FRANCIS'S BLOG 01/20/2026
Every afternoon seems hotter than the last. . . .
But our Lilo found on cool place on the cement floor under the barn!
Bat-check at the door, 5¢
It's nice to know that our mosquito-stomping friends, the bats, are still with us. We don't see them so often when the weather is cool, as they wait until later in the evening to crawl out of the roof slats in the barn.
Young swallows fresh out of the nest.
We got within about four feet of these young birds, and they didn't seem to mind until their mother flew by, chirping away.
Very big day for Stormy and all of us!
As we know, Mary, this Monday, starts her horse science and management courses at Blackhawk College in Galva, IL. Stormy is going to Blackhawk, too, to be the subject of Mary's studies. Here Mary is leading Stormy to his new stable:
Here is Stormy going bravely into his new stall:
Here is Mary telling Stormy it will be all right, and he'll make new friends:
Guess what? Stormy's stable mate is Wylee - Wylee is the horse of Mary's nice roommate, Skylee!
The bad news is we'll miss Stormy, but he'll be back for vacations! The good news is I'll get fed faster.
Are you going to eat that all yourself?
Zelda caught a baby bunny and delivered it to her boyfriend (and alpha cat) Luigi. This glaring of farm kitties behaves like a pride of lions!
I can only take so much of this - then I'm crawling under!
All that delicious grass in the far pasture is off limits until Charlie gets fitted with her grazing mask (it's supposed to control how much grass she can eat and will help her lose weight). It seems we're all on a diet now, especially Charlie, since losing weight is supposed to help her feet get better.
News from the infirmary.
Stormy and Charlie spent their first night out of the stall in about a week. Charlie is feeling much better and is regaining the spring in her step:
Stormy had developed a swollen spot under his right arm (the medicine makes it look green). It looks to be getting smaller and we hope it will be gone in time for him to join Mary at Blackhawk College:
Telling Secrets
"What's that, Mr. Mouse? Please don't greet me? Please don't seat me? Sorry, just can't hear you, Mr. Mouse."
Zelda and the swallow's nest
"What I wouldn't give for a trampoline under that middle support beam."
Oh now this is different. . .
We found this sparrow hanging some 45 feet up, under the roof of our barn. We cannot figure out what happened, or what is the invisible (at that distance) filament that strangled the poor bird.
Trouble Brewing?
Not really - Luigi knows that his TempurPedic becomes my dessert after 5PM. The cat abandons bale, albeit slowly:
Get well Charlie!
We thought we had Charlie's hoof infection cured with our last vet visit, but she's walking slow again so she must be in pain. Last night we packed her feet in medicine that required these little booties that she doesn't want to be seen in (I suppose my calling her "Franken-foot" hasn't helped):
Anyway, we found her this morning putting her best face on the situation:
Since then she's gotten the leg irons off, had another dose of antibiotics, and was treated to a warm foot bath of epson salts and soap. She looks to be doing better and we hope the treatment holds her until Wednesday when the vet returns.
