FRANCIS'S BLOG 04/22/2026
Our favorite visitors! 🐴
Good morning! Mary’s here! ❤️ She surprised us all by riding Rose—bareback!
No saddle? No problem! 🐎
And when Mary’s with us, so is Sophie…
And Anya!
It’s always fun to have them with us!
Speaking of fun…
Tiger and Greg are exploring Anya’s portable kennel! 😺
A video starring Stormy! 🐎
Good morning! It’s cloudy right now, but the sun is on its way!
It poured last night, so the local “watering holes” are full:
And finally, here’s Stormy, cleaning up RC’s “spillage.” Give it a moment. . .
And watch that Stormy-tongue fly! 😺
Let’s learn a little entomology! 😺
Happy Friday! It’s also a clean-mask morning:
Oh, poor Rose!
Who made those teeth marks on you?
I’m looking at you, Stormy:
Betty is on mouse patrol:
And there’s some pretty goldenrod in front of the hay barn:
Let’s look closer—it’s full of bugs!
“Hello! I am a goldenrod soldier beetle. I’m also called a Pennsylvania leatherwing.”
“We are very beneficial! We spread pollen and eat aphids. However. . .”
“DON'T pick us up! We have glands that will make your hands (or paws) stink! 😿
The geese are on the go! (and latest YouTube) 🐴
Good morning! “Management” was thinking about closing the front pasture, but I’m showing them that there’s still plenty of grass to eat here, farther down the hill:
The sky is full of geese:
They fly so low, you can hear their wings flap!
Patches sees them, too:
Betty’s used to them, of course, but Patches was just born this spring; so to him, it’s a new wonder of life! 😺
Finally, here’s our latest Youtube video, in case you missed it:
We love our Sophie and Anya! 🐴
Rose gets a “love tap” (video)! ❤️
“Good morning! I have a smile, just for you!” 
That’s a pretty good smile, Tiger, for a kitty.
Luna is exloring the manure cart, and Patches is in the manure spreader:
Now they’re both in the stinky stuff:
(Actually, after it’s had time to dry, our manure doesn’t smell hardly at all. 🐎)
Now, here’s Rose trying to “help” RC finish his breakfast:
I don’t think RC appreciates it. 🐴
Lots to tell you today! 🐎
RC wants to tell you about today’s goings-on.
“Thanks, Francis. Good morning! Doesn’t it look like a nice day!”
“The cat-cops closed the gate to the front pasture today, so the grass could grow. Stormy and Rose were not happy (horses are creatures of habit).” 
“Oh my! Smudge got herself locked in the tack room all night! Well, Smudge, if you sneak in and the cat-cops don’t see you, that can happen.”
“I’ll bet you needed that drink. . .”
“There was no water dish in the tack room.” 😿
Smudge makes an arrest! 😺
“Good morning! We’ve had a mouse crime here in the duck garage.”
Oh wow, Betty. The mice chewed through a new box of mealworms—they work fast!
“Don’t worry, everyone. I have ‘apprehended the suspect!’”
“Good job, Smudge! As Chief of the Department of Horsefarm Security, I’m declaring you an official DHS Junior Deputy!”
Good move, Onslow. 🐴
Oh that Tyrus! 😺
Good morning! We’re taking on food. Yum!
Dukie is here!
We have pretty flowers outside the farm house, and a bee who thinks they are pretty delicious:
And finally, Tyrus, is there a bag or box that you cats won’t hop into? 🐴
“Nope!” 😺
One of these eggs is not like the others! 🥚
Good morning! This little tree makes big apples. The chickies love them. . .
But until they get overripe, and soft enough for the birds to peck through the skin, Ann cuts them in half:
Speaking of chickens, this little corner in the hay is a popular nesting site—two hens laying and one in line:
A little higher up, Dot, Patches and Smudge are helping Buttons finish her breakfast (not that she asked them 😾):
Finally, sometimes the chickens lay an unusually small egg. . .
But this one has to be some sort of record! 🙀
Poor bunny! 🐰 (and a chicken video) 🐔
Good morning! Our friends Jake and Devon did all sorts of mowing and weeding yesterday. Everything looks so nice!
Speaking of looking nice, don’t Paschal and Ferdinand look nice and fluffy-white after their baths!
Oh, horrors!—a headless rabbit next to a hawk feather!
Either the culprit was indeed a hawk, or the cats planted it there to “throw off the scent.” 🙀
Let’s change the subject with a “release the hens” video:
Frizzle must be camera shy this morning! 🐔
Save our hay! 🐴
Oh, the pain! My left ear fell off overnight!
I had you fooled, didn’t I? Good morning!
Speaking of falling off, our friend, Devon, repaired the door on the barn (that Farmer Rich uses to load in our hay):
It broke into pieces months ago:
Since then it’s been a place for Eva's kittens to play:
Sorry, kitties, our hay needs that door more than you do. 😿
We’re back—safe, sound, and fixed! 😺 (and a rooster video 🐓)
Good morning! I’m looking at another steamy hot day:
As you remember from yesterday, Patches, Dot, Luna and Smudge got fixed and had all their shots. They spent the night recovering in the tack room and knocking over things:
This morning, Mini and Juno met them at the door to welcome them home!
Why aren’t you greeting them, too, Nikita?
“I just found out I’m going to the vet in about a week or so.” 😾
Finally, let’s hear Tom and Bart welcome them home. . .
That’s a two cock-a-doodle-do salute! 🐓🐓
Extreme VET-ting! 🙀
“The cat-cops arrested my four youngest kittens!”
“Why would they do that, Mom? Let’s go ask Security Chief Onslow!”
“Don’t worry, Momma Tails. They’re just going to the vet. The same thing happened to you and Mini a couple of months ago.”
Here are their “mugshots:”
“Before you know it, they will be home, safe and healthy!” 😺
Bat check! 🦇
Good morning!
It’s another clean mask Monday:
It’s still so, so hot! The horses had a hard time deciding whether to step away from the fan, even for food:
See the bats?
When it gets this hot, they have to sleep out from under the roof slats. 🦇
Dukie loves her cheese (video)! 😺
Good morning! Goodness! This pumpkin plant is taking over the driveway!
Patches has found a “free range” glop of food. Yummy-yum!
Lucy’s up in one of the kitties’ favorite cubby holes. The view is great!
“Francis, why are you eating that dry little plant, when there’s hay set out—not to mention, green grass by the acre?”
Good question, RC. . . . I’m not really sure! 🐴
Finally, our Dukie is visiting:
Those doggies do love their cheese, don’t they? 🐴
This post is late, but better late than never! 🐴
Good morning! Our friend Travis is doing our hooves today:
I don’t need my hooves done, of course, because they are always perfect!
Remember my post from two days ago?
Well, since then those baby swallows have become too big for the nest and can fly!
“Hey, Stormy, Francis just said his hooves are always perfect and never need trimming!”
“Ha ha, RC! Everybody’s hooves need trimming. It’s just that Francis’s hooves grow slower and need trimming only about three times a year.”
I confess, Stormy. . .
I was just pulling your leg (whether you have two or four)! 🐴
No news is good news 🐴
Good morning. It’s back to being hot. I’m always a little embarrassed when I don’t have much to say.
All I can tell you today is that Ferdinand and Paschal got fresh water in their pool:
They’ll jump in as soon as Smudge is finished admiring herself in the reflection. 😺
It’s another “don’t swim alone” day! 🐭
Good morning! Glad to see you!
Dot and Betty are tasting some fresh water and Mini is “bobbing for mealworms.” 😹
Yesterday we had a mouse in the duck water, and today it’s the same thing. Mouse Heaven must be crowded! 🐭🐭
These swallows are outgrowing their nest:
And Stormy, RC and Rose are helping me finish my leftovers. . .
Funny, I don’t remember asking them. 🐴
Patches poses, and a “Mini” video 😺
“Good morning! Isn’t this a nice picture of me?”
It certainly is, Patches. Good morning, everyone. We still haven’t finished breakfast and the chickens have already laid eggs in the stable.
You look surprised, Rose, did we startle you?
That’s a fluffy-clean tail, Ferdinand:
I wish I had a donkey-sized pool on these hot days. 🐴
Finally, here’s a placid movie of Mini:
Cats love to watch debris swirling in the pool. 😺
Lots going on, but not all of it good! 😿
Good morning. It poured all last night:
Why has Ann tied you by our old trailer, Rose?
Oh no! How did you get that nasty wound?
“I don’t know, Francis. I just looked down, and there it was! But this cold water is making it feel better, and then Ann will put medicine on it.”
Other than that, the nests in the stable are filling up with baby swallows:
And what are you looking at, Tiger?
What? Somebody’s in there?
Oh, that Greg! 🙀
A video starring Paschal! 🦆
Good morning! It’s spitting rain, but I think it’ll stop soon:
Patches is looking for who-knows-what in the garage. . .
And so are Dad and Smudge:
Finally, these chickens want to interrupt Paschal’s bath, either to take a drink or eat a leftover mealworm:
Paschal is having none of it! 🦆
This Sunday is anything but sunny 😾
Good morning. The clouds are about to burst:
If our hay were inside, it would wash away right now:
“How am I getting back to the garage, Francis? It’s coming down in buckets!”
Don’t worry, Tails. “Management” said there’s plenty of breakfast left. . .
And all the bowls have been moved out of reach of the rain. 😺
Lots to show you today (and a Tom Turken video 🐓)!
Good morning! We’ve been off the front pasture for a few days, so we should have tasty new grass and clover:
Tiger and Tyrus are waiting for their turn at the latest toy, a green laser pointer. Greg looks mesmerized!
Smudge is playing Goldilocks: “This nesting box is too hard!”
“This nesting box smells so bad, I’m not even going in!” 
“But this nesting box is “just right!”
Finally, as you know, the hens lay eggs here, there, and everywhere. But here’s a new hiding place, on the far side of the feed cabinet:
They were cold, so they may not have been fresh, so the chickens got them.
Yummy-yum!
Lucky Tom! He got one all to himself! 🐓
I’m striking a pose! 🐴 (and TWO kitty videos! 😺
Good morning!
It’s a good day to hang out by the pool, like Ferdinand and Paschal. . .
Or just stay inside like Tiger:
Dot and Nikita are hanging out by the water cooler:
Thank goodness our tanks are full:
They’ll be drunk down by supper time.
Finally, here’s two cute kitty videos from last night!
Smudge is intrigued (for about 20 seconds):
And here’s a full 60 seconds of Nikita, Lucy and Junior!
Kitties love to wrestle! 😺
We don’t call them cat-cops for nothing 😾
Good morning! Farmer Rich mowed our far pasture yesterday. I can’t wait to get out there with all that new grass!
Some of the kittens are playing “King of the post.” We have, from top to bottom, Luna, Smudge and Patches:
Finally, poor Nikita would like a sip of well-fresh water. But Tails is in a bit of a mood, and is grumbling every time poor kitty tries to get near. Not sharing is a no-no on the farm!
So Tails was temporarily “escorted” a few feet away, so baby cat can drink:
You’re welcome to a drink, too, Martha, if you want! 🐔
Watch where you’re stepping Rose! 🐎
Aoife says, “Good morning! I’m very good at getting outside of the fence, but not so good when it comes to getting back in.”
Don’t worry, Aoife, the cat-cops will come get you by nightfall.
I see the favorite nesting spots are already taken:
Uh, Rose, you’re crushing my feed dish:
Luckily, my bowl can “take a licking!” Well, I’m ready to go out to the front pasture:
See you tomorrow! 🐴
I’m back! I missed you! (and a cat video) 🐴
I’m so happy to be back with YOU!
Since I’ve been gone, the sunflowers have gotten a little droopy:
Their centers are turning black with sunflower seeds:
The chickens and other birds should find them delicious. Except for the ducks. Speaking of ducks, why aren’t Paschal and Ferdinand taking a bath, Betty?
“The pool is ‘closed for maintenance,’ Francis.”
“Fresh cold water is on the way!” 😺
Finally, let’s watch the kittens play under the apple tree:
😺