FRANCIS'S BLOG 05/13/2026
Kitten is a weed whacker (video)! 🐴
Good morning!
There’s not a lot going on:
The security camera sees that Eva had her babies in bed with her, earlier, at 8 o’clock. She’s still asleep, but they’re waking up:
“Good morning, everyone. Don’t you have a video for us, Francis?”
Yes I do, Patches:
Oh, that Gray-baby! 🐴
Kickboxing kitties (video)! 😺
“Good morning! This cat carrier is a cozy place to wait for breakfast (I wouldn’t go near it, if it had a door)!”
Thanks for doing the honors, Nikita. Stormy (AKA, the Hungry-Hungry Hippo) is about to eat my breakfast:
For your horse crime, Stormy, you won’t be getting your peppermint heart!
I got your peppermint heart. . .
Because you ate most of my breakfast! 🐴
Anyway, let’s watch the kittens “fight:”
Their favorite move is the “bunny kick!” 😺
Let an expert say “Good morning!” 🐓
Let’s cover our ears, and listen to Bart cock-a-doodle-doo (more after video)!
Schroeder got lured into the pet carrier, and right now is at Dr. Dana’s office, getting fixed. Eva was supposed to go, but she was a little too quick. You know as well as I do, Eva, that those cat-cops won’t give up!
Anyway, Stormy is on lookout:
It rained all last night—
And from the look of my hair, I was out in it!
Oh, and Rose wants a kiss:
Smooch! ❤️
Another kitten has a name 😺
Good morning! It’s cloudy, but a visit from Dukie is brightening our day.
This kitten is officially named “Marbles!” How do you like your name, Marbles?
“Whatever. . .”
Anyway, after breakfast we’re all out in the far pasture, very far away. . .
But Stormy sees you! 🐎
Warm our hearts, with hearts! ❤️
Good morning! It’s a little chilly:
Oh! Is that peppermint heart for me?
Delicious! Thank you!
“Is that a treat, I see?”
Open wide, Rose.
(Don’t worry, RC and Stormy got hearts, too.) ❤️
Hay Hay everybody! 🐴 (and a video of a marble kitten) 😺
Good morning! Time to share some hay. We’re looking forward to it being over 60 today:
Tux is having breakfast with Mom:
Here’s a picture from last night. Looks like these chickens would be happy to roost in the duck garage—but sorry birdies, you’ll have to go home.
Finally, here are Gray-baby and Tabby wrestling. We think Tabby’s coloring is that of a “marble tabby.”
If you wait to the end, you can see a hen join Tux for breakfast (whether she’s welcome or not). 🙀
Rainy but warmer 🐴 (and a short Stormy video) 🐎
Good morning! It’s spotting rain, but it’s warmer than yesterday, even though the sun was nice:
Patches is hiding with the mealworms:
The security camera shows us that Eva was with her kittens all night:
The cat-cops need to buy a bigger heated pet bed. In a matter of weeks, everyone will want to sleep on it, not just the babies:
Here’s a little clip of Stormy “mowing the lawn.” Notice how short the grass is (more after video):
Rose is at work, too. Where’s RC?
“I’m here. I’m going to remind them that we’ve got almost five acres of far pasture, practically untouched.”
“It’s not that far of a walk.” 🐎
Oh no, another stray? 😾 And a video of lovely ME! 🐴
Good morning! I wasn’t feeling too hot yesterday, but I think I'm do a little better today. Ann is still keeping an eye on me and will call the vet if things don’t improve. For now, she’s watching my diet and finding some food that should be better for me (I hate when my diet is being watched)!
Tabby and Gray-baby (seriously, cat-cops, you have to name them) are grappling, while Tux is concentrating on breakfast.
Speaking of cats without names, here’s someone we haven’t seen before. For a while, we thought it was Dad. . .
But Dad was down having dinner at the same time:
I guess our cat population is going to 17. 🙀
Anyway, as promised, here’s a video of me, having a scratch just before. . .
I give you a BIG KISS! ❤️
Ice on the water (and a kitten video)! 🐴
Good morning. I’ve been standing over here, trying to soak up the sun. I’m waiting for my breakfast to be brought out. My hooves are still bothering me, so I’m not doing much walking. Ann gave me some more medicine. I won’t be surprised if she puts me on “lockdown,” to keep me from eating too much grass.
It doesn’t help that it’s pretty chilly:
As you see, there’s ice on the duck water:
Hmmm, it looks like a cat was trying to make an appetizer before breakfast, but changed its mind:
And Luna has a vole (but she didn’t eat it):
Finally, let warm up by watching a kitten video:
Visiting with you is already making me feel better! 🐴
Getting ready for winter 😺
Good morning! It’s 43 and windy, but seeing you puts a smile on my face!
I’m about to go in and have hay with the horses:
The tack room heater was set up last night, so this morning the cat food is hot, soft and juicy:
Also, the cat pad was plugged in last night. It didn’t take long for the kittens to find it:
And the kitty-cozy is out, too:
Dot is thinking, “With sixteen of us, we’re going to need another heating pad, maybe two! I hope our electrical system can handle it!” 😺
Stormy’s green in the mouth 🐎 (and a video) 😺
“Good morning! I’ve got a smile for you!”
“I’m just about to go in for breakfast…”
“Can you tell what I’ve been eating?—teehee?”
Yep! Alfalfa pellets will do that, Stormy. My hooves are feeling better, but Ann still gave me more medicine this morning.
Anyway, here’s a cute kitten video (more after video)!
Oh, in case you were wondering, the cat carrier is for their mother, Eva. On Thursday (we hope!) we can take her to the vet to get her shots and be fixed.
Don’t tell Eva! 🙀
A Stormy video! 🐎
Good morning. I’m afraid I’m not myself…
My hooves are bothering me a little. I’m not walking around like I should.
The sugar level of grass can spike in the spring and autumn, and when we get too much sugar, it can make our feet sore. So Ann is giving me some pain medicine:
I’m feeling a little better, but she’ll keep an eye on all of us for the time being. ❤️
Finally, did you know that Stormy is a math genius? No..?
Hey Stormy, what’s 2 to the 4th power? Tap out the answer with your hoof:
16? Correct! You are brilliant! 🐎
Slow news Sunday 🐴 (and current YouTube)
Good morning! Don’t worry, I’m happy to see you; it’s just that the sun’s in my eyes.
It was only 45 the morning, and windy! Little Tux is soaking up the sun:
Goodness, there’ll be so many additional cats this winter. We’ll need extra heating pads.
Oh, remember that pumpkin plant that was taking over the farm house?
Our friend, Devon, “defeated” it with some heavy duty loppers:
You would think, being such a giant plant, it would have left us with bigger pumpkins:
Anyway, in case you haven’t seen it, here’s our latest YouTube short:
The Circle of Life: A chicken eats a goo tube made from chicken. 🐴
Was there something in the cat food? 🙀
Good morning! With our electricity fixed, the floodlight over the paddock is working again. We all feel a little safer:
“The swallows may be gone, but we sparrows are all year round!” 🐦
“Breakfast was great. Wake me when it’s time for dinner.”
Oh, come on, Buttons! Don’t waste the day. Get up and catch a mouse!
What’s this? This kitten is falling asleep, too!
But in her defense, she’s already been bouncing all over the place with her two siblings.
And finally, what is it with the chickens and this spot in the duck garage? There’s no food, it’s not cooler (or warmer), and no eggs are ever found:
“It’s our secret.”
I’ll find out, sooner or later, chickies. 🐴
Kittens have a varied diet (video) 🐴
Good morning! Let’s have some Friday potpourri!
The ducks are getting clean water in all three pools:
I don’t know how the cats expect to be fed if they won’t get out of the way:
The babies were already in the garage, playing under the tractor, ready to hop out for breakfast:
But as we saw last night, Eva still nurses them:
And after that, they went over for the “second course!”
Do those kitties ever get full? 😺
Fowl news! 🐔🐓
Good morning!
I don’t think Ann will be happy until she has all 16 (at last count) cats on my back. But for now, she's only convinced Dot and Patches:
As much as I appear to complain, as soon as they start “making bread” up there (Google it), I’ll get a nice back massage:
Anyway, as the apples get overripe, they become nice and soft, and a treat for the chickens!
And this chicken has a little dead mouse (ugh):
Oh! By the way, the baby cats were already in the garage when the door was opened…
And had breakfast with the big cats!
What would a morning be without kitten news? 😺
Does this cat make my butt look big? 🐴
Good morning! Sorry for showing you my backside, but the cat-cops are trying to train the younger cats to ride on my back:
Dot’s saying, “Wake me when it’s over.”
“I’m hiding out on the roof of the duck garage.”
Smart move, Patches. Anyway, we’re so happy two nice people at Tri-City Electric fixed our power problems. They ran us nice new conduit and put in sturdy new power boxes. Not only that. . .
They and our friend Devon cleaned up a lot of junk and branches! 😺
It’s horse 🐎 and donkey 🐴 appreciation day!
Good morning. All the recent attention the cat-cops have been paying to the cats and new kittens has left us feeling a little neglected:
Oh, what a nice surprise!
Yummy peppermint hearts! 💛
Now we’ve all got a smile!
And that’s not all. . .
All summer the power has been out to half of the stable, the tack room, and the hay barn. We had a little power, here and there, but no way to keep the water heaters working this winter.
Today we’re getting that all fixed! Nothing says “I love you” like a brightly-lit stable and liquid water all winter long! ❤️
What’s gray and white and a bottomless pit? 😺
Good morning! It’s all about the cats today.
Tiger was taking in the view from the sink:
Now he’s trying to attract Patches’s attention. They often swap paw-shakes through that space under the door:
Finally, we all know Eva’s kitties are big eaters:
But the real chowhound is “Gray-baby” (a temporary name until we can think up a better one). We runs right over to eat with the big cats: 
He’s not intimidated by Juno's dirty look—he just keeps his head down and eats! 😺
Stay off my lawn, deers! (Anya video)
Good morning!
Stormy is eating RC’s “spillage.” Rose says, “Just let me in there.”
The chickens are having cat-cop leftovers:
There’s not much going on, other than we’re still enjoying our visit with Sophie, Anya, and Mary! ❤️
They brought us this video, of Anya barking at two deers in Mary’s front lawn (look closely—you can see the deer):
Don’t mess with Anya! 🐴
Cats, as far as the eye can see 🐴 (2 videos)
Good morning! Fall may finally be with us.
Sophie, Dukie, and Anya are with us, too!
However, RC is not with us. He’s still finishing breakfast:
“Sorry I'm late. It’s a beautiful day. How about a kiss?” ❤️
I see “maintenance” is cleaning the cat dishes—finally!
That should make the food taste yummier 😺:
Baby kitties can still eat from Momma Eva, of course. 😺
Here’s a video of Eva eating and feeding at the same time:
Finally, here’s a video of last night’s serene sunset:
Kitties as far as the eye can see! 😺
Rainy day, dry kittens 😺
“Good morning! I have a smile for you, even though it’s raining!”
“I’m happy to see everyone, too, Stormy!”
Me as well, Rose.
The kittens are safely out of the rain. They spent about two days in the garage, but they’ve moved under the little shed beside the hay barn:
Eva’s first batch of kittens did the same thing:
The cat-cops have promised me Eva is getting fixed as soon as she can leave her new babies. 🐴
Clear, crisp and cool! 🐴
Good morning! It was only 42℉ this morning, so the sun feels nice:
Time to graze, and keep an eye on the activity across the street:
The cameras catch good mother Eva nursing the kittens:
By daylight they had let themselves outside:
They have kitten food, but they are eating regular food as well. 😺
Baby cats don’t know how claws work 😿 (video )!
Good morning! I’m heading down to graze as usual:
I’m so glad our Bill ❤️ was out to take care of me and the horses. Everyone else—of course!—is preoccupied with those fluffy little furballs:
They spent their first night in the garage, in the cat-cozy, under the watchful eye of Momma Eva:
Anyway, this morning we’re wolfing down kitten food. . .
And exploring everywhere. . .
And we all potty in this corner:
Finally, poor little Tux II (named after our sainted Tux I), got his claws stuck:
Needless to say, he was rescued and the hazard was removed! 😺
Kitten drama 🐴 (and a Greg video 😺)
Good morning! We had a heavy rain overnight.
What’s going on, Rose, RC, and Stormy?
What’s this?
That’s one of Eva’s babies! The rain must have made her move them to the cat garage.
That has to be more comfortable than out in the weeds, where I found them this past Sunday. Look, the cat-cops set up food and a bed:
How cozy!
Anyway, here’s Greg, baptizing himself...
And having a drink at the same time! 😺
I haven’t thought this through 🐴
Good morning. I’ve gotten into the habit of slipping under the fence to the far pasture, then spending the night under the hay barn:
I enjoy watching the dawn from my “fortress of solitude.”
But when it’s time for breakfast, I can’t figure out how to slip back under the fence, and end up whining and hee-hawing at the gate:
I’m not sure how long the cat-cops are going to put up with this. 🐴
Kittens in the bush, and a new book! 😺
“Good morning. Francis has asked me to welcome you, because he’s busy helping Ann locate Eva’s latest (and hopefully last) batch of kittens.”
Thanks, Tails. I found them. They’re between these weeds and the white fence:
They’re on solid food now.
Soon they’ll be joining the rest of the clowder.
And here’s a new book from Kandis England:
Click on this line to download it for free for a limited time! ❤️
Little lions at the watering hole 🦁 (2 videos)
Good morning!
Don’t worry, Patches, I know this wasn’t your idea:
That is one impressive tongue, Dot:
Smudge is intrigued:
And here’s a video, of, well (I’m thinking)…
Chicken traffic! 🐴
Betty has lots to tell you today (and a video to show you)! 😺
“Good morning! Francis is already in the front pasture, so I’m doing the honors today. But first, I’ll sample this duck water.”
“As second in command of the DHS, I’m keeping an eye on these ducks. If they try to cross the road, they’re getting locked up!”
“It looks like Nikita is about to get ‘attacked’ by Schroeder, but I know they're just playing.”
“And last night one of the chickens pecked an egg. Since it won’t be eaten by ‘management,’ it was fed back to them today.”
“I’m pretty sure the chickens do it on purpose.”
“Let’s watch them chow down!”
“Cats will lap up eggs, too. But those chickens have Patches and Luna outnumbered!” 🙀
Ducks say more than “Quack!” 🦆 (video)
Good morning!
We’re all masked up and ready to go:
Greg snuck out the door this morning:
I’m not sure Paschal and Ferdinand are in the mood for visitors. 😾
If you listen carefully, at the 4 second mark, you can hear Paschal hiss twice:
We’re sorry that it might be too hard to hear; but, since a hissing duck is an unhappy duck, we’re glad that our ducks so rarely have a reason to hiss! 😺
Oh, that Patches! 😺 (and YouTube)
“Good morning, everyone!”
Hello, Patches! How about a kiss?”
Just kidding, Patches. No need to hide!
The chickens are molting, nobody’s looking very good:
See that row of things that look like gray pins? Those are new feathers on the way. 🐔
Oh, in case you missed it, here’s our latest YouTube:
Eva is a good mother! 😺 (And I meant Bath Time Edition, not Addition. I’m a donkey, not a linguist. 🐴)