FRANCIS'S BLOG 04/22/2026
I’m sorry that there was no post yesterday. 🐴
“Management” forgot that our friend Travis was coming to do our hooves at 11 instead of 9. So the horses had to wait in their stalls for an extra 2 hours after breakfast:
They had hay, of course, but still, none of us take well to surprises. It made me all befuddled, so I forgot to write my blog. 😾
Anyway, here’s a video of Rose and Stormy (in the background) puffing up some steam!
The noise in the background is Rose’s shoe being tapped with a hammer, so it will be a perfect fit. Of course, the shoe at this time is on an anvil, not on Rose. (But you knew that, didn’t you?) 🐎
A Christmas Cat Miracle! 😺
This is a picture of Noodle (or Noodles), taken way back in the spring of 2018:
At about that time, Noodle was accidentally locked in the trunk of Ann’s dad’s car. When he heard the noise, he stopped the car, five miles away from the farm, and opened the trunk. Noodles, frightened, jumped out and ran away, never to be seen again. We were heartbroken! We never stopped wondering what happened to him. 😿
Well, on Christmas day, 2021, in an incredible stroke of luck, Ann was at a family get-together, when someone mentioned a Facebook post about a found, male, fixed tabby, and this tabby would jump up on a horse’s back.
Jump up on a horse? That was Noodle’s favorite thing, ever since he was a kitten! 😺
So the nice lady invited Ann and Bill to see if her cat was indeed our long lost Noodle:
It was! Noodle is easily recognized by his broad nose:
The lady said he never goes up to strangers, but he immediately recognized Ann and Bill:
Here is Noodle with his new mommy. Lucky kitty!—to be adopted by someone with a stable, horses, and a good heart:
Knowing our (former) kitty is alive and loved made for a Happy Christmas! 😺
Oh no—our first snow! 🙀
Dukie, the snow is piling up on you fast:
What is it with dogs and snow? They love to frolic in it:
Phoenix, Sophie and Calla are prancing around like reindeer:
I’d rather stay dry:
So would Schrödinger and Onslow:
And Finn:
Ferdinand and Percy are asking themselves, “What are we doing out here?”
Oh no! Look at how bad the snow is at almost noon:
I hope this doesn’t delay our dinner. 🐴
Slow news day 😾 so we’ll show a movie 😺
I’m afraid there’s only Jewel to wish you a good morning. The rest of us are in the stable eating:
So let’s watch Sophie have another nice run:
🐎
The calm after Christmas 🐴
It’s chilly again—only 25:
We and the cats are ready for 2021 to be over (only Finn felt like posing):
But we can always count on Dukie for a smile. . .
. . .and Sophie, too:
They had a nice walk in the field. When the corn is gone, the fields seem to stretch out forever. 😺
Christmas Costumes! 🐎
Don’t I look festive?
How about Chavez?
And Stormy?
Doesn’t Dukie look sweet?
How about Santa Sophie?
Merry Christmas!
And Happy New Year! 🐴
Christmas treats! 🐎
Dukie and Stormy can tell you it’s a little breezy this morning, but it’s a pleasant 50 degrees!
The real fun was last night. Our friend Sally gave us a nice bag of Christmas treats:
Her daughter Kassie, and granddaughters Vaida and Maizey are good friends of the farm:
We had such fun last summer when they came to visit:
We look forward to seeing them in 2022! 🐎
Kitty Capers 😺
Oh well, there’s not too much to tell you today, other than we’re enjoying warmer weather:
I know! Let’s check in with the cats. Alfred is having a drink of fresh water:
Onslow is hiding out in the feed shed:
Betty is having a mouse over for breakfast:
And Buttons is. . .
Well, Buttons is just being a great big ball of fluff! 😺
Schroeder got his shots 😺
Good morning, it’s only 17℉.
Here’s Schrödinger, being a good boy in the vet’s office:
He had a bath. He got his distemper and rabies shots:
He got antibiotics for his ear, and dewormed:
You look healthy and happy, Schroeder! 😺
Schrödinger has an appointment 🙀
Jewel and I are heading in, and the chickens are heading out:
Schroeder gets to spend the morning inside. He’s going to the vet this afternoon for an ear infection, and we don’t want him “disappearing” on us:
And Dukie gets to investigate the back yard before the ducks are let out:
The water is frozen, so she can’t get muddy! 😺
Alfred and Onslow have a difference of opinion 😾
Our trees are full of birds:
Jewel and I get along quite well. We always keep each other company:
Yesterday our food supply came in, which means I can slip out:
Finally, lets watch Alfred and Onslow have a tête-á-tête before breakfast:
Onslow is a little kitty with a big voice! 😺
To each 🐓 their own 😺
I’m in a bit of a mood this morning (and from the look of it, so is Schroeder): I wouldn’t come in the stable, and whined to have breakfast outside—but the bowl is still not close enough:
However, after about 5 minutes, I decided that, if the bowl won’t come to the donkey, the donkey must go to the bowl:
This picture shows off just how long are Baldy’s spurs:
Speaking of Baldy, every chilly morning, he can be found under the heat lamp; and as soon as the door opens, Betty rushes in. Sometimes she hunts for mice; sometimes she just gets toasty!
To each their own heat lamp. 🐴
A tiny bit of snow 🐎
The ducks woke up to a little snow this morning, but it’ll be gone in an hour:
I think I’ll let Stormy babysit Dukie this morning:
Stormy and Dukie get along well:
They both like to check out my dish for leftovers:
Dukie will eat alfalfa pellets, but it’s bad for her. So you can bet, I make sure it’s empty before I leave it unattended. 🐴
Let’s watch Ann feed Nugget some cat food:
What a tame chicken! 🐔
Let’s watch Sophie run! 😺
It’s another good carrot morning:
That’s two in a row! Lucky us!
Someone laid two eggs in the nesting box. I’ll tell the cat-cops to put some sawdust in there:
Alfred and Onslow are ignoring each other after breakfast:
And Dukie is already out on her walk:
Finally, here’s Sophie, from her visit last night:
What a fun run in the sun! 🐎
Chilly weather and a storm overnight! 😾
Well, RC, it’s only 35 this morning; so I guess we’re paying for that warm day yesterday.
Chezzie laid down on some hay and mud, obviously:
Finn was up all night, listening to the wind and rain, so she’s still sleepy after breakfast. She’s all ready to have a nap on an old shirt:
Stormy is having breakfast in Iris’s stall:
And Iris is in Stormy’s stall:
A change is as good as a rest! 🐎
A very warm December Wednesday 😺
It’s 70 degrees! Everybody’s happy!
Time to celebrate!
Break out the carrots!
Yummy-yum! 🐎
Finally, let’s watch Schroeder and Alfred have a “discussion:”
Behave, Alfred! 😾
Fowl deeds and dog doings 🐴
There’s not much going on today, but the temperature is going to be over 50! I’m trying to keep Dukie company, but she, as usual, is too anxious to start her walk:
And the chickens are about to share some mealworms on ice!
It doesn’t take long for Dukie to be galloping up from the creek. . .
What a happy girl! 🐴
A clean duck is a happy duck! 🦆
Good morning. The weather is sunny and in the 40’s!
Stormy is getting some dried mud scratched off his cheek:
And the ducks are happy! They’ve gone without their pools all weekend:
Why?
Because when Dukie visits, she makes a muddy mess. 🙀
Dukie’s in the cornfield!
We didn’t see Alfred yesterday, but here he is for breakfast this morning:
Here’s Buttons, checking out the sparrows under the roof of the barn:
And Dukie’s having her walk. This time, she’s way out in a cornfield:
What fun:
She loves to run off the leash! 🐎
Super-windy Saturday 🐎
First, let’s look at some fun pictures from last night. RC did some rolling in the mud:
Dukie is waiting patiently, in the farm house, to go for a walk:
Alfred is keeping out of the rain:
I pushed Misty’s door open and stole her food dish (I admit, that was very bad of me):
And the security camera catches Stormy (left) keeping mother Misty company:
Why does it look like we’re all inside on a super sunny morning?
Because it’s super windy, that’s why. And our hay would blow away:
Here’s Rose having her hay out of a net. “I’d rather have it on the ground,” she grumbles:
Finally, here I am tidying up RC’s leftovers:
I dumped out his feed dish, to make sure I didn’t miss a granule! 🐴
What a rude horse! 🐎
It's a nice day to be outside:
Stormy agrees:
Chezzie, you should not be in Rose’s stall!
Did you just stick your tongue out at me?
You did!
That was very impolite, Chezzie. Promise me you won’t do it again! 🐴
The new kitty’s name is Alfred! 😺
Good morning. It’a a little windy, but almost 40!
Alfred is cleaning up leftovers while Buttons keeps cozy by the heater:
Yes, the new cat is officially “Alfred!”
You can tell that the past few days have been very cold:
Look at the icebergs we dumped out of the duck pools! 🐴
What a sweet gesture, in memory of Pumpkin 😿
Here I am last night, staying warm by snuggling up to Misty:
I’m enjoying my “carrot morning” . . .
And so are the others, like Stormy. . .
And RC:
Finally, just look at this lovely sympathy card from the clinic that took care of Pumpkin. It was signed by the vets and every member of the staff:
What caring people! They are just off HWY 6, on the outskirts of Colona, and were so good to us in our emergency. 😺
Black cat visits the farm 😺
I’m looking gloomy because it’s only 15℉ this morning. Don’t worry, I’ll cheer up as soon as I see my breakfast:
The cats had their heater on last night:
And this admittedly fuzzy picture is a visitor:
Don’t run away, kitty. . .
You’ll miss breakfast! 😺
Blustery day 🐎
It’s a garbage-can-blowing-over day (ours was in the ditch by the daycare across the street). Our breakfast is blowing around too, but it’s not getting away:
Here’s Misty on her way to the bin (I’m glad I’m not the only one around here used as a glove rack):
It’s too windy for the chickens. They're in the garage with their heads under their wings:
And look who, for the first time, showed up for dinner last night:
It’s New Kitty! (Be nice, Onslow! 😾)
He’s very hungry; he’s cleaning up leftovers:
Waste not; want not! 😺
Pretty flower on a dreary day 😺
Our Christmas cactus is brightening the farm house. . .
But it’s not doing much for us:
But we are glad we added extra lights in the stable:
The ducks are waiting patiently for their pools to fill:
But look who is being not-so-patient! New kitty!
He’s up by the farm house, trying to hurry up breakfast:
He’s becoming more and more like one of the clowder:
What’s a “clowder?” Why, it’s a group of kitties! 😺
Mean kitty 😾 and molting chicken 🐔
It’s a frosty morning. . .
But the sun is coming out, which will help:
Onslow! stop trying to fight with new kitty!
Don’t worry, Onslow’s letting new kitty eat (but still keeping an eye on him):
After breakfast, we see new kitty heading down the hill to the creek. He’ll be back tomorrow:
Oh, and poor Ingrid is having an ugly molt:
Her feather loss might be due to lice, so we’ll give her some medicine. 🐔
Life goes on. . . 😿
We’re still mourning our beloved Pumpkin. Here she is in younger days, when she was vigorous, and thought nothing of catching a mouse:
We’ll eventually get back to business, like giving this new cat a name:
Dukie is of course with us:
What a nice day for a walk!
😺
Rest in Peace, Pumpkin 😿
Our hearts are broken. Yesterday, poor Pumpkin was under a car when it started moving, and her old ears didn’t hear in time. She was taken to the vet, of course, but with a broken leg and pelvis, it was best to let her go to kitty heaven. 😿
She will be buried with her sister, P.J., who lived with Ann in East Moline. P.J., by prescient coincidence, went to kitty heaven this very day. Thank you, girls, for 17 years of being wonderful cats. 😿
New kitty doesn’t miss a breakfast 😺
Here’s the new cat, using the cat door, just like a native:
Not being bothered by, or bother-ing, the chickens is a great qualification for being a farm kitty:
What’s a great qualification for being a farm donkey?
Why, loving carrots, of course! 🐴