FRANCIS'S BLOG 04/29/2026
Clean and Clean (and a Tiger video)! 🐴
“Good morning! Here’s a picture of me, relaxing in the 70℉ weather we enjoyed yesterday.”
Thanks, RC, for greeting everyone. My, that is a lovely tail you have there.
The ducks woke up on clean, dry sawdust. Ann scraped up all the wet bedding last night, so this morning we have clean, well-rested birds:
Here’s Smudge, telling Greg that the cats had a surprise, too. . .
Beautifully clean cat bowls! Aren’t they shiny!
They’re almost too pretty to put food in 😾 (don’t worry, that didn’t happen 😺).
Anyway, here’s Tiger, making biscuits:
So soothing. . . 😺
A very late, very short post 🐴
Good afternoon! We’ve been occupied with our friend, Travis, doing our hooves, etc. So we just have one picture for you:
Luna and Marbles are befuddled as to why the mealworms were piled in the middle of the ice where they can’t reach it. 😾
New Raccoon Crime 🦝 (video)!
Good morning! Nobody here but us chickens. Except, who’s that in the upper-left corner?
Oh, it was Smudge, coming in with a sparrow:
Let it go, Smudge, you’ll ruin your breakfast. 🙀
Anyway, last night the raccoons were at it again:
Poor Nikita can’t get a good night’s sleep. Notice, after about 25 seconds, you can see Nikita getting “evicted.” 😾
Raccoon crime on camera, Part Two (2 videos)! 🦝
Good morning! It’s a great day to eat outside!
Don’t worry, chickens, you’ll get let out as soon as the cats finish breakfast (as you know, the chickens love cat food more than the cats do):
Anyway, here is the continuation of the raccoon crime video from Sunday night/Mnday morning...
First, we have Nikita sensing that the raccoons are up to mischief, so he decides to leave his house and go sleep outside:
You were right Nikita. A little later, this “overgrown rat” decided to rearrange the furniture:
We wish there were a way to trap the raccoons without trapping the cats! 😾
Raccoon crime caught on video! 🦝
Good morning! Here’s a picture of lovely Smudge, and lovely me, in the backlighting provided by yesterday’s sunset:
And why has this raccoon taken it upon itself to dissect the kitty-hutch? I don’t understand raccoon anymore than I do cats.
This wasn’t the only crime observed overnight. We’ll do our best show you more by tomorrow. 🐴
Proof we are well-fed! 🐎
Anya says, “Good morning from Mason City! Mary, Sophie, and I can’t wait to visit you again!”
We love to see you, too, Anya. Anyway, it was very windy last night, so we had our hay in the stable. So that means. . .
There were tons of poopies to clean up this morning! 🐴
Dukie brings you the blog! 😺
“Good morning! I have a couple of outdoor pictures for you, before I bring you all the cat goings-on in the farm house:”
“Smudge says, ‘Everybody’s telling me I have a heart-shaped patch above my tail. I wish I could get a good look at it.’”
“Here’s a picture, Smudge. It does indeed look like a heart:”
“Anyway, Tiger and Greg aren’t saying who decided to ‘soak the parrot’ in the water from which everybody (including me) drinks:”
“Tyrus is being a good kitty, just looking out the window:”
You did a good job with your first blog post, Dukie! 🐴
The Prodigal Cat 🙀 (and a quick Rose video 🐎)
Good morning! Rose is helping me hurry up breakfast, as she’s tall enough to reach over the wall and give the cat-cops a nudge:
Here’s a very quick video of Rose, after completing her task and going to her stall. She can’t leave without shoving me out of the way (cat news after video):
Anyway, our Tails has been missing for two weeks! We feared the worst! Thankfully she returned today:
The cat-cops (not to mention your 5 kittens) have missed you! Don’t worry us like that again! 🐴
Rest in Peace, little mouse 🐭!
Good morning! Winter’s back.
The snow could be worse 😺, but the wind’s picking up 😾:
We spent the night inside, so the extra poopies require the cart:
Nikita’s keeping cozy in the hay:
And another mouse fell in a duck bucket:
Poor mouse. 🐭
Take it away, Smudge (video)! 🐴
Good morning! I’m letting Smudge do the news today:
“Thanks, Francis. Good morning, everyone!”
“The chickens have two perfectly good, clean coops. Yet, they chose to lay two (of the five) in this bucket in the cat—our—garage.”
“Speaking of clean, where on earth were you this morning, Mini?”
“I’m glad to see that your back, or the garage, isn’t the only place to get a Goo-Tube:”
“Here’s a video of Tux, Marbles, and me joining Nikita in this after-breakfast treat (more after video):”
“How did I do, Francis?”
You did great, Smudge—good job! 🐴
The indignities keep coming 🐴
“Good morning! Hey, don’t take a picture of me stretching! It’s embarrassing!”
Don’t talk to me about embarrassment, Greg. I’ve been reduced to serving as a cat-shuttle, and now, I’m serving tea!
“I feel for you, Francis. In a few months, I’ll be hauled off the the vet for my summer shave.”
“Talk about feeling undignified:”
I don’t know, Buttons. I think you look like a lioness! 🐴
Betty shows you around 😺
“Good morning!”
“Just let me get off this car, and I’ll go tell Francis you’re here.”
“I see Chief Onslow is testing the duck water.”
“Oh, Juno! Don’t teach little Tux to eat the ducks’ mealworms!”
And I see Patches and Luna are helping Ann look for litter in the front pasture."
“Good morning, Francis and Smudge. Here are our blog friends!”
Good morning, everyone! I would have some news for you, but Betty has already showed you! 🐴
Goo-Tube video in the cat garage 😺
Good morning! It’s 60 degrees at 11:40 😺!
I’m helping RC clean up. . .
And the chickens are doing the same for the cats:
Of course, nobody asked them 😾 or me 🐴.
Finally, let’s have a Goo-Tube!
Yummy-yum! 😺
Dog days are fun days (and a leftover Valentine’s Day video)!
Good morning! Sophie is with us. . .
So is Anya (at right). . .
And the rest of our doggie family:
(Except our Dukie ❤️, who only visits with Ann ❤️)
Finally, here’s a little snippet of me. . .
Nuzzling Patches (you decide if it’s real or photo-shopped 😺)!
A video of our Flying Iris! ❤️
“Oh! Is that Valentine treat for me?”
There’s one for all of us, Rose.
Our Mary and Mara are visiting us ❤️, so Rose and Stormy will get ridden, for sure.
As our special Valentine, Mara has brought us all the latest news of Iris!
Here she is, “carbing up” before her riding lesson:
Iris, no matter where or what, is always dressed to the 9’s, and every hair in place! ❤️
Mara and Iris are becoming serious jumpers. Here they are in training:
With every lesson they fly higher! 🐎
Ruth is our food critic 🐔 (2 videos)!
“Good morning! It’s barely noon and already over 50!”
“This iceberg shouldn’t last the day.”
Sounds good, Smudge. There’ll be no problem filling up Ferdinand and Paschal’s water as soon as Onslow gets out:
“This is a great ‘bird blind,’ Francis.” 😺
Finally, here are the ducks, enjoying a waterfall:
And here’s Ruth, sampling this morning’s breakfast:
“It’s delicious! The added mealworms are just the right touch!” 🐔
Mystery Visitor 😺 (2 videos)
Good morning! Smudge and I are ready to eat!
Lay off the hay, Rose. Go eat your grain first!
Oh! Who is this, sauntering up to have breakfast with little Tux?
It’s a new stray. He’s black with white paws, too!
I guess there’s always another can of Little Friskies. . . So, welcome aboard (sigh). 🐴
🎵 🎶 Climb Every ME! 🎶 🎵 (video)
Good morning! It’s a good day to melt some ice!
“I love these snug little houses! I spent all last night here.”
They do look cozy, Marbles. Thanks again to our Sierra’s ❤️ father.
Oh! I wish my donkey brain could figure out how to link you to Ann’s TikTok, but until I do, here it is—just for you!
Whether horse, donkey, cat, duck, chicken, or cat-cop, we are all lovers of musicals! 😺
Egg mystery 🥚 and a Bart video 🐓!
Good morning! I hope there’s a Goo-Tube in your pocket for my “passenger:”
There were two eggs when the chickens had breakfast. . .
But when they were about to be let out, 10 minutes later, there was only one:
We asked around, but nobody had anything to say:
Anyway, there’s no super loud cock-a-doodle-doo from Bart today:
He’s having a drink! 🐓
Nosey Rosie! 🐎
Good morning! Temperatures in the 40’s are on the way!
Ugh, Rose, that’s the manure cart (in our defense, horse poopies don’t smell bad at all after they dry a little):
Breakfast is ready—those little wisps of hay aren’t worth it:
Oh, now what? You got in Stormy’s stall:
“That’s alright, just put me in her stall.”
You’re a good sport Stormy. 🐴
What a generous gift! 😺
Good morning! It’s all going on in the cat garage!
“Aren’t they the nicest cat houses, Francis? Our Bill’s ❤️ father-in-law made them for us!”
They certainly look cozy, Betty. I’m sure the other cats appreciate them, but, you know, breakfast comes first:
“I love this!”
“What a great place for a cat-nap. We’re so lucky to be surrounded by an extended family of caring people!” 😺
Peek-a-Boo! (and a video) 😺
Good morning! Here’s a picture of us from last night, admiring the sunset as we have our hay:
And who was that peeking out the back door window of the (heated) cat tent?
It’s Marbles!
Back to this morning—Rose is helping me finish my breakfast. . .
Not that I needed the help. 🐴
Speaking of breakfast, let’s watch Smudge and Dot “inhale” a Goo-Tube:
If any gets on me, cats, please lick it up. 🐴
Happy Duck Bath Time (video)! 🦆
Good morning! I’d love to talk, but as you can see, I’m busy serving as a breakfast table for Smudge and Dot:
Paschal says, “Have you ever seen a duck bottom cleaner than this? The weather, at least for today, is warm enough for Ferdinand and me to have a long overdue bath!”
“Ferdie is such a gentleman, he always lets me bathe first.”
The other ducks aren’t left out either:
Here they are in action!
Splish-splash! Let those feathers fly! 🦆
I take kitties for a ride (video) 🐴
“Good morning! You weren’t expecting me, were you? I’m sorry if the camera didn’t catch me looking as happy as I actually am to see YOU!”
“Being able to greet you made breakfast extra delicious!”
Thanks, Eva! Here’s a musical video of me giving the cats a ride:
Ann made it for her always-wholesome TikTok. I’m the star of most of her TikToks, BTW. ❤️
Borzois and goldfish 🐴
Last night we were visited by Sophie and Anya. Sophie was dozing off:
And Tyrus and Greg are making sure Anya stays out of trouble:
Mary is on her way back from vacation, so they’ll be returning home to Mason City with her today.
Anyway, good morning! Seeing you lights me up!
Dot is having a drink:
And Security Chief Onslow is inventoring the goldfish:
“All goldfish present and accounted for!”
“May as well have a drink while I’m here.” 😺
Kitties on patrol 😺
Patches and I wish you a good morning!
Dot and Smudge are supervising the refilling of our water (the 2 goldfish are doing fine):
The indoor cats have their duties, too. Greg always patrols the front window:
He makes sure only “authorized vehicles” park in the driveway. 😺
Rushing the season ❤️ and eating the mouse 🐭!
Good morning! I know it’s still a while until Valentine’s day, but we’re getting some love right now:
Here’s one for you, Stormy:
We already have Rose’s attention—she can smell the peppermint ten feet away:
What perky ears you have, RC:
Oh my, it looks like Patches is inviting that mouse to see his insides:
And it’s warm enough to release the chickens:
Today it should get close to 30℉. 🐔
Cats “making biscuits” (2 videos) 😺
Good morning! If you watch carefully at the beginning of this first video, you should notice Dot finishing up my back massage:
Cats moving their paws up and down like that is called “making bread” or “making biscuits.” They did that when they were babies to induce the mother cat to produce milk.
They never outgrow it, and sometimes they’ll do it when they hop up on your lap. But our Greg does it on his blanket:
Boy, Greg—I wish you were an outdoor cat, because a massage like that would loosen my back right up! 🐴