FRANCIS'S BLOG 04/18/2026
Today will be a Groundhog (and squirrel) Day! 😺
I guess there’s nothing special about me getting a carrot:
And Iris, you getting a carrot is getting old, too (although we always like to see you):
And everybody knows that Missy jumps the fence:
So let’s look at the wildlife in East Moline!
Here’s a woodchuck, and a squirrel that buries one peanut then runs off with another!
Oh good!—30 seconds more groundhog:
Remember the old ditty, “How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?” 🐴
Two little movies on a hot morning! 😺
Good morning! Betty is having a drink of just-poured water:
And here’s a movie of Onslow, watching his pool fill up:
Now for a movie of me, fussing until I get my morning carrot!
As I said, it’s very hot today, and the flies are out in force. But at least we have freshly-washed masks:
I don’t think this is my usual mask—it feels a little big:
But any mask that keeps the flies off is a good mask. 🐴
We have haze from Canadian wildfires 🙀
The bag of sawdust in the chicks’ coop is popular with the grown-ups:
And this olive-egger is eating a baby bat (that the cats had sent to Baby-bat Heaven):
What a fowl deed! 🐔
I’m back! 🐴
While I was gone, Rose won a Blue and other ribbons at a horse show!
And, of course, so did Iris!
And as for me, I picked up a little friend:
You better stay on my back, baby swallow, until I can get a cat-cop to put you back in your nest. 🐴
I’ll be back next Tuesday 🐴
I’m going to Maryland for the weekend:
I will miss you while I’m gone! ❤️
Here’s a movie! 🐴
Oh no! It was a slow news day yesterday, but it’s even slower today! I hope you can always enjoy me eating a carrot—I know I always enjoy me eating a carrot!
The only other thing we have today is an egg laid where it shouldn’t be:
I hope we can make up for it with a movie:
We’ll try to do better! 🐴
Slow news Tuesday 😺
I’ve already had breakfast, but this spread for Iris and Rose is making me hungry again:
Well, hello, Red. Make sure you get something to eat, too:
And here we have two chicks on the fence and one chick on the outside:
They are picking up bad habits from Missy:
Maybe she can show them how to jump back in. 🐔
Bath time! 🐴
Another fence-jumper is joining Missy this morning:
She’s in the barn, while Missy heads to the stable:
Speaking of the barn, under it is a great place for swallows:
Finally, what’s fresher than this wild chicory blossom?
Me! After the bath I got last night!
Good job, Mary and Mara. ❤️
A raccoon movie! 🦝
Indira says, “Good morning! I’m fluffing out my feathers and keeping cool!”
This olive-egger apparently wants this Wyandotte’s nesting spot:
It’s the same over here:
But they’re patient, like all good chickens, and will wait their turn. 🐔
Anyway, here’s a special video, of a mother raccoon bringing her two babies to breakfast in East Moline:
Cute! But NEVER go near raccoons—they are wild animals and bite! 🦝
Horse show Saturday 🐎
This sparrow is nesting in an old swallow nest:
What’s good for the swallow is good for the sparrow!
Misty is keeping Rose company in the front pasture today:
Iris and Jewel are on their way to a show!
Let’s watch a sped-up video of Mary and Mara loading them in the trailer:
Away they go! Good luck girls—all 4 of you! 🐴
Farrier day 🐎
Good morning. I’m wearing my halter, in case Travis needs to do my hooves (he doesn’t):
As you know, it’s a day for patience:
We’d rather not be standing still:
But it’s worth it, because we always feel better with just-trimmed hooves. 🐴
A visit from Red 😺
Well, good morning! Nice to see you!
Red (left) is “chillin’” with Buttons after breakfast:
Here’s our Martha, laying her egg in a bucket:
And somebody laid an egg on the floor. Okay, who was it?
Looks like nobody’s “‘fessing up.” 😺
Hot weather is back 😾
Iris says, “Good morning!”
I’m getting sprayed:
And Dukie’s here!
She’s always happy to be here; and we’re always happy to see her. 🐴
Oh my! Bank robbers! 🐎
Poor Schrödinger got a gnat in his eye, just as he was saying Good morning:
But he’s ok now:
He can have some of our bug spray, but luckily he has no use for our carrots:
This looks like two robbers threatening an old-time teller’s window:
But it’s just Chezzie and RC (You knew that, didn’t you?). 🐎
Colorful creature! 🐛
Buttons says, “Good morning! Time for an after-breakfast nap!”
It’s a clean-mask Monday! I’m feeling springtime-fresh. . .
So is Jewel. . .
And Iris and Rose’s masks are especially bright!
Speaking of bright—look at this caterpillar!
What kind of moth will you become? 🐛
Guess who’s saying good morning today? 🐴
We had some needed rain, but it has let up now:
The swallows can use the new mud for their nests:
Since the rain is keeping the bugs down, we’ll get our masks washed! Onslow says, “What a nice, dry place to lie down!”
And the bat with the bright eyes says “Good morning!”
“We’ve been up all night, eating mosquitoes. Now we’re going to bed!” 🦇
Get the spray! 🐴
The swallows are winging:
Our garden is growing:
So are our apples (I will love those)!
The sun is barely up and those nasty flies are on me, but I’m about to be sprayed, thank goodness:
I wish I wasn’t such a sloppy eater, but horses and donkeys just can’t help it:
I’d be happy to spend all day being fed carrots, one by one:
Then the stable would be as neat as a pin (except for poopies)! 🐴
Oh that Dukie dog! 🐴
Let’s watch a video of me and my noisy friend, Dukie:
She’s barks and barks, but we love her, still! ❤️
Other than that, the swallows are all on their many nests:
Just thinking about them makes Onslow lick his lips:
Watch where you fly, swallows! Kitties can jump very high! 😺
Alopecia, on a chicken? 🐔
Iris says, “Good morning, and thank you for the carrot! Please offer Rose one, too.”
Rose says, “Don’t worry, Iris—they did!”
And one of our olive-eggers is missing some back-feathers:
We don’t think she was pecked by someone. We think she’s molting. 🐔
Help from friends is priceless! 🐴
Onslow says, “Good morning! I’d love to talk, but I think I see a mouse!”
Petra says, “Good morning! I’d love to talk, but I’m trying to concentrate on laying an egg.”
I can always talk, and right now, Missy is photo-bombing me having a carrot:
That’s ok, of course. She’s just passing by, looking for a place to lay her egg:
And here’s our friend Officer Mike, helping us in his spare time by whacking weeds:
Thank you, Mike! 🐴
A colorful Rose! 🌹
Rose says, “Good morning. I’m afraid a picture of me is all we have today; but I do have a big smile just for you!” 🐎
I would say a picture of Rose in a pink mask with green lips (from alfalfa pellets) is enough. 🐴
Hen-pecked! 🐔
Betty says, “Good morning! It’s cooler today and I’m lapping just-poured water!”
I’m still waiting for my “spring shave,” but it helps that I got a brushing:
Every little bit of hair taken off of me, helps me stay a bit cooler:
Finally, let’s watch a chick give Ann a haircut:
Just a little off the top, please! 🐥
Friendly Fowl! 🐔
This is why the cat-cops always look and honk the horn before backing up:
Go find shade somewhere else, Pascal. 🦆
Missy jumped over the fence, then up on Uncle Bud’s arm:
What a friendly hen!
Here’s a little video clip of the fun:
She was a good girl, and hopped right back over the fence with the other chickens! 🐔
The chicks are not fans of fans! 🐥
Good morning. I don’t mean to be picky, but that’s a pretty puny carrot:
But, I’ll eat it, if you insist! 🐴
Anyway, it’s been so hot that the cat-cops put a fan in each coop:
The big chickens got used to them quickly:
But the poor chicks keep getting scared by the noise:
Poor chicks! Try to be brave, like the big birds! 🐔
Horse high jinks 🐎 and fowl deeds! 🐔
Iris says, “Good morning!” Rose says, “We’re ready for breakfast!”
It’s only 8 o’clock and it’s already time to get in the shade:
Stormy and RC were planning to stay in the run (but they’re about to be kicked out):
In “chicken land,” just look at the crater they have dug:
And this buzzard is digging under the fence:
Buttons says, “Goodness, this picture makes me look very serious:”
“But I’m a contented cat.” 😺
I don’t understand chickens 🐴 (But we have a movie!)
Good morning! It’s going to be another scorcher!
This is not the clearest picture because it’s from a security camera, but the blue things are the three “shade stations” put up for the chickens:
And look what the chicks do:
Well, if they’re going to be stupid and stay there, management tried to give them a little more shade, and put out their water bottle:
Anyway, let’s watch a movie of some geese crossing the street between the Farm-and-Fleet and Menards:
Geese and ducks cross the street when they darn-well please! 🐴