FRANCIS'S BLOG 02/02/2026
We need “weed relief!” 🐴
Good morning. . .
Excuse me, but I just have to scratch my neck:
Hey Patches, you and Luna need to finish Betty’s leftovers and hop off the tractor. The repair guys are coming to pick it up:
We can hardly wait to get it fixed. . .
It’s the only thing that can mow these weeds! 🐎
It must be nice. . . 🐴
Good morning. It’s hot. It’s enough to make your ears droop:
All joking aside, here are some chickens that better NOT cross the road!
“I wish I were an indoor cat.”
On days like this I wish were an indoor donkey, Betty. . .
But I’d need a bigger couch. 🐴
Dot makes a discovery 🙀, and more from Iris 🐎!
Good morning! It’s a good day to eat in front of the fan:
What do you have there, Dot?
OH MY!
Don’t taste it, Dot!
I don’t think moles do very well on top of the ground. 🐴
Finally, Iris has 15 acres of pasture at her new home in Beecher, Illinois.
Here she is walking over to graze with her new friends:
Mara makes sure that Iris wears all her fly protection. ❤️
News from Iris! ❤️ (and a cat video 😺)
“Good morning! You’ve got a nice smile, don’t you, Francis?”
Yes, I do, Buttons. Our fly masks are just coming out of the wash.
I hope I can keep mine clean around all this mud:
And we heard from our Iris! She's getting settled in a new home, so she can be closer to her mommy, Mara:
We’re glad that she and Mara are closer, but we miss them both! ❤️
Finally, here’s a video of Onslow “befuddling” the kittens:
We call what Onslow’s hind legs are doing, the “bunny kick!” 😺
We are so sad. 😿
Our dear Fabio went to Chicken Heaven overnight. We only discovered yesterday that some nasty insect larvae had invaded his body. No one suspected because he seemed his happy self for so long.
You were taken from us too soon, Fabio. You were barely eleven months old. It was no secret that you were the most beautiful of our three roosters, but no one was jealous, because everyone loved you! ❤️
Many unanswered questions! 🙀
Good morning. A storm just blew through. It’s no cooler, no less humid, just muddier:
Why is Eva’s gray baby over by the tack room?
And why are her other two hiding up there?
Why are Dot and Patches eating mealworms?
And to top it off, the coop was open before the cat-cops arrived! The chickens were everywhere!
Well, we don’t expect foul (or “fowl”) play. The left door you see above just wasn’t latched properly, and the storm blew it open overnight. It left everyone muddled and befuddled!
“Not me!” says Rose. “I'm keeping my cool!” 🐎
Security Chief Onslow has another case! 😺
Good morning! It’s hard to believe it’s raining across the river. With any luck rain will come here, and the temperature will stay under 90℉.
“Oh, excuse me, Francis, I’m not quite awake yet.” That’s ok, Betty. We’re glad to see your “summer coat” is coming in:
Stormy is supervising the firing-up of a stable fan (it will be the first of several).
Finally, Department of Horsefarm Security Chief Onslow is fielding a complaint from this Easter-egger (name withheld). She’s outraged that she was locked out of the coop, and had to spend all night outside, where raccoons, weasels, or all kinds of monsters could get her!
“That’s on you, (name withheld)! It was after dark. You weren’t in the coop at bed-check. You can’t expect the cat-cops to spend all night looking for you when they have to get up early and serve me breakfast!” 😾
A walk in the park 🐴
Bart would like to say, “Good morning!” Ok, Bart, let ‘em have it!
Tyrus has a hawk feather that Ann found outside (of course). He’s on his way to tell Greg and Tiger, “Watch out for house hawks!” 
Stormy is sniffing this morning’s harvest of poopies. You won’t catch me doing that!
And look at this beautiful woodland trail. It’s in a park in Mason City:
Our Mary, Sophie and Anya went hiking there yesterday:
Mary says the weather there is just like it is here. . .
Very hot with a little breeze. 🐴
Security Chief Onslow has a case 😺
Good morning. It’s hot (quelle surprise)!
I usually don’t like fly spray, but the evaporation is keeping my feet cool:
Do you have any news for us, Onslow?
“Well, Francis, the ducks reported that a mouse broke-in to the crumbles.” 🐭
“It made a first-degree mess!” 😾
Oh, why is it eighty-two degrees at 7:30 in the morning? 😾
“Oh, Francis, it’s soooo hot!”
I hear you, Patches, but at least there’s a little breeze.
Gee, Greg, I wish I could fit in a cool place, like a bathroom sink:
I also wish I could fit in a tub of water, still cold from the well, like Patrick:
Our water is cold from the well, too. The hens agree:
Finally, Smudge says. . .
“It’s never too hot to catch a sparrow!” 😺
Chicken thieves (video)! 🐔
Good morning! It’s about to rain big time:
Onslow says, “I’ll wait it out with you guys, Francis. Oh, by the way, your masks were washed last night—they smell great!” 
Tyrus says, “BLECH! Don’t drink cat water after a toy has marinated in it all night!”
“Nobody in here but us chickens.”
Speaking of chickens, here are some bonafide chicken thieves:
Security Chief Onslow charged them with “breaking and entering” a feed bag! 😺
We’re scrambled up (and I don’t mean the eggs) 🐴
Good morning. I’m in RC’s stall, where I shouldn’t be:
RC is in Stormy’s stall. . .
So Stormy is in RC’s stall. . .
So I moved to Rose’s stall:
Anyway, come down to breakfast, Luna:
That’s the wrong way, Luna:
🙀
Spooky spider! 🕷
Good morning! Another rainy day. We might not need masks today:
“I’m not taking chances, Francis. Last week I got a swollen eyelid from either a fly or gnat bite!”
Eva’s keeping lookout while her babies eat (we still need to name them):
Luna, Smudge and Patches (clockwise from left) are wondering what the mealworms taste like:
And this spider has just caught a roach:
Thank goodness that horrible thing is only 3/16” long. 🙀
Let’s hear from Tom (video)! 🐓
Goodness, it’s hot this morning, almost 80℉!
Time for a drink:
Oh, a storm blew through last night, and left us with this rainbow:
Finally, I haven’t said, “Good morning!” yet, because Tom would like to do the honors:
You’re sounding good, Tom. Don’t let your neck get sunburned—it’s red enough as it is! 🐓
Wiggly-eared Luna 😺
Good morning! It’s a good day to be fly-sprayed, whether you have feet or hooves:
Onslow and Betty are lapping up the duck water. Water from the well is always nice and cold!
Last night, Eva’s gray baby came out to meet Betty. Now, be nice to him, Betty, he wants to be friends. We know you don’t have much patience with “children.” 😾
That’s it, Betty, just walk away. Don’t make the cat-cops mad, especially at supper time!
And look at all four of Tails’s children—still nursing!
Finally, let’s watch this video of Luna’s ears twitching while she and Patches nurse:
Goodness! SIX white cats with gray spots! 😺
Visiting cats and dogs! 🐴
Good morning! I have a smile for you:
Plus beautiful lillies:
So how about a kiss? ❤️
It looks like another steamy day:
Dot is visiting the coop:
Smudge is visiting the mulberry tree, hoping to “visit” a sparrow:
And Sophie and Anya are still visiting, too!
Anya is having her first cheese stick:
It’s a doggie tradition at the farm house! 🐴
Here’s a dog and pony show! 🐎
Good morning!
Luna says, “I got up here. How do I get down?” (Don’t worry, she did):
Mary, Sophie and Anya are here ❤️!
Rose is helping Anya be good around horses:
Anya, you’re walking so well with Rose:
Finally, look how at ease they both are with each other:
What fun! Good job, both of you! 🐎
Smudge has a video for you! 😺
Good morning! Unlike some people, I’m having a nice breakfast that didn’t involve a murder.
This is the least gruesome picture I can show you (the floor of the cat garage was covered in a lot worse). The cat-cops had to take this out of Onslow’s mouth:
Apparently, rabbit’s feet are not lucky if you’re a rabbit. 🐰
Anyway, let’s lighten-up with this video of Smudge visiting Ferdinand and Paschal:
She got her name from the light gray spot by her nose. 😺
Hot morning 😾, cool Buttons 😺 (2 videos)
“Good morning! I’m glad to visit the farm!”
We’re glad you’re visiting, too, Dukie!
One of our Easter-eggers laid an egg in a new place (a old trash can of vermiculite in the duck garage):
It's the hottest morning this year. Lucky for Buttons, she’s been shaved. . .
She has a little “pom-pom” on her tail, doesn’t she?
Finally, here’s our lastest YouTube video in case you missed it:
It’s not much, but we’ve never seen a kitty do that. 🐴
4 down, 3 to go! 😺
Good morning! Here I am, your favorite mobile utility table:
The horses and I are spending the day in the front pasture (if we can get past the weeds):
Stormy seems to have made it:
Oh, I almost forgot! The cat-cops have finally named all 4 of Tails’s new kittens. You know Patches, but the others are Dot, Luna and Smudge:
I admit you can’t tell them apart now, but as they grow, their different coat patterns should emerge.
Now they just have to name Eva’s litter. 😺
Oh, Rose—YUCK! (and a video)🐴
Good morning! It’s another nice day. I’m having breakfast outside, because it’s a little “aromatic” in the stable.
Rose almost always makes “horse water” before she eats:
You really should do that outside the stable, Rose—or at least outside your stall.
Eva’s babies and Tails’s babies are getting to know each other better:
Everone on the farm is family! ❤️
Speaking of family, where are our swallows?
They've been here as usual. We’ll be sure to show you their babies when they hatch! 😺
Oh those kittens! 😺
Good morning! The weather is as nice as it looks:
Hmm, there’s a blue jay feather in the stable, and I don’t remember when I last saw a blue jay:
“Don’t blame me, Francis.”
I know, Tyrus. Anyway, the future potential suspects are in the old chicken coop:
It looks like quite the playground! 😺
Special guest speaker 🦝
“Good morning!” 🦝
“I see a live-trap in my future. . .”
“But for now, I was waiting for Buttons’ leftovers. But one of those two-legged pests saw me and took away the bowl.” 🦝
“Nice haircut, Buttons. Just in time for summer.” 🦝
Lots of news today! 😺
Happy Friday! I have a lot to tell you!
One of Eva’s babies took a walk all the way to the garage:
Patches hissed, just a little, as most kitties will do when they meet each other first the first time:
Come eat your breakfast, black-and-white kitten we’ve yet to name:
Poor Stormy got an ouchie above his hoof. Don’t worry, medicine was put on it as soon as the cat-cops saw it:
Finally, here’s Anya in Mason City, waiting for Mary to come home:
Isn’t her tail getting fluffy! 🐴
Now, THIS is DIFFERENT! 🐴 (and a video)
Good morning! I was just about to say something, but then forgot:
Oh, I remember, how could I forget! Look at this little, shell-less egg:
You will never guess where it was found…
About 4 inches underwater, in the trough!
The chickens certainly didn’t lay it,
But they ate it, just the same. 🐔
Poor robin 😿. (But we’ll cheer up with a video 😺.)
Good morning! Excuse me while I have a quick butt-scratch before going out on this nice day!
Who killed Cock Robin? Search for ‘Who killed Cock Robin?’ please (seriously 😺). 
And what are you, today, Betty? A wheel chock?
You aren’t being much safer, Onslow:
You should be thankful that our friend, Jake, always honks the horn before he moves his truck. 😺
Finally, let’s see what the chickens are up to…
Who doesn’t love eggs for breakfast! 🐔
30% chance of rain, 100% chance of cats! 😺
Greg says, “All the duck pools are full, guys. It must have poured last night.”
“My my, more mud.”
I know, RC. On the bright side, it makes the grass grow:
You better get up, Fabio. The hens are on their way and ready to lay eggs!
Tails’ kittens are being entertained. . .
And earlier, one of Eva’s kids wanted to see what Buttons was eating, but Buttons didn’t look like she was in the mood:
Come back and eat, kitten (another of many kittens we have yet to name):
Also, Patches pushed past Betty and scarfed down her breakfast! 🙀
Betty grumbled, but didn’t “open a can of whoop-cat,” on Patches. Betty knows he’s only a kitten and must have been very hungry.” ❤️
Dirty water means clean ducks 🦆
Good morning! Don’t I have a flexible neck?
Patches has a drink of fresh water:
Paschal and Ferdinand are fluffy and clean this morning:
You can see that they’ve been splashing in the tub. 🦆
Kitty amusement park! 😺
Good morning! What are you doing, Stormy?
“Saving a place in the shade for you, Francis. It will be a little toasty today.”
Tails is nursing all 4 of her little kittens; while her big kitten, Mini, appears to be just “piling on.”
It’s all happening under the hay barn:
It’s a great place to climb:
And there’s a lot to explore:
Patches says, “We have a tiny complaint.”
“Could you please clean up the horse poopies?” 🙀
Tack room invasion! 🐴
Good morning!
Hmm, it looks like Tails and her children have decided to see what’s keeping breakfast:
“What? Empty bowls?”
“We’re not leaving until you fill them up!”
“Sorry, we meant, ‘Please, fill them up.’” 😺