FRANCIS'S BLOG 04/23/2026

Stormy 🐎 has a complaint about Ukie. 🐺

“Either get this dog off my door or shut her up!"

May 31, 2015 at 11:06 AM

Jump, kitty, jump! 🐴

Schrödinger prepares to make a leap. 😺Leap of faith is more like it. 😿

May 30, 2015 at 11:41 AM

This morning started out as quite pleasant.Cat-breakfast was especially nice because they had a fresh, newly opened bag of Kit and Kaboodle.Little did they suspect that since our Mary is interning with a vet (our usual vet, btw), as the final part of her schooling, her first assignment was to pick ‘em off one by one for worming and vaccinations!

“Hey Kanna, guess what?”

“You’re next!"

May 29, 2015 at 11:13 AM

Baby swallows on the way!

May 28, 2015 at 12:11 PM

Well, here’s a new reason why we had to be on lock-down this morning:

Since the ducklings imprinted on the cat cops, they followed them into the stable during breakfast.

We were locked in until they were led out, lest our hooves “imprint” on them. 🐴

May 27, 2015 at 1:22 PM

It’s dumping rain on us—again. 😿

The ducklings inspect their roof.It’s bowing from the rain, but it will hold (we hope). 🐴

May 26, 2015 at 12:18 PM

It’s about time I got a spa treatment! 🐴

Although at first I wasn’t too keen on it, and threw all four legs into reverse when the clippers started buzzing:But Mara and Mary assured me everything would be alright:The sparrow nests will be reupholstered tonight with Francis hair!Here I am after my fragrant shampoo, looking and feeling cool!

May 25, 2015 at 12:05 PM

Today (Sunday) it is dumping rain on us, so we’re grateful we had our fun yesterday. 🐴

No, this is not the Marlboro Man. This is farmer Rich riding Chavez and using a cell phone at the same time (there is no law against distracted horsing):And Jordyn and Logan stopped by to have fun with the ducklings:

May 24, 2015 at 12:00 PM

Stormy graduated on Friday! 🐎

Here is our handsome, Summa Cum Laude graduate from Black Hawk.

He has earned two Associate of Applied Science degrees—

—one in Equestrian Science, and one in Horse Science Technology.

Stormy admits, “They are really Mary’s degrees, but she couldn’t have done it without me!”

May 23, 2015 at 11:23 AM

Horse Hideaway 🐎

The horses go under the hay barn to get out of the sun:

May 22, 2015 at 12:23 PM

Summer cat jobs and manure management 🐴

Since the ducklings are now big enough to easily hop in and out of the pool, Schroeder is employed to keep them contained while their outside pen gets food and water:And our good friend Farmer Rich has fixed the poopie spreader. We are so grateful to have it back:

May 21, 2015 at 12:06 PM

It’s that time of year again 🐴

Yesterday and today were cold and nasty, but Sunday and Monday were warm and fly-worthy.*

Here’s Henry modeling one of the nice new masks we all got this season.

Each afternoon, Houdini Stormy mysteriously “lost” his mask.

Schrödinger found it.

Don’t make us laugh! 🐎

May 20, 2015 at 12:10 PM

So how are the ducklings doing? 🐴

Until the chickens' permanent home gets finished, and the ducklings can move in with the ducks (provided they outgrow Percy so he’ll leave them alone), they have a temporary gazebo where they now spend the whole day outside:Since this cage is not raccoon-proof, they still must spend their nights in the garage:But our Maytag is so happy it only has to digest duck poopies once a day. 🐴

May 19, 2015 at 12:01 PM

As the kitties say, “It's May, so there’s a lot to swallow.” 😺

The stable and hay barn are full of swallows.

Why are these nest builders in a twittering dither?*

Maybe it’s Schroeder inspecting the new nests.*

It’s like these birds haven’t seen a cat before.

May 18, 2015 at 12:03 PM

Nice Sunday 🐎

Stormy is happy to be back with his mother once again.

May 17, 2015 at 12:04 PM

Mary’s with us this morning 💛

So Iris gets a ride. . .

. . .and Stormy does, too! 🐎

May 16, 2015 at 12:27 PM

Stormy’s getting used to being home 🐎

Iris is keeping him company in the front pasture.He’ll get together with the whole herd on Saturday.

May 15, 2015 at 12:04 PM

Here’s Schrödinger hunting for barn swallows. How’s it going, Schroeder? 🐴

“THANKS FOR BLOWING MY COVER, FRANCIS!"

May 14, 2015 at 12:16 PM

Stormy is happy to be home 🐎

Stormy came home from Black Hawk College. Here he is, kicking up his heels (and almost running over me twice 🐴).

May 13, 2015 at 12:43 PM

The DHS never sleeps—but it has blind spots. 😿

We already have two cameras on the ducklings.

But we may need a third, because this morning the ornery little buzzards hopped out of their pool, and out of range of both cameras! We might have had a raccoon-scare! 😿

May 12, 2015 at 12:46 PM

Here’s the video from Saturday’s ride! 🐎

Granted, it’s pretty long—but worth watching for all the slick horse maneuvers:

May 11, 2015 at 1:29 PM

Henry, Iris, Chavez and Charlie were ridden on Saturday 🐎

Here’s Grace riding Henry in his green ankle supports.

Chavez is being ridden by Monica. And there’s Mary in the background, giving advice to Lauren (Charlie is apparently complicated). 🐴

Here’s of course our Mara at the helm of Iris.

L’Orange, Paschal and Pooter take in the show.

Our new friend Kevin occupies Schroeder and the ducklings.

Here we are in line for our after-workout bath.

Henry and Grace got along great! 🐎

May 10, 2015 at 12:13 PM

Here’s a short video of our workout on Thursday. 🐎

May 9, 2015 at 12:04 PM

We’re glad our good friend Mara has good friends herself! 🐎

Here are five horses getting groomed at once! 🐎

Misty is sporting a lovely tail braid. 🐎

Here we are in the riding circle. 🐎

Those of us outside the ring got to graze. 🐎

Thursday was a great day! 🐎

May 8, 2015 at 12:04 PM

Duck domestic dispute 🐴

We saw yesterday how the big ducks went after the little ones. Ferdinand is being good, now that he’s used to them. Daisy was never really a problem since she’s their mommy. But our Percy still wants to peck them, so we put a fence up—which Percy does not like either.