FRANCIS'S BLOG 09/23/2026
You may have missed us yesterday, and GDP stands for Gross Domestic Poopies!🐎
“Good morning, and welcome! We love when humans visit our farm. Is breakfast ready yet?” 🦝
Now wait a minute! WHAT JUST HAPPENED HERE? Anyway, I had trouble with my blog yesterday, so you may want to check and make sure you didn’t miss Monday’s post.
I hope I’ve got it fixed. It didn’t help that Technical Support and I speak different languages (luckily I have “Hee-Haw to text” on my computer).
“We’ve sure got a full manure cart, Francis. I hear it’s because our dear friend, Farmer Rich, hasn’t been feeling well.” 😿
The cat-cops will take care of it, Luna. For now, we only want Farmer Rich to feel better! 🐴
Will you ever come out, sun? 🌥⛅️🌤☀️(and a horse video)
“Good morning! Someone put what’s left of a rawhide doggie chew in the kitty water. It wasn’t me:”
No one said it was, Tiger; but thanks for greeting our friends!
We haven’t been out in the front pasture for a few days, so the grass should be pretty plentiful:
How we wish the sun would shine: on a cool morning like this it would feel so nice. 😺
Anyway, let’s watch RC and Stormy “chow down” on breakfast this morning:
This is where the expression “Eats like a horse” comes from. 🐎
Evidence of a night in the stable 🐎
Good morning! Let’s start off with a video. How’s the weather where you are? Ours could be better. . .
Last night, our Mary and Mara fought nasty storms to spend the weekend with us 😿. We’re relieved they got here safely 😺.
Nixie is here:
And so are Anya, Dukie and Calla:
(Sophie is still asleep upstairs.)
“Good morning, everyone! It’s another ‘hay day’ in the stable. If only the cat-cops didn’t take forever to put it out for us.”
Well, Rose, since we spent all last night in the stable, they had extra work to do:
You can’t put hay down on a poopied-up floor. 🐎
I get the boot (video) 🐴
Good morning! If I had hands, instead of hooves, I would pick a bouquet of our dazzling chrysanthemums JUST FOR YOU!
“Have you seen Francis, RC?”
“He’s in my stall, Stormy.”
PEEK-A-BOO!
I’m afraid I had to be gently pushed out. In my defense, part of the problem was that RC wouldn’t get out of the way, but I like to be stubborn as well (more after video):
Anyway, it’s raining and muddier than ever, so we’re having some hay inside:
We have a lot of hay leftover from last winter, so the more we can eat now, the better. . .
We need to make room for Farmer Rich’s delivery of fresh hay for the coming season. 🐴
Who’s in whose stall this morning? 🐎, and Ricky “climbs in the tub” (video) 🦝.
Good morning! Oh goodness, I need to get up:
Oh my, look at those clouds:
”Good morning Francis and everyone. We’re having our favorite kind of breakfast: Kit-n-Kaboodle from a just-opened bag, in just-cleaned bowls!”
Sounds yummy, Charlie. Anyway, for some reason, RC went in Rose’s stall. . .
So Rose went in his:
Speaking of being somewhere you’re not supposed to be. . .
Our resident raccoon eats Betty’s breakfast, has a drink, and (at about the 1 minute, 20 second mark) jumps in:
🦝
Summer is not done with us yet (2 videos) 🐴
Good morning! It poured last night, and it’s warm; so it’s a little steamy and a lot muddy 😾:
Who’s that on the lookout for “catering” to arrive?
Oh, I figured it was you, Eva. Do you have your new kittens under the coop? 
“I’ll let the cat-cops, as you call them, tell you in a few days. They won’t stop snooping around until they find them.” 😾
Finally, Ferdinand and Paschal lumber to their water and worms. Considering, next April, Ferdie will be 13 and Paschal will be 12, it’s no surprise those four little webbed feet are worn and tired. . .
But when a duck meets the water. . .
They're a duckling again! 🐤
Breakfast with Stormy 🐎, brunch with the girls 🐔 (2 videos), and what is EATING Tyrus 🙀🙀🙀!
“Good morning! I was looking for something to do last night, so I broke into Stormy’s stall. I figure it’s partially Management’s fault; they closed the door but didn’t put the lock in:”
One excuse is as good as another, RC. Come on out and help us finish off the hearts. I’ve told catering to go back to the peppermint flavor, because I prefer the taste and minty smell!
Anyway, here’s a video of Stormy getting his hearts and finishing up my breakfast, as usual (more after video):
And here are the hens, finishing up the cats’ breakfast (more after video):
OMG! What horrible beast has swallowed Tyrus!
Look at that circle of jagged teeth! Turn on your headlights, Tyrus, and see if you can find your way out!
That’ll do it! 😺
A walk along the soybeans (video) 🌱
“Good morning, everyone. It just stopped raining.”
I know, little Chin. I’m holding a cat-cop’s raincoat:
I must admit, this Rhode Island Red is quite pretty:
All the spring chickens are getting in their combs and wattles:
Before you know it, they’ll be laying eggs. 🥚
Finally, let’s take a hike with Dukie:
Our friend Farmer Rich has planted field after field of soybeans. They’re used in everything—from chicken food 🐔, to horse food 🐎, to cat food! 😺
How about two “Release the Ducks” videos for a change!? 🦆
We’re all out, waiting to wish you “Good morning!” (and hurry up breakfast before it rains):
In the “cat department,” Security Chief Onslow is making sure their breakfast is coming, too:
Oh! Let’s check in with our Sophie and Anya in Mason City: They’re watching a horse show our Mary took them to yesterday ❤️! 
They’re waiting, so bring on the horsies!
Now let’s check in with the ducks! First, we put Severus and Sirius, our rouens (rouens are half-pekin/half mallard); then, Patrick and Aoife, our Welsh Harlequins, in the fenced backyard (because they can’t keep off the street):
Now, we let Paschal and Ferdinand out to wander where they please, because they never go near the road!
Don’t drag your webbed feet, ducks. The cat-cops want to get in those pens and clean them out—you spent all night splashing your water! 🐴
It’s a poopie-free morning (and 2 chicken videos) 🐴
Good morning! It was just 58 this morning, and only 71 at 12 noon!
I wish it was too cool for flies, but you know it’ll take a frost for that:
Dad is joining us for breakfast. You’re a new dad, Dad. The cat-cops saw at least one baby last night:
Last night was so cool we spent all night outside. How can you tell?
No poopies anywhere!
Just some chickens. 🐔
Speaking of chickens, I know you’ve seen “release the hens” videos before. But these 2 videos are from the perspective of inside the coops.
First the little coop:
Then the big coop:
The chickens told me, “Francis, make sure our friends know that we poultry love them, too!” 🐔❤️🐓❤️
We think Eva became a mother (again) 🐴
Good morning! Glad to see you (although you look a little spotty through the fly mask):
Yesterday morning, this was Tyrus in the living room:
And this morning, this is Tyrus on the mud room steps:
Are you ever right side up, Tyrus? 😺
Anyway, here’s a picture of Eva from September 1. It certainly looks like Eva was carrying extra passengers:
And here she was this morning:
When we see her latest batch of babies, we’ll let you know! 😺
Good timing, Rose 🐎
“Good morning everyone.”
Good morning, Toadie. You’re looking quite decorative today:
“Thank you, Francis. I was delighted to greet our friends!”
No problem, Toadie. Anyway, last night, Rose lost her right front shoe:
Lucky for her, this morning Travis is scheduled to do our hooves. Here I am waiting outside the gate to welcome him:
He put it right back on. It just needed some new nails:
Finally, the recent rain has left our creek babbling, and its banks lush with flowers:
And the flowers busy with bees!
Buzz-buzz! 🐝
A day to feel humbled and blessed 🐴
If you recall, yesterday I asked you what could be happening in his picture:
The answer is, I was receiving a Greek Orthodox blessing:
This past Monday, we were visited by His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago (Metropolitans are high-ranking bishops in the church), accompanied by our own parish priest, Father Peter. We received his blessing with a sprinkling of holy water (from sprigs of parsley):
How honored Ann and her family were to have such visitors:
Everyone with hooves instinctively knew to be good:
The cats were a little skittish. . .
But they were blessed, too. 😺
Finally, here’s a brief video of His Eminence with Stormy and Rose:
What a day to remember. ❤️
Hopefully, I will be able to tell you of a truly “blessed event” tomorrow. It happened this past Monday (and has nothing to do with Eva having kittens) 🐴!
Good morning! Stormy has a smile for YOU!
“Indeed I do, Francis!” ❤️
According to our rain gauges, whether they be the manure cart. . .
Or the puddle by far pasture, we had over 2 inches:
Finally, what on earth is happening in this picture?It’s part of the wonderful story I’ll do my best to share with you in the next post! 🐴
Leaping buzzards video 🐔
Good morning! I’m standing at attention, ready for food!
Tyrus is licking the egg off his nose:
Bolt is about to taste the mealworms on the water:
The manure cart is growing plants:
And the buff orpingtons are jumping for raspberries:
Sweet and juicy! 🐴
Snap, crackle, cats! 😺 (video)
Good morning! I’m not sure I need this fan this morning, it’s only in the 60’s. I think I’m just used to the comforting “white noise:”
It’ll still get over 80 today—but we’ll take it!
Anyway, come out of the hay barn and down to breakfast, Dad. . .
Two of your kittens, Tux and Charlie, don’t want to wait:
Your “I’m shy” act is geting a little tiresome, Dad:
That’s a little better:
Finally, before the canned food gets put out, the kitties have nothing to do but crunch the “hard stuff.”
The sound of good teeth! 🐴
Time to plug in the electric fence (2 videos) 🐴
Good morning! Eight kitties know it’ll be a good day to line up for breakfast:
They’ll have shiny clean pans:
And a freshly-opened bag of food:
Anyway, here I am, doing what a usually do every morning:
And Stormy is getting close to taking down some wires:
Hey, cat-cops, if you don’t get that fence plugged in soon, you’ll be chasing around 3 horses (and probably me!). 🐴
Bedtime for Buzzards (video) 🐴
Good morning! I haven’t been out yet, but the chickens have been telling me—not only is it still hot—there’s almost no breeze. 😾
That’s quite a scary look on your face, Rose (but you do have nice lower teeth). Are you overheating?
Oh! That’s just your “Why, I’d-love-a-molasses-heart” face:
Anyway, here’s a peek at the coop from 7:36 last night. Everybody is in, just as the sun sets:
It’s where the expression “When the chickens come home to roost” comes from. 🐔
Cute kitten video! 😺
Good morning! It’s still hot. Nobody here but us chickens (two of them at least):
”Keep spraying, please, it’s cooling me down.”
Me next, Rose. I see Luna’s keeping cool on the damp ground near the water tank (on the other side of the wall):
And is this kitten Chin or Bolt?
Watch this video, and you’ll see!
😺
Watch those feet, Stormy! 🐎
Good morning! Hmm, let’s see what’s happening today:
“I lost a piece of my hoof, Francis, if you need some news. It doesn’t hurt, and the shoes our friend Travis put on me should protect the rest of my hoof until it grows back.”
You certainly did, Stormy. We’ll all keep an eye on it:
Security Chief Onslow is meeting with Dad-cat. Hopefully he’s encouraging Dad to be less shy around cat-cops:
“All he needs is a push, Francis.”
It looks like there’s a line:
Now if you’ll excuse me. . .
I’m having a roll. 🐴
Rose gets an upgrade 🐎, and Tux gets bugged 🙀!
Good morning! It’s going to be another scorcher. Other than that, let’s have a heart:
“These hearts are still cool from being in the tack room:”
I wish we could all fit in the tack room, Stormy. Anyway, Tux has caught a praying mantis:
Last night, Rose’s feed bucket served it’s last meal:
Don’t worry, Rose. I opened a work order with “maintenance.” They’ll see what they can do. . .
“Thanks, Francis! I love my shiny new feed dish!” 🐎
Lots of stuff to start off September (and a Stormy video)! 🐎
Good morning! What do you have there, Rose?
Oh, it’s just a little leftover sawdust. Ann must have cleaned the coops last night:
And if setting my feed dish on me was supposed to be funny—I AM NOT AMUSED!
Anyway, it looks like Eva is planning to “bless” us again:
That was fast, Eva. They might be born before your previous “blessings’” first trip to the you-know-where, for shots and fixing:
Finally, it’s very important to keep this gate tied up. . .
Stormy checks it every day:
🐎