FRANCIS'S BLOG 05/23/2026
Oh my! The new chicks aren’t the only babies around here! 🐴
Good morning! Happy Friday!
The chicks have the run of the coop and are fluttering up on everything:
Finally, Eva, the one cat the cat-cops can’t catch, has blessed us again:
This isn’t the best picture, because it was taken from a video, but you get the point:
Two baby kitties (at least. . .we’ll let you know if we see more)! 😺😺
Kitty capers 😺!
“Good morning! Tux and I are just waking up.”
Good job, Marbles. I’m getting a brushing before I head out:
Dad (we’ve decided to call him Dad because he looks like Tux) is still playing “scaredy-cat:”
“Don’t go away without letting us say ‘Good morning,’ too!”
Nice to hear from you, Greg, Tiger and Tyrus—or should I call you the “Bathoom brigade?” 🙀
It’s chilly on the chicks 🐥
Good morning! I have a blue sky, just for you!
Now guys, you can tell very well that bag is empty:
“We know, we just like the smell.”
If you say so. . .
Anyway, it’s only if the 50’s right now, so the chicks are huddled under the heat lamp. At close to two weeks old, they need to be kept at a cozy 85-90℉:
However, fresh food and water brings them over to eat, drink and socialize:
Then it’s right back to the “tropic zone:”
It will be 90 degrees everywhere in a couple of months, chicks—I can wait! 🐴
The cats had an enormous guest for breakfast (video) 🙀
Good morning! More rain, more mud; but the sun is shining, you’re here, and the grass is green:
“All the brushing I’ve been getting is bringing out my palimino color.”
“That’s nice, RC. I’ve been getting brushed, too, and my red roan ‘freckles’ are popping.”
“You and RC are both looking extra fancy, Rose. . .”
“But I want to watch the video of this supposedly enormous breakfast guest.” 🐎
I’m with you, Stormy. 🐴
Wow, mamma (we think) raccoon is twice as big as Tux! 🐴
Mini checks out the “buffet” (video) 😺
Good morning! It poured all night:
“Good morning, Francis and everyone. Patches and I are watching the swallows.”
“Don’t try to catch one, Tux. You’ll fall off the pole.”
Anyway, kitties, I have some pretty chick pictures the cat-cops have told me to show our friends, and a video, too. 🐴
Apparently, the chicks like clover and clover blossoms along with their store-bought food:
Above we have a buff orpington and a silver-laced wyandotte—and below we have a Rhode Island red:
And here’s one of the Barred rocks:
Finally. . .
Here’s a video of Mini checking them out:
Keep those paws outside the bars, Mini. 😺
A bird’s eye view of birds (🐣 video)
Good morning! Oh, great!—more “buzzards.” I hear Ann bought 15 chicks, Onslow. How do they look?
“Delicious!—I mean, ‘cute.’”
“Anyway, Francis, we apparently are now the proud owners of the following breeds:” 
“*Silver-laced wyandotte, *Rhode Island red, *Buff orpington, and *Barred rock.”
“Let’s watch the little ‘chicken nuggets’ in action:”
“They’ll be running around the yard as soon as they’re too big to eat!” 😾
Break out the spray 🐴 (and a creek and raccoon video)!
Good morning! It’s that time of the year again. . .
Time to get fly-sprayed:
I see Betty’s doing what cats do best:
Here’s a video of the creek “blockage” that we talked about yesterday. I’ll get the cat-cops to see if they can set up the trail cam. If we’re lucky, it might catch who’s responsible:
Finally, it looks like the cats are having company for breakfast:
🦝
Raccoons may not be the only critters around here 🙀
Good morning!
On a sad note, that poor raccoon we’ve been telling you about went peacefully to Raccoon Heaven 😿😿😿:
So sad, but at least it had one of our cat boxes for a bed. 😿
Speaking of raccoons, we have a very healthy one helping itself to cat food:
The cat food in question was what Buttons was eating:
“I’m glad the weather’s a little warmer today, Francis. On some mornings this haircut leaves me a little chilly.” 😾
And we’re not sure if these sticks are natural debris. . .
Or maybe the work of a beaver or a muskrat?
If we find out, you’ll be the first to know! 🐴
Some people will eat anything 🐴 (2 videos)!
Good morning! It’s a lovely day:
Mini is eating what’s left of my breakfast (I’m not surprised—I’ve seen cats eat chicken feed and mealworms):
And this chicken is not only pecking at a fresh green pile of Stormy poopies, she’s laying on it:
“Goodness, gracious hen! It’s still too fresh to have bugs in it—all you're getting is a beak full of wet manure. You’re old enough to know better. Come out here with me and scratch through this dry stuff—it’s full of bug larvae!”
You tell her, Tom Turken! 🐓
Now’s the time to get in line! 🐎
Good morning! Let’s start off with a quick video of me having breakfast. It’s nothing earth-shattering, but I just want to show you I’m doing well (my apologies for smacking my lips):
Hey, get out of Stormy’s stall and get in line:
Ann is giving us all a good brushing ❤️:
Hmm, it looks like Luna is joining “Patches on the poopies” today:
And Eva is joining her boys Tux and Marbles for Goo-Tubes:
Unless we miss our guess, Eva will be showing them some new siblings soon! 🙀
Turbulent Tuesday 🐴
Good morning! Even with my neck caught in the bars, and my right ear cut off. . .
Seeing YOU will still make me smile!
Oh course, I’m kidding. Anyway, as my post title suggests, it’s a windy day. . .
It’s also a “Patches on the poopies” day. 😺
”Oh my! This wind is about to blow my tail feathers up around my ears!”
I think you’re exaggerating, Martha. But it’s nice to hear from you. ❤️
Let’s spend some time with Willow in Mason City (video 😺), and a raccoon update 🦝.
I spy, with my fawn-like little eye—YOU! Good morning! May has been on the chilly side so far 😾.
The stable is full of swallow chatter:
Oh, goodness 😿, the cat-cops wish they could do something about the ailing, wounded raccoon I’ve told you about the past two days. It’s been in the cat cozy, the little plastic coop—and today it’s in the red cat house:
We think, in addition to your torn ear, you also have a broken leg 😿.
It would help if you didn’t move overnight. We’re trying our darnedest to find a way to trap you, then either help you or have the vet humanely send you to “Raccoon Heaven.”
Anyway, let’s cheer up by watching this video of our Mary walking Willow on a leash. . .
For a cat to be behave so well on a leash is extraordinary! 😺
Be careful, Mini 🙀 (and a chicken video)
Good morning! Stormy believes in “waste not, want not.” He’s scrounging for a blade of grass when he knows the front pasture is open:
Mini, sunbathing in the hoof path is not a good idea:
Taking a catnap is a worse idea:
You look like you’ve already been stepped on. 😿
I’m sorry it’s a slow news day. I know you’ve seen a “Release the hens!” video before. But in this one, we have Bart doing a cock-a-doodle-doo before he makes his appearance:
“If you were as handsome as I am, you’d crow too!” 🐓
A rite of spring for Buttons 🐴
Good morning! It looks like a nice day. “Management,” will let me out if I promise not to eat too much (pinky-hoof swear):
Betty is having a pre-breakfast “appetizer:”
With warm weather on the way, Buttons got her annual “shave and shots” at the vet. In case you forgot, over the winter her extra fluffy fur gets nasty clumps and mats that just can’t be combed out 😿:
Nobody likes going to the vet to get shot, but vaccinations are of course a requirement at the farm. Case in point:
At first we thought it was only wounded, but now we’re pretty sure this poor raccoon we told you of yesterday is also very sick with distemper. 😿
The prodigal cat 😺, and a surprise “convalescent!” 🙀!
Good morning! Oh, woe is me, I’m on lockdown because my ankles started hurting again—so no pasture grass for me today:
Well, hello stranger! Juno, you had us so worried! We haven’t seen you since April 11th—almost a month 😿!
Why, oh why, do you cats (especially those who were BORN here) run off and leave us so sad? You know the cat food here is plentiful and lip-licking good!
Finally, while we’re not too fond of raccoons around here, we found this sad little vermin this morning:
It’s been beat up very badly by something, and its ear is torn. You’re so pitiful, little raccoon, the cat-cops can’t bring themselves to kick you out. 🦝
Indoor kitty update 😺
“Good morning! I’m happy to greet you this morning, but I’m having a little trouble thinking of anything to show you.”
How about showing our friends what those silly indoor cats are up to, Stormy?
“Good idea, Francis. Here’s Greg, watching the news:”
“Tyrus was planning to shred this packing paper into a million little pieces, but the cat-cops stopped him:” 
“And Tiger was about to do the same thing to this bag. . .”
“But the cat-cops stopped him, too. 😾”
Snuggle buddies in Mason City (video)! ❤️
Good morning! I’m out of the gate first and headed for the front pasture:
“Good morning, Francis and everyone! I’m feeling more like a member of the family, as today I’m staring into the tack room window, trying to hurry up breakfast:”
“Luna and I can tell you, ‘Tux’s Dad,’ from years of studying cat-cop behavior, if you don’t run from them, they’ll fall in love with you.”
“You’re right about that, RC (but they’ll also take you to the vet).” 😺
If you recall in this YouTube, from back in May 22, 2025, our Mary’s Anya and Willow didn’t get off to a good start:
Well, now they are lovey-dovey ❤️:
How sweet! ❤️
Oh that Rose! (video 🐎)
Good morning!
I don’t know if Tiger can breathe under you, Tyrus:
Anyway, here’s a video of Rose, telling “management,” in her own “Rosie” way, that breakfast is late:
Lucky for you, Rose, the fence isn’t plugged in. 🙀
There’s all kinds of news to tell you today! 😺
Good morning! Don’t I have a nice smile for you? I’m the only one who’s where they should be right now. Everybody else got “befuddled. . .”
Stormy got in Rose’s stall. . .
So, Rose got in Stormy’s stall. . .
And RC got in his old stall, which we don’t use anymore because the door frame sticks up, which is a trip hazard. . .
The cat-cop got forgetful and opened it by accident. 😾
Anyway, good old Farmer Rich emptied our manure cart:
I’m pretty sure this bird had already gone to Blackbird Heaven before a cat drug it into the garage:
Finally, what are you looking at, Luna?
“I’m not sure, it’s too dark; but I might be looking at Eva’s latest litter.”
I think that’s a good guess, Luna:
Her “baby bottles” look like they may have had “customers.” 😺
Betty has something to show you 😺
“Good morning! What lovely flowers we have in this planter!”
Yes, Betty, they’re almost as lovely as you.
Anyway, I can’t eat until Stormy, Rose and RC come in:
Watch out, Patches, don’t get run over! Rose and Stormy are starting to stampede!
Finally, they're in. . . 🐎
Let’s eat! 🐴
Security Chief Onslow on patrol! 😺
Good morning! As usual, I’m cleaning up RC’s “sprinkles” with Stormy (or Rose, depending who gets there first):
Don’t ask me how you got over the fence, Frizzle—ask your wings:
Speaking of chickens, they’ve been making a nesting box out of our hay cart:
Anyway, down by the creek, the recent storm blew a branch on the fence:
Never fear, Chief Onslow has assessed the damage, and reported it to the cat-cops:
The DHS (Department of Horsefarm Security) never sleeps! 😺
We are nature’s lawn mowers (2 videos) 🐴
Good morning! Yesterday I told you I was feeling better and no longer confined to the run. Well, last night I discovered I still have to spend the night’s here, so I don’t do any midnight snacking:
But it’s no big deal, I’m let right out after breakfast. . .and have a scratch:
And a minute later, I’m back out on the grass:
Note how short we keep the grass. Who needs a lawnmower? 🐎