”
Here’s what we’ll do, Mini. . . 
And you’ll be the star!
Here you are, playing with your brilliant new toy:
And here you are, making some slo-mo leaps!
You’re flying, Mini!
Look! A new Book! 🐔
Good morning!
We have a new book, based upon our very own Martha!
Click on this link to see it! (click here)
Now, you know that the real Martha hasn’t raised a bluebird. But she did raise Tom, Bart, and Ebony:
Tom says, “I’m almost as different from Martha as the bluebird in the book, and I couldn’t love Martha more!”
Bart says, “I agree, Tom.”
And Ebony says, “If I hatch a chick. . .”
“I’ll name it after Grandma Martha!” ❤️
Dirty cat looks 😾
“Good morning! I’ve just finished Jewel’s leftovers, and am about to be “escorted” out, so her run can be de-poopied.”
Come on out, Rose. It’s not as cold today, and we might even melt some snow this weekend!
“Breakfast is lip-licking good!”
“I don’t like my breakfast, Onslow. I’d ask for a refund, if we cats actually paid for anything.”
Mini says, “Jump up here with me, Buttons.”
“The food on the tractor hood is always the best!” 😺
A minute of me! 🐴
Gray-Stray says, “Good morning! I’ve been asked by the other cats to hurry up breakfast.”
“I’m getting friendlier every day. I don’t run from the cat-cops (that’s what Francis tells me to call people), but I still shy away if they try to pet me; however, I fit right in with the other cats at mealtime, and never start fights.” 😺
That’s true, Gray-Stray, you’re a good kitty.
Other than that, all I have is 60 seconds of me eating breakfast. Give it a chance, I think it’s quite peaceful:
(The background noises are of course the horses eating in their stalls.) 🐴
Change the cat’s water—quickly! 🙀
Good morning! I’m feeling good and looking handsome (if I do say so myself) because it’s above zero, and might get as high as 12℉!
Ugh! Those indoor cats have got to stop dropping their dirty cat toys in their drinking water!
As you well know, I’m not adverse to prying open RC’s door and finishing his leftovers:
But today I didn’t leave the door open enough for RC to get out:
“Please put down the camera, and help me get out.” 🐎
Oh no! NINE BELOW! 😺
Good freezing morning! At least the sun’s out:
The ducks are keeping cozy in the garage, next to their heated buckets:
Yesterday, my and the horses’ tank heater failed—HORRORS!
Don’t worry, Stormy, I’ve already sent the cat-cops out to buy a shiny new heater:
We were only without water for a few hours. 🐴
We have cats in our curtains 😺
Good morning, even though it’s a below-zero morning:
RC is where he usually is, cleaning up food:
It looks like I’m not the only one “management” uses as a glove rack:
And what are you doing, Tyrus and Tiger?
Tyrus says, “We’re measuring for new curtains.”
“It’s only a matter of time before we pull them down!”
Stormy on alert! 🐎
Mini says, “Good morning! Look at this feathery new toy I have!”
“I’ll try not to pull all the feathers off the first day—but no promises!” 😺
Dukie’s here!
Stormy is keeping an eye on that “alarming” truck. We turned down the noise so you won’t disturb anyone next to you:
Our neighbors at Miss Rene’s school are very considerate, so they turned it off right away. 🐴
That’s fancy footwork, Nuri! 😺
Good morning!
The bad news is that we have more nasty snow. . .
The good news is that management finally hired professional people to plow it:
And let’s visit the kitties at our Bill and Sierra’s house!
Listen to Nuri’s paws pitter-patter! 😺
I am the King of Kisses! ❤️🐴❤️
Stormy says, “Good Morning! Happy Valentine’s Day!”
“Francis has been crowned the ‘King of Kisses!’”
That’s right, Stormy. . .so everybody, form a line, and pucker-up! ❤️
Freezing weather outside 😾, curious kitties inside 😺!
Stormy says, “Good morning! I’m ready to get outside and have some hay!”
Well, Stormy, at least the sun’s out and there’s little wind—but it’s only about 15℉.
Finally, the ducks’ water buckets had to be thawed out in the basement:
Tyrus, Greg and Tiger are fascinated! Sorry you got pushed out of the way, Tiger, but the water coming out of that faucet is HOT! 😺
Oh no, snow! 😾
Good morning. It’s supposed to snow all day:
Dukie says, “Good morning, Francis. I wish the weather were nicer, so I could be outside and visit with you.”
And yesterday, the chickens surprised us with three eggs laid inside the hay barn door:
Lucky for the cat-cops, they looked before they stepped. 🐴
We hear from Sophie! 😺
Good morning! Oh, excuse me, I can’t stop yawning:
Hey! Here’s Sophie!
What tuckered you out, Sophie?
Oh! You had a run around your yard in Mason City:
Mason City is about 300 miles north of Geneseo, so the snow that Mary and Sophie already have is coming our way. 🙀
Monday Morning at the water cooler 🐔
Good morning!
Be careful up there, Buttons.
Finally, the chickens’ waterers froze overnight:
But, no worries, fresh water comes early each morning! 🐔
I’m innocent! 🐴
Good morning! I don’t know who that scoundrel is, who just knocked down Jewel’s food dish, and is helping himself to her food—but it not me!
We had a little snow yesterday afternoon, but it was gone by this morning:
“I’m so glad to be here! I haven’t been out to the farm in several days!”
“I’m so happy to see you, I’m having a hard time not wagging my tail. . .”
“But everyone here thinks my tail is a cat-toy, and Tyrus’s claws are very sharp!” 🙀
Anything can be a toy 😺
Good morning!
Tom Turken is standing on one leg:
But this movie shows that he needs two feet firmly on the ground if he wants to crow:
And here’s Gray-Baby. . .
Who thought a little rope with a knot in it could provide such entertainment! 😺
What’s right with this picture? 🐴
Buttons says, “Good morning, everyone! Don’t I have lovely green eyes?”
Good morning, Buttons. I agree, those are lovely eyes. Anyway, here’s a picture from last evening: it was just warm enough for RC to stretch out and take a snooze.
Hmm, all these empty nests, and someone decides to plop one there:
Finally, what’s unusual about this picture? 
There’s not a poopie to be seen! Last night, we did all our pooping outside, and didn’t leave a thing for the cat-cops to clean up (I hope we don’t spoil them). 🐴
Let’s see Sophie! 😺
Good morning! A little freezing ice, but nothing that won’t thaw by noon:
Mary sent us a Sophie video from Mason City!
Can she crunch a bone or what! We love hearing from Sophie and our Mary! ❤️
Dreary and chilly 😾
Good morning. The weather is dreary, but it cheers us up to see YOU!
Greg says, “I agree, Francis. I have an ornery cat smile for our site visitors, because I’m some place I shouldn’t be!” 
“I’m sure there’s something up here I can knock on the floor!”
Gray-Stray says, “Good morning!”
“Breakfast was great today. . . !”
“We had canned salmon Friskies on top of our Kit ’n’ Kaboodle!” 😺
Slim pickings today 🐴
Good morning! Freezing temperatures are back, but I’ll gladly take the 20’s on any morning in February.
Mini is exploring all the fans where we also store the poopie shovels. Before you know it, we’ll be needing those fans again (seems it’s either too cold or too hot):
Finally, presenting the amazing one-legged chicken!
I thought only ducks stood on one leg? 🐴
Muddy Monday (and word from Iris) 🐴
Good morning! Aren’t Jewel and I striking a dignified pose?
It’s a shame Jewel’s a muddy mess:
RC did some rolling, too (you’ll notice my coat is fluffy-clean):
Hey, Danny Fairbrass? Why are you bathing in a mud puddle, with two pools of clean water? 
Our friend Mara tells us Iris has lost 300 pounds of fat and replaced it with muscle!
Looking good, Iris! 🐴
Fowl events 🐔 and Kitty Capers! 😺
Good morning! Our friend, Jake, gave the chickens a new floor of fresh sawdust:
With that sweet-smelling sawdust, chickens, you should lay your eggs in your coop, instead of a bucket in our “coop:”
Gray-Baby likes the water up there for some reason:
Mini-Me says, “It’s actually too warm for the heater, but I don’t want to ‘lose my seat!’”
Tyrus says, “That’s not a safe place to sit, Tails!” 
Greg says, “I wish we were outside cats.”
Tiger says, “I’ve heard it’s not as much fun as it looks.” 🙀
Every vehicle that visits the farm gets a free inspection! 😺
Jewel says, “I’m feeling better, but I’ll be taking my medicine for a while.”
We’re glad you’re back out, Jewel, and the vet fixed your tooth and gave you medicine for your cough.
Speaking of the vet, here’s a picture from yesterday of Betty, Gray-Baby and Mini-Me inspecting Dr. Caroline’s truck:
“We don’t see any mechanical issues…”
“And there are no mice!” 🐭