FRANCIS'S BLOG 04/19/2026
Goodbye 2024! 🎉🎊🔮
RC says, “Good morning. It’s a good day to eat inside.”
Speaking of inside, Tails, Mini and Gray don’t look like they intend to leave the heating pad anytime today:
And the weeds outside the coops are full of sparrows waiting for the chicken food to be put out:
Whether you’re a stray cat or a stray bird, everybody eats at the farm! 🐴
Muddy Monday 🐴
Good morning! Oh my, the mud is certainly taking its time leaving:
The gray and white cat is with us this morning (the cat-cops really have to get on the stick and give him a name). He says, “May I have some breakfast, please?”
Oh course, kitty! Hop up on the tractor!
The tractor's the place to be this morning:
Mini-Me, Gray-Baby, and Momma Tails recommend it highly—it provides good food and a nice view! 😺
Sophie visits! 🐴
Good morning. Sophie and Mary and visiting the farm:
The first thing Sophie did was visit the cats:
And then she took a run around the front pasture:
We always love to see them both! ❤️
Nice to see you, goldfish! 🐴
Good morning! It’s sunny and temperate, after a day of rain. All that rain from the roof has left the water fresh and the goldfish visible!
Security Chief Onslow advises that someone has been “pilfering” the hay:
Rose says, “Guilty as charged! Next time, don’t leave the hay so close to the gate.”
It’s in the 50’s—a great day for kitties to play. Mini loves hopping in and out of the cat door. . .
And Gray is cleaning his paws, and Tails is keeping a lookout for mean roosters! 🐓
Martha gets some TLC 😺
Good morning! Someone’s visiting us, who Tails’ kittens haven’t met before:
It’s our friend, Travis, doing our hooves:
Oh, I forgot—here’s my smile, just for YOU (and the hay I’m about to eat)!
Anyway, poor Martha’s new neck feathers are almost grown in, but they’re still a little prickly and uncomfortable. So Ann is letting her eat breakfast from the roost:
It’s the chicken equivalent of breakfast in bed! 🐔
3 videos, all this Thursday morning 🐴
Good morning! I’m afraid I don’t have anything very exciting this foggy day. 😿
But, here’s Paschal. She just jumped in the tub, while the water’s still clear:
Gray and Mini have had their breakfast, and are watching Baldy and a hen clean up the leftovers:
And here is lovely me!
🐴
I guess the kittens are still babies 🐴
Good morning! I have a smile, and am wearing my Santa cap, just for you!
The cat-cops were happy to see Mini-Me and Gray-Baby in the garage this morning (instead of the groundhog’s hole):
There’s a lot to do. Here’s Gray checking out a bucket of fresh water:
This water dish was sparkling clean until he walked in it (don’t worry, it’s clean again):
Finally, after joining Momma for store-bought cat food. . .
Now they’re up on the heating pad. . .
Having a drink of milk. 😺
Who doesn’t like roast chicken! 🐓
Good morning! It may be cloudy, but it’s in the 40’s!
Dukie’s here! She and Greg are snuggling and watching TV:
Security Chief Onslow is not happy with Tails for eating Buttons’ breakfast:
Hey Baldy, aren’t you feeling a little warm?
Get away from there before you singe your feathers! 🐴
Kitty capers! 😺
Greg says, “Good morning!”
“Put down the remote, Tiger, and let’s explore the basement!”
“Oh wow! We found some rolled-up carpet to climb on!”
Betty says, “I think I’ll stay here all day, where I can pretend it’s summer!”
Tails says, “Mini was up here with Gray and me a second ago.”
“But she’s still shy around cat-cops, so down the groundhog hole she went.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll have both Mini and Gray with me in the garage this evening for dinner.” 😺
Cold weather can’t stop eggs! 🐔
Good morning! It’s chilly but there’s no wind, so we’re soaking up the sun:
Mini and Gray have had breakfast, and now they’re on the heated cat bed:
Speaking of cats, everything the cats play with has been thrown in water bowl, probably twice:
And what’s going on here?
Oh, this chicken has found a cozy place to lay her egg:
The sawdust is nice and soft, and the plastic makes a blanket. 🐔
We hear from Sophie! 🐴
Good morning! As you can see, we had a little snow:
Eva looks like she’s chicken-sitting:
“Don’t worry, Eva, we’re not going anywhere in this weather!”
In spite of the weather, we’re so happy, because we got a video of Sophie from Mary in Mason City! ❤️
She hears Jingle Bells! Santa must be near! 🎄
We hear from Iris again! 🐎
Gray says, “Good morning! It was very scary overnight!”
“Nasty raccoons were here! They left footprints in our water!”
But everybody’s happy now, because we heard from Iris!
Here she is, giving Mara a ride around the arena where she lives:
It looks nice and cozy. 🐴
Oh those kittens (don’t miss the video) 😺
Good morning! The indoor kittens started the day by knocking down the security camera that looks out over our yard,
And then played in the tub:
Last night, Tails took Mini-Me and Gray-Baby out exploring:
We can jump in and out of the cat door,
So we can go in and out at any time. 😺
Let’s watch Momma and children play:
They were out there until dark! 😺
What are those strange orange sticks? 🐴
Tom says, “Good morning! It’s a good day to fluff out your feathers in the manure dust!”
Someone plopped an egg next to the waterer:
Yummy! We haven’t had carrots in weeks!
Jewel gets one. . .
So does Stormy. . .
And RC. . .
And Rose. . .
That’s everybody! 🐎
Ferdinand and Paschal are on “spin-cycle!” 😺
Good morning! It’s our second morning of fog, but it’s above 40!
It’s still cool enough for Gray baby to appreciate the heater:
And Betty is staying out of the damp in the duck garage:
The mist has left condensation on the window.
Finally, let’s watch Ferdinand and Paschal spin around in the water:
Fun in the tub! 🦆
The ducks are happy today—they can get clean! 🦆
Good morning! It’s dreary and soupy outside, but it’s above 40!
We have a visit from the gray cat:
He’s breakfasting on a pile of leftovers (AKA the “raccoon pile”), but we’ll treat him to some fresh food in a moment:
Security Chief Onslow has officially declared him a “good kitty,” who’s welcome to our farm family:
Onslow says, “You need to give him a name, cat-cops.” 😺
Anyway, the recent freezing weather has left the poor ducks with no place to take a bath:
But today—the pools are open! 🦆
Patrick is splashing while Danny Fairbrass and Aoife clean up in the puddle:
And Paschal gets first crack at the tub, while Ferdinand waits:
Ferdie has some seriously dirty bottom feathers. 🐴
Nasty sleet and rain 😾
Good morning! I’m where I'm not supposed to be:
We’re having hay inside today. It’s pretty icy out there:
Gray kitty is getting so brave around the cat-cops:
Here Gray kitty is, in the tractor seat, cleaning up after breakfast:
It’s only a matter of time before kitty is pet-able, like Momma. 😺
Kitty Capers! 😺
Good morning! It’s chilly, but any day the sun is shining is a good day!
Onslow is hoping a dirty look will keep him from being “escorted” out of the warm tack room:
Since moving her family to the garage, Tails has discovered the heating pad:
And Gray baby has discovered the heater:
If you remember, from a couple days ago, we were worried that we didn’t see the other kitten since it was in the stable. Happily, Mini-Me has come out of hiding. She’s eating,
And playing with Gray kitty!
Lastly,
What’s good on TV, Tyrus? 😺
Here’s news about Iris! 🐎
Iris says, “Good Morning!” from her new home:
You can see she has a cozy riding arena, just like home:
And here she is, heading out to meet her new friends!
We miss you, Iris, but we’re glad you’re happy and with Mara. ❤️
Kittens on the move 😺
Good morning! A little snow was blowing through, but the sun came out an hour later:
Tails moved her kittens to the cat garage last night.
This morning we only saw the gray kitten, who was out with Momma:
You’re so friendly, gray kitty…
Tell Mini-Me (because it looks so much like Tails) to come out of hiding…
So the poor cat-cops won’t worry. 😿
What did you roll in, Stormy? 🐴 (and a new YouTube video, if you missed it)
Good morning! Oh my, Jewel, single-digits are predicted for tomorrow 😿:
Tails is making sure her babies get breakfast:
Oh Stormy! Where did you find that many fresh poopies to roll in?
Since it’s too cold to give you a bath, you need to roll on some clean grass in the pasture! 🐎
Here’s our latest YouTube video...
It’s from the post “Kitten rescue! 9-1-1!” 🙀
Iris has a new home 🐎
Good morning! Where’s Iris?
Iris has moved to a new stable in Minooka, Illinois:
Now she will be much closer to her Mommy, our friend Mara:
Here she is in her coat, getting acquainted with two new friends:
We’re sad to see her leave, but we’re happy that she and Mara will be able to see each other more often:
We love you, Iris, and your Mommy knows that she can bring you back to our farm at any time! ❤️
A Pearl Harbor Day visitor 😺
Good morning! I’ll be gone tomorrow, and I’ll tell you why on Monday.
It’s supposed to get close to 50 today. That aside, I’m in a bit of a mood. I whined until my hay and grain were brought out to me:
This poor chicken will appreciate the next few days of warmer weather—she still has to grow in some neck feathers (her neck looks like it belongs on a dragon):
And who’s this, joining Tails and Eva for breakfast?
Uh-oh, it looks like another stray cat is making their home at the farm, just like Tails and Eva:
Well, kitty, hang around, don’t run from the cat-cops, and become part of our farm family. 😺
Cute kittens in time for Christmas! 😺
Good morning! Stormy and I are about to get “escorted” out of RC’s stall:
Buttons is getting reacquainted with an old friend:
The chickens water froze last night, so they’re lining up for a drink, fresh from the well:
Here’s one kitten starting breakfast. . .
And the other peeking out of the hole:
What cute little elves! ❤️
The birds are on the move 🐦
Good morning! As soon as the wind stops, it shouldn’t be a bad day:
The indoor cats having treats on the tree (it must be nice):
This is not a good look for Jewel and I:
A sparrow is visiting the ducks. . .
But look at all the birds we have visiting us:
It’s migration time again! 🐴
Momma cat has a name (and a video) 😺
“My name is ‘Tails,’ because of my pretty tabby tail. Francis says I get to tell you, ‘Good morning!’”
“Stormy is chatting with Francis over breakfast:”
“Speaking of breakfast, it’s time for my babies to come out and get something to eat!”
“I'm very friendly around the cat-cops (that’s what Francis says to call them) and let them pet me. I’m trying to get my kittens to be friendly, too.” 😺
Kittens are getting friendlier! 😺
Remember the poor kitten that was caught in the old stable fan?
Here kitty is, having breakfast with its sibling:
Both of them seem to be doing ok! 😺
Oh no! Here comes snow! 🐴
Good morning. The snow brought a slightly warmer morning (19℉), and thankfully it’s not supposed to amount to too much:
I’ll need a carrot, please:
Iris says, “Good morning! I’ll have a carrot, too, please. Don’t worry about the snow on my back, it’s not cold enough to bother me.”
Jewel gets a carrot, too:
We hope Dukie will come out this afternoon and say Hello.
But right now, she’s visiting with her “puppies,” Greg and Tyrus! 😺
Kitten rescue! 9-1-1! 🙀
Good morning! Remember this kitten from yesterday?
Well, we learned today that momma cat has two kittens!
Did you see that old fan in the picture above? Why, now, is our friend Jake taking it apart?
The other kitten, for some reason, crawled into it and got caught between the fan drum and the housing!
Don’t worry, Jake and Ann rescued it unharmed. 😺
Let’s watch!
We were too excited to get a picture, but it’s a pretty gray and white kitten like it’s sibling, but with more gray on its back. 😺