FRANCIS'S BLOG 04/19/2026
Happy Halloween! 🎃
Good morning! I’m Francis the Magic Dragon! I sneezed, and accidentally started a fire!
Don’t worry, I’ll use my dragon magic to put it out! 🎃
Promotion for Onslow 😺 (and a movie)
Good morning! Glad to see you!
Tiger has a smile for you, too:
Since our dear Schroeder went to kitty heaven, Onslow has assumed the office of Chief of Horsefarm Security:
He’s already on the job, watching the hens under the hay barn:
“That’s a bad place for a dust bath, ladies. That’s a known hangout for possums and raccoons!” 🙀
Finally, let’s check in on the ducks:
A clean duck is a happy duck! 🦆
Breakfast videos 😺
Greg, Tiger and Tyrus say, “Good morning! We’ve eaten, and now need a cat-cop to play with us!”
I’m enjoying this 66 degree morning! The carrots are icing on the cake:
Here we are when the weather was 30 degrees cooler, just last week.
And Jewel is eating the “pan drippings:”
Save some for me, Jewel. 🐎
No one takes a lickin,’ ‘cause everybody’s chicken! 🐓
Good morning! It’s warmer today, but also windier:
It will still be a good day for grazing in the front pasture:
Finally, it’s “Maran the Murderizer” versus “Turken the Terminator!”
All our rooster fights are “no contact!” 🐓
Spooky Kitties! 🙀
Good morning! That carrot will hit the spot:
The front pasture hasn’t been open for about two months, so plenty of grass has had time to grow back:
Here’s a Halloween picture of the kittens—spooky! They were hissing and arching their backs when they first saw Dukie:
But now they love Dukie. . .
And she loves them!
❤️
Oh, here’s our latest YouTube video, in case you missed it:
Tiger is “sawing wood!” 😺
The farmers are busy 🐴
Good morning!
We were just watching the harvest across the road:
“But now it’s time for breakfast. Watching all that corn has made me hungry, Francis.”
Eva prefers sitting on her house rather than in it:
Button says, “Go eat your breakfast, Eva…
“It’s nice and hot, thanks to the space heater.”
Finally, Turken wants to say, “Good morning!”
Now that he’s started to crow, it’s “Good morning,” all the time! 🐓
Lots of work done 🐓
Good morning! I need to remind people around here that I’m not a table:
Tiger has found a nice place to nap:
As you know, all summer, the chicken fence had been extended over most of the front yard...
But it needed taken down for winter, and the grass needed mowing:
Our friend, Devon, worked all day Thursday to fix things up. The grass is mowed…
And the chicken yard is now fenced back to “winter size:”
Of course, the chickens will still roam wherever they please:
To them, the fence is just a suggestion! 🐔
Someone new says, “Good morning!” 🐴
It’s in the 30’s today, but thankfully no ice.
And look who’s saying good morning…
Good morning to you, too, Turken! 🐓
Kittens grow on “trees” 😺
Good morning! My mane looks a bit like a “Mohawk,” doesn’t it?
These chickens are already well into their morning dust bathing:
Eva has discovered the cat-door on the tractor garage:
And Tiger, Tyrus, and Greg have a cat tree!
They only leave it to eat (and use the litter box)! 😺
Kitty capers 😺
Good morning! Finally, a little rain.
Jewel says, “I’m glad we have our hay, because the grass has pretty much dried up.”
Onslow says, “It’s a good day to eat inside.”
Tiger is stretching out in the tub with his favorite toy:
And Eva is getting used to her “Igloo.” She has been sleeping under the chicken coop, but winter’s coming!
Finally, here’s a short video of Eva trying to “chicken-sit:”
Eva is still a little skittish around the other cats, but she loves the cat-cops, and lets them pick her up! 😺
Bon appétit! 🐔
Jewel was planning on saying, “Good morning!” but she's busy right now, finishing my breakfast. . .
But that won’t keep me from smiling, just for you!
Eva is advising Turken, “You better go see what Ann is giving you guys for breakfast...”
“Rice, and some fancy lettuce called arugula.”
“Nouvelle cuisine!” 😺
Kitties meet Dukie! 😺
Good morning! Dukie’s here today:
Here’s a picture from last night. Doesn’t Buttons look peaceful and content? She should. . .
She sleeps way up by the ceiling, away from chickens, ducks, other kitties, horses, and cat-cops!
Here’s Tiger, trying to catch a ladybug, while Tyrus and Greg cheer him on:
And here are the curious kitties, meeting Dukie! This is the first time they’ve seen a doggie:
You don’t have anything to worry about, kitties. Dukie is around cats and kittens all the time:
You’ll be best friends in no time! 😺
Carrot day 🥕
Greg says, “Good morning!”
We’re still in mourning for Misty, Chavez, and Schroeder, so the cat-cops gave us carrots as a sympathy gift. I’m having mine, and so are. . .
Rose. . .
Jewel. . .
Stormy. . .
Iris. . .
and RC:
You’re the oldest now, RC. ❤️
Our hearts are broken 🐴 😿
We are so sad today. Our dear Misty, Chavez, and Schroeder went to horse and kitty heaven.
Schroeder had been suffering from diabetes and had become deathly thin and could hardly see. Here he is, nestling beside Onslow:
He was so friendly. Here he is making Eva feel safe and welcome. She wandered onto our farm only three months ago:
Misty had been plagued with seizures for years, which have been becoming more frequent. Here she is being nuzzled by her grieving son, Stormy:
And poor Chavez's front legs, often, have simply stopped working. He just couldn’t walk or get up without pain. . .
But he could always smile.
We loved them all. ❤️
What did the trail camera find? 🐴
Good morning! For something a little different, we put out the trail camera last night. . .
But before we get to that, let’s check in on the kittens.
Here they are, looking at Dukie (after they pulled down that curtain). They are still a little wary of her, but they’re warming up quickly.
So, what happened last night? Well, the only “unauthorized personnel” was Mr. O’Possum (watch under trailer):
And here’s Security Deputy Betty, arresting a trespassing mouse:
She gets him, interrogates him, then “escorts” him away (into her tummy)! 🐭
It may be cold 😾, but the cat food is hot! 😺
Good morning. Sorry, I have to yawn:
There was frost on the grass and a little ice on the water:
But the water’s never too cold for a duck!
This being her first autumn, Eva’s pleasantly surprised to find her food is warm as toast:
I hope those neck feathers grow back soon, girls:
And here’s Jewel, finishing my breakfast and casting a long shadow:
I don’t think I left much, Jewel. 🐴
Ice on the water! 🙀 (and a video)
Good morning! It was in the 30’s this morning, with the thinnest layer of ice on our water:
I’m afraid I don’t have much to show you, so here are Tyrus and Greg on the windowsill:
And Tiger is having fun with a toy:
Oh! I just remembered what I can show you. Here’s the groundhog, checking out the field camera:
Something about it must have scared him. 🐴
Watch your purse! 🙀
Good morning!
Stormy says, “It should barely hit 60 today. The cool air is refreshing.”
The chickens are settling in for a day of dust-bathing:
Hey, who’s that in the coop?
It’s Eva! She’s getting tamer every day and the chickens love her. When she becomes a little bigger, the cat-cops should have no trouble taking her to the vet:
And what are the inside kitties doing?
They’re up to mischief, of course! 😺
Some of our hay is missing 🐴
Good morning! Carrot, please:
Iris has already had her carrot, and is “taking on water.”
Tyrus is on lookout:
And Greg is wondering whether he can make the jump to the bathtub:
Well, until “management” decides what to do about the groundhog, he’s continuing to move in (this clip may look like it’s repeating, but it’s two separate clips, captured about 6 minutes apart):
I don’t think groundhogs eat hay, so he must be making a mattress, for his “long winter’s nap.” 🐴
These chickens are missing something 🐔
Good morning! Cooler weather is on the way. . .
But today we’ll leave the fan on, at least to blow around the flies, and the biting lady bugs that swarm this time of year:
I must say, Rose, you are looking quite rosy!
It looks like this olive-egger’s tail has molted off:
This Wyandotte’s neck feathers are coming back, but they’re still just little pins:
Speaking of neck feathers, we’ll have to knit Turken a sweater:
Finally, the kitties love to jump in the tub, but they do have a little trouble jumping out:
Let’s watch them!
Don’t worry, they can all get out, but it takes them some time. 😺
Kitties may be getting the spotlight, but we’re still getting the love and care we need! 🐴
Good morning!
First, let’s get our latest YouTube video out of the way, in case you haven’t seen it:
The exciting news is that our friend Elena, who is a professional trainer and instructor, will come several times a week to ride, groom and exercise Stormy, Jewel, Iris and Rose. Misty, RC, and Chavez are, as you know, “retired,” so no riding for them. They are “free spirits,” like me! 🐴
Every day is Groundhog day! 🙀
The disembodied head of Jewel says “Good morning! Carrots for everyone!”
Well, we still haven’t figured out the best way to set up the live trap for the groundhog. Here it is on Tuesday, digging out the hole we filled in that morning:
Let’s hope we figure something out, before the feed cabinet disappears into the ground! 🙀
Who’s the new rooster? 🐓
Good morning! Oh, excuse me, I can’t seem to stop yawning!
Well, let’s start off this Wednesday by watching the kittens scratch up a chair:
And guess who was cock-a-doodle-doing this morning:
I guess Turken is a Tom-Turken! 🐴
Cat Crime! 😾
Good morning! Let me tell you, the cats are keeping the cat-cops busy:
Here’s Onslow, about to pick a fight with poor Buttons. She’s not doing anything but trying to catch a sparrow, but he lit into her just after this picture was taken:
For his punishment, he had to sit and listen to “BAD KITTY!” twenty times! For Onslow, it was torture:
And here are three other criminals—Tiger, Tyrus, and Greg:
Let’s watch a video of the perpetrators:
What’s their crime? Breaking and entering while being adorable! 😺
Welcome, Tiger! 😺
Good morning! I’ll be with you, after I chomp this carrot:
Anyway, remember “Wiggly ears” from this video?
Well, he’s done some growing. . .
His name is Tiger:
And he will be our third farm house kitten!
He’s already having fun!
He’s quite happy to be back with his brothers. . .
Tiger, Tyrus and Greg:
They’ll sleep tonight! 😺
Another rooster 🐓
Good morning! I’m afraid I don’t have too much for you today:
The chickens have all staked out their spots in the stable:
The cat-cops are planning to set a live trap for the woodchuck, and escort it off the premises:
They better do it before our feed shed falls apart!
Anyway, this chick is a rooster. He was crowing with the cuckoo maran chick this morning:
He’s a cock-a-doodle-dude! 🐓
Mystery solved! 😺
Good morning!
Nixie, Dukie, Sophie and Calla are visiting today!
While the dogs are outside, Tyrus. . .
And Greg are exploring the living room:
Finally, who has been digging under our feed cabinet?
A groundhog!
What will we do about you? 🐴
More on the mystery under the feed cabinet 🙀
Betty says, “Schrödinger and I wish you ‘Good morning!’ This little tractor is a great place to soak up the sun.”
There’s a lot of mud outside, due to last night’s rain:
You can tell we spent last night inside, because of all the poopies “management” needs to clean up:
Anyway, as you recall from Tuesday’s post (click here to review), some creature has made a cave under our feed cabinet:
We filled in the entrance hole and set up a camera to watch all night, but nothing happened:
But yesterday—during the day!—the hole was dug out. We assumed it was a night animal, since no one has seen it. So we’ve filled in the hole again, and set up the camera again, and will let you know what we find out. The mystery continues. . .
Movie Time (kitties, mirrors, ducks, and sparrows)! 🐴
Good morning! I have cute videos, just for you!
We love having Tyrus and Greg with us. I still can’t easily tell who’s-who...
...But I’ve been told this is Tyrus:
Outside, Schroeder is being a good big brother to little Eva. Here they are yesterday, quietly having dinner:
Finally, I don’t know who eats more mealworms, the sparrows (and a few starlings) or the ducks:
Those freeze-dried mealworms cost 36¢ an ounce, ducks! Even horse food isn't that expensive! 🙀
Lots of exciting news (2 movies)! 😺
Good morning! It’s barely 50℉ now, but it should hit 70 by this afternoon. We’re still working on the mystery of the cavern under the feed cabinet, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have lots to tell you!
First, Schroeder is being nice to little Eva, patiently letting her finish her breakfast (but that’s not the news):
Remember these six sad kitties that Ann found abandoned by her house?
Well, they are all doing well! Four of them have loving homes with people we know, and the other two have just arrived at the farm to live with us!
Meet Tyrus and Greg (I don’t know who’s who right now)!
They love to play and be cuddled by the cat-cops:
Let’s watch them frolic in their own room in the farm house:
But that’s not all the news! Baldy, you are now not the only rooster at the farm:
One of the new chicks let us know just this morning. . .
“I’m a boy chicken!” 🐓
Mystery under the feed cabinet! 🙀
Ferdinand and Paschal say, “Good morning! It’s chilly and windy, but that doesn’t stop us from taking our bath. Aren’t we lucky to each have our own tub!”
Good morning to you, too! Let me at that carrot!
While they wait for breakfast, the gang is soaking up the sun:
And WHAT is piling up all this dirt by the feed cabinet?
Oh my! Something has dug a cavern! It’s a wonder the floor to our feed shed hasn’t collapsed!
We’ll let you know what we find out. Stay tuned! 🐴