FRANCIS'S BLOG 04/23/2026
Sleepy morning 🐴
I can’t stop yawning:
We’re having breakfast under feathery clouds:
And Betty has been all around the manure cart:
We don’t think anyone will be picking her up anytime soon. 🙀
50 degree morning 🐎
Not much going on this morning. I’m getting ready to roll, as usual:
Oh, and Stormy has a complaint. He’ll put it in the form of a question:
“What’s worse than a poopie in your water bucket?”
“A poopie in your food bucket!” (Don’t worry, Stormy was given a new, clean food bucket right away!) 🙀
Welcome back mud 🐴
How much did it rain overnight? About one duck dish!
Don’t worry, that pan was dried out and filled with fresh grain and mealworms:
The mud is back, but since it hasn’t rained in so long, it won’t last:
The cat-cops caught Schroeder crossing the street:
Shame on you, Schrödinger, as Security Chief, you’re supposed to set an example! 😾
Other than that, I’m having my carrots:
RC has hay over his ear:
And, please, don’t let that enormous spider fall in my water bucket!
Eeeekk!!!! 🕷
First cloudy day in a while 🐴
It’s cloudy today and might rain this afternoon. But here I am yesterday, way out in the far pasture, with Jewel, Chezzie and Rose:
Our friend Mr. Buster, his bulldozer broke down, so it’s parked in our driveway while he fixes it:
The cats find it fascinating:
Everybody wants their picture taken with it:
Anyway, Jewel and I are spending the day, again, out with the herd:
There’s nothing wrong today with my old place, but now that it’s autumn, and the grass is less sugary, I’ll see if I can keep my weight down without being locked up. 🐴
Oh, and here’s a video of all of us playing hide-and-seek!
🐎
One day off my diet won’t hurt me 🐴
What are Rose, Misty, and Iris looking at?
Uh-oh, someone’s getting a ticket:
Anyway, because we had some digging and dirt-moving in the front pasture, and there’s some smoke blowing in from across the street, Jewel and I get to spend the day with the whole herd!
Here’s Jewel having a drink:
And here I am in line to go out to the far pasture:
It’s just for today, and I promise I won’t eat too much grass. 🐴
Kitty capers 😺 and duck doings 🦆
I’m first out of the stable this morning:
Betty’s enjoying a still-warm duck egg:
Evil Cat stretches out after an evil breakfast:
Although it’s still over a month to Halloween,
Onslow is practising his “scary stare.” 🙀
Finally, let’s watch the ducks come out of the garage in the morning:
🐴
Welcome back, Betty! 😺
Where were you, Betty? 🐴
We haven’t seen you for two whole days! 🐴
The cat-cops looked everywhere! They even climbed to the top of the hay—all the way up to the ceiling of the barn! 🐴
They only found Zelda, and she hadn’t seen you either. You know how worried we all get when a cat goes missing:
I needed an extra carrot to calm my nerves. 🐴
Slow news day 🐴
Not much going on today. I’m getting a start on my breakfast:
Hansel says Hello. . .
Just before he and the cats have a chat:
🐓😺
A little warmer this morning 🐴
Here I am, yesterday afternoon, taking in the view from my “terrace:”
Onslow caught a mouse:
After the mouse got away, he settled down on my hay:
“Get off of my hay now, Onslow!” 🐴
Let’s watch Baldy run off poor Evil Cat:
Poor cats—those chickens are so greedy. And don’t they know cat food is made from chicken? 🐔
No roosters allowed! 🐓
Not much going on today. . .
Other than we’re grateful it’s another clear, cool day:
Hey Baldy—get out of there!
That’s a hens-only dormitory! 🐔
Finally, let’s watch Sophie and Phoenix frolic:
🐴
Coolest morning yet! 😺
Iris is happy that it’s a little too cool for the flies, at least for a while (we’ll still wear our masks today):
Henry is still snoozing:
Not me!—I’m rarin’ to go!
And, finally, if you’re a duck, it’s never too cool for a bath. . .
Provided the water’s not frozen. 🦆
Cooler weather coming 🐴
Onslow likes the view from the spare tire:
Here, he assumes his “hawk” pose:
Good morning, everyone! 🐴
I’ll be with you right after I have my morning roll:
Misty (left) and Stormy say Good morning, too:
I’m wearing a different mask this morning. As you remember from yesterday, my old mask is worn out:
It’s a little big. But today is shopping day, and I’ve been promised a donkey-sized mask—just for me! 🐴
Clean mask morning 🐎
Onslow is up a tree:
Whatever he’s looking at—it must be tasty!
It’s a nice day to be outside, especially with fresh, clean masks:
Speaking of masks, I need a new one:
This one is beginning to fray, and I can lose it too easily. 🐴
Pretty flowers 🌼
Here are some pretty blooms:
Onslow is checking out the riding arena:
And wherever Onslow is, Betty is nearby:
Meanwhile, Baldy is suspiciously eyeing my hay:
“You chickens already eat cat food, Baldy. Don’t even think about eating our hay!” 🐴
Flies in our eyes 🐴
The change in seasons brings nasty flies:
They can’t be brushed away fast enough:
Our poor eyes!
Fortunately, in the shade and cool of the stable, they go away: 
But after breakfast everyone would rather be outside! 🐎
Never fear!—we’ll all get a nice spray, and our masks will be on nice and tight:
Betty, we need those more than you! 😾
Now that we’re all masked-up, we’re ready for the day. 🐴
One more day without rain, and we’ll be all dried out! 😺
There’s steam on the manure:
Betty’s look says, “I do not want to get off the hay!”
Security Chief Schroeder investigates a “suspicious death.”
It shows no sign of “cat attack.”
So Schroeder concludes it’s another victim of the mouse bait:
🐭 WARNING: Do not eat mouse bait. 🐭
On a happier note, let’s listen to Brunhilda’s voice. Her call sounds almost like a cock-a-doodle-doo:
🐔
Finally! A sunny morning! 🐴
It must have poured again last night, because it’s soggier than ever—but mercifully the sun is shining!
Eventually, we’ll haul off the debris that’s still around from the big storm—but these ducks love playing it in. The other ducks, who are on lock-down for crossing the street, don’t mind their confinement, because the pen encloses about 1/3 of an acre full of grass and flowers (and mud with worms)! 
Charlie is joining Rose and me this morning:
The sun and fresh air can’t help but cheer her up:
One good thing about the rain is the new sweet grass. I wish I could join them; but alas, the only thing on my diet is hay and carrots. 🐴
Kitty capers 😺 and fowl deeds 🦆
Once again, it’s raining this morning, but it’s about to let up:
Stormy picked up a boo-boo on his forehead:
But I’m looking great, if I do say so myself:
Since it poured all night, which meant we spent all night in the stall, there was some horse crime:
But putting back Jewel’s door is something “management” is used to doing:
Charlie will again have to spend the day in her stall, but she’s taking it well:
Oh look: Evil Cat is wearing a veil of cobwebs:
If you would let the cat-cops near you, Evil, they would take it off (but of course, they would also take you to the vet). 🙀
Finally, this morning, we have “ducks behind bars!”
Yesterday they were caught crossing the street—which is a serious duck crime! So today they are on lock-down:
Crossing the street is not only dangerous for ducks, but dangerous for drivers who might swerve to get out of the way! 😿
It’s raining again because of course it is 😾
Henry looks out at all the water. But, with the exception of the new clay just outside the front of the stall, the paddock is still pretty solid under our hooves:
Rain or no rain, let me out!
Here I am, being a very good donkey. I’m waiting patiently at the gate—nobody’s tugging me along by a rope!
I’m receiving carrots for such good behavior:
Other than that, Brunhilda is looking for worms in the puddles. . .
Just after she and the other chickens raided the cat food:
Which is why Onslow and Betty eat in the feed shed:
Let’s watch a drier video of Jewel in the riding arena, doing what she does best:
Roll! 🐎
Will we ever dry out? 😾
While we dislike hot weather (because the flies love it), we wish it wasn’t quite so chilly so soon. Onslow is already appreciating a warm car engine:
Henry has decided to eat inside:
I’ve been cooped up in my stall for a couple days; so, cool or not, I had to get out and stretch my legs:
The same can be said of Charlie and Jewel:
And we have only empty nests in the stable:
The swallows and their new babies have all flown south. 🐦
Patience is part of being a good horse 🐎
I wonder if Brunhilda knows that the cat food she’s wolfing down is made from chicken?
Today is farrier day. Iris stands patiently while our friend Travis trims her hooves:
And so does Henry:
We either stand quietly, like Stormy, and wait our turn:
Or finish our breakfast hay, like RC:
I’m peeking around while my stall is being cleaned:
Other than that, it’s a cool, drizzly day outside, so Pumpkin and Zelda are staying cozy in the hay barn:
And here’s a picture, taken earlier, of Schroeder guarding our breakfast grain:
He takes his job as Security Chief seriously! 😺
Only the ducks are happy 🦆
Yesterday afternoon, when it was so nice, Brunhilda and Bill won the “who has the friendliest chicken” competition!
Only experienced chicken-wranglers should ever try this without safety goggles. Chickens can be unpredictable and their beaks are sharp!
This morning, the rain is pouring, off and (mostly) on. Because of the mud between the stable and the front pasture, Jewel will stay in her stall today:
And Charlie will stay in because of her ailing feet. On positive notes, (1) she was on her feet this morning, and (2) the farrier will come tomorrow, so her hooves will get a thorough cleaning:
As you see above, Rose is visiting Charlie, just before she sticks her nose in the camera:
I was supposed to stay in, too, to keep Jewel and Charlie company—but I fussed and “hee-hawed” to go out:
Other than that, it’s a nice day to be a duck:
They’re the only people in the front pasture today:
There’s a lot of worms to be had by all! 🐴
We’re drying out today 😺
These duck eggs are so fresh, they’re still warm:
Schrödinger says they’re dee-licious! 😺
Poor Charlie’s feet are still a little tender, so she spent last night in a stall, on a nice bed of saw dust. And her breakfast hay is put where she won’t have to walk far for it:
Chezzie is keeping her company:
She’ll get another foot bath today. 🐴
Alfalfa hay makes up for a rainy day 🐎
We’re thankful Charlie is on her feet this morning:
Don’t get stuck in the mud, Charlie! Go inside, please!
That’s better!
I’ll stay inside to keep you company:
Even though it’s raining, one thing that’s cheering us up is this new, green, sweet alfalfa hay from our farmer friend, Rich. Rose would eat the whole bale if she could:
And Henry and RC certainly seem to be enjoying it, too:
Yum! 🐴
Get well, Charlie! 🐎
The goldenrod has caught the sun:
And Onslow has caught a mouse (which is about to get away):
Poor Charlie’s feet are hurting her again:
She just doesn’t feel like getting up:
Luckily, Mary and Ann are out this morning. Here’s Mary, picking out debris from her hooves:
Ann gave her a soothing foot bath and some pain medication:
We’re happy to see her back on her feet.
And now she’s out having breakfast! 🐴
High horses 🐴
We’re all checking out how tall the new stable floor makes us. Here’s Henry:
And Charlie:
On the old floor, Iris’s neck used to rest on the chain between the gates—but not anymore:
Now RC and Iris have to bend down to eat:
Also, winter drafts won’t blow under the walls:
And even Sophie can look over the walls:
Uh-oh, Charlie can reach over and eat Iris’s dinner (something on which we hadn’t planned):
As for me, my stall was already level and tight, so no big changes for me:
Other than that, it’s going to be a cool, crisp Friday:
And we’re topping off breakfast with cool, crisp carrots! 🐎
Busy day 🐴
We’re having to make room for a lot of clay,
And a lot of equipment:
But we’re smart enough not to be scared of machines:
We know just to stay out of their way:
Clay makes the best flooring for horse (or donkey) hooves:
When this is tamped down, it will look and feel great. 🐎
Watch out, dove! 🐦
It’s hard to see, but Percy and Ferdinand are watching a drama unfold:
Betty is stalking a dove, but it got away (they always do). 😾
You’ve heard of “turkey in the straw?”
Well, this is “chicken in the hay!” 🐔
And I was all set to have a nice roll in the hay, when I was interrupted by the ruckus of our friend Mr. Steve dropping off his skid loader and tons of clay:
What’s it for?
Tomorrow he’ll start putting in a new level floor in the stable. (I guess I’ll have to find some other place to roll!) 🐴
Today was vet day 🐴
Evil Cat is hanging out with Percy and Ferdinand:
Onslow is watching Dr. Danielle’s truck for her:
We all got our shots and teeth checked. I’m lucky I didn’t need my teeth “floated”—which is a nice way of saying ground level with a horse-sized dental drill:
Most of the other horses weren’t so lucky:
They’re all fine—just groggy from the anesthetic. 🐴