FRANCIS'S BLOG 04/21/2026
Silly horses and wet dogs 🐴
No matter how carefully our masks are put on, Chezzie can be counted on to make an “adjustment:”
It’s not a very good look, Chavez:
Oh, and Calla and Phoenix are still visiting:
Yesterday, they had a pool party! 🐺
Dog days 🐺
Good morning. Mary and Mara are taking care of us today:
So that means our friends Sophie, Nixie, and Calla are here, too!
Here’s Sophie and Iris, having a discussion:
They can’t agree on who is the prettiest! 🐎
Ready to take flight! 🐦
It’s a carrot morning!
The chicks are telling each other, “Ready! Set! . . .
Go!”
And here we have two juvenile swallows:
The one on the right flew out of the stable, just after posing for this picture! 🐴
Good weather for a slow news day 🐎
Any day in the 60’s is a good day!
Dukie is always happy to be here. . .
And we are always happy to have her! 🐎
Finally, here’s a video you might not have seen:
🐴
Giant blossoms 😺
I’ll be with you in a moment. I’m having a little trouble waking up:
Betty is in the weeds, waiting for sparrows:
And so is Onslow:
Schroeder is guarding the clean fly masks:
And look at the this squash blossom:
It’s a foot across. It looks like a starfish, doesn’t it? ⭐️
Finally, some rain! 🐴
Good morning. I’m watching a downpour:
There’s water everywhere:
We’ll be sloshing our way out to the far pasture:
The ducks are loving the full pools of water, and the worms that are coming to the surface:
But the chicks are a little scared by the thunder:
We’ll agree with the chicks for now, and stay in:
But we won’t stay in long:
No doubt, all this rain is making the grass grow! 🐎
When the gate is open, the donkey will eat! 🐴
Good morning, everyone. Hello! What’s this I see?
Someone’s left the gate open, Dukie!
Time for some grass. . .
And I didn’t have to go out to the far pasture:
The advantage of being a donkey is that no one worries about you running away. 🐴
Let’s watch a chick flick! 🐔
Iris says, “Good morning! How do you like my silver mask?”
Onslow is enjoying some cool water, freshly poured for the ducks and chickens:
The chicks are heading out!
Speaking of chicks, let’s watch them (and a few of the faverolles) go after the wax worms!
🐔
Movie time! 😺
Buttons' hair is growing back, slowly but surely:
It’s cooler today, but nobody wants to leave to leave the stable:
Let’s watch a movie from Rome, of a nun picking fruit:
🐎
Oh no, another hot day 😾
It’s supposed to be 97 this afternoon. I am in the shade now, and staying here:
Somebody stuck there big nose through the gate and pulled my and Stormy’s masks out on the dirt:
Signs point to you, Jewel:
The wyandottes’ feathers are dazzling in the sun:
Ann set up the white fence just this morning, so they’ll have more room to explore:
Although on a day like today. . .
I think everyone will stay in the shade. 🐥
Wandering chicks! 🐥
The hot weather is back, and the chicks are up in the cool grass, and exploring the fence:
One of the chicks has escaped! Luckily, the cats couldn't care less:
Time to go back home, Martha:
Finally, can you find me?
I’m up on the papal altar in St. Peter’s Basilica. Under this altar is buried St. Peter himself! People aren’t allowed up here, but I was:
There is no papal bull (google it) that said a donkey couldn’t be here. 🐴
55 degree Sunday 😺
Betty has a peaceful drink before the poultry are released:
Misty says, “Good morning!”
And here I am at the Vatican, before the palatial St. Peter’s Basilica:
More pictures to come! 😺
Nice weather for a horse crime! 🐴
Onslow and Betty are frolicking in the cooler, less humid air:
Somebody mangled the handle of this broom, and just look at my poor feed dish! Somebody’s hooves are responsible!
The fence that the chicks perch on fell down last night. Glad nobody was caught under it:
And here’s another picture of the Trevi Fountain:
Can you find me?
I’m having a drink! 🐴
Fresh-mask Friday 🐎
You know by now there’s nothing like a just-washed, sweet-smelling mask to lift my spirits:
Don’t my legs look a fright?
They’re covered in fly-repellent cream. I’m surprised how much I like it. I normally try to run off when my legs get sprayed. But when the cat-cops put on the cream, they give my legs a nice massage:
We’re ashamed that it’s the middle of June and we haven’t checked in on the swallows:
But don’t worry, the babies are on the way as usual! 🐦
The chicks are venturing out 🐥
The chicks have really grown in the week I was in Italy. They’ve learned to hop up and enjoy all the grass and bugs near the gate:
They are also too big for the cats to bother; but Onslow loves to hang out in their pen and watch for sparrows:
And here I am at the Galleria dell'Accademia di Firenze (the Gallery of the Academy of Florence), admiring the magnificent statue of David by Michelangelo:
What a handsome giant! 🐴
Florence was only an hour from Rome by high-speed train:
It goes 186 miles per hour! 🐎
I’m back from Italy! 🐴
I come back from Rome, and the first thing I see is an amazing giant rooster!
Don’t I look svelte? I got my hair cut by Mary and Mara just before my trip:
I saw so many things; I’m still trying to organize all my pictures. Here I am in front of the legendary Trevi Fountain:
You might have to look hard to see me. It was very crowded! 🐴
I’ll be back, Wednesday, June 15 🐴
I’m going to Italy!
I promise to share all my pictures with you when I get back! 🐴
Poor swallow 😿
Stormy says, “Good morning!”
“Pardon me while I help Chavez finish his breakfast:”
Where am I? Why, I’m on my way out to the far pasture. Grass, here I come!
Iris and Misty are hanging around the stable as if they’re expecting dessert:
Finally—Oh my! What’s this by the stable?
Poor swallow!
Do you know what happened to this swallow, Buttons? 🐴 “No, ask Onslow.” 😺
Onslow, did you do anything to that bird? 🐴
“No, nothing you can prove.” 😺
Freedom! 🐥 🐴
The chicks got to spend their first night out of their pen:
They can even spend time outside (under cat-cop supervision). They are very good about going back inside when asked:
And why am I so happy?
I’m out of my confinement! By this time of year, the grass is lower in sugar and starch and it should be safe for me to eat:
Here I am with Jewel, waiting to don my fly mask. . .
And head out to the far pasture! 🐴
Horses have long noses 🐎
Good morning!
Doesn’t Evil Cat look cool in the grass?
Dukie is here, of course!
The chicks are loose:
And Rose wants a kiss!
Smooch! 🐴
Giant piles of sawdust 🙀
“Good morning! Join me in a carrot?”
Stormy’s done with breakfast, and ready to “hit” the far pasture:
For the summer, we have pretty flowers:
But we have pretty kitties for the whole year!
We now have two big piles of wood chips. The pile in the background was from the old tree we cut down last week. Buttons is on the pile made by grinding down the stump:
We have the happiest termites in Geneseo! 🐴