FRANCIS'S BLOG 05/14/2026
What on earth happened to Luigi last night?
Poor Luigi must have been in a fight with something mean last night. His left ear is hurt and his back is covered in mud. We'll try to clean him up, but right now he is not letting us catch him.
New kitty continues to gain acceptance.
His name, you ask? Well, his official name is Schrödinger's cat (Google it, or check out this clip). That name was given him by Mary, who brought him home from school. But he answers (as much as any cat can) to Schroeder. He'll get added to the "Meet the Cats" tab soon!
Bat-check at the door, September 26.
Since I'm feeling a better and can walk around more, I checked in our bat colony last night, to see if they were still hanging (teehee) around. Yes they were!
New kitty is holding his own.
He is doing his best to become part of the glaring. He eats with the other cats in the garage, albeit from his own little bowl, and spends his nights in the hay barn. Luigi, who as you know is the alpha cat, still isn't sure what to make of him. Once new kitty is accepted by Luigi, he'll officially become one of the group.
I was released yesterday.
I'm still hopping a bit, and laying down to rest now and then, but I seem to be getting better. I know I'm happier outside.
And we all are happy eating the grass while it's still green!
I feel like a 250-pound gerbil. . .
. . .amid all these wood chips. I'm still trying to get well. Luckily Mary was visiting from school, and she soaked and wrapped my hoof.
Stormy's school pictures!
We visited him and Mary last Wednesday at Blackhawk College. Here they are!
I am still under stall arrest. . .
. . .just the same as yesterday. Ann rewrapped my hoof last night and I'll probably get it soaked tonight. I'm walking on it more, so maybe I'll be set free soon!
I spent last night in RC's stall. . .
. . .so I wouldn't walk around so much on my bad hoof. The vet came today and said my hoof was infected. Here I am in my "sick bed."
The vet wrapped up my foot and gave me some painkilling powder and antibiotics. Here's a close up of my "boo boo."
The other horses have been holding vigil outside my stall. They don't know what to do without me!
I am sick this morning.
I couldn't come to breakfast this morning. I just couldn't get to my feet.
I managed to get up and my breakfast was brought to me. I just couldn't put any weight on my left rear hoof. You can see how I'm holding it up.
Ann cleaned out my hoof (which didn't seem to hurt me) and examined my whole leg, and didn't find anything wrong. However she did find a nasty infected cut on my back near my left hip. Maybe that's my problem? Anyway, now I'm on antibiotics for a while. I hope I get better soon. Someone has to run this place.
As usual, nobody's saying how this mouse got in the wheelbarrow. . .
. . .but no one ate him. He must have been past his "freshness date."
These past Monday and Tuesday nights were very hot!
We normally only get hay inside when there's a rain or snow storm, but the stable was the only place where it was cooler and there were fewer flies (thanks to lots of spray).
We have an albino starling!
These pictures and video were taken this very morning. He fits right in with the flock.
This is one big bee.
Actually, it's a kind of wasp known as a cicada killer (Google it). It was at least two inches long and very scary. Hopefully it got enough of a taste of our stable spray to keep it away!
The salt block is not only yummy. . .
. . .but we need salt to keep our hearts and kidneys functioning. During these hot summer days we lose a lot of salt through sweat.
Eurasian Collared Doves. . .
. . .or Ringed Turtle-Doves? We think they are the former because we've heard the "coarse" screech they make (almost like a crow, but higher) just before they land in our neighbor's trees, and that's a distinguishing characteristic of the collared dove. Google them and see what you think.
I don't normally do reruns, but. . .
. . .an elderly gentleman named Elmer stopped by the farm this morning to ask directions. He took one look at me and said, "That's one of God's donkeys!" I agree. Lest anyone doubt my supernatural credentials, click here!
Henry looks fresh on this cool morning.
Finally! A morning in the 50s! Take that, flies! Our poor Henry's left front hoof is hurting, maybe with an infection like Charlie had. We're giving him antibiotics and watching him - get well, Henry!
