FRANCIS'S BLOG 08/12/2026
Videos bring us to life, for YOU ❤️!
Good morning! It’s pouring 😾, but it’s supposed to stay only in the 70’s all day 😺:
RC, Stormy and I are keeping an eye on the storm while we eat:
Have a look outside with us:
“I think I’ll spend the day in here with you guys:” 🐔
Smart move, Jane. But if might be worth it if you ran “between the raindrops” over to the cat garage. The whole gang looks like they’re over there:
“Oh, by the time I get over there, all the food will be gone. . .” 🐔
That’s a good point, Jane.
Anyway, while the big chickens were raiding the cat food, the chicks were raiding the big chicken food:
I guess I’ll go out and “raid” the grass in the far pasture. 🐴
All kinds of things going on (and a swallow video) 🐴!
Good morning! 
“Management” keeps its hand on me to dissuade me from rolling, because right now I’m dripping with fly spray, and if I roll, I’ll get up looking like a hooved mud pie:
Oh, poor kitties! Overnight, those bad raccoons made a muddy mess of your water!
Luckily, they know there’s a “baby cup” set out each morning while the big dish gets cleaned:
“I HEREBY DECLARE, ALL THE INSECTS, WORMS, LARVAE, AND SEEDS, IN THE POOPIES OF THIS MANURE CART, BELONG TO ME!” 🐔
Whatever, “Queen Frizzle the First.” 🐴
Anyway, here’s a nest full of baby swallows. If you watch the whole video, you’ll see them getting fed:
They’ll be out of that nest soon! 🐴
Raccoon vandalism (video) 🦝
Oh, good morning! You snuck up on me! Glad to see you!
If you were here, I’d let you pick all the black-eyed Susans you want!
Dad-cat has taken up residence in the old chicken house in the hay barn:
Finally, I’m convinced that when the raccoons wake up (a little before dark), they get together and ask each other, “What can we knock over in the cat garage tonight?”
Apparently last night’s winner was the weed whacker. 🦝
We get some oatmeal-flavored love (video) ❤️!
Good morning! It’s a little cooler and less humid today, but still hot enough to keep me in front of the fan:
But apparently, Stormy, Rose and RC feel cool enough to pile into the same stall:
Anyway, it’s about time I and the horses were shown a little love. . .
“Love” in the form of heart-shaped horse treats—of course!
In case you were counting, don’t worry, the horses each got 3 treats, just like me (It’s just that my “cinematographer’s” fingers got so slobbered up he stopped being able to work the camera). 🐎
4 video snippets, 2 featuring me 🐴
Good morning! It was hot yesterday and it’s hotter today. I had dinner last night in front of my own personal fan:
We were all very sweaty. 🐎
We’re already sweating this morning, but at least it’s a little breezy. Here we are, waking up (I’m at the end):
I’ve had my spray, and our masks are fresh from the washing machine:
The big chickens are getting “down and dirty.”
And the spring chickens are eating outside, in the shade. The coop is already too hot for them:
Helping the birds keep cool is Job One! 🐔
Stormy loses some “horse feathers” 🐎
Good morning! It’s a sleepy, hot Sunday. Excuse me, while I clean up RC’s leftovers:
“The heat certainly is back, Francis. I’m about to go snuggle with the other kitties under all these weeds.”
Smart move, little cat.
Anyway, these hairs could only belong to Stormy:
“Mea culpa, Francis. I had to scratch my butt again. A fly bit it:”
I hate when that happens, Stormy. 🐴
Slow news Saturday in Geneseo, but a nice video from Mason City! 😺
Good morning!
Luna is after a mouse:
The kittens are having breakfast:
Tux is letting his breakfast digest:
And one of the chicks has jumped up on a car:
Don’t make a poopie up there, little silver-laced Wyandotte. 🐔
Anyway, here’s an adorable video from our Mary of Willa and Anya ❤️:
Lovey-dovey! ❤️
A surprise, just for me! 🐴
I’m afraid I’ve been a bit of a “pill” this morning. I made a pee-pee in Stormy’s stall:
I apologized to Stormy on the way out:
You know I’ve been complaining about my old, worn-out mask. . .
Well, what a pleasant surprise, that has cheered me right up!—a brand new mask!
It’s a special, “small horse” size, which goes snugly around my head. . .
And won’t irritate my nose by hanging too low over it:
Oh!—I forgot!—GOOD MORNING! 🐴
A cat’s eye is also a type of gemstone 😺
Good morning! It’s relatively cool again today. I don’t know why I’m in the shade; it must be force of habit:
My, but your eyes are pretty, Marbles:
Ferdinand is patiently waiting for Paschal to finish her bath:
Little gray kitty wonders why Buttons is drinking stagnant water (when there’s just-drawn water everywhere):
And a just-opened bag of bedding makes Martha a great nest:
“I can lay an egg while keeping a lookout!” 🐔
A wake up from Bart (🐓 video)!
Good morning! It’s actually cool this morning, only 63!
“It was so cool, we spent hardly any time in the stable in front of the fans.”
“You can tell, because there are no poopies to pick up.”
That’s right, Rose. . . . And get out of my feed dish, please, Onslow:
Speaking of dishes, don’t let Betty catch you eating out of hers, baby cat:
But now as I think of it, she’s pretty mellow old girl, and wouldn’t mind:
Anyway, let’s have a good morning crow from Bart:
Cock-a-doodle-doo! 🐓
It’s too hot, again! (and a 😺 and 🐔 video)
Good morning! I suppose I should get up and go to breakfast. If I don’t get up soon, the cat-cops might start to worry about me:
Do you have all that cool dirt under the manure cart to yourself, Frizzle?
“Of course not, Francis, I’m sharing it with the flock (more after video)!”
Finally, let’s have breakfast with the cats:
The baby cats are getting bigger! 😺
If you’ve got an itch. . . (video) 🐴
Good morning! I don’t know if I told you, but I have a fan all to myself!
There’s thunder in the distance; rain is on the way.
Finally, it looks like Stormy has an itchy tail:
You know what they say, “If you’ve got an itch—scratch it!” Don’t worry, Stormy, Management will check you out. 🐎
Stubborn + Spoiled = ME! 🐴 (and a 🐔 video)
Good morning! It’s actually a little cooler this morning, in the 70’s; however, I’m going to whine and cry until my breakfast is brought into the shade with me! Now, you well know I always whine and cry if I have to walk more than 10 feet to my dish...
And you well know I always win!
Little kitty watches Onslow inspect this morning’s cat water, fresh from the dehumidifier:
“Don’t worry, kiddo, I’ll make sure it’s put in a pan where you can reach it.” 😺
Finally, let’s watch the chickens come out of the big coop, and then the little coop. It was cool enough this morning that they could eat breakfast inside...
So the cats could eat their breakfast in peace:
Especially the little cats. 🐱
Lay your egg before it’s too hot 🐔
“Good morning! Time to lay my egg!”
Go to it, Frizzle! Good morning, everyone.
There’s not a cloud in the sky. . .
But there are some geese:
They’re probably flying north early because of the heat. 🐴
Soggy worms (video) 🐔!
Good morning! Our friend, Travis, is doing our hooves today:
It’s time for me to sneak out of the gate and graze until it’s my turn:
It’s hard standing on three legs. . .
But Travis does a good job of steadying us while he files our hooves nice and smooth (don’t fall asleep, Rosie):
Luckily we have two big fans blowing on us to help with the heat. 😿
Anyway, here are the chickens enjoying some of the ducks’ leftover mealworms:
If I were you, birds, I’d be wading in that fresh cold water! 🐴
Come-and-go cats 😿
Good morning, everyone! As you see, it’s another day of blazing sun. Other than that, don’t you think this is a flattering picture of me?:
Please get off Rose’s mask, Greg. Our just-washed masks should only be smelling “springtime fresh,” with no scent of cat:
That’s not a very lady-like pose, Betty:
And Mr. Marbles, where have you been the past three whole days? Don’t look so grumpy—not only did you worry the cat-cops, you showed up for breakfast late!
I see someone gave you more food:
If you ask me, this just spoils him. 🐴
The forecast: Hot and hotter! 😿 (and a 🐴 video)
“Good morning! The first thing we did when we were let out of the coops was run under the manure cart and hunker down in the dirt! I wish you were here, Francis:”
Thanks, Tom Turken. If only I could fit under there.
I woke up with an itchy neck. I know Ann will take care of it with a nice hard brushing, but I need a little relief NOW (more news after video):
Uh-oh, now, play nice, kittens:
“Good morning, everyone! Come and say Good morning, RC.”
“Good idea, Stormy. I haven’t said much, lately. Good morning, friends! Come and say Hello, too, Rose!”
“I’m on my way, RC. . .”
“Good morning! We love YOU!” ❤️
I’m back! I missed you so much! 🐴
Good morning! I’m so glad to visit with YOU today! ❤️
“I’m so glad you’re back, Francis.” 😺
I missed you, too, Patches—Hey! No fighting, kitties:It’s going to be in the 90’s today— so there’s fresh water everywhere:
It’s a good morning for a dust bath. . .
Even though it looks like a horse stepped on you, Ruth. 🙀
I’ll be back on Tuesday 🐴 (cat video 😺)
Good morning! Shame on me, I’m afraid all I have for you is a picture of an olive-egger on the manure cart:
Remember, on Tuesday, we had Luna doing some “balance-beam” walking among some very upset swallows? Well, this is a video of the same event, but taken with a different camera from a different angle:
I promise I’ll do better for you when I come back after a weekend of resting my hooves. 🐴
Chickens catch on quickly (video 🐔)!
Good morning! I’ve had a nice spray, and am now stubbornly waiting to have my breakfast dish set right in front of me:
Humph! It seems Managment is being a little stubborn, too:
Speaking of Management, yesterday morning they thought they could spray the chickens (for mites) as they were let out. Well, as you’ll see, only eight got sprayed; the other twenty decided it just wasn’t for them (more after video):
It looks like they prefer the natural, “chicken” way to get rid of mites. . .
With a dustbath! 🐔
Angry birds video! 🐱
Good morning! I have a blue sky, just for YOU! It’s very noisy in the stable right now, but more on that later:
First, look at the branch (more like a LOG), that fell off one of the trees in the front yard:
Thank Goodness no one was under it! 🙏
Anyway, Luna decided to take a stroll along the rafters in the stable this morning:
“Why are you all so excited, swallows? Do you see me going anywhere near your nests?” 😾
Just call me, “Kitty!” 😾
Good morning!
Not a cloud in the sky:
“I’ll never get a name, will I?” 😿
Of course you will, Kitty. As soon as you let the cat-cops pick you up and figure out (1) if you’re male or female, and (2) any discernible difference between you and the other gray-and-white baby! 🙀
Walk with us (video) 🐎
Good morning! Does this picture make my ears look big (I know it makes my mask look extra raggedy)?
Remember last Wednesday we told you the cats weren’t telling us how they get into the toolshed through a locked door?
Well, we found the hole in the floor they use to get in and out:
Peek-a-boo! I see a baby cat!
Anyway, come on out with us to the far pasture:
We really need one of our friends to help us cut down some weeds (or some goats 🐐 or sheep 🐑 to eat them). 🐴
Nothing to do but wait it out 🐴 (2 videos 🐎)
Good morning! We’re drying out from last night’s scary storms:
Here are two videos of Stormy and RC watching the tempest. The noise the rain makes on the stable roof is deafening:
If you watch the very end of this video, Stormy stomps his foot, as if to say. . .
“Make it stop!” 🐎
Fowl deeds! 🐔
Good morning! We’re happy we had some rain overnight, and clouds are rolling our way, so we’ll be a little cooler:
What a friendly little Bard Rock. You’re showing how smart you are. . .
When you snuggle-up to Management, they’ll give you waxworms and mealworms and other chicken treats.
“That’s good advice, Francis. I find it also helps if you pose for a picture doing something cute, like pretending to drive a tractor.”
That’s true, too, Mac.
Thank goodness for well water (and another raccoon video 🦝)!
Good morning! It’s 90 degrees at 11 o’clock:
We’ll only graze for a little while. I wish I saw more clouds in the sky. The only thing that can cool us off is a good thunderstorm:
The fan is making the only breeze in the stable today:
Chickens have a harder time tolerating the heat than we do, so today they have a nice little pool in the shade. . .
And the ground was watered down for cooling by evaporation. 🐥
Anyway, here’s a video of Ms. Raccoon helping herself to Betty’s leftovers:
“I’m lucky that I like cat food, chicken food, horse food, or any food!” 🦝
Where’d everbody go? 🐓 and Just pretend I’m a cat! 🦝 (2 videos and more)
“Good morning! “I’m cock-a-doodle-doing to myself here. . .”
“It’s already 86℉ at 8:20 and it’s going up fast. Everybody else has headed for the shade.”
You’re right about the heat, Bart. As soon as I’ve had breakfast. . .
I’m joining Stormy in front of the fan:
The chicks are in the shade:
Goodness, hens, it’s too hot for both of you to be on that nest at once!
How did you get into the tool shed, baby cats?
“There are spaces in the floorboards that only cats know about, Francis.”
Whatever you say, little cat (seriously, cat-cops, you really need to name them). 🐴
Anyway, here’s a video of someone who needs no name. . .
“Just think of me as a cat with hands.” 🦝